387YE Spring Equinox interlude

Overview

Downtime following the Winter Solstice will soon be open, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. Not all resources allow a player to make a choice about how they operate between events, but we've provided information about new opportunities for fleet and military unit owners in particular as well as a reminder about existing opportunities created at earlier events.

On this page we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, various effects and events. As always, these include quick summaries, mostly out of character, to explain effects such as large-scale enchantments and curses. In some cases, there may be further developments around these events in the Spring Equinox winds of fortune, or they may be handled with a Resolution entry on the appropriate Wind.

The deadline for Downtime submissions is Midnight on Monday the 12^th of May.

Choices

During the Winter Solstice, there were a number of Senate motions, Conclave declarations, Synod judgements, and Military council orders

Each summit the Imperial Senate raises and votes on motions, the Imperial Conclave debates declarations, the assemblies of the Imperial Synod discuss judgements, and the generals of the Imperial Military Council issue orders to their armies. You can find details of these many decisions here:

The Civil Service is responsible for ensuring that these motions, judgements, declarations, and orders are public knowledge. Not everything is widely distributed across the Empire, but any character who attends Anvil can easily find out details of what went on in the houses of power during the event.

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.

This season, the Imperial Senate voted to change the value of Guerdon to 150 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:

Golden Axe in Sarangrave
Summer Storm in Reinos

No other armies, or actions by military units or fleets, will receive shares of the Guerdon.

In all its long history, has there ever been a season where the Empire was not at war?

Military Units

Players who control military units can choose from a number of downtime options
Not every military unit is eligible to participate in every venture
Left to their own devices, a military unit defaults to the mercenary work option

Any player whose character controls a military unit can choose from several downtime options by logging into the downtime system. They may choose to support an army, defend a fortification, or support a spy network. They can also choose one of the many ventures. Left to their own devices, a military unit defaults to mercenary work, guaranteeing an income of money along with a random chance of herbs, more money, mana crystals, ingots or measures.

Players who want to support one of the Imperial armies can also read the orders issued by each general before making their decision. These orders are a matter of public record within the Empire and also available on the 386YE Winter Solstice Military Council orders page. This new page makes it easier for players to read all the orders before making a decision; previously the only way to do this was to painstakingly click every army in turn. It's also possible for players without military units to see the orders, without waiting for the Winds of War (assuming the orders related to an area that produced a full write-up).

As always, the guidelines around discussing military matters online can be found here.

Promises to Keep (Navarr)

Navarr military units taking the Raid the Druj action have a bonus of one rank to production

During the Winter Solstice Neala Blackhawk was responsible for rescuing one of the treetenders of the Great Forest Orcs. The Navarr heroes who passed through the Sentinel Gate were able to recover the treetender and safely return them to Anvil using The Cuckoo's Egg. The thorns of the Lonestalk striding were able to retrieve the rafts prepared by the Druj and make them available to any Navarr planning on raiding the Druj after the Winter Solstice.

Other Ventures

Some ventures are ongoing, while others exist only for a limited amount of time

In addition to the normal actions a military unit can take, there are also temporary ventures. These are downtime actions that have arisen through player action, often as the result of a wind of fortune. Each venture lists the rewards a standard military unit will receive, and an upgraded or enchanted military unit will gain proportionately more.

Some ventures are permanent; they can be found on the venture page. Others are temporary; they are listed on the interlude page for as long as they are available.

Explore the Southern Reaches

Imperial military units can take part in an exploration of the transformed southern Madruga

As described in the Where the river rises wind of fortune, the flooding of the Scorrero has created a vast new marsh in Madruga, large swathes of the southern regions of that territory have been reshaped. Explore the Southern Reaches is found in the scouting dropdown, and enchantments that support scouting will help warbands who choose to take it. A standard military unit that takes this adventure will receive 6 random herbs and 2 pawns of Adversity Vis (representing a random combination of vital honey, crystal fire, and even heart's blood) instead of their usual production. Upgraded or enchanted military units will gain more rewards, including a variety of peculiar flowers and plants found in the transformed marshes. The adventure will be available until the end of the year (until the start of the Spring Equinox 387YE).

Fleets

Players who control fleets can choose from several downtime options
Left to their own devices, a fleet defaults to the maritime escort option

Any player whose character controls a fleet can choose from several downtime options by logging into the downtime system. They may choose to trade with a foreign port, engage in raiding barbarians, quest in search of glory or renown, scout either to support a smugglers cove or as part of another stealthy option, or commit to guarding a convoy of other ships.

