385YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune
Overview
Over the past three months, events have taken place which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. These are the winds of fortune, counterparts to the Winds of War which detail the Empire's military campaigns. They lay out situations, and usually include things that characters can do to take advantage of opportunities or to resolve problems. In almost every case, they start with a piece of flavour text. This fiction helps introduce the wind of fortune, or draws out a particular theme or element. Often, it represents a viewpoint that one or more NPCs might have in-character. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip if they want to use it in character.
The body of the wind of fortune describes situations and lays out ways players can engage with them. Except where we explicitly talk about something being "rumoured" or use a phrase like "some might say..." the details of a wind of fortune are factual. They represent briefing material presented by the civil service or similar authoritative sources and represents something the average educated citizen would acknowledge as a reliable truth. Unless we specify otherwise, we're also being as thorough as possible. This information doesn't need further checking in-character. It's not opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.
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 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 could know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months. It's perfectly acceptable to turn up to Empire having read only a few Winds of Fortune that directly interest your character; part of the fun on the field can come from learning about situations and opportunities in other parts of the game.
In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations, or political bodies, to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place and very little happens in isolation.
Winds of Fortune
Have You Seen Me Lately (Plenipotentiary)
- Archmages and the Imperial Conclave; specially invited guests including the Shaman of Wintermark, musicians, assorted adventurers, Tancred Enrico i Taziel i Riqueza, Captain Quiberon Otterscourge, and Chiara of the Burning Beasts; the Circle of the Drowned, the Nation's Guard, the Wolves of the Pale Raven, Glory's Shadow, the Envoys of the White Stag, Wick's Rest, and the Suns of Couros
Every season an archmage can each communicate with a single eternal of their realm with the power of plenipotentiary. The eternal is bound to respond to the message they send - perhaps with a formal parley, perhaps with something unexpected. Between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox replies to each of the messages are received. Five of the six eternals contacted have agreed to some kind of meeting, while one is currently too occupied with other things, and has instead used the plenipotentiary as a guide to how he can help the Empire directly .
You can find details about this seasons plenipotentiary responses in the Have you seen me lately.wind of fortune.
Rain King
- Farm owners; Archmage of Spring and the Imperial Conclave, especially the Silver Chalice; Cassandra i Periera i Erigo and the Sails of the First Flame coven, Marcher landskeepers; healers of all kinds; Navarr and Highborn opponents of the vallorn
One of the reasons Lord Rain gives for not attending a formal parley with the Archmage of Spring is that he is busy sending his heralds hither and yon to provide practical aid to Imperial citizens. With the Hallow of the Green World wrapping the entire Empire in a potent net of Spring magic, Bogfearthen is apparently occupied helping farmers and healers alike to make the most of the lingering magic. Some boons he provides without difficulty, setting healing herbs growing in farms, offering the aid of heralds to revitalise tired soil, and making a gift of magical scrolls to those who might be interested in them. Other boons come in the form of proposals for things the Empire might build to allow Willowbraid and his friends to help healers and those who fight the vallorn. There's also plentiful opportunities to talk about what Ossegrahn wants, and some of it may prove a little surprising.
You can find out about the boons and opportunities Lord Rain provides in the Rain king wind of fortune.
Children in Bloom
- Farm and forest owners; briars; Navarr vates with mana sites; cultivators of chaos fruit; Navarr and Highborn Assemblies; anyone looking to start a new chapter of their life in a beautiful rural setting
The Sails of the First Flame of the Brass Coast have unleashed the Imperial enchantment known as the Hallow of the Green World. The irrepressible power of the Spring realm floods the Empire. In addition to the expected effect of filling Imperial herb gardens with a bounty of healing herbs, the enchantment has a number of other unpredictable effects. As ripples of Spring magic roll across the Empire, streams of fertility and life are focused along the trods, which serve as channels for the energies of the wild magical realm. Everywhere there are flowers, a great profusion of natural Spring blooms and stranger blossoms that thrive particularly well in the Empire's forests. The lingering power of the enchantment enthuses those of the briar lineage with energy and enthusiasm for the coming year. The soil sings with unparalleled life and fertility, and while there are a few minor downsides, for the most part, it looks like it is going to be a fine Spring.
