Watched Plot Never Boils

Alright folks, this is it, the last summary! Anything that comes out after this is somebody else’s problem.

Empire is a LARP run by Profound Decisions in the UK. These Winds of Fortune are updates to the world that are sent out ahead of the events to give more depth to the world and to give consequences to the players’ actions.

Profound Decisions have also made the decision this event to start posting the information previously kept for the Military Council alongside the options for the battles on Saturday and Sunday. If you would like to check this out you can find it on the Winds of War page.

Sound the Bells

Supply and Demand

The Urizeni regions Zenith, Morrow and Redoubt are under curses which halve the number of mana crystals their mana sites produce. This also has an effect on sinecures. Any players who have spent an extended time in these regions may be under the lingering effects of the curse. They experience a roleplaying effect: “you feel increasingly uncomfortable, becoming short-tempered, irritable, and even aggressive.”

Any magician who does not have a way to resist the lingering roleplaying effect may rely on their poise to gain a one-off benefit. By unleashing a burst of fury, one that has been carefully banked for several months, the magician may cast a single offensive spell that costs one mana without spending any personal mana. The roleplaying effect starts to fade once the burst of rage is unleashed.

Turn the Other Cheek

There have been attempts by both Urizen and the Marches to de-escalate the ongoing feud. However, the judgement raised in the Marcher Assembly did not receive a Greater Majority, while the one in the Urizen National Assembly did so there has been more attention paid to the latter.

Many Urizeni visited the Marches because of this judgement; they have come up with several ideas for making things up to the Marches.

• Help to cast the farming rituals, either by casting them or by sending mana.
• Remove several hated curses from Imperial Lore to prove that they cannot be cast again.
• Develop a better farming ritual and use their college of magic to codify it, and paying for it to be done.

Turn the Other Field

On the other hand, there are people in the Marches who do not wish to forgive. Not all of them, the sorcery charges on those who cast the most recent curses were brought by a Marcher and the National Assembly condemned them for it, but away from Anvil there are apparently plenty of people on the side of those who laid the curses on Urizen.

At 18:30 on Saturday the yeofolk of the marches are invited to the Community Hall (aka Merrick’s) to discuss the option of leaving their fields fallow to punish the Empire with the scarcity that will follow. If this happened every Marcher Farm would lose 98 rings at the next season. In addition, EVERY OTHER nation in the Empire would lose 1 point of supply. There would also be no opportunity for the Breadbasket to supply any armies.

Storms Across the Bay

Spring magic is causing storms and floods in all the regions that neighbour the Bay of Catazar, the League National Assembly managed to get a warning out but there are many who are still suffering. All navies in the bay have suffered damage, as have every fleet. Including the traders from other lands that the Ambassador to Axos, Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy, Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves, Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic speak to. Each of these positions will lose their top-level trading opportunity next season. To prevent this, they should send reassurances that this will not happen again. Of course if they do and the Bay is cursed again then this will be a diplomatic scandal.

There are more options for the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves. Careful words and a contrite apology by the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves might be enough to smooth things over, but it is clear that what they would prefer is to be invited to present proposals to expand current trading operations, by opening up new markets in the Empire for rare narcotic herbs. This will be up to the Ambassador, however.

Sodden Plains

Redoubt is on the Bay, but most of those who live there live high in the Mountains above where the storm can reach them. However, there is an opportunity to build a massive mithril net over the Ventosi cliffs to protect them from future storms. It would also act as a Great Work encouraging more mana crystals to form across the Region. If the buiilding was commissioned by the Crystal Architect of the Spires or the Arcane Architect then there would also be an opportunity to create a new Urizen position, Woven Architect of Crystal, who will be able to buy mana crystals and sunfruit.

This would cost 50 mithril and 150 crowns and take 3 months to build.

Shores of the Necropolis

There are several conjunctions available thanks to the ships of Grendel being forced to land on the Imperial Coastline.

