383YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

Merlot's copy of the Book of the Empire hanging in the Hub for use by Imperial citizens.

Interlude

Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Spring Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is 14th June to 16th June). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Winter Solstice that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources or options for characters with military unit or fleet personal resources.

As a temporary measure 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 Spring Equinox Winds of Fortune - once they're ready, they'll replace this content. 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 Sunday 12th May.

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.

It's worth noting that we've recently tightened up our guidelines around discussing military matters online which you can find 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 175 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 Green Shield, Quiet Step, Strong Reeds, Wolves of War, Hounds of Glory, and between military units and fleets supporting the raid to free Grendel slaves from Beoraidh.

Raiding Beoraidh

• Any character with a fleet or military unit personal resource can choose to support the Raid on Beoraidh action this downtime.
• Characters who support the raid receive no production from their personal resource, but do receive a share of the Imperial Guerdon based on the strength of their resource.

Another opportunity has arisen for the fleet captains and small unit commanders to take the fight to the Grendel. The target of this raid is the frontier city of Beoraidh (or Beoraidh) in Mareave. The option can be found in the paid work dropdown for military units, or the privateering dropdown for fleets. Military units and fleets assigned to support the raid will not produce any wealth this downtime, but will receive a share of the Imperial Guerdon. Full details are available here.

Slow the Vallorn

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Slow the Vallorn action this downtime.

The vallorn continues its slow expansion in Brocéliande. Warriors can help the steadings there to slow the green tide, and prevent it taking any land for the next season at least. Any military captain who wishes to support this action should select "Slow the Vallorn" from the paid work dropdown menu. Payment is normal for the rank of your military unit. Full details are available here.

Dawnish characters who support the action may receive additional rewards, provided Ranae de Rondell enacts the mandate they have been entrusted with by the Dawn National Assembly. Similarly, if Hazelelponi enacts the mandate they have been entrusted with by the Highborn National Assembly, the project will receive additional support from the faithful of Highguard.

Strike into Zenith

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Strike into Zenith action this downtime.
• Characters who support the raid receive half the normal production for their military unit weighted toward a combination of crystal mana, herbs, and valuable (money).

In conjunction with heralds of the eternal Phaleron and Highborn soldiers, the sentinels of Urizen have hatched a daring plan to launch a series of stealthy raids into the lost territory of Zenith aimed at freeing as many prisoners as possible from the Druj occupation forces. Any military captain who wishes to support this action should select "Strike into Zenith" from the paid work dropdown menu. The purpose of the raid is to rescue people, not to strike directly at the orcs, so each military unit will receive half of their normal production, weighted toward a combination of crystal mana, herbs, and valuables (money). Full details are available here.

Suppress Asavean Uprising

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Suppress Asavan Uprising action this downtime.
• Instead of the normal production for paid work, a standard military unit would receive a payment of 11 crowns for taking the action, but a more powerful unit would receive an additional 52 rings for each rank of upgrade or enchantment.

Two satrapies in the Asavean Archipelago are in revolt against their government. The Nemorians are calling for Imperial mercenaries to help suppress the rebellion and have been at pains to point out that this is not a slave rebellion but an internal dispute. The Imperial Senate has chosen to permit Imperial citizens to support either side in the dispute. Anyone with a military unit will be able to find the action "Suppress Asavean Uprising" in the paid work dropdown.

With the passage of a recent mandate by the Synod, the names of all the captains who take their forces to Asavea will be collected and given to the Cardinal of Vigilance and the Throne. However, there is no way to distinguish between characters choosing this option, and those supporting the rebels.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Support Asavean Uprising

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Support Asavan Uprising action this downtime.
• Instead of the normal production for paid work, a standard military unit would receive a payment of 7 crowns for taking the action, but a more powerful unit would receive an additional 36 rings for each rank of upgrade or enchantment.

The leader of the rebellious satrapies, Tementia Comasigne, is also calling for Imperial mercenaries to help support the rebellion. As the Imperial Senate has chosen to permit Imperial citizens to support either side in the dispute, it is possible for the commanders of military units to aid the insurrectionist cause. Anyone with a military unit will be able to find the action "Support Asavean Uprising" in the paid work dropdown.

