During the waning of the Black Maw that consumed Ashbury, the Deep Trolls took advantage of the unnatural darkness to attack various targets in the Duchy.
On the Friday evening when the maw was finally closed, the appearance of the Maw Wraiths in the capital city pressed the adventurers of Ashbury. In medium to large groups, the Wraiths washed over several small companies of adventurers and killed at least four. Citizens rallied to the tavern and managed to drive off the creatures.
Later in the evening, Llewellyn of the Apologue Commorancy appeared from with an enormous razor-encrusted golem referred to as the Shive. Those who have been following this story over the past year know that Llewellyn is a being called a “spinner” or “storyweaver.” The spinners apparently are responsible for recording important portions of history due to some compact between the elements of Reason and Dream. They occasionally interfere with the recording of the story, and when this last happened, some spinners become entrapped in their own story, causing horrible aftershocks in reality.
The black maws are believed to be the result of a “Dark Story” called the Grimoire being released by rival spinners against Llewellyn last summer. (see previous Ashbury Times for details.)
The aftershocks had grown in intensity since that time, resulting in the black maws that are appearing throughout Ashbury. Llewellyn and the being known as the Shive apparently had returned to eliminate the enormous maw that had consumed Ashbury and unravel the tangles in the Ashburian Story.
Llewellyn instructed the citizens of the Duchy that he had been placed as leader of the spinners with the installation of the title Sui Generis, and they would need to aid him in capturing the rivals responsible for the Grimoire. “Even now,” he said, “they are spinning new stories, and each story needs to be ended in order in order for the black maw to close.”
It is not believed the spinners were within this enormous black maw, as the Shive appeared to explain his role as the “ender” of stories—drawing the stories out of the spinners for preservation within the Commorancy. Obtaining the support of the citizens, the Shive explained he would need to cut them from the weave. The Shive was a strange being, and the golem seemed to be living.
The Shive emerged as a slim and elderly man, stepping out of the golem form and moving it around apparently at his own instruction.
With the obtainment of the citizens’ support, the Shive, in spirit form, somehow held time or stopped the story, and the golem was ordered to cut the citizens from the story.
The citizens who were cut out of the story by the Shrive saw a series of stories involving the Trolls, Servants of the Undoer (called the Brotherhood of the Malcairn), and a civil war erupting among factions of the Deep Trolls.
Individuals such as Alexander, Smith, and Natasha were instructed by the Shive to cut the weaver from the story by using a special sword that could be used to kill a spinner. This would remove the spinner from the tale they were spinning. It is apparent they were successful, as the maw dissipated three hours after their departure and dawn shone across Ashbury for the first time in well over a month.
Meanwhile outside of Ashbury city, it is clear that the Deep Trolls are utilizing their vast knowledge of the underground caverns beneath Ashbury to their advantage. Many of the forces of the Duchy and the Barony of Trellheim have been posted at Trollsgate in an effort to preserve peace.
The Deep Trolls attacked without warning during the early morning hours of Saturday, April 18th, opening several precut tunnels and attacking the entire encampment arrayed against Trollsgate. The first few minutes of the battle were abject chaos as the officers and members of the court of Trellheim present organized their companies and regiments and held their fortified series of trenches against the Troll assault. A mounted force was assembled and troops finally broke through the attacking forces, allowing for a withdrawal from positions.
The fighting with the Trolls was gruesome, but casualties were mild due to the professionalism and training of our troops. Regrouping and fending off several feints to their flanks, our troops are currently laying siege to Trollsgate and crushing tunnels. Progress is slow and a breakthrough is not suspected due to the lack of tunneling materials and the need for more siege equipment.
Banners of at least six separate regiments of the Trolls are said to be holding Trollsgate, with at least three harrying flanks attempting to disrupt supply lines into the city.
Within the capital the Trolls also attacked on the same day as the Trollsgate siege. Small groups of Troll raiders attacked Ashbury in a reconnaissance of the city. Several groups were accompanied by huge Troll monstrosities apparently called by their Brethren “Cauldronborn.” These powerful creatures on solid steel chains attacked liked battering rams, leaving their victims sick and dizzy from their poisoned claws. Their foul spittle caused berserk fury among the citizens and it was clear these mutations are not unlike the vile Thrulls used and created by Fangthorn—although far deadlier.
Perhaps the most dangerous ability of these Cauldronborn is their complete immunity to fire and their restoration, after a minute’s time, at full healing. Nothing citizens used seemed to be able to send these creatures to resurrect, and they were a continual threat. Many were placed behind Walls of Force and Wards to prevent them from doing any further damage.
Messengers from Duke Aramis’s Screaming Phoenix Company, speaking of the attacks, carried word into the city of the further attacks being undertaken against various Ducal fortifications and supply lines.
