Wood Golem Cadmus Attacks Ashbury

The crazed being known as Cadmus appeared the first day of September as he had threatened and laid waste to much of Ashbury's natural wood life using his dreaded and misunderstood wood magics. There had been stories of diseased dryads and other corrupted woodland beings attacking areas of the Ash Forest, and the citizens of the city who had been worried that the attacks would reach over the Ash River found that their fears came true.

Cadmus sought revenge on Ashbury since some adventurers from our city had killed his apprentice and stopped his evil plan to enslave dryads in the Ash Forest over the winter. Apparently, Cadmus had discovered that dryad trees were necessary for the creation of his evil magics and had shown no compassion towards the beings in the trees in his pursuit of power.

Ashbury's first indication of the September attack came early on the evening of the first when many goblins came running into town screaming that the woods had come to life. Shortly after that, a merchant from Waterwood came to town looking for people to help find his employees who had been attacked while coming through the woods by men made of wood and moving trees.

Over the following hours, Ashbury was assaulted by many so-called "dark dryads" hurling necromancy, wood golems of all types, and animated trees and plants. The battles were made more difficult by the fact that the dryads seemed completely immune to magic and silver weapons. Many of Ashbury's warriors who normally wield magic weapons were seen to be carrying a normal one instead.

The paths through the woods proved to be especially dangerous as these creatures would phase out of trees, attack, and then phase back into the trees without giving anyone a chance to return the attack.

Then shortly before midnight, four people calling themselves the Defenders of Tyrra came running into town. They told the town that they were being chased by Cadmus' forces, among whom were Wormwood, the spirit of decay, and Blox, the spirit of the swamp. The Defenders rallied the town to battle these creatures and turned back several waves of golems and dryads.

The members of the Defenders of Tyrra begged the town not to kill the dryads as they were enslaved pawns of Cadmus. Lady Kittery Valinor came to their aid by warding a large building wherein the town could imprison the dryads until a cure, if it existed, could be found.

During the confusion of the battle, Cadmus himself walked out of a tree on the far side of the field and set down a circle of power from which he could watch the proceedings. The town failed to notice his coming until Captain O'Conner of the Harvest Moon saw him. Cadmus, who appeared as some sort of construct, boasted of his power and told the Captain and his crew to watch as he brought forth his more powerful servants.

From across the field shouts of battle came as a large group of dryads phased out of a stand of trees, with two hulking creatures at their side. The first creature was later identified as Wormwood, whose every touch caused withering disease. He also cast many death spells and a great deal of necromancy at the town. The second creature was Blox, who hurled large blobs of viscous material at townsfolk which held them in place and also threw swampy muck which rendered those it touched sick to their stomachs. Everyone he struck was diseased as if they had been swimming through the foulest bog on Tyrra.

The battle was won by the forces of Ashbury who then gathered around Cadmus' circle with Baron Justice, Sir Konrad, and Lord Hanson in the lead. Cadmus decided that a further display of his power was required and reached over touched the tree within the circle and created four Ironwood golems out of the substance of the tree. He performed no ritual but was heard to incant "I call upon the power of the Fierthwood to create an Ironwood golem."

He then phased into the tree, and the circle dropped, letting the golems attack the people who were gathered around. After a tough battle, the creatures were destroyed--but all knew more would be coming.

After this, some of the people of Ashbury met with the Defenders of Tyrra in the Dragon's Flagon. The Defenders' leader, Narlon, explained that they were a large group of adventurers dedicated to protecting the natural environment of Tyrra and that each of them was the champion to one of the Earth Spirits.

He explained that there exists physical embodiments of the forces of nature on Tyrra called Earth Spirits. Many were shocked to find that the mythical being known as Mother Tyrra truly did exist. Cadmus, as part of his plan to gain power, somehow managed to capture Mother Tyrra, the embodiment of our planet, and a being known as the Green Man, the spirit of plant life. In order to defeat Cadmus, the Defenders claimed, the captured spirits had to be freed and the aid of the remaining Earth Spirits had to be obtained.

The end of the meeting was interrupted as people standing on the wooden floor of the tavern and leaning against the trees and wooden railings suddenly disappeared through the wood. Among those who vanished were Sir Aloryn, Lord Hanson, Squires Caleb, Gildarius, Gwynne, Ivan, Radric, and Zachary, as well as Derek, Vayne, and Lupiticus. Cadmus was reaching out to take captives!

The captured were divided into two groups of six and each group appeared in a wooded area under Cadmus' control. One group found themselves confronted by a representation of Wormwood, and the other group by a representation of Blox. Each group managed to fight their way free from their captors and returned to Ashbury through some sort of portal, bearing with them two magical puzzle boxes. When the boxes were identified all that was revealed was that to open the boxes, the puzzles had to be solved. There were, however, no clues supplied with the boxes.

The clues for each puzzle were supplied by a strange gypsy known as the Puzzlemaster, who spent the entire weekend challenging the minds of the citizens of Ashbury with riddles and puzzles. The people who solved his puzzles were rewarded with a prize based on the difficulty of the riddle. He also gave out clues to the magic puzzle boxes for solving his riddles. The holders of the box were slow in the obtaining of clues and the solving of the puzzle boxes, by the time they opened the boxes days later they found what appeared to be ward keys that no longer detected as magical.

Meanwhile, the Defenders of Tyrra led many adventurers from Ashbury on various quests to retrieve aid or items needed to defeat Cadmus (see accompanying article). Late Saturday afternoon, large waves of dryads and golems attacked Gwendolyn's Field but were eventually fought back at some expense of life.

Saturday evening it was discovered that the mage known only as the Golem Maker had been working on a way of defeating Cadmus, but had been captured by Cadmus' forces. Sorceress Shalizar prepared her mages to aid in recovering the Golem Maker as soon as his apprentice could lead them to him.