Breaking Storm – The Champion of Prosperity is responsible for organising a skirmish to return an heirloom stolen by a group of Grendel from a Chapter in Highguard. The skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter, the time has yet to be confirmed.

Deceptions – The Imperial Spymaster is responsible for preventing a group of Grendel from finding a cache of intelligence from their time scouting the Empire. The skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter, the time has yet to be confirmed.

Traps – A group of Grendel are upsetting some ghosts, it is up to the High Exorcist to defeat the Grendel and put the ghosts to rest once more. The skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter, the time has yet to be confirmed.

Into the Spin

Assignment and Allocation

Sufficient regions of the Grendel territory of Mareave have been conquered that the Empire now has official control. The first step would be to choose which nation of the Empire would take control over the territory, and the second would be to assign the mithril mine, Fundindelve. If this became a national seat before the nation was chosen then a nation would have to take temporary control over it.

In addition, it is now possible to use the Imperial Regio to cast Rituals on the territory, even without a Senator or Nation assigned.

The civil service have found 4 challenges that the Empire will have to overcome if they wish to maintain control of Mareave.

Mareave has never been an Imperial territory and is neighboured by at least two Grendel territories. This, along with the large Mithril Mine, mean that the Grendel will definitely fight to get it back.

Many Orcs with no ties to the Empire live there, while some freed slaves have joined the Imperial Orcs the majority of the people in the Territory are unlikely to do so. They also do not worship the Way and are unlikely to change on that front, either.

Mareave has an arid climate that is ill-suited for agriculture. Whatever nation takes it over will not be able to support an additional army thanks to having it and they will likely have to invest a great deal to get any kind of benefit out of it.

Finally, Mareave is difficult to reach, and anyone who does so has to spend a lot of time in range of the Black Plateau. Everything would have to be imported, and merchants would charge extra for travelling within a horrible aura, so it would be extra expensive.

The Former Salt Lord

Ehsan, formerly Salt Lord of Beoraidh, has approached Imperial forces with an offer of neutrality, a delegation is planning to visit Anvil during the summit to discuss the possible options. They offer to become a neutral third party sitting between the Empire and the Grendel; Ehsan has made some concessions to become more in line with Imperial thought. They have ordered all slaves to be released (though this might be because it is cheaper to pay people rather than to keep slaves these days), and they apparently have info which would be useful for fighting the Brine Turtles, and they have offered to take all of those Broken Shore orcs who do not wish to live under Imperial Law, which would mean less bloodshed. 

Any of the various groups in Mareave could be recognised as Foreigners with the same Senate motion, which would make it illegal to attack any of these groups with an army.

It’s Only Me

1. There will be an astronomancy symposium in the Senate on Sunday at 10 am. Annukka Juhaling and possibly others will be attending to talk about the stars and magic and that kind of thing.
2. The survivor of a shipwreck is being haunted by those who died on the ship, they will be coming to the Highguard Chapel on Saturday at 5pm to seek ways to put these ghosts to rest. One option appears to be to have numerous people allow themselves to be possessed to complete their unfinished business, even if the unfinished business is not completed the possession can be ceased at any time or by dawn Sunday. This will involve the individuals who volunteer will get a curse card with a roleplaying effect.
3. Anthony de Woort von Temeschwar, representing a variety of Holberg butchers and farmers, would like to meet with victuallers from Holberg, and especially the Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage, at the Hub at 7:30 pm on Friday.
4. Doctor Aodann de Spiral seeks assistance in treating an unknown patient suffering a peculiar magical malady. They are expected around 2pm on Saturday and will make their way to the League Camp. The patient appears to be suffering from a more extreme example of the memory loss suffered by people who have come too close to the Black Plateau.
5. Visitors from Ketzov in Ossium, are heading to Anvil to meet with Jaromira Orlov and Jereni Hinda Bogdanov in the Varushkan camp. They expect to arrive at around 8:45pm on Saturday. There appear to be two groups travelling and at least one of them give people the heebie jeebies.
6. There will be a conjunction at 6:35 pm on Friday to allow a group from Anvil (up to 8 people) to visit Miaren to talk about what the nation should do once the Vallorn is destroyed since that has been the nation’s reason for being for the last millennium or so.
7. The eternal Sadogua intends to attend an inquisition in the Hall of Worlds at 2pm on Saturday afternoon, they have asked for assistance from Brat Umbral Path and the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path and they’ve also asked for a short meeting with the Bursar of the Conclave and the Archmage of Night after the inquisition.
8. A delegate or perhaps delegation from the Spiral rebels intends to visit Anvil to speak to their fellow Urizeni, they are expected to arrive at around 23:00 on Saturday evening.
9. Theodosia of Ipotavo has left the Empire ahead of schedule, as have other Axou visitors, apparently.