As with thos choosing to side with the Nemorians, the passage of a recent mandate by the Synod, the names of all the captains who take their forces to Asavea will be collected and given to the Cardinal of Vigilance and the Throne. However, there is no way to distinguish between characters choosing this option, and those supporting the government.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Trade Opportunities

The owners of fleet resource have a number of options this downtime - including the chance to support a raid against the Grendel. There are additional effects and opportunities in the Asavean Archipelago, and any trader operating out of the Bay of Catazar should be aware of the ongoing pirate raids that threaten ships from the Brass Coast, Highguard, Urizen and parts of the League.

Grendel Pirates

• During the coming season all fleets from Tassato, Sarvos, the Brass Coast, Highguard, or Urizen will suffer a 1 rank penalty to production if they engage in trade.
• The Broken Shore Bounty and Glass Point Cove gain no production this downtime.

If you are a fleet captain trading out of the Bay of Catazar territories, the Grendel pirates continue to attempt to raid your ships. The magic that has been protecting the fleet faded with the start of the Autumn Equinox - its not clear at this time if it has been replenished or if traders are at the mercy of orc pirates.

Furthermore, raids against key locations by elite orc privateers during the Autumn Equinox have meant that neither the Broken Shore Bounty nor the Glass Point Cover mana sinecure will produce any materials this coming season.

Trading with Asavea

• Every Imperial Fleet trading with Nemoria receives an additional measure of iridescent gloaming and an additional ingot of orichalcum
• Imperial captains can visit the insurrectionist port of Maragladia or Timor to trade supplies and weapons to the rebels.
• Any citizen can contribute wains to support the insurectionist cause

Any Imperial captain that trades with the port of Nemoria continues to gain additional resources thanks to the existance of the Asavean temple in Feroz and the Impreial temple of the Way in Asavea.

Imperial fleet captains are also able to trade with two insurrection-aligned ports in Asavea. Each will be found in the trade dropdown alongside the usual ports. Imperial captains are assumed to be trading weapons and supplies in return for money - both in the form of actual cash and in the form of valuables and objets d'art. Each represents a different approach to that trade with different rewards. The actual impact of this trade is the same regardless - support for the rebels is the same whichever port an Imperial captain frequents.

The coastal fortification of Maragladia is hard pressed by the Nemorian legions and the people there are desperate. Imperial captains visiting this port will be able to engage in war profiteering. A basic fleet trading with Maragladia will receive 12 crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 48 rings to this amount.

Well behind the insurrectionist lines, the situation in the port of Timor is less fraught. Imperial captains visting this port will be able to get a good price for herbs and other medicines, or even basic necessities like blankets and bandages, but for significantly less profit than they would get selling weapons in Maragladia. A basic fleet trading with Timor will receive 7 crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 28 rings to this amount.

If more than half a dozen fleets trade with the rebels, however, the Plenum will become aware that Imperial merchants are supporting the rebellion. It is impossible to predict how they will respond, but they are unlikely to be happy - and the more fleets trading with Maragladia and Timor the less happy they are likely to be.

Finally, any citizen can send wains of mithril or weirwood to support the rebels. To take advantage of this oppotunity, you will need to ensure the wains are in your inventory and e-mail plot@profounddecisions.co.uk with instructions to transfer the wains to the Asavean insurrectionists. Likewise, although it would be possible to send other offers of support - materials, liao, crystal mana or money - this will not effect the outcome of the war in Asavea and will be moral support not material support.

Trading with Sumaah

• The port of Zemeh is now open to Imperial captains once more

Following an extensive building project, the port of Zemeh has been reopened to Imperial captains to visit once again. Any fleet captain will be able to trade with the Sumaah Republic here. Visitors to Zemeh may also be able to make the pilgrimage to the capital city of Timoj - which the Sumaah claim is now the true heart of the Way.

Major Effects

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

The Pilgrim's Path and its Resolution

• Every Highguard business and farm is suffering a two rank penalty to production, and every military unit a two rank penalty to its fighting strength.
• Every other business and farm in the Empire suffers a penalty of 36 rings, and every other military unit a one rank penalty to its fighting strength.

During the Summer Solstice, the Highborn Assembly upheld a mandate encouraging radical pilgrimage, with a significant impact on Highguard. Since then, priests from every nation of the Empire have shown solidarity with the Highborn, helping to mitigate the effects of their monumental decision. For the coming season, however every farm, business, and military unit in the Empire will suffer a penalty to its production and fighting strength. By the Spring Equinox, however, all these penalties should have ended.

