Duchess Dara Vardik Permanently Slain

 

It is a time of mourning in Ashbury. Her Grace, Duchess Dara Vardik, had been permanently killed by the being known as The One.

Her Grace was on a humanitarian mission to bolster morale and to offer aid to the many victims of the Elemental Freejyn Horde and the being known as The One. While pursuing this noble cause, the Duchess and her entourage were ambushed by The One and his most powerful minions. The One was able to permanently kill the Duchess, as he has permanently killed so many others.

Duchess Dara was the beloved wife of His Grace, Duke Sir Frost Vardik. The couple had originally come from the Evandarrian duchy of Niman and were traveling through Ashbury when it was transported by the the Black Maw to Tar’Navaria.

Duchess Dara had served Ashbury and Icenia loyally and well since that time, winning the hearts of noble and commoner alike. She became a knight when her husband assumed the mantle of Duke and joined him in ruling Ashbury. She will be greatly mourned by all who knew her or her reputation.

A public service will be held at the castle of King Gareth the last Monday in April. All are welcome. Internment will be performed in a private ceremony at an undisclosed time and place.

All across Ashbury, citizens have sent flowers and messages of consolation to His Grace for this tragic loss.

“It saddens me greatly that I will never hear her voice or see her smile again,” said Sir Jonothan, who had been race changed into a biata by Her Grace and who considered her family. 

“It seems that many nobles have died protecting Icenia, a curse that must be stopped,” said Kheritana.

“This is truly a dark time for the Duchy of Ashbury,” said Braveroar.

 


 

Civil War in Moorgrave Spills into Ashbury

 

Late on Friday, April 2, 604, His Grace Duke Frost Vardik arrived in Ashbury City along with Sir Indorian and Sassifer the Jester. Soon after, Sir Eros and Sir Harrison arrived with Duke Rogan Exeter of Moorgrave and two of his knights, Lady Wilma Danning and Sir Richard Malcolm. Many commoners were in town, having heard a rumor that there were going to be executions.

The Duke gathered all present and announced that Ashbury had officially decided to aid Moorgrave in turning from necromancy and defeating Glenrake.

His Grace announced that as part of the agreement, Duke Rogan and his knights had already turned over their Cinctures of Bone (which allow transformation to undead form) for destruction. Duke Rogan had also agreed to be executed three times for his past crimes of necromancy. Sir Richard and Lady Wilma would be suffering one death each for their past use of necromancy. Duke Rogan had also changed his name from Ghoulreign to Exeter. His knights had also taken on new, non-necromantic surnames.

Duke Rogan also announced that he was having a gift brought to Ashbury, The Forge of Purity. This device is capable of destroying necromantic items and rituals and would indeed be very useful in the fight against the taint of necromancy.

Duke Frost personally executed the Moorgravian nobles. Duke Rogan regenerated after each death. His two knights were resurrected in the Healer’s Guild. Duke Frost announced that these nobles had now paid for their past crimes and were to be treated as allies of Ashbury.

The somber yet promising event was interrupted when a figure who had been at the back of the crowd stood upon a bench and announced that Moorgrave will not give up necromancy and that Duke Rogan is a traitor and the true nobles of Moorgrave would destroy him.

This person was soon identified as former Baron Elliot DarkShade. He warned Duke Frost not to help Duke Rogan. After his brief speech, he yelled the word “Proceed” into the darkness and spirit recalled away. For a few moments it seemed as if nothing would happen, but soon a single, skeletal form appeared from the darkness.

Many in the assembled crowd attempted to attack the abomination, but every weapon blow and spell proved ineffective. The creature took a direct path to Duke Frost, who engaged it in combat. The Duke’s blows did seem to affect it, as did several spellstrikes from his sword.

The tireless creature continued to fight on and wounded the Duke many times, who was healed in a timely manner by many of the healers present. The Duke sought a respite from the amazingly tough creature in the Healer’s Guild Circle, but the creature simply pursued the Duke into the circle like it wasn’t even there. The battle continued inside the circle as both the Duke and the creature traded powerful blows. Eventually the creature fell, but not without sorely wounding the Duke, who seemed quite shaken by the attack.