Left to their own devices, a fleet defaults to maritime escort, guaranteeing an income of money along with a random chance of herbs, more money, mana crystals, ingots or measures.

The Empire does not currently have any navies, and there are currently no campaigning actions available, so it is not possible to take campaigning action, but if it were, then details would be included on the Military orders page.

Depredations of Coral (Wintermark)

Wintermark fleets taking the Escort the Fisherfolk of Westerhal action have a one rank penalty to production

During the Winter Solstice Kjellen Saltmire was responsible for dealing with the threat of the dangerous husks. Sadly, the Imperial heroes who passed through the Sentinel Gate were driven off by the strange coral husks. This ongoing threat has led to several prominent fisherfolk of Westerhal refusing to put to sea until the threat is dealt with.

Imperial merchants are welcome in many ports across the Known World... and equally unwelcome in many others.

Trade Summary

Imperial fleets can trade with ports in Axos, the Commonwealth, Faraden, the Iron Confederacy, the Sarcophan Delves, and the Sumaah Republic
Production depends on the port chosen, and can be increased by upgrades and enchantments

Imperial fleets can trade with a number of foreign nations who have chosen to open some of their ports to visitors from the Empire. The assumption is that a ship trading with a foreign nation makes enough from selling their cargo to cover their running costs, crew salaries and the like, but that there is enough profit to provide the character who owns the fleet with valuable goods of interest to the folk who attend Anvil. What goods are received for visiting a port is changeable, and heavily influenced by Imperial diplomacy.

Axos: The Axos continue to be annoyed about revelations relating to Imperial involvement in the failure of their joint venture with the Grendel into the Mountains of the Moon. Consequently, Imperial fleets suffer penalties to trade with Axos. A fleet captain trading at the Towers of Kantor suffers a 1 rank penalty.
Commonwealth: The ports of Leerdam and Volkavaar welcome Imperial traders and their production has been significantly altered. You can find out more about the new items on the According to principle wind of fortune. Fleets trading with either Commonwealth port benefit from a 1 rank bonus due to the Asavean bounty on fleets trading with the Empire.
Faraden: The port of Caitun welcomes Imperial fleets. Fleets from the Marches and Wintermark benefit from a +1 rank bonus due to close proximity. The production of Caitun has shifted to produce 2 fewer ingots of orichalcum and 1 more giant blood whelk. You can find out more about the situation on the All the wind wind of fortune.
Iron Confederacy: The port of Robec is available for Imperial fleets.
Sarcophan Delves: The ports of Sarcophan and Betovering welcome Imperial traders.
Sumaah Republic: The port of Zemeh welcomes Imperial traders, and its production has been significantly altered. You can find out more about the changes on the Friend of mine wind of fortune.

The Imperial Synod is responsible for guiding the people of the Empire in spitirual matters.

Congregations

In addition to the standard preaching options taken by owners of congregations, some special lectures may be available

During downtime, the owner of a congregation can choose to take a preaching action. Normally these actions are used to preach one of the Imperial virtues, or the general teachings of the Way, allowing a Synod member to change which of the virtue assemblies they belong to.

After the Winter Solstice there are several additional preaching options available grouped together as lectures.

Lectures

There are four lectures available to priests with congregations after the Winter Solstice
Not every lecture is available to every congregation
A lecture is found in the usual dropdown menu for preaching to a congregation
The special lectures available to preach this downtime all provide no liao by default
Additional liao provided by great works, enchantments and Imperial titles are not affected
Votes provided by the congregation will not be affected

Lectures are found in the same dropdown as the usual preaching options. Choosing to deliver a specific lecture means the congregation focuses on something other than the traditional teachings of the virtues and the Way to focus on a specific philosophy, question, or discourse.

Any congregation that chooses to deliver one of the special lecture options available this downtime will not receive any liao by default. This means that the congregation will not provide any liao even if it is upgraded. Additional liao due to enchantments, great works, or other Imperial titles is not affected by this, so you will still receive this liao as normal.

The number of votes in the Synod you receive is not affected by any option, so you will still receive votes as normal. Some options may put you in a specific Assembly at the start of the next event - based on what you were preaching. This is very important to keep track of for anyone with a title that requires them to be a member of a certain assembly - such as a Cardinal or Gatekeeper. Changing assemblies by delivering a lecture may result in your no longer being eligible for the title and thus triggering a new election.

