386YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune
Overview
Over the past three months, events have taken place which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. These are the winds of fortune, counterparts to the Winds of War which detail the Empire's military campaigns. They lay out situations, and usually include things that characters can do to take advantage of opportunities or to resolve problems. In almost every case, they start with a piece of flavour text. This fiction helps introduce the wind of fortune, or draws out a particular theme or element. Often, it represents a viewpoint that one or more NPCs might have in-character. 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 if they want to use it in character.
The body of the wind of fortune describes situations and lays out ways players can engage with them. Except where we explicitly talk about something being "rumoured" or use a phrase like "some might say..." the details of a wind of fortune are factual. They represent briefing material presented by the civil service or similar authoritative sources and represents something the average educated citizen would acknowledge as a reliable truth. Unless we specify otherwise, we're also being as thorough as possible. This information doesn't need further checking in-character. It's not opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.
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 could know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months. It's perfectly acceptable to turn up to Empire having read only a few Winds of Fortune that directly interest your character; part of the fun on the field can come from learning about situations and opportunities in other parts of the game.
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.
Winds of Fortune
Promising Light
- Imperial citizens, National Assemblies
The Throne has the unique power to address the Empire, to communicate with every Imperial citizen. The first such address, the inaugural address traditionally made immediately after their coronation, is seen as setting the tenor for their reign and has a particular impact on the people of the Empire. Especially as it is usually accompanied by the festivities that surround the ascension of a new Throne. In this case, the Empress has sent out a powerful call for unity, but also laid out a vision of Imperial destiny that many find particularly appealing - especially given it coincides with an Empire-wide party.
You can learn about the address, and the festivities that accompany it, in the Promising light wind of fortune.
New Port, Old Wine
- The Marches, especially Bregas, Imperial Senate, the Throne
The overwhelming majority of Bregas are delighted that the Jotun have been banished from the territory - although you'd probably not know it just by looking at them. The pretender Mathilda Fisher is no more, and her body has been sent away to rest with whatever honour the orcs are prepared to offer. Yet there's still people in the western fenland with a grudge against the Empire... but Empress Vesna's inaugural address reaches out to them just as much as it does to any other Imperial citizens.
You can learn about the situation in Bregasland, and the impact both of the address and other recent actions, in the New port, old wine wind of fortune.
The Three Pillars
- Urizen and the League, especially those from Spiral, Imperial Senate
There is open rebellion in Spiral among those Urizen who struggle with the decision to allocate the territory to the League. Keen to avoid the rebellion spreading, the Empire has made concerted efforts to meet the rebels demands where possible. The words of the Empress have come at an opportune moment, just as the Imperial Senate were wrestling with a way to satisfy the demands of one of the Urizeni factions.
You can learn about the situation with the Urizeni rebels, and the opportunity to reach an understanding with at least one of them, in the The three pillars wind of fortune.
Dream to Me (Plenipotentiary)
- Archmages; Imperial Magicians; House deGauvin and Rhydian de Rondell; Emperor Vesna; Cabalist of the Hollow Stone, the Custodian of the Bleak Tower, and the Keeper of the Tower of the Fal; Witness of Conclave; musicians and artists
Half-a-dozen eternals have responded to the plenipotentiary messages sent by the six Archmages during the Winter Solstice. Four have agreed to a meeting of some kind, while two have decided to offer boons directly to Imperial magicians in response to the missives they have been sent. At least one set of offers is likely to prove... problematic.
You can learn about the responses of the eternals, and the messages they have sent, in the Dream to me Wind of Fortune.
Hurricane Party
- Imperial magicians; militia and magistrates
The eternal Siakha offers her boons indiscriminately to Imperial magicians, should they be prepared to reach out and take them. Given the Mother of Wrecks has been declared an enemy of the Empire by the imperial Conclave, it is quite illegal to actually take advantage of these offers, or to be the beneficiaries of them. Still, the offers are there... as is the spectre of the chaos and destruction that they might bring if anyone chooses to accept them.
