The
Ashbury Times
January - May
610
“All The News That Fits, We Print”
Villagers Transformed into
Undead
On a recent Saturday night,
Sheriff Holst sent a group of adventurers led by the
newly squired
The group arrived at the
settlement to find the gates to the main street had seemingly been forced open
from the inside as if something had broken its way out, or perhaps blown the
gates open from the inside. Initially,
the group found no signs of life on the streets of the community and began
searching the houses within. Each
dwelling housed several types of undead, including cackling corpses,
death’s heads, and other undead horrors.
However, it became clear after the first battle that this was something
more than your average undead infestation.
The undead were not crumbling to dust after being defeated. The bodies lay in heaps where they fell and
in minutes, they dissipated as if they were living bodies, off to resurrect at
an earth circle nearby. The healers
checked for metabolism in the dead, tried first aid, attempted to heal them
with earth magic but to no avail. One by
one, the bodies all dissipated and the fate of this community began to take
shape in the adventurer’s minds.
They proceeded to the next
house and the next, to see if anyone in the settlement had not been
transformed. In each house they found
the same, a few undead, perhaps enough to be the family that once lived in each
house, attacking the party on site. When
they were slain, they fell like the living though they retained their undead
attributes until they dissipated. The
squires discussed the moral implications of attacking the changed townsfolk and
the group debated how to find out what had been done to them to determine if
there was another way to change them back to normal.
It was decided that they
would attempt to prison one of the undead and bring it back to town to look for
a way to reverse the process for the remaining townsfolk. The Guildmaster would
use his golem body strength and speed to carry the prisoned
undead back to town quickly and safely.
This plan, however, never came to fruition. As the group began leaving the settlement
what appeared to be an active Ward spell was seen on one of the buildings and
when the group approached, cries of pain and despair were heard from someone
within.
A townsperson had apparently Warded himself in his home after being turned undead. He retained his intelligence and memories and
begged for the group to flee from him and this place so that he would not hurt
them. The squires spoke with the man
trying to calm him and obtain information about what had happened to the
town. The man told the Squires that the
settlement had been experimented on and turned undead but little else was
learned between the man’s screams as he continued to plead with the
squires to leave or kill him so he would not hurt anyone. The rest of the group were discussing what to
do next, how to get the prisioned undead back to
town, and toiling over the fate of the townspeople when they heard, too late
that the squires had convinced the man to let them into the Ward promising him
the death he wished for.
After slaying the man as
promised, the squires finally realized the flaw in their plan when they
attempted to leave. The Ward was, of
course, still up, trapping them inside.
The group erupted into argument over what to do next, with an angry Guildmaster killing the undead he still had prisioned, knowing now that the plan to bring it back to
town had been negated and a solution to the problem of the trapped squires had
more pressing need. When one of the group mentioned that the barrier could be a Wizard Lock
instead of a Ward, the Guildmaster snapped that he
hadn’t brought any Dispel scrolls and had not memorized it either. The group decided quickly to run back to
Fairdale to retrieve a Dispel scroll and get backup in
case any undead remained in the town.
Seeking discretion, the Guildmaster spoke privately with Sir Daniel Star, who teased
the frustrated wizard for not having a dispel scroll or spell memorized and
proceeded to bring a great force comprised of himself, Baron Drake, Ithica, and others to bring aid to the trapped
squires.
The settlement was deserted
save for the squires when the force arrived, and luckily for them, the barrier
was indeed a Wizard Lock, and not a Ward.
The Guildmaster dispelled it, and the squires
received much ribbing from the knights and their Baron who had come to bail
them out of their blunder.
However, all business with
the settlement was not yet complete when the Guildmaster
found that the body of the man who the squires had slain in his undead form was
still laying where it had fallen long after it should have dissipated if the
man were going to resurrect. The corpse
was permanently dead and rotting quickly now that the magic which had animated
it was gone. The Guildmaster
picked up the body and rushed it back to his circle to identify any remaining
traces of the magic which was used in the experiments the man had talked
about. A faint trace of an unknown
necromantic magic was leaving the body when he identified it, and the Guildmaster reported this to the party and assembled
nobility.
