383YE Winter Solstice interlude

Twilight settles over Anvil as the night draws in. Winter is near.

Interlude

Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Winter Solstice winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is TBC to TBC). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Autumn Equinox that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources or options for characters with military unit or fleet personal resources.

On this page we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, these various effects on this page. In each case, there will be further information in the Winter Solstice Winds of Fortune. As always, these are quick OOC summaries to explain effects such as large-scale enchantments and curses. We'll cover all these and more when we start to present the Winds of Fortune for next event.

Downtime is due to close at midnight on the 18th October.

Warfare

Any players whose character controls a military unit can choose from a number of downtime options. Left to their own devices, a military unit defaults to paid work guaranteeing an income of herbs, ingots or measures, money, or mana crystals. Otherwise, they may log into the downtime system and choose to support an army or fortification, or assign to a special project such as a spy network or one of the unique opportunities available this downtime. Players who want to support one of the Imperial armies can also read the orders issued by each general before making their decision.

As always, the guidelines around discussing military matters online can be found here.

Imperial Guerdon

The Imperial Guerdon is a bursary set up by the Imperial Senate primarily to reward military units that support Imperial armies, spy networks, and fortifications. The value of the Imperial Guerdon is divided between each military unit and fleet that supports an army in proportion to their effective strength. The Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies has the power to exclude any or all Imperial armies and navies, fortifications, or special projects (such as spy networks) from the Guerdon. If they do so, then a character who supports such a army, fortification, or special project will receive nothing for doing so.

The Guerdon stands at 350 thrones.

This season, the Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies has announced that shares of the Guerdon will be shared between military units supporting the following armies or opportunities:

• Fist of the Mountain
• Tusks
• Valiant Pegasus
• Winter Sun
• Wolves of War
• Protect Hercynia

Loyal Pilgrims

• Highborn characters can upgrade their military unit at the cost of one fewer wains of mithril

Thanks to the influence of the Three Watchers, any Highborn character who owns a military unit can upgrade their resource for one wain of mithril less than normal. The reduced cost will appear automatically in your downtime options. A military unit can only be upgraded once each season, but they could, potentially, be upgraded every season, saving one mithril each time. This opportunity remains until the start of the Autumn Equinox 384YE.

Pride of the Raiders

• Wintermark military units that participated in the recent raid against the Jotun-held Pride of Ikka's Tears receive a two rank bonus to their effectiveness

Following the raid against the Pride of Ikka's Tears, Rafe proposed a mandate that was endorsed by the Wintermark National Assembly. As a consequence, every Wintermark military unit that took part in the expedition receives a boost in courage and morale equivalent to two additional ranks for the next two seasons (until the start of the Spring Equinox 384YE).

Trade Opportunities

Liao Trade

• The amount of money received for selling liao via a congregation increases to 1 crown

Thanks to the mandate proposed by Sariel and endorsed by the Assembly of Nine, it is clear that it is acceptable to trade liao to the Axou. This increases the amount of money gained for selling liao via a congregation from 18 rings to a full crown, and also provides money for the Imperial treasury due to increased tariffs from Axou trading vessels.

Freeborn Traders

• Every Freeborn fleet captain who engages in trade will suffer a -1 rank to their production for at least the next two seasons

The Brass Coast national assembly chose to support a mandate by Efenia i Maristela i Riqueza that urged Freeborn captains to engage in privateering.

Trading with Asavea

• Anyone trading with Asavea suffers a two-rank penalty to production due to trade sanctions.

The sanctions imposed by both the Empire and the Asavean government mean that any fleet captain trading with Nemoria itself suffers a significant loss of profit. That loss could have been offset by the presence of the two temples - one in Feroz and one in Nemoria. Unfortunately the Temple in Nemoria has been heavily damaged by the mob. As such, confidence among Asavean merchants trading with the Empire has been badly shaken. If the Temple in Nemoria is repaired by the Senate then the benefits of having an obvious symbol of Asavean and Imperial cooperation would resume.

The Temple of Balo and the Black Bull has been claimed by the Grendel in their conquest of Feroz. Any benefit that Imperial traders gained from that symbol of cooperation has been lost to the orcs of the Broken Shore.

Trading with Axos

• Imperial fleets visiting Issyk experience a -2 rank penalty to their production this season.

There has still been significant disruption in Axos. The sudden release of slaves, and the need for many wealthy concerns to reorganise themselves, meant that the economy was in turmoil. This had an immediate consequence on foreign trade, meaning there were significantly fewer goods available to purchase on the docks at Kantor. In the months since, this turmoil has settled down a little - in part thanks to the Empire's efforts to improve trade relations with Axos. As such the penalty to ships trading with Kantor has been removed.

The Chambers of Issyk has been opened to Imperial traders, and so another port has been made available for fleet owners. Due to the nature of the fleets that previously docked at Issyk, and the longstanding arrangement with the Principalities of Jarm and the Sarcophan Delves, the Empire's traders are suffering under the bureaucracy of the citadel's Ilarchs.