The number of votes in the Synod will not be affected, and the congregation will gain liao provided by great works, Imperial titles, or enchantments as normal.

Following the Winter solstice, the following special lectures are available to members of the Synod.

The Axou helios is an ancient symbol of the Axou people, adopted by the Nikitis Axou movement.

Support Solokha

Congregations can choose the Support Solokha lecture
The congregation produces no liao by default at the Spring Equinox
This option does not change the virtue assembly of the priest
Any priest who takes this option can choose to embrace one of three malign spiritual presences
This option is not available to Urizen or Varushkan congregations

Imperial priests have been invited to support the effort to cleanse the ruins of the citadel of Solokha of the ghosts and hauntings that make the place uninhabitable. The General Assembly has approved the mandate to allow Imperial priests to participate. The mandate did not achieve a greater majority, meaning that congregations from Urizen and Varushka cannot participate.

Congregations from other nations can choose the Support Solokha action detailed in the It never happened wind of fortune. Those priests who do so will receive no liao by default, from their congregation at the Spring Equinox. This action will not change the virtue assembly the priest is currenly part of - they will remain in the assembly determined by their last preaching action (or their dedication).

Any priest who takes this lecture option can choose to become dedicated to a false virtue as explained in the Nest of Vipers section of the wind of fortune. Any player whose congregation preaches in support of Solokha can email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before the end of downtime and pick one of the three sects with which their character has found some sort of common ground. They will then become dedicated to Anarchy, Vengeance, or Peace depending which sect they choose. OOC Note: We will process the change to dedication as the last thing before printing packs before the event, so whether someone has embraced a malign spiritual presence won't be checkable at player events.

If at least 40 Imperial congregations preach in support of Solokha, the project will be a success, removing the worst of the ghosts and hauntings, and showing the Axou that the Empire is "making amends" for their alleged role in the destruction of the city.

Study Solokha

The Preach Vigilance by Studying Solokha lecture encourages the faithful to gain information about Axos
The congregation produces no liao by default at the Spring Equinox
Anyone who takes this action will become part of the Vigilance assembly at the Spring Equinox
This option is available to priests from Urizen and Varushka

The Assembly of Vigilance also enacted a mandate, allowing Preach Vigilance by Studying Solokha as detailed in the seek out falsehood section of the wind. Anyone who chooses to deliver this lecture is preaching vigilance with a specific focus on encouraging people to travel to Solokha to study Axos and the ruins. They will receive no liao by default from their congregation. They will be part of the Vigilance assembly at the Spring Equinox (and will remain so until they take a different downtime preaching action next season). Any Imperial citizen who holds a title that requires them to be a member of a different Virtue assembly will automatically lose their position.

If at least 15 congregations take this action, then it will provide insight into the nature of the three main sects operating there. If at least 30 congregations take this action then they will be able to uncover the truth behind what happened at Solokha. If enough characters support the action then all the characters who chose this option will receive a report at the Spring Equinox detailing the nature and beliefs of the three main sects, and additional information about the history of Solokha and how it came to be ruined.

The congregations that choose this option will not count toward the minimum needed to help with the cleansing Solokha. This mandate did receive a greater majority and so is available to congregations in Urizen and Varushka.

Watch Solokha

The Preach Vigilance - Watch Solokha lecture encourages the faithful to keep an eye on their fellow Imperials in Solokha
The congregation produces no liao by default at the Spring Equinox
Anyone who takes this action will become part of the Vigilance assembly at the Spring Equinox
This option is not available to priests from Urizen and Varushka

The Vigilance assembly enacted a second mandate as well, allowing the Preach Vigilance - Watch Solokha lecture as described in the You watch over section of the wind. Any congregation where this was lecture was preached becomes engaged in Solokha but keeps a watch on their fellow Imperials rather than worrying about ghosts or Axou sects.

As with other lecture options, these congregations receive no liao. The priest will also become part of the Vigilance assembly at the Spring Equinox (and will remain so until they take a different downtime preaching action next season). Any Imperial citizen who holds a title that requires them to be a member of a different Virtue assembly would automatically lose their position.

If at least 20 congregations take part they will compile a list of every congregation that supported action in Solokha. They could then investigate the priests involved at their leisure. The report will be provided to the priests who preached in support of this action. The list will not differentiate the precise preaching action involved - those who chose Support Solokha, Study Solokha, or Watch Solokha would all show up the same. If fewer priests took the action, no effective list will be created.