Several sets of documents were recovered from the trolls in their own language. Shya Corak and Sage’s Guildmistress Lady Alyx spearheaded the translating effort throughout the day and into the night.
At midday, the Trolls appeared with an entire auxiliary regiment calling themselves the “Cave Razors.” The Deep Troll commander demanded the surrender of the city and a turning over of all dwarves to the empire. His Grace Duke Aramis, after a breathtaking speech inspiring all citizens, he formed the adventurers present and in one scream, charged forward into battle like a lightning bolt from the sky. The forces of Ashbury roared in fury as they leapt forward to the attack. The first squad of the Deep Trolls, taken by surprise by this unexpected enthusiasm, was vanquished under the blazing swords and spells of the avenging anger of Ashbury.
The trolls threw wave after wave against the adventurers and citizens of Ashbury, and the cry of “All day long” was screamed to dishearten the trolls. However, support among the trolls was surprisingly high as the trolls had a surprisingly large number of healers using their skills to restore their comrades. Mysteriously though, no necromantic spells were hurled during the battle.
Still, Ashbury ground the troll forces into dust.
The final attack came in a rush of blood and anger, as the command cluster of the Cave Razors came forward and smashed into the Ashbury line. The Cave Razors’ elite, led by two of the Cauldronborn, overcame the battle lines, and the command staff summarily killed the Duke and any dwarves found and prepared to take prisoners. Robert, Zatarina, and Hobbes immediately surrounded His Grace to protect his body until a Life spell could be obtained.
The Duke regenerated on the field of battle, and then initiated some sort of magical transportation. Nearly five minutes later, the Duke reappeared with Dimsdale, the jester from Pelosia, who was ordered to clobber trolls. Dimsdale defeated a few trolls and turned to healing and administering Life spells to healers.
Ingregavor, the new Count’s aide, also administered healing and aided the citizens, the Count having been sent Northward to check Trollsgate.
Like a sprouting grass the adventurers arose from the field and resumed the fight, overcoming the command guard and pulling victory from the maw of defeat. At the expense of the Duke’s life and several of our courageous citizens, Ashbury was victorious. Several citizens suffered deaths in the battle, but the holding of the capital was achieved.
Meanwhile, outside of Ashbury, six regiments of troll troops emerged from the Tower Hills late that night and laid siege to the Tower Hills Citadel. The Citadel is holding well as of this time, the trolls being unable to burrow under the rocky base on which the citadel stands. They have three regiments supposedly bottling up the troops within the citadel, but they seem content to harry and disrupt lines of communication and supply lines. They are constantly attacking and burning several small villages, taking prisoners below the surface. It will not be long before all of the Tower Hills erupt in war.
On Saturday evening, a slow down occurred in the fighting in Ashbury city but a few small conflicts erupted as patrols gathering information for the Trolls were defeated and dispatched. Messengers from the Screaming Phoenix Company rooted out two tunnels of the trolls and collected more documents that were passed to Shya Corak and Dame Alyx, who worked arduously only to discover these were not only in the troll language but also encoded!
As midnight approached, the being known only as the Undoer appeared and surveyed the down. Most citizens took advantageous and concealed positions to view and see what the Undoer was doing within the city.
Adorned upon the head of an enormous deep troll was a silver and blue helmet, the eyes glowing with a cold blue malice. Standing at his side were three Stone Troll casters. The vile being carried the Mallet of the Undoer and the same blue radiance shone from two pulsing orbs within the skull head of the weapon.
The Barony of Nordenn was the first to confront the being. Black mists coalesced from the eyes of the hammer and formed over a dozen black dwarven wights. These are believed to be the stolen spirits of the Anvil Ring warriors permanently killed in the attack on Blackborne last month. This is the second time strange creations have appeared from the hammer, and these were significantly weaker then the ones known to attack the Shield of Vendamor over two years ago.
The Barony of Nordenn was forced to withdraw after Smith was killed by the wights in a heroic effort to reach the Undoer. Wights then chased after several adventurers which fled from the scene.
The adventurers eventually ran to the Healer’s Guild for protection, but Guildmistress Natasha, who was busy resurrecting both Smith and Sir Eros, pointed out that the Undoer could probably destroy the Permanent Earth Circle. Baron Olin then gathered those present and left, forming a line before the Guild building to prevent such a thing from occurring.
The Undoer approached and found the heroes standing defiantly. “Flee!” it demanded. Baron Olin stood forward, demanding that the adventurers hold the line and make their stand against the Undoer. The Undoer demanded their surrender to the empire, and demanded that all dwarves be over to his minions. A smart retort came from Azura, and the Undoer ordered her death. Azura fell before an immediate death spell.
