Well here we are, it’s a couple of days until the last Empire event of the year! Gosh, this year has gone by very quickly! I’m going to delay posting this until the very last minute I can so that I can get as many of the Winds of Fortune in as possible. I might still miss a few, but in 24 hours I am going to be in a field with over 3000 other people, so not sure what else I can do, really?
Asavaea Wind of Diplomacy
This section was added to the Authority and Acceptance Wind after I had done the Winds of Diplomacy Summary, so you get a sneaky extra bit of diplomacy to start with.
The Asavean Archipelago and the Empire are at war, and the Asaveans are supporting the Grendel, and attempting to convert the Faraden to their cause. The Senate attempted to make sending missionaries to Asavaea illegal last event, but this was vetoed by the Synod. This has threatened to escalate the war. Attempts to identify a compromise have been firmly rebutted by the Asaveans. The Empire would need to stop sending missionaries to Asavea for at least a year before any negotiations could begin. During the Siege of Oran in Feroz, several Asavaean priests surrendered themselves to the Freeborn Generals and have asked for repatriation. What happens to them will be up to the Freeborn Generals. Also the Asavaeans have been attacking any and all ships trading from or with the Empire. This means that Imperial traders will make an increased amount of money for trading themselves with various ports. However, the tax from international trade has dropped by 62 Thrones. That’s a huge amount, in case anyone was wondering.
Seven Locks
This is the Wind where the Plenipotentiaries are posted. Essentially, these are the diplomatic messages between the Archmages and the magical realms that they are connected to. Interestingly, there appears to be two messages from the Night Realm. The Wind makes a point of noting how odd this is, so I will too.
Night A
The Archmage of Night and a group of Cadets are invited to meet with what is probably a herald of the Whisper Gallery. The meeting will take place at the Imperial Regio at 20:00 on Friday evening, but move to a chamber thereafter. The Archmage is to bring some (or all) of the cadets who have been dealing with the matter of the Tomb of Achism, especially with regard to the Jotun and a certain missing archivist.
Night B
Azoth declines a parley, and their herald is equally confused about the double plenipotentiary. On the matter of the Cold Sun regio in Hahnmark, they recommend collecting residues and materials from other Cold Sun sites and sending an additional plenipotentiary in the future so that work can begin on it. On the matter of the Navarr, and the Terunael Singing Stone, however Azoth has created a preparation that will allow the Navarr to change the Singing Stone. It requires three rings of ilium to finish its empowerment, and then it will allow any number of Navarr magicians to cooperate together to cast the ritual and realign it to their nation. Before leaving the herald looks a wee bit shifty and points out that this is an experiment, so maybe be careful.
Winter
Kaela invites nine named groups to show their understanding of death through story and song, in the Hall of Worlds at 23:00 on Friday. Those named by the Archmage are: the Unshackled Winter, Circle of the Drowned, Heralds of the Reaper, Wolves of the Pale Raven, Black Garden and Nation’s Guard. She also extends the same invitations to three others: The Winter Wolfborn, Hraefnhall, and an Imperial Orc named Frith. The herald tersely insists that these people should be expecting such an invitation. Each of those named will be granted up to five minutes before her, and have the opportunity to receive a boon if she is satisfied with their offering. This time she intends to be there in-person, appearing at the portal in the Hall of Worlds. While this is happening she will also be bringing one or two of her Grim Legionnaires to speak with the Winter Archmage. She wishes to send heralds to “recruit” at the Sentinel Gate as people return from the battles on Saturday and Sunday morning. She does not intend to discuss the vallorn directly but has decided to send her herald Marcescence to meet with the Navarr on Saturday. The creature’s expertise in curses that wither plant life may be of interest to their campaign against the Folly of Terunael.
