The Ashbury Times
August 613
“All The News That Fits, We Print”
Baron Ulthoc
Stripped of Title
On Friday the 26th of the month of the
Ferret, Paladin Rose Brewer made the following announcement concerning Baron Ulthoc Crownsmith.
Let it be known that Ulthoc Crownsmith, Baron of Nordenn, shall be stripped of his Knighthood and his
Baronial Coronet for his decision to engage in a deception of the Barons and
Knights of Ashbury and also for his decision to aid a Galanthian
Senator.
It is because of Ulthoc’s decorated history of good deeds that the Ordo Aurum has not sentenced Ulthoc
to death. It is also unlawful for any to murder Ulthoc
after this sentencing, regardless of his boasts to accept an execution.
The ends do not justify
the means for any of the peerage. If we are to keep the Code alive in this
trying age, we must not trample it with ill interpretation.
Duke Nevin has yet to make a
statement concerning the replacement for Baron Ulthoc
or about the designation of a regent, though his silence on the issue indicates
at least tacit acceptance of the decision.
Many others have spoken up to defend Baron Ulthoc,
though the nobility has remained, for the most part, silent. This decision is almost certain to be the
main topic of discussion at the feast and tournament that will be held in
Blythedale a few weeks from now.
Kobolds Celebrate Wayday
While Ashbury acknowledges many holidays, there is one
holiday it has never acknowledged: Wayday. Despite this, kobolds continually celebrate
this annoying holiday and commonly seek to include Ashban citizens in the
celebrations.
For those unfamiliar with Wayday,
it is the annual day when kobolds try to contest to waylay the most people in a
single day. Unsurprisingly, they keep
score by robbing their victims.
This year Wayday was
celebrated primarily in Fairdale between the 19th and 21st
of Ferret. Probably taking advantage of
the travels of the baronial courts this summer, the local kobold population
spent the weekend knocking locals unconscious and stealing their personal
effects. Additionally, this year an
unusually high number of kobolds were using dominate gasses, something not seen
in previous years.
Recognizing the problem in advance, Sheriff Izer put out a general call for those adventurers not
traveling with the baronial courts to make due haste to Fairdale to help deal
with kobold scourge. His precognition in
this matter proved critical as the Wayday
celebrations went far beyond the norm and included some rather frightening
additions.
In addition to using dominate gasses,
at least some of the kobolds were engaging in necromancy. In fact, at times during the weekend there
were even undead kobolds in the town.
These kobolds were much more vicious than usual, intentionally taking
the life of townsfolk and adventurers at times.
This Wayday had a much darker edge to it than
many in the past.
It quickly became apparent that the kobolds were being
organized and directed by someone.
Unfortunately, it seemed that two different individuals were attempting
to take credit for being the mastermind behind the kobold threat. The first of these individuals was someone
who referred to him or her self as “The Red Phantom”. Rhino-kin Ike first became aware of the
“The Red Phantom” when he found a note signed with that name
claiming responsibility for the attacks and demanding a 13 gold ransom to call
them off. The Amani
Ro and Ike attempted to perform a false drop with a pouch containing 13 copper
pieces, but their ruse failed. They
returned to town having been affected with amnesia and later a note was found
mocking the adventurers and promising retribution in the form of more kobolds.
Whether “The Red Phantom” was actually
responsible for the kobolds or not is a matter of some speculation, but it is
clear that this individual is more than just a simple opportunist. Over the next day it became apparent that Ike
had been enslaved during the drop as well as affected by amnesia. The use of enslavement makes him much more
dangerous than just a simple con artist and people in Fairdale should be on the
lookout for this new danger.
The other individual who seemed to be leading the
kobold army was one of the two siblings Salva or Stephano. The
siblings first appeared in town Friday evening and seemed quite friendly. But on Saturday they had an argument that
caused Stephano to storm off. A short time later Salva
brought an immense amount of stolen goods into the tavern and claimed that Stephano had stolen them.
This account was called into question when Stephano
was next seen in the possession of kobolds that had soundly beaten him and were
speaking of taking him to “the pretty braids lady”. When he was eventually freed, he claimed that
he was just a petty thief and that he had not stolen all that Salva had brought in.
As proof of his claims he agreed to lead some adventurers to a hideout
he knew his sister used.