On Sunday afternoon, the Golem Maker's apprentice returned to town with the location of his master. Shalizar sent Guildsman Kittery to rescue him. She took a group consisting of her husband Sir Konrad, Squire Algar, Kemin Silverbeard and others and was able to rescue the Golem Maker.

The Golem Maker revealed that he knew of the threat Cadmus represented, and the power of his golem body. He had created an item he called the Severer which could if used properly stop Cadmus and destroy the Fierthwood. The Severer was still hidden in the Golem Maker's circle of power. The group returned to discuss matters with Shalizar, who then sent Apprentice Radric to retrieve the Severer. Radric brought with him several members of The Shield of Vendamor. They recovered the Severer after fighting many of Cadmus' wood golems.

The Severer was a unique magic item which was capable of destroying any spirit links or spirit stores it was used on as well as actually destroying the item which was spirit linked. It had many limitations however--it needed a rare flower called a Smoke Plume in order to power it, and it would only work from the anchor point of the link/store, and no one knew how to get into someone's spirit or find said anchor point.

The solution to this problem turned out to be Cadmus' brother, Chandor the Preserver. Their parents were a Stone Elf and an Amani Elf, and Chandor, unlike his brother, had been born a Stone Elf. He was the original founder of the Defenders of Tyrra, and when he stopped Cadmus' first attempt to create the Fierthwood several decades ago, he was left insane due to a ritual backlash.

Chandor had wandered into town Friday night, somehow drawn to the area in which his brother was operating. He was completely insane, constantly showing emotions, and warning people not to walk on the grass as the grass didn't like it.

When it was finally discovered who Chandor was and why he was insane, Baron Justice took it upon himself to cure him. He performed a Destroy Celestial Magic ritual on Chandor, thus eliminating the backlash effect. The ritual was a success, but it apparently flawed as Baron Justice seemed to take on Chandor's insanity himself for a temporary period.

Once Chandor was cured, he told the Baron that he could enter another's spirit and take several others with him. However he had no idea how to find the "anchor point."

Late Sunday afternoon, Mother Tyrra returned and informed Ashbury that she knew the location of Cadmus' laboratory and that if they needed to know how to find the anchor point of the Fierthwood, that would be the place to look. She also informed them that it was in a warded building and was surrounded by Cadmus' forces, including Wormwood and Blox.

The puzzle boxes that held the ward keys had not yet been solved, so no one knew how to enter the lab. Sir Konrad and the other nobles decided that it made no sense to assault a building that they could not enter so if any information was there, it was not retrieved.

Later that afternoon, just as the Archery competition of the Nobles Tournament was ending, the town was again attacked en mass by Cadmus' forces. The attack was heralded by two Ironwood golems emerging from the very trees from which the archery target was hung. Several waves of golems marched upon the town, and then all was chaos as dryads began phasing out of the trees around the field, followed closely by Wormwood and Blox.

The needed Smoke Plume was recovered late Sunday night by Squire Ivan, his cousin Killian, and many novice adventurers new to Ashbury, among them Khevian the Mystic Wood Elf and a stone-faced fellow known only as Solemn Judgement. It was retrieved on a mission to foster peace with the group known as Hobgoblins for Humans (see accompanying article).

Finally on Monday morning, Mother Tyrra and Chandor led the town to Cadmus' lair, which Mother Tyrra had located with her ability to contact the earth. After fighting their way through many dryads and golems, the townsfolk finally came upon Cadmus and the evil Earth Spirits.

Here more of Cadmus' evil was revealed as with them were several people who had wandered through town the previous days and killed several townsfolk. Cadmus absorbed tremendous amounts of damage, but he was barely affected by weapons and seemed to shrug spells off as if they were nothing. Sheriff Dugal threw thirteen flame bolts at him and still he kept going.

Cadmus attacked the people of Ashbury and was seen to throw spells of both celestial and earth magics. His sister attacked the town as well and she was able to desecrate just by crossing her arms, and she did so several times during the battle.

Cadmus was finally brought down by Sir Konrad who confined him and delivered a killing blow before Cadmus could rip out.

Chandor then assembled a group to go into Cadmus' spirit, including Baron Bretton, Sir Konrad, Deven and others. He placed the severer upon Cadmus' head and brought them inside Cadmus. To the outside observer nothing happened except that all of the people involved were no longer moving. To the group who went in, a great deal changed. They appeared in Cadmus' mind as he perceived it--a blasted forest with several paths leading away. Without knowing where to find the anchor point, they wandered randomly until Cadmus' spirit left to resurrect. When Cadmus' body vanished, they were all forcibly hurled out and fell unconscious.

Though Cadmus was killed, best knowledge indicates that he resurrected and still retains the Fierthwood. Whether he has been able to place himself back into a golem body is unknown.


Champions Chosen for the Defenders of Tyrra

The Defenders of Tyrra (see main article) searched through the adventurers of Ashbury and found groups of people willing to help them in their cause.

After being rescued, Mother Tyrra remained in town for the rest of the day getting to know the healers of Ashbury and testing them in many subtle ways. After this, she chose Squire Gwynne Neumacht as exemplifying her standard of healers and chose Gwynne as her new champion. Gwynne was presented with a tabard bearing Mother Tyrra's symbol and an amulet which Mother Tyrra wore around her neck.

Narlon, the champion of the Earth Spirit known as Ironwood, the spirit of the forest, returned to town and sought out those who would give their life in defense of the wood. The first to meet his standard was Squire Jaret of the Ash Forest. He gathered a group consisting of himself, Squires Kelson and Zachary, Naerfin, Natasha, Olin, and Ziegard. They left to discuss the situation with Ironwood, one of the spirits who remained free. They came to a point in the woods where a gigantic tree stood, and as Narlon approached it, it began to speak.

It told them that he was Lord Ironwood, spirit of the forest, and warrior of the Earth Spirits. He agreed that if one of them could step forward and demonstrate sufficient skill with his own chosen weapon, the staff, he would lend them aid. Olin, a weapons master, stepped forward and agreed to this. Ironwood emerged from the tree, appearing as a large muscular man carrying a glowing staff bearing a tree symbol.