Since the incident, it has been discovered that the creature is known as a “Charnal Assassin” and is indeed a product of the necromantic technology of The Brotherhood. The creature is attuned to an individual and will hunt that person until it is destroyed, ignoring even circles of power and wards in its pursuit. Thankfully, the creatures are extremely expensive to create so should prove rare.

It seems that Moorgrave is now embroiled in a civil war as well as the war against Glenrake. Duke Frost stated several times that the path Duke Rogan had chosen, though righteous and true,  would not be an easy one. But even Duke Frost may not have foreseen how difficult it will indeed be.

 

Purity’s Forge Lost and Recovered

Soon after the assassination attempt, Sir Harrison returned to the city with more grievous news for Duke Frost. A scout from the Ducal Army had reported that the group transporting Purity’s Forge from Moorgrave was attacked just outside Ashbury and the Forge stolen. They were attacked by a well organized and powerful horde of undead, who killed the entire group and fled with the item.

As luck would have it, those responsible for stealing the Forge eventually betrayed their own hiding places. A local cattle farmer named Remf came to the tavern for a drink and talked about strange lights and noises “at the old McDonald” place. 

He told anyone who’d listen that he lived several miles outside of town near the long abandoned farm and that he could take them there in his wagon. Nicodemus Malreaver, Natalia, Joshua and three others headed out with Remf in his wagon.

After arriving at the old McDonald place, Remf waited outside while the brave group investigated the old farmhouse. There they encountered quite a few undead, seemingly being warehoused in this old home. They eventually defeated the horde of undead and found the golden hammer from Purity’s Forge and a note from “Baron” Elliot Darkshade to his minion “Sir” Edward Killingbone. The note referenced a planned attack on Ashbury in the near future.

The second thief was uncovered when a nice, Ashban couple headed to the tavern and ended up talking to some of the newest adventurers about a man that was renting the house just down the way from them for the winter. His name was Harold and he was very polite.

They mentioned that he did seem to keep strange hours and they often saw leaving the house in the dead of night. They also noted he must be very popular because they often would see him returning with other people. They found it very peculiar though that they never saw anyone leave.

Only three brave adventurers decided to investigate and came upon a quiet and dark house. Harold seemed to not be at home and did not answer their knocks or their calls. The door was open, so the intrepid trio decided to enter the house. There they found stockpiles of undead crowded into every room. After bravely fighting their way through the house through a veritable army of undead, they found a letter from Elliot Darkshade to “Sir” Harold NightHaunt and the golden anvil from Purity’s Forge.

The third thief seemed to also be the least interested in maintaining a low profile. A local commoner came to town, very upset and afraid. He told of horrible screams coming from a house up the road from his, where the O’Donnels lived. He hadn’t seen the O’Donnels for a few weeks, but that wasn’t so unusual in the cold of winter. But that night he had heard horrible screams coming from the house. He quickly led a band of adventurers to the house, including Keres the dark elf, Joshua the mystic wood elf, Raven Nevermore of the Kiergani, Gilbert the hobling and several others.

As they arrived they heard horrible screaming coming from inside the O’Donnel house. They made their way inside and were immediately attacked by undead. They fought their way down several dark hallways filled with the abominations, until finally coming to a doorway with an eerie light coming out.

Fighting their way inside the room, they were met by a gruesome sight. Several blood soaked beds were in the room, covered in the remains of various people from many races. Upon one bed were the remains of Mr. O’Donnel and tied to another was the bloody and beaten Mrs. O’Donnel, who was still alive. It had been her screams the group had heard.

A strange undead wearing an apron and covered in blood had retreated to a circle of power within the room. He was later identified as “Guildmaster” Arturius Cadaver, known in Moorgrave for running a “healer’s” guild. People were known to disappear quite often in the vicinity of Cadaver’s guild.

Two of the group began to escort Mrs. O’Donnel back to town. On the way there she began spewing a horrid stench with caused nausea and death to those that breathed it. The adventurers were forced to attack her and she eventually crumbled to dust as an undead would. She later resurrected in the Safehaven Healer’s Guild and babbled about horrible experiments conducted upon her and her husband. She is now recovering from her ordeal in an undisclosed location.

The adventurers tried many  ploys to attempt to lure the creature out of his circle, including an annoying hobling song from Gilbert and general annoyance from Joshua. After what seemed to be several hours, their patience wore thin and they decided to leave. During the trek down the winding hallways, Cadaver ran out into the woods and escaped, deathing and paralyzing several as he fled.

