383YE Summer Solstice 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
A Dream That Can Last
- Citizens of Holberg; Imperial Orc and General assemblies
During the Spring Equinox the Imperial Senate ceded the region of Misericorde in Holberg to the Sand Fishers of Ossium. With the assistance of the civil service, the orcs abandoned Bittershore and have crossed the Semmerlak to claim the region for their own. They have quickly established a number of small villages, taking advantage of the abundance of natural wildlife and venturing far afield to explore their new homes.
As the Senate has recognised the Sand Fishers as foreigners, there is a blossoming trade with League citizens in rare herbs, rare delicacies, and exotic hides. Yet there are also a few problems - the orcs do not much care for the city of Holberg itself, preferring to explore the marshes of Ennerlund, Rebeshof, and the Morass. They are leery of the deep woods of Utterlund fearing the bandits that dwell there - and perhaps reminded all-too-keenly of the Druj who once ruled them.
Still, it seems the addition of the orcs to Holberg has been a positive step - one ripe with opportunity for the burghers of the League. You can read more about this situation here.
Four Strong Winds
- Brass Coast citizens; Freeborn assembly; Military unit captains; Imperial Senate
At the Spring Equinox the Freeborn Assembly passed clear statements about securing the future prosperity of their people; likewise the Imperial Senate sent a message that they do not intent to abandon Segura to the western invaders. Despite the troubles blighting the Brass Coast, with barbarians threatening every territory except Madruga, the Freeborn continue to look to the future, refusing to be bowed by orc barbarians.
The words of the Synod and the Senate have created a wealth of opportunities. A mithril exchange that may help raise the materials to restore the Burning Falcon; proposals by the talented architect Angelina i Duarte i Riqueza to strengthen Segura; an offer to pay a bounty to any Imperial who will come to fight the Lasambrian Jotun; the chance to build a salvage port in Madruga; of arguments over the idea of theft versus the idea of taking from a defeated foe; and of a chance to secure the Broken Shore Bounty.
If nothing else, the people of the Brass Coast will be busy during the Summer Solstice... You can learn the details of these opportunities - and arguments - here
Old Ways
- League, Wintermark, Marcher, and Varushkan assembly
During the Spring Equinox, the long-discussed refurbishment of the Basilica of Seven Doors in Bastion was commissioned by the Imperial Senate. With the assistance of the Custodes Clavium, the restoration was quickly completed, and the previously-lapsed position of Speaker of the Highborn Assembly reinstated.
As anticipated, with the Speaker for the Highborn Assembly restored to prominence, other national assemblies are taking time to consider improving their own organisation. The bishops of the League propose that Capodomus Cathedral be reinvigorated; the Crows of Wintermark point to the parlous state of the Hall of Rund; and Varushkan wise ones consider the role of the Tender of the Hearth. Some ecclesiastical scholars, especially among the Highborn, imagine that a little more organisation in the national assemblies could only be for the good of the Synod as a whole.
Meanwhile Abbot Matilda of Becktunn, a Marcher - a people with a reputation for going their own way - refutes the idea that their assembly needs any more direction but embraces the idea that the Empire would probably benefit from a little of the common sense only her peeople can provide - and from the example of a long lost exemplar of Ambition.
You can read about these proposals here.
Walk On
- Priests of every nation; Grey Pilgrims; General assembly; Marcher and Dawnish national assemblies
The grey pilgrims traverse the trods as they seek to weaken the vallorn. They are guided by the statements passed by the Highborn Assembly and act with the support of the Assembly of the Nine. While they walk, they speak with those they meet - to question them about their faith.
The goal of their inquiry is to encourage the faithful to consider their beliefs, to think about their faith and to ask themselves if any part of what they are doing is contradicted by doctrine. Such conversations are often challenging. Many find it difficult to answer the questions the pilgrims provoke. Priests across the Empire have noticed absences from their congregations as citizens sought answers elsewhere.
With the Synod about to convene at Anvil for the Summer Solstice, the chance has arrived to provide answers to the questions raised by the grey pilgrims - presuming such answers exist of course.
You can read about potential answers to the grey pilgrims' questions here.
Weight of the World
- Varushka; Military Council; Imperial Senate; Ser Ancél Watcher
The Empire has conquered the territory of Ossium and assigned it to the nation of Varushka. During the Spring Equinox the Imperial Synod passed a number of important statements and mandates, including judgements intended to welcome the people of Ossium to Varushka, to encourage the residents of the newest Imperial territory to embrace the Way, and a call to arms to deal with the most immediate threat to new settlers - the miasma left behind by the Druj.
The work of making Ossium part of the Empire is hindered in part by the presence of the Druj miasma that still lingers, threatening to suffocate the life from the people of the land. Fortunately thanks to the virtuous work of Ser Ancél Watcher, the Empire has managed to find the first two of the pillars that anchor the miasma. From experience there is likely to be one in each region in the territory, so this is only the beginning - but it is an important step forward none-the-less.
Yet even without the miasma pillars there are still problems that need to be addressed; the territory is currently defended only by the Thule and few of the people living in Ossium have any reason to trust them. Then there is the increasingly pressing question of what is to be done with the many, many orcs that live there - not all of them are as tractable as the Sand Fishers.
Other Events
INSERT OTHER EVENTS HERE
Mandates
A number of mandates were upheld at the Spring Equinox and enacted in the months that followed. You can find a complete list here.
Following our new rules about mandates, the majority have already begun to have their effect.
Imperial Lore
One ritual was entered into Imperial lore following the Spring Equinox.
- Tithe of Bats raised by Brat Umbral Path
The ritual is now available to be mastered by Imperial magicians.
Other Media
Insert other media here.