As this mandate did not achieve a greater majority, this option is not available to congregations from Urizen or Varushka.

An all-expenses paid trip to the Delves as guests of a mysterious sect of Sarcophan priests. What can go wrong!

Sarcophan Prosperity

The Preach Prosperity for the Collectors lecture involves an all-expenses paid trip to the Sarcophan Delves
The congregation produces no liao by default at the Spring Equinox
The final outcome of this opportunity depends on how many congregations take part
Anyone who takes this action will become part of the Prosperity assembly at the Spring Equinox

During the Winter Solstice, a small group of Sarcophan visitors spoke to members of the Prosperity assembly about an exciting opportunity in the Delves. They came as representatives of De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen which roughly translates as "the collectors of images", a fringe sect of the Sarcophan faith. They are interested in recruiting Imperial priests to preach about the virtue of Prosperity in the Delves, offering to cover travel costs and provide hospitality in return.

Any Imperial congregation can take the lecture Preach Prosperity for the Collectors, which is available only after the Winter Solstice. The congregation will provide no liao by default. The priest who controls the congregation will be part of the Prosperity assembly at the Spring equinox (and will remain so until they take a different downtime preaching action next season). Any Imperial citizen who holds a title that requires them to be a member of a different Virtue assembly would automatically lose their position.

A standard congregation that delivers this lecture receives a minimum of 90 rings, a congregation that is upgraded receives proportionally more money. There are additional rewards available based on supply and demand, which means the final total will depend on how many congregations choose to deliver this lecture. The more congregations get involved, the small the additional rewards there will be for each.

If ten or fewer congregations choose to Preach prosperity for the Collectors, each one receives an additional 126 rings. If between eleven and twenty deliver the lecture, each receives an additional 54 rings instead. If between twenty-one and thirty congregations choose the action, then each one receives an additional 13 rings. If more than thirty congregations take part, no additional money is provided.

The civil service predict that if at least twenty congregations take this action, the impact of so many priests preaching in conjunction with the Collectors of Images will attract attention in the Delves, likely sufficient to come to the attention of the Bishop of the Navigators and their equivalents in Sarcophan. They advise caution - De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen are not followers of the Way and their motivation for offering this opportunity are not publicly known.

A college of magic allows the codification of new ritual texts.

A runeforge allows the creation of unique magic items.

Arcane Projections

The deadline for submitting an arcane projection has changed
Going forward arcane projections must be submitted before the close of downtime
It is not possible to submit arcane projections that create personal curses

The deadline for submitting an arcane projection has changed from the late booking deadline, to the close of downtime. This is a significantly shorter window than previously. We've made this change to improve our ability to process arcane projections - an earlier deadline means that the game team have more time to consider each arcane projection, which will allow us to be more detailed and consistent in our responses.

This change means that it won't be possible to use mana acquired in downtime to create new arcane projections for the coming event. This is consistent with the way Empire runs, your downtime provides you with resources to use at the event, not to use before the event, but we're aware that this will impact some players who may have been planning to make arcane projections this downtime but who have not handed in enough mana to do that. For this reason, for the next event only the deadline for arcane projections will be the 18^th May. This will create a short window of one week, for players to submit arcane projections using mana gained this downtime. For event three onwards, the deadline for all arcane projections will be the end of downtime.

As detailed in the Patterns of fairytales wind of fortune, it is not currently possible to create an arcane projection that involves a curse directed at a character.

Colleges and Forges

We've changed the email address for college of magic and runeforge submissions

It is important for characters responsible for a college of magic or runeforge to remember that the deadline for submitting rituals for codification, or instructions to the runeforge, is also the point that downtime closes. You must use let us know how you plan to use your college or forge by this point, otherwise it will not be possible to submit anything and the season will be lost.

We've also made a small change there; the e-mail address to which such instructions should be sent is now plot@profounddecisions.co.uk rather than rules. The rules decisions about an arcane projection that is being codified, or a new item, have already been made and it is plot that deals with the creation of ritual texts, unique items, or schema.

Miscellaneous Effects

After every event there will be a range of special effects that have an impact on downtime
Each effect is automatically applied to the appropriate personal resources; this provides details of what has caused each effect

Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Some arise as the result of Synod judgements, Senate motions or Conclave declarations. Others are the results of winds of fortune or war, or magical effects such as enchantments or curses. Each such effect is mentioned in your downtime if it affects your personal resource, along with a brief summary of what is going on. This list provides more detail, and is also useful for knowing what is going on in the wider Empire.

