382YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

Interlude

The Spring Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is June 15th to June 17th as it happens). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Winter Solstice 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.

Downtime is due to close at 2pm in the afternoon on Wednesday 9th of May.

Warfare

Any players whose character controls a military unit can choose from a number of downtime options. Left to their own devices, a military unit defaults to paid work guaranteeing an income of herbs, ingots or measures, money, or mana crystal. Otherwise, they may log into the downtime system and choose to support an army or fortification, or assign to a special project such as a spy network. By browsing the available army options, the player can read the orders issued by the general of each before making their decision.

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 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:

the Quiet Step
the Summer Storm
the Hounds of Glory
the Wolves of War.

The Guerdon stands at 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.

Spy Networks

Not only has the Hordalant spy network been destroyed by the Jotun, the Imperial Senate has voted to begin decommissioning the Verthandi spy network. As a consequence, both have been removed from the drop-down menu.

Trade

Pirates!
Port of Robec open
Vezak continues to provide additional mana; Nemoria continues to provide additional orichalcum and iridescent gloaming; the Synod discourages trade with Vezak and Kavor

Grendel pirates, backed up by creatures of Siakha, have begun attacking any fleet passing through the Bay of Catazar. This means that during the coming season all fleets from Tassato, Sarvos, the Brass Coast, Highguard, or Urizen will suffer a 1 rank penalty to production if they engage in trade.

The port of Robec in the Iron Confederacy is now open to Imperial fleet captains. We're still filling the details in, but the production of a fleet visiting the port is listed here.

Vezak and Nemoria (southern Principalities of Jarm and Asavean Archipelago respectively) continue to provide additional production to Imperial captains visiting them. However, the Imperial Synod is actively discouraging trade with Vezak and Kavor in favour of trade with Rigia - any fleet that visits northern or southern Jarm receives significantly less crystal mana thanks to a mandate supported by Jared of the Suns of Couros. You can read about it here.

Events

Some of the Winds of Fortune have specific effects this downtime.

Map the Bay

As per the Wind of Fortune, the Imperial Senate has voted to map the Bay of Catazar. This means that any fleet captain can assign their ships to aid this opportunity - they can find "Map the Bay" in the drop-down menu for privateering.

Saboteurs in Semmerholm

There are Druj saboteurs in Semmerholm. They have slipped past the armies and rampage across the territory, striking without warning and slinking back into the shadows when Imperial heroes arrive to deal with them. Every mine, forest, herb garden, and mana site in Semmerholm suffers a one rank penalty to its production this season.

New Spring, New Start

Farms in the Mournwold are experiencing a burst of fertility and new growth. Every farm in the Mournwold gains a share of 2 Thrones of additional production, like a great work. The benefit is an enchantment woven with Spring magic.

Liao Market Surge

As mentioned in the Winds of Fortune, the price of liao has taken another upswing. If you choose to sell any liao from your congregation you'll get 18 rings a dose rather than the more common 12 rings.

White Seed and Mana Sites

Don't forget if you own a mana site you can spend money from your inventory to increase the amount of mana you produce this season by taking advantage of the beloye zerno - the white seed - brought to the Empire by enterprising Jarmish merchants.

Dawnish Pride

Thanks to a mandate raised by Dread Princess Orlene Ossiene, all herb gardens in Dawn will receive an additional rank of production, represented by two doses of random herbs. The mandate was accompanied by a song, The Semmerholm Spirit, which you can find here, and means that the bonus will last for the next year rather than a single season.

Arcane Projections

As of this downtime, the changes to the way arcane projections work that we announced before the first event are now in effect. Magicians contribute arcane projections while downtime is open, rather than being done at events.

Mandates

Seven 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. As always, these mandates only have an effect if the named priest provides the appropriate amount of liao and emails Profound Decisions.

Some of these mandates will have an effect this downtime; we'll update this page and adjust the Facebook and forum posts to reflect this once we have confirmation a mandate is happening.

