All of Ashbury Swallowed by a Maw?

On Friday, the 13th of March, the unthinkable happened. The largest Black Maw yet recorded thundered into existence over the skies of our fair duchy.

After a furious and brilliant display of emerald lightning, the great Maw descended upon Ashbury. A period of violent earthquakes followed, during which nothing and no one could be heard over the tremendous roaring of the aggravated earth. When the trembling ceased, an unnatural silence fell across the duchy. It was as if every living being was afraid to utter a single sound. The land sat in complete blackness until it seemed as if everyone had been cast into a mass grave and buried alive. A suffocating fear crept into the hearts of citizens throughout the realm.

Then screams of terror filled the night as mass panic broke out, resulting in many deaths and hundreds of injuries. Eventually, torch and lantern lights appeared throughout the darkness, like stars in the night sky, as Ducal and Baronial troops arrived to restore order. The soldiers were hard pressed to calm the masses when they themselves were struggling against their own anxieties.

Just as the people were adjusting to the situation, the Maw, now surrounding the land completely, flared with green lightning, and massive bolts struck random areas. Wherever the lightning touched, strange creatures formed. They were black clad, featureless humanoids that spoke only in chilling whispers. Dubbed by a Sergeant in the Blythedale army as “Maw Wraiths,” they seemed bent on destroying all sources of fire, so that there may be nothing but true darkness.

Adventurers engaged in battle with the Maw Wraiths wherever they were found. They managed to hold out against the creatures until Baronial troops arrived to crush the wraiths. It seemed that fire, the very thing the creatures despised, was their great weakness. Battles continually raged as Maw Wraiths were formed periodically.

The emerald lightning crackled again and struck random people across the duchy. Whomever the bolts touched became endowed with powers such as great strength, speed and hardiness. Others touched by the Maw seem to be able to briefly channel the Maw’s energy and cast a deadly blast from their hands.

His Grace Duke Aramis Llyrr and the Ducal Court rode with his famous Red Phoenix Company, the Ducal 1st Dragoon Regiment and The Screaming Phoenix Company throughout the capitol.

“Defend the fire supplies, His Grace shouted to the people as he thundered by to confront a large mass of Maw Wraiths. His bravery was a source of inspiration for many.

Fuel sources are limited, especially when light is needed continually 24 hours each day. Alchemists have banded together and work round the clock to produce plenty of liquid lights, while healers unite in studying and preparing plenty of light spells. Candlemakers and torchmakers are working around the clock to meet the need, and with the cold weather, the need has been great.

Duke Aramis has ordered that all troops, Ducal and Baronial, active and reserve, be placed on full alert. Citizens are to stay off the roads and behind locked doors for the time being.

His Grace has also issued a request that all adventurers come to Ashbury Capital on 17 April 598 for an emergency gathering in order to meet, discuss strategy, and help defend the realm and close the Black Maw.

Now as we all look out our windows and glimpse the unnatural night and hear the sounds of the struggle against the Maw Wraiths, an icy fear and uncertainly falls upon our hearts as we wonder what will happen next.


"Undoer" Attacks in Blackbourne

Unknown forces recently attacked the Castle of Blackborne. A stern and grim company of Dwarven warriors who were joining the Trellhiem armed forces defended the castle and repelled invaders of an unknown nature. Casualties were high.

Apparently a group of six or seven red and yellow clad individuals somehow entered the keep past dozens of guards and put many of the Anvilringer company to the sword while they slept. Remaining dwarven warriors and garrison troops fought dozens of the yellow and red clad beings. Individuals in the battle claimed they had enormous claws, blue skin, and eyes with no life in them. One guard claimed to have been called “Brutish” before being struck down by a blue skinned orc with an emblem of a Scimitar and halberd on his tunic.

Security around the magical obelisk that repels trollkind was breached and the obelisk has disappeared. The glowing blue eyes of two individuals where seen in the darkness by one dwarven guard who was killed. Waking from his resurrection screaming, the young dwarven warrior babbled incessantly that the “The Undoer walks among us!” He has since been sent to a local healer’s guild for observation.

Some Ashbans may recall an encounter with the Undoer a few years ago, but descriptions at the time did not describe anything dwarflike.

With the obelisk disappearing, the blue eyed being departed with his entourage of several warriors, many of them reappearing out of a glowing white hammer, some of them appearing as the dwarven guards it had just slain. It sundered the gates of Blackborne with one might smash of its hammer and disappeared into the night.

