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- Archive Page Thirty Five -

FINANCIAL CRISIS AVERTED BY HUGE PAYMENT TO CROWN

Dateline: 21-8-516

The Bereny Bugle has learnt that the risk that the Kingdom might be on the verge of bankruptcy has been averted by a massive donation to the Royal coffers from one of Bereny’s most wealthy families, the deBarbaracs. The donation has been made by Abbott Christian deBarbarac of Lichtenstein Abbey, which lies in western homeward near Ghorst, and is said to amount to a staggering 60,000 gold.

The DeBarbarac family control a further two estates, Midnight Falls under the Abbott’s brother Baron Gelt DeBarbarac, and Shadowgrove Castle under Baronness Maeve O'Muireain t'Barbarac. Abbott Christian has been best known before now for his rather eccentric view that chickens are agents of the Dark Gods.

There has been no public announcement about the donation, and the Bugle understands from a source at the Royal Exchequer that this is at the request of the DeBarbarac family. When a reporter from the Bugle called at Lichtenstein Abbey to confirm whether the report was true, it was in time to witness a convoy of heavily laden wagons depart from the Abbey grounds escorted by a large and well-armed force of Crusaders of Merl.

When asked about the donation to the Crown, the Abbott did not deny that his family had made a large payment to the Crown, although he refused to discuss the amount. “The DeBarbarac estates have a consistent record for high tax contributions to the crown,” he told our reporter. “All three of our estates are bustling and prosperous. Too may nobles forget that with authority comes responsibility - not just to their own families, but to the realm and the crown. I would not have the DeBarbaracs thought of as one such family; we hold true to our oaths of fealty.”

The Abbott also revealed that all three estates were making preparations to accept and rehouse refugees from the destruction of Meadowbrook and others who have fled from the fighting in the north. ”The family believes that there should always be room found for those in need. New towns and hamlets have already been constructed in all three estates; there is good land here for planting, and I believe that we can accept at least half that many again as our current population before the land is used to its limit.”

When asked why the family had asked for the donation to be kept secret, the Abbott said “Although the offer to the Crown was made before his Grace the Regent’s recent proclamation of his intention to assume the throne, I'm a little concerned that it may appear that it's not about the refugees but rather the DeBarbarac's buying favour with the Crown.”

However the deBarbaracs were one of the first of Bereny’s noble families to come out in support of Duke Dirk’s claim to the throne. Given that they have now put both their money and their mouth behind Dirk, it seems unlikely that the new King will be less than equally generous to them in return.


D’AGRILLAC REBEL STILL ON THE RUN

By Bob Woodward, Torlia Correspondent

Dateline: 9-9-516

Despite being on the run with a bounty of 25,000 gold on his head, the outlaw Uryen d’Agrillac hasn’t gone far. The Bereny Bugle can reveal that the deposed Baron of the Falcone estate is now a few leagues south of the city of Torlia, and there are suggestions that he is conspiring with the Midnight Elves who have been plaguing the area of late.

It now appears that Uryen managed to escape from the Falcone estate as Royal forces closed in on him by flying away on a wyvern, leaving his unfortunate followers to face the wrath of the Crown without him. Most of these have now surrendered or been killed, although a few seem to be trying to break through the Royal lines and head south, presumably to join up with their leader.

More worryingly, Uryen is also in close proximity to a small force of Midnight Elf spellcasters and associated monsters. This force has for the past few weeks been probing the defences of the City of Torlia itself. This reporter cannot say with certainty whether the elves are in league with Uryen or are just opportunist raiders.

The bounty of 25,000 gold is being offered by the White Tower for proof of Baron Uryen’s death at the hands of the claimant, although they are also offering a reward of 5000 gold for information leading to his arrest or death. In response, Uryen has offered 10,000 gold for the assassination of Duke Dirk Steadfast.

It would now appear that the Falcone Estate is in the hands of Loyalist Baroness Sofia d’Agrillac, although neither the Crown nor the restored Baroness has made any public statement confirming this. However Baroness Sofia has been advertised locally for a new Estate Reeve.


RESURGENCE OF MONSTER ACTIVITY NEAR ICEHAUNT

Dateline: 15-9-516

The Arkham Estate near Icehaunt has come under attack from an organised assault by powerful monsters, in what appears to be another surge of monster activity related to the nearby dungeon known as Abysmalia.

The Bereny Bugle has previously reported sightings of powerful monsters in the vicinity of Icehaunt, and in this incident it looks like a deliberate attempt is being made to make the Arkham Estate unviable.

“A ‘Monstrous Quartermaster’ scouted out the area surrounding the estate for a couple days and then entered in support of a flare dragon,” Estate Baron Dr Herbert West told me. “They then proceeded to target those staff associated with revenue raising and entertainment, so it appears that there was an attempt to compromise the estates finances and damage the morale of the populace.”

“After withdrawing westward away from the estate the quartermaster is again approaching so we may well see a resumption of hostilities, it all depends on whether we encounter any Flare Dragons or other monstrous units.”

The Baron has received offers of support from The White Tower, of which he is a member and a former Knight Commander, the Dei Vigilare, the Crown, and from Baroness Sofia d’Agrillac, who has military forces in the area. The Regent has announced that the local Royal garrison commander has been placed on high alert to respond to any further attacks on the estate by organised monster bands. “It may well be that the original motivation of the monster leader was nothing more than a scouting mission to gain knowledge on the region surrounding Abysmalia,” said Baron West. “Or it may have been a probing attack to test the estate's defences.”

However there is a possibility that this upsurge in activity may be directed towards Earl Dickon, who has recently departed from Icehaunt to journey to the Southern Glaciers. Although the young Earl has a large and experienced entourage accompanying him, there remains a danger that an organised attack may pose a threat to him. There have been unconfirmed reports of ‘several’ Flare Dragons operating between Icehaunt and Abysmalia.

Another reason that the monsters may be interested in the Arkham Estate is Baron West’s notorious interest in ‘scientific investigation’ into animating the dead. However the Baron dismissed this. “My research is safe and secure within the castle itself so I have no worries on that account.”



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