Sumaah Missionaries

• Every congregation in Sarvos, Tassato, Redoubt, Spiral, and Necropolis will provide 1 less liao and 2 fewer votes in the Synod

The Imperial Synod has supported a mandate by Jorma Steelhail to encourage Imperial and Sumaah citizens to view Timoj and Bastion as equals in the Way. The implications of this judgement depend entirely on whether it is enacted - and how Timoj responds. For the time being, the Sumaah missionaries continue to criticise the Synod, and the priests who support it, resulting in a small but noticable reduction in the size of congregations along the Bay of Catazar in coming months. You can learn more about this situation here.

The Feast of Tharim

• Every herb garden iand 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).

Feni in Hercynia

• Every farm and business in Hercynia suffers a 36 ring penalty to production, and every mana site produces one fewer crystal mana.

The Feni are still in Hercynia. As detailed here this means farms, businesses, and mana sites in the Navarr territory will suffer penalties to their production this season due to Feni raids.

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.

Mandates

Sixteen mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod. You can find the details of all the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here. As always, these mandates only have an effect if the named priest provides the appropriate amount of liao and emails Profound Decisions (pot@profounddecisions.co.uk) to tell us to take the liao and complete the mandate.

Some of these mandates will have an effect this downtime, specifically those relating to the Brocéliande defence. We'll adjust this page and alert the appropriate nations when/if these mandates are enacted..