It is unknown if this new attack is connected somehow to the deep trolls activity in the area.


Trouble in Trollsgate

The Deep Trolls have been bottled in by assembled Ducal forces under a flag of truce for the past three months in Trollsgate. Awaiting something, the Trolls of the Deep have kept the peace thus far, but that may have ended.

In early March, prior to the Black Maw situation, a confrontation ocurred. Exiting the gates of the city of Trollsgate, once the center of Dwarven glory within Ashbury, the ambassador of the Deep Trolls (rumored to be known as “Pax”) approached the assembled forces of Trellhiem and the Duchy. The usually calm and well mannered Troll laid out a specific demand: withdrawl of all Ducal Forces from the estate of Trollsgate. No longer apparently content with just the Dwarven city, the ambassador claimed that little has been done to break this stalemate of will and that unless there was immediate withdrawl, a hostile conflict would begin between the two nations.

A large explosive device then ripped across the command tent where the two forces met in discussion. The honor guard of the Ambassador screamed in anger and hurried to the aid of the ambassador, attacking all who stood in their way. The fighting was fierce but the Deep Trolls were overcome and the ambassador was saved.

This fracus was handled with grace and decorum by the Trellhiem officers, but the trolls were extremely angry. Over 1200 Trolls exited the gates of the city led by a Red Troll rumored to be named “Fire Knife.” The assembled call to arms rang across the plains surrounding Trollsgate and as the assembled armies stood opposite one another, the ambassador and his honor guard were returned to the Troll forces.

As Pax turned to address the Ducal forces, he claimed that the culprits for the bomb must be found or war would ensue. Anyone with any information should contact local authorities.


Troops Return Home in Victory!

Two weeks ago the final battle with the Sessuar was won.

Troops of the Barony of Trellheim and the Barony of Blythedale have returned home victoriously from the war with the Sessuar in Ravenholt and Rotaria. The Sessuar were beset by a strange disease of unknown origins and were dying in record numbers, and it was discovered this disease did not apparently operate within the magical boundaries of Ravenholt. The Sessuar pushed through Rotaria and into Capulus, pursued by the assembled armies of Rotaria and Evendarr, including the 1st Ducal Assault regiment of Ashbury, sent to aid Princess Lillian.

Capulus bore the brunt of attacks, as well as the two companies of Baron Kelial’s rangers of Blythedale, formed under the watchful eye of Lord Tristan Greycloak in his tenure as Baron.

The companies gave a good accounting of themselves despite recent rumors of desertions and low moral. The fighting was extreme and casualties were high among all of the forces fighting there. The two companies of Blythedale and the Regiment of the Duke’s 1st Assault have returned to Blythedale in victory and celebration.

The three legions of the Barony of Trellhiem sent to aid Baron Vandal of Westmarch will forever have a place in the history of Ashbury and Ravenholt. The only troops available were led to a critical pass within the mountains to hold against nearly 12,000 advancing Sessuar and their bonded Janisarries. Holding the entire pass so that citizens could retreat and the armies reform, the forces of Trellhiem held the pass for a time unprecedented. Making their stand and defeating wave after wave of the Sessuar forces, Life spells eventually gave out but the Trellhiem command refused to retreat—knowing each life given would save 10 on the other side of the pass. They gave no ground. Falling and fighting to the last man their sacrifice will forever be known by the historians and children of Ashbury.

Further feeding the stories of this amazing battle, it is rumored that all of the three legions resurrected successfully in healer’s guilds within Northern Nordenn and Trellhiem without a single permanent casualty. With all of our men and women of the armed forces of the Duchy having returned home, we are at full strength to turn our concentration of problems at home.


Letter to the Editor

An open letter to the esteemed Citizens of Ashbury,

Since it seems I will be spending some time in Ashbury, as His Grace Duke Nicademus Vordan has asked me to be an emmisary to your beautiful land, I will now take some time to pen this letter to all of Ashbury’s citizens.

In the past, our two fair duchies have shared merely tolerable relations. It is time for us to put an end to this, and to share a more agreeable coexistence. In my humble experience, it seems that most of the hostility stems from the fact that Ashbans are unwilling to accept the fact that slavery is a viable tool in the administration of a governing body. I am in no way proposing slavery as a way of life in Ashbury, but I will endeavor to explain its positive aspects as well as dispel some of the myths that surround the institution.

