News From Across the Realm, Volume 2, Issue 6

The Reforged Press, Chesapeake (PaxLair Times) – March 12, 2012 – by Ashlynn – Chaos continues to engulf Britannia and other regions of Sosaria during the month of march. Political tensions also continue to mount in Skara Brae as the Apiarist Guild moves to curb statehood influence within the city.

Forged by Fire

The passage beneath Paws has proved something of an enigma ever since it was sealed by orders of Commander Foxx. The lava-filled cavern has proven impossible to traverse, but the disaster in Ilshenar may offer some hope.

Captain Gwen of the Royal Guard sent out a call for volunteers over the weekend to investigate the mysterious calamity that has befallen Ilshenar. She and her followers were required to aid Shirron in order to gain access to the region where I met with the group somewhat late. We then traveled to a shrine north of the fortress ruins to meet with a meer by the name of Arvith.

Not being particularly trusting of meer and knowing they have a dislike for me, I decided it best to remain inconspicuous while the creature spoke of a dragon that required some assistance. But such a creature could also reward us with the means to manufacture the protection needed to cross the remains of the Paws underground bridge.

We soon learned that one by the name of Zhar-Beth-Lem could create what we needed with a material made from dragon egg shell. And to the volcano near the city of Ver Lor Reg we traveled to retrieve such material.

A chaotic battle raged (it seemed the dragon objected to our designs on it’s shell) but we emerged victorious, though some of the draconic shell weighed us down with it’s great mass. Zhar explained that it would take two weeks to manufacture the armour we needed so we retired as all we could do was wait.

It seems this saga is far from over and whether the armour is effective or not will become clear in the days to come.

Plots and Propaganda

Despite our best efforts, chaos continues to plague Skara Brae with the protestors and rioters showing no signs of returning to their homes. While the worst culprits have been arrested on behalf of the city Mayor by our volunteer militia, factions within the city continue to work against us, calling our presence there a “foreign occupation” amongst other things.

One faction in particular, the Apiarist Guild which is led by a man named Andrew Sarthius has been responsible for some of the most toxic propaganda. It seems the man is uncompromising in his view that the statehood should remove itself entirely from the City of Skara Brae. There have also been scenes of summary execution in the city with those slain labeled as “traitors to city”. A group of laborers tasked with assisting in the unloading of a supply shipment to the town was amongst those killed.

While the guild has not claimed responsibility for such acts, I would not dismiss the possibility of a link between the two and I advise all members of the alliance to be wary when alone in the darker corners of the city.

A Coded Conundrum

Governor Winfield was the recipient of the strange coded message several days ago, the sender of this mysterious scroll still unknown. While the cipher was easy to break according to the Governor, it seems the message is but a fragment of a larger one.

I have not yet analysed it properly myself, but a copy can be found at the Tea House for any who wish to view it. Perhaps the other pieces of the puzzle will surface in due time.

Advertisements:

Seeking humanoid hearts. Whole hearts only. Dried, cold, blackened or throbbing all accepted. Not powdered. Or baked. No questions asked. Contact Ashlynn.

Do you wish to know the future? Have you designs on altering your destiny? Does love, wealth, and happiness await you? Perhaps you wish to cheat the next lotto you participate in or even cheat death itself. Whatever the case, you can rely on me. I am a morally-flexible seer with an eminently accurate prediction rate. For 500,000 coins a time, I’ll give you the answer to any one question you wish to know! – Annabelle the Seer

Juka family seeking lodgings. Will pay. Will also promise not to attack humans on sight. Find us at the gypsy camp near spirituality. – Kalhur

Whomever assisted me home from Skara Brae tavern a fortnight ago, I believe you have my little black runebook. Please get in touch with me so this book does not end up in the hands of my wife. – NANOC

Librarians rejoice! For there is one with the answer to all your woes. That is right, Alameth the Summoner can drive away those pesky spirits that plague libraries and archives everywhere! You know the kind I speak of; they take up residency in books and cause nothing but chaos. Alameth has cataloged them all. Alameth has named them all. Alameth himself has written a book on them all – a book free from such spiritual occupation. Alameth’s rates are competitive and his success rate perfect. If a spiritual problem haunts the tomes of your library, seek out Alameth at the Lyceum in Moonglow!

 

About Ashlynn

I play with movable type on behalf of the PaxLair Times. I sometimes move the little wooden letters around to create something resembling an article. And I come and go like the wind.
This entry was posted in EM Quest, General News, Ilshenar, Skara Brae. Bookmark the permalink.