382YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

Overview

Over the past three months, several events have occurred which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. You can also read about the progress of the Empire's military campaigns here.

In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations, or political bodies, to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place and very little happens in isolation.

As always, how much or how little of this information you choose to know in character is up to you. Part of the purpose of Winds of Fortune is to maintain the illusion of the Empire as a living, breathing place where things happen - and to make players aware of things their characters 'should' know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months.

Many winds of fortune open with a short section of in-character text. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip. They're mostly just a bit of fun and they tend not to contain anything vital to the understanding of the wind of Fortune.

Winds of Fortune

Before the Sunrise (Winds of Magic)

• Navarr, especially in Therunin; Winterfolk; Dawnish; Artisans; people who like cats

For the first time in ages, the state of the stars in the night skies are not the main event. Among other things, this round up of magic events includes mention of the new runeforge in Redoubt; a very problematic offer from a powerful eternal, and an even more problematic curse settling over vallorn-haunted Therunin. Oh, and something about the cats of Spiral. You can read the round-up here.

Beg, Steal, or Borrow

• Freeborn; Marchers; Wintermark maggots; relic owners; monster hunters

While everyone expects politics on the Anvil field, it's easy to forget that the Summits are also a time to engage in trade. There are mysterious Freeborn manuscripts and strange Feni letters to be sold, whose true value no doubt lies in the secrets they contain; a maggot selling loot; an agent purchasing religious relics; a refugee with a haunted jar; and a pair of Navarr who want to meet with monster hunters. They're all described here.

Benevolence, Inspiration, and Legacy

• Imperial Synod, Imperial Senate, all Imperial followers of the Way

In resolving a dispute between several Synod factions, the General Assembly has passed a mandate that opposes further spiritual or religious conflict in the Empire. As part of the mandate, Severin von Holberg was empowered to present a sermon which was distributed throughout the Empire. The sermon examines what it means to be a virtuous citizen, and lays out a series of questions that can be used to help choose the correct course of action when faced with almost any dilemma. You can read his words - and learn about some of the sometimes radical responses - here.

A Bit of Peace (Orc Affairs)

• Imperial Senate, Navarr, Highguard, and Dawn

Three nations of orcs - Jotun, Thule, and the Great Forest. Two-and-a-half delegations. Talk of peace treaties. And the sudden unexpected arrival of a number of people in northern Highguard out of a forest humans have no business coming out of... You can learn more about these developments here.

Change

• Mine and forest owners; magicians especially practitioners of night magic

The eternals known as Murit and Soghter have apparently undergone some sort of all-consuming, fundamental change. In their stead a new eternal rises. This has had some peculiar side-effects on the Empire - especially if you own a mine or a forest - which you can learn about here.

City Lights

• The League (especially bravos and mountebanks); Hahnmark; Madruga

Money. You either have it, or you want it, or so the saying goes. In the League, the bite trade is contributing to a bit of a crisis that threatens to further complicate the rich street life of the four cities. In Madruga, the Grendel threat to the city of sails - to Siroc - is a topic of great concern. In Kalpaheim, the "city" of Wintermark, the opportunities presented by the easy access to the whole Empire provided by the Blood Red Roads are being extensively examined. You can learn about these three monetarily-driven situations here.

Come Back to Stay

• People attending Anvil

Zenith has fallen to the Druj. Rumours are rife that this means the imminent return of a certain long-dead Throne. It's probably nonsense. But just in case it isn't, you can read about the eerie unexplained events here.

Coming Home

• Wintermark

An exceptionally rare conjunction of the Sentinel Gate leads to the marshes of Kallavesa, signalling an opportunity to do... something. Talk turns to heroism, and the right way for the Winterfolk to live. You can learn more about this situation here.

Everything Has Rhythm (Conjunctions)

• Imperial Heroes

The Sentinel Gate is a true wonder of the world, allowing Imperial heroes to visit places all around the Empire and deal with threats to the safety of their people. Some of those conjunctions can be determined well in advance, and the fact of their existence made public knowledge. You can learn bout some of these conjunctions here

Fight

• Marchers, Imperial Orcs; Priests

In the wake of the Imperial Senate declaring them to be foreigners, the Imperial Synod has sent not one but two priests - a Marcher and an Imperial Orc - to speak to the Mournwold orc thralls. There have been some results, which you can learn more about here.