The Undoer then unleashed his wights against the heroes, and even as the wights were struck down, more appeared to pour out of the weapon. Suddenly, behind the Undoer, and shouting “For Radric!”, a number of adventurers attacked. These included the dwarves Modi and Smith as well as Gilcori, Brentorian, and Lady Azreal. The Undoer retreated into a nearby tunnel, from which Deep Trolls then began to pour. After forcing the trolls to retreat, the adventurers found a final set of encoded missives. An Order Elemental, who had helped in the attack against the Undoer, assisted in collapsing the tunnel, preventing the trolls from easily returning. The Elemental had earlier that evening killed Sir Eros but would not explain why.
Unfortunately these missives were not translated and decoded in enough time to prevent the next day’s tragedy.
Deep Trolls returned to the city in the morning, and despite another difficult fight, Ashbury prevailed. However it was later learned that the Sunless Empire had merely distracted Ashbury from its true goal. It has been discovered that an aged fortification Northwest of the city in Neumacht or Connor was a staging ground for a subterranean assault against Blackborne.
Without the obelisk’s protection from Trolls, the store rooms beneath the castle were broken into and nearly four thousand trolls poured into the castle from within and overwhelmed the garrison forces. Casualties were high, and nearly one third of the troops stationed there were forced to resurrect.
Nearly one hundred cut off troops were forced to surrender and reports are they are being held prisoner within or below the fortification. Troops have withdrawn to nearby villages and are beginning to entrench themselves and await reinforcements. The Sunless Empire has been staging powerful regimental strength raids against surrounding estates of Yegril and Suvina.
While the Duchy still controls most of the estate of Blackborne, the trolls seem determined to hold this castle for reasons yet unknown.
In the latest weeks since then, large forces of Deep Trolls have been making moves to solidify their strength and raid the areas between Trollsgate and Blackborne, cutting off the capital and the eastern Ducal Field from supplies and reinforcements except by sea or forest. The Deep Trolls seem wary about entering the Ash Forest, holding the place in awe for some reason. One report claims a group of Torch bearing troops were met by some yet unknown being and turned away from the forest without a fight.
Meanwhile, estates in southwestern Trellheim and the Ducal fiefs are reporting small groups of mounted light cavalry attempting to cross the fast moving Woodwash river. Reports claim they are human. They have yet to find any of the critical fords at this time, and it is not known of course if this group of beings is friendly or a new danger. Several merchant ships attempting to supply the capital from Nordenn keep have disappeared. Much of the duchy’s merchant fleet and ships are lost due to the Black Maw, but losing any ships at this critical time is utterly devastating.
It is apparent from travelers that Ashbury is no longer on Tyrra, based on the position of the stars and other indications—for instance, the fact that “Lake Hollym” now experiences low and high tides and is salty. As travelers explore the areas outside of the duchy, more reports will give us new indications as to Ashbury’s new situation.
His Grace has pledged his support to discovering a way for Ashbury to return home.
Representatives from the Bloodstone and Hopewell Biata councils arrived in Ashbury City recently to warn His Grace of a new threat from the island nation of Thessi. Ashbans had met the citizens of Thessi almost a year earlier when Ashbury traveled the world of Tyrra due to problems caused by the story weavers. At that time, the Ashbans captured a golden gryphon baby, preventing the biata in Thessi from killing the creature.
Zandar Norik of the Hopewell Council and Xapano Corak from the Bloodstone Council arrived in Ashbury the night after Ashbury emerged from the maw. They caused some commotion at first, because they had Spirit Walked into the Healer’s Guild, explaining to an understandably upset Guildmistress that it was the “fastest way” to get to the central city.
Escorted by Baron Olin, they then traveled to the Dragon’s Flagon where Duke Aramis was celebrating his birthday. They presented his Grace with a box that they said had been closed a thousand years earlier during the “First Gryphon War.” The box had been sealed with the instructions to give it to the current leader of the lands a thousand years hence.
Neither biata knew what was in the box, and after Squire Daniel opened the box, checking for traps, they were surprised to see, on a bed of golden gryphon feathers, a history of the biata people written in biata language along with a prophecy. His Grace kept the prophecy, which was written riddle-like, as most prophecies are. Hie Grace has not yet made the prophecy public, but one person present at the opening mentioned that one part of the prophecy mentioned a warning that one close to the Duke would betray him.
The two biata then surprised all present by bowing and pledging their fealty and support of the councils and the biata in Ashbury to the Duke. The biata councils in the past had never offered such support, not even to Duke Bryan. As many in attendance wondered what could have caused such a pledge, the two biata spoke to any who would listen about the reason.
They spent time speaking with Squire Daniel, BrightHawk, the biata Shya and Alex, and others and later had a private meeting with His Grace. Many mysteries from the past were explained, and listeners were astounded by how frank and open these two biata were given how secretive the councils had been in the past.