Assembly	Mandate	Named Priest	Outcome	WoF
Dawn National	The green forest of Brocéliande is a wilderness like few others; now the vallorn that lies at its heart rises against our friends among the Navarr. The opportunity for glory here cannot be ignored; nor should the people of Semmerholm and Astolat ignore the sacrifices the Navarr have made to protect them against the malign force of the power that dwells there. The Dawn assembly sends Ranae de Rondell with 50 doses of liao to encourage knights and witches to offer their aid to the Navarr fighting to stem the green tide of the vallorn. Let knights-errant and questing knights alike face the challenge of the dark forest, and show the abhorrent power of the vallorn the might of Dawnish steel!	Ranae de Rondell	Enhanced awards for Dawnish characters supporting the "Slow the Vallorn" action	here
General	The Way binds us together, guiding all citizens on a virtuous path. We send Eska Crowspeaker with 50 liao to spread the Way to those we have rescued from Dubhtraig to allow them to find a place for themselves in the Empire.	Eska Crowspeaker	Encourages slaves liberated from Dubhtraig to embrace the Way	here
General	All members of the Synod have a duty to represent their congregations. Those who are neither raising judgements in pursuit of their goals, nor voting in support of their understanding of Virtue, shame themselves. We send Rafe with 100 doses of liao to urge any priest in the Empire who does not make full use of their powers to take up arms and lead their congregations in heroic battle.	Rafe	Characters with congregation resources will be easily able to exchange them for military unit resources	here
Wintermark	Those Winterfolk who are members of the Synod have a duty to represent their congregations. Those who are neither raising judgements in pursuit of their goals, nor voting in support of their understanding of Virtue, shame themselves. We send Severi Jarlmarison with 50 doses of liao to urge any priest of Wintermark who does not make full us of their powers to take up arms and lead their congregations in heroic battle.	Severi Jarlmarison	Wintermark characters with congregation resources will be easily able to exchange them for military unit resources	here
General	The virtuous build up their fellows, and take pride in their people. Rather than looking to line their own pockets, Imperial citizens should seek ways to strengthen their own nations - and by doing so strengthen the Empire as a whole. We send Bartimeus with 75 liao to urge Imperial citizens to consider how best the bounty of their nations might be used for the benefit of their people.	Bartimeus	Nations will present proposals to make use of their own Bourse resources	here
Highguard	The purpose of our Pilgrimage is to save souls; certainly those who have fallen to the Vallorn, but also those who are in danger of being lost to false beliefs. We the Highborn Assembly acknowledge that no citizen follows the Way perfectly. We all have room to grow, and faults to address. We send Lilith of the Chantry with 25 liao to urge the Grey Pilgrims to act as guides for all the human nations of this great Empire. As they walk the trods in the years to come, let there be no dark corner into which they cannot shine the light of Virtue.	Lilith of the Chantry	All human nations will suffer penalties to their congregations	here
General	The Way was founded in Bastion, and the Sumaah were among the first to follow in our footsteps. For so long Bastion has been a single light in sea of savagery and ignorance - the Imperial Synod is heartened to learn there are now two with Bastion's counterpart in Timoj. Rather than seek division through political pettiness, the Imperial Synod has a grander vision and so sends Jorma Steelhail with 150 doses of Liao to urge the citizens of the Empire and the Sumaah Republic to seek common ground and focus on our shared Ambition in spreading the Way to the world.	Jorma Steelhail	Seeks reconciliation with the Sumaah Republic	here
Highguard	The monstrous infestation that is the Vallorn is a danger beyond any other that now faces us. There is no sacrifice too great that we cannot meet it to defeat this terror. The walking of the trods will weaken the vallorn, but we must not be blind to the danger it poses to humanity. The time has come to raise sword and brand against it in defence of our allies - and to strike at the horror in Brocéliande before it becomes a threat to our own people. We send Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower with 50 doses of liao to urge the vigilant faithful of Highguard to aid the Navarr in the defence of Brocéliande.	Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower	Congregations of Highguard will help support the defenders of Brocéliande	here
Prosperity	As Edna has declared, the building of the Cinderpath Exchange is a virtuous endeavour that both increases the Prosperity of the Empire as a whole, and ensures that those who sell white granite receive a fair and virtuous reward for their labours. We send Edna with 100 doses of liao to urge those Prosperous citizens who have white granite to refrain from auctioning it through the Bourse Auction at Anvil until such time as the Cinderpath Exchange is completed.	Edna of the Chantry	Citizens will withol white granite from the public auction until the Cinerpath Exchange is built.	here
Highguard	Highguard were those who founded The Way and first spread it to the peoples of the Empire's nations. They have now shown their Loyalty in kind for this great enlightenment Highguard gave to them, and it is time to spread The Way further afield through the people of foreign nations. We send Able of the Shattered Tower with 25 liao to urge the grey pilgrims to convert travelling foreigners to The Way, so that they may go back to their lands and pass on the truth.	Able of the Shattered Tower	Urges Grey Pilgrims to convert foreigners to the Way.	here.
Highguard	As Bartimaeus has already vouchsafed, virtuous people set prices for things which are fair, and buy and sell them accordingly. The Senate disagrees; it denies the virtue of engaging in trade in a virtuous manner. We send Raziel of the Shattered Tower with 25 doses of liao to urge those Highborn citizens in possession of white granite to refuse to deal with the greed embodied by the Bourse Auction at Anvil until such time as the Cinderpath Exchange is completed.	Raziel of the Shattered Tower	Highborn citizens will withold white granite from the public auction until the Cinderpath Exchange is built	here
General	Skarsind offers a welcome home for the slaves liberated from the Broken Shore. Just as we once fought for our freedom, so you will have a chance to fight against those who once enslaved you. Those who do not fight, will still have a place, working to support our legions. We send Skywise Tulva with 50 liao to encourage the slaves to settle in Skarsind and let them know that those who choose to adopt our ways will be able to become Imperial Orcs in time.	Skywise Tulva	Orc slaves freed from Dubhtraig will be urged to move to Skarsind	here
Varushka	Vasili Zoryakovich Zverokaz reminds us that slavery is unacceptable; Eska Crowspeaker urges us to open out homes to those who have found freedom. Yet in Varushka we cannot simply accept a stranger at face-value, and must be certain of the nature of those we invite into our homes. We send Belikov the Wolf of Karsk with 150 doses of liao to examine each of these strangers and determine whether each one is friend or foe.	Belakov the Wolf of Karsk	Slaves freed from Ossium by the Druj will be inividually assessed to ensure they are human.	here
Highguard	The purpose of our pilgrimage is to save souls, those who have fallen to the vallorn, but also those who are lost to malign forces and who bend the knee to eternals. We send Shadrach with 25 liao to urge the grey pilgrims to preach the rejection of False Virtues and idolatrous behaviour.	Shadrach	Grey Pilgrims will be urged to root out and oppose falsee virtues and eternal cults	here

Imperial Lore

One ritual is being entered into Imperial lore, presuming the money to distribute them across the Empire is forthcoming.

• Madyn's Gift raised by Simargl

Once payment has been made, these rituals will be available to be mastered by Imperial magicians.