Those who are keen to the change of seasons will have
already noted the general cooling, and the increase in winds, rains,
and storms over the waters of Dirac’s Sea. In truth, the southern
coast of the Sea of Dirac is well-placed to maintain mild
temperatures even as the long winter sets in, and it will never
get cold in the area of the Dual-Cities—snow is a
thing that few inhabitants have ever seen, unless they are foreigners
from the north, or those who have gone far up into the southwestern
highlands and mountains. The growing season around Cothon-Gadeed and
others of the Ten Cities League—and elsewhere on the coast—lasts
throughout the solar year, and though certain crops fair less well in
the cool and wet, others thrive, meaning that winter will not have
extreme effects in the cities.
Elsewhere
in the world, of course, winter means something quite different.
Twelve months of cold, storms, and snow are only survivable by those
who look ahead and set aside large stores of food; and who are able
to trade goods and wealth for extra food stores. Unfortunately, the
change in weather makes passage over Dirac’s Sea dangerous, as
great storms sweep through continually between the northern and
southern continents, and so only bold sea captains are willing to
risk their ships for the potentially huge rewards of running supplies
to the snow-beleaguered north.
In
the course of normal winters, what this means for Cothon-Gadeed is a
general increase in prices, as the demand for grains and food from
foreign ports increase. Unfortunately, this winter the cities are
facing extra pressures—chiefly, the destruction wreaked by the Red
Cloud and his Kzinti Heroes and tribal auxiliaries. With the razing
of Al Zaytun, the destruction of the orchards and vinyards and
pastures that had made the land prosperous, the Dual Cities will be
facing increased demand in their own walls, as well as from distant
ports.
What
this means for player-characters based in the Dual-Cities:
Inflation
This
would normally occur in winter regardless, but because of the Red
Cloud and his ravages, winter inflation will be exacerbated this
season. As of this post, all items listed in arms, armor, or
adventuring gear lists must be purchased at twice the listed rate.
This increase will last until noted otherwise; the winter season will
last at least into next June (2023).
Ocean
Storms and Bad Weather
During
winter, only the bold or desperate travel by sea, especially in
galleys like those favored by the Ten Cities League, which are easily
swamped or broken by stormy seas. The high-castled cogs and sailing
ships of the north fare better in such weather, but even they are at
risk during the winter storm season. This doesn’t mean that travel
by sea is impossible, but player-characters who wish to travel by sea
during the next eleven months will be at higher risk of running into
storms.
There have been several adventures in which boat-owning
characters facilitated travel to or from the adventure location (or
an adjacent location); such ferrying will now incur a small
risk of running into a storm, as the weather can be quite
unpredictable. If that medium of transport is used, there will
now be a roll for bad weather, which may either force the boat back,
swamp it, or perhaps even see it wracked against cliffs or rocks.
Similarly,
overland travel is affected by the increase in rains. Roads that are
normally dry and easy to traverse can become churned mud, making
travel more difficult. Not impossible, by any means, but journeys
overland will be at a slower pace than was possible before. It hasn’t
been the case that player-characters have embarked on any really long
journeys overland, but if anyone did so now, the trek would be
affected by the inclement weather.