The group did manage to find a note from Darkshade to Cadaver and the golden tongs from the Forge of Purity, which Cadaver had referred to as “the finest teeth pullers I ever had.”

All three pieces of the Forge of Purity had been recovered, as well as the plans for an assault upon Ashbury by Elliot Darkshade’s faction in Moorgrave. Duke Frost has decided to put the forge in the healer’s circle in Ashbury City with the added precaution of having a circle lock ritual cast upon the item. The Forge of Purity will certainly aid Ashbury in the fight against necromancy.

 

Elliot DarkShade’s Forces Defeated

On Sunday afternoon, a ducal scout reported that a force of undead was seen gathering outside of the city. It was urgent that no time be wasted, as more and more undead were being gathered every moment. The adventurers of Ashbury travelled in force to a field just outside of town.

In this field, Elliot DarkShade was joined by his former knights, Harold NightHaunt and Edward Killingbone, along with the deranged Guildmaster Arturius Cadaver. Each had gathered quite a few undead minions and more were arriving every minute. But the forces of Ashbury had caught them before they were really ready.

The battle was fierce and furious, but the Ashbans did a good job of working together to defeat the forces of the treasonous Moorgravians. Elliot DarkShade died twice in the battle (the second time after regenerating on the spot) and each of the three other leaders is now one death closer to permanent death. What the defeat of their forces will mean to the civil war in Moorgrave remains to be seen.

 

 


Sil Galad Attacks, Curse Removed

 

Late one recent Friday evening an elf from a small village on the edge of the Ash Forest arrived in Ashbury City looking for help. Creatures of pure darkness were attacking his village and killing the villagers, many of whom had attempted to take refuge in cellars and in the nearby forest. The adventurers of Ashbury quickly organized and raced to the village to try and save the villagers.

Upon arriving, battle ensued between the adventurers and the creatures of darkness. Things seemed well in hand until in the distance was seen a figure in white, wrapped in bandages.

Before the eyes of the Ashbans, the cursed elf known as Sil-Galad summoned two elven pantherghasts from the darkness and proceeded to attack the Ashban lines.

Soon many Ashbans were lying on the field and many started to retreat, heading back to Ashbury. Many people were forced to ressurect.

Sil-Galad once again killed any elf he could find, but also checked people of other races and made sure they were not bleeding out or dead. It is even told that he healed some and told them to play dead, so as not to attract the attention of the darkness creatures.

The battle quickly turned into a rout and many of the elven villagers were found and slaughtered by Sil-Galad. It is reported that the cursed elf eventually just crumbled to dust where he stood for no apparent reason. But the damage had already been done.

It has been reported that many adventurers resurrected and over thirty elves of the village also died, four of them permanently.

The adventurer Sparticous, most recently of Blythedale, also permanently perished in the battle gone awry.

On Saturday, near the tomb of Sil-Galad, Sir Dugaul of Blythedale, Roriiathanderhil and Daralasia of the Ash Forest and the Imladari elf Alushtas attempted to contact a being known only as Lord Tenebrous. It was told that he had cursed the good and noble elf Sil-Galad ten thousand years ago.

Using information provided by Lord Find’rth, Jaquari and Nym of House Ryujima, the four elves called the name of the Darkness Elemental Lord five times at midnight and soon a figure of inky blackness rifted in. The elves gave the elemental a tribute that had been demanded to lift the curse and simply said “It is done.”  Lord Tenebrous rifted out immediately.

The four elves were joined by others who quickly made their way to the tomb of High Lord Sil-Galad of Ancient Imladar. Inside they found his mortal remains, seeming to finally be at rest. They cleansed the tomb and said final words of peace and comfort to the long dead but recently cursed elven lord. The tomb was then resealed and all departed.

It is hoped that the spirit of the elven lord is finally at rest in the Elder Woods.

 

 


Dwarven Forces Move into Oliver

 

The armies of King Kelanor recently began a campaign into the former Trellheim estate of Oliver, named for the first Duke of Ashbury, Oliver Songbringer. The mighty dwarves have managed to rid the lands of the marauding trolls and other insurgents that had taken it as their own.

The fighting has been fierce and many brave dwarves have met their end. But the enemy forces have taken much larger losses at the axes and swords of the dwarves and have been driven completely from the estate. Colonization of the fertile lands has already been begun by Trollsgate.

