387YE Summer Solstice winds of fortune

News spreads through word of mouth as fast as it does through broadsheets and posters, and is sometimes more reliable. Or at least, unreliable in more amusing ways...

Overview

Wind of Fortune	Order Released	Last Updated	Note
That's where my heart is	1	28/06	Imperial Address
The last leg	2	14/07	Rhianos Race
Hope and fear	3	06/07	Appraisal
Two for joy	4	14/07	Magpies
Eight for a wish	5	11/07	Vallornguard
An old sodality	6	15/07	Sun Chamber
Banners and bells	7	14/07	Highguard and the Synod
Bits and bobs	8	15/07	Economics
When I met you	9	15/07	Visitors
Strangers when we meet	10	15/07	Jarm
Beat of your drum	11	16/07	Commonwealth
For those in peril on the sea	12	16/07	Appraisal

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 represent 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 an opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.

Nation	Diplomacy Wind
Jarm	Strangers when we meet
Commonwealth	Beat of your drum

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. We are also adding the dates that they were last updated (other than typos and correcting red links) in an attempt to make it easier to keep track of the newest releases.

Winds of Fortune

That's Where My Heart Is (Imperial Address)

• Imperial citizens
• Last updated 28/06/2025

Emperor Vesna has used their power to address the Empire to present a personal message to all Imperial citizens relating to the assault into Sarangrave, the decision of the General Assembly on False Virtues, and to uplift several Imperial citizens.

The message has been distributed across the Empire by the civil service, and you can read it in the That's where my heart is wind of fortune.

The Last Leg (Rhianos Race)

• Imperial Fleet captains; Archmage of Summer; musicians and entertainers

When the Regent of the Eternal Sea was asked to sponsor a race around the Bay of Catazar, Sail Runner announced their Great Race - an impossible contest to travel to the four corners of the known world. The contest has taken ships all over the known world and beyond. Some turned aside from the race in pursuit of riches, some set sail in search of discovery and excitement, but some remained straight on for glory, intent on little more than the joy of the adventure. They now claim their winner's laurels. This season, however, not only participants in the race have felt a touch of the splendor of the Summer realm - although that touch has taken an unexpectedly chill form...

You can read about the prizes won by those who competed in every leg of the great race, as well as discover what odd curio has fallen into the possession of other Imperial captains, in the The last leg wind of fortune.

Hope and Fear (Appraisal)

• Imperial Military Council; Imperial Senate

The Imperial Senate instructed the Prognosticators Office to prepare an appraisal of the Forest of Ulnak with a view to finding ways to disrupt Druj operations and supply. A complex commission, with significant strategic implications; as the senators opted not to assign a specific prognosticator to the task, Gerard La Salle decided to prevail on old Mladen Escovitch - schlacta, strategist, and former general - to come out of retirement for one last job. The appraisal has been delivered, and Mladen has made it clear that this is definitely, definitely, definitely the last time.

You can learn about what Mladen has uncovered, and what his proposals are for his last ever appraisal, in the Hope and fear wind of fortune.

Two for Joy (Magpies)

• Magpies sodality; Imperial Senate; Minister of Historical Research, Golden Fleet Salvagemaster

Following the successful creation of the Apothecaries Guild at the Winter Solstice, the Senate passed administrative Senate motions approving the establishment of two additional Imperial sodalities, the Magpies and the Vallornguard. The Magpies are a sodality dedicated to the acquisition of historical artifacts, and to supporting historians and artefact hunters. Following the procedures developed for the Apothecaries Guild, the civil service have done what they can to make people across the Empire aware of the manifesto of the Magpies, so that citizens can consider if they wish to join. As is often the case, this has provoked interest from various corners. Intrigued by the new possibilities, disparate groups have come forward with agendas of their own.

You can learn more about the magpies, and what their manifesto means for the Empire, in the Two for joy wind of fortune.

Eight for a Wish (Vallornguard)

• Vallornguard sodality; Imperial Senate; Advisor on the Vallorn; Highguard, The League, Navarr, Varushka

The second new Imperial Sodality established at the Spring Equinox is the Vallornguard, charged with uniting the nations to fight the Doom of Terunael. The Imperial Civil Service have done what they can to make people across the Empire aware of their manifesto of the Vallornguard. The first task is for all the new members to be inducted; the next task is significantly more difficult in that it is "destroy the vallorn". There is also the thorny problem of the Advisor on the Vallorn to consider, several powers the Senate might devolve to the sodality, and opportunities for Highguard, the League, Navarr, and Varushka - the nations that have shown the will to fight the greatest spiritual threat to the Empire - to offer their own assistance.

