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- Archive Page Three -

‘GHOST SHIP’ WASHES UP IN THE UNDERWORLD

Dateline: 03-08-515

The White Tower authorities in the Underworld report that they have discovered a large beached waterborne vessel, which they describe as a "Ghost Ship", at the southern extremity of White Tower Island. A ‘ship’ is a large marine vessel, similar to a boat, but bigger. The design of this vessel is reported to be well in advance of any Berenian boatbuilding technology. It appears to be abandoned, and to have been deliberately beached.

“The first Knight of the Tower has entered this structure but we will await further reinforcements before extending the explorations much further,” said a WT spokesperson.

If the vessel can be recovered and repaired, it offers the tantalising possibility that the WT could use it to explore the large body of water that lies beyond the shores of White Tower Island.


STRYKER CALLS FOR GREATER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GUILDS

Dateline: 07-08-515

Baron Stryker, the Lord Commander of the White Tower, has made an appeal to all the Crown-loyal Guilds in Bereny for improved inter-guild communication and greater co-operation.

In an open letter to other Guild Leaders, Baron Stryker told them “Many threats face us in our pursuit of the safety of Bereny and in our individual Guild goals. In the past there has been a much higher degree of Guild involvement both with the Kingdom and with each other but in recent times this has been much reduced. I would suggest this has been to the detriment of that which we hold dear. I will accept a degree of culpability in that slippage since I could be held guilty in hasty words and strong opinions based on prejudice rather than facts.”

The Baron, who is currently absent from the Kingdom on official business in Kyr, goes on to propose that efforts be made to improve co-operation between Guilds and cited the recent joint efforts of the Black and White Towers, along with the Way of the Five Paths, to re-open the road to the Frontier, as a good example of the benefits of greater co-operation.

A number of other Guild leaders are reported to have responded positively to the Baron’s overtures. In particular Baron Marcus D'Alembert, Guild Leader of the Walkers on the Edge, publicly thanked Baron Stryker for his overtures and suggested that the recently convened committee to help co-ordinate the defence of the North may go some way towards achieving this goal.


BRAIN CREATURES INFILTRATE BERENY

Dateline: 07-08-515

The White Tower reports that they have encountered a previously unknown force of monsters in Bereny that they describe as “giant, disembodied brains”, known as the Brain Eaters.

A scouting force from the Tower has discovered the creatures in a series of caves to the north of Swinderlog Swamp. “The first denizens we met attacked our Knights with the power of their thoughts. Fortunately the force we have present is solely made of seasoned veterans and thus far they have dispatched the foe with relative ease,” said a Tower spokesperson.

Archmage Sylvester of the Assembly told the Bugle “I believe that these creatures originate from a parallel dimension. There exist other dimensions beyond this one - a dimension of fire, a dimension of air, a dimension of darkness. These creatures originate from a dimension of thought, where the mind is all-powerful and the body unimportant. Scholars have a name for this place - they call it Dimension Z.”

It is unknown what the Brain Eaters want in our dimension - they and their allies seem to be a small secretive force. However it seems certain that their intentions are evil. The White Tower say that they intend to send a larger force to their lair shortly, to venture deeper into it.


ACADEMY OF INSTRUCTORS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Dateline: 10-08-515

A new organisation, The Academy of Instructors, has been formed to facilitate the teaching of arcane skills relevant to adventurers of all professions and races.

Mari Sanberligne, a spokesperson for the Academy, announced that the organisation now numbered amongst its members teachers for over 50 different skills ranging from obscure magical disciplines to more prosaic things like skiing and dagger throwing.

A quick perusal of the Academy’s prospectus indicates that it offers to put you in touch with teachers for such skills as hand crossbow use and hill walking. Baron Outhar Pendragon can make you a leader of men, and Huorn of The Woods can teach you how to hurl spiky cones at your enemies (if you are an Oaken Man that is).

