The Ashbury Times
July / August
612
“All The News That Fits, We Print”
Duke Frost Defeated in Galanthian Ambush;
Feared Captured or Slain
It is with heavy heart that we report that His Grace
Sir Frost Vardik was defeated in the field a fortnight
ago and has not been seen since.
His Grace was pursuing the retreating Galanthian forces in western Trellheim
when he was set upon by an immense ambushing force. Reports from the survivors
confirm that His Grace was in combat with Galanthian
General Matros Lochaber
when he was last seen. Two full legions (one Royal and one Ashban)
were wiped out in this attack with an unusual number of soldiers not
successfully resurrecting, leading many to speculate that Obliteration magic
was being deployed in the battle.
It is suspected, but not confirmed, that Morganna herself may have been involved in the fighting.
His Grace has not resurrected at this time and the
Not wanting the defense of Ashbury to suffer from a
lack of strong leadership, His Majesty the King has appointed Sir Nevin Kendrick to stand as Regent of Ashbury until such
time as His Grace returns or is confirmed killed in action. Regent Nevin should fill this role admirably as he had served as
the Duchy of Brittington’s Lord General for
several years before being appointed a Royal Knight and was the primary author
of Icenia’s battle strategy in the last year of
the Dominion war.
Galanthian
Elite Forces Siege Fairdale
to
Recover Symbol of Glantri
For three days, starting on
August 7th, 612, Ashbury suffered a major loss in the ongoing war
against Galanthia: the frontier town and military
supply post of Fairdale.
The capture of Fairdale came
without warning and caught the defenders of the town off guard. Hundreds of soldiers came boiling out of the
bowels of the Black Stag Inn, striking from behind the lines. Townsfolk, adventurers, and professional
soldiers alike were easily driven from the tavern by the initial assault. Stalwart adventurer Amaranthus
was able to strike back briefly, scalding one of the commanders of the assault
with bacon grease, but even he was forced to retreat.
Within hours the town was
fully held by Galanthian forces and all loyal to
Ashbury had retreated into the outskirts of the Contested Lands. At about this time, Commander Anders Narcos of the Galanthia issued a
proclamation to Ashbury forces. He
required the immediate return of the Symbol of Glantri
and the unconditional surrender of Ashbury.
Ironically, having taken Fairdale, the Galanthians
had possession of the Symbol, but were unable to acquire it because it was
stored behind a ward that they didn’t have the resources to destroy.
On the eve of August 10th,
field commanders Dame Ezri and Sir Ulthoc had gathered enough court members, mercenaries, and
adventurers to attempt to retake the town of
The initial strike took a
harsh toll on both sides. Perilously
short on healers, the attacking force was badly battered attacking the
entrenched forces. More than half the
attackers were sprawled upon the ground at points during the battle and Squire Jovunn resurrected.
Once the attacking Ashbans broke past the initial defenses, they were able to
regroup and strike hard at the remaining Galanthians
in the town and tavern. The final push
once again tested the wits and skill of the attacking Ashbans
as the Galanthians had barricaded much of the
tavern. What followed was primarily a
ranged fire fight between spell casters and archers using overturned tables as
cover.
Eventually the Galanthians were driven into a warded room in the
tavern. Unbeknownst to the Ashbans at the time, Galanthian
engineers had carefully hollowed out a cavern under the room in such a way that
both the cavern and the room were included in the ward and the cavern held
hundreds of Galanthian troops.
Over the next day, Galanthian troops periodically spilled out of the room and
attacked the battle weary Ashbans. But while these attacks frustrated Fairdale
defenders, none were particularly deadly.
Because the cavern portion of
the room was not visible from outside the ward, the only individuals that were
visible in the warded room were five Galanthians
Lieutenants. These Lieutenants were
clearly elite troops, based on the three sword sigils visible on each of their
faces. For the most part they had few
words for the Ashbans beyond taunts and insults,
though they occasionally engaged in attempts to negotiate a
Fairdale surrender and even more occasionally emerged to briefly strike
at those in the tavern. The only
individual they spoke with at any real length was Esten
the Branded, though those conversations usually ended with him being called
traitor and demands that he leave their sight.