Wishing to dispose of the
remains respectfully, the Guildmaster requested
permission from Baron Ivan to bury the man in the Fairdale cemetery. After a brief encounter with angry gnolls along the way, the Guildmaster
was escorted to the cemetery by Squire Flint, Amaranthus,
Grimm the dwarf, and a few others who paid their respects at a small ceremony
the Squire officiated for the unnamed retired ducal soldier.
Vampire’s Tomb Discovered
Recently, after scouting deep in the high
places of the contested lands near Fairdale, a trail of blood was discovered
that led to a cave sealed shut by thick rock.
Believing the cave was the sanctuary of a vampire, a party consisting of
Evie, Qualin, Wick, Squire
Raven, and Drak traveled to the cave entrance with
Grimm the dwarf who brought his mining tools, and Guildmaster Nathan Westwind in
his Golem body. Grimm inspected the
sealed rock and the group decided the fastest way to get in and drag the
vampire into the sunlight was for Grimm to create hand holds in the rock
surface and the Guildmaster to tear the boulders out
of the way with his Golem strength.
When the rock had been cleared by the Guildmaster, the party (save Grimm who remained outside as
a lookout) entered, led by Qualin. They found a very
old looking vampire in a Circle of Power waiting for them. He named himself Ryordenn
and asked who the adventurers were and from what lands did they hail. He did not know the baronies of Ashbury, nor
the heraldry which the adventurers bore and asked if they were at war with Icenia as he was. Qualin quickly told the vampire that we were traveling
mercenaries looking for work and that Icenia was at
war with a force called the Dominion, whose forces had been spotted
nearby. The vampire did not know of the
Dominion but seemed intrigued to know more about the enemies of Icenia. Qualin suggested the group join the forces of the vampire
to fight Icenia, and as a token of their intentions,
the group would capture a Dominon soldier and return
with it so the vampire could learn more about them. The vampire agreed to this, and the party
left the cave and retreated into the woods.
Qualin asked Grimm if he would act
as bait for the vampire, pretending that he was the captured Dominion solder
(knowing the vampire did not have knowledge of the type of forces the Dominion
employed). He agreed, and took quite a
beating from Qualin before he was dragged back to the
vampire’s cave.
Unfortunately, the vampire had erected
multiple walls of force on the cave entrance when the party returned, and the
vampire did not seem to believe the party and their decoy. Qualin dispelled
both walls and threw himself at the vampire attacking it several times while
the rest of the party destroyed the circle before it could return to it. The vampire became gaseous, and was
solidified and attacked again before it finally became gaseous a second time
and escaped through cracks in the cave wall.
Grimm examined the cave and instructed the Guildmaster
on where to break the rock to open the wall safely, and the Guildmaster
used his Golem’s strength to break apart the wall which opened into small
network of chambers where the vampire escaped too small for a physical body to
fit into.
Not wanting the vampire to return to his
haven, the Guildmaster collapsed the cave after the
party had made it safely out.
Spiders Attack
Fairdale was recently struck by large spiders
with twisted forms – they possessed features of various citizen
races.
When most of the adventurers had gone to bed,
an especially large spider, described as “horse sized” and having
the traits of Gorbe, Orc, and spider by many, waited
under the the Black Stag balcony. As
unsuspecting townsfolk headed to bed, the massive beast sprung from its hiding
spot and grabbed Qiu Jun-Wu, and jumped off the side
of the balcony. Avian Toth, traveling companion
to the captured Twilight Elf, grabbed on to keep his friend from being dragged
away but was also pulled over the edge in the struggle. The assembled
adventurers quickly mobilized and ran to the base of the stairs where there
were other spiders waiting but after a brief scuffle, Qiu
Jun-Wu was dragged into a hole in the ground not far off.
