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DEMONIC HORDE
RAVAGES HOMEWARD
Dateline: 5-
The City of Crownheart continues to be terrorized by the depredations of the demonic hordes known as Helltroops which have surrounded it. At least five separate hosts of the creatures are now roaming the city’s suburbs, and many casualties have been reported.
One of the hordes passed directly under the city walls and for a while there was
panic and consternation amid fears that it might break into the city. “Seeing them
up close like that, they looked like small humanoids -
A 100-
Casualties have been particularly high among the trade wagons thronging the roads around Crownheart. Just inside the City gates the lucky few carters who made it inside told of colleagues overtaken by the Helltroops who were dismembered or burned up by the caustic slime dripping from the monsters’ claws.
And in a particularly tragic incident a small crowd of teenage girls who had gathered
outside the premises of the Baroness Glaze Fierien fanclub west of the city to pray
for the Baroness’ intervention were over-
Wherever the monsters pass the earth behind them is left burned and scarred by their passage, all life literally sucked out of it. Even the power of Shanna seems unable to cure this scorched earth, and it is feared that the land may never be able to support vegetation again. Part of the road east from Crownheart to Lionel has also been destroyed.
So far the depredations of the monsters seem random and unfocussed, but the fear everywhere is that they might unite for a direct assault on the city itself. Although some soldiers and adventurers have congregated at the gates to defend them if required, they are understandably reluctant to venture beyond unless it is in much greater force than is available just now. Everyone is waiting for King Dirk to arrive to personally assume command of the situation, and in his absence the forces of the Crown seem paralysed by the sudden horror of it all.
Meanwhile, at the printing press of the Bereny Bugle on the banks of the River Selia, not far from the city, the Bugle’s staff have barricaded themselves in but have heroically kept the presses rolling.