381YE Autumn 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.
Wind of Fortune
The Art of Restraining Power (Trade Winds)
- Fleet captains; congregation leaders; ambassadors and diplomats
The Empire is not the only power in the world. Trade is a big part of it - but there is much more to trade than simply moving goods from one place to another. You can find a quick round up of things related to the current state of affairs, with an emphasis on trading - and a digression into the state of international relations - here.
Desperate Affairs, Desperate Measures
- The Brass Coast; fleet captains of all nations
Over the last several months, the orc pirates of the Broken Shore have shown more than usual organisation. They launched two vicious raids against the people of the Bay of Catazaar - first to try and attack the fisherfolk, the second to try and enslave the people of the Isle of Zemress. The captains of the Imperial fleets have not stood idly by and instead launched counter-raids of their own against the dastardly southern orcs. You can learn about the outcomes, and a few new developments here.
Empty Handed
- Wealthy folks, especially those with an interest in peculiar rarities.
Since the demise of the Bourse Private Auction, entrepreneurs and the desperate alike have made their way to Anvil seeking to tap the rich markets that may be found there. Markets such as the traditional Varushkan Winter Market, which takes place during the Autum Equinox. This season, there is news of a fallen star in the Marches; an antique artifact belonging to a famous Dawnish enchanter; a rare tea recipe and a herald associated with the Night realm; and some peculiar potions belonging to the Great Forest Orcs. You can learn about these opportunities here.
More Love, Less Paperwork
- The League assembly; the General Assembly; the Virtue Assemblies of Ambition, Loyalty, Pride, and Prosperity
Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, Master of the Butchers Bank, Treasurer of the Bloody Butchers of Temeschwar, former custodian of the Fortress of Salt, former overseer of the Regario_Dossier, former Civilian Commissioner for the League, and architect - or at least financier - for a significant number of interesting things made out of stone. An inspiration to many, his name associated with a number of great works. Philanthropist, Merchant-prince, visionary. You can learn a little about why his name is on everyone's lips here.
Out of Void, Out of Chaos (Conjunction)
- Primarily magicians versed in the lore of night magic
In the night sky, the Wanderer hangs in a peculiar conjunction with the Great Wyrm. The stars often reflect events happening in the world, but this time it seems that they may also be reflecting events in the realm of Night. Two powerful rituals are acting strangely, and two inhabitants of the night realm are acting significantly more oddly than usual. You can learn more about this strange conjunction, and these odd events here.
The Parents of Security
- Citizens of the League, especially Savosans
The League national assembly has made several statements of principle regarding the rebuilding and security of the city of Sarvos, as well as a statement condemning the army of the Iron Helms ... who have just spent three months in Sarvos. Some of the repercussions of these two related events, as well as a quick update on the fate of the orcs studying at the College of the Liberated can be found here.
The Place You Called Home
- The Navarr of Therunin; Imperial Senate; Imperial Conclave
The orcs of the Great Forest tribe came to Therunin as exiles fleeing the Druj. Their presence presented several challenges to the Empire. During the Summer Solstice, the Imperial Senate ratified a treaty designed to define the relationship between the displaced orcs and the Empire. You can learn about the repercussions of this treaty here.
Praise and Blame
- Dawn, Highguard, Navarr, Varushka, Urizen
- This wind of fortune is a counterpart to the mother of morality
The Iron Helms army continues to promote debate.The assemblies of Urizen, Highborn, and Dawn have joined their voices with Navarr and Varushka in sanctioning the use of cruelty and fear on the battlefield. Several significant opportunities have arisen as a result of the Synod's ongoing discussion of what is, or is not, too high a price to pay for victory. You can learn more about these opportunities here.
Proud to Serve (Imperial Address)
- All Imperial citizens
The Imperatrix has used her power to address the Empire to allow Heilyn Bronwen's Rest, the Warmage, to dispatch a message to all Imperial citizens. You can read it here.
