THE ASHBURY PROPHET

Swan / Dragon 612
Long Live the Emperor!

Returned Heroes Thwart Vacarran Pirates

by Jonas Tull

Several of the returned heroes of Ashbury answered His Radiance’s call to aid the loyal scavengers of the Isle of Synvia. Although technically part of the Ash Forest, the island remained loyal to His Radiance Emperor Galantri when the traitorous elves of the Wold broke from Galanthia. All was relatively well on Synvia for the last few years until the Varcarran pirates, led by the terrible Fardanial,  took over the island and conquered the peaceful scavengers there.

The Icenia heroes met at the Pig and Whistle in Dockside and waited to take an imperial sailing ship, the Galanthan Swift, to the island.

While waiting, many of the adventurers got to experience firsthand how the harsh penalties of crime enacted by His Radiance and diligently enforced by High Sheriff Irontail has cleaned up this once lawless estate. The once seedy area of Dockside was free from the rampant crime of its past, and no major incidents of trouble were reported.

As the evening wore on, the Swift put into port and the adventurers met Captain Salty who welcomed the large group aboard and told them to batten down for a three hour trip through the cold night.  It was explained that the heroes would be picked up again once the threat on Synvia was resolved.  Minor encounters with one eyed green sea monsters spitting aciod were easily dealt with by the archers and spellcasters aboard.

Unfortunately, as the Swift tried to slip unnoticed past the Varcarran patrols to Synvia, she ran afoul of Fardanial’s flagship. The terrible undead figure asked the heroes to surrender, but they bravely refused and began to fire arrows and cast spells upon Fardanial’s undead crew. In response the Varcarrans began firing and casting back, as well as releasing wraiths (which could walk on water) upon the brave heroes. As if this were not enough, stronger undead on the undead galley began to hurl boulders on the smaller ship.

The Swift was badly outmatched, but the adventurers fought bravely, even once the boulder damage began to cause their ship to sink, throwing Captain Salty overboard. Fardanial began to send boarding parties to press his victory, but the brave Ashbans did their best to repulse him. Eventually, Fardanial was able to force the Ashbans to cease fighting by holding up the severed head of one of their fallen, a dwarf named Kyril Flamebeard. Given the impossible odds, the number of adventurers who had already fallen, and the fact that their ship was sinking, they had little choice but to surrender.

Fardanial accepted and ordered his “Queen” Maggie to cast healing and Life spells upon the fallen to show his good will. The doomed Swift was quickly abandoned, and once the adventurers were safely aboard his own ship, Fardanial explained that he wished to ally with the adventurers to rid the isle of the scavengers. The captain explained that the Varcarrans had inhabited the island for centuries and that the scavengers suddenly appeared and “acted like the owned the place.”

When asked about the curse, Fardanial admitted that he would like to be rid of it, but was not optimistic about the chances, and even admitted to the advantages of the curse to a seafaring people like the Varcarrans. Fardanial also agreed to meet with some of the scavenger adventurers the next day for a meal and to discuss relations with the scavengers. He then welcomed all of the Ashbans to “his” island as “guests.”

It was reported that he also attempted to encourage the adventurers to revolt against His Radiance, but of course no loyal Ashban would ever consider such a thing.

The adventurers came to an Inn run by a lemur scavenger named Quoople. Quoople, as well as other scavengers on the island, explained that many years ago, various buildings suddenly appeared, but they were largely uninhabited so the scavengers didn’t pay it much mind. Only a couple of years ago, however, the Varcarrans showed up and began bossing the scavengers around. Both sides claimed ownership of the island. Obviously, this incident occurred back in 598 when Ashbury and her surrounding lands arrived in Tar’Navaria.  Prior to Ashbury’s appearance, the island had been inhabited only by the pirates.

Later that night, Fardanial came into the Inn to speak with the adventurers, but an elf named Tiiryn immediately assaulted him with sleep gases (which worked because Fardanial was on land) and then killed him before anyone could act. Fardanial regenerated and again to speak only to be killed by Tiiryn again. Fardaniel regenerated elsewhere, but later sent in minions to demand Tiiryn’s death for the assault. Tiiryn, seeing the hostages held by the Vacarrans, bravely agreed to submit to their “justice” in exchange for the hostages’ freedom.

Meanwhile, clues began to surface about a necromancer named the Zombie Master, an ally of the Varcarrans who had settled on Synvia and was tormenting the scavengers there with her hordes of undead. Ashbury had dealt with her years before, and she had been caught and obliterated but resurrected elsewhere.

A small group of Ashbans was able to get a diary off of her assistant which they believed could destroy her ability to create zombies.The Ashbans marched to her lair with Renshai taking command. They had to fight their way past hordes of undead to get to her home. The fighting was very fierce and many adventurers were struck down or severely wounded before getting to the Zombie Master’s house.

