Mara Weds Bryan; Names Him Duke

In a short and simple ceremony held right before the entertainment portion of the Tournament, Duchess Mara and Count Bryan married, pledging their love and support to each other. The Duchess then named Bryan as Duke with powers second only to her own.

It was the first wedding for Bryan, but the third for the Duchess. Her second husband, Cormack Llewelyn Tirane, had died years earlier but had been released from the graveyard when Avar Lychus pulled his page from the Book of the Dead. Cormack's presence cast a worried pall over the ceremony, and when Lord Magistrate Faustus asked if there was anyone who might object to this wedding to speak now or forever hold their peace, all eyes turned towards Cormack for a few long seconds until Bryan said "that's long enough," producing nervous laughter from all attending.

King Joseph sent his best regards and as a present, gave the happy couple two of his estates.

Also attending was the Duchess' son from her first marriage, a slight lad by the name of Ethelred Vila. Lord Ethelred helped the Duchess judge the Tournament and otherwise made his presence known. He even attempted to pass judgement in a trial, wrongly claiming that as the Duchess' son he had the right to do so, before Squire Jonathan Dragonhart interceded and retrieved the Lord Magistrate.

The Duke and Duchess left Ashbury almost immediately threafter on a long honeymoon traveling through the Kingdom, and all wish them the best.


Emperor Dragor Escapes

by Nicholas Firehand

Having recently been returned to my natural form with the help of the Barony of Nordenn, I felt it necessary to chronicle the past and present events which have led to the escape of Emperor Dragor.

Roughly 15,000 years ago, a cruel and viscous leader named Emperor Dragor Ka'Tanya was deposed by a group of rebels lead by Jericho Jalen. Due to the numerous "gifts" which his mother Dragon Mage Empress Alanna granted him before departing this plane, it was discovered that Dragor could not be killed by normal means.

Arbor Thebus, the ArchMage of Sight, set about constructing a ritual confinement which could withstand Great Celestial Changes and would hold Dragor until a means to destroy him could be found.

A number of safeguards were set up in case the confinement should fail. Jericho volunteered to become a bone golem and act as the guardian of the tomb, which he was able to do until his recent destruction at the hands of Dragor's followers via a Destroy Magic ritual. A series of instructions were also left on how to repair Dragor's confinement, which I evidently was part of, though I did not discover this until recently.

On the evening of May 26th, I was freed from my own physical confinement in the ruins of the buried city of Bahrain, now located underneath Ashbury city. Apparently without my knowledge, Arbor had turned me into a bone golem as a sort of emergency plan in the case that Dragor should ever escape from his confinement by an interruption in the flow of magic to this plane.

Unfortunately, the earthquake that buried Bahrain did so before Arbor could tell me all of what I needed to know to stop Dragor and return him to his prison, leaving me with drawings upon my skull about which I had no knowledge. In addition, over the course of centuries, my bone golem body deteriorated such that all that remained was my skull, which, as many know, floated around town.

Jericho and Arbor were not the only ones who made plans for Dragor's escape. A group of Dragor's followers went underground following his fall from power and began plotting to free their master. From what I have been able to piece together of recent history, his Followers made their first unsuccessful attempt at freeing their Dragor last October but were determined to try again.

The people of Ashbury seemed mostly unaware of Dragor's impending rescue, but the Phoenix Illantus arrived and told those who shared his spirit-dreams last fall of the Follower's intentions. Much of the town's fighting power was gathered by Dame Sonya, Baron Bretton, and Baron Justice to fight Dragor's forces and prevent his escape.

After meeting what appeared to be forewarned troops, the town entered the cavern where Dragor had been held for millennia, only to find that as they watched the connection to Seacharn was broken and an area of anti-magic appeared. Some believe that Seacharn is the source of all magic on Tyrra, and without this local connection, Dragor's confinement ritual ceased to function. Within this area no auras could be summoned, no rituals or stored spells could be accessed, and no protectives were active; and as such, Dragor's confinement was suppressed.

The Emperor then escaped by a back tunnel that had been used earlier to witness Jericho's destruction. I do not know where Dragor or the followers who escaped with him are hiding, but I know that they will be marshalling their forces to attempt to regain the power that Dragor lost millennia ago.


A Midsummer Night's Dream (Revisited)

Arastondell of House Herne, the most renowned authority on faerie lore, once wrote "The faeries are, and always shall be, creatures of mystery and legend. At least in dealing with predictable foes like the undead or even the dreaded death elementals, a wise wizard can foresee their actions and attempt to protect himself from such threats. But what unsettles even the most knowledgeable wizard is the world that lies beyond the limits of civilization and rationality--the realm of the Fey."

Arastondell's words come to mind as one tries to make sense of the most recent Faerie incursion into Tyrran affairs, but in the noble tradition of our editor Eric Woolcott, the Times has tried its best to untangle recent events for the edification of our readers.

Early on the evening of May 26, two emissaries from the Black Tower arrived on Grand Sorceress Shalizar's doorstep at the behest of Guildsman Star, a mage in the Ash Forest. Of all the major chantries in Tyrra, including the Sorcerous Six of Jhivantane, the Sleeping Seers of Fu-Nan, and the Spellsingers of the Phoenix, none is more shrouded in secrecy than the fabled Black Tower of Helevorn, located on the shore of Lake Helevorn in Quentari. The only other time the Black Tower made itself publicly known was during the First Dimensional War, when it unleashed unbelievably powerful magics to defeat the elemental hordes that threatened to undo the fabric of reality itself. So Shalizar was surprised to see these two mages, whose names were Drago Nightshade and Voran Quicksilver, outside the Tower, but they explained that the dreams experienced by several elves, including among them Lady Talia Grey, Squire Florin, Talesian, Vaeyne, and Jonah Purus required their presence in Ashbury.

After assembling all the elves into one room, Drago showed them two ancient texts, one by the noted historian Grimgorth of House Arianrhod and the other by the wild elf chieftain Korred of the Snake Tribe.