You can learn about the impact of the powerful enchantment in the Children in bloom wind of fortune,
A Murder of One
- Forest owners; people at Anvil; Navarr generals and National Assembly; Imperial Conclave; boggart spotters
In addition to its more overtly supernatural effects, Hallow of the Green World strengthens minor Spring regio across the Empire, and encourages the eternals of that realm to reach out to the Empire. Only three of the Spring eternals are free to do so, although that has not stopped the Mother of Wrecks acting through proxies. The magic has also seen unprecedented numbers of Spring boggarts - dangerous creatures of the realms sometimes seen as being akin to vermin or estial predators - appearing across the Empire. Some of these boggarts present a threat to the forest owners of the Empire - and perhaps even to people at Anvil!
You can learn about matters related to Spring boggarts and Spring eternals in the A murder of one wind of fortune.
Time and Time Again (Appraisal)
- Imperial Senate; citizens of the Brass Coast, especially those from Kahraman or with an interest in mining; Imperial Military Council; holders of the Great Mine of Briante and Damatian Cliffs seats; Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills; Mistress of the Dust Parador
At the Winter Solstice, the Senate instructed the prognosticators office to prepare two appraisals. In the first, they asked Naomi of Virtues Rest to appraise how the infrastructure of Kahraman might be restored. Even before the traitor Stephen of Sarcombe inspired the Jotun to sabotage the roads and bridges, travel through the hills and mountains of northern Kahraman was arduous. There was a proposal, prepared by the Civil Service in 382YE, to build Cinnabar roads to address this problem. Unfortunately, that proposal relied on the bridges and roads still being there to be repaired... which is no longer the case.
You can learn about what Naomi proposes, and how Faraden merchants and Commonwealth military engineers might help, in the Time and time again wind of fortune.
Blood Will Thicken (Appraisal)
- Imperial Synod; Imperial Senate; artists of all kinds
The second appraisal the Imperial Senate instructed the Prognosticator's Office to perform also requested Naomi, and asked her to consider ways by which pilgrims of the Way could be encouraged to travel to the Empire and how Bastion and the territories of the Bay of Catazar might rise to the challenge of Timoj. With Naomi unable to conduct both appraisals, the Auditor of the Imperial Treasury assigned the newest prognosticator to consider it instead. She has presented her findings, which begin with a competition and end with a commission of truly awe inspiring proportions.
You can learn about the results of the appraisal, and what it will take to rise to the challenge of Timoj, in the Blood will thicken wind of fortune.
A Long December
- Imperial Senate; the Minister of Historical Research, Imperial Advisor for the Feni, and Advisor on the Vallorn; the Seer of the Gateway, Imperial Seer, and Lepidean Librarian; the Anvil Library; military unit owners
The Imperial Senate has chosen to take advantage of an opportunity to retrain civil servants from the Department of Historical Research as prognosticators capable of performing an appraisal. Unfortunately, following a different opportunity in which members of the Department were committed to collecting and organising information about the vallorn to support the expansion of the Great Library of Hacynian, this left nobody to actually perform historical research. Worse, after the Summit, it became apparent that the sinister eternals of the Whisper Gallery had expanded their campaign of destruction and murder to include not only the Department researchers, but also a number of other individuals and organisations. The future of the Department of Historical Research is in doubt - indeed if the Whisper Gallery continue to expand their operations in the Empire the very future of Imperial scholarship may be in danger!
You can learn about the situation at the Department of Historical Research, and the attacks of the Whisper Gallery, in the A long December wind of fortune,
Pieces Missing Everywhere
- Highguard, especially their National assembly; other National Assemblies, especially Urizen
Buoyed by recent Imperial triumphs against the Druj, and against the slavers of Asavea and Rachensgrab, the Highborn National Assembly has passed three potent mandates, tapping into the surge of Pride their people feel in contributing to these accomplishments. One of the mandates gives the Highguard Assembly new powers to support their fellow nations. Not everyone approves of these powers, however, with the Urizen in particular scorning any further assistance from their neighbours. At the same time, the Highborn generals are busy helping to rebuild Zenith, and supporting the Synod's aim of liberating rather than conquering the Barrens, and their virtuous crusade leads to further opportunities for the Assembly.
You can learn about these opportunities in the Pieces missing everywhere wind of fortune.