Ironwood stepped over to an oak tree and called it to him. The tree began to move and stepped forward to fight Olin. The fight, though it was difficult, was won by Olin. Ironwood then asked if Olin was willing to serve as his champion. Olin agreed and was presented with a tabard bearing Ironwood's symbol as well as his magic staff. The group then returned to Ashbury with Ironwood who proceeded to lecture many citizen on the "proper way to do battle." This proper way, according to the being, was to simply pound on anything in your way until it could no longer move. After a demonstration of his prowess, few wished to be in his path.

Others then joined the Defenders of Tyrra under Ironwood, including Sir Aloryn and Galoran Strongblade.

Raydeth, the champion of The Green Man, the spirit of plant life, took Blade and several other members of the Shield of Vendamor, including Unrok, Vayne, and Lithitar to rescue the Green Man. They freed him from his imprisonment, and for that, The Green Man agreed to use his powers to prevent Cadmus himself from using the tree paths to escape Ashbury. The Green Man did not choose a new champion from among the townsfolk, as apparently none met his strict standards.

Vince, the champion of Vinifera, the spirit of the vine, took a group to talk to his lord. Vinifera was the holder of the Elixir of the Earth. This magic liquid was able to free dryads from Cadmus' enslavement. The group he chose consisted of Duchess Mara, Lord Magistrate Faustus, Sheriff Dugal, Squire Florin, Squire Gwynne, and Hamlet the Dwarf. As they approached Vinifera's domain, they were met by several creatures who were able to hurl intoxicating liquids at them. Vinifera, it seems, does not like to have sober company. They then met with Vinifera himself and spent quite a while talking with him and drinking his wines. The wines were all potent intoxicants and the group was soon quite inebriated. The Duchess even named Hamlet as her Squire since everyone else there had some sort of a title.

Vinifera, upon seeing that they could enjoy his style of life, decided to pass the Elixir of the Earth on to them. He warned them that the holder of the Elixir would remain intoxicated as long as they possessed it. The group decided that Hamlet was best suited for this task and Vinifera pulled out a glass phial. The Duchess, taken by the object's beauty, reached forth and touched it. As she went to give it to Hamlet, Vinifera told her that it was hers now until the last dryad was freed.

They quickly learned that the phial had become spirit linked to the Duchess and she was unable to rid herself of the effects of the intoxicant.

The Elixir worked, and any dark dryad who drank of it was freed of Cadmus' control. When Cadmus was brought down on Monday it apparently freed all the remaining dryads, since the phial vanished leaving the Duchess with a three day hangover.

Late on Saturday, Mother Tyrra requested that the four people the Defenders had chosen and the three who held the spirit's objects of power should come with her. They all gathered and she spirit walked them to her permanent circle. Here she used her powers to contact the earth to show them how Cadmus had wrought his evil plan. Scenes appeared before them. In the first, Cadmus, then an elf and not a construct, had a mage duel with a Stone Elf named Vayex whom he referred to as his father. In the second, Cadmus and his sister Deva found a forbidden tome of magic which gave him information on how to construct the Fierthwood, and which gave his sister "necromantic powers." His sister objected, but he convinced her that it was for the best. In the third and final vision, Cadmus' first attempt at creating the Fierthwood was shown. Here Chandor was revealed for who and what he truly was.

All the Earth Spirits seem to have left for now, but they leave new followers in their wake.


Tree King Of Zephyr Saved By Ashbury Citizens

Rhyme, the Tree King of Zephyr, who had come to Ashbury two months ago seeking aid against Cadmus, had apparently finally fallen to Cadmus' power. He led several attacks against the town killing people indiscriminately. Once the Elixir of the Earth was found, however, Rhyme was no longer seen.

On the Sunday afternoon of Cadmus' attack on Ashbury, a non-diseased dryad phased out of the trees near the Ducal Manor House. He introduced himself as Branchwalker, the Tree King of Avalon. He was searching for those who helped Rhyme previously to attempt a rescue mission. To free Rhyme, the seeds Rhyme passed on to the adventurers had to be planted in his grove and then Rhyme himself had to be doused with the Elixir of the Earth.

The Ash Forest held the Dryad Seeds and they sent a team with Branchwalker consisting of Baron Thomas, Lady Kittery, Squire Algar, Squire Caleb, and Lithitar and Raymox from the Shield of Vendamor.

They traveled with Branchwalker through the trees to the continent of Zephyr. They fought animated redwood trees in order to obtain water from Rhyme's sacred spring, which was needed to nourish the seeds.

They finally came into the grove where a huge tree in its center held Rhyme's face. They told Rhyme that they were here to help him, but Rhyme refused help. Rhyme attacked with several powerful dryad casters and the aid of his own tree, which was capable of doing tremendous damage. The battle was long fought and dangerous.

The group captured Rhyme and properly planted the seeds. Branchwalker then returned them to Ashbury so that Rhyme could be dosed with the Elixir of the Earth.

When Rhyme was freed he returned home and brought back with him a great reward for the group. He poured forth onto Squire Algar's shield a huge sum of gold, pieces of jewelry, and a bottle containing the Warmth of Tyrra which he had retrieved for them.


Hobgoblins Plea Peace, Provide Plume

About one year ago, a group calling themselves Hobgoblins for Humans came to Ashbury to negotiate for "peace between the people." They represented a tribe of hobgoblins who has broken away from their hostile brethren and wanted to live in peace with those around them, including Ashbury. They called their new tribe The Open Hand Of Peace.

The open hand was slapped down, when despite urging from a human member of the group named Casbekar, the townsfolk killed Cruz, a hobgoblin diplomat come to negotiate for peace. Cruz had made no hostile actions and carried no weapon and had traveled into town with Casbekar to show his peaceful intent.

Casbekar tried to plead his case, but was ignored. It was not until the people of Ashbury found that the hobgoblins could supply the Smoke Plume that they needed to help fight against Cadmus that anyone paid any attention.

