384YE Spring Equinox interlude
Interlude
Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Spring Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event. 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 or options for characters with military unit or fleet personal resources.
On this page 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 Spring Equinox Winds of Fortune. 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 midnight on TBC.
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 crystals. 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 or one of the unique opportunities available this downtime. Players who want to support one of the Imperial armies can also read the orders issued by each general before making their decision.
As always, the guidelines around discussing military matters online can be found here.
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 a army, fortification, or special project will receive nothing for doing so.
The Guerdon stands at 350 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 or opportunities:
- TBC
Trade Opportunities
Freeborn Traders
- CHECK
- Every Freeborn fleet captain who engages in trade will suffer a -1 rank to their production for at least the next two seasons
The Brass Coast national assembly chose to support a mandate by Efenia i Maristela i Riqueza that urged Freeborn captains to engage in privateering.
Trading with Asavea
- Anyone trading with Asavea suffers a two-rank penalty to production due to trade sanctions.
- CHECK
The sanctions imposed by both the Empire and the Asavean government mean that any fleet captain trading with Nemoria itself suffers a significant loss of profit. That loss could have been offset by the presence of the two temples - one in Feroz and one in Nemoria. Unfortunately the Temple in Nemoria has been heavily damaged by the mob. As such, confidence among Asavean merchants trading with the Empire has been badly shaken. If the Temple in Nemoria is repaired by the Senate then the benefits of having an obvious symbol of Asavean and Imperial cooperation would resume.
The Temple of Balo and the Black Bull has been claimed by the Grendel in their conquest of Feroz. Any benefit that Imperial traders gained from that symbol of cooperation has been lost to the orcs of the Broken Shore.
Trading with Axos
- Imperial fleets visiting Issyk experience a -2 rank penalty to their production this season.
- CHECK
There has still been significant disruption in Axos. The sudden release of slaves, and the need for many wealthy concerns to reorganise themselves, meant that the economy was in turmoil. This had an immediate consequence on foreign trade, meaning there were significantly fewer goods available to purchase on the docks at Kantor. In the months since, this turmoil has settled down a little - in part thanks to the Empire's efforts to improve trade relations with Axos. As such the penalty to ships trading with Kantor has been removed.
The Chambers of Issyk has been opened to Imperial traders, and so another port has been made available for fleet owners. Due to the nature of the fleets that previously docked at Issyk, and the longstanding arrangement with the Principalities of Jarm and the Sarcophan Delves, the Empire's traders are suffering under the bureaucracy of the citadel's Ilarchs.
Trading with the Iron Confederacy
- The Iron Confederacy has closed its borders to Imperial merchants and goods.
- The port of Robec has been closed to Imperial traders
The port of Robec is closed to Imperial ships. As such the Empire cannot trade directly with the Iron Confederacy.
Trading with the Commonwealth
- Imperial captains visiting Leerdam receive an additional dose of Bladeroot; captains visiting Volkavaar receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil.
- CHECK
Any Imperial fleet visiting Leerdam during the coming season will receive an additional dose of Bladeroot as a sign of Commonwealth enthusiasm for the Liberty Pact. Likewise, captains visiting Volkavaar will receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil. It is not certain how long this enthusiasm will last, but it is anticipated to persist for at least a year.
Trading with Jarm
- Any Imperial fleet trading with Vezak or Kavor has a -2 rank penalty on their production.
- The eastern port of Rigia remains closed to Imperial shipping.
- EMBARGO
Imperial fleets visiting Jarm are struck by not one but two sets of tariffs; one imposed by the House of Princes on Imperial goods brought to Jarm, and then again when they attempt to bring Jarmish goods back to the Empire.
Liberate Orcs
- TBC
FOllowing the Winter Solstice, Skywise Gralka of the Imperial orcs enacted a mandate to encourage fleet captains to liberate the orcs of Axos.
Major Effects
Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarized these effects here.
Mandates
- You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.
TBC mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod, and enacted by named priests. As per our recent update, all mandates have automatically been enacted as long as the named priest has sufficient liao in their inventory before Downtime opens.
Some mandates were upheld by their respective assemblies but should have failed due to the intervention of the Wisdom assembly and the sword scholars. The pilgrimage in the name of Imperatrix Lisabetta, hiowever, focused on matters of the spirit and temporarily countered this effect. The following mandates would have failed without it:
Imperial Lore
Three rituals were added to Imperial lore during the Winter Solstice.
- Gift of Knowledge by Skywise Gralka
- The Basalt Citadel by Simargl, the Empty One
- Regrow the Land's Heart by Tenaes
Urizen Lore
A number of rituals were added to Urizen lore during the Winter Solstice.
- TBC