A thousand years ago, they explained, a group of biata and gryphons from Thessi had tried to settle an area in what is now Nordenn. They used the tactics all superior forces use: war, threats, broken treaties. . .all the things that would prove to be successful for Evendarr years later. Many of them later moved north and started the Gryphon clan of barbarians.
Not all of these biata and gryphons were evil however, and some objected to the ruthless manner in which their new home was being run. This was the cause of the so-called “Gryphon Wars.”
Eventually, to make a long story short, the evil gryphons were defeated and their leaders captured. However, their captors didn’t want to risk killing them or obliterating them, as they didn’t want them to resurrect. Instead, they used ancient magics tied into the powers of special biata gemstones. They used a cave, and performing a strange ritual that can only be performed with four golden gryphons, closed the evil gryphons within. The ritual used four of the gemstones and some tablets with ancient gryphon writing to form an archway entrance. This sealed those within in a sort of permanent stasis. This cave is located in present day Barrowdowns.
However, they knew the magic would grow weak eventually, and because of this, the seers of the time wrote the prophecy and placed it within the box, along with a history of the biata as they knew it would become.
A few years ago, Thessi began to send spies to Evendarr. One major battle took place in October of 595, and Baron Kelial and then-Baron Bryan were especially involved in uncovering their deceptions.
Then, In February of 596, Duke Bryan learned of the arch leading to the Gryphon Tomb. He was told this by a stone elf archeologist named Jozlin who was a new professor at the Bardic College. The arch had ancient writing that seemed to be a combination of elven and biata writing, and the Duke hired the archeologist to translate the writings. Later, this archeologist stole one of the arch’s tablets and the gem that was in it. The magics had deteriorated over the years in such a way that he was able to do so. The location of this tablet and the stone, which are necessary for the resealing of the arch, are unknown.
Because of the removal of the gem and the tablet, the magic protectives keeping the place closed were disrupted and a great collapse occurred, sealing in the tombs. Duke Bryan and Duchess Mara inquired with Xapano and the Bloodstone Council about it and they advised him to keep it sealed, as there was only evil within the “tombs.” They wouldn’t elaborate, and Duke Bryan ordered all excavation stopped.
In June of 596, Ashbury went back in time and Selina and Kelial exposed to the then-biata council information about the future which was useful. However, then-Baron Justice gave information about the biata to the past Evendarrians, and this changed biata history for the worse, weakening the biata population and harming the quest to keep the arch closed in ways that neither biata relating the story would describe.
In September of 596, a strange golden elf was in Ashbury, and she warned all to be distrustful of the biata and to not open the arch, but she would not elaborate.
Then, as previously menioned, in June of 597, Ashbury went to the island of Thessi where a gryphon child was saved. The child has since been hidden away by the Council.
Thessi now sees the opportunity, with a weakened arch and an Ashbury free from help from Evendarr, to rescue their trapped gryphons from the tomb.
When asked by Squire Daniel when to expect an invading army, the Council members stated that they were “already here.”
Thessi do not fight wars in a traditional sense, they explained. They infiltrate the ranks of Ashbury, both by becoming citizens, merchants, and army personnel, and also by enslaving many of Ashbury’s people and monsters. Instead of attacking from without, they corrupt from within.
The Thessi gryphons in biata form use their mental powers to control others, and failing that, will erase their minds, leaving them blank. (Ashbans may recall the presence over the past few years of mindless people walking through town who have not been able to recall how they got that way. Some of these people have yet to be cured.)
The Thessi will also do everything in their power to defeat their hated enemies the gypsies and the mystic wood elves. These two races do more than anyone else to free slaves and otherwise fight against the Thessi.
What needs to be done, according to the Council members, is that the gemstone and the tablet must first be recovered. Then, as before, four golden gryphons will need to perform the ritual to reseal the arch. This ritual also requires at least one stone elf whose job is to calm the minds of the gryphons performing the ritual, and a number of kiergani willing to perform a Spirit Flight to fight the spirits who will try to prevent the accomplishing of the ritual. And of course, there will be fighters and casters from Thessi, and enslaved by Thessi, who will be present attempting to prevent the ritual from being completed.
The Council members knew of four golden gryphons, but a problem remained: three of them were but children, and three could not be located. Children, of course, could not perform the ritual. They did not have any suggestion for solving this problem.
There is more to the story than this, but the Council members would not elaborate too much. “It would not be wise to tell you everything,” explained Xapano. “After all, if you were captured by the Thessi, they would easily get this information from you. It is to your best interest to know only what you need to know.”
Recent developments have indicated Ashbury is no longer on the continent of Avalon and potentially not on Tyrra. Reports to the south indicate that a sea of salt water exists rather than Lake Hollym.