Autumn
Basileia Brazen will attend the Hall of Worlds at 11:00 on Saturday. She wishes to speak with the Imperial Magus, the Warmage, and any Grandmasters who are willing to attend on her. She will tolerate speaking to the Proxy Archmage. Heralds of the City of Locks wish to speak separately with Bloodcrow Udoo and Quay Stone. The Herald indicates that the Conclave might wish to begin snapping up as much Tempest Jade as they can, that being the favoured currency of the City this season. The City of Locks also suggests that the Empire should try to buy knowledge from the City rather than blackmail material.
Summer
Adamant declines parley. He presents an opportunity for the Master of the Koboldi, and has left a piece of paper with the civil service for them, the kobolds who dropped off the message then left Anvil to go to Karov to help with the Great Hall of Fabric Arts. If the Master of the Koboldi commissions a suitable fortification in Segura, the eternal will send his servants to aid in three ways. First, they will help design the structure so that it is mighty enough to match Olgafsdottirshal or Reumah’s Rest – that is they will ensure it is a rank two fortification, although the Master will still need to source all the materials (assuming no other opportunity, this means the fortification will cost 180 white granite, and 330 Thrones, but will have a defensive strength of 6,000). They will ensure that the work takes only a year to complete despite the size of the structure (rather than two years as would be required to build a rank one fortification and then upgrade it). Finally, they will infuse the foundations of the structure with adamant, meaning that like the Gate in Semmerholm, it will be unbreakable and while it may be captured by the enemy it will not fall save to the most potent magic – and Adamant makes it clear that no attacker will gain the aid of Summer eternals to shatter what he has made solid. To invoke this boon, the Master of the Koboldi should call on Adamant’s aid while commissioning the fortification. As with any such promise, if the Master is already taking advantage of a different opportunity to build something in Segura, the effect of Adamant’s boon will be unpredictable but it will have an effect.
Spring
Arhallogen declines parley with the Archmage of Spring. The herald comes with several messages. First is that the offer of a fane was a gift to the Empire and they have been very rude about it, acting as if it was a favour. The second is that it likes the Navaar, not the Empire, and that it does not feel like being overly favourable to either side in the war between the Empire and the Druj. It then points out that asking for more gifts and also that you will need to be bribed to accept those gifts is not the proper way to win more favour. Also, it is disparaging to Ossegrahn and those that favour him. Third, Arhallogen will not be removing curses from the shield Ajax, so stop asking. They will also not hand over any more rituals while the Empire holds onto the rituals of Irra Harrah. And finally, Arhallogen is glad to hear that the Navaar are going to fight the Vallorn, if they get that fane built then they will be more than happy to support their armies with additional powers.
Day
Roshanwe invites the Archmage and representatives of a number of covens to attend a meeting with a respected lieutenant. They wish to discuss the failures and successes of the Combing the Beach ritual, passage will be through the Hall of Worlds to a chamber at 14:00 on Saturday. Along with the Archmage themselves, Roshanwe invites a representative of the Adelaarscoven, Convocation of the Mistral, Coven of Barabbas, Las Brujahs de Zuhri, Lyktan coven, Saque Magique, Song of Taniki, Spire of the Auric Horizon, the Scrying Pool, the Sphinx’s Sage, and Wings of Skywise. Roshanwe has also asked for details about a murder 77 years ago to be passed from the Celestial Library to the Empire in the hopes of solving the murder.
Irreconcilable Differences
We’re back at it again with Asavaea, this time there is an entire Wind about the religious issues we are having with them. If by religious issues you mean we keep throwing missionaries at them and they keep executing them and going to war with us.
Last event the Imperial Senate passed a motion making it illegal for priests to spread the Way in Asavea, the Synod have indicated that they will be veto-ing this at the earliest opportunity. The judgement will be available for voting by all members of the General Assembly starting on the Friday evening, and will close at 10pm on Saturday. Though it might be taken down if it achieves the numbers for a Greater Majority before then. If it passes, then the Senate will not be able to pass anything close to the original motion for the rest of the event.
