by Jonas Tull

In the early hours of the 7th of Gryphon, before even the hardest working farmers had risen for the day, a group of armed individuals managed to break into the Imperial Prison and release “Queen” Sidraste Deannan.

As every loyal Galanthian knows, Sidraste and “King” Gareth ap Moire were found guilty of High Treason against their own subjects by trying to release the Crix from its imprisonment. In his mercy, His Radiance sentenced them to life in prison instead of obliteration and banishment.

His Radiance and the Order of the Mark immediately investigated this heinous crime and found that several of the “Returned Heroes” were involved. Grofcus of the Order indicated two distinct groups behind the crime, one the “brains” and the other the “hired muscle.” Apparently the brains of the operation penetrated the prison while the muscle killed any guards who stumbled upon them or ran to get help.

The person guarding Sidraste was found paralyzed near her warded cell and was clearly fed an Amnesia. However, since Sidraste could not have been removed from the ward without his help, it is presumed that he was in on the plot and this evil traitor has been obliterated for his crimes.

Fortunately this plan was not flawless. A lone gnoll guard was able to get away and run a short distance to a nearby barracks of the Imperial Army. Hot on his heels were some of the traitors who freed Sidraste. They foolishly attempted to attack the barracks, and even more foolishly called each other by name during the attack. Obviously this assault failed, and the traitors were forced to retreat.

The next day His Radiance and two columns of Swords of Lore marched into the city to admonish the Returned Heroes for being involved in this plot and assured them that the culprits would be found. Indeed, within minutes Sparticous of the Black Forest Mercenary Company was identified as one of the people who assaulted the barracks and he was immediately arrested. He refused to aid the Order in finding his fellow traitors and was obliterated for High Treason, but resurrected successfully.

As the day wore on, Grofcus identified several more of the traitors, including Gilwing, also of the Black Forest Mercenary Company. Gilwing, in a vain attempt to disguise himself, race changed into an elf. The Order of the Mark easily saw through this disguise and arrested him. He too refused to help the Order identify his fellow culprits, and was also to be obliterated for High Treason. However, as the ritual was being performed, Sparticous was able to cast a Destroy spell on the street lamp that the caster was reading from. This back-lashed the ritual.

Sparticous escaped and is currently at large.  He is described as a human, 6’2" tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He has an Earth Mark Ritual over his left eye in the shape of a reverse tear drop.

Since the Order did not have any other ritual components for another obliteration, they executed Gilwing and ordered him to return for his subsequent executions. This cowardly traitor did not, however, and is also currently also at large. He is currently described as a short elf (unless he has race changed again). It should be noted that Gilwing has been convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the past, so any who approach should be wary. He is very dangerous.

Also wanted in connection to this crime is Alexander, also of the Black Forest Mercenary Company. He has the symbol of chaos over one eye and is known to fight with a long sword and shield.

Also at large are two sarr. Rasq Darkmoon is a black and white sarr caster with thesymbol of a crescent moon over one eye.

There is also a gray colored sarr named Tithraq, who has been using the alias of William Tralfalgar, a permanently dead adventurer. Tithraw petitioned Duke Frost for a token, caliming to be a returning hero, but within a few hours his true intentions were made clear. He  is an expert trapper and alchemist whose last known location was Dockside, where he trapped a room and lured two Order of the Mark field operatives into it, where they were killed.

“We will not have vigilantes in our fine duchy,” stated His Grace. “In fact, they are known to be extremely dangerous and only the proper forces should attempt their
capture. It would not do for one of our brave but less experienced citizens to get injured or even killed in this regard. This is a job best left up to the professionals. I am sure the Order would appreciate information, though.”

There may be others involved in this heinous plot, and Grofcus has vowed not to rest until he finds all who were responsible.

It should be noted that His Grace, Duke Frost, has not yet removed the citizenship of either of these two sarr.

Citizens are warned that these people are highly dangerous and should not be approached. Citizens are advised to avoid these dangerous criminals and instead to inform their local Order of the Mark representative. There is a 50 gold piece reward for the capture of any of these criminals.

The Battle Queen has still not been found. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts or the whereabouts of those who have freed her from prison are ordered to come forward with their information under penalty of death.
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by Jonas Tull

The attacks of necromantic plants sent by the Wold required a military response from His Radiance Emperor Glantri, as was reported in the last Ashbury Prophet. One Friday evening His Radiance Emperor Glantri, His Grace Duke Frost, High Sheriff Harkan Irontail and Warlord Loren Tor entered town. They explained that Duke Frost and his court were going to be out of the city and that His Radiance was too busy with other matters to see to the day-to-day command of the war. As a result, Warlord
Tor was placed in charge of the offensive with an authority equal to a baron.

The next day the Warlord led small groups of adventurers to various locations where necromantic plants had overrun strategic locations. Each of these pushes were complete successes, but the Ash Forest was not so easily defeated.