Salva actually had multiple hideouts and
it required three raids before she was found, but kobolds present in the first
hideout made it apparent that she was not only working with them, but seemed to
be providing them gasses in return for stolen items. This arrangement was one that clearly needed
to be stopped.
The first hideout was assaulted by Kailani,
Erdenerva, Cyno, Baldur, Aikitza, and Thurisaz. This hideout was a nearby farm. The adventurers wiped out the kobolds there
that were waiting for Salva, but saw no sign of
her. The second hideout that Stephano knew about was highly trapped. Adventurers Ro, Erdenerva,
Jade Skeleton Cult Kidnaps Victoria
Galloway
On the same Friday evening that kobolds started to
besiege the town, a previously unknown biata arrived at the tavern. His name was Sejanus
Delik and he spent the majority of his evening
flirting with Victoria Galloway, member of the Flaming Balls adventuring group
and daughter of Nathan Westwind.
He returned to the tavern the following morning and
enjoyed breakfast with the young mystic wood elf. After a short conversation, the two went for
a walk in the woods. A short time later
child of Autumn Kailani was desperately yelling for
Unable to find
After reading the note, Kailani
realized that
When the adventurers arrived at the site where she was
being held, they were witness to a gruesome sight. Sejanus stood before
an altar slowly torturing and killing
A short time later the Healer’s Guild was
deluged with spirits of the dead as they sought to resurrect. Thankfully all were strong in spirit and returned
to life. There was a single moment of
concern when
As for Sejanus, he has not been
seen again.
Local Adventurers Assist Bear-kin
The litany of strange actions taken by kobolds over
the weekend continued when two bear-kin entered the tavern seeking
assistance. They explained that kobolds
had taken over their cave and they begged for assistance in getting it
back. Adventurers Folonius,
Zander, Victoria Galloway, Soren,
Penvel, and Cyno offered
their aid.
The bear-kin revealed a secret back entrance to their
cave, which the adventurers used to sneak up on the unsuspecting kobolds. The tactics of these adventurers was
masterful. Soren
and Folonius stood in front with shields while
Victoria and Folonius attacked from the behind the
solid wall of wood and steel. Zander and Penvel struck at any
exposed flanks. Their tactics were so
great they quite easily dispatched the nine kobolds that were spread throughout
the three rooms of the small home.
Though, while they heroically slew the kobold invaders, they did not
stay behind to help with the equally grueling task of cleaning out the stench
of kobolds.
Healer’s Guild Report
There is trouble for healers
in the Duchy right now. If you are a healer coming to the gathering in
Blythedale please, please see me. I want to make sure all of you will be safe.
Healers are being targeted and I need to give you some information privately.
If anyone hears or sees
anything (even remotely) about the missing and the new group of necromancers
please contact me. The only way to stop it quickly is up-to-date info. I am
keeping a running log should anyone need to be updated.
As a special note, those biata
who are coming to the gathering in Blythedale, the council meeting will be on
Saturday. The exact time is up to when she
arrives.
I will be interviewing people
wishing to work with the Guild. I will be trying to do as many as possible on
Friday night. For those who don’t know, I will as always have bake goods
and wine for sale. If the tavern pays me for them (unlike another place) this
will change and you will be able to buy them from the tavern. I will also be bringing potions for sale for
those who need them.
Some people asked me to bring
the candy game as well as the stuff for Tavern Roulette. You must contact me if
you want this; I need to prep for these to happen.
I will be having a guild
meeting in the tavern on Saturday morning about 9:30. If you have an issue to
put on the agenda, please contact me on Friday night so I may add it to the
list. Yes, of course I will have gormet coffee and a
nice morning food spread. I will also have some on Sunday as well.
My legs are still not up to
running in the woods but should anyone need healing please don’t hesitate
to seek me out.
Guildmistress Zatarina
Norik
Simon’s Celestial Guide
by Simon of
the
Welcome to my guide to Celestial Magic. In each
installment I will be examining one of the nine circles or levels of Celestial
Magic. First a word on what this is not. This is not an attempt to tell you the
proper names of magical spells, nor the history of them. This is also not a
guide to how to use spells per se. This is plain and simple a tactical
assessment of magic to aid younger adventurers in deciding what to learn and to
further discussions of tactical applications of magic amongst others farther
down the road. Everything here is reflective of my own opinions alone.
