The
Ashbury Times
September 607
“All The News That Fits, We Print”
Flora in Fairdale not so
Fair
When the adventurers arrived in Fairdale to help retake the contested
lands, they had no idea the would be fighting with the
forest itself that surrounded the area. The first sign of
problems occured when local trappers and hunters in
the area came to the adventurers and told them that monstrous plants were
blocking the areas in which they usually worked. Sure enough, plants had
grown across well-worn tracks and attacked if passage was attempted.
The next day, a fey calling herself Xin
rifted in and controlled the forest and its creatures to attack the assembled
adventurers. The creatures and plants were all tainted with strange abilities
beyond their normal capacity, though none appeared necromantic in nature. Later
that day, another fey from the Seelie court calling herself Niabi appeared and told
the adventurers that she knew how to cure the problem, but could only interfere
so much. She offered to rift several groups to the locations where they could
find the ingredients for the cure. When questioned about Xin,
she revealed that Xin had once been a seelie fey like herself, but had
somehow become corrupted. The adventurers were able to obtain the ingredients
and the recipie from Niabi,
but nobody had the death elixirs that the recipe required. As of this writing
the forest remains under Xin’s control and
whim.
In addition to the strange plants, an eerie
fog would roll into town occasionally, and elementals and mist lynx, even mist
cougars would pour from these fog clouds and attack.
The cause remained a mystery until a local
farmhand by the name of Joann appeared asking for help. She had been searching
for her boss, Lance for several days, and had just managed to find him in the
woods outside of town. On Saturday night, Ren, Laguna
and Ko accompanied her and
found Lance, still in his circle of power and completely insane. As they spoke
with the man, the four of them were pulled into Lance’s mind, and a huge
fog cloud appeared in town. Using their unique abilities, Laguna and Ren were able to restore Lance’s sanity; when they
did so the fog disappeared, and the creatures with it. It turned out that he
had been studying celestial magic in order to try to create a ritual to
manipulate the weather and help his crops grow. He was advised to stick to more
traditional farming methods.
Baron Ivan’s Treasury Taken by
Kobold
Baron Ivan Drake was successfully defeated by a kobold late Saturday
night during the first gathering at Fairdale.
His entire baronial treasury was ransacked. However, the prize treasure that was stolen
was undoubtedly the Baronial baronial cornet. The baron’s dying body was found and
revived by Parduc and several adventurers spent some
time searching the darkness for the slippery kobold who
was heard to call out tauntingly “I’ve got the crown! I’ve got the crown!”
Eventually, the kobold was found and defeated. Telokh returned the
stolen items, including the baronial cornet, and witnesses report that Baron
Ivan rewarded Telokh for his assistance. However, it is likely that the embarrassed baron will suffer some ribbing from Duke Frost
for his inability to effectively protect himself, and his treasury, from such a
weak predator.
Alchemist Attacked
While the Adventurers were gathered in
Fairdale, the home of local and well-known alchemist named Hasket Kinnir was destroyed in
the middle of the night. Details seem sketchy, but what is known is that
sometime after Hasket Kinnir
and his wife Goshta had put their two young kittens
to bed (they are Gorbe), The
house was burned to the ground, apparently by a lantern thrown into it from
outside the building.
Hasket and Goshta
successfully resurrected, however their two children did not. While
neither Hasket or Goshta
have any memmory of the incident, it is uncertain
whether they died in their sleep due to the fire, or were attacked, fed
amnesias, and the house lit ablaze to cover the crime. The motive
for the attack is unknown; presumably it could have been robbery as Hasket’s alchemical lab was inside the house.
Man-at-arms Aven of the Untiring Phalanx is
investigating the attack. Anyone with further information should seek her out.
Mages’ Guild Report
Greetings and salutations.
For those unaware, my name is Wizard Aloysius
McManus, and I have just recently been appointed to head the new Mages’
Guild in Fairdale. I met with some of you last weekend, and was pleased
by the desire many of you have to join the Guild.
In order to become part of the Guild, I do
require all prospective members to pass a series of quests, starting from the
easy for apprentices to the very difficult for the higher ranks.
I am pleased to announce that Ren has passed her first test and shall now be known as
Apprentice Ren of the Mages’ Guild.
Of those who wish to join, I require a written
statement telling me of your history and why you wish to be a member and
support the celestial arts. You may send this by missive to me here in
Fairdale or bring it with you when you arrive. The only requirement to
apply is the ability to cast at least one celestial spell.
I have been informed by my superiors in the
Royal Guild that I must acknowledge those who have already reached high rank in
the Royal Guild, and will therefore be investing Aria and Cedric the next time
they appear, assuming I can obtain the scroll. If any others are
invested, please contact me.
Since there is no Sages’ Guild here in
this outpost, I am also hoping that the Mages’ Guild can serve that
function as well and hope that any scholars interested in research will contact
me.
I also request that all nobility and
adventuring groups remember to contact the Guild if they seek aid in matters of
research or magic.
The Guild also will purchase and sell components,
scrolls, ritual scrolls, magical celestial items, and items which may be useful
for enchanting.
I myself usually memorize a number of Ward and Light spells each gathering, assuming that these
would be wanted by the adventuring class. I also tend to spellcraft Damage Aura and Monster Slayer, so that if
anyone is interested in these, please contact me before arriving so that we may
negotiate a fair price and so that I don’t use up my components
unnecessarily.
I have grand plans for this Guild, and am
hopeful that Fairdale will build itself into a large area with a permanent
population so that I am not as alone during these weeks between ducal
gatherings. (Not to say that the tavern owner and his beautiful
workers are not wonderful acquaintances.)