Butterfly In Reverse
- Fleets, especially Marches and Wintermark; Monster Hunters; Imperial Senate; Faraden ambassador
Following the Autumn Equinox 384YE more than seventy fleets from across the Empire set off on an expedition in order to map the Sea of Snow. Although the flotilla was unable to fully explore the Sea of Snow, they did reach the Faraden coastline and identify a number of possible destinations for Imperial shipping. There are some diplomatic challenges still to be resolved, the only sizeable Faraden harbour is not open to Imperial shipping. However the bay at Caitun could support Imperial shipping if the sprawling docks were significantly expanded and the harbourmaster there is open to the prospect of burgeoning trade with Wintermark and the Marches, provided that the Empire is prepared to share the burden of the investment needed.
You can learn about opportunities to trade with the Faraden, or hunt monsters in the Sea of Snow, in the Butterfly in reverse wind of fortune.
The Troubled Words
- * The Master of Defence of the Scholars of the Sword Academy; League Bravos; Sword Scholars; The League National Assembly; The Lepidean Librarian
The Holberg Scholars of the Sword Academy in Holberg opened its doors only recently, and already there is a little controversy attached to it. Apparently the Master of the college has invited the sword scholars of Urizen to come and teach at the Academy. Their seems to be an intention to make the new Academy a centre of sword scholarship teaching in the League. This has inspired a number of other sword scholars to follow suit, taking apartments in Holberg and offering their services at the new Academy. This announcement has brought considerable interest from various quarters, some in favour, some opposed, and some worried it might spike interest in one of Holberg's least remembered and most infamous sons. The League Assembly has the opportunity to issue guidance to citizens to address these concerns.
You can learn about both opportunities and concerns in the The troubled words wind of fortune.
Other Events
There are a number of other events and situations which are noteworthy, but which for whatever reason have not led to a full Wind of Fortune in their own right.
TBC
Trade Summary
Rather than spread this information out around the various foreign nations, we've collected it here for ease of reference.
- Free Trade: Imperial ships trading with Commonwealth, Axos, Sumaah, or Sarcophan Delves receive a +1 rank bonus until the start of the Autumn Equinox 385YE.
- Asavean Archipelago: The port of Nemoria is closed to Imperial trading vessels.
- Axos: The dreadful docks at Issyk remain a problem. While the impact of recent events continues to fade, the Axos are now angry about revelations relating to Imperial involvement in the failure of their joint venture with the Grendel into the Mountains of the Moon. Consequently Imperial fleets suffer significant penalties to trade with Axos. A fleet captain trading at the Towers of Kantor suffers a -3 rank penalty, while trading at the Chambers of Issyk suffers an incredible -5 rank penalty.
- The Commonwealth: Commonwealth citizens remain enthusiastic about trading the Imperial fleet captains. Fleets trading with Leerdam receive an additional dram of Bladeroot, while fleets trading with Volkavaar receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil on top of their normal production.
- Principalities of Jarm: The ports of Kavor and Vezak remain closed to Imperial fleets.
- Sarcophan Delves: Imperial captains continue to be welcomed in the Delves. Fleets trading with the great port-city of Sarcophan receive an additional dose of Marrowort and an additional dose of Imperial Roseweald on top of their normal production. The new port of Betovering is newly open to Imperial fleets.
- Sumaah Republic: Imperial captains are free to trade with the Sumaah Republic. Fleets visiting Zemeh receive standard production.
- Grendel: The port of Oran is closed to Imperial fleets.
- Iron Confederacy: The port of Robec is available for Imperial fleets but suffers a -2 rank penalty due to sanctions.
Mandates
- You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.
Seventeen mandates were upheld in the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice. All mandates have been automatically 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 not enacted.
Winter Conjunctions
- Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here
During the Winter Solstice, there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate identified by the Imperial prognosticators. In each case a band of Imperial heroes used that conjunction to travel to a location far from Anvil and intervene in a ongoing situation. These are the known outcomes of those conjunctions. In the case of battles, it must be remembered that the Military Council can only make use of two of the major conjunctions each summit, choosing which to take advantage of during the Muster.