You can learn about the boons, both with regard to storms and savagery, in the Hurricane party wind of fortune.
An Angry Blade (Appraisal)
- Imperial Senate; Quaymaster of the Elosian Docks; General of the Red Wind Corsairs
During the Winter Solstice the Imperial Senate commissioned Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra to appraise options to deploy fleet captains to disrupt enemy naval and logistical operations in the Bay of Catazar. Graciana is an excellent choice for the appraisal, more than her reputation for novel and imaginative solutions, she was once a successful corsair herself. Surely if anyone can find a way for Imperial fleets to take the fight to the Grendel, it is Graciana?
You can learn what her appraisal has concluded, and the opportunities to deal with the Grendel navies, in the An angry blade wind of fortune.
Parched Earth (Appraisal)
- Imperial Senate; Unfettered Mind and Silver Chalice; Mistress of the Dust Parador and Hakima of Salt and Sand; Brass Coast
The second Appraisal the imperial Senate commissioned during the Winter Solstice was to send Lutomysla Niegoslava to find a solution to the Dry Patrician problem in Madruga. At the same time the Imperial Conclave agreed that the Unfettered Mind would focus their arcane acumen on the problem, and the Imperial Synod asked the Silent Bell to investigate the provenance of the problem. Not before time - it seems that the Dry Patricians are engaged in an attempt to spread the blight into neighbouring territories, and it will take the might of Imperial heroes to stop them.
You can learn about the findings of the appraisal and the Conclave investigation, as well as some proposals regarding dealing with future threats on a similar scale, in the Parched earth wind of fortune.
Long Shadows
- Imperial Orcs, especially the Steward of the Mines of Gulhule; Golden Pyramid order; Imperial Senate; Minister of Historical Research
The Imperial Senate has paid a hundred thrones to encourage miners, prospectors and skilled labourers to travel to Skarsind and search the mountains for valuable deposits of metal that can feed the hungry forges of the Ethengraw. They have been aided in their quest by diviners, recruiters, investors, and entrepreneurs from the Golden Pyramid who have come at the request of the Grandmaster to lend whatever support they can. Together, they seek out opportunities to enrich the Imperial Orcs - and the last three seasons have proven potentially quite lucrative.
You can learn about the opportunities they have uncovered, and an unexpected number of mysteries, in the Long shadows wind of fortune.
Cities of the Iron Labyrinth
- Imperial magicians (except Varushka); Imperial Conclave; Ashborn Trosk
The Archmage of Autumn has requested that the eternal Estavus provide aid in the Empire's wars. The City of Shikal has responded by offering opportunities directly to Imperial magicians. As always, the Forgemistress has a limitless desire for ingots and measures to feed her innumerable forges and workshops. Her emissaries have asked the civil service to distribute information on three offers that may be of interest. Where the City of Flame and Stone leads, other cities are not far behind; emissaries of Gold and Lead have leaked details of certain deals that are especially appealing to their brokers this season, and the Lictors of the Iron Oubliette have announced their intention to offer boons to the newly completed Autumn Hammers army.
You can find details of the war-trade of Estavus, and the opportunities from the other two cities, in the Cities of the Iron Labyrinth Wind of Fortune.
Sound the Bells
- Urizen, the Marches; people of Sarvos, Necropolis, Redoubt, and Spiral; Grandmasters of the Conclave; Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies, Steward of the Sarvos Mana Exchange, Steward of the Tassato Mana Exchange; Arthur Payne, Bella Flowerfields, Brother Harvest, Robyn Of Bassingham, Saura Penny, and Eli Scrump; Ambassador to Axos, Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy, Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves, Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic; Crystal Architect of the Spires, Arcane Architect; Champion of Prosperity,Imperial Spymaster, High Exorcist
As Winter turns to Spring, the Empire is plagued by bad weather; terrible storms wrack the southern coast. Some blame the Empress of Sharks for these tempests, but the wise know that the cause lies closer to home. Curses hang heavy on the territories that reach the coast - an attempt to drown the arrogant Grendel - but Spring magic will not be governed and the pirates of the Broken Shore are not the only ones to suffer. If that were all, it might be bad enough, but the malevolent magic does not stop at the shore. The territories of Urizen are pummeled with thick drifts of snow and hail. Magic is the source of this foul weather, but politics is the cause. The febrile conflict between Urizen and the Marches started this curse war - can anything be done to halt its course before the effects spread further and more Marchers are declared sorcerors?