You can learn about the new sodality, and opportunities to support it, in the Eight for a wish wind of fortune.

An Old Sodality (Sun Chamber)

• Cadets and post-Academy young roleplayers; alumni of the Academy; scholars of all stripes

The Sun Chamber is a very old sodality that was set up during the time of Empress Richilde with the active support of the Throne. Working with a number of aspiring heroes to create the Sun Chamber, she bequeathed it a clear goal to empower its members, to help them gain high office, and to wield power within the Empire. For many years, the sodality worked to empower those who are most often overlooked due to the lack of years and to advance its own interests and power. Its influence has waxed and waned over the years, but it suffered a dramatic loss of fortunes during the reign of Britta when almost all the members attending Anvil were killed fighting alongside the young Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of Imperial sodalities, however, Luca and Zoria of the Zulgan Tash pushed the civil service to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.

You can learn about the Sun Chamber as an Imperial Sodality, and find some words discussing its purpose, on the An old sodality wind of fortune.

Banners and Bells (Highguard and the Synod)

• Highguard; the Imperial Synod

The return of the grey pilgrims from their years-long march around the Empire has restored Highguard's ability to raise a fourth army. To aid the formation of the new force, a proposal was put forward to create powerful regalia, a banner for each of the Highborn generals, hallowed with true liao. The banners are now ready and the army is being raised. Soon it will be time for it to march to war, but not before the senator who raised it has determined what special quality the army should possess. Many priests in Highguard also turn their focus to the campaigns of the Highborn armies to see what opportunities there might be to bolster their efforts, even without the crusading storm. Finally the judgements of the Spring Equinox bring good tidings for a change - a celebration of the faith as the Synod works to create seven powerful hallowed bells to be borne by Virtuous citizens as they make a pilgrimage ground the Empire.

You can learn about these Highborn matters, and business of more interest to the virtuous as a whole, in the Banners and bells wind of fortune.

Bits and Bobs

• Imperial Senate; Master of the Mint; Imperial Bourse; folk with an interest in economic matters; everyone with a ministry, sinecure, or National bourse seat

The price of bourse seats appears to be dropping. During the Winter Solstice, the Senate voted to decrease the guerdon. Rumour suggests the price of mithril, weirwood and white granite is dropping. Two seasons ago, large numbers of wains were sold to the Autumn realm, now they're not buying either. Meanwhile the profiteers from Sarcophan are "offering" to underpin the price at the unappealing rate of two thrones a wain. Fortunately, any suggestion that the Empire might be experiencing economic headwinds haven't dissuaded the Imperial Senate from commissioning five new armies in the last two seasons. to raise funds. A number of concerned League citizens, have written to the Constitutional Court to enquire about possible legal actions that could be taken to address what they see as the problem. And the Court has responded.

You can learn about some opportunities to increase information on economic matters, as well as some rather radical proposals for shoring up the Imperial treasury, in the Bits and bobs wind of fortune.

When I Met You (Visitors)

• All sorts of people specifically including: folk who feel the calling to be merrow; Artisan's Guild; Marcher Mummers and possible Highborn Farmers; Vallorguard; Wintermark, Avisena i Kharizmi i Guerra, Iron Osric, Bill Hooke; Pride Assembly, Dawn, Mistress of the Proferred Hand; storytellers from Urizen, Dawn, Varushka and Navarr
• Last updated 15/07/2025
• In Progress - This Wind of Fortune will be updated in the run up to the event with additional content; we'll remove this marker when the last information goes on it.

Four times a year the movers and shakers of the Empire come to Anvil to attend the summits. A tent-city springs up around the Imperial Senate and the Forge, attracting visitors from all over the known world, and occasionally beyond. Some are drawn by the promise of profit, some need help them resolve their dilemmas, some seek to influence those who wield true power in the Empire, while others come to simply join the celebrations. As with each solstice and equinox, this season sees a diverse roster of folk announcing their intentions to visit Anvil, but it is good to remember that not everyone visiting Anvil has made their movements apparent and while not all of them have sinister intent... some do.

