381YE Winter Solstice winds of fortune

Interlude

The Winter Solstice winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is 27th April to 29th April incidentally). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Autumn Equinox that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources.

As a temporary measure we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, these various effects on this page. In each case, there will be further information in the Winter Solstice Winds of Fortune - once they're ready, they'll replace this content.

As always, these are quick OOC summaries to explain effects such as large-scale enchantments and curses. We'll cover all these and more when we start to present the Winds of Fortune for next event.

Warfare

The Imperial Guerdon is a bursary set up by the Imperial Senate primarily to reward military units that support Imperial armies, navies, 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 navies from the Guerdon. If they do so, then a character who supports such a navy will receive nothing for doing so.

This season, the Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies has announced that shares of the Guerdon will be paid to captains supporting the following forces:

• Bounders
• Granite Pillar
• Hounds of Glory
• Quiet Step
• Wolves of War

The Guerdon has been raised to 175 Thrones. If you support an army that is not on this list, or you support a fortification or spy network, you will get no Guerdon shares.

The Hordalant Spy Network

The Jotun have uncovered the Imperial spy network in Hordalant. They are in the process of dismantling it. As such. you cannot assign your military unit to support the spy network this downtime.

The Schism

• Highborn military units fighting alongside non-Highborn Imperial armies suffer a 60% reduction in their effective fighting strength.
• Non-Highborn military units fighting alongside Highborn armies likewise suffer a 60% reduction to their effective fighting strength.
• The penalties to not apply when supporting, or supported by, an Imperial Orc unit or army.

The Highborn Assembly has chosen to bring the Yaelian Schism to an end. While Melchior of Adina's Charge has undertaken the mandate to refute the legacy of Yael, his influence is not instantaneous. Over the coming season, the distance between the Highborn and the rest of the Empire will diminish, but for now the situation is chaotic and divisive. The penalties are expected to have ended by the start of the Winter Solstice.

This also means that the Highborn continue to enjoy their bonus rank to all resources except congregations for the coming season. The bonus will be permanently lost at the start of the Winter Solstice, however.

Trade

• A detailed breakdown of trade opportunities can be found here.

Relations with Nemoria remain good in the wake of the exchange of temples. Any fleet that trades with Nemoria receives an additional ingot of orichalcum and an additional measure of iridescent gloaming.

Likewise, the Principalities of Jarm retain their positive outlook on Imperial captains, although the effect is somewhat diminished. Any Imperial captain visiting Vezak receives an additional mana crystal.

Mandates

Five mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod. You can find the details of all the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.

Assembly	Mandate	Priest	Outcome
Wintermark	A hero's tale ends with a good death - for us or our enemies. We send Gunnbrand Ironwill with 25 liao to urge our warriors to face the Jotun on the battlefield as heroes, and strive with every sinew for victory, not for slaughter. Thus will we let the grimnir of either side treat their fallen	Gunnbrand Ironwill	Liao outstanding
Highguard	We cannot prove for certain if Yael was the first Empress reborn or not. Regardless of this and no matter who Yael was, the Land without Tears is not part of doctrine and preaching it as such is Heresy. We refute the claim of the Land without Tears and encourage our citizens to look to only those Doctrines which have been debated and agreed upon by the Synod rather than allowing one figure to tear our faith and our Empire apart. We the priests of Highguard send Melchior of Adina's Charge with 250 Liao to spread this message to the citizens of Highguard.	Melchior of Adina's Charge	Will heal the effects of the Yaelian Schism
Navarr	The Navarr assembly send Tynan Lonestriker with 25 Liao to urge Navarr apothecaries, physicks and brokers to share what herbs they can spare with our guests and allies.	Tynan Lonestriker	Liao Outstanding
Brass Coast	All things can have a price. We send Gonzalo i Riqueza, known as “Lupo” with 25 liao to remind people of their prosperity as well as their courage and to take a ransom from those foes we defeat rather than count their bodies. We will fill our souls with virtue and our pouches with coin.	Gonzalo i Riqueza	Liao Outstanding
General	The Blood Red Roads will connect the people of the Empire and make them stronger. This project is one of the most Ambitious in Imperial history. It demonstrates the Benevolence of Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, and will stand as a lasting Legacy. We send Jonah Yakovitch with 25 liao to encourage the faithful to aid in this endeavour.	Jonah Yakovitch	The Blood Red Roads will be competed at the start of the Winter Solstice.