385YE Autumn Equinox interlude

The Summer Solstice brought opportunities and challenges.

Interlude

Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Autumn 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 Summer 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. In most cases, there will be further information in the Autumn 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 player 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 an adventure. 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 an 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:

• Bloodcloaks
• Gryphon's Pride
• Iron Helms
• Strong Reeds
• Summer Storm

Other Effects

This is a placeholder page for content that PD are actively working on.

Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarized these effects here.

Black Feast

• Every mana site in the Brass Coast provides one fewer mana crystal, and every herb garden loses drams of true vervain from their production
• In return Tharim provides support to the Fire of the South
• Persists until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE

Following a declaration of concord by the Golden Pyramid during the 385YE Summer Solstice, the eternal Tharim, the Bound King of the Thrice-cursed Court is free to feast on mana sites and herb gardens across the Brass Coast. A terrible black frost will wither plants and and draining the essence from crystals to satiate Tharim's endless hunger. All affected resources in the territory lose 1 mana crystal or 3 drams of true vervain as appropriate until tstart of the Summer Solstice 386YE. In return the Bound King will provide a cadre of steel-bound knights throughout this period to support the Fire of the South army.

Dho'uala's Tithe

• Fleets from Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg suffer a 1 rank penalty to production
• The Custodian of the Ivarsgard Docks and the Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak have had some of the prices for their ministries increased

The rise of the sovereign Dho'uala in the Semmerlak impedes fleets based in Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg reducing their production by one rank. Any Dawnish, Varushkan, or Holberg character is free to create their own eerie tales of brushes with the terror of the Semmerlak. The examples given above should provide enough inspiration for a ghostly tale; these are no incidents of glorious battles on the deck of a ship or hordes of horrors clawing up the side of the hull. Rather they are spooky encounters, weird lights, strange disappearances, feelings of being watched, and odd things seen in the depths.

Imperial titles related to ports on the Semmerlak. The Sarcophan captains dealing with the Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks have increased the price for Cerulean Mazzarine by a fifth. The recently established Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak will find that there is less ilium available to buy and the price has gone up.

Power of Faith

• Highborn congregations receive an additional liao, 2 extra votes, and a crown of additional income
• League congregations preaching Ambition receive an additional liao and two additional votes in the synod

This season there are several circumstances that effect the production of congregations in the Empire. The Birthplace of the Way means that Highguard congregations gain an additional dose of liao, two additional votes in the Synod, and a crown of income until the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE as detailed in Full of sacred sound.

At the same time, congregations run by a League citizen preaching Ambition receive an additional liao and two additional votes in the Imperial Synod until the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE. This is explored in more depth in the Don't blame me wind of fortune.

Free Folk Tutelage

• Every business in Highguard experiences a -1 rank penalty to production for the rest of the year

The Free Folk seek tutelage in the use of liao to perform the ceremonies Imperial priests take for granted, The national assembly of Highguard has urged the benefactors of their nation to help support these would-be priests, providing scholarships and bursaries. Every business in Highguard takes a -1 penalty to production until the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE. This situation is discussed in more detail in the Folklore wind of fortune.

Good Neighbours

• Navarr in Therunin, Hercynia, Miaren, and Brocéliande can improve their herb gardens for 1 wain fewer than normal

Thanks to a combination of Prosperous citizens and a senate motion, the Great Forest Orcs offer their expertise to their Navarr neighbours. Any Navarr with a herb garden in Therunin, Miaren, Hercynia, or Brocéliande can improve their resource at the cost of one fewer wain of weirwood than normal (so, to upgrade a standard herb garden to rank two would cost one weirwood rather than two, and to raise a rank three herb garden to rank four would only need three wains). The effect lasts until the start of the Summer Solstice 385YE. You can learn more in the Make a deal wind of fortune.

Visiting Armada

• Grendel merchants are enthusiastically trading with businesses in Necropolis

The mandate enacted by Wildfyre means that Highborn business owners in Necropolis are encouraged to deal with Grendel traders visiting Necropolis. Every business in the territory will produce an additional 2 crowns each season.

Forests and Farms

• The cost to diversify a farm or forest has been waived in territories effected by Hallow of the Green World
• A character can change an upgraded resource for a farm with the same number of upgrades by emailing Profound Decisions before downtime closes
• Blessing of New Spring can be used to begin the process of upgrading a standard farm

Following the Spring Equinox, the cost to diversify a farm or diversify a forest has been waived. This also applies to the special diversification option available to Marcher farmers to build monoliths that provide small amounts of mana. This effect does not apply to resources in the Barrens, Bregasland, Liathaven, Brocéliande, Spiral, or Feroz.