As an advanced force bravely charged the front of the home led by B’rok the high orc and his brother Zugden, a small force slipped in the back to attempt to perform the ritual to cripple the Zombie Master.

B’rock’s charge was quickly repulsed, but by then Renshai had arrived with the main force and continued to attack the Zombie Master. Unfortunately, the formula was mixed improperly and the she became aware of what the Ashbans were up to. At this, more zombies began rising from the ground and attacking.

The Ashbans began to retreat, with a brave few holding the undead long enough for the others to get away and remove the wounded. These brave warriors included Flat Dog, Raven, Rongo, and some other members of the adventuring groups Guilded Claw and Glory Road. Undead plagued the town for some time after that.

Apparently some adventurers did meet with Fardaniel and were able to obtain information from him, including word that there was a fey named Obtrusio who guarded a man called Galantrin. According to what the scholars present discovered, Galantrin owed loyalty to His Radiance and, if awakened, could control the Varcarrans. Galantrin was apparently asleep in a cave nearby, and that is what the Vacarrans were attempting to get to. However, entering the cave would require four beating elk hearts.

It was unknown as to where this cave was located. A local chimp scavenger named Davy Jones promised to tell the adventurers where the cave was, but he demanded services in exchange. Most adventurers refused to perform the evil tasks he requested, but Yalenis and Wildescent agreed to kill two rabbit scavengers who apparently were enemies of Davy.  Upon resurrecting, they pointed to the two, who were arrested and banished from the island. Yalenis explained in his defense that he felt the information gained from the chimp scavenger justified the act.

True to his word, the chimp showed where the cave was, but there was an indentation at the mouth of the cave that obviously required a strangely shaped key of some sort.

The next day, with the aid of a local alchemist, the adventurers obtained a strange potion which allowed them to breathe underwater. They ventured into the sea to search for Davy Jones’ locker. Davy, it turned out, had stolen something from the pirates years ago but had lost it overboard soon thereafter. It was hoped that a clue would be contained within, and after fighting against many strange underwater creatures, the adventurers came upon a sunken ship containing the locker. Within the locker was a small statue of a monkey scavenger pirate -- the key needed to enter the cave!

The citizen sarr Lhasa gathered the adventurers and gave a brief speech to inform everyone present of the situation, and the heroes left for the cave where Galantrin slept. Blocking their path, they found a very angry Fardaniel and the Zombie Master, along with a horde of undead.

The Ashbans parlayed for a few moments, trying to talk their way past Fardanial, who obviously wanted to stop the Ashbans from ending his reign of terror over the seas. He asked the Ashbans for the key, but once it became obvious he would not receive it, he ordered his forces to attack. Fardaniel’s undead were quickly subdued, and the Zombie Master was slain. Fardaniel surrendered and he and Maggie were allowed to leave the field of combat, though Fardaniel vowed to return with another force.

Inside the cave, they found the fey Obtrusio. He asked for the elk hearts. The adventurers had asked four elk scavengers to accompany them to the cave, and they watched in horror as the fey ripped out their hearts and ate them.

He then informed the Ashbans that to get past him they would have to play a series of games. The better they did on the games, the less monsters they would fight in the final room.

The first, he announced, was the Test of Speed, in which four adventurers would have to carry colorful spheres across a field within a set time. Once he had four volunteers, he brought out other fey who vowed to stop the racers. Fortunately, he allowed the other adventurers to fight the other fey, but not touch the spheres.

The second contest was the Test of Dexterity. Four locksmiths were forced to pick a lock that they could not see. Unfortunately only two, Jacob and Savik the fox scavenger, succeeded in the allotted time.

The third contest was the Test of Wits, in which where three heroes were forced to act out, without speaking, a role they were assigned and the Wyndarial was forced to guess what they were. She quickly guessed what Kuwo the citizen sarr was and eventually figured out that Yusif was miming a dwarf. Unfortunately she ran out of time before she could determine what Yelanus Veler was miming.

Next was the Test of Cooperation. Two fey and a satyr appeared and stood ready to challenge the selected champions. The combative group (largely made up of high orcs) readily accepted and was soundly defeated. The second group to perform this task, however, was far more successful and negotiated a settlement with the fey, thus getting past this contest.

The next trial was the Test of Coordination. Obtrusio got three adventurers and said they could play “Catch the Nymph.” Once the adventurers were ready, he placed blindfolds on them and laughed and made fun of them as they ran around, catching each other and bumping into each other, until they finally caught the nymph.

The heroes were wholly stumped at the Test of Intelligence, wherein those involved had to determine what to do with three bottomless holes, a feather, a potion and a rope.

Ultimately, Obtrusio allowed them to pass and after fighting their way past some fey, they found themselves in a smaller part of the cave looking upon Galantrin, an all black fey with gossamer wings. There was evidently some discussion of exactly how to proceed, but ultimately Wildescent woke Galantrin with an Awaken spell.

