386YE Spring Equinox interlude
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. 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.
On this page we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, these various effects. In most cases, there will be further information in the Spring Equinox 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 TBC.
Warfare
Any player 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 an adventure. 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.
The Bone Pilgrimage
- Imperial Orcs
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 an 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:
Fleets
- Imperial fleets can trade with foreign ports and receive valuable goods
- Some ports give special bonuses or suffer special penalties
- They can also take special actions such as engaging in independent action, or embarking on an adventure
Certain trading destinations apply special effects if a fleet visits them, summarized on the Winter Solstice wind of fortune page.
Some fleets also have the opportunity to take part in special adventures that provide specific rewards. These options are found in the downtime menu as dropdowns. If you don't want to do something specific, your fleet will automatically participate in privateering - the default independent action available to every fleet captain.
Escort Imperial Shipping
- Any Freeborn can protect Imperial shipping in the Bay of Catazar from Grendel ships
- In place of normal production, a basic fleet receives 3 random materials, 4 random herbs, and 24 rings
The mandate enacted by Ahraz i Guerra has focused the Freeborn on protecting ships across the Bay of Catazar from the Grendel. The previous penalty from the Grendel on all fleets on the Bay of Catazar has been removed and any Brass Coast fleet can take part in an adventure focused on avoiding fighting the Grendel.
Other Effects
Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarised these effects here.
Serpent's Curse
- Congregations in Urizen receive two fewer votes and one fewer liao
- The effect lasts until the start of the Winter Solstice 386YE
Following the repudiation of Sulemaine by the Urizen national assembly, in the light of their prior endorsement of the so-called "Paragon of Blades", their moral authority has been significantly undermined. For the next year, every congregation in Urizen receives two fewer votes and one fewer liao. As detailed in the Broken Sword wind of fortune.
Feast and Frost
- Every mana site in the Brass Coast provides one fewer mana crystal, and every herb garden loses three drams of true vervain from their production until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE
- In return Tharim provides support to the Fire of the South
Following a declaration of concord by the Golden Pyramid during the 385YE Summer Solstice, the eternal Tharim, the Bound King of the Thrice-cursed Court is free to feast on mana sites and herb gardens across the Brass Coast. A terrible black frost will wither plants and drain the essence from crystals to satiate Tharim's endless hunger. All affected resources in the territory lose 1 mana crystal or 3 drams of true vervain as appropriate until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE. In return, the Bound King will provide a cadre of steel-bound knights throughout this period to support the Fire of the South army.
Dho'uala's Tithe
- Fleets from Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg continue to suffer a 1 rank penalty to production
- The Custodian of the Ivarsgard Docks and the Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak have had some of the prices for their ministries increased
The rise of the sovereign Dho'uala in the Semmerlak once again impedes fleets based in Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg reducing their production by one rank. Any Dawnish, Varushkan, or Holberg character is free to create their own eerie tales of brushes with the terror of the Semmerlak. The examples given in the Underwater sunshine wind of fortune should provide enough inspiration for a ghostly tale; these are not glorious battles on the deck of a ship or hordes of horrors clawing up the side of the hull. Rather they are spooky encounters, weird lights, strange disappearances, feelings of being watched, and odd things seen in the depths.
Imperial titles related to ports on the Semmerlak continue to be affected. The price for cerulean mazzarine from the Sarcophan captains dealing with the Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks is still increased by a fifth. The Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak continues to be unable to purchase ilium but they are still able to purchase wains of weirwood, albeit at increased prices.