Even before the Synod urged missionaries to visit the archipelago, the Plenum had given aid to the Grendel, using them as agents in a proxy war against the Empire. They have sent additional warships to bolster the Grendel navies, placed a bounty on everyone trading with the Empire; launched a surprise attack on Meade, and allegedly sent assassin-priests of the twin gods of Vengeance and Ambition to hunt Imperial citizens. If the veto succeeds and the missionaries continue, it will stoke the fires of Asavean fury further. If the veto fails, however, there is no doubt that the Asaveans will ruthlessly crush the virtuous sects in their lands that have been empowered by the Synod, and drive the Way back underground for years to come.
As well as all of this several mandates were passed last event that directly effect the Empire’s relationship with Asavaea. A mandate was passed which has created a comission that citizens can donate to, to help the slaves in Asavaea build secret shrines. The commission is for 750 wains of white granite, 280 Thrones, once this target has been reached the Way in Asavaea will have a foundation and other opportunities will open up. The Freeborn National Assembly also passed a mandate to get people to help smuggle resources to Asavaea for the use of those rebels. If preaching the Way is made illegal then these opportunities will be lost.
Finally, one of the founders of the rebellion in Asavaea has been recognised as an Exemplar, though the effects of this are diluted while the exemplar and paragon based crisis of faith continues.
A mandate was also passed to double down on the stealthy preaching in Asavaea, and it will have been widely read by the people of the Empire. Likewise the Assembly of Loyalty are also keen but are waiting to find out what is going to happen with the veto.
The Sevenfold Path were sent to Asavaea to make contact with magicians who worship the Way in Asavaea; their report will come after this event but before the first event of the new year. This is because Asavaea is blooming long way away.
Roaring Plenty
Last season Rhianos, the Regent of the Eternal Sea, announced the beginning of a great race to visit the four corners of the known world.
There are three routes that the participants can take. These can be chosen through the dropdown menu on the downtime page.
- Widdershins By Riches will be for those who wish to make a lot of money, they can use the enchantment Sular’s Promise to maximise their profit.
- Deosil To Mystery will be for those who wish to explore unknown lands and find things that no one in the Empire has seen before, they can use the enchantment Lure of Distant Shores to help.
- Straight On For Glory is for those who want to win fame and glory and the race, the Winds of Fortune enchantment will help them.
Participation
Every fleet that completed the expedition Into The Unknown receives a single windborn pearl and treasures worth four crowns. The pearl is a single use magical item that allows you to pick one powerful boon from Rhianos on activation. If your character would rather have treasure instead of the pearl, you can choose to have sold it already, by exchanging it in god for ten random materials before time-in. You will have travelled to strange and dangerous places, so come up with the ideas for those stories. You may also find a traumatic wound card in your player pack, if you feel that you would have already had it seen to then you may hand it in at GOD.
How To Be Dead
Members of the Rod and Shield gave explored Lorenzo’s Deep Pockets and uncovered the terrible extent of the corruption there. The Braying Lord is a Greater Plaguewulf, a terrible servant of the sovereign known as the Howling Queen. The creature is dug in and shows every sign of becoming even more powerful with potentially disastrous ramifications for the north-west Empire.
Part of the problem seems to be that mercenaries and cultists have started to do its bidding, so any attempts to kill it will have to go through them first.
Luckily there are three conjunctions and they seem to be working on that premise.
A Sudden Chill
The followers of the Braying Lord can be removed as a threat through the Sentinel Gate. This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter. The Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield is responsible for killing the followers of the plaguewulf
A Bitter Thought
The Crimson Band are vulnerable to a strike through the Sentinel Gate. This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter. The Imperial Huntsmarshall is responsible for slaying the Crimson Band.
Under the Dust
The Braying Lord can be lured out and killed. This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter. The Delver of the Depths is responsible for defeating the Braying Lord.