Casbekar took his newfound position of negotiating strength to heart. In exchange for the Smoke Plume, Casbekar demanded that a treaty be worked out with the Duchy of Ashbury. He would settle for no less.

Duke Bryan and Casbekar eventually worked out this treaty, though details have not yet been made public.

The Duke then chose Squire Ivan to organize a band of adventurers to recover the Plume. Knowing that most of Ashbury's finest were busy with the tournament, Ivan recruited a party of young but able warriors, scouts, mages and healers.

This group included his cousin Killian, as well as Rajha Sharoud, Shanwae, Darwin Xavier, Nea, Quavven and Solemn Judgment. They set out Sunday night in search of the Bloody Hand, a rival tribe of the Open Hand of Peace hobgoblins. According to Casbekar, this evil tribe possessed the Smoke Plume.

The party easily dispatched goblin sentries within the Bloody Hand's desolate territory. They fought through hobgoblin warriors as well, finally reaching the ogre leader of the tribe and several necromancers.

The evil denizens were no match for Ashbury's determined young adventurers. The Smoke Plume was recovered and held for later use against Cadimus. Casbekar has not been seen since.


Ashbury Saves the Children of Fangthorn!?

Across the lands surrounding Connor small groups of heavily armored Deep Trolls have been seen moving towards the capital city. Reports state that many of these small groups have avoided towns and hamlets, but many citizens can vouch for the appearance of an Aspect Warrior within the walls of the city under a flag of truce.

An Aspect Warrior is an elite Troll bodyguard of the Emperor of the Deep Trolls, ruler of a civilization called the Sunless Empire located somewhere below the Tower Hills. The Deep Trolls had fought against Fangthorn and his necromancy throughout the years.

Reports from a generous individual calling himself Sideshow Bill indicate that the Aspect Warrior was reportedly looking for individuals to aid him in recovering the children of Fangthorn. Many groups were very anxious to aid in preserving the treaty with the Empire, recognizing the Aspect Warrior, and agreeing to destroy one of the suspected brides of Fangthorn and in doing so, recovering the child.

It is apparent that a faction of the Aspect Warriors calling themselves the Earth Brothers agreed that once identified, any children exhibiting necromantic abilities would be destroyed. He however refused to accompany citizens to the Guildhall for identification, saying he did not want to risk losing the child to cutthroats or evil doers.

The Aspect Warriors led groups such as the Barony of Trellheim, the Barony of the Ash Forest, the Shield of Vendamor, the Harvest Moon, the Mages' Guild and many others. Each group was led to a different lair where the Aspect Warrior stated one of Fangthorn's brides resided.

These groups were challenged by many obstacles that were later examined by members of the Royal Army tracking the Deep Troll movements under orders from the Duke.

One of the inspection teams reported running into a strange spirit haunting the troll's necromantic stronghold. Calling himself Dilynjeer A'Therreal, this apparent non-corporeal dark elf was in fact a Baron of the infamous Unseelee Court. Many army members were tricked into giving this Baron opportunities to gather favors to successfully bypass the many glyphs that were in the lairs. He was generous and seemingly fair about the amount of "favors" the Army members accrued, and it is not unlikely that he used similar means to provide help to our citizens in exchange for the hopeful gaining of the child through a Fairy Door that was opened and allowed him passage into our world.

Once his true nature was revealed, the Army attempted to capture him, but he escaped through the feygate, closing it behind him. His last reported words before departing through the gate were "We have one child, that is all we need! The debt owed to us by Shalizar, Hanson, Konrad, Hamlet, Unrok, Derek, Zachary, Caleb, Algar, and Laurelin will soon be collected. All in all, this was very profitable."

While searching another lair, a note was found among the bodies of a fallen army inspector. The note stated the following: "We have the son of the Demiurge. A new Champion is born to Jhivantane! The Bat, Hammer, and Dove will not save you this time and we certainly look forward to making many new friends in the Duchy of Ashbury very soon." The letter was unsigned, but was posted to the chest of a Charnal Juggernaut (formerly Lieutenant Graf McMantis of the Connor Guard) with a symbol usually associated with chaos carved into his forehead.

With at least two of the children in the hands of someone other than the Sunless Empire, we can expect an uncertain future. It won't take another Prophecy to foretell that the sons of Fangthorn live, and their mothers will be soon looking to get even.


Mystic Wood Elf Hornblight Disease Cause Discovered

The Mystic Wood Elves of Ashbury have found the cause of the latest outbreak of the deadly disease Hornblight but have yet to rid themselves of the disease.

A Mystic Wood Elf healer named Doveheart appeared recently in the city. She was the healer who cured the last outbreak of the dread disease. She told everyone that she had found a treatment for this form of the disease as well. She gave the Mystic Wood Elves an ointment which alleviated the pain of the disease and started the horns growing back.

Indeed the Mystic Wood Elves noticed swelling where the drug was applied. However, two hours later, the swelling burst as if they were nothing but giant pimples. No one understood why Doveheart would do such a thing.

Later that night, a satyr named Shaedum came to town. With him were Alison, a nymph, and Gruf, a bear pooka. They talked with the townsfolk and gave massages which inflamed many peoples passions. Several of the Mystic Wood Elves talked with them and later traveled with this cousin of theirs. This proved to be a big mistake, as when Shaedum got them alone, he quickly enslaved them, fey-marked them, and forced them to be his unwitting servants.

The next day, a Mystic Wood Elf child resurrected at the Healer's Guild. Her name was Fleur and she told the Mystic Wood Elves that she had been traveling with her twin sister and several other Mystic Wood Elves, including ones named Troubadour and Mist-walker. Both Troubadour and Mistwalker are people of high standing in the Mystic Wood Elf clans. According to her story, they were attacked and she was killed, but she did not recall her death. She was, however, able to draw a map of where they had been camped.