Welcome to the Fourth level of Celestial Magic. After
all the hard choices of the third level it gets steadily easier for a little
bit starting here. Keep in mind situational spells are just that. Honestly, the
level of magic is hard to know how to use blindly ... you need to know what is
going on around you as you will see soon.
Awaken
Incant Syllables: 8
Advantages: Fixes commands effects nice and clean. It
also fixes a successful Waylay. I will say this again,
this spell gets your waylaid friends up.
Disadvantages: It is not offense. It is
defense.
Usefulness Assessment Scholars: The big
thing here is that this spell can help maintain that fighter line in front of
you. Yes your healer friends should have this memorized but you really have to
forgive them if they do not ... after all you cannot cast Poison Shields now can
you?
Usefulness Assessment Templars:
In general the usefulness is the same as it is for scholars except in your case
it is about the guy to your left and right, not in front of you. That or it
keeps you from needing to step up. But here is the difference, whereas the
scholar needs to use this spell slot for offense, you can more readily deploy
it for this purpose as your have your weapon for dealing damage.
Rating:
Scholars: 4 out of 10, Templars: 8
out of 10
Banish
Incant Syllables: 8
Advantages: It can get rid of lesser
elementals and fey, do a great deal of harm to more powerful ones (think like a
ninth circle evocation plus a little bit more) and sometimes even send you home
when you get stuck on some other plane yourself.
Disadvantages: The big problem is that
if you are not confronted by beings from other planes of existence it does no
good. Oh, remember...if you go to their plane it does not work either so if you
are on the plane of fire do not use this spell on fire
elementals. It won't work. (Now if there are water
elemental there for some odd reason then fire away)
Usefulness Assessment Scholars: If you
know you are facing this kind of creature this is some of your most powerful
offense. It makes lesser varieties disappear in a single shot (and they leave
their lunch money for you to take) and the big ones take more damage than they
would from ordinary magic. (keep in mind, a stone
blast to an air elemental is still more damage than this for example).
Usefulness Assessment Templars:
Pretty much the same as for Scholars. It is perhaps safer for you to have a
spell dedicated here if you have others memorized elsewhere since at the end of
the day if you are missing a flame bolt from your repertoire you can afford it
more easily than your scholarly friends.
Rating:
Scholars: 3 of 10, Templars: 5 of 10
Elemental Blade
Incant Syllables: 13
Advantages: It allows someone to channel
an element through their blade for ten minuets. This spell works on Bows. The
user can choose the element upon it being activated.
Disadvantages: The problem is that
unless you have a bow, this does not contribute to your ranged attacks. Also it
takes up a slot that could have been something else for a spell that only helps
you if there is something weak to some given element about. Remember that
initial comment about needing to know what is going on in the lands you are
traveling in?
Usefulness Assessment Scholars: While it
is nice to help your friends unless you really know there is something going on
where this will help you then you really have other things to do.
Usefulness Assessment Templars:
The real difference between your situation and your scholarly friends is that
you do have a weapon so you always know someone who can use it...yourself. It
is still just as situational for you however.
Rating:
Scholars: 2 of 10; Templars: 3 of 10
Flame Bolt
Incant Syllables: 6
Advantages: Very fast incant. It does
damage. Fire is not nearly as often impotent as ice, and there is often a
decent occurrence of times where fire is more useful than normal.
Disadvantages: About impotence ... while
it is not as often going to fail you as ice, fire is the second most commonly
useless element in terms of how often you will see creatures immune so keep
that in mind.
Usefulness Assessment Scholars: This
spell does a good chunk of damage, and there is not a whole lot else at this
level unlike the other ones that have fire available.
Usefulness Assessment Templars:
It is ranged damage, and it is respectable burst damage. This is where your
spells begin to well outstrip your sword swings at least until you get very far
down the road. The only thing is it’s not an Awaken, and if you need
Banishes for some reason than a Flame bolt is not nearly as useful.
Rating:
Scholars: 7 of 10;
Templar: 6 of 10
Shun
Incant Syllables: 7
Advantages: It is a relatively fast
incant. It will keep enemies from you without having to maintain focus on
them.
Disadvantages: It does not work on mindless
creatures or undead. There are also creatures out there with hive minds and
command effects will not always work on them either. Universally speaking this
does nothing against Undead, Constructs, and Elementals just for starters. That
is a significant group. Now add up all the folks out there somewhat resistant
to commands and there are just too many occasions where this spell will not
help you out for this to be reliable.