Major Conjunctions
| Location | Opportunity | Day | Link | Outcome |
| The Barrens | Kill a Druj governor and capture a Dawnish collaborator | Saturday | A Vile Het | Sarra Grubfeast survived, but traitor Renee du Loire was captured, interrogated, and executed |
| Liathaven | Destroy keystones and make use of the Spring regio | Sunday | The Towering Pines | The regio at Broker's Wynd was used to unleash devastating Spring magic against the Jotun, but work continues on their fortification. |
| The Barrens | Rescue the Rahvin and make use of the Summer regio | Saturday | A Curious Reprise | Not taken; the Rhavin remain slaves of the Druj |
| Skallahn | Prevent the spy network from being destroyed and stop a fane being constructed | Sunday | The Freezing North | Not taken; the Jotun have reinforced their borders, and a fane has been established in Greenwall |
| Bregasland | Rouse Old Marjoram and arrest a Marcher traitor | Sunday | The Encroaching Wetlands | Not taken; Oddmire is under threat from the Jotun in Bregasland |
Normal Conjunctions
| # | Location | Responsibility | Overview | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Barrens, Farweald, The Broken Glade | Apothecary of Orieb | Kill the Sleepless Nightmare | The sleepless nightmare was destroyed along with most of the Druj escorting it |
| 2 | The Barrens, Murderdale, Berena's Tree | Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern | Kill the Burnt Fist coven | The scorched liege was destroyed along with most of the ritualists |
| 3 | Broceliande, Terunael, Kay's Lament | Knight-protector of Spring | Recover the Tairiscint na Foraoise | The Tairiscint na Foraoise was recovered |
| 4 | Sermersuaq, Stark, Vahne's Field | Senator of Sermersuaq | Force the Jotun to retreat | Many scouts defeated, the Jotun were driven back |
| 5 | Mournwold, Southmoor, Tollerton Green | Master of Sarcombe Metal Market | Rescue Wise Maggie | Wise Maggie was not rescued |
| 6 | Sermersuaq, Tanikipari, Siward's Folly | Weigher of Worth | Defeat Jarl Roneth and return the sword to Barien | Jarl Roneth was defeated and the sword recovered |
| 7 | Zenith, Occursion, Ring of Solace Ruins | Senators of Urizen and the Archivist of the Echoing Obelisk | Lift spirits and investigate | The tormented spirits were laid to rest with minimal harm to the Imperial heroes |
| 8 | The Barrens, Murderdale, Holt of the Mudchurner | General of the Golden Sun | Kill Garsnag Mudchurner | Several tortured souls were defeated but Garsnag Mudchurner managed to flee |
| 9 | Zenith, Iteri, Spire of the Everlasting Dusk | High Exorcist | Lay the tortured souls to rest | The tortured souls were not laid to rest due to an anomaly with the gate, the Imperial heroes were greatly outnumbered but retreated in good order |
| 10 | The Barrens, The Untrod Groves, Soulflayer's Refuge | Champion of Vigilance | Kill Varag Soulflayer | Varag Soulflayer survived, as did the tormented spirits |
| 11 | Zenith, Lustri, Spire of Twisting Shadow | Senator of Zenith | Destroy miasma pillars | The pillar was destroyed but due to an anomaly with the gate, its guardians remain |
| 12 | Kahraman, Serra Briante, Isabella's Track | Great Mine of Briante | Kill the Lasambrians before they ambush wagon trains | Most of the Lasambrian jotun were defeated or driven off |
| 13 | Kallavesa, Skymark, The Cold Path of Kaisa | Mediator of Hyljehal | Kill the Lasambrians before they slaughter a group of Hylje | The Lasambrian jotun were dealt with, and the hylje protected |
| 14 | Bregasland, Grey Fens, Orchard of Tom Wiscall | General of the Strong Reeds | Deliver resources to the Scraggy Bole | Supplies successfully delivered |
| 15 | Bregasland, North Fens, Dry Marsh | Blackroot Broker | Rescue Tall George, an apprentice of Mott | Tall George was rescued and the Jotun stymied |
| 16 | Brocéliande, Elerael, Silent Copse | Avery Farkas, Navarr Egregore | Rescue a number of injured Marchers | Marchers rescued, threat addressed |
| 17 | Mournwold, Southmoor, Friar Tommy's Grave | Bailiff of the Downs | Ensure that Little Robin doesn't make it to Liathaven | Despite the Jotun being engaged successfully, the traitorous Little Robin escaped |