You can learn about the magical storms and foul weather, and the wide-reaching effects on Imperial citizens, in the Sound the bells wind of fortune.
Into the spin
- Imperial Senate; each nation
The most recent season of war saw Imperial forces victorious in Mareave. Their conquest of Clisearn has turned the tide in the eastern Grendel territory. It is now the business of the Imperial Senate to assign the territory to one of the Imperial nations. Whichever nation embraces Mareave will have its work cut out to ensure that the territory, in turn, embraces them back.
You can learn about the situation in Mareave, and the challenges that will face whichever nation it is assigned to, in the Into the spin wind of fortune.
It's Only Me
- Sociable astronomancers; people with an interest in ghosts, especially stewards of the dead; Holberg meat and victual entrepeneurs; League doctors and experts in magical maladies; Jaromira Orlov and Jereni Hinda Bogdanov, the Burgher of Ketsov; Aniera Exiles End, and the Navarr guides especially those who preach Ambition; Morwenna Withered Rose, Brat Umbral Path, the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path, the Bursar of the Conclave, and the Archmage of Night, among others; Urizen with an interest in rebels; people who know Theodosia of Ipotavo
People come to Anvil from all over the Empire and beyond. Some travel discreetly, others make a point of ensuring people know they are coming. As often as not the latter group do this to ensure that the people they want to meet with are expecting them. This season there is news of an astronomantic symposium attracting magicians eager to come together with their peers; stewards of the dead shepherding spirits; serious sausage business; a doctor and a patient with a peculiar malady; two groups of Ketsov who appear to be unaware of each other; some Navarr guides who are not exactly coming to Anvil so much as arranging for Anvil to come to them; the Globbersnotch; and some last-minute rebels.
You can learn about these assorted arrivals, and at least one departure, in the It's only me wind of fortune.
Momento Mori
- Dawn and Varushka, especially people in Weirwater and Karov; Overseer of the Westward Road, Castellan of Spiral Castle, Boyar of the Iron Roads
During the Summer Solstice, an undying horror roused from slumber on the borders between Karov (where it is known as the Schlacta of Rot) and Weirwater (where it is called the Deadwood Knight). It issued its traditional challenge, but something went awry and rather than returning to decades long slumber the beast has instead begun a rampage on either side of the border between the two nations. Its attacks are becoming bolder as the strength of its unliving retinue increases. At the moment it is believed to have a force of perhaps two hundred or more warriors, but as the numbers increase it becomes capable of attacking larger targets. The speed with which the cadaver-commander's legion is growing can only increase.
You can find accounts of the situation in the north-eastern Empire, along with notes about visitors, opportunities, and skirmishes, in the Momento mori wind of fortune.
The Pride of Gerallt Brackensong
- General Assembly; the Proud; people of Navarr
During the Winter Solstice, the Imperial Synod passed the first ever writs of consecration. This new judgement governs the use of true liao to create inspirational locations to guide and inspire the virtuous. The virtue assembly of Pride enacted one of these judgements calling for the creation of a memorial dedicated to the Navarr guide and exemplar Gerallt Brackensong. The civil service have worked to provide opportunities, identifying key locations where such a memorial might have profound effects, and provide true inspiration to pilgrims of the Way.
You can read about the locations they have identified, and the opportunities they have presented, in the The Pride of Gerallt Brackensong wind of fortune.
The Ambition of Thrace
- General Assembly; the Ambitious; people of the Imperial Orcs
The second writ of consecration was that raised by the Ambition assembly, seeking the creation of an inspirational location dedicated to the memory of the leader of the Orc Rebellion, the orc exemplar Thrace. Despite assessing a number of locations, including several in Varushka and Highguard, the Civil Service are forced to concede that the only reasonable location to build such a memorial is just where everyone already knew it should go - in chilly Skarsind.