Free to Live

• The Brass Coast

The exiles from the island of Zemress have settled in Segura. Ambitious and hard working, they are full of enthusiasm to reshape their new home, to bring about its full potential. Yet, unsurprisingly, integrating a people who have been separate to the Empire for centuries is not an entirely straightforward proposition. You can learn more about these developments here.

Heroes

• Senate; the Brass Coast

The Suranni Duke of Kalino has sent five thousand troops across the Imperial border into Feroz at the invitation of the Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy. The rebel slaves that had established camps along the border have been decisively smashed, and almost all have been executed or returned to the Iron Confederacy in chains. You can learn more about these developments here.

How Sweet is the Sea

• Fleet captains; cartographers

The Imperial Senate decided to go ahead and map the Bay of Catazar. You can find out more about how this went - as well as learning about the challenges facing sailors on a Grendel dominated Bay - here.

Hunter of Stars (Plenipotentiary)

• Imperial Conclave

For the first time, there are six responses to plenipotentiary messages sent during the Winter Solstice. Five eternals have agreed to a formal parley with an archmage, but one has refused outright. You can learn which eternals are keen to talk to the Empire, and which one is not, here.

Our Choice

• Varushka; Brass Coast and Wintermark

During the Winter Solstice, Bogdan Bogdanovich encouraged the Varushans to embrace their heritage and stand with the Iron Helms. The people have listened, and now the generals of the northern nation have some choices to make. You can learn about those choices - and consequences - here.

Start a Fire

• Navarr; Imperial Synod

The Navarr have stymied the expansion of the vallorn in Liathaven. The forces of that coil in the depths of Liath's Heart are overextended - weakened. A once in a generation opportunity presents itself - to strike against the vallorn and drive its infestation back. You can learn about these opportunities here.

United in Law (Imperial Address)

• All Imperial citizens

The Throne, Imperatrix Lisabetta, has used her power to address the Empire to present a personal message to all Imperial citizens. You can read her message here.

The Whole World (Trade Winds)

• Fleet captains; Imperial Senate; Urizen

International politics and trade are an unpredictable ocean of conflicting currents and unpleasantly spiky rocks. The Imperial Ambassadors do their best to navigate the Empire through those dangerous waters, but there is always something new to worry about. You can learn about current developments - including an opportunity to gain more commissions for the Empire, and some interesting suggestions about what to do about the imminent threat of Druj invasion - here.

You'll Recognise Yourself

• Lorenzo "la Volpe" Macelliao von Temeschwar; Practically everyone but especially the Imperial Senate

As the Blood Red Roads spread across the Empire, and various constructions are created in the League cities, the benevolence of the Lorenzo "la Volpe" Macelliao von Temeschwar is slowly growing to become a legend. Some people like that. Some people don't. You can learn about both factions - along with the plans for quite a large number of possible commissions - here.

Ongoing Situations and Outcomes

The Mournwold situation is currently stable - work has begun on the fortifications in Greensward and Freemoor. Sarcombe - should it be rebuilt - has been given a charter. The Empire is engaging in some dialogue with the Jotun thralls. For the time being, at least, things are broadly positive... and everyone is waiting with bated breath to see what happens with the Singing Caves.

The Blood Cloaks army has been completed, bringing Wintermark to three armies, and the Imperial Orcs have chosen to permanently change the quality of the Winter Sun to Freedom Fighters.

Roundup

Arcane Projections

As of this event, the changes to the way arcane projections work that we announced before the first event are now in full effect. Magicians contribute arcane projections while downtime is open, rather than being done at events.

Limited Opportunities

Last event there were a number of time-limited opportunities to commission unique structures. In each case we've updated the resolution section of the Winds of Fortune to clarify which are still available and which are not. The key commissions that remain available to the Empire at this time are the opportunities in Varushka following the epic storm, and the magical structures designed by Richard of Holberg for the Imperial Conclave.

Mandates

Seven 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.