Participation
Every member of the Rod and Shield and every owner of a military unit who was sent to Explore the Depths will receive a potentially fatal traumatic wound in their packs. If, as a member of the Rod and Shield, you would not have taken part in the expedition then you can choose to return the traumatic wound to GOD team. It is not possible for the owners of military unit to return traumatic wounds in this way. If you are both a member of the Rod and Shield and you have a military unit that took the action then you will only receive one traumatic wound but you will not be able to return it.
Unspoken Words
Things are still tense in the Barrens, here are some of the ways things could be made better – or worse!
The Rahvin
The Imperial Orcs have invited the Rahvin to return to Anvil to find a way to help them survive winter. Last time they needed 75 thrones to get them through the harsh months, this time there are more of them, but they have potentially more to trade. The Dawnish Assembly have called on their nation to negotiate with the Rahvin. Jannik, one of the leaders of the Rahvin will come to Anvil at 19:00 on Saturday.
The Dawnish
The Dawnish Assembly convincingly rejected a judgement calling on the Dawnish people to settle the Barrens. The Assembly passed a judgement calling on Dawn to extend the defence of the Barrens to the foreigners who live there. The Dawnish generals could swear a solemn oath committing their army to defend the Rahvin, the Great Forest Orcs, and the Karass, against any attack by the Druj or others. An oath would impress the Rahvin, provided they have a copy of the wording of the oath and some proof of its swearing. Their mistrust of the Dawnish is so great at present, that they are unlikely to be convinced by uncertain news of vague promises
The Untrod Groves
The Untrod Groves are one of many regions in the Barrens that is a site of mystery and great danger. The Lone Path Striding are a striding of Navarr who focus on walking the trods in the furthest reaches of the Empire. Members of the Lone Path Striding and a Karass orc named Canta are coming to Anvil and expect to arrive 18:00 Saturday. They are keen to talk with the Barrens senator or their proxy as well as members of the Navarr.
If the senator decides to permit it, then Explore the Untrod Groves will be a military unit option available to knight-errants and questing knights in the coming season. The financial rewards are uncertain at this time, they will depend on how much help and guidance the senator chooses to accept from the Karass. The more help the knights receive, the more iridescent gloaming, beggarwood and dragonbone they will receive. This will be determined by the agreements made between the Karass and the senator or their representatives at the summit.
If the Empire manages to send a force with a military strength of at least a thousand then that would be enough to get a short report of something there, and if it was double that then it would have a more meaningful impact.
All the Way to Anvil
Every summit lots of people from all over the world come to Anvil, here is a list of some of the more interesting ones.
Alexandre Sortilega di Apulian – They are expected to arrive at the League camp around 19:30 on Saturday evening. Apparently, they are very upset about being accused of being a con artist and dodgy tour organiser and will be bringing a reckoner with them to confront their accusers. There might also be a civil suit in the works if things go really badly.
Isaziah, Highborn merrow – (And a morose Marcher) Around Midday on Saturday, probably starting at the Marcher Camp. Doses of interesting mushroom based incense to sell so they can study people’s reactions.
Rainbow Liao – A thing not a person, apparently 50 doses will be up for grabs from the Waypoint in the Brass Coast camp, at 8pm on Saturday night. The rainbow liao will allow a person to see a brief moment from a past life. They have distributed a number of invitations to the egregores of each nation (with the exception of the Imperial Orcs who cannot benefit from liao in any form) as well as the Gatekeepers, who they trust to find enthusiastic participants. Those bearing these invitations will be prioritised, but if by 8:30pm there are still doses unclaimed, these will be offered to anyone else present.
Last Summit’s Tombola – A highborn grey pilgrim wants to talk to anyone who took part in the unusual tombola last Solstice, for personal reasons. They’ll head to the League camp at around a quarter to eleven on the Sunday morning of the Solstice, and to Wintermark’s Tree of Names about an hour later.