Naerfin, Khevian, Lupiticus, and Ryval all got ready to go to rescue their brothers. They brought with them Dame Sonya and the sarr Emerald, who has a Mystic Wood Elf child.

Jericho refused to go unless other members of his barony were going along, so was left behind by his fellow Mystic Wood Elves who did not hide their disappointment with him.

When the group got to the camp, they found the permanently dead bodies of two Mystic Wood Elves, each with their horns cut off, not rotted away. Neither of the two bodies were Troubadour or Mistwalker. Emerald tracked the attackers back to their lair where they fought a set of guards outside of a large cave. They then entered the cave to find more guards who rang a large bell, warning those further in of the attack.

After a pitched battle, the Mystic Wood Elves and their allies fought their way through. They found a large door in one wall of the cave and when they opened it they saw Mistwalker tied up, Troubadour holding a large lever, and Fleur's twin sister hanging over a pool of water with large toothy fish jumping in and out. All of the Mystic Wood Elves appeared to have had their horns severed from their heads.

From behind some rock formations stepped Shaedum and several minions. Now he was no longer the friendly satyr everyone had met the night before. He appeared with a sneer on his face, wearing a leather vest with Mystic Elf horns hanging all over it.

He told the group that if they did not surrender he would order Troubadour to release the child into the water, killing her. When the group did not act fast enough for Shaedum, he said "defend your master" and Naerfin and Khevian, who had been enslaved to him the night before, attacked their allies.

Khevian waylaid Emerald and Naerfin started attacking with his spear. Shaedum deathed Dame Sonya and charmed Lupiticus, Troubadour pulled the lever and Fleur's sister sank beneath the water. Of all those who entered the cave, only Ryval got away to warn Ashbury.

Shaedum then enslaved his captives and ordered them to march into Ashbury attacking all others, telling them not to interfere with the Dark Lord Shaedum. Before they could get far, Ryval returned bringing allies from Trellheim and the Shield of Vendamor, who quickly defeated the enslaved townsfolk.

When they got back into the room where Shaedum had been, they found only Mistwalker and a pool of blood rising to the surface of the water. The townsfolk left to try and find enslavement antidotes for everyone and Mistwalker wandered into town alone. When people finally helped her, she gave them a diary she had taken from Shaedum's lair.

The diary detailed Shaedum's experiments in trying to make Hornblight a deadlier disease. It also revealed him as a servant of Firron, a Prince of the satyrs, and the ancient enemy of the Mystic Wood Elves. The diary also gave the recipe for a true treatment for Hornblight which is not a cure but is at least keeping the Mystic Wood Elves alive for now.

No one has seen the Shaedum, Troubadour, or Doveheart since.


Undead Assassin's Guild Moves In On Ashbury

Late on the evening of September first, a large group of undead came marching into town. They were led by a Death Knight who began to loudly announce "People of Ashbury! From now on all tribute and protection money that had formerly been. . ."

That's as far as he got before Duke Bryan spelled him into the ground. The undead then attacked and were destroyed.

The next day, a man calling himself Hunter came into town and spoke with the Duke. Hunter was following the leader of the undead, one "Lord Melezar," and had been trying to destroy him for years. He gave the Duke two maps. Each one led to one of Melezar's local lairs. The lairs were protected by some sort of magical darkness and each could be entered at one time only. It was at first thought that Melezar was a Liche, moving into Mourna's former dominion, but some evidence now indicates that he is but a powerful vampire and leader of an undead assassin's guild called the Immercenaries.

Duke Bryan led a group of nobles which included Baron Bretton, Sir Aloryn, Sir Kirath, Lord Morgan, Lord Hanson, Squire Caleb, and others to Melezar's first lair. They passed through the wall of darkness which shrouded the entrance and then encountered an invisible wall which could not be pushed through but had to be pulled away from in order to pass.

After fighting some phase spiders, they finally entered Melezar's domain. When he saw them enter, he sent some of his minions after them and put himself in a circle of power. After the minions were dispatched he talked with the nobles, explaining that they were free to leave the tribute and go before his wrath was raised. They of course waited to fight him, but he went gaseous and escaped while more minions came out to fight. It was a difficult battle and several of the townsfolk were deathed during it, but our nobles prevailed and everyone was lifed.

A second group consisting of Baron Thomas, Sir Konrad, Lady Kittery, Squire Algar and others then sought the lair from the second map. They came into a similar set of caverns and arrived at the inner sanctum just as Melezar arrived from his first lair. Again Melezar put up a circle of power and parlayed with the people. He claimed that he had just finished killing the first group that attacked him and if they wished to die as well, he could oblige. The group fought through many minions including a vampire who feigned death in order to try to destroy their Stake of Woe. The attempt was unsuccessful and another vampire was permanently put to rest. Melezar escaped again by going gaseous and fleeing through the caves.

Late Sunday night, hordes of undead swarmed over the town and attacked. Melezar himself came out and told the town that he was offended by their invasion of his home and that he was moving it to another area of Ashbury. Business is now open he said and apparently we can expect undead assassins to start attacking within our borders.


Ash Forest Wins 595 Nobles' Tournament

Even though the Ash Forest was one of the prime movers in an attempt to convince the Duke and Duchess to cancel the Nobles' Tournament this year, once they determined that their pleas would not be granted, they put themselves into the task wholeheartedly and were victorious.

Although they won only one event (Entertainment), the team was able to place high enough in enough other events to win by two points.

Judging this year was very difficult and the Duke and Duchess were often seen debating who should receive which position. "I wish we could just have a five way tie," Duchess Mara was overheard to say after the Colors competition.

One thing that seemed to hurt many of the teams in the competitions was the apparent (if not real) lack of teamwork. Since many of the competitions require team participation, entries that used only a few of the team members were judged to be inferior to those that utilized the entire team.