Any character may choose to replace their personal resource with a farm. If they have a resource that is not upgraded, they can do so without the usual administrative costs - there is plenty of land available for Imperial citizens to set up a new concern. A character can also exchange an upgraded resource for a farm with an equal number of upgrades, provided they have the required 2 crowns in their inventory. In each case this is done by emailing plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before downtime closes

Owners of standard farms - those which have not been upgraded - can use Blessing of New Spring to begin improving those farms. The process takes until the start of the Winter Solstice 385YE, and requires the ritual to be performed on the farm at every event the owner attends.

Boon of the Grimmelkint

• Every forest in the Empire receives a 1 rank boon from the Grimmelkint boggarts

During the Spring Equinox, a number of Grimmelkint boggarts arrived at Anvil. Imperial citizens managed to peacefully encourage them to depart for the Spring realm, with only minimal disruption. Until the start of the Summer Solstice, the Grimmelkint in other parts of the Empire will be friendly and helpful, rather than destructive, meaning that every forest will produce additional resources (gain an additional rank).

Kahraman Problems

• Several titles in Kahraman have been effected by thieving raids from orcs and humans alike

The Imperial Senate has commissioned repairs to the roads in Kahraman, and the construction of defensive kamkrag across the territory. While work is underway, however, valuable resources in the territory remain at risk of attacks from raiders, both orc and human, as detailed in the Time and time again wind of fortune. This means that the production of the Damatian Cliffs is reduced by 7 wains of white granite each season and the production of the Great Mine of Briante is also reduced by 6 wains each season. Not all the lost wains will be stolen by bandits or thieves; the reduction also represents the challenge of getting workers safely to and from the quarry and the mine. The Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills remains under pressure and will no longer have access to the two highest ranks of their ministry. Likewise, with the difficulty of safely moving metal out of the mountains the Mistress of the Dust Parador can no longer access the top two ranks of their ministry. Obviously the matter may well become moot if the Jotun successfully conquer Jade Range, where the Parador stands.

Resonating Magic

• A powerful Autumn ritual has been performed across the entire Empire
• Regrow the Lands Heart are also in effect

Following the Spring Equinox, an unfamiliar magical power pours out from the Anvil regio and blankets the entire Empire with Autumn magic. The effects of this magic will be detailed in Winds of Fortune.

Regrow the Land's Heart has been cast in Madruga, and will help to contain the spread of the dessicating blight on the Great Grasses.

Everything Costs

• Businesses in the League cost one less wain to upgrade until the start of the Winter Solstice 385YE

Upgrading a business personal resource costs one less wain of white granite than usual as part of a grand competition. This effect is detailed in the The money goes round wind of fortune.

Atalaya Harbour

• Fleets in Madruga cost one less wain to upgrade

Upgrading a fleet personal resource costs one less wain of weirwood for as long as the Atalaya Harbour remains and the Freeborn do not control Feroz. This effect is detailed in the The power behind our moves wind of fortune.

A gift of new talents

• Characters whose personal resource was in the Mournwold at the start of the Spring Equinox can change their skills
• Businesses in the Mournwold receive an extra 36 rings

A summer enchantment effected the Mournwold in the run-up to the Spring Equinox as detailed in the Winds of Magic. Any character who personal resource was in the Mournwold at the start of the Spring Equinox can completely change their character skills between event by sending an email to plot@profounddecisions.co.uk with details of which skills they wish to change. It is fine to keep some skills and change others. This represents the fact that the Summer magic encourages people in the Mournwold to find new ways to apply their natural talents, and to take up new skills.

There is also a boon to trade across the territory as beautiful works of art, finely crafted items, excellent quality pies, ales, and spirits are very much in demand. Every business resource in the Mournwold following the event will produce an additional 36 rings.

Mandates

• You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.

Seven mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod. All mandates have automatically been enacted as long as the named priest has sufficient liao in their inventory before downtime opens.

Imperial Lore

X rituals were put forward for inclusion in Imperial Lore during the Summer Solstice: The TBC put forward TBC. The thrones required for each ritual have been contributed, and the rituals are now available for any Imperial magician to master.

Urizen Lore

No new rituals were added to Urizen lore during the Summer Solstice.