A rescue party consisting of Lord Amaranthus Landcharmer, Avian,
Squire Man-at-Arms Flint Boulderback, and a few other
adventurers quickly jumped in after the assailants. After the party
jumped in, the hole seemed to cave in behind them.
It is unclear exactly what was down the hole
or what transpired, but Qiu Jun-Wu was rescued, and
all returned with apparently little injury. The spiders returned in force
again and again over the next few days, crawling out of holes in the ground and
trying to drag people in, and reports from Fairdale indicate that the attacks
have continued to this day.
It has been rumored that the spiders want to
collect the blood of the adventurers for unknown purposes.
Adventures Halt Wylderkin
Vigilantism
The Sheriff was seen
recruiting Sir Ulthoc, Lord Amaranthus
Landcharmer for a mission to a local Kin
hamlet. Apparently the locals there have been taking the law into their
own hands.
A small party was assembled
including Kerrigwen, Avian Toth,
and Qiu Jun-Wu. Upon arrival the band
apparently interrupted a court proceeding concerning a suspected
necromancer. After deeming the court illegal, Sir Ulthoc
and Lord Amaranthus began negotiations with the Owlkin in charge, apparently some sort of a judge.
After some convincing the
Owl, decided to put Icenia
on trial to determine if the Kin Village should accept the Kingdoms Laws or
not. There were no eyewitness adventurers to comment but a kin
interviewed said that Lord Amaranthus and Qiu Jun-Wu were chosen to represent Icenia.
Amaranthus spoke concerning the benefits of the
Kingdom and “the elf guy spouted something boring about
laws.” After the proceedings, and some “very
convincing” arguments from the local “barristers,” the Judge
made her decision: The Kin Village accepted Icenia’s
terms and will begin negotiations to merge themselves into the kingdom
properly.
After the
close of the proceedings. the Kin
performed a very strange local custom... a dance or “jiggy”
was held and they demanded that the Icenian
representatives join them. It gets fuzzy from here but sources said that
“the one with the long ears made the one with the feathers do it so that
my other friends wouldn't get angry.”
Eat the Vegetables Before They Eat You!
Recently large shambling
mounds of vegetation have been attacking Fairdale. They seem quite
resistant to conventional attacks, requiring a great many blows to fell.
Recently, a large number
wandered through Fairdale, eating townspeople caught in their path. After
the local defender’s arms grew tired, the local healers, tired of
cleaning up after the monsters, came up with their own solution: a death
spell.
Though some adventurers were
frustrated at the waste of life spells on “walking cabbages”, one
observer overheard the following logic: “One death spell now, or two life spells later when people get eaten.”
Plague Outbreak in Vorak’s
Peak; Duke
Urges Citizens Not to Panic
In the past few months,
scattered reports have come in from Vorak’s
Peak and regions of Tower Hills of a sickness which drives its victims mad. At
first, the reports were waved aside as exaggeration or rural superstition, but
as contact was lost with more and more villages, the seriousness of the disease
became apparent. The Royal Healer’s Guild sent a convoy of disease
specialists to Vorak’s Peak to assess the disease, help the victims and try to find a cure. Two dozen
healers set out for Vorak’s Peak. Nine
returned. The survivors told nightmarish stories of how their colleagues were
eaten alive by crazed villagers.
Another team was sent out,
this time with a military escort. What they found confirmed the most terrifying
of the rumors. Those infected with the plague were turning into madmen with
bestial strength and a ravenous hunger for human flesh. Villagers have dubbed
the plague “The Red Madness,” for the reddish, bubbling blotches
that appear on the skin of the victims.
There is no cure in sight and
the plague is spreading. Duke Frost has ordered the evacuation of the healthy,
and has diverted whatever military forces he can spare to contain the infected.
But the war in Trellheim continues to rage, occupying
the army, which is already spread thin.