Trellheim also hurt itself a few times by making humorous remarks that did not go over well with the Duke or Duchess who seem to desire that their nobles take the competition seriously--or at least during presentations such as Colors. Blythedale probably hurt themselves as well during Colors when Wild Elf Jonah Purus showed obvious disgust at the announcement that Sir Eridan would be named a Paladin, thus making two Amani elves as Paladins. Trellheim also hurt themselves in both the Entertainment and Superlatives sections of the Tournament with comments about "musical nobility" and "chicks."

The newly designed traps competition proved to be very controversial and many argued that the results should be discarded. The Duchess gave the rules to the competition, pointing to trap boxes at the end of a track, and saying that whoever returned something to her first would get the most points. Of course, she meant the one who got something from the box first and brought it to her would win, but Hanson just handed her one of his thieves' tools as soon as the competition began and placed first. "This is a traps competition, not a Rules Loophole competition!" argued some, but the Duke said that the competition should reward those who use lateral thinking. It should be pointed out that even if this competition were removed, the only change would have been to put Nordenn and Blythedale in a tie for 3rd place.

Squire Caleb and the gypsy Dax placed first and second respectively in the Spellcasters' Competition, followed by the Ash Forest.

Like the Commoners' Tournament, the nobles' Archery Competition was exciting and very close, with runoffs required. Not surprisingly, Baron Thomas' well known skill with a bow served him well, placing Blythedale first.

The Race was not even close. Trellheim sped into first place, and Hanson even taunted his rivals by running the last lap backwards.

Meanwhile, teams were searching for the Hunt items, which included "Truxton's Head on a Spike," (which was put on as a gag), "A Golden Lock" (a lock of blonde hair), and "The Most Nerntwippies"--which were merely slips of paper scattered throughout the area with the word nerntwippy printed on them. There was also a word search puzzle in which the competitors had to find names of people mentioned in the Ashbury Times and discover who was missing, a puzzle whose clues were given by people the Duchess had hired to whisper rumors in the tavern, and an anagram or two.

One anagram, The Loud Broken Dirge, when unscrambled told the competitors to "Look Under the Bridge" where there was an instruction to sing a particular song. Killian of Blythedale was so proud when he discovered that the letters also spelled "Go Order the Blue Kind" and was very disappointed when his loud request for a blue ice pop did not solve the puzzle.

By Sunday night's feast, the Ash Forest and Trellheim were in a dead heat, with Nordenn only two points behind. Every one of the entries for the Entertainment competition were excellent, but once again, a few lost out for lack of group participation. Most everyone agrees that Killian's "Ashbury" song was the hit of the night but the fact that the rest of his team was not up on stage with him counted against Blythedale, and they placed 4th.

First place went to the Ash Forest who used every member of their team and did a funny skit about an athletic competition. The second place Ducal Court did a similar sketch. Trellheim's unusual tuneless chant "song" did not impress the Duchess or Duke much but apparently the fact that they used their entire team counted for more here. Dax's overlong but interesting gypsy tale came in last.

The results of the combat competition could have been predicted by most anyone. After this competition, Trellheim was tied with the Ash Forest for first place with Nordenn close behind. Technically any of the three could have won the Tournament at that point--but neither Trellheim or Nordenn put much of an effort into the Hunt.

The Hunt was won, again not surprisingly, by Blythedale. Lady Talia and the rest of the team had once again spent most of the weekend figuring out the many puzzles and also won most of the superlatives (Some of the superlatives are listed on the next page). Unfortunately, a fire in Blythedale required the attention of the Baron, Sir Pinaes and Squire Star, and so half of the Blythedale team was not present to savor the win.

The Ash Forest placed second in the Hunt, which gave them the push they needed to win the Tournament. They were rewarded with magical bracers.

Second place Trellheim was given the magic shield that had been used by last years' winners Nordenn, but they told Nordenn they could continue to use the shield until they had someone who could wield it. All prizes will be kept by the noble house until the following year.


Tournament Superlatives

Here are some of the entries provided for some of the "superlatives" in the Hunt. They are listed in order from last place to first.

Best Use for Mourna's Disenchanted Bottle:

Best Riddle With The Answer "A Ward Key":

Best Top Ten List:


Chessmaster Challenges Ashbury Again

The strange Dragon Mage known as the Chessmaster showed up in Ashbury recently with his jester creation Harlequin and warned that a great chaos would soon be descending on this plane. He claimed he knew how to stop it but would only give the answer if the city played his game. He refused to give the rules of the game but did say that he would be back in November to play it. He then left, but not before arguing with Shalizar and destroying the Ward on the Guild with his Dragon Magic.

In what is obviously a related circumstance, Templeton, Jonah and Galoran had encounters soon afterwards which resulted in their acquiring a spirit-linked tabard with a chess piece symbol on it. Jonah acquired his pawn tabard while discovering treasure described on a map recovered from a goblin. Templeton found himself with a knight tabard after fighting an obsidian golem, and Galoran received his rook tabard after performing a quest to fight some diamond golems.


Magistrate's Report

by Lord Magistrate Faustus Neumacht

This month's most shocking case was the mass trial of the Harvest Moon. This foul crime would have remained secret had it not been for the efforts of Galoran, who overheard a telling conversation one night in mid-July. He heard several Harvest Moon members making a pact with two powerful beings referred to simply as Death and Chaos Incarnate.

Death Incarnate wished his new minions to keep the Halls of the Dead well-stocked by killing in his name, while Chaos Incarnate wished his followers to form an "Anti-Paladin's Guild" to slay nobles. Several Harvest Moon members freely became minions of these beings, attaining titles such as knight of Chaos and Death.

Information soon surfaced on questionable instances when Harvest Moon members attempted to fulfill these pacts. A couple of hours before sunrise on September 3rd, I decided the weight of evidence warranted a raid on the Harvest Moon's lodgings. With the aid of the Barony of Nordenn, we found the diary of Sergeant Yorrick. His mid-July entry read, "I have completed the D.P. with D. I am now a Knight!" Clearly, D.P. stood for "dark pact" and D stood for "Death." This confirmed the story Galoran had told of the merchants swearing fealty to these beings.