To the distant north an enormous series of mountains can be seen. . .While all the natural rivers that make up the boundaries of Ashbury are still apparently in place, several of them seem to be running swifter or slower, apparently from now complete different water sources. While these strange new lands are being pondered and the people locked in a conflict with the trolls of the Sunless Empire, one cannot doubt that whether or not we can be joined once again with Tyrra but rather what the Kingdom of Evendarr and the lands of the Kingdom will lead us to in the future.
Count Requin Drager appeared within the borders visiting from his new appointed position as Count of the Western Marches of Niman. Information on Count Requin is scant, but it has been learned that he has served Evendarr for many years and recently was given the position in Niman to deal with the Hadrani Raiders of the plains of Hadran. An accomplished rider, horseman, and lancer, Count Requin has a distinguished military record, and a keen tactical mind.
His aide de camp calls himself Ingregavor, a stone elf rumored to be from the Stone Wood but some sources have placed him as a life long companion of the Count and a wise advisor. Ingregavor may be a Lord in his own right, but that has not been brought up or mentioned within noble circles. His fight with the Deep Trolls in Ashbury recently has indicated he is an excellent caster and a stalwart warrior in his own right.
Count Requin has not been given an official title yet within the Duke’s court, but is being given the respect a full Count deserves within the realm as is his right. The Count himself has a full regiment of his own lancers that he has offered in service to Duke Aramis, and is rumored to have given the Duke a dozen of his finest war horses for his birthday. The Count, having traveled here for the Duke’s birthday, is stranded here with us, is doing his best to aid as he can in our hour of need.
Another stranded noble but certainly not as popular, Sir Frost Vardik also appears to be stuck here with us. Sir Frost appeared with Lady Dara, his wife, and recently released several slaves. The Duke does not seem to like the biata nobleman, and has not accepted Sir Frost’s offer to give his oath of fealty. He is however being accorded all the respect and hospitality deserving of a knight of Evendarr, whether given out of love or duty.
Unlike Sir Frost, it is not known if Count Requin has brought slaves from Niman as of this time, but no source indicates him to be a slave owner. The Count is aware of Sir Frost, and seems to have some knowledge of him.
Sir Rorn Skyhammer has recently been asked by His Grace to declare fealty to the crown and assume the position of Paladin of the realm. Due to his actions during the maw wraith attacks that have plagued us and the recent breakout of the Troll war, Sir Rorn has left his ancestral home of Kelanor to once again serve the Duchy and the Kingdom. He had previously been a knight for Duke Powell. A somewhat curt and gruff letter writer, Sir Rorn is known to be a tough judge of character. A capable templar in his own right, Sir Rorn is affable and pleasant in person but expects Squires to earn their titles and lands with grace, dedication, and persistence.
Recently, there’s been much more than a few spells flying around the Ashbury Mages’ Guild. Sorceress Shalizar took a leave of absence to reportedly to tend to the duties of motherhood. Tiraflorn of the Royal Academy was left to find her replacement. . .or shall we say replacements.
Members of the Guild were made well aware of the Academy’s decision rather abruptly late one Friday night during a previously announced Guild meeting. The newly appointed Guildmistress Tabitha, a Mystic Wood elf, had opened the Guild and was waiting for Tiraflorn to show up for the meeting. They were supposed to meet the present members of the Guild and go over the guild books. As voices began to question the whereabouts of Tiraflorn, a rather pretentious looking Sarr dropped the Ward and let herself into the Guild. She introduced herself as Guildmistress Kismet and questioned how the others got into the Guild.
Needless to say, there was more excitement in that room than at a gypsy wedding. Neither Tabitha nor Kismet had been informed that they would be sharing the position of head of the Guild. Just as things began to get as heated as the sun itself, Tiraflorn arrived. Managing to get a word in between the bickering pair, Tiraflorn explained that they would both be running the Guild. In addition to that, they would be joined by a third, Nikias, who had run the Guild previously in Shalizar’s absence and who would be arriving in Ashbury in early May.
Both Guildmistresses died later that weekend. Tabitha went out to protect the town she will now call home during one of the troll attacks but fell to their attacks. Unfortunately, no one could get to her in time and so she became the first dead Guildmistress for the day.
Apparently, the two Guildmistresses weren’t the only ones upset about Shalizar’s taking leave. After Guild duty on Saturday, Guildmistress Kismet and her escort, Apprentice Thorm, were attacked by an assassin while they were coming out of the Guild. Thorm valiantly jumped in between the assassin and his intended victim and ended getting cut down like a woodsman fells his logs. Kismet’s dead body was dragged into the woods, nowhere to be found.
Somehow, an unidentified source healed Thorm, as he was able to return to the town to tell everyone of this crime.