Grimgorth of House Arianrhod writes: "The Tuatha de Danaan sailed across the Sea from Tir Nan Og and landed upon the shores of Tyrra, where they encountered and conquered the giant Firbolgs. High King Oberon, Lord of the Stars, whose real name is not known, ruled over the Seelie Court with Queen Titania, Mistress of the Earth, by his side. King Arawn, Doommaster, Lord of the Dead, ruled the Unseelie Court with Queen Morgan-Morrigan, Daughter of the Moon, and one of the Three-Who-Are-One, by his side. To call the Seelie Court "good" and the Unseelie "evil" is pure nonsense; in dealing with the mutable and inscrutable Fey, our mortal terms simply do not apply. Better to characterize the difference in aesthetic terms: the Seelie Court embodies the beauty and power of Spring and Summer, while the Unseelie Court embodies the beauty and power of Autumn and Winter. The Crown Prince of the Unseelies and eldest of the progeny, the Frost King, whose name is not known, coveted the Tyrran throne, but Oberon appointed his favorite, the Wind Lord of the Seelies, whose name is not known, as heir, precipitating the Kin-Slaying and the Revolt of those Humans who had discovered the secret of cold iron, the Milesians. With his children slain in a heap by his feet, the raging Oberon impaled Tyrra with his Starsword and uttered the Doom of Oberon. . ." [the text is effaced at this point.]

Korred of the Owl Tribe writes: "behold o sundered [?] folk a mighty portent! When the Turtle climbs on the back of the Dragon, the Horned Master shall ride forth and woe, woe, woe to the [unknown] of the Forest when he sounds his horn! Blood mingled with fire shall cleave the cauldron in twain and the Greenbane [?] shall impale the [unknown] stone with the sister sword [?]. The Three Who Are One [?] shall walk again upon the earth [2 lines are effaced]. . .darkness consume the light, lest the [unknown] claim his or her birthright."

Although Grimgorth's text is effaced, Drago and other Tower adepts had managed to pierce together what the Doom of Oberon entails. Oberon swore that someday an heir would return to reclaim the Starsword, and with it, the right to rule Tyrra in Oberon's name. According to Drago, this mythic Starsword was in fact located in the center of the Ash Forest Standing Stones, where it was encased within a permanent earth circle of power. Turning to the more obscure Korred fragment, Voran identified "Greenbane" as Arawn Doomaster, Lord of the Dead and King of the Unseelies, who wields a sister blade to Oberon's. The Master of the Hunt had already appeared in Ashbury a few weeks before, so Voran believed that it was only a matter of time before Arawn spirit-walked into the Stonedale circle and drove his sword into that rune-encrusted stone, which seals the passageway between Tyrra and Faerie. At the same time Arawn opened a rift into Faerie, the circle at the Standing Stones would drop, allowing the heir to draw the Starsword from the ground for all to see. Drago could only speculate what the end result would be, but guessed that Tyrra and Faerie would somehow merge into one place.

Determined to find out the truth, the intrepid elves decided to travel to Faerie using the lost art of Dreamwalking, whose secrets only Drago and a few other mages possessed. According to Drago, Conjuration and Dreamwalking are like night and day. The first is a very exact science that involves the precise use of incantations, material components, and somatic gestures to evoke an extraplanar being. The etymology of "evoke," to "call out," is instructive: Conjuration forces the being out of its native plane, often against its will, so the conjurer is advised to have some means of controlling the being lest he face its wrath. Dreamwalking, on the other hand, is an art that requires more creativity than knowledge. By gathering objects known as Correspondences--items closely tied to the being's essence--, the Dreamwalker can pierce the barrier between reality and the spirit world, assume a spirit form, and be invoked or "called" before the being in its own domain. Conjuration is coercive; Dreamwalking is devotional. That is not to say that Dreamwalking is free of risk; on the contrary, the denizens of the Umbra have been known to devour the spirit of the Dreamwalker if the Correspondences are faulty.

Drago believed that the dreams of the elves revealed the Correspondences of Faerie, lore which the Black Tower had long desired to attain. Star and the elves managed to interpret the dreams correctly, and after gathering the necessary Correspondences, bade Drago to perform the ritual. Although Drago was successful, an energy flux in the ether proved too much for his mortal frame, and the Tower mage spontaneously combusted before the horrified eyes of the elves. Cast into the ether, Star and the elves attracted the unwanted attention of a roving Pantherghast, but they finished the ritual before the extraplanar creature could pounce upon them.

Arriving in Faerie, Star and the elves knelt before the throne of High King Oberon of the Seelie Court, who told them this legend of the Kinslaying:

In the days of yore, when the world was young, the only creatures to walk upon fair Tyrra were the giant Firbolgs. But then from across the Endless Sea sailed the Tuatha de Danaan, the Lords of Tir Nan Og the Blessed Isle, who landed upon these shores by the light of the rising sun. The first to alight upon the ground was High King Oberon of the Seelie Court, the Sun King, who wielded a blade wrought from the ore of a fallen star whose light could pierce the most impenetrable darkness. By his side was Queen Titania, Mistress of the Earth and Giver of Fruits, who is a lover of all things that grow in the earth, from the trees like towers in forests long ago to the moss upon stones or the small and secret things in the mould. Elder brother to Oberon and King of the Unseelie Court was Arawn Doommaster, Lord of the Dead. Grim of countenance and clad in the blackest of sable, he bore in his gauntleted fist the twin sword to Oberon's which was as dark as the Starsword was bright. By his side, accompanied by her two sisters Neman and Macha, was Queen Morrigan, Lady of the Moon and Stars, whose pale and cold beauty was as unattainable as the farthest star in the heavens. And last to disembark was Grand Duke Llyr the Storm King, younger brother to Oberon and Lord of all the Oceans, wearing a dark helm foam-crested and raiment of mail shimmering from silver down into shadows of green.

And in those days, before the coming of mortals, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts lived in harmony, just as night follows day, and Fall and Winter overtake Spring and Summer. And both Courts looked upon Tyrra and found it pleasing to their sight, and winding their horns, they marched against the Firbolgs and defeated them in a mighty battle that lasted seven days and seven nights.