The standoff in the tavern
came to a close late afternoon on August 11th. A strange fey creature used some sort of
power to order one of the Galanthian Lieutenants to
flee the tavern. After she fled, an
enraged Esten was seen yelling at the fey beast and
then chasing after the Galanthian.
The Galanthian
was captured by Vanguard, but was able to free herself, seemingly with the
assistance of Esten.
His apparent assistance was rewarded by the Galanthian
subduing him and capturing him before returning to the warded room in the
tavern. Shortly after, Grim, leader of
Vanguard demanded the return of the captive.
The Galanthians in the ward ignored his
preemptive commands until an Order Elemental, an ally of the Ashbans, began to drain the magic from the ward.
The destruction of the ward
started a ferocious battle between the remaining Galanthians
in the cavern-room and the Ashbans in the
tavern. After about 15 minutes of
fighting, both sides had suffered terrible losses. Realizing that the fighting was likely to end
with almost everyone on both sides dead, Baron Rori
and Galanthian commanders negotiated an end to the
fighting.
At the end of the fighting,
two Galanthian Lieutenants had been taken prisoner
and the Romani Yuri had been permanently slain.
There was little joy over such a victory, though many spent the next few
hours celebrating the life of Yuri, knowing that is how he would have wanted to
be remembered.
Having learned from the
negotiations that the Galanthians would never cease
attacking until the Symbol of Glantri was returned,
Dame Ezri of
Seemingly out of options, an
unusual blue-skinned fey made a strange offer.
The fey offered to take possession of the Symbol of Glantri,
but also informed the Ashbans that he would activate
it using his power. A long argument
ensued between various ideological camps about whether this was
acceptable. Eventually Dame Ezri agreed to the plan.
Before the fey creature left, Esten the
Branded insisted upon being judged by the Symbol of Glantri
in order to be sure it had not been tainted by the fey. He suffered no ill effects and seemed
satisfied that the fey creatures had not done anything untoward with the
Symbol.
With the Symbol of Glantri no longer in possession of the Ashbans,
the attacks upon Fairdale have slowed to some pace consistent with the war so
far. Commander Narcos
is presumed to be permanently dead and, for a time, life has settled in the
town of
From the Journals of Commander Anders Narcos
“The initial assault
went exactly as planned. Dusan led the contingent of
Swords of Lore that I sent into the catacombs in a decisive victory. Fairedale belonged to me and to Galanthia
for a handful of days. Considering the corn-fed bruisers with sloping foreheads
that Icenia keeps penned up there, I’d say that
is very good. Much better than any of my predecessors.
As I predicted, the Icenian knuckledraggers retook
the Tavern-Fortress yesterday night. Resources were depleted and one of their
warriors resurrected. Not bad, I say. Dusan fell the rest of the Swords back into the Catacombs and
awaited Part two of my plan.
An Icenian
scout led a pack of ravenous wolves (read: “adventurers”) into the
first of my laboratories. I did not get as much of a chance to clean out my
journals as I would have hoped, but it does not matter. The modified strain of
the Red Madness took hold in my Dryad subjects very quickly. They did not
compare to Subject Zero “Atropa,” though
the ferocity bred into them by the condition stood well against the Icenians.
By some strange intervention,
the Icenians found a way to destroy the Ward on the
catacombs. The counterstrike from Dusan and his
lieutenants fought the Icenians to a stand-still and
a hostage situation. Very messy, but Dusan escaped
along with some of his men. Two lieutenants were lost, whether to death or
capture I know not.
The second lab’s
prepared traps did as well as expected against the next pack of simpletons.
