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ANIMATED SNOWMAN ON THE RAMPAGE
Dateline: 18-
The foreboding forests around Icehaunt Dungeon, which have recently been terrorised
by the sinister Shadowbuilder, have now revealed a new horror -
The monster looks exactly like the sort of humanoid snow sculpture that can be seen
all around Bereny at this time of year, except this one has been animated by some
evil magic and is filled with violent intent towards anyone unfortunate to meet it.
This reporter has seen the Snowman at first hand -
The Snowman has been identified as a variant of a magical construct known as an Animate,
a pseudo-
Since it seems unlikely that an Animate made of snow could have survived for years,
even in the climate of Winterward, the only conclusion is that it has been created
recently, and is perhaps the product of some ill-
When asked to comment a spokesperson for The Assembly, Lady Eleanor deManfess, told
the Bugle “While The Assembly has had some success with creating Stone Animates in
recent years, the spells with which these are created imposes tight control over
them. The Assembly certainly has not been experimenting with Snow Animates. Perhaps
you should discuss this with the IGW -
ADVENTURERS SET OUT TO SCALE THE WIDOWMAKER
Dateline: 19-
A small group of adventurers are setting out on a quest to conquer one of Bereny’s highest mountains peaks, Widowmaker Summit. If the succeed they will find themselves standing on what is believed to be the highest point in the Kingdom of Bereny.
However it is not for nothing that this peak has earned its ominous name, and over the years many have lost their lives either trying to climb it or through simply becoming lost on its treacherous slopes. Even among the mighty peaks of the Spirit Mountains, which divide Bereny from Derwent, this mountain towers above it neighbours and is always capped by icy snow.
When asked why they were seeking to climb the mountain, expedition leader Jaunti
Sylvian told us, “Because it’s there.” Her expedition, which is being sponsored by
Duchess Juliette of Torlia, is about to depart into the mountains from the Torlian
Catacombs, following a little-
“I was bored in Crownheart, when the Duchess’ private secretary approached me with
the idea,” continued Sylvian, who is an Elven warrior maiden. “Since I am unlikely
to have a widow, I thought I'd see who else was hanging around the Adventurers-
“Since we got here we have joined up with a few others interested in making the journey
to the peak -
However there are reasons to explore the summit of the Widowmaker beyond simply being
the first to get to the top. Some recent reports have said the entrances to a number
of caves or tunnels have been glimpsed. Although they have only been seen from a
distance, they show definite indications of being artificial. An investigation of
ancient records in the Torlian archives has suggested that they may be the remnant
of some long-
Dateline: 22-
King Slime, the so-
“It was a long fight, but King Slime's body is reduced to a much pulped mess on the floor,” reported Sharra Goldoak, who was accompanying the Duchess. “I did him a ton of damage and took a bit in return.”
“I did indeed strike the final blow,” confirmed Duchess Glaze, before adding to Sharra Goldoak, a fellow Elven warrior and Walker on the Edge, “Perhaps we should compare the chunks of flesh we sliced to see who did the most damage.”
The Duke of Poldoon immediately sent his congratulations to his wife and her companions, telling them “This is good news indeed! If the goblin 'King' has fallen then perhaps this is indeed over.” However the Duke seemed more worried than triumphant about this victory. “What was this all about? Certainly, goblins need no excuse to pillage and plunder. But the coordination? The strange machines? Drawing adventurers away with elaborate ruses? I can't help but wonder if we are missing something.”
NEW SOCIETY FOUNDED TO PROTECT STRAY CATS
Dateline: 24-
A new organisation, the Cat Rescue and Protection Society (CRAPS), has been founded in Crownheart to help protect cats from cruelty and neglect. CRAPS is being sponsored by Miss Mimsy Borogrove, a wealthy Crownheart heiress who was moved to act after reading accounts of castle cats being abandoned and forced to scratch out an existence in deserted graveyards, and of Estate Barons threatening to purge their lands of strays.
“People are being nasty about cats” Miss Borogrove told the Bugle recently in a letter
written on pink lavender-
CRAPS is now seeking donations from cat-
One of the people that Miss Borogrove perhaps should particularly speak to is Baron Alex McDunk, who is well known among his neighbours for his love of cats, and who gives a home on his estate to nearly 200 of them, many of which follow him everywhere.
ARCANE SOCIETY SEEKS TO SOLVE MYSTERY OF THE ‘VAMPIRE COUNT’
Dateline: 26-
A mysterious society of historians from Lionel, calling itself The Society of Arcane Knowledge, has offered a substantial reward for the recovery of the journal of Count Kainen, the legendary ‘Vampire Count’ who ruled over what is now Winterward before the Time of Thunder.
Very little is known about Count Kainen as all the records of his realm, along with the majority of his subjects, were destroyed in the Time of Thunder. However the Society of Arcane Knowledge believes that a journal belonging to the Count has survived and is hidden in the tunnels beneath his ruined castle, where legend has it that he and some of his followers took refuge to hide from the Demon Invasion. They are interested in obtaining this journal as it will provide new insight into the history of what is now the Kingdom of Bereny in the years before the Time of Thunder, as well as answering the question of whether Kainen really was a vampire or not (a popular myth which is now discounted by some historians), and are offering a reward of 5000 GP for its recovery.
Count Kainen was not seen after the Time of Thunder and it is assumed that he perished,
although his precise fate is another mystery, as the aura of fear and terror that
has clung to him has meant that no-
The reward being offered has however encouraged a small group of adventurers to gather at the ruin, which lies in the dark foreboding woods of Winterward, looking for a way in. This may prove to be a dangerous enterprise, as having lain abandoned for so long, it is feared that the castle will have become the abode of evil monsters.
Interestingly, among the adventurers are a number of Priests and Crusaders from the religious order Dei Vigilare. It has been speculated by some of the other explorers that, if the journal of Count Kainen exists, then their objective at the castle may be to ensure that that it does not fall into the hands of the Society of Arcane Knowledge!