The dwarven army now sits upon the borders of the Mishrak Fens and tensions are running high between the dwarves and Mishrak’s lizarmen and their dark elf allies. The two sides have been eyeing each other warily in recent days.

Duke Frost has invited representatives from all three factions to Ashbury City on the second weekend of May to discuss the future of the area and to hopefully avoid any violence between the two allies of Ashbury.


Letters

To all:

Thank you for the kind words and appreciations shown to me while I have been recovering from my illness. I especially appreciated the visit of my court for breakfast. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Baroness Glenduria Manyave

 

Citizens and Adventurers of Ashbury,

I thank you on the behalf of the Duchy of Moorgrave for both the defeat of my former baron Elliot Darkshade and the recovery of the Forge of Purity. These achievements are major steps toward the establishment of Moorgrave as a secure and necromancy-free state.

 I deeply regret bringing nothing but trouble and death by the alliance of our Duchies, and I fear there will be much more before our battles are won. Darkshade is not alone in his refusal to abandon necromancy, and we may have need to fight many of our own in addition to the armies of Glenrake. It is my deepest hope that these battles never again are upon your fair soil, and that I and my own bear the burden of war.

Duke Rogan Exeter of Moorgrave

 

To the good adventurers of Ashbury,

It was a pleasure and honor to see the faces of so many brave adventurers upon my brief visit to the capital city with His Grace Duke Frost. I had but a little opportunity to speak with some of you, as my time was consumed by a Ducal meeting discussing military formations and tournaments.

I do hope to return soon to discuss the far more interesting matters of your adventures, and the places you have seen and deeds you have performed. While in town, I shall most likely be enjoying the hospitality of your local Sage’s Guild.

I must also congratulate all you who were involved in the recovery of the Forge of Purity. This promises to be a wondrous device in the struggles against the powerful necromantic forces that assail our lands. It is my understanding that the Forge will be held and Circle Locked within the Healer’s Guild of Ashbury.

With His Grace’s and the Guildmistress’s permission I would most enjoy the chance to study this magnificent artifact. It is an opportunity not to be missed by any who would deem themselves a scholar or sage.

Calwan Graem

Interim Dean of the Bardic College

 

To all the citizens of Ashbury,

I would like to thank those of you who were there for my cousin’s burial. Sparticous will be well missed by myself and our Family, as well as missed by many of you. Please do not cry for him, I know he would not want any of us crying over his death. Instead keep him within your hearts!

Although he might have jested about being an “Immortal” I feel he truly is one. I remember a saying he would always tell me, it was something his father had told him many years ago: “Remember in life there are heroes and there are legends; the difference being heroes are remembered, but Legends never die!”

Long may the Legend of Sparticous live! Let us all truly make his jest of being Immortal come true!

Elocin

Member of Informal House BlackForest

 

People of Ashbury,

Once again will a grand auction be held in your fine capital city. This event will take place on Saturday, May 8, 604 at 10 PM sharp.  The items up for auction and the minimum bids follow. I hope to see you all there.

Ritual Scrolls:

  Ritual of WOE              10 gold

  Earth/Chaos Aura          20 gold

  Limited Circle of Power 30 gold

  Arcane Armor               20 gold

  Regeneration                 30 gold

  Preserve Duration          30 gold

Ritual Components:

  5 Penna                         7 gold

  5 Cariosus                     7 gold

  5 Heartstone                 7 gold

  5 Mixed Components    7 gold

Magic Items:

  Cloak Alteration 2/day, 1 year       

                                       10 gold

  Magic Armor 2/day, 3 years           20 gold

  Prison 4/ever                 10 gold

  Reflect Magic 6/ever     10 gold

  Skill Store Magic Eviscerate 2/ever                                     10 gold

  Elemental Aura Flame Longsword, 2 years                          40 gold

Miscellaneous:

  Tarzaterranzan Wine      3 gold

  Draelonde Wine            8 gold

Kazz’d Karr

Proprietor, Liche’s Horde

 

Xitzin Find’rth T’Varian:

I must confess that I am surprised that so private an individual would opt to address our disagreement in such a public forum. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to put this matter behind us, your decision necessitates a public response. Clearly I was unable to explain myself sufficiently to you in person, so I shall try again here.