After this glorious victory, High King Oberon founded his capital in the Ash Forest and there in his great hall he bequeathed to his progeny the regions of Tyrra. Balor son of Arawn and Morrigan, eldest of the progeny, he named Duke of the northern wastes, where the sun never shone and the ground was buried in perpetual ice and snow. Lugh son of Oberon and Titania, he named Marquis of all the regions of air, from the heights and the depths, from the utmost borders of the Veil of Tyrra to the breezes that blow in the grass. Manannon Mac Lir, son of Llyr and Titania, he named Earl of the rivers, lakes, and streams, and all the fresh water that runs in the veins of Tyrra. Ogme son of Oberon and Titania he named Count of visions and dreams, and guardian of the spirits that animate all living things. And it was said that Ogme could cure the most grievous hurt, both in mind and in body, and all those who dwelled in Tyrra flocked to his garden in the Stonewood where they found repose and easing of their burdens. Angus Mac Og, son of Ogme and Titania he named Viscount of all the forests, and he was said to be greatest in strength and deeds of prowess, and while slow to anger, he was an implacable foe when aroused. And finally, Brigit, daughter of Oberon and Morrigan, an untamed and fiery spirit, he named Baroness of the plains, deserts, and arid places, where she roamed with her great bow that always found its mark.

And for centuries the Tuatha de Danaan ruled in peace, assisted by their vassals the Low Faeries, who inhabited the places which their higher brethren ruled. And like Arcadia, magic pervaded every aspect of Tyrra, so that beauty and mystery seemed to spring from every leaf and twig. Then one day the Fey encountered a new race called humans, who in many ways were far inferior to them. Subject to aging and disease, these mortals died in the blink of the eye, yet this curse also seemed to be a blessing, for it endowed them with an unquenchable vitality and drive that contrasted with the fey's carefree yet static existence. The fey were fascinated with these mortals who burned so brightly and yet so quickly and taking pity on their savage state, they taught them the arts of civilization. Before long, as much as they denied it, the fey grew dependent on the mortals for spiritual sustenance, and many of the fey began to imitate such mortal emotions as love, hate, jealousy, and anger until these feelings became their own.

By this time, High King Oberon had grown weary of ruling over Tyrra, and desiring to return to his native land of Tir Nan Og, he appointed his favorite son Lugh as heir to the throne of Tyrra, even though Balor had a more rightful claim as the eldest of the progeny. But Balor, who had learned much from the mortals, fashioned a wicked design in his heart, and during the coronation ceremony he drew his Frostbrand and dealt Lugh a mortal blow. With his last dying effort, Lugh thrust upward with his flaming spear and gouged out Balor's right eye, burning the Unseelie's visage until it was terrible to behold. The Kin-Slaying precipitated a civil war between Seelie and Unseelie, and for the first time, the fey experienced what it means to die. The hot-blooded Angus Mac Og, against the better judgment of Manannon Mac Lir, rode forth alone to avenge Lugh's death, and in a duel that rocked the foundations of Tyrra, Balor at last slew Angus, but not before sustaining many life-threatening wounds in the process. Ogme, who alone among the fey refused to fight, not only stanched Balor's wounds but gave new life to Angus, for the Lord of Spirits could heal any hurt save decapitation. Balor repaid his kindness by lopping off Ogme's head on the spot. After mustering their forces, Angus and Balor met again on the field of battle, with Manannon by Angus' side and Llyr by Balor's. This time, Angus appeared to have the upper hand, but before he could deliver the coup de grace, Manannon smote him with his trident from behind. Jealous that his younger half-brother commanded the Seelies, Manannon had conspired with his father Llyr to divide the Seelie and Unseelie Court between the two of them, and so betrayed his kin at this moment of greatest need.

Laughing, Llyr prepared to dispatch Balor, but the Frost King lifted the patch from his right eye and froze both Llyr and Manannon with his icy gaze. Now, only Brigit remained between him and the throne, but the saturnine Arawn conceived a passion for this fiery maiden, and forbade his son from slaying her. Raging, Balor drew his sword against his own father, but if he had hoped to best the mightiest of the fey, he was sadly mistaken. Arawn nimbly parried Balor's blow and cut him down with his Doomblade. Turning to Brigit, he promised to divorce his wife Morrigan and marry her instead, if she promised to rule Tyrra in the name of the Unseelie Court. But Brigit, whose nature was as mercurial as fire itself, spurned Arawn's offer and sided with her father, King Oberon. Yet truly the fates cursed Oberon and his house, for at the moment of coronation, the humans known as the Milesians rose up in revolt with newly forged weapons of cold iron, and in a last stand by the Standing Stones, Brigit at last fell before their onslaught. With his children slain in a heap by his feet, the raging Oberon impaled Tyrra with his Starsword and uttered the Doom of Oberon. He vowed that someday an heir would return to reclaim the Starsword and rule Tyrra in Oberon's name. The time is now.

After Oberon finished his tale, he pronounced, "The immortal fey can never truly die, but are instead reborn in new forms. Each of my children, Lugh, Ogme, Manannon, Angus, and Brigit, has been reborn in Curran, Florin, Talesian, Purus, and Talia. If you so choose, you can awaken their dormant spirits and thereby assume your rightful place in the Seelie Court as an heir to the Starsword. In order to do so, you must go forth alone into the Enchanted Wood, face your greatest foe, and undergo a process of death and rebirth."

At this point, Arawn came uninvited to Oberon's gathering and addressed his foe: "You must remember, your Majesty, that my House has an equally valid claim to the Starsword, though it will not be the reborn Balor who gets it. Not too long ago, I took the liberty of assuming a mortal guise and, traveling to Tyrra, wooed a drae maiden, mated with her, and conceived a child." Turning to the dark elf Gazrith, he said, "You are my son, and if you so choose, I can awaken the Unseelie blood that courses in your veins. Join me, embrace your destiny, and I promise that you will be the one to wield the Starsword." As much as it rankled his nerves, Oberon could not help but recognize Arawn's claim, and Gazrith as well as the other elves underwent the ordeal and were reborn as Seelie and Unseelie lords.

