384YE Autumn Equinox winds of war

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The strength of the armies lie in the arms of the soldiers.

Overview

Over the last three months, Imperial forces are engaged in military campaigns against barbarian forces. Sometimes those engagements have been wide ranging and dramatic, other times they have been more sedate. Building on what we did in summer and in spring this year, we're presenting a summary of the campaign on this page. Where there's more dramatic action, or where there are opportunities, we've given a wind of war its own page. We're also continuing to provide information about the battle opportunities, listed in the theatres that they concern.

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 War and the 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 'should' know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months.

Also, it should go without saying that we ask everyone to abide by the rules about online roleplaying with regard to the military campaign. It's important that the key in-character activity of the Empire world takes place at events. The game is busier and better if everything that can happen in the field, does happen in the field. Military planning and political discussions should happen at events. For this reason we generally discourage too much downtime roleplaying between events and put strict limits on what can be done online particularly using our forums and Facebook groups.

With that in mind, we now present a summary of the key military activity in the Empire - both with links to the expanded Wind of War pages and notes about other important things that have happened that didn't need a full battle campaign.

Where the Sun Sets

In the west, the Jotun have invaded three territories: Kahraman, Bregasland, and Sermersuaq. As magical storms begin to sweep across the Empire, Imperial and barbarian armies clash and blood mingles with the rain and the mud. Nowhere is there as much mud as Bregasland. Conquered before the height of Summer, the marshes labour under the furnace of the great drought, no rains to grant any relief from the crushing heat. Mathilda Fisher, self-styled Steward of Bregas, "leads" her orc allies to total domination of the marshes, seizing the Rushes and Graven March. Yet while she may appear unopposed, there are brave Marches in Bregasland who will not accept her rule and will do whatever it takes to bring her down. You can read about the situation in Bregasland in the Summer tree Wind of War.

South of the Marches lie the warm lands of the Brass Coast. The Lasambrian Jotun - former bandits and thieves now inspired by the virtues with the zealous fervor of the convert - seek to bring the Cinnabar Hills of Kahraman under their sway. For six months they have been opposed only by the increasingly exhausted garrison of Fort Braydon but now the armies of the Empire come to drive them back into their arid hills. The Lasambrian invaders are forced to retreat, falling back in the face of the bloodthirsty armies of Navarr. You can read about the campaign in Kahraman in the Of earth and sky Wind of War.

Finally - in the west at least - let our eyes fall on Sermersuaq. The Jotun conquered the territory years ago, and for a time their rule was barely contested. Now an alliance of Empire and Otkodov has broken their hold, and driven their armies inexorably westward. As thunder rolls through the Silver Peaks, and lightning splits the louring skies, the alliance faces their greatest challenge yet - the grim castles of Olgafsdottirshal and the Fortress of Kalant. By the time Summer turns to Autumn, and the supernatural storms have spent their fury, the alliance will be victorious - but at what cost? You can read about the final liberation of Sermersuaq in the A wandering fire Wind of War.

Far from Here

The sun has set - lost behind the mountains of the west. Let us pause for a moment to look elsewhere. While armies clash and bleed, Imperial champions fight elsewhere far from crushing sun or raging tempest. To struggle outside the borders of the Empire - although in the case of one at least those borders are technical rather than real. Deep beneath the earth, in the bowels of Lorenzo's Deep Pockets, heroes delve into darkness. Escorting the koboldi of Adamant who carry the red iron door that will seal away the teeming hordes of the trogoni, adventurous heroes explore flooding tunnels and ancient dungeons. So great has been the response to the Master of the Koboldi's call for aid that the expedition reaches the very nadir of the delvings hidden beneath the sinkhole, closing and warding the great shaft up which the trogoni poured to infest the lower levels. You can learn all about the expedition to the depths special action in the Brightness long ago Wind of War.

From the sinkhole, let us fly north and west. While the armies of human and orc clash beneath the stormclouds of Sermersuaq, and the withering gaze of the Bregasland sun, boats cross the Gullet from Westerhal and Odd's End carrying raiders to the shores of Jotun Skallahn. While warbands ravage the heartlands of the Jarl of Keirheim, destroying and pillaging and breaking the Jotun capacity to make war on the Empire, the captains of the ships and boats reave the southern shores of Kallsea at will. You can learn about the triumph that is the second Skallahn raid in the Under heaven Wind of War.

Finally, far away from drought and storm, there is the raid on Chalonsio. Lead by the Sumaah Republic, the forces of the Liberty Pact - Empire, Republic, and Commonwealth - put into operation a daring scheme to break the slave trade in the west. A great armada of Imperial vessels, carrying thousands of warriors, join their allies and attack the slavers' city. The markets are broken, the priesthood of the God of Chains decapitated, and the fortified palace of the Ceruleo family put to the torch. A powerful message is sent, and the column of smoke that rises from the city of corruption can be seen across the entire Asavean Archipelago. You can read about the sack of Chalonsio in the Mosaic Wind of War.

Where the Sun Rises

But let us look back to the Empire, for the sun is rising at last. Over the marshes and forests of the Mallum it rises. A staring eye that witnesses every horror of the Druj and cannot look away. It sees the Druj in Ossium, fading back into the Forest of Ulnak, leaving ruins behind. The Druj have gone from the Varushkan territory, but for how long? You can read about the situation in Ossium in the Beyond this dark house Wind of War.

South of Ossium, the Barrens. Last season Imperial armies carved a Steel Causeway through the heart of the territory but this season everything is eerily quiet. The Causeway remains - the Druj have not attacked it - yet at the same time the heroes of the Empire are busy elsewhere. There is a terrible anticipation in the air, and the storm that rages elsewhere has yet to break above the Barrens.

Needed elsewhere... in this case in Zenith, where the forces of the Empire at last score a decisive victory over the invading Druj. A hammer and an anvil, the Empire splits its strength into two and catches the Druj unaware. As the sun rises over Zenith, it is once again in Imperial hands,. The armies of the Mallum are trapped in the south, cut off from any avenue of escape that will not see them suffer withering casualties. The Druj are cornered and desperate, and the future of the campaign in Zenith rests on a knife's edge. You can read about the campaign to liberate Zenith in the The darkest road Wind of War.

Battle Opportunities

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Military Considerations

The following considerations should be borne in mind when discussing military strategies during the Summer Solstice.

• Adamant Gate: The Adamant Gate in Semmerholm cannot be reduced below 1,000 military strength. Link
• Billeting: Any Imperial army can take the Billet order in Bregasland, Upwold, or Mitwold. Link
• Dawn: Dawnish armies cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order. Link
• Highguard: Highborn armies benefit from double the normal amount of natural resupply. Link
• Highguard: Highborn armies can issue the Crusading Storm order. Link
• The Marches: Marcher armies cannot take the Give Ground order. Link
• Urizen: The Citadel Guard will begin to deteriorate again after the Summer Solstice. Link
• Varushka: Varushkan armies involved in the same campaign as an army from the Brass Coast or Wintermark generate 10% fewer victory points. If armies from both nations are present, the reduction is increased to 20%. Link.
• Wintermark: Wintermark armies can take the Fight with Honour order. Link
• Wintermark: Wintermark armies fighting against the Jotun will gain 10% more victory points but inflict 20% less casualties. Link
• Zenith: Any Highborn or Urizen army attacking into Zenith from Morrow gains a 20% bonus to any territory captured and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. Link
• Morrow: Any Highborn or Urizen army that defends in Morrow against an army attacking from Zenith gains a 20% bonus to defend territory and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. Link