387YE Spring Equinox interlude

Overview

Downtime following the Winter Solstice will soon be open, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. There are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Winter Solstice that may affect some players' 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 TBC.

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:

• Senate motions
• Synod judgements
• Conclave declarations
• Military orders

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

Military Units

• Players who control military units can choose from a number of downtime options
• 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.

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.

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.

Foam and Floods

• 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.

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.

Further Reading

• Downtime
• Personal resource
• Winter Solstice recent history