Wizard Aloysius
McManus, Guildmaster
Healers’ Guild Report
It is with a heavy sigh that
I write this.
Over the years that I have been running the Healers’
Guild, I have tried to bring respect to the art of healing. For example, I have posted many articles
about how adventurers should compensate and respect the healers who support
them; I have spoken to the nobles and received promises that they will guide and
respect the healers;
and I have supplied healing to adventures on the battlefield,
pointing out the need to appreciate the help given.
Unfortunately, many healers in my Guild are very upset with the
way they are treated. I have received comments that they feel like doormats to
many of the nonhealer adventurers, who expect the
healers to participate in battle and fight but yet not receive in the rewards or
glory afterward.
So many healers in this area feel abused and unwanted, as if
they are mere slaves to those who demand their services yet rarely even give
thanks afterwards.
That is why at the last gathering, the healers decided to
protest.
The Guild, after a meeting attended by all present, decided to
withhold all healing with the exception of Cure Light Wounds to those on the
ground until the situation changes. There will be exceptions made for those who
are working for the Guild or who have made previous arrangements for healing.
This was not an easy decision.
Our hearts as well as our supporters and bodyguards are heartbroken that
we must take this step. We feel however
that past pleas to be treated fairly have not produced the desired result, and
we are left with no option.
I will be available to discuss this and explain our position in
more detail. Once more, we apologize for the inconvenience and only hope that
this will help demonstrate what an important role a healer plays in your life,
and why you should appreciate the assistance.
It is my duty as Guildmistress to
build support in the adventuring community for my healers, and this I intend to
do.
Zatarina
Letters
To all adventurers who answered the call of
His Excellency, Baron Sir Ivan Drake; I wish to say thank you.
Without your support, the Dominion would not
have been dealt another mortal blow and the good folks of Fairdale would have
suffered unduly at the hands of our new bugbear enemies in the contested lands.
I call now to and I ask that you adventurers
search for a master alchemist which we need to
complete the recipe which we need to free the fey Xin
from enslavement and stop the unwarranted magical plant and animal attacks.
Even though we collected the ingredients necessary to complete this remedy, we
need one who is skilled enough to mix it.
I also wish to congratulate those who hunted
the Black Stag, ending its’ necromantic taint to our lands.
Fairdale is by no means pacified and many of
our foes remain. It is my sincerest hope that the adventurers continue to take
these cretins to task for their crimes and help to build up the defenses on the
border of the contested lands. In many years I have not been prouder or
happier than I am now, to have bore witness to such a start, for this I thank
you.
“Rock
of Trellheim”
Sergeant
Ignatius Skippio Vex of Legion D, the Untiring Phalanx
Obituaries
EROLYD DORIATH; Professor of Apothacarial Studies at the Greystone
Institute of Apothacarial Arts. Died
in his home at the age of 87. Professor Doriath had
over forty years tenure with the Institute, and was
lovingly known as “Old Man Doriath” by
both faculty and students. For details of the spirit farewell,
contact Headmaster Rynnel at the Greystone Institute of Apothacarial
Arts.
VANALIN FORESTDAWN; Amani Ranger. While the details of her
permanent death remain withheld by the Rangers, the released information is
that she permantly died while completing her duties
in defense of the Barony, Duchy, and Kingdom. For details regarding the
spirit farewell, please contact Narion Forestdawn at the Rangers barracks in
SIRAM OREHAMMER; Master
Smith.
Siram Orehammer engaged in
a drunken brawl in the Broken Troll, a grog-house in one of the seedier
districts of Dwarvenholm. What a
well-respected master smith was doing in such a seedy establishment is unknown
at this time. Herir Orehammer,
Siram’s oldest son, has offered a reward for
information, including the identity of a tall, blackbearded
dwarf who is thought to have been involved or at least witnessed the fatal
blow. For details regarding the spirit farewell, please contact Herir Orehammer in the Goldstone
district of Dwarvenholm.
Public Notices
TAVERN CONTEST! First, thanks to everyone who participated in the “Name
the Tavern” contest. Congratulations to Baron
Ivan and Raven for the winning entry of “The Black Stag Tavern.” For September, we will be having a Tavern Sign
Contest. Entry is once again two silver!
Bring your design for the sign of our tavern to me by September 8th at the
feast for consideration. The winner will receive a prize that I have not
yet determined, but it will be worth more than 2 silver,
that's for sure. This will, of course be followed by our "Paint the
Best Tavern Sign" contest in a couple more weeks. See you all soon. - Skirfir Thunderhelm
I CALL UPON the brave and stout adventurers of
Ashbury to join us in Fairdale on September (month of
Gryphon) 7th. We have made progress against the forces of evil in Trellheim and we must take advantage of our momentum. –
Baron Ivan Drake of Blythedale
INFORMATION WANTED. A few days ago I heard from a runaway
Mystical Wood Elf by the name of Rika. She told me about an undead pirate named
Rotweed, who was upset with us and was coming to
attack at Fairdale. She continued saying that Lowpeg
was a pirate leiutenant under Rotweed,
and was close to our borders. The next morning a few Mystical Wood Elves, a Biata and a Raven Scavanger went
with me to rescue Rika’s brother. What
I want to know is if anyone has any information on Rotweed.
This includes his background, any fighting experiences, known weaknesses, etc.
I would also like a few people to think about a way to get a preemptive strike
on him. He holds many of my people captive on that ship, and I would easily
risk my life for them. - Lark