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THE BERENY BUGLE BIG INTERVIEW

MASTER OF THE UNDERWORLD

Baron Tycho M’Grue, Governor of White Tower Island,

speaks to Editor-in-Chief Rebekah Seyke

Dateline: 07-01-517

Last year the King appointed a Military Governor for Bereny’s outpost in the Underworld, White Tower Island. The person he chose for this task was Baron Tycho M’Grue, a Dwarven warrior with many years experience, who up to that time had been the White Tower’s Senechal on the island.

Because of the difficulty in travelling to the Underworld (and the even greater difficulty in returning from it), the Governor agreed to be interviewed via an enchanted spectral projection, which appeared to him in his office on White Tower Island.

Q: Baron M'Grue, congratulations on your appointment.

Baron Tycho M’Grue: Thank you, and thanks for coming down. It’s a pity you can’t try some of this Fungi Stout the boys down here have been making. I didn't think beer and mushrooms would go together, but it gives it a nice earthy aftertaste.

Q: How big is Bereny's territory in the Underworld now?

TM: For now it is just the island that we have fortified and built up the defences. The isle itself is similar in size to a dungeon courtyard, and has all the facilities as such from guild halls, path houses, advanced training and mastercraft weapons. It sits in the middle of the ocean, connected to another small island to our south that is roughly twice the size of our isle. This bigger island is separated by a strait from the rest of the lands we are currently exploring.

Q: Have you any idea how large the Underworld itself is? Does it just lie beneath Bereny or does it extend as far as Derwent or Kyr?

TM: That is something that we don't know yet. For some time, adventurers have been coming to the Underworld from the lowest levels of the dungeons in Bereny. So the maps our cartographers have are just bits and pieces here and there, but we haven't been able to connect them yet.

Q: Can you tell us any more about the progress of the rescue mission to Caldor? Have you determined yet who is behind the attack (some have suggested a previously little known race called the Psaurians)?

TM: The first parties are making their way inside, and the only resistance met so far are the Psaurians. Whether they are behind the invasion of Caldor or just ran in after the Dwarves left is unknown right now. Another large group of adventurers arrived there recently, including the High Warder Grimbrow, so things should start to move a bit faster since there will be more people to cover the ground there.

Q: We have also heard tell of other kingdoms down here: Mor Kas Ah, Lugasi, Centauria. Have you had any diplomatic contact with them?

TM: We know of them as well, but do not know where they are in relation to us. We think the lands to the south and south east are the Lugasi Realm, but have not seen any of the inhabitants. The only people we have seen down here so far are the Caldor Refugees who we took in until we can sort out Caldor. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to provide any information on the 'invaders', so I think they must have been the people living closest to the entrance of Caldor that were able to escape while the others fought. Then there are the people who live in the Fortified Villages. Decent enough folk making a living down here. We have also extended the offer for them to come to the Isle for protection should they need it.

Q: What new opportunities do you see for Bereny in the Underworld. Trade, for example. Do you think it would be possible for Berenian Traders to operate here?

TM: In Bereny, we have a great trading system since we have such extensive roads connecting just about everywhere together. The rough roads down here are sporadic. They start for a bit then stop, so travel would be slow. It will also depend on how far the ocean goes, but if we find any cities on the water, then I could see Traders on boats instead of wagons. Some of the monsters down here can be a bit tough, they seem to like to travel in small squads rather than single monsters. That could be a sign of things that are worse than we have seen if the locals travel in numbers for safety.

Q: We hear that White tower Island has a flourishing ship-building industry now. Have its ships had much success exploring this great subterranean sea? Have they encountered any dangers - other, possibly hostile, voyagers for example?

TM: Yes, travel would be quite a bit slower without the ships transporting people. The sea is so deep in parts, that an adventurer cannot even swim in it. Even in the shallower areas, a boat can move much further each day than an adventurer. I have had two reports now from different ships sighting sea monsters. Some adventurers have attacked the monsters, but they have not killed or been severely hurt by them as of yet. Personally, I'd feel much better if we can get some weapons on the ships like catapults or ballista, or some of those cannons the Gnomes make.

Q: Do you enjoy good relations with the local human tribes? How do they feel about being co-opted into Bereny?

TM: Yes, and in fact most of our ship crews and shipyard workers are recruited locally. It is hard to get Berenian ship builders in when we are land locked! They know what they are doing, for sure. The locals are quite friendly, but a bit quiet. They did seem happy when we showed up though. They used to have to protect themselves while they tried to work and live here, but we are taking care of that now so they can focus on their work.

Q: Where did they come from anyway - have they always lived here or are they descended from people who have migrated from the surface?

TM: They have been here for as long as they can remember, and were actually surprised to hear that we come from the surface - they never heard of it! They don't seem to mind our being here, but they are more tribal and do not have any type of government other than their Chiefs and maybe an advisor or two, even a Shaman here and there. They have a hard time grasping the concept, so are just happy we feed, shelter and pay them for their services, and protect them as well.

Q: There was talk of a 'Dark Legion' threatening White Tower Island. Have you any idea who this might be?

TM: We haven't heard or seen anything else since their initial threatening message last year, so we don't know anything else.

Q: However I note that you have been building up the islands defences. Obviously we wouldn't expect you to disclose details, but in general what steps have you taken to protect the island's populace from attack?

TM: Well, without giving away too much, I will just say that it is an island with only one way onto it from the land. So we have to keep an eye out for a sea-bourne enemy as well. And there is a high wall with some towers. And if worse comes to worse, we have a few tricks up our sleeves as well!

Q: There are some who are concerned that the White Tower has too much of a monopoly on control of the new territories in the Underworld, and that the Underworld might become its own 'private empire'. How would you answer these? Should the Regent perhaps have appointed one who is not associated with the WT as Military Governor?

TM: Well, when I took the appointment, I assured both the Regent and Baron Stryker that I would firstly act on behalf of Bereny, and after that I would do my White Tower duties. While the adventurers have come down here and left in various directions for the different missions down here, I stuck around and started organizing the activities and construction here. Honestly, being a Dwarf, I would rather be with Grimbrow down in Caldor, but the fact of the matter is that we have two portals on this Isle - one comes from Swinderlog courtyard, and the other from Crownheart. So my entire responsibility is to prevent ANYTHING from getting on this isle and near those portals. Yeah, they are one way, but would it be wise to let some strange magic user start experimenting on them to see if they can reverse them? I've been doing this since before the appointment, and I'll do it still. It has nothing to do with the White Tower, it has to do with keeping Bereny safe. And for the record, I told the Regent that I don't want any pay, and that I would personally pay the upkeep of anyone he sent down to me to help out here. The White Towers goal is to keep any potential enemies from stepping foot on Bereny soil, which coincides with my appointment’s duties as well.