Assembly	Mandate	Priest	Outcome
General	We have learned to our bitter cost, the effects of national religious divisions upon the ability of Imperial armies to fight together. At a time when the Empire faces many foes, let us not rush to create another schism. It is the seven Virtues than unite us, not divide us. We send Severin von Holberg with 100 doses of liao to remind Imperial citizens of our common belief in the seven Virtues, at the heart of belief in every Imperial Nation. 100 liao received from Severin von Holberg after the Winter Solstice.	Severin von Holberg	Severin may write an address to the Empire; any attempt to incite people to confront religious differences or spiritual conflicts would be strongly inhibited for the following year.	Link
Marcher	The Marcher Assembly sends Sister Meredith with 50 doses of liao to the orcs of the Mournwold to bring them to the Way of Virtue. We encourage the Virtuous folks of the Mourn to support these preachers and ensure their voices are heard. 50 doses of liao provided by Sister Meredith Stellamaris	Bethany	Begins the process of enlightening the ex-Jotun thralls as to the teachings of the Way	Link
General	The Synod recognises the actions of Magician-Prince Barbara Radz in moving to improve the condition of slaves in her eastern alliance in Jarm. We send Jared of the Suns of Couros with 25 doses of liao to urge every Imperial captain intending to visit Jarm to trade with the enlightened people of Rigia, rather than the corrupt slavemasters of Vezak and Kavor. 25 liao recevied from Jared of the Suns of Couros after the Winter solstice	Jared of the Sons of Couros	Imperial captains trading with Vezak and Kavor receive significantly reduced production for the next year.	Link
Dawn	The triumphant defence of Semmerholm is an INSPIRATION to GLORY for every true DAWNISH. We send Lady Caewyn of the Gryphon’s Quill with 25 doses of liao to carry the inspiring songs of our VICTORY to every corner of the NATION so that all may hear the GOOD NEWS. We implore the YEOFOLK of this land to work the HERB GARDENS of DAWN to produce the herbs we need to achieve glorious VICTORY! 25 doses of liao provided by Dread Princess Orlene Ossiene	Dread Princess Orlene Ossiene	Every herb garden in Dawn receives bonus production for the season; Lady Caewyn can submit a song that will improve this bonus	Link
Imperial Orc	The Imperial Orc Assembly sends Bloodcrow Losak with 50 doses of liao to preach to the orcs of the Mournwold and bring them to the Way of Virtue. We encourage the Virtuous people of the Mourn, orc and human, to support these preachers and those of the Marcher Assembly. 50 doses of liao provided by Bloodcrow Losak after Winter Solstice.	Bloodcrow Losak	Begins the process of enlightening the ex-Jotun thralls as to the teachings of the Way.	Link
Varushka	Every established nation of the Empire has traditions that go back to the founding and before. Let all our people look to their past, and let our soldiers remember who they are and where they came from. We send Bogdan Bogdanovich with 50 liao to encourage all Varushkan soldiers to embrace our rich heritage. 50 Liao received from Bogdan Bogdanovich after the Winter Solstice.	Bogdan Bogdanovich	All Varushkan armies are affected by the penalties for fighting alongside Wintermark, and the Brass Coast, rather than just the Iron Helms. There will be opportunities to update the quality of their armies.	Link
General	The General Assembly recognises again the lessons to be learned from stories of the Sentinel, and the importance of the virtue of Vigilance. Let Imperial citizens be alert for all dangers, and prepared for malice. Further, let the Silent Sentinel in Casinea be consecrated as a site of pilgrimage and recognised as the likely resting place of that paragon whose inspiration and legacy has endured so many centuries. We send Rhesa, Exarch of the Scions of Ravensfell with a dose of true liao and 4 crowns to consecrate the Silent Sentinel in the name of Vigilance. One dose of true liao and 4 crowns received from Rhesa after the Winter Solstice.	Rhesa	Fortifications will be easier to build and a place of pilgrimage can be built.	Link

Imperial Lore

The ritual Infant Starts with a Blank Slate has been added to Imperial lore by the Conclave and any Imperial magician may master them following the normal rules.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Imperial Senate announced that the schema for the Bloodcloak would be added to Imperial lore, allowing any artisan to master the creation of these items. The knowledge of this magic item has now been distributed and any Imperial artisan can choose it as one of the items they know how to create..