The Remarkable Rahuun Amahuz – A former Grendel, now Apulian, magician is visiting Anvil to visit a friend of Melissa whatever that means. They are expected at the Hub around eleven at night on Friday during the summit. He has made his intentions extremely public, and seems to expect that rumour and his general well-connectedness will make sure that this message reaches the right person – whoever it is – although it’s not clear why he would use such a blunt instrument to arrange a meeting.
Demetrius Aristion – An Axou doctor seeks to secure physicks to treat three high-profile patients with conditions Axos medicine is unable to address. They are looking for three physicks who can demonstrate medical skill and also assure discretion. They are due to arrive at Anvil at 18:00 on Friday evening.
The Autocrator of the Sheathed Armoury – A herald of Tharim wishes to address the Navarr about ways in which the Thrice-Cursed Court may be of assistance in their campaign against the Vallorn. The Autocrator of the Sheathed Armoury aims to arrive at the Songs and Stories circle in the Navarr camp at 19:00 on the Saturday.
Megan Brownblood – He is aiming to arrive in Anvil at 19:00 and will go first to the Navarr camp for the end of standing. Almost three years ago a number of questions were put to the self-described vines in order to better understand what the oath meant. Though there has been much discussion there has been little word to the rest of Navarr and so Megan Brownblood has decided to visit Anvil to find out what the answers that have been agreed are. These answers are incredibly important, and Megan is honest to those he speaks to on his way to the summit: if the answers try to avoid the difficulty in the questions, rather than facing them head on, then they might not be good enough for the rest of the nation. Megan expects that he will be able to stay for around an hour, and hopes to see as many vines as possible in that time.
Conjunction
Valja Nikodemin Kopec – The former boyar of Bulgakov claims to have identified a unique opportunity to reclaim the ruined Vale. Valja Nikodemin Kopec wishes to meet those interested in acting to reclaim to the Vale this summit at the Varushkan hearthfire at 2130 on the Friday of the Autumn Equinox. The Civil Service have identified 10 combat unlikely conjunctions, each for 5 people, to the area where the Vale once stood between 2205-2305 on the Saturday of the Autumn Equinox.
You Could Be Happy
Last season the General Assembly upheld a judgement with a greater majority calling on the citizens of the Empire to be proactive in the threat presented by the Druj. This was supported by a judgement raised by the Wisdom Assembly, also upheld with a greater majority. Any National Assembly that shares a border with the Druj could enact a mandate to encourage citizens to walk the border. This would increase the number of victory points needed by the Druj to claim a beachhead to 25. It will not inflict casualties to any Druj armies, increase the strength of any Imperial force in the territory, nor have any effect on subsequent regions claimed by the Druj. If enacted each territory that borders the Druj would see an immediate loss of taxation of five thrones. This mandate will continue until either the Druj have been destroyed or the Empire declares a ceasefire or peace with the Druj.
Meanwhile, the Varushkan Assembly spoke on the matter of the Iron Helms. Now there is a chance for the nation to consider if they wish to change direction.
The Varushkan Assembly has passed a judgement encouraging the Iron Helms to change and find a new focus on their mastery of the dark magics & curses of Varushka. The Assembly could enact a mandate to affirm this change. It is not possible to know in advance what the outcome of such a change would be, but if the army changes then it would no longer be able to take a merciless onslaught. Next season, they will gain the opportunity to embrace one or another new qualities that focus on dark magics and curses, but there is no way to know in advance what those qualities might be. If Varushka is serious in wishing to set aside the brutal but effective approach long employed by the Iron Helms then they must leap in the unknown.
And there I think I have hit my limit, there are still a fair few Winds of Fortune left but I have to get up super early tomorrow and I think I will try to be sensible for once. I hope you all have a wonderful time this weekend, whether or not you are going to be running around in a field pretending to be wizards and magical warriors and such. I intend on doing my best to have a great time so say hi to me if you see me!
If you found this useful you can like the post, subscribe to the website, and buy my book from Amazon.
Stay safe and hopefully see you soon!
K
Leave a Reply