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A BERENY BUGLE EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT
BLOODY MASSACRE
IN THE GLACIERS
Dateline: 03-
It is now nine months since the first reports of the appearance of the ‘Snow plague’ in Frostward, a fatal wasting sickness that turns its victim's skin a pasty white. After the initial outbreaks in White Citadel and Mirrormane, the spread of the plague appears to have been arrested, though this may be more thanks to exceptionally severe winter than to any effort by the authorities. Rigorous checks on the gates of White Citadel have at least resulted in no further cases being reported from within the city.
However, this respite may have come at a terrible price. The Bugle has learnt that adventurers hired by the Crown to contain the spread of the disease and find the source of the outbreak have used deadly force against Glacier villagers in a village affected by the plague.
The incident is reported to have occurred in the village of Rijjeka, which lies not far outside the Kingdom’s borders. The village is known to have been one of the worst affected, and it is suspected that it may even be the source of the plague. Its wretched and fearful inhabitants have locked those infected by the plague within a makeshift hospital known as the ‘plague house’.
The trouble began when a group of adventurers sent by the Crown arrived in the village and demanded to be admitted to the ‘plague house’. Accounts vary, but according to some reports when the villagers refused to surrender the keys to the plague house, the adventurers responded by attacking and killing several of them, and taking what they wanted by force. At least one of the adventurers was also killed in the ensuing bloodshed.
Although in the service of the Crown, the adventurer’s numbers are reported to include
a large proportion of indigenous Glacier Folk, and according to the reports it was
they who initiated the violence. The Glacier clans are known to be riven by generations-
One of the adventurers, who understandably does not want to be identified, described
what happened. “We entered this village full of sickly peasants, abandoned homes
and a ‘plague house’. The problem of having to find which particular villager was
holding the key to the plague house was a bit of a facer -
"So we're going to solve the Snow Plague problem by killing every peasant who has
it, then? Ain't complaining myself, but those bleeding-
Once they entered the ‘plague house’, a new horror awaited. Some of those infected
have become what are described as ‘plaguewalker zombies’. Whether they are truly
undead isn’t known -
With the Dukedom of White Citadel currently vacant, the principal Crown representative
in the area is Baroness Jennifer Da Avro, who has played a prominent role in organising,
equipping, and dispatching the mission. Baroness Jennifer is the sister of the famous
adventurer Dame Elanor Da Avro, Knight Commander of the Green Codex of the White
Tower. Baroness Jennifer was unavailable for comment, but speaking on her behalf
a spokesperson for the White Tower insisted that the violence had been started when
the adventurers were attacked by the villagers, whom he described as being rebellious
peasants. He described any allegations to the contrary as being ‘unsubstantiated
rumours’ of ‘no merit’. However he conceded that as the villagers are not Berenian
citizens it isn’t clear who they would be rebelling against, and that they have a
right of self-
He went on to describe the mission’s purpose is one of mercy and rescue, but added that it may be necessary to slay any unfortunate victims who are beyond help. “This plague appears virulent and deadly,” he declared. “It must be prevented from spreading to a larger population centre.”
While the Bugle agrees, the question must be asked as to whether the massacre of innocent villagers is an acceptable price to pay.
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