I judged determining whether your item was Crix related as the paramount concern that day, because I judged stopping the Crix as my paramount concern. Accordingly, I was taking advantage of all resources I had at my disposal, in this case the thoughts and ideas of other individuals. I was unaware that such revelation would be an affront to your honor or that it was a violation of Mage’s Guild policy, and apologized accordingly after I had sufficiently calmed from being threatened and screamed at unnecessarily.

The apologies I made were genuine; however there seems to have been a miscommunication so I shall detail precisely what I am and am not sorry about regarding this situation.

I am sorry that I did not think to check with you before revealing the powers of your item. I figured that you would consider stopping the Crix a priority and did not wish to bother someone of your station with what I thought to be an unnecessary question.

I am not sorry that I was attempting to do everything in my power to stop the Crix. Ever since I have left the safety of the Ash Forest I have attempted to use my skills, such as they are, to assist the people of Ashbury. That always has been, and always shall be, my primary objective.

I am sorry that I was not better able to hold my temper to show you the respect of your station when you verbally exploded on me. As you are a visiting noble, commoners should show you respect at all times. My attempt to leave while you were berating me was so that I could calm down enough to continue to discuss the matter while showing you the respect of your station. Bereft of that time to calm my temper I made comments I should not have to a man of your station.

I am not sorry that I chose to press charges when you unnecessarily threatened my life. In my legal opinion, though nobility should be shown respect at all times, they do not have the right to threaten the lives of commoners at will. You have garnered yourself the reputation of a man who does not making idle threats. As a result, I took your threat as a very real danger. My only recourse was through the legal system as I do not have the martial prowess to defend myself from any attack you might make upon me.

I am sorry that you chose to withhold potentially vital information to stopping Sil-Galad because you dislike me. Regardless of your opinions of me, your decision could well have cost the lives of hundreds, or more, of innocent lives. I fear I cannot see the logic of this decision.

More than anything else, I am sorry that you and I could not discuss this disagreement calmly in a private setting rather than screaming at one another in a crowded tavern and writing public letters to the newspaper. I hope that this letter has explained my views on this matter better than I have been able to do in person. It is my sincerest wish that we can put this matter behind us and proceed with our respective lives.

May the Trees and the Stars Guide you

Cedric Fruvous

Sorcerer of Stars

 

Dear nice people in Ashbury,

I am looking for Candyman. I wrote him a letter and when he came to my den I was asleep and he couldn’t find me I don’t think. I have to find him because we’re going to Candy Land and we’re going to play games and eat candy there. Please tell him if you see him that I have all my things packed up and I’m ready to go to Candy Land now so he can come back and get me and we can go there right away.

Thank you very much for your help

Mitya Izzati Asima al Asianne

 

To all from Ashbury and other lands,

I offer my sympathy toward the loss of the person named Sparticous. ‘Though I had not the chance to meet him, I heard many tales at the tavern about his heroic deeds. I hoped I could see him someday, but now I will not be able to see him now or ever. I hope he is somewhere where he is happy.

Rest in Peace, Sparticous

Semaj

 

I would like to thank everyone who attended Sparticous funeral Saturday morning, I’m sure he would have thanked all the people that attended. May his spirit reach the Warrior’s Graveyard in peace.

Also I am asking for any information that will lead to the capture to the culprit of who ever defiled his resting place.

Paythin Allderin


A Little Birdie Told Me

 

by Sue D’Onym

Hello, dearies!  Missed me?  It’s time once again for the News They Don’t Want You To Know!

Let me begin by saying that the reason you haven’t heard much of me lately is because I am hardly receiving any cards or letters from you.  How is a gossip to stay in business? Oh, sure, I hear about what secrets the local miller has, and who the local seamstress is sneaking out with, but who wants to read about the little people?  We want gossip about the adventurers and nobles of Ashbury! That’s what sells paper!

A lot of new faces were seen adventuring in Ashbury City recently. Cora Scaldren, Daedric Kregst’yan and the Vansir known only as ‘Steyr’ made the dangerous trek across Tar’Navarria from Saribdis, seeking sanctuary in the benevolent land of Ashbury. Found by Osrick while they were running away from a pack of gnolls, they were offered safe haven with the Nordenn Barony.  Glorianna and the rest of the group protected Cora and Daedric.