Based on this evidence, the Harvest Moon were locked in their Ward, and were tried the following day with aid from Baron Justice. To the end, the accused maintained their innocence. However, given the significant evidence, as well as several minor inconsistencies that emerged during individual questioning, I found the sailors guilty of Treason and several counts of Conspiracy.

In a separate incident which came to my attention, the band's healer, Hamlet, was witnessed casting necromancy with the tacit approval of several of his comrades. Based on these several crimes, I assigned the following sentences: 2 deaths each to Hamlet, Sudra Trouvell, Varag, and Sergeant Yorrick, 1 death to Captain O'Connor (he was not present when the pacts were made) and a total of 13 gold in fines.

The other members of the Harvest Moon crew neither made the pacts nor witnessed the necromancy, and so were not charged. The Harvest Moon have paid for their crimes, and it is my sincere hope that they will renounce their sinister pacts and rejoin the ranks of law-abiding citizens.

In another incident, a Nimani slaver was found to possess false papers, and was executed. Still, I must remind the citizenry that because of the treaty with Niman, slave-holders can travel through our Duchy if they have the proper writ. I can understand the loathing many have for the institution of slavery, but such slave-holders are protected under the law, and attacks upon these travelers must and will be prosecuted.

In a long overdue case, Camilla and Etcetera were found guilty of gypsy cursing Sir Aloryn at the Necropolis earlier this year. Despite previous unclear reports, I determined that this event did indeed occur, as confirmed by confessions from the two gypsies. They were charged with Assault and Mockery of a Noble Title and fined 6 gold each. Sir Aloryn donated his 6 gold compensation to the Healers' Guild Poor Creatures Fund.

I found Cadmus' sister Deva guilty of Necromancy. Though she did not want to aid her brother's dark ambitions, she was found to have willfully used an innate Desecrate power, and so was executed.

Finally, it seems that the Korombos Brothers, the infamous necromancers and murderers who my predecessor executed nearly two years ago, have returned. They are now powerful undead, and have expressed an interest in disrupting Ashbury's legal system through means such as my own murder. With these threats to the law in Ashbury in mind, I offer a ten gold reward for the destruction of this fell band.


Letter to the Editor

To all the citizens in Ashbury,

I write this to inform all of you of a great danger that has befallen my entire race. If you were in Ashbury City in in the first part of September you may have noticed an odd trio of a satyr, a nymph, and a pooka. What I have to tell you relates only to the satyr.

The satyr's name is Shaedum. While he appears to be friendly, helpful, and fun it is just an act to conceal much more sinister intentions. We, being the Mystic Wood Elves in town, have definitive proof that he somehow created and introduced the disease Hornblight into Evendarr. Hornblight, if you do not know, causes the horns of Mystic Wood Elves to slowly rot off eventually leading to the death of the individual. Once the individual resurrects in a contaminated area the disease will start the process all over again eventually leading to the permanent death of the person infected.

I want to caution the citizens of Ashbury not to act rashly should they see this satyr. As much as we would all like to see him pay dearly for his crimes he should not be killed on sight. He is holding several heroes of my people in the bonds of slavery. Shaedum works for a master alchemist of the likes, I can assure you, Ashbury has never seen.

The action Shaedum has taken is the action of a rogue group of satyrs led by a satyr named Firron. They consider my race to be "abominations" and think we should all be killed.

I want it to be known that two people not of my race have already risked their lives in trying to save Troubador, Mistwalker, and Doveheart, the Mystic Wood Elves known to be enslaved by Shadim. To Dame Sonya Dawntreader and Emerald I wish to extend my deepest gratitude for your actions.

Loremaster Naerfen Kel-tier'lin


A Little Birdie Told Me

by Sue D'Onym

Some people would say that springtime is the time for relationships to begin blooming, (well, unless they're gyspies). Any time is a good time for love, and I believe this truth is beginning to catch on.

Dame Sonya's interest in Baron Bretton has developed into a full-time obsession. Despite the many people who support the ducal knight in her Brettonquest, the Baron remains uninterested. However, Sir Kirath lent Sonya his cloak, which is, according to Dax, some sort of courtship ritual.

The Ducal marriage, which was upset when Duchess Mara's late husband Cormac Tirane returned from the dead, has recently become downright strained since the Isabella Nault scandal. Apparently mother and wife have been pulling Duke Bryan's strings, vying to gain his undivided attention. If that was not enough to push him into the arms of a certain golden-tressed gryphon, then perhaps the incident involving the Duchess, Squire Algar, pointy ears, and tapioca would.

On a brighter note, things seem to be going well for Baroness Laurelin in the Ash Forest. Having given up on Brettonquest herself, she is to be handfasted to Squire Balinthalis of Nordenn. Already he has earned the nickname: "Baron Uncle Bob."

Shalizar's relationship with Unrok is also apparently going very well, and I am certain that Unrok's recent frantic request to every gypsy he could find to sell him a Love potion #9 is purely coincidential.

Also going well is the relationship between Baron Justice and Corrine DuFore, despite the Baron's mental decay into Ritual Madness. (Only temporary, right?) However, it is best not to make too much noise around the Baron's Manor House late at night, as Natasha and a few friends found out recently. He angrily tried to bring them up on charges of Disturbing the Peace, but given the noise that usually reigns in Ashbury late at night, Magistrate Faustus refused to charge the noisemakers. "I am very embarassed for Baron Justice now, his losing control in public like that and all," said the accused gypsy. "Must be hard to act like that and still retain respect."

Baron Thomas' attitude lately has many upset and worried. Is it the result of his race change? Was there a backlash like Justice's? Or did he just become another snooty Quentari? His court isn't talking but my sources say they're deep in discussion about getting the Baron's good reputation back.

Speaking of those pesky Quentaris, you might want to keep an eye on Galoran. It seems he visited a house of pleasure recently, and seeing one man whipping and torturing another, immediately went in and killed the torturer. "You mean he wanted to be tortured?" asked the confused elf. He probably would have been let off with just a fine if he hadn't also attacked the local magistrate who was investigating the incident.