You can learn about visitors to Anvil, and perhaps some details of opportunities to leave Anvil, in the When I met you wind of fortune.

Strangers When We Meet (Jarm)

• Ambassador to Jarm; Imperial Conclave; Imperial traders; Imperial Senate; Synod; people interested in Jarm

Of the six great powers, the Principalities of Jarm have an especially tumultuous relationship with the Empire. The magocracy is ruled by the House of Princes, and thanks to the Liberty Pact and the Commonwealth in particular, trade with the nation is embargoed. The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook, a canny and influential politician, a potent master of Autumn magic, and a man known for sarcasm, dry wit, and his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities. The correspondence coming from the office of the Lord-Magister this season has been... remarkably candid.

You can learn about diplomacy with the Principalities of Jarm, and some suggestions for improving relations, in the Strangers when we meet wind of fortune.

Beat of Your Drum (Commonwealth)

• Ambassador to the Commonwealth; Imperial Senate; Voice of Liberty; citizens keen to acquire an appraisal; Advisor on the Vallorn

The Commonwealth are a militaristic nation committed to the idea of ensuring the greatest good to the greatest number of people, and also perhaps the closest allies the Empire has among the great powers of the known world not least thanks to their membership of the Liberty Pact. Both nations are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world, and know that only one of them can fulfil their grand ambition, but for now their rivalry remains amicable. The Commonwealth ambassador to the Empire is Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen, of die Stahlhalle in the port-city of Volkavaar, an old campaigner who generally speaks plainly and as honestly as any politician can. The correspondence coming from die Stahlhalle has a slight edge to it at the moment as the war with the Principalities of Jarm drags on.

You can learn about diplomacy with the Commonwealth, and some opportunities, in the Beat of your drum wind of fortune.

For Those In Peril On the Sea (Appraisal)

• Imperial Senate; Celesti Lighthouse Keeper; People who like lighthouses

The Imperial Senate have asked Eilian Sweetwater of the Prognosticators Office to appraise the restoration or recreation of the great lighthouses of the Bay of Catazar. Eilian, a former historian, has been very enthusiastic about the appraisal and quickly convened a symposium at Sarvos to discuss the matter with experts in the field and a surprise expert from outside the field as it were. The principles of lighthouses have been considered at length, and a proposal to refurbish the Celesti Lighthouse delivered, along with a request to go and look at a half dozen other lighthouses for the perusal of the Senate.

You can learn about the findings of Eilian's symposium, and what a lighthouse means, in the For those in peril on the sea wind of fortune.

Other Events

Regarding the Ketsov

• The Ketsov family have withdrawn their support from the Burgher of Ketsov

As discussed in more detail in the Eight for a wish wind of fortune, the Ketsov family of Ossium have withdrawn their support for the Burgher of Ketsov title. The title is still available to be appointed, but it has no powers, only responsibilities. The family has proposed supporting the newly-established Vallornguard sodality, instead of being appointed by the Tally of the Votes. The first order of business for whoever gains this title, whether it is appointed by Varushka or the Vallornguard, will likely be to speak to the Ketsov either to find a way to resolve their unhappiness, or to discuss which items would be most useful to the sodality depending on where the dice land.

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.

Spring Conjunctions

• Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here

During the Spring Equinox , 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
Bregasland, Ottermire, Sal-Ott-Meet	Block the path	Jotun	Glory at the End	Field Marshal was Amberlain P. Black of the Marches; Jotun advance was successfully stopped; Corazón pennants were claimed and presented to the Marcher egregore; Bounds were beaten and the Strong Reeds inspired
Reinos, Bastasor, Grismont Road	Seize the township	Jotun	Tame Your Fears	Field Marshal was Velasco i Guerra of the Brass Coast; Garrison of Grismont Township was not defeated; Pastor Ximena successfully captured and released safely; Nergui Enkhtseg killed during the battle; Less than a dozen Imperials signed up for the Balankas Rush
Sarangrave, Bendol, Mirereach	Influence the vallorn	Druj	Miles of Tricks and Trials	Not taken; Sarangrave remains unconnected to the trods