The Mother of Morality
- Wintermark, Brass Coast, and League
- This wind of fortune is a counterpart to praise and blame
The infamously cruel Varushkan army continue to be divisive. The Wintermark and Freeborn assemblies have unambiguously rejected them. The priests of the League have spoken out against the use of fear as a weapon - although to be fair their assembly was far from united in that condemnation. Several significant opportunities have arisen as a result of the Synod's ongoing discussion of what is, or is not, too high a price to pay for victory. You can learn more about some of them here..
Roundup
This represents short reminders of things that are still ongoing, or resolutions of events from the Summer Solstice that are not a Wind of Fortune of their own.
Mandates
During the Summer Solstice, the Synod successfully enacted six mandates. In each case, the mandate was raised and passed by the appropriate assembly, and the named priest succesfully used the appropriate amount of liao to enact the desired effect.
| Assembly | Mandate | Priest | Outcome |
| Dawn | The National Assembly sends Odelina de Rondell with 25 doses of liao to repudiate the false teachings of Yael of Highguard. Those who have been deceived by her claim to be the First Empress Reborn and the hope of the Land Without Tears should renounce this false doctrine and return to their homes. | Odelina de Rondell | Dawn has rejected the teachings of Yael and the Congregation of the First Empress |
| Marcher | Land matters above all else. Marcher armies should always stand their ground to defend what is theirs. We send Mel of Mourn with 25 doses of liao to spread the word that no Marcher army should ever give ground. | Mel of Mourn | No Marcher general can issue the Give Ground order ever again as detailed here. |
| Wintermark | No true hero of the Mark should stand with the Iron Helms - those who use their dogs for war have become dogs themselves. The assembly sends Gunnbrand Ironwill with 50 liao to urge every hero of Wintermark to show the heroism that a true hero of the Empire should aspire to. | Gunnbrand Ironwill | Wintermark armies can take additional orders when fighting alongside the Iron Helms; the Iron Helms suffer penalties when fighting with Wintermark armies, as detailed here. |
| Navarr | Mandate. Mercy is a luxury that the Empire cannot afford when faced with enemies that seek to destroy it; we must not cast aside any weapon that may bring victory. The Navarr assembly sends Corey Wayfarer with 75 doses of liao to urge the Quiet Step to build on the opportunity presented by Arhallogen and find new and effective tactics for dealing with our enemies. | Corey Wayfarer | The general of the Quiet Step has the opportunity to permanently change the quality of their army to cunning, as detailed here |
| Varushka | Mandate. The Iron Helms only do what is necessary to defeat their enemies quickly. We do not have the luxury of mercy when facing what comes out of the darkness. The assembly sends Amris with 100 doses of liao to urge every inhabitant of Varushka to seize the opportunity to support the Iron Helms and show the enemies of the Empire what real cruelty looks like. | Amris Johan Merikovich | Until the start of Spring 382YE, the Iron Helms can take the Terror in the Night order as detailed here. |
| Brass Coast | Mandate. The cruelty of the Iron Helms is unvirtuous - it demeans our Empire to use such tactics and it betrays the ideals of our people to fight alongside those who do so. The assembly sends Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra with 25 liao doses to urge our soldiers to reject the Iron Helms and their cruelty. | Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra | The Iron Helms suffers penalties when fighting with Freeborn armies as detailed here. |
Conquered Territories
Resources in Liathaven are receiving the "conquered territory" penalty to their production.
Imperial Lore
The Imperial Conclave has declared that two new rituals "Unknown Unknown" and "Golden Voyage" be entered into Imperial lore. With regard to Unknown Unknown, however, at this time we have no confirmation that the ten thrones has been provided, nor that the ritual text has been handed over.
Bittersweet Legacy
Every Highborn character who owns a resource in Highguard will see a small boost to their production this event, a side effect of the recent focus on religions matters. The bonus will continue as long as they do not formally reject the belief in the Land Without Tears.
Weltsilver Bounty
The Senate has claimed the sinkhole in the north-west. As such, they have made it illegal for citizens to send their soldiers to explore it, and there is no downtime option to do so. If you wish, you can take the paid work action and roleplay you explored some of the caves, but be aware that doing so would make you a criminal, and would provide no game benefit (you'd get the standard returns for paid work).