To further complicate matters, Oberon took this opportunity to announce his wedding engagement to Petal, who alone among the Seelies had demonstrated her unwavering loyalty to him. Because Titania had betrayed his trust by marrying Finn the gypsy, Oberon divorced his Queen, stripped her of her powers, and banished her from Faerie. Just as Oberon was preparing to invest Petal with Titania's powers, Talia realized that Petal was in fact Queen Morrigan in disguise.

Inscribing a circle of power, the unmasked Morrigan removed her Glamour and mocked Oberon and the elves in a speech that dripped of vitriol. First, she thanked Oberon for banishing and divesting Titania, his one true ally, and allowing herself to move one step closer to ruling both the Seelie and Unseelie Court. "Now all that remains is removing you, Oberon, and what is more fitting than letting the reborn Balor, the one whom you slighted long ago, be the instrument of your destruction? Behold, the true candidate for the Starsword!"

Emerging from the shadows came a mighty drae warrior whose body housed the spirit of Balor. Turning to Arawn, Morrigan sneered, "My dear husband, I will forgive you for committing adultery and spawning an illegitimate heir if you disown Gazrith and embrace your true son. Furthermore, I see that you have noticed your own sigil on the reborn Brigit's hand. My servant Sable did that on your behalf, though he died in the process. I hope you have gotten over your embarrassing infatuation with that Unseelie traitor Brigit. You can make amends for your past action by slitting her throat and filling Zelin's Cauldron with her blood, which will cleave it in twain and plunge the Wold into perpetual darkness. It will mark a victory for the Unseelie and pave the way for Balor's rule. I have made all the necessary preparations; you merely have to do the deed. Or are you traitor as well?"

At this point, Morrigan dropped her circle and attacked, no doubt hoping that Arawn would help her eliminate the Seelie candidates. But she had miscalculated Arawn's reaction, for he resented her manipulative ways and wanted her curbed, so he assisted the elves in bringing her down.

However, the reborn Balor defeated Oberon with his blade of cold-wrought iron, and in this case Arawn showed his true colors. Seizing this opportunity, Arawn took Oberon prisoner and dragged him off to his gloomy kingdom, where his fate remains unknown. The Seelie Court is now truly in disarray, for only the mischievous Puck remains to oversee its affairs.


Ancient Instructions Restore the Flow of Magic

Duke Bryan Nordenn had gathered many of the townspeople together in the tavern to discuss the state of the Duchy on Friday, May 26th, but was interupted by a strange phenonoma. For a period of a few seconds, the gathered townspeople were unable to summon magical auras, and the magic swords of many of our finest fighters temporarly stopped glowing.

As the townspeople were later able to discover, this event signified the beginning of an attempt by the Followers of Dragor to free their master from his long confinement. It is believed by some that the connection between the Plane of Seacharn and Tyrra is what allows magic to exist on our plane. The lull in magic that occurred that Friday night coincided with Dragor's Followers opening a rift to the Plane of Seacharn, thereby letting a number of its residents escape.

According to Vessandra Kiron Temar, a stone elf who had been controlled by the Followers and was therefore privy to much of their information, they thought that if they could interrupt the flow of magical energies from Seacharn to Tyrra, that Dragor's confinement would be suppressed and he could escape. With the help of some of the denizens of Seacharn, the Traag, the Followers succeeded in severing the connection between the planes, thereby allowing their master to escape.

However, due to the dispersal of the Followers by a large force from the town, there was no way for the connection to be reestablished.

On the person of three of Dragor's followers, small black tablets were found which contained a map of the ancient city of Bahrain on one side and a number of figures on the other. Clan McEwan, the Barony of Nordenn, and a combined force of the Ducal Household, Lord Morgan Blackbourne, and Goodman Hanson all followed maps to separate underground caverns. Inside, they discovered various puzzles blocking their way, the clues to which were contained in the figures on the black tablets. After solving the puzzles, the groups discovered large black plaques with even more cryptic designs. With the tablets in-hand, the townspeople then turned their attention to interpreting the designs written upon Heinrick's head.

Heinrick, who appeared in town as an insane floating skull, was later discovered to be the spirit of a warrior from Dragor's time, Nicholas Firehand, who was bottled into a bone golem. The series of drawings depicted seven people with glowing hands who enter a rift created by smashing a skull between a specially treated hammer and an anvil.

That Saturday night, strange glowing balls began appearing in the woods surrounding Ashbury, which according to the pheonix Illantus, were related to the fragmenting of the inter-planar connection. When touched, these balls dispelled the magical protections of the person responsible, placed a glowing symbol on their left hands, and then disappeared. Seven people in all were marked in this manner, among them Sir Angus McEwen, Blade the barbarian, Baron Bretton Nordenn, and Mason Sharreborrk. It was noted that the marks on the person's hands appeared to correspond to markings on the black plaques found beneath the city.

The hammer depicted in the drawings was retreived by Vessandra Temar from the clutches of the Followers, and was magically empowered to act as a portable forge. A group of elves led by Sir Konrad Valinor recovered from an abandoned Amani Ranger mound the anvil, made from an ironwood tree. However, the special coating needed to place on the hammer remained a mystery. It was determined that the liquid to be applied was some sort of vorpal coating, but only one of the additives could be identified: a metallic rock which reflects all of the colors of the rainbow and which was dubbed "Nordennite" by Duke Bryan.

By Monday, the 29th of May, the town felt ready to follow the 15,000 year old instructions. After coating the hammer with a vorpal coating mixed with Nordennite, and convincing Nicholas Firehand the skull, to cooperate, the skull was smashed upon the ironwood anvil, thereby opening a rift to the plane of Seacharn. Vessandra then escorted the seven townspeople with marks upon their hands into the rift, where she mindmelded with all seven of them and, guided by inscriptions upon the plaques, allowed them to interpret their strange surroundings and repair the magical conduit.

Once successful, Vessandra and the seven townspeople, who were no longer marked, were flung from the rift, which then closed behind them.