First and foremost, slavery is a tool to be used in eradicating two of the most pressing problems any legitimate government faces in these modern times. The first is crime. With a well run system of slavery, crime is eliminated. In a slave society, no one goes hungry and everyone knows their proper station in life, thus eliminating the causes of crime. I have seen the areas of Ashbury where crime is rampant, and may I assure you, that Niman is free from these scourges. It is not because of our fine sheriffs or magistrates or our harsh penalties, but because of our system of slavery that crime has been eliminated from our streets.

The second overwhelming problem that is promptly eliminated within a slave society is hunger and starvation. With such a structured society, there is plenty of food for everyone and no one goes hungry.

Now to dispel some of the myths and foul untruths that are foisted upon me daily when I visit this fair duchy. Many would lead you to believe that a slave’s life is one of anguish and pain. Nothing could be further from the truth. A properly cared for slave lives a life far better than the common farmer or worker in any other duchy. They are fed, clothed, given homes and allowed to raise families, all without the worries that beset the “commoners” of other lands. Any owner that would abuse or mistreat a slave is quickly dealt with by the proper authorities. An owner would much less abuse his or her slave than you would abuse your favorite horse — for after all, your horse works best when healthy, well fed, loved and well taken care of. Owning slaves is a special privilege and trust, and those who abuse that trust are dealt with appropriately.

I will sadly admit to the fact that there are renegade slavers that illegally remove citizens from other duchies and countries and try to pass them off as legitimate slaves within Niman. May I assure you that this will not be tolerated in any form. Anyone with information concerning such activities will please bring it to my attention so I may attempt to rectify the situation.

Citizens of Ashbury, please feel free to talk with me when I am in your fair duchy. I serve the kingdom of Evandarr and would see our two fair duchies stride forward into the Seventh Century as firm allies and not as bickering neighbors.

Long live King Mykel! Long Live Princess Lilian!

Sir Frost Vardik, Ducal Knight of Niman


A Little Birdie Told Me

by Sue D’Onym

It’s a bit hard writing this is the dark, but I’m doing my best. Things are very topsy turvy in Ashbury right now, but for some people life goes on.

Shya Corak and Robert Oakwood were seen at the Barrowdowns Mage’s Guild recently with what appeared to be a small lizard. Shya was overheard calling it Jade.

Speaking of lizards, it is rumored that the good Baron Radric has arranged a meeting in the spring with the lizardman Mishrak. It's been said that Guildmistress Natasha has also been invited to this swampmeet.

On the night of March 7th, there were a numerous reports of a banshee roaming around the estate of South Point in the Barony of the Ash Forest. There were no sightings but many many residents claimed the “pitiful wailings” kept them up for hours.

Meanwhile, things are still tense in the Ash Forest (aren’t they always?). It seems that since ex-Baron Algar has joined FOIL, violence against the local kiergani has risen. Is this a coincidence? FOIL leader Teril Belayson states that he is againt such violence but also comments that such violence is “inevitable” as long as the wild elves are allowed to remain in the Forest.

Brighthawk and Algar got into quite a shouting match in the Dragon’s Flagon recently over Algar’s membership in the organization, and it ended with Brighthawk being killed by Algar. She was healed and Algar was arrested but released the next day. Brighthawk has apparently been talking to Sir Eros about pressing charges.

That’s all for this issue, so until next time remember—If you can’t say something nice about someone, come sit by me.


Public Notices

CELESTIAL RITUAL CASTING at a reasonable price. Also, information bought and sold. See Dame Alyx at the Sage’s Guild.

THE ASHBURY MESSENGER’S GUILD! Highly underutilized, this service still exists! For a complete list of servies and prices, please contact me, Ta’Wane, at our offices located at the Roadmeet Stables just outside of Ashbury City. Although we are not a large presence, our membership has grown, and so have the services available. All members and those who would join please contact me, also. New membership being interviewed on April 18th at the Dragon’s Flagon. Long and Short term Contract negotiations by appointment only, April 17th through April 19th.

HONORABLE LORD MAGISTRATE and High Sheriff of Ashbury: Just to remind you Good Sirs that I will be coming to Ashbury proper to meet with you publicly in regards to crimes against my person that occured on New Year's Eve in the Dragon’s Flagon tavern. I thank you for your time. Just to make you aware, I was recently threatened by the barbarian Ator, one of the ones who originally assualted me. May Justice be speedily rendered. – Laranick Shadark, Ashbury Merchant’s Conglomerate