Momento Mori

And yes, I know the Latin is Memento Mori, but PD has written this, not me.

An entity known as the Schlacta of Rot or the Deadwood Knight has been terrorising the borderlands between Karov and Weirwater. As they kill people they are collecting the fiercest fighters and making them follow them in undeath. There are about a hundred of them now and they are becoming more powerful and quicker to expand.

They have a supernatural ability to travel almost instantly through the dense forests of the area, this would make it difficult for an army to chase them down.

Somehow, the Schlacta of Rot is able to overcome the wards of Varushka and can go on the roads, which is worrying and curious. They have also started sending messages with survivors, or at least one repeated message, “Give me the crown,” it runs. “And I swear by my heart and sword that I will build my demesne in Dawn, and leave Varushka to other powers.”

In addition to all of this, the Deadwood Knight appears to have participated in a tourney in Weirwater, where they killed many of the Knights but ONLY the Knights who were also in the Tourney. This may give clues to what makes this unnatural horror tick and what can be done to stop them.

A group of Wise Ones plans to visit Varushka at around 8pm on Friday evening and a travelling party of Troubadours are on their way to Anvil and expected to arrive around 2pm on Saturday.

Historical research remains a possibility to find any further clues about this entity.

There are competing statements in the Dawnish National Assembly, debating whether to destroy the threat now, or leave it until the tourney season is over and then face the larger threat.

Player Participation

Characters who took part in the Adventure in Varushka following the Winter Solstice may have faced warriors of the Schlacta of Rot and characters who took part in the Grand Tourney adventure may have been present for the Tourney of Ash and Bone.

Conjunctions

There are several opportunities for Imperial citizens to journey through the Sentinel Gate and take the fight to the Schlacta of Rot/Deadwood Knight. They are all combat highly likely encounters, but there are no times set for them yet.

Rumours – The Overseer of the Westward Road is responsible for defeating the Festering Warden in Western karov, if they are not defeated then their sinecure will produce less items and the Festering Warden’s band may become strong enough to attack the town of Kolvy.

With the Dawn – The Broken Errant is leading a warband targeting the remote houses of Weirwater, the Castellan of Spiral Castle is responsible for defeating them.

Sharp Lessons – The Iron Boyar is leading a warband targeting the traders on the road to Korotny, the Boyar of the Iron Roads is responsible for defeating them.

The Pride of Gerallt Brackensong

The virtue assembly of Pride enacted a judgement calling for a memorial to the Navarr guide and exemplar Gerallt Brackensong. They have investigated three possible sites.

A suitable structure would require 30 wains of weirwood, and 90 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete, after which time it would be suitable for consecration with true liao. Whether it is build in Miaren, Hercynia, or Therunin, the school would teach music and performing arts. It would also be surrounded by a garden.

The inspirational location would provide a level of investment in herb gardens in the territory where the inspirational location was built. Every such garden in the territory would receive three additional herbs each season. Imperial Roseweald in Spring, Cerulean Mazzarine in Summer, Marrowort in Autumn, and Bladeroot in winter.

The writ of consecration creates a mandate that must be enacted at the Spring Equinox, work on the commission can begin at the same time, or at any point after the site is consecrated.

