385YE Summer Solstice interlude
Interlude
Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Summer Solstice 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 Spring Equinox 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 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 Sunday 30th April.
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.
Destroy the Vyig
- The League and Varushkan assemblies have enacted mandates urging the destruction of the vyig
The opportunity to help destroy the vyig criminal organisation continues for one more season. The mandate creates an opportunity for military units from the League, the Imperial Orcs, and Varushka to take part in breaking the power of the Vyig. This takes the form of an adventure found in the independent action dropdown menu: Break the Vyig. Instead of their normal production, any military unit that takes part will receive 144 rings, and 2 random resources (ingots of metal or measures of forest materials). Military units that have been upgraded or enchanted receive commensurately higher rewards.
Shadow War
- A new adventure is available to military units, to stymie the Whisper Gallery and protect scholars and places of learning
A new adventure for military units, Shadow War, can be found in the scout an area dropdown in downtime. Any military unit that takes part in this adventure is considered to be either guarding scholars - both those with the Department of Historical Research, and those at centres of learning threatened by the Whisper Gallery across the Empire - or else actively working to uncover and stymie the schemes of the eternals' mortal allies and twisted heralds. TIn place of their normal production, a standard military unit that undertakes this adventure receives 120 rings and 2 crystal mana, with an enchanted or upgraded military unit receiving commensurately more.
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:
- Iron Helms
- Citadel Guard
- Bounders
- Fist of the Mountains
- Summer Storm
Fleets
- Imperial fleets can trade with foreign ports and receive valuable goods
- Some ports give special bonuses or suffer special penalties
- They can also take special actions such as supporting spy networks, engaging in independent action, or embarking on an adventure
Certain trading destinations apply special effects if a fleet visits them, summarized on the Winter Solstice wind of fortune. You can also read more about the Empire's foreign relations in the recent We are never ever getting back together wind of fortune.
Some fleets also have the opportunity to take part in special adventures that provide specific rewards, or support the Osseini spy network in Feroz. These option are found in the downtime menu as dropdowns. If you don't want to do something specific, your fleet will automatically participate in privateering - the default independent action available to every fleet captain.
Other Effects
Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarized these effects here.
A gift of new talents
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.
Black Frost
- Every mana site in Dawn provides one fewer mana crystal, and every farm loses 36 rings from their production
- In return Tharim provides aid in the conquest of the Barrens
- Persists until the start of the Autumn Equinox 385YE
At the invitation of the Conclave Tharim, the Bound King of the Thrice-cursed Court will feast on mana sites and farms across Dawn, sending a black frost to wither crops and and draining the essence from crystals to satiate Tharim's endless hunger. All affected resources in the territory lose 36 rings or 1 mana crystal respectively until the end at the start of the Autumn Equinox 385YE. In return he will provide a cadre of steel-bound knights throughout this period to support any Dawnish army that attacks the Barrens, as determined by the enchantress Claudia Varkulova of House Remys.
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 Erasmo di Tassato 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
- 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.
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
- CCCCC has been performed
- Regrow the Lands Heart are also in effect
Following the Spring Equinox, as the earth starts to reawaken and the weather slowly improves, waves of Spring magic pour out from the Imperial Regio in Anvil, and from regio aligned to Spring across the Empire. The Hallow of the Green World has been cast. This potent Imperial enchantment has several effects. The most immediate is that every herb garden in the Empire will produce three additional random herbs over the next season
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.
Sandfisher Tithe
- Farms in Holberg receive 2 random herbs each downtime
The Sand Fisher orcs are providing herbs to farm owners of Holberg. This effect is detailed in the A dream that can last wind of fortune.
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. Several mandates were upheld by their respective assemblies but not enacted.
Imperial Lore
Three rituals were put forward for inclusion in Imperial Lore during the Winter Solstice: The Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield proposed Mantle of the Kriegszauberer, the Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind presented Dreadful Ending, and the Dean of the Lyceum presented Sorin's Chastising Touch. While the Thrones required for the first two rituals have been contributed, and the rituals are now available for any Imperial magician to master, the Dean of the Lyceum has yet to provide funds.
Urizen Lore
No new rituals were added to Urizen lore during the Spring Equinox.
Runesmiths' Law
The schema for Redwall's Wrath was added to the collection at Runegrott, becoming part of Runesmiths' Law.