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, Willow, Val, Thurisaz, and Kailani went to explore that location.  The traps were easily disarmed and the place quickly ransacked.  While Salva was not present, her journal was and it spoke of how she had enslaved the kobold elder and tricked Sheriff Izer.  Her guilt was all but proven by this discovery.  Sheriff Izer led twelve adventurers to the final hideout.  There Salva was guarded by many kobolds.  Further compounding her guilt she cast necromancy to prevent her arrest.  After a tough fight, she was captured and Sheriff Izer took her off for justice.

 


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 Victoria, but she was nowhere to be found.  At this point none realized that Victoria had been kidnapped.

Unable to find Victoria, Kailani gathered Thurisaz, Aikitza, Cyno, Folonius, Baldur, and Erdenerva and traveled straight for a nearby farm.  In this farm the adventurers discovered several undead kobolds being commanded by a kobold necromancer screaming the glories of the Jade Skeleton.  The adventurers destroyed the undead but the necromancer was able to escape through magic.  While he might have escaped, the adventurers did discover a note that revealed more clearly the situation.  The note, signed by Sejanus, indicated that Kailani and Victoria were targets and offered five gold pieces for another delivery of undead kobolds.

After reading the note, Kailani realized that Victoria had not been seen for many hours and that she was last seen in the company of Sejanus.  Gathering a posse, tracker Renyaurd and his mercenary team Ito, Knock, and Grock led Kailani, Erdenerva, Cyno, Avernorn, Zander, Rexsauras, and Folonius on a hunt to rescue the captured mystic wood elf.

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 Victoria, whose face had been painted to look like the Jade Skeleton, with a blade infused with chaos magic, all the while yelling for the Jade Skeleton to heed his calls.  The adventurers tried to reach her but were held back by powerful undead kobolds.  All of them fell to the onslaught except for Zander and Folonius.

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 Victoria’s spirit would not return even after the successful completion of the resurrection.  Before anyone could search for her permanently dead body, the Jade Skeleton appeared in the earth circle, completed the resurrection personally, and disappeared.  This strange situation is just another oddity in the chronicle of the Jade Skeleton.

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 Ash Forest

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 Ash Forest manor. Or, Goodman Delik, you can save us the trouble and turn yourself in. There is no sense in delaying the inevitable.

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 Battle Woods of Corrheim

 


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 Tyler “The Helmet” Balloch decided to insult the entire kingdom of Sadden Moore, a land on the other side of the mists.  Charm school might be in order for the entire paladin order.  That, of course, assumes that “The Helmet” is alive to attend.  Sir Amaranthus Landcharmer has challenged “The Helmet” to a duel to the resurrection and Simon of the Ash Forest has offered to lend his aid in that endeavor.  Personally, I’m putting 10 gold on Amaranthus.

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

 

COME ONE, COME ALL to Two Towers in Blythedale for THE FESTIVAL OF BLADES!  Join our annual Celebration of Chivalry on the 16th, 17th and 18th of Salamander, 613! Hosted by the gracious Sir Garathon and Lady Elara von Storm! Featuring: TRADITIONAL DUELING! WIZARD’S DUELING! OPEN MELEE TOURNAMENT! ARCHERY COMPETITION! AMAZING FEATS OF STRENGTH AND HONOR! A SPRAWLING FEAST FOR BLYTHEDALE’S HONORED GUESTS! BEAUTY AND HIGH CHIVALRY AT OUR ANNUAL BALL! AND GREAT CHARITY FOR OUR FRIENDS OF FALKIRK! Don’t miss the event of the season!  All are welcome!