“The people of Ashbury
must not give in to panic.” Duke Frost told sources, “The situation
is being contained. This, like any other plague, will run its natural course
and pass.” Until then, the Duke sends out a general order to travelers
and tradesmen to stay away from infected areas.
Magistrate’s Report
As a Squire's Task, I, Sparticous, was asked to stand in on a trial as
Magistrate. I at all times had Lord Magistrate Sir Eros Clearbrook at my side to defer to. I will tell you, I
do not envy Sir Eros’ job.
For those who are not aware,
this past gathering, Darkan of the Stormblades was on trial for the Murder of Jarrin, and
The verdict of guilty was
reached on Darkan’s case through the layout of
how the murder took place and Ket’s
testimony. Jarrin was murdered in the sleeping
quarters of the tavern. The Stormblades had a
ward in that area, myself and the Court of the
As Landiara
retired for bed, he saw Ket retire for the night to
his varda. A short while after Landiara had laid down for bed he heard heavy foot fall
outside his door in the area where Jarrin was
sleeping. He then heard the heavy foot fall walk away. I and the rest of
the Court of the
Ket’s testimony
had provided the motive. Ket had witnessed an
altercation in the recent past between Jarrin and the
Stormblades over a magic item which Jarrin had kept from the spoils of a battle both parties
were part of. This had caused enough bad blood that the Stormblades had confided with Ket
that they were going to rig the building which Jarrin
was sleeping in with explosive traps. What had stopped them was Ket was staying in the same building and they didn’t
want to bring harm to him.
Squire
Sparticous
Mages’ Guild Report
The
Golem Project:
The Guild has received Ducal permission for those wizards who assisted in the
creation of our Mercury Golem to spirit store into it using High Magics. The standard
rules for the use of the Golem, and traveling in it while spirit stored apply,
and if you don’t know what those are, you should meet with me to discuss
them. Wizards wishing to use the Golem
for spirit store or other tasks should contact me to schedule a time to do
so. The Guild also still has the Iron
Man Golem available for tasks as well, and again, guildsmen interested in using
the golem should contact me with their requests.
I have been practicing the
high magic of spirit storing into our Mercury Golem the past few months and
would be happy to share insight with other wizards on the experience. There is a great deal to learn about it that
is not contained in ritual scrolls such as training your spirit to not eat,
sleep, or breathe while in the golem, remembering to feed and protect your body
while your spirit is away, and much more.
Needless to say this experiment has been a great success and I am hard
at work in recording my findings on the matter.
Guild
Meetings:
Due to the majority of our
membership on leave still from the winter, the Guild did not hold a formal
meeting this past gathering, but all those members who checked in with the
Guild did receive points for doing so.
I understand that the Regent
has requested adventures travel to Evorra for a
gathering at which, I cannot attend. As
such, we shall again, hold no official meeting at the next gathering. As soon as I have information on when the
next meeting shall be, I will announce the meeting publicly.
Anyone interested in
presenting papers, topics, or discussions for future meetings, please contact
me, I’d be interested in hearing your ideas.
Member
News:
I would like to congratulate
Squire Raven for achieving the rank of Guildsman this past gathering. He was instrumentally helpful to me and a
constant asset to the Guild which netted him the remaining points he needed to
achieve his ascension. This means, of
course, that Guildsman Raven will now be available to take on new apprentices
for the Guild (so long as doing so does not interfere which his duties as
Squire), so any initiates still seeking a guildsman to apprentice them may seek
him out, or any other active guildsman to make your request.
Wizard
Nathan Westwind
Guildmaster,
Fairdale Mage’s Guild
Elemental
Warden of Icenia
Healers’ Guild Report
This past month was very busy
for the Healers’ Guild. Our new time for our guild meeting time went well
with a lot of success. Since this went so well I will be continuing the special
coffee, eggs, and a different special food as well. We will also keep having
baked goods for sale in the tavern as well. We will keep having a soup, bread
and butter in the tavern. We are open to food suggestions to help keep the
citizens healthy.
