381YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

Interlude

The Spring Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is June 16th, 2017). However, there are a number of significant things arising from the Winter Solstice that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on 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.

Fighting

Warfare

As usual, players who control a military unit have several options to choose between. Anyone who chooses the option to support an army will be able to review the in-character orders given by each general, as well as learning where each Imperial army is deployed over the downtime period.

The Imperial Senate has given the Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies the power to control where the Imperial guerdon applies and that power has been employed. Until and unless the Quartermaster amends the list only military units supporting the following armies will receive a share of the guerdon:

• Black Thorns
• Hounds of Glory
• Wolves of War
• Liathaven Spy network

This means that a military unit that supports any other army, or that chooses to defend a fortification or assist a special project such as a spy network, will receive nothing other than their standard 18 rings personal income, and will not be counted in the guerdon calculation.

At Crow's Ridge

The Empire has dispatched a Varushkan army, the Iron Helms, to arrest Dogri Thulebane and his supporters. As described in the Wind of Fortune, this will prevent Dogri from launching his raid against the Thule - but the thane and his forces will not surrender to the Varushkans. They intend to fight.

Even though the raid is not going ahead, any captain can travel to Crow's Ridge to offer their support to Dogri. The same precautions that would have allowed captains to avoid the threat of prosecution for supporting the raid will allow those prepared to stand against their fellow Imperial citizens an equal measure of protection. Warriors who aid the Thulebane will cover their faces and their shields, so even those who attend will not know who has taken part. The only way anyone is going to get caught supporting Dogri Thulebane is if they are stupid enough to tell people what they've done. Of course, Dogri will know who has supported him, but the Thane is notoriously loyal to his supporters. It's impossible to imagine him sharing the information with anyone. But make no mistake - in the eyes of the law, fighting alongside Dogri against the Iron Helms is significantly worse than raiding the Thule.

Anyone with a military unit can select Dogri Thulebane as an army to support in the usual drop-down menu when they are choosing where to assign their unit.

There will definitely be more about this in the Spring Equinox Winds of Fortune.

Peace in the Barrens

The Imperial Senate has signed a five-year peace treaty with the Druj. This means that the Druj are now foreigners, and it is legal to trade with them. Indeed, an opportunity to swap white granite to the Druj in return for mithril can be undertaken by the senator who raised the motion this downtime (they would need to put the white granite in their inventory, and e-mail Profound Decisions).

Developments in Therunin

Shortly after the Winter Solstice, the Great Forest orcs (late of the Barrens and more recently of Therunin) apparently began preparations to break camp. Based in the Lower Tarn Valley they calmly informed the Navarr that as the Empire was disinclined to assist them, they would have no choice but to find a home somewhere that would. A few days after that, funds were provided to aid the orcs in surviving the Winter; they have expressed their intention to attend the Spring Equinox to resolve their status as guests of the Navarr once and for all.

Trading

Jarmish Trade

The Imperial Senate has been seeking closer ties with the Principalities of Jarm (as described in the recent winds of fortune). This means that Imperial traders who visit Kavor, Vezak, or Rigia will receive a little something extra in their pockets - an ingot of green iron, a mote of crystal mana, or a measure of dragonbone respectively.

Thirst for liao

The Axou are thirsty for liao as detailed in last events Winds of Fortune. This means that for the coming season, anyone with a congregation will be able to get a full crown, rather than 12 rings, for each dose they choose to sell.

Large Scale Effects

Wondrous Forests of the Night

Two potent Urizen covens - the Coven of Umbral Reflection, and the Spire of the Auric Horizon - have placed a mighty enchantment over the entire Empire. This potent night magic is on-par with the recent powerful Spring enchantment it will increase the resources provided by every forest in every nation. It also causes everyone in the Empire to experience especially vivid dreams of fantastical vistas, mysterious encounters, romance and adventure.

High lineaged naga (it's up to you if you are high lineaged) may feel energised and enthused during this period, seeing an increase in their typically gregarious, passionate, and avaricious natures. There is a superstitious belief that more naga will be born during the next three months, but there is no clear evidence to support this (perhaps the current season will provide some?).

There will be increased incidences of people encountering Night regio and the heralds of Night eternals. Indeed, the eternals of Night themselves may well become more active, and more interested in the activities of Imperial citizens as a result of this ritual.

Expect to learn more when the Spring Equinox Winds of Fortune go live shortly before the next event.

Whittletown

The Tassato Chamber of Commerce has voted to allow the people of Whittle to buy real estate in Mestra as described in Winds of Fortune. This may have longer-term implications, but for now it means that 50 ingots of green iron are being spread among the businesses and farms of the territory. They won't show up as part of your production, as they are allocated after downtime closes.

Angry Seas

Powerful magical storms have struck Redoubt and Spiral. Among other things, this means that any ship captain based in either of these Urizen territories will find their ability to trade or support an Imperial navy reduced by a quarter this season.

Miscellaneous

The Ritual Raiment of House Bourné

With the aid of the Empire's leading fashion-and-gossip magazine The Looking Glass, a Sarvosan guild called House Bourné has revealed the existence of six schemata, each providing a pattern for a magic robe that empowers ritual magic from a single realm, through the combined power of dramaturgy and the hearth magic of girding. Each raiment also comes with a potent roleplaying effect tied to the Persona it draws power from.

Following an announcement in the Imperial Conclave on Friday night, the House has thrown open its doors to any Imperial artisan who wishes to visit and study one or more of the schema, to learn how to duplicate their effects. The six ritual raiments are:

• The Bishop's Ensemble, which enhances the practice of Day magic.
• The Captain's Garb, which enhances the practice of Summer magic.
• The Doctor's Attire, which enhances the practice of Winter magic.
• The Mountebank's Guise, which enhances the practice of Spring magic.
• The Prince's Raiment, which enhances the practice of Autumn magic.
• The Semblance of the Witch, which enhances the practice of Night magic.

The schema remain the property of House Bourné - the only way to learn them is to spend some time visiting their estate in Sarvos - but mechanically any character can learn one or more of these recipes in the normal way - when they pick the artisan skill, or when they buy the extra item skill. It is not possible for someone who knows how to make one to simply teach someone else - although House Bourné is not placing any restriction on who can learn the patterns as long as they are Imperial citizens.

With these robes, it is now possible for a ritual magician to be bonded to three magic items, greatly enhancing their ranks of ritual lore (within the limitations of the normal rules for additional ranks).

New Rituals

Four new rituals have been added to Imperial lore by the Imperial Conclave: Gidyon's Refrain, Lions of Phoenix Reach, Stalwart Stand on Solid Ground, and Hammers of the Brilliant Shore. Any character who is eligible to master a new ritual can master one of these rituals - once we have confirmation from the civil service that the requirements for a Declaration of Imperial Lore have been met.

Detente in Sermersuaq

The raids by the odd hunters that have been going on for the last six months or so have petered out. It is not obvious if this is a temporary respite, or whether Savik Summerstorm has secured a permanent resolution.