Due to the mental stress involved, Vessandra perished, but received a Life spell from Squire Caleb Hand and seems to have recovered from the ordeal. As far as scholars have been able to determine, the flow of magical energies to Ashbury has been permanantly restored and no future problems are anticipated.


Fist Leader Father Acromar Captured

Thanks to the valiant efforts of many of Ashbury's finest citizens, a major wound has been inflicted upon the evil crime organization known as the Fist. The local commander of the Fist, a biata healer known as Father Acromar, has been captured and as of this writing is scheduled to be Obliterated.

The former commander of Fist operations in Ashbury city was a thief named Durok Heelstepper, but his recent death left an opening that needed to be filled. Acromar decided to elevate his valued insider Squire Wilhelm Neumacht to the position.

Unknown to Acromar, Wilhelm had been slowly infiltrating the Fist over the period of the past two years and had faked many of the tasks the Fist had given him. For example, when ordered to poison the Duchess on New Year's Eve of '93, he had told the Duchess and the poisoning was acted out.

Through an underling named Dimenos, Wilhelm was given one last test to prove his loyalty to the Fist. He was told that he must lead a mission of vengeance against Bryan Nordenn for his insolence toward the Fist. The convoluted plot involved making sure that Bryan killed Unrok (another Fist enemy).

In public view, Bryan killed Unrok and them himself. Less than half an hour later, it was reported that although Bryan had resurrected, Unrok had died his final death. This caused much grieving in Ashbury since few were aware that both had been Lifed in time. Unrok had merely gone into hiding. The report got back to the Fist however that the deed had been done, and arrangements were made for Wilhelm to actually finally meet Father Acromar himself for elevation within the ranks of the Fist.

When Wilhelm met with Acromar later, the whispering old biata welcomed him into the Fist and began to lecture him on what his duties would be. However, before too much was discussed, many of Ashbury's bravest adventurers arrived and a fierce battle erupted. Acromar threw a few necromantic and death spells before attempting to escape. He was chased by Squire Otto Neumacht but he placed a circle of power around himself before Otto could reach him.

Within that circle, Acromar merely glared at his captors and refused to speak. When told that he would certainly be killed as soon as the circle ran out in an hour, he replied "I only need half an hour to make sure I remember you all."

Acromar stared intently at Wilhelm with a look of pure hatred, but when Wilhelm stared back and refused to give in, Acromar turned his attention to the running Ash River nearby. He refused to show emotions when Unrok presented himself and only spoke to say "You will get no satisfaction from me."

He lowered the circle himself and willingly walked with his captors towards the center of the city. His calm demeanor was interpreted by those around him as either fear or supreme confidence in the face of adversity.

Once back in town, Sorceress Shalizar gleefully Imprisoned him until he could be brought to the Magistrate. There he watched as Faustus tried and executed one of his followers and then tried Acromar himself.

Acromar listened impassively while he was being sentenced for his many crimes against the people of Ashbury and only spoke up when he was told that he would be Obliterated by Sir Kelial. "You're going to have a Vardik Obliterate me?" he said angrily.

As of this writing, Acromar remains under close watch in the Ducal prisons to make sure he does not attempt to commit suicide and "escape."

Although it is true that others in the Fist are probably even now jockeying to replace Father Acromar, a major wound has been given to the organization and it may never regain its previous power in the city.


Stolen Orphan Babies Killed by Vampires

When babies began disappearing from Squire Ivan's Havenwood Orphanage a few months ago, he feared the worst, and the worst is what happened. As he later discovered, the infants had been captured by a local family of vampires, the notorious DeMedicis, who desired the toddlers for their crude amusement and feeding pleasure.

All looked hopeless until a few invitations turned up in the possession of vampires who had been killed in the woods of Ashbury.

The invitations spoke of a grand vampiric party where no one would be admitted without said invitation. Squire Ivan and Ta'wane both obtained these invitations and put out the word that all who obtained the invitations should contact them.

Interpreting the invitations' reference to "refreshments being served" as an indication that the babies were still alive, the two made plans to impersonate themselves as vampires and try to sneak into the party and steal the babies back.

However, more invitations were found on other vampires and soon most of the adventurers in town knew of the party. Although Ta'wane and Ivan were able to bluff their way into the home, located in an ancient manor in Oldtown, Lord Morgan Blackbourne refused to leave his magical weapon outside and thus attracted suspicion. Soon it became obvious to the vampires inside that there was an ambush planned. Over 50 local adventurers swooped down upon the entrance to the Warded home and began a furious battle against the many undead protecting the DeMedicis within, taking down many but suffering expected losses themselves.

Unconfirmed reports state that within the manor, Ivan and Ta'wane discovered Squire Hawkwing being forced to serve the vampires, and that the undead abominations, once they realized the building was under attack, forced the three to watch helplessly as they killed the children and feasted on their blood. They then stole many of the three's precious items and, lowering the Ward, turned gaseous and escaped. Rumors state that the three are now lesser vampires themselves.

The good news is that the adventurers of Ashbury were able to destroy many undead creatures and learn more about this evil family of vampires. The bad news is that it cost the lives of some innocent babies as well as that of one adventurer, Mar Bouldershoulder, who died heroically fighting the charnal juggernauts who protected the building.


Traag Creatures Attempt to Gain Artifacts

With the opening of a rift between Seacharn and Tyrra, a large number of blue and yellow humanoids entered Ashbury in search of five missing magical items they believed to have been lost several centuries ago. The Traag were led by what appeared to be a human, who identified himself as Jelek. He was later proven to be Illantus the Phoenix's estranged son who had betrayed him to Emperor Dragor and his mother Ehlanna. Apparently Dragor and his mother had stolen part of Illantus' essence with Jelek's help, and it is believed that for this reason Dragor is immortal and cannot be killed by any known means. For his part in these events, Jelek was banished to Seacharn.

Several very powerful Traag asked the town for the return of several magic items. These items were created by a magic previously unknown to the Mage's Guild, and allowed the wearer to replace their current skills with those of a fighter or rogue of medium ability. The drawback was that when the item was placed around the neck or on a finger, the wearer was affected as if they had had their life drained from them for five minutes, though these items did not seem necromantic.