The awakened figure had full control over the Varcarrans and ordered them away from the island and not to disturb the scavengers anymore.

This is a great victory for His Radiance, who now has control over a vast fleet that he can use to defeat Galanthia’s enemies. The adventurers of Ashbury can stand tall, having loyally served their Emperor in the fight against the Vacarrans.


His Radiance Seeks Aid in the Bile Dens

I would like to thank all the Adventurers form Ashbury and traveling from foreign lands who bravely fought against the Vaccaran Corsairs in Synvia to help protect the Scavanger Nations.

I am afraid that this message contains more than thanks and gratitude for the Ashban adventurers.  Your Empire once again requests the service of all that are willing to help.

Recently our old enemy the Mastermind, leader of the goblin forces during the Goblin Wars and now powerful Liche Necromancer, has resumed his activities and is again sending attacks against you fair Duchy.  The Mastermind was never permanently destroyed during the Goblin Wars and his whereabouts have never been fully determined, although we are aware he is somewhere in the Bile Dens.  There has been no Goblin activity for years, we it was presumed the Mastermind had given up on his futile attempts to conquer the Duchy of Ashbury, but recently this has changed.  Goblin and Undead raiding parties have been venturing from the Bile Dens to raid farming communities and many small towns.

These parties have caused many deaths and permanent deaths, and while the raiders were captured and killed, it is not enough to simply stop the threat when it comes near our homes.

Our people will not stand for the loss of life on our own soil, nor should they have to.  We must strike at the very root of this evil, to ensure safety and preserve life for all citizens.

A month back a regiment of soldiers was sent to the Bile Dens to investigate and hopefully rout out the Mastermind.  No reports have been received from these troops, and scouts were sent to locate them.  The scouts found an abandoned encampment and quickly returned to report what they saw.

It is obvious the threat posed is greater than first anticipated, but we must press on in our attempt.

Duke Frost will therefore be leading much of the Ducal forces into the Bile Dens to find and destroy the Mastermind and his forces once and for all.  But the Bile
Dens are large, and sometimes more help is required.

I ask all Ashban adventurers fit to the task to accompany Duke Sir Frost into the Dens and help to stop this plague upon our land once and for all.  Any participation will be greatly appreciated by myself and the Empire that I serve.

His Radiance,
Emperor Glantri


The Gallows Pole Report

We would like to caution all citizens to be aware of new dangers arising within the Duchy.  Many individuals and groups have been speaking treasonous talk or committing acts against the Empire. We caution all loyal citizens to be wary of any suspicious activities, and to not become involved with groups or individuals of questionable intent. We advise all citizens to report any strange activity to your local chapter of the Order of the Mark. Allow them to investigate and handle any individual or group you may suspect of treason, for your safety and the safety of those around you.

Elijah Toath was tried and convicted of possession of treasonous materials and attempting to subvert the mind of a child towards treason.  Toath was sentenced to one death.

Jib Miller was found guilty of inciting a riot against the Empire. Miller received 1 year’s incarceration all other rioters were released.

Wiess Vorison was tried and convicted of poaching a Baronial Hart from Baron Gravishtar’s lands in Gravishtam.  He was forced to turn over the Hart and to pay a five gold noble fine.

Skurg Bloodclaw was caught allowing saboteurs into a Baronial Guard tower in the estate of Gravishtam.  The saboteurs escaped.  Bloodclaw has been returned to the gnoll empire for trial.

The Sage Argim was caught teaching treasonous histories to his students.  Upon capture he assaulted members of the Order of the Mark with celestial magic, and escaped.  We warn all citizens that Argim is as of yet not apprehended and is very dangerous.  If seen, report his whereabouts immediately to your local Order of the Mark representative and do not engage him yourself.


Public Notices

FOR SALE: Weapons, Celestial Battle Magic scrolls, alchemical potions and gasses, and interesting additional wares. Please contact Symerille Strongbow

VANSIR of Ashbury, when do we drink and wench again? I haven’t been proposed to in a fortnight! - The Jotun Slayer.

THE ASHBURY PROPHET’S GUILD would like to welcome Prophet Yelanus of Devora to our ranks.  We are sure he will serve well and would officially like to offer our congratulations on his new position.  High Prophet Matek, Head of the Ashbury Prophet Guild

SPIDER LADY: The invitation to to indulge our predatory sides still stands. Pirates taste lousy. - Targ

ANY STRONG AND STURDY adventurers and warriors not of noble blood or tied to a noble house who is looking for a group to join, contact the Irregulars. Wearing the Fire and Iron means companionship, access to training, access to arms and armor, and access to our healers and alchemists. Contact Natalia
Gallonovich, or the Vansir known as Llyweilun.