More “Green Madness” subjects attacked them en masse. There was not
much more to report than that. As a personal aside, I applaud the Icenian educational system for being on top of colors.
“Red Madness for green things? Green Madness!”
Well done, cretins, well done.
Alas, Atropa
had broken free of her stupor and led the imbeciles straight to my active
laboratory. I had only enough time to rig a series of traps and strike a
dashing pose behind a Wizard Lock. I will continue this entry later, as they
have currently set off my first trap. (Personal note: Be wary of the explosive
trap next to you, Anders, you would so dearly hate to explode.)
(Unreadable scrawl)
(Barely readable scrawl) This
is amazing, the injections of the Atropa
Strain have mutated my body into a plant-based warform.
I have retained my intellect, but have gained strength and speed and can loose
thorns the size of bolts out of my claw. This is my last entry in this journal,
as I leave here I will be taking the last of my infected dryads and assaulting Fairedale directly.
Bon chance,
Anders Narcos, bon chance. “
Galanthian Resistance Aided by Camulous,
Saridbis
Reports have been coming in
that several cities in southern Galanthia have been
taken by a group of rebels led by a former member of the Dominus Descry. They
had recently sent out a call for aid in securing their gains, a call it is
rumored some of Ashbury’s adventurers and nobles answered. While the Ashbury Times cannot comment on what
happened in Galanthia due to military security
concerns, it is known that the Galanthians have
received material aid and military support from The Stone Elves of Saribdis and the Children of Camulous.
The Rebels’ aims seem
to be the restoration of the Prophets of Glantri to
power and the placement of a prophet on the Imperial Throne. Icenia has had a long and varied history with the various
prophets on the throne, but it is hard not to agree that any mortal prophet is
preferable to an undead ruler.
Queen of Home Assassinated
The Hoblings of the
In the wake of the
Queen’s death the process of choosing a new ruler has begun via a process
the Hoblings call a “Grand Accounting.”
Those Lords or Ladies wishing to sit the throne must submit to a full
inspection of their income, investments, and properties by members of the Room
of Audit and Censure. Whomever can be shown to control
the most wealth at the end of this process is then crowned.
It is a time when many
alliances are made, as supporters of particular candidates may invest in those
candidate’s holdings in order to increase the candidate’s wealth
and thus better increase the chance of being crowned.
It is expected that this
process can take quite some time. Until such time as a new ruler is crowned,
Lord Dunmore Throop has assured Icenian diplomats
that the
Healing on the Run: A Field Healer’s Guide (Part Four)
by
Natalia Gallonovitch
Another
thing the independent combat healer should not expect is for someone else to
protect him on the field of battle. There are many reasons for this, and most
of them are not necessarily anyone’s fault. First of all, if you are an
independent healer, you are not truly anyone’s responsibility. Sure,
anyone who cares about their compatriots will pick you up if you go down, but
guarding someone is an entirely different matter.
Additionally,
the battlefield is a place full of rapidly-moving mayhem, and protecting an
individual is one of the most difficult things to do. You have to be able to be
beside them at every moment, and that is infinitely more difficult than most
people realize. I have, on numerous occasions, been assigned a bodyguard who
has accepted the challenge with a cheery “Don’t worry, I’m
fast!” only to end the fight with a bewildered “Wow, I had you for
about 30 seconds, then you totally disappeared.”
Why
does this happen? Because the instant something actually attacks you, they have
to take their eyes off you and put them on the attacker. And, as I said, things
happen fast on a battlefield. Once your eye is off your target, the movement of
the battle can take them away from you in mere seconds.
Keep
in mind, also, that the above is best case scenario, when body guarding you is
the only job the fighter has during that engagement. Usually you are not in a
healing unit, and someone is simply trying to keep an eye on you while
simultaneously trying to contribute to the battle. This, of course, makes the
constant metamorphosis of the battlefield an even greater challenge, and it
becomes nearly impossible for the protecting fighter to do any more than try to
check in on you every couple minutes to make sure nothing has dropped you. If
someone is offering to do that, you should still accept it, but bear in mind
that if something attacks you in that situation, it is still something you will
have to deal with yourself.