It seems that the celestial dust is finally settling down. The Guild has accepted at least two new members since all the excitement. Items are being identified, rituals performed, and the Guildmistresses are learning to deal with each other. Hopefully Nikias’ presence won’t spark any more tension in the Guild. Then again, it could be entertaining. Who says you shouldn’t add another candle to an already well lit room?
It is with sadness that I inform you of my resignation as Guildmistress of the Ashbury Mages Guild. My tenure of the past five years has been a rewarding experience for me. But it became clear this past fall that I could not fulfill the role of Guildmistress in addition to my personal ambitions and duties. As I did not wish the Guild I had become so proud of to fall into disarray due to my lack of attention, I informed the Royal Academy that a replacement needed to be found. I will consider it a compliment that they took six months to chose three simultaneous Guild Heads to replace me. Please make a point to visit and support the Ashbury Mages’ Guild under its new leadership. I expect it to serve the same role to the Ashbury populace that it did before if not more of one.
Sorceress Shalizar
Brighthawk the wild elf and a band of new adventurers, including Nihilius, Ragnar, Palin, Inague and Klyde, told an astonishing story to all who would listen in the Dragon’s Flagon on the night of April 18th. It seems that while out patrolling for trolls, the group became lost in a thick mist, out of which they could not, at first, find their way. After finally exiting the mist, they found themselves in a beautiful garden full of trees and plants of all descriptions. Also present was an elf who claimed that it was his garden and home, and some ogres who seemed to serve the elf.
Brighthawk claims the elf offered to share a meal with her, and then proceeded to drain the life of a human whom the ogres had brought forward. The elf then allegedly offered a human to Brighthawk for similar consumption. With some quick thinking, she said she would “take it for the road” and quickly excused herself and her group from the elf’s gardern, taking the human with them.
The band of adventurers soon found themselves again enshrouded in the mysterious mist, and this time allegedly met with a woman, who helped them find their way home.
The group quickly returned to the relative safety of the Dragon’s Flagon, telling their story. The man they had brought back with them was extensively questioned for many hours. He constantly referred to himself as “food” and when asked about where he was from spoke of a town called Whispering Woods and that Herukan was in charge. What all this bodes for Ashbury remains yet to be seen.
On the afternoon of April 18th, a lone lizard man in spirit form arrived in Ashbury seeking Baron Radric and Guildmaster Natasha. Upon finding Natasha, the lizardman, who identified himself as Lokos, spoke with her for several minutes. This meeting was interrupted, though, when Shya Corak came upon the guildmistress and the spirit form. Lokos quickly approached Shya and her group and questioned her about the rather large lizard she had been escorting about town. It was soon resolved that Shya would meet with Lokos on the edge of town the next day to discuss returning the lizard, which Lokos verified was indeed a basilisk.
On the afternoon of the next day, after the trolls had been repelled from Ashbury, Shya Corak and Robert Oakwood returned to town with five of the eighty soldiers that had been taken from Oliver. They were asleep, but in good health. They seemed to remember nothing of the past several months except being attacked by lizardmen at the mines. Shya had evidently returned the basilisk to the lizardmen and they had returned the five soldiers. Duke Aramis has since named Shya as a liason to the lizardmen.
On Friday night, April 17, a scout for the Ducal forces came into town and reported to Sir Rorn Skyhammer that a small house on the outskirts of town was being harried by a sizable group of maw wraiths.
Sir Rorn gathered a strike force together that included Ragnar, Inague, Nililis, Palin, Sane and Nathan. They traveled to the outskirts of town where they came upon a small house. Several maw wraiths were seen.
The young adventurers quickly set upon the wraiths and destroyed them. Inside the house, they found Eric the healer, who had put himself inside a Circle of Power to save himself. He was most grateful.
Good People of Ashbury,
First, I must express my complete and utter pride at having fought by your side as we defended the capital against the invading Deep Troll army. Your shouts of defiance were the war drums that boosted my spirit towards victory.
Having broken through the front lines, an army of the Deep Trolls saw nothing between them and Ashbury City. There they sought to find the heart of the duchy and spill its blood. Instead, they found at the heart not blood but brave and proud spirits who furiously defended Ashbury. The Trolls were decimated by your courage.
We were victorious because all of you would not give up nor give one inch of ground. We fought together as one and sent the crumbling remains of the troll army scattering like fallen leaves in the wind.
I am calling any and all brave spirits to come to Ashbury City and join in a united effort to preserve the realm. We appear to be standing upon yet another dramatic turning point in Ashbury’s epic history and I invite you all to come write your own chapter into this worthy history. There is no finer feeling than standing side by side with heroic hearts in a righteous cause. Let us bond together in this just purpose and with proud voices shout our defiance at all that threatens us!