Minor Conjunctions

#	Location	Responsibility	Overview	Result
1	Spiral, Apulus, The Cellar Below	Voice of Vigilance	Meet with followers of Berechiah	Uncertain, but the Voice of Vigilance might know more
2	Therunin, Sweetglades, Broken Copse	Champion of Vigilance	Kill the Lord of Thorns	Lord of Thorns killed and the Sprig of Fecundity recovered
3	Bregasland, Grey Fens, Drowner's Dell	Keeper of the Breadbasket	Kill all the greenteeth	Greenteeth killed
4	Morrow, Altis, Canticulous Valley	Archmage of Winter	Perform Ward of the Black Waste	Ward of the Black Waste successfully performed
5	Holberg, Misericorde, Sacrifice Point	Red-Eyed Reaper	Kill all the greenteeth	Uncertain, some greenteeth were killed but rest fled into Misericorde
6	The Barrens, Hope's Rest, Field of Triumph	High Exorcist	Exorcise the tortured souls	Imperial casualties suffered. No tortured souls were exorcised and have taken up around the Shrine of Hope
7	Skarsind, Pakaanan's Pass, Osweald	Custodian of the Brilliant Shore	Intercept the cult's vanguard	Cultists all killed
8	Therunin, Peakedge Song, Catrin's Glade	Eastern Broker	Rescue the Axou warrior	Menoetius rescued
9	Sermersuaq, Stark, Njord Beach Hut	Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind	Investigate the body	Uncertain, but the Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind should know more
10	Kallavesa, Wittal Grove, Whittling Grove	Strategos of Wintermark	Intercept the bandits	Bandits intercepted and killed
11	Therunin, Eastring, Tainted Meadow	Blaze Dunning	Destroy the miasma pillar	Miasma pillar successfully destroyed
12	Segura, Burnish, Meadow of Dust and Glass	Curator of the Blood Red River	Draw and name constellations	Nine constellations were created and named, the Curator of the Blood Red River should know more
13	Segura, Burnish, Meadow of Dust and Glass	Azure Sutannir	Create lore and mythology for the constellations	Lore and mythology created for the nine constellations were created, the Azure Sutannir should know more
14	Skarsind, Pakaanan's Pass, Cave of Bones	Alistair de Vere	Bargain with Tuki of the Little Bones	Uncertain, but Alistair de Vere should know more
15	Kallavesa, West Marsh, Gull Isle	Imperial Consul	Meet with the godhi	Unclear, but a new Meeting Place was commissioned
16	Ossium, Drownbark Forest, Makgore's Grove	Cabalist of the Hollow Stone	Defeat the wreckers	Wreckers defeated
17	Tassato, Madeiras, Lucrezia's Orchard	Tongs Barossa de Tassato Regario	Kill the wreckers	Wreckers killed, including Maurizia Spada di Sarvos
18	Zenith, Iteri, Lutum Woods	Warmage	Retrieve the ilium	Wreckers defeated, ilium retrieved, and Tuomas of Pirenea killed
19	Sarvos, Uccelini, Smugglers Copse	Cadet Commander	Interrogate the Grendel captain	Unclear, but the cadets should know more
20	Mournwold, Alderly, Boar's Hall	Stanley of Chalkdown	Kill Einar the Cunning	Einar the Cunning killed and Jotun defeated
21	The Barrens, The Untrod Groves, Tournament Square	Enchanter Morien de Carsenere	Attend the tournament of the Earl of the Groves	Unclear, but Enchanter Morien de Carsenere should know more
22	Kallavesa, Kallavesa Marsh, Hufi's Glen	Woundbinder of the Mark	Defeat the yegarra	Yegarra defeated
23	Mitwold, Meade March, John's Holt	Bailiff of Meade	Defeat the yegarra	Imperial casualties, yegarra have withdrawn back to Bregasland
24	Bregasland, The Rushes, Sallow's Shallows	General of the Strong Reeds	Recover the plundered goods	Lasambrians successfully returned to Sallow
25	Reinos, Ribeira, Carmo's Sheepfold	General of the Summer Storm	Kill Carmo Stoneblade	Carmo Stoneblade killed, and warband defeated
26	Reinos, Pedreira, Getshold	Champion of Prosperity	Recover Bulangiin Karadghra	Unclear, but the Champion of Prosperity should know more