Trading with the Iron Confederacy

• The Iron Confederacy has closed its borders to Imperial merchants and goods.
• The port of Robec has been closed to Imperial traders

The port of Robec is closed to Imperial ships. As such the Empire cannot trade directly with the Iron Confederacy.

Trading with the Commonwealth

• Imperial captains visiting Leerdam receive an additional dose of Bladeroot; captains visiting Volkavaar receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil.

Any Imperial fleet visiting Leerdam during the coming season will receive an additional dose of Bladeroot as a sign of Commonwealth enthusiasm for the Liberty Pact. Likewise, captains visiting Volkavaar will receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil. It is not certain how long this enthusiasm will last, but it is anticipated to persist for at least a year.

Trading with Jarm

• Any Imperial fleet trading with Vezak or Kavor has a -2 rank penalty on their production.
• The eastern port of Rigia remains closed to Imperial shipping.

Imperial fleets visiting Jarm are struck by not one but two sets of tariffs; one imposed by the House of Princes on Imperial goods brought to Jarm, and then again when they attempt to bring Jarmish goods back to the Empire.

Major Effects

Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarized these effects here.

Love, Glory, and Virtue

• Congregations in Highguard and Dawn each receive one additional liao and two additional votes until the end of the Spring Equinox 384YE
• Statements of principle passed with a greater majority in Dawn or Highguard also come to the attention of the congregations of the other nation, potentially providing opportunity to support, oppose, or otherwise react to such statements. This lasts until the start of the Autumn Equinox 384YE.

Thanks to the mandate raised by Yarona of the Chantry and endorsed by the Highborn assembly, a greater understanding is sought between the priests of Highguard and the troubadours of Dawn.

Waters of Regret

• Highborn businesses have a penalty of one rank to production until the start of the Winter Solstice.

In line with the mandate raised by Lina of Felix's Watch and endorsed by the Highborn assembly, the business owners of Highguard are encouraged to provide support for the project to purify the waters of Holberg, fouled by the curse that devastated the gardens there.

Blade of the Pilgrims

• Highborn congregations receive 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao due to the call to fight the vallorn.

While the vallorn of Brocéliande has become quiescent, the threat still remains. During the Autumn Equinox, Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower proposed a mandate that was upheld by the Highborn Assembly encouraging the congregations of Highguard to continue their efforts to oppose the vallorn. Until the start of the Autumn Equinox 384YE, every Highborn congregation produces one fewer liao and two fewer votes but may provide aid to any opportunity to fight the vallorn anywhere in the Empire.

The Feast of Tharim

• Every herb garden and forest in Miaren, Therunin, and Hercynia will suffer reduced production until the start of the Winter Equinox 383YE

The Imperial Conclave chose to accept the aid of Tharim in defending Brocéliande, giving permission for the eternal to feast on every herb garden and forest in Miaren, Therunin, and Hercynia. Each herb garden will suffer a loss of two random herbs and each forest will lose two resources for the next year (until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE).

Blood and Gold

• Every herb garden in Navarr receives 2 fewer random herbs until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.

The mandate raised and enacted by Brat Umbral Path during the Autumn Equinox means every Navarr herb garden will suffer a loss of 2 random herbs per season for the next year. This comes as a consequence of the decision to support the creation of Good Leaf Gardens in Upwold in recognition of the sacrifice made by the people of the Marches in fighting the vallorn of Liathaven.

Reject False Gods

• Congregations in Redoubt, Temeschwar, Tassato, and Hahnmark gain two additional votes and one additional liao as long as the Synod clearly stands in opposition to idolatry
• Congregations in Karsk receive four extra votes and two liao for a year, after which they receive the same benefit as congregations in the other territories.

The mandate approved by the general assembly and enacted by Rafael Barossa di Tassato sends bands of architects, masons, and builders to force their way into the buildings designed by the Asavean architect and forcibly redesign them. The mandate has a number of effects, one of which is to swell with pride congregations in the territories where the buildings are found. This bonus lasts as long as the Synod maintains a clear anti-idolatry stance.

Varushkan Prosperity

• The production of Varushkan mine and forest resources is increased by one rank.

The mandate upheld in the Varushkan assembly and enacted by Raskylov has a number of effects, one of which is to increase the production of mine and forest resources. Thanks to the story provided, the benefit will last until the start of the Spring Equinox 384YE.

Mandates

• You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.

TBC mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod, and enacted by named priests. As per our recent update, all mandates have automatically been enacted as long as the named priest has sufficient liao in their inventory before Downtime opens.

Some mandates were upheld by their respective assemblies but failed due to the intervention of the Wisdom assembly and the sword scholars. Judgement 7 (encourage Imperial citizens to find opportunities for cooperation with the eternals), Judgement 17 (encourage citizens to travel to Zenith and offer aid there),Judgement 52 (encourage Marcher pilgrims to make a pilgrimage to Holberg), and Judgement 82) (encourage the virtuous to undertake a pilgrimage of dreams) were all ineffective as a consequence.

Imperial Lore

No rituals were added to Imperial lore during the Autumn Equinox.

Urizen Lore

Several rituals were added to Urizen lore during the Autumn Equinox. Details are forthcoming.