You can read about the inspiration such a location would offer to Imperial Orcs across the Empire, and the challenge of finding the right person to perform the consecration, in the The Ambition of Thrace wind of fortune.
The Prosperity of Good Walder
- General Assembly; the Prosperous especially the Prosperity assembly
The final writ of consecration upheld at the Winter Solstice concerned the beloved paragon of Prosperity Good Walder. Jolly and judgemental by turns, the lessons of Good Walder remind people that the virtuous should be rewarded, and the wicked should be punished. Most loved in the Marches, it's no surprise that the locations the civil service have identified are all found in that nation, in Mitwold andUpwold. But the inspiration of Good Walder is truly Imperial in scope - people in every nation know his name and tell his (or perhaps her) stories. The big question facing the General Assembly is which of the many stories of Good Walder to pick to best inspire Imperial pilgrims?
You can learn about the three locations, and the costs of providing a suitable focus for the inspirational location, in the The Prosperity of Good Walder wind of fortune.
Fighting Fish
- Marchers of Bregasland; the Loyalty assembly
It's been a harsh winter in the Marshes, but foresight and a reasonable harvest have kept everyone warm through the worst of the weather. Now it's Spring, and time for planting. Developments in Bregasland and arguments with distant neighbours for a start. Yet the long, cold winter that has kept people close to home has given people time to chew over old business, and the Loyalty Assembly have certainly given them plenty to gossip about. Them and the rest of the Empire, perhaps.
You can learn about the situation with Bushel Skyes, and the impact of the Loyalty assembly, in the Fighting fish wind of fortune.
Other Events
There are a number of other events and situations which are noteworthy, but which for whatever reason have not led to a full Wind of Fortune in their own right.
Broken Sword
The mandate encouraging the sword scholars to scatter to the four winds, spreading Sulemaine's words as they go was raised by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer and received the backing of the greater majority of the Urizen Assembly. It was enacted by Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer who spread word of the decision of the Synod and the sword scholars throughout Urizen. A number of statements of principle were raised at the same time. The consequences of these landmark judgements are detailed in the Resolution section of last season's Broken sword wind of fortune.
Their departure means there will be no new sword scholars in Urizen. Those who attend Anvil now will be the last of that tradition. (OOC Note: we have removed the sword scholar archetype from the character creation options to reflect this change).
The Greatest City in the World
The matter of what commission the city of Holberg should build to celebrate its status as The greatest city in the world was settled by judgement of Hildebrand von Holberg who called on the citizens of Holberg to build a giant temple-orphanage. The cities of the League have a fine tradition of such efforts, with the Church of the Little Mother and rival institutions providing shelter and sustenance to orphans. Such are their efforts that the prosperity and wellbeing of the Empire's orphans is being largely dealt with by the existing orphanages.
None-the-less, some people are eager to create a grand new building to support the orphans in Holberg. Details of the potential commission are given in the Resolution section of last season's The greatest city in the world wind of fortune.
Trade Summary
TBC
Mandates
- You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.
A number of mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod last season. As long as the named priest provided sufficient liao, those mandates have been automatically enacted.
Winter Conjunctions
- Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here
During the Winter Solstice, there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate identified by the Imperial prognosticators. In each case a band of Imperial heroes used that conjunction to travel to a location far from Anvil and intervene in an ongoing situation. These are the known outcomes of those conjunctions. In the case of battles, it is important to remember that the Military Council can only make use of two of the major conjunctions each summit, choosing which to take advantage of during the Muster.