Assembly	Mandate	Priest	Outcome
General	We have learned to our bitter cost, the effects of national religious divisions upon the ability of Imperial armies to fight together. At a time when the Empire faces many foes, let us not rush to create another schism. It is the seven Virtues than unite us, not divide us. We send Severin von Holberg with 100 doses of liao to remind Imperial citizens of our common belief in the seven Virtues, at the heart of belief in every Imperial Nation. 100 liao received from Severin von Holberg after the Winter Solstice.	Severin von Holberg	Severin may write an address to the Empire; any attempt to incite people to confront religious differences or spiritual conflicts would be strongly inhibited for the following year.	Link
Marcher	The Marcher Assembly sends Sister Meredith with 50 doses of liao to the orcs of the Mournwold to bring them to the Way of Virtue. We encourage the Virtuous folks of the Mourn to support these preachers and ensure their voices are heard. 25 doses of liao provided by Sister Meredith Stellamaris	Bethany	Begins the process of enlightening the ex-Jotun thralls as to the teachings of the Way	Link
General	The Synod recognises the actions of Magician-Prince Barbara Radz in moving to improve the condition of slaves in her eastern alliance in Jarm. We send Jared of the Suns of Couros with 25 doses of liao to urge every Imperial captain intending to visit Jarm to trade with the enlightened people of Rigia, rather than the corrupt slavemasters of Vezak and Kavor. 25 liao recevied from Jared of the Suns of Couros after the Winter solstice	Jared of the Sons of Couros	Imperial captains trading with Vezak and Kavor receive significantly reduced production for the next year.	Link
Dawn	The triumphant defence of Semmerholm is an INSPIRATION to GLORY for every true DAWNISH. We send Lady Caewyn of the Gryphon’s Quill with 25 doses of liao to carry the inspiring songs of our VICTORY to every corner of the NATION so that all may hear the GOOD NEWS. We implore the YEOFOLK of this land to work the HERB GARDENS of DAWN to produce the herbs we need to achieve glorious VICTORY! 25 doses of liao provided by Dread Princess Orlene Ossiene	Dread Princess Orlene Ossiene	Every herb garden in Dawn receives bonus production for the season; Lady Caewyn can submit a song that will improve this bonus	Link
Imperial Orc	The Imperial Orc Assembly sends Bloodcrow Losak with 50 doses of liao to preach to the orcs of the Mournwold and bring them to the Way of Virtue. We encourage the Virtuous people of the Mourn, orc and human, to support these preachers and those of the Marcher Assembly. 50 doses of liao provided by Bloodcrow Losak after Winter Solstice.	Bloodcrow Losak	Begins the process of enlightening the ex-Jotun thralls as to the teachings of the Way.	Link
Varushka	Every established nation of the Empire has traditions that go back to the founding and before. Let all our people look to their past, and let our soldiers remember who they are and where they came from. We send Bogdan Bogdanovich with 50 liao to encourage all Varushkan soldiers to embrace our rich heritage. 50 Liao received from Bogdan Bogdanovich after the Winter Solstice.	Bogdan Bogdanovich	All Varushkan armies are affected by the penalties for fighting alongside Wintermark, and the Brass Coast, rather than just the Iron Helms. There will be opportunities to update the quality of their armies.	Link
General	The General Assembly recognises again the lessons to be learned from stories of the Sentinel, and the importance of the virtue of Vigilance. Let Imperial citizens be alert for all dangers, and prepared for malice. Further, let the Silent Sentinel in Casinea be consecrated as a site of pilgrimage and recognised as the likely resting place of that paragon whose inspiration and legacy has endured so many centuries. We send Rhesa, Exarch of the Scions of Ravensfell with a dose of true liao and 4 crowns to consecrate the Silent Sentinel in the name of Vigilance. One dose of true liao and 4 crowns received from Rhesa after the Winter Solstice.	Rhesa	Fortifications will be easier to build and a place of pilgrimage can be built.	Link

Imperial Lore

The ritual Infant Starts With A Blank Slate has been added to Imperial lore by the Conclave and any Imperial magician may master them following the normal rules.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Imperial Senate announced that the schema for the Bloodcloak would be added to Imperial lore, allowing any artisan to master the creation of these items. So far, the civil service has not received the 10 Thrones required to make this happen.