First Voice Glade (Miaren) – An inspirational location could be constructed at the ruins of First Voice Glade in Miaren, this would inspire pilgrims to learn Navarr traditions of songs and storytelling, and to take pride in their own nation’s literature and music.

Foxden Steading (Hercynia) – An inspirational location could be constructed at Foxden steading in Hercynia, this would inspire pilgrims to study the virtues and the Great Dance, and would encourage the Navarr to spread understanding of the Way and the Great Dance wherever their stridings travelled.

Return (Therunin) – An inspirational location could be constructed at Return in Therunin, this would inspire pilgrims to consider the sacrifices they must make for their people, and would be a reminder for the Navarr of the importance of fighting the vallorn.

The Ambition of Thrace

Thrace is an Exemplar of Ambition.

Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato proposed a writ of consecration be provided to create an inspirational location in their memory, and the Assembly of Ambition agreed. The writ of consecration creates a mandate that must be enacted at the Spring Equinox

The Legion’s Rookery in Gildenheim has been identified as the ideal site for an inspirational location.

The main effect would be that all labour costs to construct any civilian commission or fortification in an Imperial Orcs territory would be provided by willing labourers eager to build the future. Wains of white granite, mithril, and weirwood would be required as normal but there would be no need for money for any of these projects for an entire year.

For the same period, any commission announced by the Legion Engineer that would be built in an Imperial Orc territory would have the number of wains it required reduced by a fifth. Inspired orcs from across the nation would dig into their pockets and contribute to the construction. This would even be the case if the Imperial Senate chose to amend their powers to give them additional powers of commission.

Finally the Imperial Orcs National Assembly could use a statement of principle asking their people to consider a specific type or class of construction that they feel would benefit the nation. This would inspire at least one opportunity to make something unique.

Because orcs cannot use Liao, True or otherwise, the name of a suitable priest would have to be raised in the General Assembly mandate that the Imperial Orcs use to announce where they want the consecration to happen.

The Prosperity of Good Walder

Good Walder is a Paragon of Prosperity

Grey Stone requested a writ of consecration be provided to create an inspirational location in their memory, and the Assembly of Prosperity concurred.

The writ of consecration creates a mandate that must be enacted at the Spring Equinox and work on the commission can begin at the same time, or at any point after the site is consecrated.

Regardless of where is chosen, an inspirational location for Good Walder will increase the prestige of the Prosperity assembly. It will require a minimum of 20 wains of white granite and 60 crowns in labour costs. It would take three months to complete, and would require a suitable commission. The commission type would be a Folly.

The Prosperity Assembly would be able to reward those who were seen as acting Prosperously by adding their name to the Roll of Benefactors and if they do not have an upgraded personal resource then it would be upgraded for free. If it has been upgraded then the next season it would act as if it were three ranks higher.

They would also be able to punish individuals with the Sanction judgment, which would have long-lasting negative effects on the personal prosperity of the individual as they were shunned by their community.

There are three possible sites for the inspirational location.

Good Walder’s Orchard – One of the sites where it is rumoured that Good Walder is buried. The location already has the equivalent of a lodge, so no new commission would be needed.

Corwin’s Thump – The Fellows of the Stout Stick maintain a small shrine by the road that passes Corwin’s Thump, and this could be the basis for an inspirational location that focused on the angrier inspirations of Good Walder. If there are additional effects from the consecration, they will focus more on the need to identify and expose the thieving bandit, the lazy wastrel, the grasping miser, and those who take without giving.

The Abbey of Harry’s Pot – The Abbey contains a relic, a pot which bears an aura that is both durable and strong as anything created with true liao that reminds anyone who handles it of the importance of ensuring everyone gets their fair share when they work hard. If there are additional effects from the consecration, they will focus more on the need to ensure that all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it, and that those who work hard claim the just rewards for their neighbours.

Fighting Fish

This Wind of Fortune is all about Loyalty, Bregasland, and Bushel Sykes.

