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From Raw Jadeite to Restored Statuettes: The Jade Economy
Victory in the Jade Empire is not won by the sword alone. It is built step by step, from the first raid on a fortress to the last trade at an oasis.
The Palace Fortresses are where it all begins. Three kinds of fortress guard three different materials: Raw Jadeite, Varnish and Raw Silk. Each of them also holds Ancient Jade Statuettes. The stone warriors guarding them always return to their posts, but the treasures they protect are limited. Every alliance that can reach a fortress draws from the same supply. Once it has been emptied, it closes its gates for a while before its treasures return. When it reopens, its defenders are stronger than before. The more troops you send and the better your battle goes, the richer your haul.
Your Toolsmith turns raw materials into goods worth trading. All recipes are ready from the start, with no research needed. Every recipe needs Varnish. Raw Jadeite becomes Jade Arrowheads or Jade Blades, while Raw Silk becomes Silk Veils or Silk Coats. You can choose between slower and faster crafting, or finish a recipe instantly with rubies.
The Oasis Settlements are where materials become strength. Here you trade rather than fight. Your troops set out carrying raw or refined goods and come back with new units at their side. These oasis troops are stronger than the units you recruit in your castle. The troops you send always return in full. Any goods the oasis cannot take come back with them. Instead of a battle report, you receive a trade report. The more your army can carry, the more you can trade, so every bonus to loot capacity counts. Like the fortresses, each oasis has only so much to offer before it needs time to recover.
Every trade also earns you Restored Jade Statuettes, the true measure of victory. They count for your alliance and for yourself. No one can ever take them from you. Ancient Jade Statuettes are a different story. They rest in your castles, where rivals can plunder them. Your alliance invests them to upgrade the Citadel and claim more land. Those statuettes are not spent for nothing: as long as your Citadel holds its level, they count in full at the end of the event. When the risk grows too great, Ancient Jade Statuettes can be restored early at a lower rate to keep them safe. Every commander who contributed receives their fair share of the result. Any Ancient Jade Statuettes still in your castles when the event ends are restored in full.
The rankings show both kinds of statuettes for every alliance and every commander, so you always know where you stand. When the event ends, only Restored Jade Statuettes decide the final ranking.