Spy network

Overview

The Empire uses spy networks to spy on barbarian territories and armies. There is only a small cost to build and upkeep a spy network but to operate them requires military units be assigned to support them, exactly as if the military unit were supporting an Imperial army. The more military units are assigned to a spy network, the more information about the territory is produced.

Senate Commissions

The Imperial Senate can pass motions to create a new spy network. There is no benefit to having two spy networks in a territory.

Costs

• Materials: 10 weirwood.
• Time: 3 months to construct.
• Labour: 2 crowns per wain
• Upkeep: 2 Thrones per season.

Military units

Once complete any Imperial citizen can assign a military unit they control to support the spy network. The more military units that are assigned to operate a spy network, the more information is produced.

Units	Outcome
5	An overview of the territory including the names of major settlements and any armies present.
10	Details of any fortifications in the area and the details of armies including their approximate fighting strength, the actions they are taking, and the names of any significant military commanders. More detail about the territory including an overview of trading links and connections to adjacent territories.
15	A thorough overview of the territory, enough to produce a detailed strategic map showing the locations of fortifications and any bourse resources present.

The results are cumulative, so if 15 military units in total are assigned then the players receive all the benefits listed on the table.

A copy of the information gained is provided to every player who assigned a military unit to the spy network, along with the the normal resources they would receive if they were supporting an army instead.

Upgraded military units are proportionally more effective. Each upgrade a military unit has adds the equivalent of 1/5 of an extra unit to the overall tally.

Decommissioning a Spy Network

While the senate could simply stop paying the upkeep on the spy network, doing so reveals its location to the owners of that territory. Alternatively, the Imperial Senate can choose to pass a motion to decommission the spy network. This costs 5 Thrones and takes a season; during this time military units cannot be assigned to the spy network. At the end of the season, the spy network is clandestinely rolled up without the owner of the territory being any the wiser.

Current Spy Networks

At present there are Imperial spy networks in each of the following territories:

• Verthandi (previously Otkodov)
• the Barrens
• Liathaven
• Hordalant

Further Reading

Core Brief

• Military Council
• War

Additional Information

• Imperial armies
• Army orders
• Navy orders
• Casualties
• Territory
• Army qualities
• Spy network
• Fortification
• Campaign outcome