So...a large thought here, more than a single type of content. I'm using Sirens as an example, but it could also be re-coated to be a new threat to the sea of thieves. (We are talking seasonal concept here).
If you thought that the issue of the sirens was culled after the defeat of the siren queen, you were sorely mistaken. The merfolk have been having a time with them, and have started asking the Pirates for help. How much the players of the sea of thieves help the merfolk determines how everything plays out.
The merfolk war with the sirens has two major states, peaceful and hostile, each with their own scenarios. The default state is hostile, and over-time if players do nothing, the war will always revert back to hostile. Here is the flow:
Hostile: Players take on siren attack world events, and perform voyages to to shift the war towards the merfolk. Once enough have been done (think the way the community had grades during the community weekend), the attacks cease, and peace takes it's place.
Peaceful: Players want to keep the peace by doing voyages (and only voyages count). A new world event opens up. The "Atlantean Vault" rises to the surface, and it becomes a subterranean/underwater event similar to Fort of Fortune. If players neglect the voyages, eventually the war reverts to hostility.
Voyages are given to each of the trading companies: Gold Hoarders, Athena's, Order of Souls, Merchant alliance. They are unique in each one. Merchants deliver supplies to merfolk. Gold Hoarders dig up specific magical artifacts from siren shrines and turn them into merfolk. Order of souls collect specific skulls hidden in vaults. (Athena does what athena does).
During hostilities, Siren attack world events sack an outpost. If the outpost is not successfully defended, the outpost is locked out for 1 RL hour, and afterwards has a 10% sell penalty for 2 RL hours. If it is successfully defended, alot of treasure is generated, but the sovereigns out of order on the island for 1 RL hour. (Cue pvp over the treasure and chaos as people try to move the treasure to the trading companies (or load to their ship and run).
The war footing is game-wide. Outpost impact is only on the particular server.