The
combat healer, therefore, cannot expect to rely on anyone else for protection
in combat. He must master a series of skills that allow him to protect himself.
This is one of the most impressive abilities of a true battlefield healer, for
it often involves the use of very little offensive capabilities of any kind.
Indeed, it involves the use of very little magic, for a dedicated healer will
sacrifice few, if any, spell slots to anything other
than healing. And, sadly, pure defensive magic that prevents someone from being
able to hurt you in the first place is very limited anyway.
On
a side note, if you are forming a healing unit with a healer and one or two
bodyguards (more than that would move too slow and therefore be ineffective),
the healer needs to be in charge of movement. The healer is the only one that
knows who needs help, when, and where. The bodyguard needs to move with you,
not the other way around. The healing unit can be a useful tool, but, as just
stated, it is very difficult. It is very rare to find people that can work well
together in that capacity.
Keep
in mind, though, that mobility is one of the field medic’s greatest
assets. Always remember that the reason it is difficult for anyone to guard you
is that your job is to be able to get to where you need to go whenever you need
to get there, and that often requires good timing, speed, and a host of other
skills. If you feel alone and unprotected of the field, it is because
independent combat healing is exactly that, independent. It works best when
done alone, by an appropriately skilled, solitary healer. If no one can keep up
with you, ultimately, it is because you are doing your job correctly. If you
are rescuing people while being alone and vulnerable, you are doing it well.
And if they never need to pick you up off the ground, you are doing it very
well indeed.
And
have no fear, reader. I promise that I will describe these self-defense skills
later, in their own article. I will not leave you out there alone and
uninformed.
High Ogre Behavior Analyzed
by Kialda Loa, Child of Autumn
My friends and fellow
adventurers:
Last publication, I submitted
an article detailing my experiences with what seems to be corrupted,
over-zealous High Ogres. I feel it is my
responsibility to clarify certain key events that transpired and drastically
change my conclusions about the situation.
The High Ogre I thought I had
befriended turned out to be clever and deceptive beyond my perception. I, and those friends traveling with me, were
betrayed and attacked, concluding in rather violent torture and death. I have concluded that the corruption and
hatred in this certain group of High Ogres runs deeper than I originally
thought. They are willing (and happy) to
die for the cause of studying and killing those who they think are
necromancers.
As I continue my scholarly
pursuits in the modern world, I am still of the belief that sharing information
is key to bringing peace. Therefore, I
share the following observations:
Be advised that these
corrupted High Ogres are many in number, fierce in strength, and surprising in
ambush. They attack from underground
with huge insect-like creatures that spew fire.
They both kill and capture, seeking to torture and study the strengths/weaknesses
of those races with which they are not familiar. The torturer was male, and the leader was an
elderly female. Last gather, I was made
aware that there are other adventurers who have had contact with these corrupt
High Ogre armies, and if anyone seeks more information, they may contact me
privately and we can discuss and share insights further.
I must also most vehemently
clarify the following: Not all High
Ogres are misinformed and violent. Just
last gather I met a very peaceful and helpful High Ogre male who called himself
Swingsalot.
Though it was difficult for me to approach him at first, I eventually
overcame my fear and discussed important truths with him. He understands and appreciates the importance
of Earth Casters, especially Children of Autumn. He hates necromancy, but can also clearly
feel that it is not at all the same as Earth Magic. He was completely unaware of his corrupt
brethren, and happily agreed to do his part in advocating for my people and for
all true Earth Casters. I cherish the
interactions and information that Swingsalot and I
shared.
I am deeply sorry, my
friends, for the misinformation I published in the last newsletter. No other corrupt High Ogres were given tokens
of friendship, as we were attacked before any more deceived us. In the future I will be much more cautious to
take a leadership role or publish my observations with such haste, and I
sincerely hope that no one has been misled, hurt, or offended by my original
statements.