With the Maw’s grip upon Ashbury released, reports flood my desk stating that we seem to be no longer in Tyrra. The duchies of the kingdom that had surrounded us are gone and in their place now lay unfamiliar, new terrain. We are in a war completely caught off from kingdom support. Which means, My Good People, that unless we can return to Tyrra, we are alone in this fight.
All we have is our fellows.
We must now work together like never before. We have enemies within and an unknown frontier where there may be hostile forces waiting without. We must seek and destroy the tunnels that the trolls are using for their troop movements and also scout out the frontier to ascertain any potential threats or allies.
Though the war is just begun, I see nothing but the bright fire of victory for us at the end. The echoes of our Triumph will sound across this new land, singing of our irrepressible spirits, our absolute rejection of defeat and our complete and unwavering commitment towards the preservation of all that is good and just!
I have never been prouder as when I have been fighting alongside the good people of Ashbury.
Long live King Mykel!
Yours in Truth, in Honor,
Duke Aramis Llyrr
April 598
With the new year came many changes— most notably being that Ashbury seems to be existing on a different plane than it once did. I am currently working on compiling Astrological information based on the new star movement patterns, any other Astrologers or those wishing to learn the trade should seek me out to assist in this effort.
The Guild is pleased to welcome back to its ranks a previously inactive member: Initiate BrightHawk of Duke Aramis’ Ranger Contingent
Here is a complete Guild Roster, current as of 22 April 598: Clements: Chip - Barony of Nordenn; Ivanna - Barony of Nordenn; Orion Denmarsh - Barony of the Ash Forest. Initiates: Drakonios Darktalon - Barony of the Ash Forest; BrightHawk - Duke Aramis’ Rangers Contingent; Sage Redbeard - Barony of Nordenn; Petra Varados - Barony of Nordenn; Calis - Barony of the Ash Forest.
Be aware that there are a total of four Invested members of the Guild, not including myself. Feel free to see them concerning any Guild business should I not be present. Those members are: Initiate Petra Varados, Clement Chip, Clement Ivanna, Clement Orion Denmarsh.
The Guild is seeking primary components for the Earth Rituals Mark/Unmark (perfect pearl), Destroy Magic (rock salt and lime), and Investiture (bug in amber). The Guild will pay market prices for Necromantic Ritual scrolls, components, and magic items. Turn your disappointment into profit, and help Mother Tyrra by assisting in the destruction of foul Necromantic energies.
Anyone is welcome to interview for membership within the Guild. Please stop by the Guild or send correspondence to schedule an appointment. Guild services include the following: potion/elixir sales and trade, Ritual component identification, Ritual casting, Resurrection, insurance and registration services, spellbook and spell ink sales, training in the arts of Healing and Earth magics.
The cost for Ritual casting is one gold per level of the Ritual cast, plus one gold for the casting. Components and Ritual scroll must be supplied by the customer wishing to have the Ritual cast. Please make reservations in advance for this service.
The Guild has laboratory spaces available in its potion and alchemy labs. If you wish to use either, please come to the Guild to reserve a space. Guild members have precedence above all others, so sign up early. The Guild also has spellbooks available for use in study, however you must reserve them in the Guild before any of the books can be signed out for use. Customers without reservations will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.
Register with the Guild! Pay for Resurrections in advance for yourself or loved ones and specify the Healer to act as the Spirit Guide as well as any Resurrection preferences.
The Guild is requesting assistance with gathering information concerning the Resurrection of all races. If you would like to take part in this compilation, please contact the Guild.
All Guild members who will be in Ashbury at any time need to send word to the Guild so that they may be assigned Guild duty and also be considered for Guild tasks.
Wishes to you and yours to be safe, may Mother Tyrra soften your step and Fate guide your hand always.
- Guildmistress Natasha Roskaya Ioki, Royal Healer’s Guild of Ashbury City
Magistrate's Report
by Sir Eros Clearbrook
Among the trials I have conducted recently, one has attracked a bit of attention.
Ex-Baron Algar Winterwind, a member of the anti-kiergani group FOIL, by his own admission attacked wild elf Brighthawk. Along with Baron Kelial, and with his advice and counsel, I questioned both and found Algar guilty of manslaughter and fined him 25 gold. He has since paid the fine, which has gone to support kiergani families who have been victims of amani attacks.
The amount of the fine has been questioned by those unfamiliar with the case, but there is a reason for this rather large amount. I believe that a criminal’s wealth should be considered in setting a fine. The fine is supposed to hurt. A 5 gold fine to a rich man like Algar is like a 5 copper fine to most people. Also, I wanted him to know that his money would be used for helping those he had hurt.
by Sue D’Onym
Now for all of the News They Don’t Want You To Know!
Baron Olin challenged Hobbes to honor combat recently, but the sarr refused. (Does that mean he has no honor?) Apparently Hobbes had disobeyed the Baron! His Grace Duke Aramis was later seen giving a long talk to the sarr about his duties in Ashbury!
