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- Archive Page Twenty Six -

FIGHTING CONTINUES ON REBEL ESTATE

By Bob Woodward, Torlia Correspondant

Dateline: 22-5-516

The Royal Courts have finally acted to carry out the Regent’s Ban of Outlawing against the self-styled ‘Baron’ Uryen d’Agrillac, whose Falcone Estate in western Moonward is in open rebellion against the Crown. Meanwhile fighting between Uryen’s forces and those of the Crown continues, and the Baron has carried out his threat to execute more hostages.

The latest hostages to be killed have been identified as estate farmers Gruffyd and Morfans ab Lugh. This reporter watched helplessly as their brutal murder was carried out by Uryen’s henchman Sir Gereint in the face of the Royal forces. However in the confusion of battle I saw several other hostages break out of the farm building where they were being imprisoned and make a run for freedom.

Uryen has threatened to continue killing his hostages unless the Crown forces withdraw, but Royal Army units are now entering the estate, despite having to face a hail of arrows from rebel archers in the many watch towers lining the estate’s perimeter. They are now being personally lead by the Duchess of Torlia, Juliette Tredach.

Responding to suggestions that she has been embarrassed into returning to Torlia by a full-scale rebellion on the doorstep of her own city, the Duchess retorted “There is no question of embarrassment, just righteous anger! I am responding on a personal basis, to a plea from my friend and ex-Lady-in-Waiting and Bridesmaid Baroness Sofia, to help her regain her Estates.”

The Duchess’ personal involvement may be a significant boost to the morale of the Crown troops, whose enthusiasm has been dented by the resistance they have faced from Uryen’s supporters, many of whom are armed with powerful steam-based projectile weapons similar to those sometimes used by Derwentians, and which the rebels have presumably appropriated during their earlier clashes with Derwentian forces.

Meanwhile this reporter has personally watched as Uryen himself has been locked in combat with the Priest Minannon of the Dei Vigilare. Despite being harried by the rebel Baron’s hunting hounds, Minannon has stood his ground, even when the Baron attempted to ride him down - an attempt that ended in the Baron’s horse being shot out from under him by another member of the DV contingent - and has cut down a rebel knight who tried to come to the Baron’s aid.


DEADLY STARE OF THE MISTRESS OF THE WOODEN HORSE

Dateline: 23-5-516

The widespread relief felt at Poldoon since the defeat of King Slime’s army has been dealt two harsh blows this week. First, Crown forces who have entered the ‘Wooden horse of Poldoon’ report encountering a terrifying monster whose gaze can turn its victims to stone. Then, the lives of Baroness Glaze Fierien, wife of the Duke of Poldoon, and Baroness Farissa deTorfane, the BAR commander, are at risk after they entered the grounded goblin dirigible in the forest north of the city, believing that any goblins within it had fled, only to find up to 150 elite goblin warriors still on board and waiting in ambush for them.

In the Wooden Horse, explorers from the Walkers on the Edge have climbed up the construct’s four levels and defeated the goblins who remained inside. But on reaching the horses ‘head’ they have been confronted by a Pure Magic Animate and an Incubus Medusa guarding what look like Magic Altars of some sort. “A sort of demonic medusa I hear, capable of turning you to stone - very nasty”, renowned dwarven warrior Krazdan Birnt told our reporter in the Wooden Horse.

Meanwhile in the grounded and now partly deflated goblin dirigible, it would seem that the Baronesses Glaze and Farissa were so distracted by their personal rivalry that they walked straight into an ambush. Baroness Glaze is said to have fled out of the construct, leaving Baroness Farissa trapped and fighting for her life. Controversially, Glaze has reportedly refused to return to aid Farissa, and abandoned her to her fate.

“I think Farissa is almost as good as dead unless someone helps her out,” Glaze has been quoted as saying. “The question is do I help.. or head to the Horse. Can’t have Vampires getting the glory after all. I could save Farissa, but that’s not really something that I would like to do. We have never really got on and she has insulted my husband.”


CENTAUR COUNCIL CLAIMS VICTORY OVER EVIL CENTAURS

Dateline: 6-6-516

The Centaur Council has claimed victory over the evil centaur lord known as Noir and his dark centaur minions, who have been terrorising the area between Crownheart and Lionel over the past year. In a report to the Regent and the Royal Courts, Centaur Council leader Chaldan Ironhoof recounts how he personally slew Noir in the depths of his lair.

“Noir died in his innermost sanctum, surrounded by the pin cushioned bodies of his elite henchman and his unholy Bone Throne that occupied one wall,” reported the Centaur leader. “It was a very dangerous Lair to penetrate and several mission members gave their lives to make the mission a success, battling many different types of Noir's minions including his elite Centaur Champions and the fearsome Witchmares which seemed to be able to soak up huge amounts of damage from almost all forms of attack.”

The Centaurs previously believed that they had destroyed Noir, only to have his body disappear and for him to return to face them again. This time however Chaldan is certain that there has been no mistake. “I have communicated with the Centaur Elders and they have confirmed that Noir is indeed dead.”

The Guild has received congratulations from around the Kingdom for their efforts to end the Dark Centaur terror. “Congratulations to you and the Centaur Council on despatching this foul creature and completing your mission.,” announced the Regent. “Well done!”

In the aftermath of their success however, Chaldan Ironhoof has announced an even more ambitious goal - that Kreskin'Lal's Tower will be the location for a new Centaur Council mission. According to legend this tower is said to lie in the far west of Winterward, close to the edge of the Broken Lands, and to be very difficult to find as it is permanently shrouded in mist. There are rumours that adventurers have located it in the past, but that it is guarded by evil magics and guardians so terrible that few if any have returned to speak of what they saw.

The fabled evil sorcerer Kreskin’Lal is best known as being responsible for the Elven curse - the debilitating condition which afflicts all males of the Elven race and leaves them weak and frail.

However there are a great many other tales associated with this near-legendary figure, and some church authorities, particularly those who believe that Centaurs are not a natural species, have suggested that Kreskin’Lal was responsible for their creation. In his treatise ‘The Church’s stance on the Abominations’, published in 511, Serilla of Drax wrote “As is commonly known these things are not natural creatures of the Six but are the creation of Kreskin Lal who is perhaps the most evil being in recorded history.” Although this view is rejected by the High Priest, there are many in the Church who will be suspicious of a Centaur Council attempt to delve into Kreskin’Lal’s secrets.

An even more terrible legend associated with Kreskin’Lal is that he didn’t die, but disappeared in his tower after swearing a curse on the ‘three races’ of Elves, Dwarves and Men, that some day when they were under threat from a great force of evil, he would return and raise his defeated army from the dead to tip the balance in favour of the forces of evil and plunge Bereny into “a thousand years of darkness and destruction”. Whether it is wise to disturb his last known resting place at a time when Bereny is facing threats from the forces of evil is highly debatable.



 




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