BRITAIN, TRAMMEL - October 31, 2006

Grave news from the city of Britain today.

Early this morning seven monks and two guards where found dead in the chamber of virtues. The poor monks had little chance to defend themselves by the looks of things. Whomever murdered these brothers must have been a very dark and powerful assassin. The magic wards around the chamber could only be broken without detection by highly trained mages. The assassin left no body alive or in one piece. Literally! Each monk was sliced to bits of flesh with their hearts cut out.
           
Why the gruesome nature of killing these virtuous monks you may ask?

As we all know, when a person dies their spirits can be called back from the land of the dead. With some help from necromantic lore we found that there are many ways to kill a person forever. Soul being either cast into the gates of the underworld, imprisoned, or worse... destroyed. With this knowledge we can safely deduct that necromancy and plans of utter chaos are at play. For the monks slain were no ordinary brothers of faith. These monks were the keepers of knowledge and power for each of the eight virtues. They were called in last night to breathe virtue back into the realm of men during these dark days of hallows eve. The assailant must have known of this secret meeting and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike... when they were at their weakest. After a whole night chanting spells of virtue, the monks were left drained of mana, and thus rendering them harmless. The highly trained assassin made easy work of the monks.

No one has laid claim to the evil deed performed here last eve. Little else is known at this time by the guards investigating as well. Though they do believe one monk may have escaped during the killing. For each virtue has its own monk, and only seven bodies were found. Perhaps the eighth monk had just enough energy to recall himself into a safe haven. This is but a speculation at this point though, no evidence to prove his escape or survival has shown up yet. The scene outside the Chamber of Virtues is none brighter. Guards are posted to watch the entrance until the corpses inside could be blessed by a monk and removed.

The smell of decay and putrid stink of meat lies all around the complex exclaimed one citizen. Many other citizens reported feeling "a strange and utter loss of hope and happiness" when they awoke this morning.

The royal guards have been given orders to interview every cutthroat, pirate, dark wizard, thief, dark elf, and other notorious characters through the realm. One of the first suspected was the dread pirate Holley and his gang of cutthroats. Though, the pirates were quickly cleared of accusations when the navy reported fighting with the pirates for the better part of the day and night. The pirate Holley even came to check out the gruesome scene for himself before being chased back to the sea by passing guards.

Tis all the information we have for the citizens of the realm as of now. More reports should follow up on the missing eighth monk... or body.