Sir Frost of Niman was again seen about town, this time with his wife, Lady Dara, or She Who is Immune to Sleep (according to one source on the battlefield). It seems the two had the unfortunate luck to be stranded in the new land with the rest of Ashbury. How very lucky for us? He freed his slaves and offered to swear fealty to the Duke, but His Grace looked like he wanted nothing to do with the ex-Nimani noble.
The wild elf known as Drak was recently overheard saying to Brighthawk “May 8th, Gwendolyn’s Field, bring your dagger.” Kiergani are known to use daggers in single combat, often to the death.
Brighthawk, meanwhile, was happy when she managed to grab a hold of Algar’s FOIL membership card and rip it up in his face. “I’ll get another,” said the unrepentant amani. Rumors have it that Teril himself will be in Ashbury city soon to do more recruiting.
It seems Squire Dugal’s magical mace was lost during a recent battle with trolls. A large deep troll was seen wielding it last by Dugal, but the troll’s body was later found dead upon the battlefield without the mace.
The new adventuring group known as the Black Unicorns brought a few old and welcome faces back to Ashbury, including Xavier, Johnny, and Faelynn. With the rest of Blythedale absent from town, Squire Daniel Star took to traveling with his old friend, Xavier, making this a truly interesting group indeed! Daniel apparently made an impression on the Paladins, and Sir Jaret was overheard mentioning the Squire’s name favorably in hushed tones.
Sir Eros was seen recently talking to Modi and telling him that it was in his best interest to insure no harm to fall upon Ta’Wané and Zatarina. Then he took a death that night. Guildmistress Kismet was also seen arguing with Modi that same weekend, and, coincidentally, she also took a death that same night! Isn’t that absolutely amazing!
Speaking of Zat, Zandar the biata from Hopewell grabbed her in the Dragon’s Flagon recently and placed her in a Circle of Power. Lady Azrael (“All biata are insane except for me!”) saw the incident and took immediate action. She grabbed her celestial magic sword and hastily beat a retreat. Zandar and Zat later left for places unknown. Azrael has to be commended though for her actions in forming PEACE, a group out to counter the racism of FOIL.
Brentorian spent a couple of hours with the other new Guildmistress Tabitha alone in the Guild and was also spotted fighting along her side. She left with him later that weekend and was even seen spending the night at the Trellheim Manor House, thus refueling comments that the Ashbury Mages’ Guild was really just the “Permanent Trellheim Celestial Circle.”
That’s all for this month! Remember—if you can’t say something nice about someone, come sit by me!
CELESTIAL RITUAL CASTING at a reasonable price. Also, information bought and sold. See Dame Alyx at the Sage’s Guild.
THE ASHBURY MESSENGER’S GUILD! Highly underutilized, this service still exists! For a complete list of services and prices, please contact me, Ta’Wané, at our offices located at the Roadmeet Stables just outside of Ashbury City. Although we are not a large presence, our membership has grown, and so have the services available. All members and those who would join please contact me also.
TO THE GOLD ONE and her child: The ones you seek are safe.
TO ALL WHO GAVE myself and the Rangers their assistance: Whether it was by supporting the Rangers financially or with scrolls, weapons, and armor, teaching them skills, or offering healing and protectives, you have our sincerest thanks. Your generosity will not be forgotten. You know who you are. – BrightHawk
THE BARONY OF BLYTHEDALE would like to congratulate Kelsea Laone Merdik and Hagen Merdik on the birth of their son and daughter, Loren and Justine. The twins were born at two of the clock in the afternoon of Sunday, March 29, 598.
ZANDAR AND XAPANO request all interested biata to be in the Dragon’s Flagon on Friday night, May 8th at 1:00 a.m. to discuss problems with the Thessi.
THERE ARE THOSE he did confide, the true form of the Hex. Now there is no place to hide, for you will be next. – Dimitri
TO MEMBERS OF FOIL: Greetings. My Name is Modi and I am Court Wizard to the Barony of Trellheim, Squire to the Good Baron and Senior Guildsmen to the Midnights GuildHall. I do not truly understand your problem with the Wild Elves and honestly do not care. Yet, BrightHawk is now under the protection of House Ioki and thus any attack upon her person would be taken as an attack upon my honor as well as the honor of my family. Your past actions, questioning her honor and common sense, shows your own lack of intelligence and honor. Do not question her honor, motives or actions for as a member of Guildmistress Natasha’s guild she seeks to help all those in need both noble and commoner. I do know that there have been threats made against her person by several citizens. This is unacceptable. Anyone wishing to dispute this should feel free to contact either myself, Bretorian, or Sir Ivan Drake. We await thy pleasure.