Every Forest Falls (Everyone)

The Capodomus Cathedral has been consecrated with true liao
Any citizen can freely acquire a new resource in the same territory of the kind used in their nation's Tally of the Votes

Any Imperial citizen who wishes to take a larger part in the politics of their nation (and by extension, of the Empire as a whole) will find it easier to secure a new personal resource. Anyone wishing to change their resource to that which grants power in their nation (as listed in the Tally of the Votes page) could do so for free without having to spend the usual two crowns fee, provided they remain in the same territory. For example, a Dawnish character in the Barrens could change their personal resource to a military unit in the Barrens without needing to pay two crowns, but would need to pay if they wanted to move to Astolat.

You can find more information on this opportunity on the Golden light wind of fortune.

Toll Roads (Lots of People)

The Blood Red Roads, and the White Roads of Highguard, have been converted to toll roads
These great works no longer provide benefits to citizens in their territories

Following a proposal put forward by Else von Temeschwar, the Imperial Senate has moved to transform the Blood Red Roads that span much of the central Empire, and the White Roads of Highguard to toll roads. This will raise a significant amount of money for the Imperial treasury, but will mean that the great works no longer benefit Imperial citizens in the territories they pass through.

The Sunset Roads of the Brass Coast, and both the Iron Roads and Crow Roads of Varushka continue to provide their usual benefits at least for the time being.

The Children of Wrecks batter Redoubt with terrible storms - but they do not have things entirely their own way thanks to the magicians of Urizen.

Foam and Floods (Redoubt)

Redoubt suffers the effects of tumultuous storms and terrible tempests
Fleets based in Redoubt experience a 2 rank penalty to production over the coming season
Farms and businesses based in Redoubt produce 72 rings less over the coming season

Shortly after the Winter solstice the Spring ritual curses Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea and Thunderous Deluge are laid on the Urizen territory of Redoubt by the Turn of the Gyre coven. Violent winter tempests turn to spring squalls, pounding at the coast with treacherous waves, gale-force winds, and torrential rain. At the same time, destructive energies drawn from the Spring realm itself are unleashed to attack ships moving through the area. The rituals have several effects, some of them entirely unpredictable (especially given the growing influence of the eternal Siakha over the Bay of Catazar), but what is certain is that any fleet based in the territory has its production reduced by two ranks, and any farm and business has its production reduced by 72 rings for the coming season.

If these rituals have any additional effects on this territory, they will be discussed in the Spring Winds of Fortune.

The koboldi of Adamant are curious beings.

Pillars of Adamant (Redoubt)

Defensive Summer magic protects all structures in Redoubt from damage and destruction

At the same time, magical storms strike Redoubt, a Summer enchantment also settles over the territory. The Pillars of Adamant have been invoked by the Ashen Flame coven of Urizen. The magic infuses all structures in the territory, making them harder to destroy, and easier to repair. In particular, any damage dealt to fortifications in Redoubt this season will be reduced by 500, with the protection split between all fortifications in the territory.

Furthermore any other building constructed with mithril or white granite, including sinecures, great works, and similar, are less likely to be damaged by magical effects, and significantly harder to destroy by attacking forces. An opponent might still damage a building with a concerted effort, but it would be significantly more difficult to completely destroy them. This effect will not stack with Rivers of Life or similar effects - the target would gain whichever effect provided the most benefit.

The koboldi just across the border in Zenith - servants of the King Under the Mountain as they are - are apparently fascinated by this magical enchantment and several have travelled to the south-west specifically to experience it and examine its effects.

Regrowing the Lands Heart (Feroz)

Feroz has been enchanted with the Regrow the Lands Heart ritual

Feroz has once again been targeted by the Spring magic enchantment Regrow the Land's Heart. Following the Winter Solstice, soft rain falls on the territory and new life flourishes. The magic particularly focuses on areas scarred by war or natural disaster, causing new plants to grow wildly. It primarily affects the landscape, but people living in the territory find it easier to let go of pain caused by war or calamity. As new plants grow, old scars fade. While the enchantment is in place, animals and people find it easier to conceive, and plants grow more healthily. Children born or conceived in the territory under the enchantment are more likely to express the briar lineage. Players running or attending sanctioned events in this territory should bear these effects in mind.