Major Conjunctions
| Location | Opportunity | Opposition | Link | Outcome |
| Madruga | Intercede at the Lyceum | Grendel | A beacon of smoke | The Shadow regio was empowered, preventing the Grendel from looting the Lyceum |
| Madruga | Prevent the destruction of the Shining Pillar | Grendel | A beacon of smoke | Not taken; the Shining Pillar was destroyed |
| Mareave | Influence the complex politics in Mareave | Grendel | Between stone and salt | The Grendel warbeasts were slaughtered, Eoradal was ceded to the Empire; the Dracaild of Rathmonna were paid off, protecting Imperial supplies line for at least a year; the soldiers around the Red Ibis were successfully distracted and the scoundrel was paid off, information will go to the Regario Dossier; The North Mareave Trading Consortium were paid; the map to Rucraic's Aerie was recovered and targetted by the Seventh Wave; the mercenaries of the Gaineamh Tine were not hired and they later performed a heist on Fundindelve |
Normal Conjunctions
| # | Location | Responsibility | Overview | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brocéliande, Greenweald, Crangton Copse | Knight of the Greenwood | Rescue the knights-errant | Knight-errant rescued and returned to Anvil safely |
| 2 | Necropolis, Coursmouth, Hedra's Meadow | Champion of Courage | Defeat the Grendel | Grendel defeated and information uncovered |
| 3 | Therunin, Sweetglades, Circle of Rot | Spear of the Seven | Distract the vallornspawn | The vallornspawn were successfully distracted |
| 3.5 | Therunin, Sweetglades, Circle of Rot | Archmage of Spring | Perform the Dance of Navarr and Thorn | The Dance of Navarr and Thorn successfully performed |
| 4 | Madruga, Siroc Plains, Plains of the Tavin | Ambassador to Otkodov | Rescue the captives | Captive Thule warlocks rescued and returned to Anvil |
| 5 | Kahraman, Gambit, Path of Idina | Azure Sutannir | Rescue Erdene Bataguin | Erdene Bataguin successfully rescued and returned to Anvil |
| 6 | Skallahn, Iron Stand, Hralfstor's Orchard | Imperial Seer | Stop the Jarl of Greenwall | Jarl of Greenwall killed, the fyrd of Iron Stand can not be raised until start of Spring Equionx 387YE |
| 7 | Liathaven, Liaven's Glen, Bawn of Daffyd | Imperial Advisor for the Feni | Stop the Jotun | The Jotun warband were not stopped. The Feni of the settlement are assumed to have been slaughtered. |
| 8 | Redoubt, Naris, The Elosian Grove | Elosian Architect | Defeat the Grendel | Grendel defeated and Great Harbour of Elos unharmed |
| 9 | Sarvos, Uccelini, Isle of Quiet | Custodian of Glass Point Cove | Defeat the Grendel | Grendel defeated and Glass Point Cove unharmed |
| 10 | Madruga, Lightsea, Ezmara's Thicket | Hakima of Salt and Sand | Reclaim the heirloom | Grendel defeated and heirloom reclaimed |
| 11 | Hahnmark, Kronemark, Dun's Hurst | Caretaker of New Dunhall | Stop the heralds | Scions defeated, and New Dunhall stands |
| 12 | Upwold, The Heath, Sammy's Paling | Custodian of Sutton Stone Quarries | Stop the heralds | Scions defeated and Sutton Stone Quarries remains protected |
| 13 | Astolat, Groveyard, Coppice of Roses | Knight-protector of Autumn | Stop the heralds | Scions defeated and the rose garden of the Castle of Thorns remains |
| 14 | Kallavesa, Kallavesa Marsh, Road to Masi | Woundbinder of the Mark | Stop the heralds | Scions defeated and the apothecaries and herbalists of Hufi's Glen saved |
| 15 | Miaren, Goldglades, Golden Meadow | Spear of the Seven | Stop the heralds | Scions defeated and the forests of Goldeglades protected |
| 16 | Bastion, Sybella Cross, Tamar's Stand | Champion of Loyalty | Reclaim (or destroy) Oath-heart | Oath-heart has been corrupted and remains in the hands of the scions |
| 17 | Miekarova, Perumaki, Wilkza | Senator for Miekarova | Return the villagers to their barrow | Risen villages content that their hospitality had been accepted and have returned to their barrow |