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The Bereny Bugle
‘Blowing our horn for the People of Bereny’

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ROGUE BARON RAISES ARMY OF STONE MONSTERS TO TERRORIZE THE KINGDOM

By Robert Capa, Torlia correspondent

Dateline: 14-02-519


The Bereny Bugle has discovered that Bereny’s most wanted outlaw, Uryen d'Agrillac, is preparing an army of magically animated stone monsters to spearhead his attempt to seize control of western Moonward, if not the whole Kingdom.


The Bugle has previously reported how the outlawed Baron has established a new base deep within a heavily fortified valley in the Spirit Mountains. This reporter can now reveal that within his mountain fastness, Uryen is creating dozens of Stone Animates to fulfil his crazed ambitions to overthrow King Dirk.


Stone animates are magical constructs which are brought to life by magic, granted a strange cunning intelligence and then set to serve some task. Animates are highly-resistant to damage, although their resistances vary by type of animate. The stone variety are said to be particularly resistant to fire. Even with just its rocky nature and its massive stone fists, a stone animate is more than a match for a whole platoon of Royal soldiers, but Uryen has gone further and has augmented his by equipping them with weapons and armour.


Being magically created monsters, animates are fundamentally hostile to living beings. In normal circumstances their evil nature is held in check by the will of their creator, but it is not unheard off for them to go out of control and run amok, as happened at Mirrormane a few years ago when an out-of-control animate killed several people.


What remains a mystery is how Uryen is summoning the monsters, or more accurately who is summoning them on his behalf. The secret of manufacturing animates has been lost to all but a few, and the only enchanters known to have this ability are the members of the magical guild known as the Assembly.


When challenged over whether the Assembly is conspiring with Uryen, Assembly spokesperson Lady Eleanor deManfess told the Bugle “The defence of the Kingdom and people of Bereny is a founding principle of the Assembly. The idea that we might connive with this outlaw against Bereny’s lawful monarch is completely outrageous and without foundation.” She was unable however to explain how Uryen may have acquired such large numbers of stone animates.


The Bugle may however be able to offer an explanation. A source within the Assembly, who does not wish to be identified, has told us that Uryen’s neice Lady Ygraine d’Agrillac is a prominent member of the organisation. Lady Ygraine has previously repudiated her uncle’s actions and professed her loyalty to King Dirk, although she would certainly have herself been outlawed had she done otherwise. However she has also publicly styled herself ‘Countess Falkone’ - a title used by her outlawed (and deceased) mother.


The Bugle has been unable to contact Lady Ygraine for comment as she is said to be outside the borders of the Kingdom, possibly in the Broken Lands. However, until the origin of Uryen’s stone warriors is explained, this reporter believes that a shadow of suspicion must hang over her and thus by association over one of the Kingdom’s most venerable magical institutions.


Meanwhile the presence of both Uryen’s monstrous servants and his more mundane followers around the exit from the Valley of Ynis Mor continues to create peril for travellers between Hells Deep and Red Mountain Keep. Even the offer of the staggering sum of 115,000 gold pieces - plus a royal barony - has not brought Bereny’s Most Wanted to justice.



SEE ALSO


21-10-518 - The price on Uryen goes up and up.


10-07-518 - ‘Bring me the head of Uryen d’Agrillac’


25-06-517 - Bugle reporter murdered near Hell’s Deep


31-12-516 - Magical animate in murderous rampage