Both the Marcher National Assembly and the Loyalty Assembly have acknowledged the Loyalty of Bushel Sykes. The Loyalty Assembly went further and challenged the Empire to earn the Loyalty of its citizens. This has burnished Sykes’ memory, making him seem a bit rosier than before. He is well on his way to becoming a folk legend. This has in turn made Ottermire that little bit more rebellious, they aren’t going to break out in rebellion right this minute but if the region ever does go that way it will be one step worse than it might have been otherwise.

The Loyalty Assembly has also caught the curiosity of the public in general, this means that there will be a few repercussions. First, following the Spring Equinox every congregation where the priest preaches Loyalty will receive an additional liao and two additional votes in the Imperial Synod. Second, any statement of principle raised by the Loyalty assembly this summit that receives a greater majority will be read by priests of all assemblies, and is much more likely to generate some kind of response than normal for a virtue assembly.

And finally, there has been a change to the Eyes of Loyalty power, so now any priest can raise a judgment to direct it, and it will simply go along with whichever judgement gets the most number of votes.

I Already Know You

There is even more stuff happening in the Marches, here’s a Wind all about it.

Highguard has declared their peerless kinship with the Marches, but have asked for additional guidance to know what exactly they ought to be doing. The Marcher National Assembly should put forth a mandate explaining what they want them to do.

The Westmere has been dredged, which should bring a lot of prosperity to Wintermark and the Marches as the sea lanes are opened up for business. The Alder of Meade and Mediator of Fisk will be appointed during the Spring Equinox, and start dealing with trade from with the Tseriyn and the Salagiin.

However, the dredging also pulled up the Cursed Anvil, one that is part of the legend of the “Lost Marcher Smiths”. It is horribly cursed, somehow the centuries at the bottom of the sea have made it worse? And the locals do not want it to stay there, thank you very much. They have asked the Senator for Mitwold to take care of it. There are several options.

The Anvil could be used to make a runeforge, it would save 30 white granite and 30 mithril from the cost of building one, but ongoing costs would be increased by 5 thrones a season as people would be pretty reluctant to work at a runeforge with a notoriously cursed anvil. Also, anything made there would probably carry with it some of that Doom that it is cursed with.

Destroying it would need a casting of the ritual Words of Ending at Magnitude 60, and that might not even destroy the curse as well as the stone.

Another idea could be to chuck it into the Westmere again, but choose a deeper part this time where it won’t get dredged up any time soon.

Or it could be sent to Anvil to let everyone there have a think about what they want to do with it. The Alders of Meade are very happy to pay for it to go far away and be someone else’s problem.

There is also the slim possibility that something could be done about the old legends of brightsmiths in the Marches, but William Guildenstern and Gemma Brightsmith will need to figure that one out.

It is up to the Senator of Mitwold to decide, they can tell the Marcher Egregore whenever they make their mind up.

Neighbours

Marcher orcs! The Marcher and Imperial Orc National Assemblies have made it clear that the Mournwold Orcs are Marchers! And things have been smoothed over a touch between the Imperial Orcs and the Marcher Orcs, things were getting a bit spicy when they were talking about religion, as there is a difference of opinion on whether orc souls reincarnate or not.

Over all, however the Marcher Orcs are blending in well with the Marchers, there are just a couple of problems. The first is partly based on the ongoing religious issue, what is supposed to happen if a Marcher Orc wants to join a monastery? There aren’t any clear answers to this, so the Marcher Assembly is recommended to start thinking about it.

Secondly,  a group of Marcher orcs, who have been working on maintaining the Black Canal, are coming to Anvil. They have started being called beaters by people living near the Canal, but they are worried about holding that role when they do not allow themselves to carry weapons. They’re expected to arrive around 21.00 on Friday and will talk it over with the Marchers at Anvil.

The orcs would particularly like to meet a delegation of beaters, and ideally among them, beaters of the Mourn, most particularly the Bailiff of the Downs, Thomas Oak. They’d also like a chance to speak with the stewards of the Mournwold, and their Senator, Willum of Goatsbridge. Finally, the orcs would like to meet people who got involved in the construction of the canal, and learn more about why it is called the Black Canal.