If the ritual has any additional effects on this territory, they will be discussed in the Spring Winds of Fortune.

The Boons of the Night realm often come with mysterious side effects.

Marcher Mushrooms (The Marches)

Any Marcher farm enchanted with Blessing of New Spring may receive additional production
The farm must not have benefited from the boon of Yaw'nagrah

During the Winter Solstice, any Marcher farm that is enchanted with a casting of Blessing of New Spring that did not draw on the boons of the Green Mother will grow a circle of black mushrooms somewhere within its bounds. Presuming they are collected on the night of the new moon and squeezed dry, they'll produce one of two black elixirs he calls Shinemoon. Pale Shinemoon can be used to provide a ritual magician with a little inspiration when performing a ritual using Day, Summer, or Autumn magic while Dark Shinemoon does the same but for a ritual using Night, Winter, or Spring magic. This boon is detailed in the Patterns of fairytales wind of fortune.

Rivers Run Clear

Rivers of Life have been cast in Mournwold, Kahraman, and the Barrens
As well as reducing casualties to armies in those territories, the magic infuses all water there with life-giving Spring power

Three Imperial territories have had the shroud of Rivers of Life woven over them; Mournwold, Kahraman, and the Barrens. This potent magic preserves life, healing all save the most grievous wounds overnight and infusing water across the territory with restorative powers. Each of these powerful effects has been created by the Freeborn coven, The Sails of the First Flame. As well as the typical effect of reducing losses to any armies fighting in the territories the magic has other more narrative effects. Wounds heal, animals and plants are healthy and fertile, and people find it easier to start or expand their families.

The Last Battle Wayhouse (Navarr)

Any Navarr character can take a new resource in the Barrens for free until the end of downtime
Any Navarr character with a resource in the Barrens counts as being in Therunin for voting in senatorial and similar elections

The Last Battle is a wayhouse built in the Bleaks to provide a reconnaissance base for the fight against the vallorn. The wayhouse was completed shortly before the Winter Solstice, and this season Navarr can move to the Barrens without the usual two crown cost.

Hammers of Karov (Karov)

Karov has been enchanted with the Hammers of Fury
This speeds the mustering of a new Imperial army
It also reduces the ingots produced by each mine in the territory by 2, but grants a pawn of Autumn vis in their place

Over the coming months, the power of the Autumn realm is focused on the Varushkan territory of Karov. The Lyktan coven has invoked the Hammers of Fury to speed the mustering of a new Imperial army there. This magical service provided by the City of Fire and Stone enchants the forges, foundries, and smithies throughout the territory, infusing them with the heat of Shikal's forges to help them forge arms and armour with supernatural speed. It also sends traders from the Fire Mountain to acquire more resources, meaning that mines throughout the territory will see their production of metals reduced by two ingots, but in their place the mine owners each gain one pawn of Warm Ashes - Autumn vis.

Necropolitan Dhomiro (Necropolis)

The Hand of the Dhomiro protects Necropolis
Personal resources will not be impacted by raiding forces or plundering armies this season

The Virtues of Autumn coven of Highguard have lain an Autumn enchantment over the coastal territory of Necropolis. The Hand of the Dhomiro protects the coast, and the tombs of Imperial heroes, from raiders until the Spring Equinox. The enchantment works subtly to protect individual wealth, or at least a portion of it, from being forcibly taken. Those attempting to flee or traverse the region will find themselves subtly guided towards the best path to avoid enemy patrols, and their circumstances subtly adjusting to help them make an escape. If a wagon, business, or home is being ransacked the ritual won’t stop the most obvious or largest valuables being stolen, but may cunningly protect smaller valuables, purses of coin, jewellery, or other trinkets from being taken.

The ritual has no noticeable impact on invading armies, nor fully protects large structures such as sinecures, but it will prevent a plundering army from having any effect on personal resources in the territory.

caption=The power of Summer continues to infuse the nation of Dawn.

Golden Magician's Fayre (Dawn)

The entire nation of Dawn has been enchanted with potent Summer magic

The entire nation of Dawn has been enchanted with powerful Summer magic. Following the Winter Solstice, creatures of the Summer realm may find it easier to enter the mortal realm there. The enchantment does not compel the eternals to respond, but they will immediately become aware of the effect and likely respond. So far, the heralds of the eternal Meraud have been conspicuously absent, but it is unclear if that will continue to be the case following the recent parley.