Four of the five items were given to the Traag after being recovered from lizardmen who appeared to want the Traag to have them. In addition to the lizardmen, the Traag seemed to become friendly with ogres and trolls. Several trolls came to town asking citizens if they had seen their "blue and yellow mates," and many powerful trolls were killed by the Shield of Vendamor in their attempt to rescue a missing Mage's Guild apprentice.

These trolls guarded a house that contained two pregnant trolls and two very powerful Traag who attempted to defend their "mates." It is unknown at this time whether there are more trolls, lizardmen or ogres pregnant with Traag children, or if there are Traag expecting young from these races.

The origin of the friendly connection between these monsters and the Traag is unknown, but the Traag's reasons for seeking these artifacts became obvious on Monday morning when large groups of Traag accompanied by lizardmen and elementals of fire and air attempted to enter the recently created rift to Seacharn. The Traag attacked after townspeople blocked their path to protect the citizens that had entered the rift with the stone elf Vessandra. The Traag could cast earth and celestial spells with equal skill, and were able to withstand many spell assaults before succumbing to the effects. The Traag were also unaffected by magical weapons, though they were hurt more than expected by iron or silver weapons, and as such the town had an easy time dispatching most of the attackers.

From what Jelek had told townspeople earlier that weekend, the Traag are in a constant war with another race from Seacharn, known as the Sumendar, who it is assumed were also greatly affected by non-magical weapons. For this reason it is believed that the Traag sought the artifacts to defeat their rivals.

A few Traag and their leader, Jelek were allowed to enter town and return through the rift because of the goodwill they had previously shown the town by Lifing citizens. It was also hoped that the friendly Traag would be able to return Baron Thomas and two members of the McEwan clan who had fallen into the rift to Seacharn, despite Vessandra's repeated warnings to use caution. Whether Jelek ordered the attack on the town is unknown at this time, but they were unwilling or unable to locate the lost townspeople, who resurrected later that afternoon.


Shield Wins Tournament

The second annual Ashbury Commoners' Tournament proved to be somewhat of a disappointment as only three teams entered. The Shield of Vendamor came out as the winner by three points, beating the Servenka gypsy clan and the adventuring group known as Checkmate.

The Shield was awarded over 25 gold and a magic item.

One of the more exciting competitions was the Archery competition. Olin Redbeard of the Servenka clan was in last place when, from the farthest distance, he shot three bull's-eyes all in a row.

Also exciting was the Spellcaster's Battle. After Lithitar from the Shield was confined, Ta'wanÆ from Servenka and Gadlen from Checkmate squared off against each other in a most humorous match. Gadlen eventually was able to Pin Ta'wane just at the point where neither had a spell left.

The Entertainment portion was won (not surprisingly) by the gypsies who performed a humerous skit with a moral about beauty being only skin deep.

At one point it was possible that there would only be two teams, as the members of Checkmate were brought to trial for Conspiracy to Commit Necromancy. However, Lord Magistrate Faustus dropped the charges for lack of evidence.

Many observers wondered why more teams did not compete. A fourth team placing last in every competition would still have won 16 gold pieces without even having to exert themselves.

The Nobles' Tournament will be held on the first weekend in September.


Strange "Gerakari" Being Attacks R'Kura

According to a member of the R'Kuran Elven Combine (an elite border guard stationed in this small town that borders Niman), a strange being known only as a Knight of the Gerikari has caused a wash of bloodshed in his path. He has been waging war upon R'Kura and has trained goblins, orc, ogres, and trolls to fight with him.

The Knight appears as a humanoid being of a dark yellow, rather moldy looking color with eyes as black as coal.

Captain Zerith, leader of the R.E.C., said, "I have never seen such a rag band of humanoids fight with such prowess. He leads them as if he were a famed general of legend. He announces his attack, tells me how many are in his forces, then attacks promptly on time. His honor in winning with a challenge is what means most to him."

Zerith never surrendered after several attempts were made by this knight. Every time the knight and his "rag band" army of humanoids attacked, the estate was punished even further. Much of the estate has now been burned by these fierce armies and many of its citizens have abandoned the area.


Colin Returns from the Dead

During the battle against the forces of Emperor Dragor Ka'Tanya, the people of Ashbury were surprised to see a familiar face among their enemies--that of Colin McEwan, who was believed to have died his final death last October during Ashbury's first battle against Dragor's followers. Colin appeared to have a red gem inset into his forehead and he attacked a number of townspeople, including the members of the Barony of Nordenn.

Soon after being restrained by his former companions, Colin fell unconscious and the red gem crumbled from his head. After awakening, Colin appeared to be normal and has rejoined society.

Colin McEwan seems to be the latest victim of the poison known only as "White Death," which appears to place its victims so strongly unconscious that they appear to be dead, and since their body does not disappear to resurrect after five minutes, its victims are assumed to have died permenently. Once buried, the victims are apparently unearthed, and placed in the thrall of a ritual which simulates the effects of a group mind, the key to which are the red gems placed in the foreheads of the "drones." Vessandra Kiron Temar, a stone elf who was last seen last October when she assisted in liberating the Healer's Guild from Mourna's minions, also appears to have been controlled as well as she was seen with a red gem, fighting along side Dragor's followers against the town. Her gem disappeared in a similar manner to Colin's, and she went on to assist the town with later dangers. Other victims of this poisoning are believed to include Alenarus Grimsby, Ketenbar, a historian, and many in the town of Halifax.


The Corner of Chivalry

The Corner of Chivalry is a new section in the Ashbury Times created in an effort to discuss facets of the Code of Chivalry, the importance of the Code as it is applied to real life situations, and announcements concerning the progress of specific squires in the Duchy as they progress in the quest for knighthood.

The Code is the embodiment of all that it is to be a knight of Evendarr. It brings meaning to our beliefs and accentuates our actions and triumphs. In order to become a knight of our Duchy, one must begin his or her journey down the "honor road" by demonstrating discipline. Discipline is recognized in the ability to memorize and disseminate the Code of Chivalry whenever called upon to do so.