Exciting news for us is that
our member “Balls” was raised to the rank of invested member. His
excitement was almost scary. The Guild has a long custom of at having at least
one invested member in a quick run distance of the Circle at all times for
protection of the weak. So with this new investiture, I might even be able to
get out more. What a novel idea.
The Guild has also had more
people pass our testing to join. To pass, one must prove they are honest and
honorable enough to be one of us. So we are proud to welcome Coal, Haestra, Minah, Lolsen, Raauna, Nicole Merik, Alexander Vorik, and Anna Rainwillow. It is so wonderful to see so many people
joining us in our dedication to life.
On a separate note, three
people failed our pre screening and two failed the interview process. Hopefully
these people will grow to be able to pass at another time. For those wishing to
join, please see me before noon on Saturdays since the process usually start at
1 pm.
New Guild rules were voted in
as official:
1. Resurrections are only done by Guild members. During such a time,
no one beyond members is allowed in the Circle. The door will also be closed.
All communications are done through the door guard. We will be placing seating
outside the guild in a waiting area. Sorry for an irritation in this matter but
a calm atmosphere is necessary to a good resurrection.
2. We have a huge candy and baked selection. All we ask are donations
so we can replenish such. Those partaking of our goods and not contributing so
could find themselves banned from our open hospitality.
3. During the summer months, we will keep cold ale and wine in the
Guild available for all for a small price. I can not list prices because much
of what we will be having will be from our various Guild friends and members
and will depend on the costs of the drinks to us. Ice added will be extra.
4. To be a spellcrafted invested member, one
must have a minimum of two Life spells. For a permanent investiture of
adventurers with many talents, you must have at least three Life spells. A pure
healer must have at least five Life spells. Exception requests must be voted on
by all invested members.
5. To sleep in the Guild, one must be a permanently invested member.
6. I must hire someone to collect coin for my healing since I am no
longer able to financially support the guild.
7. Invested members must donate about half of their spells to support
the guild.
8. Non invested members must be willing to donate a fourth of their
spells to support the Guild. Exceptions at this level can be made due to
various circumstances.
9. We will strictly enforce old rules and no longer be lax. The Guild
can no longer afford Guild money to use for resurrections, which use silver as
a component.
10. Those who leave dirty dishes will be
charged one gold per item. The person washing dishes will be compensated by the
guild from this fund.
11. The Guild will now charge
4 gold for enslavement and Euphoria antidotes.
12. Full guild books will only be sold to Guild members. Only non-full
books can be sold to those who are not part of the Guild. Books will go for a
minimum of one gold per level. Keep in mind to barter
is preferred; we can always accept donations of components and potions in
exchange for spell books.
For the next month, I (with a
group of others) will be in Bloodstone finalizing some business. I will be back
in two months. I will be bringing back many more flowers as well as waterlilies for the pond. Until I see you all again may
your days be good and your nights be without incident.
Zaterina N. Norik
A Little Birdie Told Me
By Sue D’Onym
Hello, dearies! Time for another installment of the News They Don’t Want You To Know!
Unfortunately, once again,
hardly anyone has given me comments that I can use. What is a gossip columnist to do? I know you all love my column but I
can’t do it without you.
I heard that Sparticous was
sent to The Elder Wood when he “permanently” died. Obviously, it
didn’t turn out to be so permanent. He is awfully friendly with the elves, and I heard he’s even
looking for a Racial Transformation ritual scroll and catalyst! I think
it’s some kind of mid-life crisis. Maybe death made him begin to feel his
mortality! Next he’ll buy a big, shiny sword or take up his life long
dream of becoming a bard.
Flint
Boulderback asked the Fairdale Healers’
Guild to send a healer to observe his combat training session with several
Ducal Soldiers. Guildmistress Zatarina told
him that the guild was too busy, and to “come back later.”