Back to love of a more traditional type: Who is the mysterious woman sending love sonnets to Lord Hanson? My own surveys conducted by some of my spies in town have revealed Hanson to be the Most Eligible Bachelor in town. (In case you're interested, Squire Gwynne is considered the Most Eligible Bachelorette by a substantial margin.)

Camilla, meanwhile, has fallen madly in love with Naerfin, but I have reason to believe she'll be just fine in 28 days. She already has suitors Quentin and Sir Kelial to deal with--although the lawyer was overheard to say about the noble biata "Let's see how much he can do when he's Imprisoned." Um, Quentin dear, I think that's illegal. . .

As an amusing aside, trapmaster Randiron, so proud of his skills, managed to send himself and two of his companions to the Healers' Guild for resurrection by amateurishly exploding his own trap. Is that why I heard someone say recently that he "couldn't keep his trap shut to save his life"?

Well, that's all I have for this month. Send me your New They Don't Want You To Know. And until next month, remember: If you can't say something nice about someone, come sit by me.


Public Notices

HOUSE NORDENN would like to announce the adoption of a new brother into our ranks. Sir Kirath Mournblade, has been accepted and adopted by House Nordenn custom by the elders of the family. Further Kirath as a member of House Nordenn, will continue in his capacity as warrior champion of the House, and person champion of Duke Bryan Nordenn. Only a member of House Nordenn may carry the Sword of Ganderfax, as they all have sworn to uphold the honor of the Master of Dreams. I, Bryan Nordenn the Duke of Ashbury, champion the causes of the Wizard of Dreams; House Nordenn stands by my side to see that his causes are victorious. Kirath: You are my brother, you are my blood, you share my name. Our honor is bound for eternity and my word is law. - Duke Bryan Islevarr Nordenn

ATTENTION CITIZENS OF ASHBURY! I am pleased to announce that there are three new members of the Ducal Watch. I am still looking for interested beings to fill the ranks of the watch, so feel free to search me out and sign up. I would also like to take this time to introduce the duchy to my new recruits Loremaster Naerfen Kel-tier'lin, Templeton Neumacht, and Kiegan. - Sheriff Dugal McEwan

GYPSY PARTIES every weekend night in the Dragon's Flagon! Come one, come all, or just come!

CONGRATULATIONS to Dame Sonya Dawntreader for winning the raffle and thanks to all who helped the orphans of the Shankar Vorg Havenwood Orphanage.

ASHBURY REGISTRY OF TEACHERS. Referrals for a wide range of skills. Discretion assured. Teachers: get students without spending all your time recruiting. See Prof. Turlough Kuranes.

ALWAYS LOOKING for a few good people to work the tavern! Good pay, benefits, wonderful fellow employees! Tips! Learn useful job skills. Must be friendly and good with people. If you're not, come work as a bouncer! Cooks also needed, show off your flair for food! See Camilla or Natasha to apply.

SEVERAL OF MY RIDDLES have yet to be solved. Think on them, Ashbury. I will be around. - The Puzzlemaster

ANY CITIZENS OF EVENDARR suffering the celestial plague introduced in Diron a few months ago should find Checkmate. we will either cure you or find someone who can. This disease must be eradicated by November!

I SEE THAT MY GIFT was well received. E7 - E5.

DAME SONYA: I know I am nothing but a fool to you but know this: No man would serve, honor or love you more. I am no warrior nor powerful merchant - but the riches of Tyra and all the laughter of a lifetime would be yours if you'd but notice me. Say the word and I am yours to command as quickly as 1-2-3. - KMG

YOU THINK YOU HAVE DEFEATED ME? I still retain the Fierthwood and you no longer have the Golem Maker's toy with which to try and take it away. I still have the dryads and the Elixir of the Earth is gone. I shall see your city rot yet. For the death I have taken, and the death you gave my sister, I shall make your punishment all the more painful. - Cadmus, Sorcerer of The Black Wood.

FREE DETECT MAGICS cast at the Ashbury Mages' Guild every hour on the half hour during Guild hours. (Listen for the bell). Hours are noon - 6 pm and 8 pm - midnight. Also: Magic items Identified, Ritual Components researched, scrolls bought and sold, and Rituals cast. Hot tea and cocoa for our chilled customers.

TIRED AND BROKE from hunting down monsters only to have bullies in matching tabards take your treasure? Come work for the Commoner's Guild! We do much more than work in the tavern. Dishonest types need not apply. This is an honorable guild.

I AM STILL teaching the art of First Aid for free. First Aid is a real life saver. - Maximus.

WANTED: Ritual components and scrolls; Anyone who wishes to sell them, please contact me. - Anakin

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE for men and women! Take a break from battling the scourges of our great Duchy and relax! Reduces fatigue and listlessness, soothing for both mind and body, prices ranging from 8 nobles to 3 gold per half hour. Hourly rates are a bargain! Discount rates available if you don't want to reach that deep into your pocket, but why wouldn't you want to give yourself the best? Gift certificates available. Make an appointment now, see Natasha Roskaya Servenka (usually in the kitchen) in the Dragon's Flagon.

JONAH, are you still interested in lunch? - Deva

DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT of submissions, The Ashbury Times reserves the right to refuse to publish every public notice. Please limit your submissions to one or two per issue.

THE ASHBURY TIMES apologizes for losing some public notices that were recently submitted. The typesetter moved the type into place, threw away the original copy of the submission, and then backed into the printing press, scattering the type across the room. He has been fired.

THE ASHBURY MAGES' GUILD would like to congratulate the following new Apprentices: Hanson, Barony of Trellheim; Faelynn Temar Jesalan; and the following promotions to Guildsman: Radric Helfax, Barony of Trellheim; Naerfen Kel-tier'lin, Barony of the Ash Forest; and the following promotion to Senior Guildsman: Jericho, Barony of Nordenn