With secret societies such as the Fist trying to break down the cohesion within our society, the knight must stand strong to counteract the evil this brotherhood brings. If one has not taken the Code to memory, it is impossible to etch these words onto your spirit and actually live them. The Code is your ally, sword, and shield.

Making war against evil without cessation is not limited to the field of battle. It is reaching out and opposing falsehood with the blinding merit that the Code proclaims. A knight of Evendarr can be everywhere and always the champion if he or she leaves the seed of the Code to grow in the hearts of the people he or she encounters.

Discipline is perhaps the foundation of Knighthood, for without it failure through temptation will surely follow.

The Status of Squires:

When Sir Konrad and Duke Bryan began testing squires recently, nine out of ten squires completely failed to recite the Code of Chivalry. The only person who could recite the Code was Ivan Drake, Squire to Baron Thomas Grey. All squires who failed this test were ordered to know the Code of Chivalry perfectly by the next day. After discussing this dismal disappointment by our aspiring nobles, a forum on the Code of Chivalry was postponed indefinitely until it was clear that the squires of Ashbury could be expected to embrace this information.

Upon later advanced testing in the Code, it was discovered that the squires previously tested the day before could now recite the Code with renewed vigor. Otto Neumacht, squire to her grace Duchess Mara Tirane, impressed the testers by rapidly reciting the code by the individual measures, in any order requested, and without any hesitation. Squires Jericho, Quade, and Darius recited the Code backwards as well as forwards. Dugal, not tested the day previously, recited the Code upon the first request. Squire Caleb of Trellheim, despite his Baron's belief that the Code is not deserved of memorization, not only memorized the Code but began to stress particular aspects of it--taking special care to remain faithful to his word during the attempts to capture the Fist.

All of the above are recognized for their efforts, but requesting Code recitation is but a small key that opens the door into a place where your spirit will be tempered. It will stay with you and guide you. Sir Kirath for instance has been a knight for nearly one year, and recites the Code as if he had known it from the moment he was born.

The Code is no mere set of words. It is the spirit of Evendarr and our life. To not know it is like forsaking one's parents--unforgivable. One squire this weekend was going to be elevated to peerage for his actions and dedication, but his failure to recite the Code was a missed opportunity for advancement. See it does not happen to you!

Continue your studies, Squires, and you will find the tests will only become harder from the moment the last glorious measure of the Code rolls off your lips.

The Paladins of Ashbury


Magistrate's Report

by Lord Magistrate Faustus Neumacht

I can at last publicly thank my cousin Wilhelm Neumacht for his daring, two-year infiltration of the Fist. I am enheartened that at long last we have captured the leader of that criminal organization, Acromar, who is scheduled to be Obliterated, as well as his chief lieutenant Dimenos and several others who were executed. I am also pleased that at long last, the pall that has hung over my family has been dispelled--I was well aware of the reputation that we Neumacht were Fist agents, and that painful deception, sanctioned by Her Grace, has finally come to fruition in this mass capture.

The gryphon Tiercel, or as he preferred to be called, Brac, reported of his own accord for trial. He was charged with Treason and six counts of Assault, largely for altering the minds of Sir Hieronymous and Dame Sonya. Earlier, I had been warned that sentencing the gryphon was futile, as he would destroy much of the town (as well as myself) before subjecting himself to our law. Nevertheless, Tiercel was a citizen of Ashbury by virtue of his marriage to Selina Vardik, and I treated him as such. He was sentenced to two Deaths (one suspended, to be invoked if he breaks the law again), eight gold, and a public service of casting 12 Life spells on townsfolk. His previous victim, Dame Sonya Dawntreader, performed the execution.

As to the matter of Rafferty McEwan, it was discovered that he attacked the Mystic Wood elf under the indirect orders of Baron Bretton that people searching bodies while others lay nearby bleeding to death be attacked and captured. Thus, the half-orc was not charged with Murder for attacking Naerfen, but with Manslaughter for allowing the Mystic Wood elf to die while he summoned his Baron. Dooron of Trellheim struck the killing blow, but was guiltless as Rafferty had just attacked Naerfen, and gave no indication that he was not to be killed as one of Fangthorn's mercenaries.

Anyone who takes a prisoner becomes responsible for that individual; if the prisoner dies in custody, the captor will be held accountable. Since Rafferty later had Naerfen Lifed, he was given only a token three gold fine as per precedent. Rafferty's claim that Naerfen was looting a troll the Shield of Vendamor had killed was disproved by Deven Du'Leges.

Zaccheus, a former member of Checkmate was found Guilty of two counts of Necromancy and sentenced to Obliteration. He took his own life but did not resurrect, suffering his final death. The first incident took place in the woods, and was reported by Talamar, a visiting mage from Ravenholt. His valued testimony also implicated two other Checkmate members who were found Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Necromancy (failure to report) and fined six gold each. Several of the Checkmate individuals still have similar Conspiracy charges pending as well as Robbery (for the theft of the Commoners' Guild spellbooks), though a raid of their abode produced no additional evidence.

Before listing the minor crimes, I would say of Dax's recent letter to the editor that he is a skilled propagandist, but still a Murderer--that verdict was upheld by the Duchess herself and I shall not write more of it.

The alleged gypsy cursing of Sir Aloryn at the Necropolis was definitively found to have not happened at all, prior reports notwithstanding. The biata Harayan Merik was found Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Murder for his statements that he would slay Anakin--he was fined four gold and assigned two hours guard duty at the Healers' Guild. Kael Morrigu was found Guilty of Robbery for taking money from a Bone Golem that the townspeople had destroyed in the battle with Avar Lychus--the money had already been returned, but a three gold fine was levied. Gadlen Chimeron was found Guilty of Assault against Corrine Dufore and fined three gold. Gadlen was later attacked by Alphonse Dulac, who was found guilty of Assault and Battery and fined 4 gold--this fine has not been paid and Alphonse now faces the charge of Tax Evasion.

Besides these notable cases, there were perhaps a dozen assaults and attempted robberies by lesser known citizens, many of whom were fined, some of whom were conscripted into the Royal Army, and five of whom were executed.