Usefulness Assessment Scholars: At best
it is a repel that you do not have to concentrate on,
but before you get excited reread the last section.
Usefulness Assessment Templars: Bottom line is you do not care if
the baddies are close in on you. That is your role. To be up
there. Your defense is your weapons. Why waste time memorizing spells
that might not work to do what your martial training is supposed to handle?
Rating
Scholars: 3 out of 10, Templars: 1 out of 10
Letters and
Missives
Citizens of Ashbury,
The biata Sejanus Delik is hereby wanted for the crime of necromancy and the
murder of 9 people. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to
please send a missive to the
Baroness Ezri Silverthorn
Amani
Council
Dear Friends and Allies,
Towards the beginning of the month, I gave an open
call for assistance to the new breed of Heroes that have come forth to defend
the lands of Icenia and its people. I am relived and proud to say that the call
did not go unheard or unanswered. This call was not only answered by Tar’Navarians, but allies from other lands as well.
As a result of the efforts this group of stalwart defenders put forth, the
recovering barony of Corrheim is a little safer, and
two great thieves have met with justice. As for the growing Kobold menace that
threatened to overwhelm Fairdale and flood into the rest of Dara’s
Grace, I am pleased to report that it was brought to a grinding halt and all
surviving Kobolds have since scattered or turned upon themselves in a fight for
dominance in the shadow of the death of their Elder. This task was only
accomplished with the help of all who were present, and you shall forever have
my gratitude and the thanks of the citizens who call these lands home.
In addition, the two thieves known as Stephano and his sister Salvaza
have been tried for their crimes and sentenced by Magistrate Osburn of Dara’s Grace.
After a very long and complicated trial the verdict and punishments are as
follows:
Stephano has been convicted of multiple
counts of Burglary and Contempt. The compensation owed to the Duchy would be
well past his confiscated personal belongings, requiring incarceration.
However, due to his willingness to help in the capture of his sister, his
sentence has been reduced to service in the rebuilding efforts of the townsfolk
who have been worst effected by the recent kobold attacks.
As for Salvaza, she has been
convicted of the following: Robbery, Contempt, Slavery, Necromancy (multiple
counts), Assault, and Conspiracy to commit Murder. Her sentence was to receive a obliteration and, if upon resurrection, to report back to
be Marked as a Necromancer for the term of one year. Since the obliteration she
has not shown up for the Mark Ritual and is considered at large and wanted.
Should you run across her in your travels please pass any information on to a
Sheriff or Noble as quickly as possible.
As for other business. It seems that many had lost Items as
well as lives in a assault upon a Jade Skeleton aspirant ... some items have
been recovered ... I have received many letters to my offices and due to the
volume of thefts caused by the kobolds and Salvaza I
ask that you please contact me privately if you are missing an item of magical
value. If you have found a item you believe to be
stolen goods, you may turn it in to me with no questions asked. Please, when
inquiring about a item, give a full description as
best you can of the item and its abilities.
In closing, Thank you once
again to all who did gather and defend the land and its people from those whose
greed would only seek to destroy it. With every victory Corrheim
becomes a little less shrouded in darkness, and Icenia is better for it. Stand
tall my friends, take pride in what you have done. I am forever grateful for
your aid.
May the Light of the Truth Guild your
path.
Seneschal Izer of Storms End
Sheriff of Fairdale and
the
Editorial: We’re All
Important!
by
Rexsauras with commentary by Saruasxer
I was absolutely appalled. My jaw sank in shock when I
heard those words come from an adventurer’s mouth.
“All the important people aren’t here.”
Let me tell you something, Child. We are all
important.
So I may not have as many Life spells as some of the
more experienced adventurers. I may not know the history of the Dominion or
have dinner with the Registrar. I can’t cast the big rituals yet and I
can’t summon the higher magics to stop or even
send back spells and effects to their point of origin. But does that make my
Life spell any less important than the next? Does that make my healing moot?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I saw tabards of baronies that I recognize. And though
they were capable warriors, they clearly hadn’t been instructed yet in
leadership. No fault of their own and I commend them on their brave actions
that they performed.
So this is a message to all of you very-not-new
people.
While you’re playing your games of politics,
fighting ancient vampires, and generally saving former-Icenia, please remember...
You were one of us once. You started with a few spells
in memory and the capability to maybe bring down a really intimidating looking
flower with a few swings.