“All members of The Academy of Instructors, I can assure you, are wanting to hear from you!” said Ms Sanberligne, herself an instructor for the Druidical skill of Moontouched. “If you have forgotten or do not know who the teacher for a particular skill might be, please feel free to make inquiry of The Academy of Instructors and we shall promptly get back to you with as much information as is available to us.”


ROYAL COMMANDERS SQUABBLE AS POLDOON BESIEGED

Dateline: 17-08-515

As the city of Poldoon enters its second week under siege, the war outside its gates has almost been eclipsed by a furious war of words that has erupted between Baroness Glaze Fierien, soon to be the Duchess of Poldoon, and the BAR’s commander at the City, Baroness Farissa de’Torfane.

Witnesses describe how the Poldoon Guard have defended the walls of the city against repeated assaults by a force of goblins estimated to be thousands strong, while outside the gates the BAR and the 1st Fierein Special Royals, the Baroness’ own personal guard, have prevented the goblins from recapturing their ‘Massive Weapon of Destruction’ but have been unable to destroy it or drag it into the city.

However Baroness Farissa has repeatedly criticised the Duke of Poldoon’s handling of the city’s defence, describing him as “a merchant with no military experience”, and has demanded that the Regent replace him with Kubala Wildfire, the Duchess of Ghorst. “For five days The Raven has not made an appearance on the field of battle. No doubt he is busy making a profit, or whatever it is merchants do,” she is quoted as saying of the Duke.

She has also been forthright in her criticism of the Duke’s betrothed, Baroness Glaze, for her absence from the city and her refusal to place Fierien House troops fighting outside the city under BAR command.

“You have no right to order my infantry to do anything .... Perhaps the Raven should appoint me as Royal Commander for Poldoon. Then I could order you off the battlefield as quite frankly we don’t really need you,” Baroness Glaze is reported to have retorted.

The Duke in turn has responded with a public statement that he feels that he is serving the city and Kingdom better in his managerial capacity within the city than he would as another sword on the battlefield. “It is true I have not personally been on the battlefield. I have left the overland defence to the Adventurers and the Army, managed by my capable commanders. I receive regular updates and reports from the battlefield. It is a difficult fight, but our forces seem to be acquitting themselves well,” the Raven went on to say.

The war of words between the two Baronesses has become so heated that the Regent has felt compelled to step in to restore public confidence and morale, which has been badly shaken. Affirming his support for The Raven’s position as Duke of Poldoon, he has told Baroness Farissa “The privilege of rank carries with it an obligation to set a good example. If you find this burden to be too heavy, it can be taken away.”


FEATHERED FIENDS AND DARK GODS

Dateline: 18-08-515

A new threat to the safety of the Kingdom has been revealed. Explorers from the White Tower have discovered a mysterious fortress at the south-western edge of the Kyrian Mountains.

According to reports from the White Tower, the fortress is inhabited by followers of one of the Dark Gods, Raazen Kolou, also known as the god of Birds Of Prey, an entity renowned for its savagery and cruelty. It is well-defended and built into a mountain peak, making it easily accessible from the air.

This Aerie of Raazen Kolou was discovered because it is not far from the White Citadel, the White Tower Order’s own fortress in the Kyrian Mountains. “We have located and entered in force this previously unknown fortress,” said a spokesperson for the Tower. “Our forces have penetrated a small distance beyond the entry chamber and met some stiff opposition from creatures new to ourselves who are loyal to this so-called God, Raazen Kolou. The creatures we have met are mostly avian in nature and extremely foul in intent.”

The Tower seems to have encountered a foe beyond their ability to defeat. Rumours speak of flocks of shadowy wraith-birds circling the peak and then descending on hapless Tower Knights in a cloud of death. However all may not be lost, as there are reports that one of Bereny’s most famous heroes, the masked champion of the common people known only as The Black Hood, who was instrumental in the defeat of The Reaper, may be supporting the Tower Knights.

The Tower now appears to be regrouping its forces before renewing their attack. “It is our anticipation that the forward movement of the main body of Knights will recommence in the very near future,” the Tower’s spokesperson told us.

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