Letter to the Editor

A Message for the Duke:

Perhaps my proudest moment was the reading of the Paladin Sir Angus Grimsby's Last Will and Testament. In the short time I knew him, we became good friends. But I never expected to be mentioned first in his Will! What an honor! My second proudest moment was when another Paladin, Sir Thyren, handed me his Magic Sword and said "Defend Ashbury." I was honored_I was chosen (over all others) to take possession of the magic sword of a Royal Knight.

To me, this sword has become a symbol. It is a symbol that all of the things I have done for this Duchy have been good and proper. You see, when following the Code (and one's own heart), we sometimes get no indication that we are doing the "right thing." This sword has become that symbol for me.

It is true that you are the Duke, and you may confiscate anyone's possessions for the good of the Duchy. If this is what you are planning, then I ask that re-think your decision.

Goodman Hanson


A Little Birdie Told Me

by Sue D'Onym

Let's see, what new gossip can I share with all of you lovely readers this time?

As far as I am concerned, the big news is that the dearly departed Paladin Sir Angus Grimsby, during a Spirit Farewell ritual, was grabbed by Danathis the Life Elemental and was invited to join the ranks! Dame Sonya was all tears, but the next day she seemed recovered, having had a long private meeting with Baron Bretton.

Speaking of rituals, the Worst Luck on Tyrra award must go to Vayne, who in his race change ritual to become a biata, suffered from such a backlash that both he and Zion, the biata elder doing the ritual, were both obliterated. Fortunately, both resurrected--but Vayne is still a stone elf! Not surprisingly, he showed no emotion over the incident.

And speaking of rituals and biata, are you aware of this amazing coincidence? The only people who have died while adventuring with Sir Kelial the biata earth wizard recently have been Sorceress Shalizar, Quentin Dunbury, and Marius the drae--all casters of celestial formal magics. Is that incredible or what?

By the way, bets are on as to how long this Sheriff will last. That's right, Dugal McEwen is now in and Radric is out (or was it Truxton? I can't keep up with all these changes).

Now that Wilhelm Neumacht has married his Balckstonian gypsy cutie, he has plans to retire back to his homelands. Modi Ioki was choosen by the Ashbury Brewers' Guild to lead the Guild forward. Modi emptied a filled beerstein to show his formal acceptance of the position.

The kidnapping of Camilla and Ta'wane has many worried, and suspicions as to who was behind the kidnapping have started to bloom like flowers in spring. Well, at least Lord Morgan Blackbourne has an alibi--he was busy being resurrected when the two were kidnapped. Both of the gypsy's bodyguards (Darkeddeth and Mason) died protecting their bosses, and Darkeddeth permed. Squire Jonathan Dragonhart paid for a very expensive tombstone for the hero but didn't let his sorrow over the death stop him from complaining that the barony of Nordenn still hasn't kept its word and returned his magic dagger as promised.

Olin the half orc recently disappered for hours with two (ahem) "beautiful" half orc sisters who came into Ashbury looking for husbands. He was later quoted as saying, "I was so good I did more then just impress them--I even impressed myself."

Hey, and what exactly did Heron Streakwind do that was so great that he was rewarded with an entire estate from Duchess Mara? If he saved Ashbury from some dire fate, it certainly has gone unnoticed by everyone I talk to. Maybe there's some sort of blackmail involved.

That's all the room I have this issue. Be sure to send me all of your News They Don't Want You To Know (I keep all sources confidential) and remember--If you can't say something nice about someone, come sit by me.


Obituaries

Darkeddeth Heath-Haven: Loyal bodyguard to Camilla Zatar, Darkeddeth, known for his flashy bow tie, died his final death while searching the woods for Camilla after she had been kidnapped.

Mar Bouldershoulder: An excellent weaponsmith and armorsmith, the dwarf Mar Bouldershoulder died while fighting valiently against the undead protecting the DeMedici family of vampires. He will be missed.

Zachius: Warrior, Healer, Thief, and Necromancer, Zachius, formerly of the adventuring group Checkmate, died without honor on May 29. His body was unceremoniously buried under an unmarked grave.


Public Notices

THE DRAGON'S FLAGON is looking to hire workers in all areas. Good pay and benefits.

THE SUNKEN CITY INN is now open to vistors. Come see the city underground, taste our exquisit beverages and experience fine hospitality. Located a mere 10 minute walk from Ashbury center. Comments gladly recieved by Heron of the Ashbury Mages' Guild.

I AM AMAZED that Dame Sonya does not think her life is worth anything. Also, the floating skull said "Thank You" for the Life spell. Dame Sonya did not. - Maximus

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE have not contacted the Healers' Guild: Dax, Lady Talianathas Grey, Galen Harrison. If you wish to remain on the Healers' Guild roster, please contact Daphne Green at the Ashbury Healers' Guild before July 595.

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 in the Dragon's Flagon most weekends or at the Bardic College.

CHECKMATE has received information that there is a reward out for our deaths. Any information given to us concerning who is putting out the reward and why would be greatly appreciated and greatly rewarded.

GALORAN: Sorry I missed the banquet, Gage dear, but I had to run. Father sends his greetings, he hopes to be seeing you real soon. Don't worry about your mother, we'll be keeping an eye on her. - Juliantha

LEGAL REPRESENTATION. Scrolls read, items evaluated, potions and elixirs identified, celestial ritual scrolls read, contracts drafted, research performed. If it's out there, I can find the answer. Solicitor Quentin Dunbury.

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

FOUND in downtown Ashbury on Monday, May 29, 595: Umber hulk. Trained, affectionate, housebroken. Answers to name "Pookie." Misses owner. Please contact Daphne Green, Ashbury Healers' Guild.

EVEN A POOR ADVENTURER can have fun at Casino Shankar now that the Copper Club is open. Just come down to the tavern with coppers in hand. With a little luck, and a few hands of poker, you too could turn that copper into gold!!!

THE ASHBURY MAGES' GUILD would like to congratulate the following new Apprentice: Cyrick Bane, Barony of Nordenn; and the following promotion to Guildsman: Pinaeus Brightblade, Barony of Blythedale