Early that evening, the Ash Forest launched a counterattack with a mass of necromantic plants. The Returned Heroes handily defeated these evil constructs however.
Later that night, Warlord Tor had arranged a series of attacks to take place simultaneously into the Ash Forest, one to be undertaken by the Returned Heroes. However, Warlord Tor never arrived in the capital to lead this assault, and has not been seen since.

Even without the Warlord’s leadership, the Returned Heroes were able to locate several necromantic trees that the Ash Forest was using as staging grounds and destroy them that night and the next day.

Guarding the final tree was the vampire Morganna, proving to all once and forever that the elves are in a foul alliance with this evil being.

The battles were long and hard, and there were several resurrections, but a large victory against the Wold was won.

In other parts of Warlord Tor’s offensive, the Ash Forest itself animated against Galanthian troops, and the fighting was fierce and difficult, but not without positive results. Ex-baroness Glenduria Goodberry and Wold Council leader Gwindor Greyhalme were captured leading a force of elves and necromantic plants against His Radiance’s armies. They are scheduled to be tried and obliterated within a few weeks.

Recently, Morganna the ancient gypsy vampire and dragon mage entered Ashbury city. Morganna has been a bane to Ashbury for hundreds of years, and until recently usually kept to himself in the western wilds of what was once Gravishtam.

Given his tremendous power, many Ashbans left him alone, but watched him warily.

Soon after, Gonnirkan Mithrauko also entered town. Mithrauko had not been seen in Ashbury for approximately ten years, so his appearance also generated some surprise. For those unaware, Mithrauko comes from the nation of Dur Namarie. His vicious acts against Ashbans and particularly against the Mystic Wood Elven race have driven the rage of Ashbury to new heights. This “elf”  has openly performed obliterations on innocents in the lands of Ashbury and has led his troops in raids against Ashban citizens. However, he is also known for his hatred of necromancy, and has been battling the Morganna for many years.

Mithrauko began a hostile parlay with the vampire, and it did not take long for violence to break out between the two. Most Ashbans, of course, were content to allow these two foul beings wipe each other out. Morganna summoned creatures of chaos to fight for him, and one of them attacked the Ashbans however, who immediately engaged it and eventually destroyed it.

Meanwhile, after shrugging off some of the most powerful of magics, Mithrauko was able to force Morganna to assume gaseous form and depart.

With Morganna gone, Mithrauko began attacking the Ashbans, who readily engaged him. Eventually the might of several adventurers of Ashbury was able to force Mithrauko to turn into some form of blue energy and escape.

Loyal citizens of the Empire:

I have been working with the Order of the Mark for quite some time and I would like to share some observations I have made over the past couple of months.

Many people are talking treason  anonymously by posting missives on trees and in other public places, but no one seems to stand up when the time calls for it.

I have watched as people stood accused of treason while the real traitors watch as innocent people die for their crimes. These are the traits of a hero?

I will give a case in point because a man recently died due to the traitor’s inability to stand up for his own crimes against the empire. Roger Cartwright was accused of treason and for posting messages as Tactius. Many asked how did we come to this conclusion and what was the evidence. Since the matter was resolved, I can talk about the case, and I am addressing this to the ones who hide behind words and cowardly allow others to die for their crimes.

Roger’s wife had come to us with evidence that Roger was the person known as Tactius. We investigated and found that this person had written notes in his farm house that were signed as Tactius. We questioned Roger and after questioning he admitted he was Tactius. After we told him he was to die, he changed his story. Roger’s wife did come to town at the request of an adventurer so there are some in town who know that I speak the truth.

Sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes people give false information and accuse others and innocent people die. This is a matter we have dealt with over the years and we always try to make sure we have the correct people for the crimes. We cannot control every person who brings us traitors but we have a job to do and keeping order is our business.

If you take a person and toss him into a room of undead and lock the door, who is the murderer? The person who locked the other in the room or the undead in the room? I think we all know the answer to that. Your actions have caused people to die due to your inaction. Do you not feel any remorse? It seems all you want to do is pin blame on our Order and not take any responsibility for your actions. These are the traits of a coward and are a disease on the land. I did not tell you to post or distribute flyers in the tavern. These were your actions. I am here to see that this stops.

If anyone is using traps and bait it is you and your cohorts. I have been nothing but strait forward with everyone in town. It is you that have been the problem, not our Order. I know in my heart that if you told ten farmers who you are, all would be knocking on my door with the info -- not to collect the reward, but to serve the Emperor and give back to the land that has given him so much.

I have dealt with many traitors and out of all I only respect one of them. Sparticous had enough courage and conviction of his beliefs to stand up to what he had done. He did not hide behind false names and lie, nor did he change his race to hide.

Sparticous may have committed high treason twice but has paid for one crime and is wanted for another. These other nameless people do not have enough respect for life. I ask everyone who reads this to ask yourself would these faceless people let me die for crimes I did not commit? Without a doubt, yes.

I joined the Order of the Mark to help bring the lands to a time of peace and prosperity. I will not let a small group of malcontents destroy everything the Emperor has done for these lands. I will find all the people who were in the raid and bring you to justice.

I serve the Empire, I serve Glantri.

Grofcus
Order of the Mark