Again, I am always happy to
discuss further by missive, if anyone has observation or insight to share.
Letters and
Missives
To the good people of Fairedale,
I would like to extend my thanks for the hospitality
and camaraderie I experienced during my visit to your lands. It was a welcome
change of pace from the strife and struggles of my homeland.
I wish good fortunes upon your Kingdom in it's continued conflict against the Galanthian
Empire. May Icenia rise victorious when all is said
and done.
For Queen, Country, and Covenant,
Lord Grovewarden
Winterthorn of Arandin
…
Brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I tell now of the
permanent death of my cousin Yuri. He have die bravely with sword in hand,
struck down by Galanthian forces and unable to be
reached in time. Please join me in celebrating and remembering his life, and
the way he have touch all of our life.
Luka Tatianna
Aleshova Romani
…
Attention, people of Fairdale.
The Merchants Guild is officially taking root here
in town. Members include The Flaming Balls himself, Vox,
Monty and Grim of Vanguard, and Korafina. We are
always looking to swell our ranks with various talents.
What does this mean to you? With the large gather
fast approaching and a smaller gather before it, we understand the need for a
few quivers of arrows, a number of vorpal coatings,
and let’s not forget, the ever-present need for
potions of every kind. Where can you get anything you need? Contact myself or
Balls to place an order. We take orders of every size from a single quiver to
30 serious vorpal coatings.
You like discount items, don't you?
We offer discounts. If you spend a gold purchasing
alchemy, we will give you a free item of the simplest make. If you spend a gold on potions, or blacksmithing, or scrolls, you will
receive the free item. In the case of potions, if you provide
some of the materials (mainly vials), we will give you a discount on the
purchase.
Fairdale Merchants Guild. Getting what's needed to those who
need it.
Vox
…
To
those whom helped to Liberate Fairdale:
Thank
you. You risked your lives and spirits in tasks and dangers against the normal
calls of our world. For those who braved the mists intentionally or otherwise. We
thank you for fighting for a land not your own. We are far from safe and stable
but the citizens are safe and the larger threats dealt with for now. Thank you
all for making a difference.
Vigilance
and Valor,
Marcusagrim Anvilstrike The StormHeart
Man At Arms
Vanguard
Unit
A Little Birdie
Told Me
By Sue D’Onym
I
wonder what has happened recently. I
have no idea. I do not live in Fairdale,
and do not hang out with the nobles and adventurers that my readers want to
know about. Oh, if only my sources had
come through! But alas, absolutely no
one wrote to me over the past few months.
Not one.
Therefore,
I am distressed to submit the most boring “A Little Birdie Told Me”
ever.
Maybe
the next edition will be more interesting.
A Request from
the Editor
Good Gentlepeoples
of Ashbury:
Over the last few years, my sources of news and information of and within the Adventuring Community has fallen sadly slight. To this end, I must use a sizeable portion of my personal holdings to attempt to get better news!
Running through all issues of 612, I will be accepting submissions en masse from the general populace. Each issue, the article judged as “best” by myself and my staff will win a prize of five gold coins. At the end of the year, the writer of the “best article” from the entire year will win a vial of the Warmth of Fortannis, the Catalyst for the Regeneration Ritual! So, if you and your friends are looking for one, here’s an easy way to get one! Or, if you’re not, they sell really well -- trust me, this thing’s expensive!
What makes an article “best,” you ask? Well, I’ll tell you! It has to be engaging, something people will want to read. It has to attempt to be unbiased in view, and it must be factual - any articles later discovered during the year to be untrue will immediately be discounted from the final prize.
If you wish to have your
article posted anonymously, then please inform me of
this in the heading of your article, and I’ll see to it that it is done.
Good luck to you all, and happy writing!
Eric
Wolcott, Editor in Chief