Clearly most of you have forgotten this.
“All the important people aren’t here.”
Try and remember that. That is an exact quote from one
of your young adventurers. Drunkenly said, yes, but in wine there is truth.
Younger adventurers, whether 17 or 126, don’t
have all the life experience you have. And we need it. Desperately so with some
of the decisions and tactics I saw employed.
An adventurer should be their own leader with the
brains to react to a situation. But we need to either be in those situations
first or be taught by someone who has been in it a dozen times.
I didn’t save the day during Wayday.
Every single one of us did. Every single adventurer there did, some of them don’t
even call this place home!
If it wasn’t for us, you wouldn’t have had
a tavern to come back to in Fairdale.
I left two shards of my spirit in that circle to save
a place I speak out against because the adventurers there were worth it, even
if I didn’t know them yet. I wasn’t the only spirit to pass through
the circle either. We all successfully resurrected, yes, but it’s only a
matter of time until we don’t. With training, in the future, we could
avoid such problems.
So Barons, Dames, Knights, Squires...
Look at your younger adventurers and say thanks. Say
it with words, with deeds and with gestures. Say it by teaching us what you
know. Say it with generosity.
Say it before suddenly, we’re not important
enough to waste healing or life spells on. Before we go into battle for the
first time and get walked on trying to be just like you. Trying
to save the world just like you.
I hate nobility. I hate people who think they’re
in charge of me. Keep your belt or circlet away from me.
But to those who look up to you,
hold them close to your hearts. Teach them. They need it. Just
like you did. And like you still apparently do.
Have you earned your title today? I certainly don’t
need a title or a belt to dust some undead. Anyone could do that. That title
means you’re supposed to be a leader and an inspiration. So inspire.
Teach. Do the things you’re supposed to be doing.
Like helping younger adventurers earn their scars and
lumps and their own stories.
Rexsauras
Camulan
Flavored Dragon Chew Toy
A Little Birdie
Told Me
by
Sue D’Onym
Hello, drearies! This
month’s column is chock full of great gossip.
First there is the announcement of the removal of Baron Ulthoc’s title by Grand Paladin Rose Brewer. Did the grand paladin write up a formal
proclamation to be published and announced throughout the land? No.
Did she make a formal announcement in the Ashbury Times as has been tradition
for well over 20 years? No. The grand paladin felt the best way to
announce the removal Baron Ulthoc’s title was
by forcibly invading the peaceful sleep and dreams of everyone present in the
duchy.
Then, because that apparently wasn’t rude enough,
Paladin
But don’t mention any of that to Sir Eros Clearbrook. You remember him? The Ducal Paladin? The guy who was overlooked in all of
this? This certainly can’t help
his relationship with his newest liege.
You’d think these paladins could do something
useful like fight necromancers. Take Rexsauras, who cast a Chaos Storm inside the tavern in front
of dozens of witnesses. He was promptly
killed, but no trial was held and no sentence passed. Guildmistress Zatarina Norik claims the necromancer that took control of his
mind has been contained. But his dream
banter with Baldur suggests
otherwise. Of course, maybe we’ll
all get lucky and he’ll meet Qualin in some dark woods and that little problem will get
solved permanently.
On to lighter news, adventurer Shinryu “won” the Wayday competition held by the local adventurers by
waylaying the most kobolds across two days.
Turnabout is fair play. Of
course, the kobolds got in some victories, including the theft of Dominic’s Blythedale tunic. Between the tunic and Baron Ivan’s crown, which they have
stolen twice now, all they need to do is steal a white belt and Blythedale will
officially have a kobold baron.
Hey, remember that law that says you have to get
approval from the Duke in order to spirit yourself into a golem? Those were the days, huh, Raven?
Finally, I have some relationship news that isn’t about Baroness Ezri or
Baron Ulthoc. Avernorn,
commonly known as “Twitchy,” has apparently come out of his
shell. Late Friday night he kissed Victoria Galloway’s hand. Given that her other recent suitor kidnapped,
tortured, and killed her, I have to give the edge to Avernorn. Of course, this assumes she is even staying
in town at all. Immediately after
resurrecting on Saturday, she tore the Flaming Balls logo off her
headband. It looks like trouble in
paradise. I wonder what Balls will say to that.
That’s
all for this month. And remember,
if can’t say something nice about someone, come sit by me.
Public Notices
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