Hearing this, visiting Twilight Elf Qiu Jun-Wu,
apparently a Healers’ Guildmaster from another
land, seemed annoyed and answered the call himself, even joining in the
training at one point.
Speaking of
Xapano
Corak from Bloodstone had a secret meeting with the local biata in
the Healers Guild recently, and apparently they discussed Daniel Grimsby for some reason.
It’s not always a good thing when biata have secret meetings about
you.
Well, that’s it.
Sad, isn’t it? My editor
has said that if I don’t do something to make this column worthwhile,
that he may cut it for budget reasons.
So please help!
And in the meantime
remember: If you can’t say
something nice about someone, come sit by me.
Letters
To the Good and Brave People
of Icenia,
For too many years, our
neighbors and allies from just across the bay have been without a home. In
villages scattered throughout the kingdom they have waited. Those who call
themselves the Children of Camulous, have been orphaned by the foul Vacarran
Corsairs – the very same brigands who ambushed our beloved Queen Sidraste, sending her to her final death.
I call upon you now, the
brave and true citizens of Icenia and all lands. The
time has come for the Children of Camulous to return
to their rightful home; for us to obliterate the necromantic blight that has
taken so much from so many.
In four weeks' time, the Evorran Navy will lead the combined forces of Icenia in an assault on the islands that were once home to
good and peaceful people. Only through the will and heart of those willing to
stand up to these tyrants will it be peaceful once more. I beseech you, take up
sword and spell and join us in the port town of
Thou shalt
be everywhere and always the champion of the right and the good against
injustice and evil,
Regent
Dame Sonia Forthiatis
Friends of Icenia,
As you know Jarrin Vorik has meet
his permenent death. Taking most of Amaranthus’ words I will try to retell this to the
best of my ability. For he said it better then I could. While we were in the Deadlands we assaulted one of seven towers containing
energies which had to be destroyed, Jarrin
stood his ground bravely as we defended the Paladin who was channeling
the powers needed to destroy the vile thing. Many people tried
to reach him before it was too late. By the time we got to him he was
in need of a life spell. He dissipated in my arms as well as Amaranthus’ arms, as the life spell was literally
in the air between him and its caster. He helped set in motion a victory which
has liberated the Bastion of Stoneroost, the final
great city of the people in the Deadlands, from the
domination of the Spectral Liche known as Emilio Barrenger.
Jarrin’s death was
not in vain. Thousands of people now have a place to call home, and a
chance to rebuild. There will be battles to come, but this battle is over, and Jarrin’s willingness to fight, no matter what horrors
our enemy tried to torment us with, showed his commitment to the causes of the
good and the just.
I know of only little family
that he has left behind. His mother, Sonya Vorik; his father, Darrick Vorik; His sister, Venessia Vorik (whereabouts unknown). His
betrothed, Lanna Rose, currently in Gryphonwatch, Icenia and his
unborn child.
The date for his Spirit
Farewell has not yet been determined. But will be announced as soon as there is
a date.
Lanna
Rose Draken
Public Notices
“LET THE GAMES
BEGIN. I have a sword.” –
Rock
TO DAME AVEN and Sir Ignatious Skippio Vex:
Congratulations! I know you'll do our fine Duchy and people proud! -
Squire Sparticous
ELOCIN: Where are you cousin? I have not seen
you in many years. We need to talk face-to-face, I have good news! -
Squire Sparticous
LOOKING FOR
ROOMS TO LET. Family of six, four able to work, need a place to stay
until it is safe to return to Vorak’s Peak.
Have little coin, but willing to work.
– Arthur Goodrow, cobbler
ARE YOU FEELING
WORN OUT or overwhelmed? Bliss will
solve your problems. Ask for Shardis in Fairdale tavern.
Right now, on sale for 5 silver pieces. – The White Services
ABLE BODIED
workers seeking temporary employment. We will work for the season in
exchange for food and shelter, but hope to return to our own crops in Tower
Hills before the harvest.
“I’M GAME. I have a spell.” – Apple