Cora quickly found work in the Dragon’s Flagon. Meanwhile, Daedric and Steyr found themselves a bit outmatched by the numerous and dangerous forces that seem to so often attack. All three hope to make a new home here in Ashbury, if all goes well. Three other new adventurers quietly made their mark by recovering the golden anvil of the Forge of Purity and destroying many undead.

And speaking of Glorianna, she was apparently busy making a magical sword for ex-Baron Agnar so couldn’t be bothered with resurrecting people who died fighting Sil-Galad. Poor Lhasa had to suddenly resurrect 14 people, including her beloved Kuwo, all by herself!

It seems Lord Faust is now Captain Faust, or maybe even Admiral Faust. Somehow the purple preener has come into control of the fleet of the Vaccaran Corsairs. He and a few of his “crew”, Michelle, Ambrosia and Gaf, were seen enjoying dinner in the Dragon’s Flagon recently and talking at length with Sassifer the Jester, Lockjaw Jane, Braveroar and Morgan. It’s no secret that Duke Frost is not happy about the new leader of the Unseelie Court’s frequent trips to the duchy. However, it seems the Ducal Jester Sassifer has no such reservations. He attempted to bargain for a pair of wings from Lord Faust. He got his wings, but they weren’t exactly as he expected.

In a recent battle against horse-eating undead, Air Raskaa was very effective in dispatching an inordinate amount of them. They seemed to just fall dead at his feet. Has this high orc found some new weapon in the fight against the taint of necromancy?

Mithrauko visited the capital city once again. He seems to have drained the ward of the Ash Forest manor house and then spent some time chatting with various people of the duchy while sitting in the Baroness’s chair while commenting that Baroness Glen must have a “small arse.” Rumor has it that Cedric once again challenged him to a game of chess for the right to be called “The Purple Wizard.” Purple seems to be the color of choice for the strangest visitors to the duchy.

Speaking of visitors, a lovely young woman was seen recently walking through Ashbury, seemingly looking for something or someone. She found Gabriel Bruce in the Healer’s Guild and the two went outside and talked for quite some time in what appeared to be a pretty emotionally charged conversation. She then started to walk out of town and just faded away.

Anyway, I wish I had more stories to relate, but as I said, if you don’t send any to me, I can’t write about them.  I can’t be everywhere at once, you know!

Ah well, until next time, remember: If you can’t say something nice about someone, come sit by me!

 


Public Notices

SPELLCRAFTING of Damage Aura, Earth Aspect, Biata and Vansir friendly. Please contact Squire Glorianna Wyndancer.  Reasonable rates.

 

SPARTICOUS: May your spirit rest in Peace, you deserve it more than anyone. – Cedric Fruvous

 

SQUIRE GLORIANNA seeks to purchase the ritual scroll and components for Haven of the Living,to be then donated to be placed onto the Ashbury Healers Guild. Fair compensation will be given. Please leave notification of business at the Nordenn Hall, and you will be contacted upon her return.

 

ATTENTION: In October of 603, Air Raksa was spirit linked to a cursed Lempur  dagger. This dagger appears to be sentient and will become active and  randomly be attuned with various rituals. Because of the unknown origin on the dagger and its unpredictable state, the Black Forest is seeking out a way to destroy the cursed artifact. Black Forest is asking any and all adventurers for any information that might reveal the nature of the dagger and how it can be destroyed. For more information on the events that took place on Saturday night, the 3rd of April, the cursed dagger, or Air Raksa’s situation, please contact Lyle Zaradan, member of Black Forest and the Ashbury Town Guard.

 

HELP WANTED: The Dragon’s Flagon is seeking bartender, server, cook and scullery help. Make money while you meet interesting people. Inquire May 7th and 8th.

 

WANTED: Arcane armor ritual scroll. Also, cloak, bane, spell parry, expanded enchantment, transfer, copy formal scroll. Have much to trade including permanent magic items. Will also pay five gold for any cloak of darkness ritual scroll with the additional guarantee that it will be used for legal, non-necromantic purposes. – Lord Find’rth T’Varian.

 

NEW ADVENTENTURERS in need of a Ward or other assistance, please contact the Court of the Ash Forest for aid.

 

CELESTIAL RITUALS PERFORMED.  Nominal fee required – Cedric Fruvous