Furthermore, everyone present in Dawn during the season experiences a roleplaying effect: you find magic fascinating and appealing, and when performing magic you feel an urge to enhance the showmanship and performative aspects of your arts.

Players creating or attending sanctioned events set in Dawn should bear this effect in mind, especially when it comes to designing a plot event. Further details will be presented in the Winds of Fortune for the Spring Equinox.

Feast For Kallavesa (Kallavesa)

The marshes of Kallavesa are infused with Night magic encouraging people to create and enjoy fine food, drink, and company

Just after the Winter Solstice a Night magic enchantment settles over marshy Kallavesa in Wintermark. Until the Spring Equinox, many people within the territory experience wild and vivid dreams of celebration, fine food and drink, and fine company. These dreams follow them into waking life and individuals within the territory experience a roleplaying effect that encourages them to seek out the finest examples of food, drink, and their component ingredients in order to combine them and create unknown and unusual flavour combinations, before joyfully sharing and consuming them with others. Using, learning, and developing cooking skills feels particularly enjoyable, and it is easy to be inspired to try creating something combining colours, flavours, and textures in new and potentially delicious ways.

Whether this enchantment does anything more than encourage a cheerful attitude of shared camaraderie in Kallavesa over the cold winter months remains to be seen, but for now any sanctioned event set in Kallavesa (or Wintermark), or any players attending an event with characters from the territory, should bear these effects in mind.

A Grand Penumbral Veil (Everyone)

The Penumbral Veil has been drawn over almost the entirety of the Empire
Only those territories currently in the hands of barbarians, and the territories of Casinea and Mournwold, are exempt

And finally... the potent shroud laid across most of the Empire during the Autumn Equinox remains. The Drawing the Penumbral Veil ritual creates a potent shroud of Night magic that conceals people, places, and events in a territory from the prying eyes of scryers and seers.

The penumbral veil has been drawn over almost the entire Empire. All five League cities (Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar, Holberg, and Spiral). The entirety of Urizen (Redoubt, Zenith, Morrow). The whole Brass Coast (Kahraman, Segura, and the reclaimed Feroz). All of Dawn (Astolat, Weirwater, Semmerholm, and the Barrens). Most of Highguard except Casinea (Bastion, Necropolis, Reikos). Both Imperial Orcs territories (Mareave and Skarsind). Most of the Marches except Mournwold (Bregasland, Mitwold, Upwold). Both the Navarr territories still in control of the nation (Miaren and Hercynia). Varushka (Karov, Karsk, Miekarova, Ossium, Volodmartz). The whole of Wintermark (Kallavesa, Hahnmark, and Sermersuaq). Indeed, the only territory that was Imperial and could be shrouded with the Imperial regio when the rituals were performed is Casinea itself. Given the specificity of the effect, it seems likely this represents dozens of castings of the ritual rather than a specially designed Arcane projection (which would be unlikely to affect every territory except Casinea). It's also notable that the shroud over Sarvos is more than three times as powerful as that raised in the other territories.

The shrouds do not appear to be particularly difficult to pierce, but the effect is noticeable in every territory once the sun sets and the skies over the Empire appear strange and unfamiliar. The effects are relatively low-key, as the shrouds have not been performed at particularly high magnitude, but occasionally they can be dramatic and exciting. Effects include stars not being where they are expected to be; the moon seeming closer, further away, strangely coloured, absent, or in the wrong phase; odd prismatic lights glittering in or moving across the celestial vault. Very occasionally even stranger effects might be seen such as vast coloured banks of sparkling light, strange translucent birds and fish of immense size that swoop or skim lazily through the clouds, and similar phantasmagoric images of all kinds.

Obviously, it is beyond the special-effects budget of most sanctioned events to affect the appearance of the night sky, but anyone attending such events should bear the effects in mind. Most of the time being aware that the moon is in the wrong phase, or some of the stars are in odd places, will be sufficient to bring this effect to life. The ritual may sometimes cause consternation in people living in affected territories; any details in this regard will be included in the winds of fortune.

Magical Lore

Every summit it is possible that new rituals, magic items, or potions may become available to Imperial citizens
Some of these options are only available to characters from certain nations, such as those entered into Urizen Lore or Runesmith's Law

During the Winter Solstice, one ritual was put forward for inclusion in Imperial Lore:

Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown raised and funded by Xanthippe

No new rituals became part of Urizen lore, and no new magic items were added to Runesmiths Law.