They will not talk about religion, they aren’t allowed to and if anyone tries to talk to them about it then they will leave early.

There are now options to make each of the Marcher Armies align with one of the territories of the nation, like the Strong Reeds are for Bregasland. They could do this by swearing at Muster in front of the Egregores and the Marcher Assembly. The armies would then have a boost if they ever had to fight in their chosen territory, but if the army didn’t come to fight for their territory by the next event at the latest, then they would lose all the benefits they gained and likely more.

If the Mournwold takes on the Tusks then the army will have the opportunity to assess how the greater role of the Mourwold Orcs would affect the army.

Little Mercy

This Wind is about the communities living in the Barrens.

The Black Wind and the Rahvin

The Black Wind army has returned to the Barrens as they were ordered to do by the Imperial Armies. They are planning to evacuate their people to the Mallum. However after delegates from some of the other groups in the Barrens arrive, some of them appear to change their minds. About a third of the Black Wind will stay in the Barrens, but rejoin the Rahvin sept. They will then become legally Foreigners and it will be illegal to attack them with armies.

A delegate from the Druj will be coming to Anvil on Saturday at 17:30 to speak to the Imperial Consul about allowing the Black Wind to evacuate.

There is an option for the Empire to attack the Black Wind as they help their people to evacuate the Barrens, they would take 20% more casualties than normal and would cause 20% less casualties to the attackers. If any survived they would flee East into deeper Druj territory.

Last season a representative of the Rahvin visited Anvil in secret, going to speak to the Imperial Orcs the night before they were made Foreigners in the Senate, now they are being invited back in the hopes that further good work may be done. The Rahvin have been trying to convince the Black Wind to rejoin them, and while they have been partially successful, the majority have taken the choice to flee instead. It is possible that the Imperial Orcs could help to make the Black Wind stay in the Barrens and rejoin the Rahvin, however this would be very difficult.

The Great Forest Orcs

The Imperial massacre of the Montanians has shaken the Great Forest Orcs’ faith in the Empire greatly. It has even shaken their trust in the Navaar who they have lived amongst for some time. The National Assembly of Navarr can enact a mandate to swear a powerful oath to reassure the Great Forest Orcs of the Navarr’s intentions. Then at the Summer event representatives of the Great Forest Orcs will come to Anvil to see these oaths being sworn and they will speak to the Navaar about the future of the Great Forest Orcs’ relationship with the Navaar and the Empire in general.

This would be the only thing to reassure the Great Forest Orcs that the Navaar and the Empire in general will not betray them. If this is not done then the Great Forest Orcs will take themselves as far away from the reach of the Empire as they can and will certainly not live amongst the Navaar any more.

Karass

The Karass are pretty happy with how things are going, so happy in fact that they offer an opportunity to the Dawnish to trade their herbs for Dawnish Beggars Lye. It would cost 12 weirwood and 36 crowns, and take 3 months to build. The person who gained the title would be the Karass’ point of contact with the Empire, but they would not get a briefing from the civil service like an ambassador.

If things go well then in the future the Karass might be willing to sell some of their more exotic potions to the Empire.

Crop of Conversations

A ritual was cast on the Barrens which encourages conversation. Anyone whose personal resource is in the Barrens can start the event still under the effects of the ritual. If so you experience the following roleplaying effect: You feel an urge to engage in conversation with people you wouldn’t usually choose to. Expanding your influence feels like a worthy goal.

OK folks there was supposed to be more than this but the internet is down at my house and I’m not going to write up summaries for 6 Winds of Fortune on my phone so it looks like this is where we’ll be stopping.

Make sure to check out my new novel, Hack & Slash, and like this post and subscribe to the website if you want to stay up to date with what I’m up to.

Once I’m back from E2 I will be throwing myself head first into making my cosplay for WorldCon in  August and reading through the short list for the awards, so that will be really fun. 

Stay safe and have wherever you are, and hopefully I’ll see you on the field this weekend,

K