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______________________________________________________________________ / _ \ \ \__) \ Print: 2 cp Fantasy News Network # Subscribers:100 \ | | | +--------------------------------+ | | | THE ADVENTURER'S JOURNAL | | | +--------------------------------+ | | News for the Adventurers, By the Adventures | | | | Vol I, Issue #3 Date: Nov 6, 1992 | | | | Conjurer/Publisher:digdug@iastate.edu | __ \ Hack and Slash Man/Editor:msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu \ (_ \ \__________________________________________________________________\__/ INDEX News from the Forgotten Realms News from the World of Greyhawk News from Krynn News from Dark Sun News from the D&D Worlds News from ORIGINAL Worlds Quick Guide to the Known Worlds Weather Column ============================================================================== PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Well, finally got TAJv1.3 out. Sorry it took so long but we had a busy week. I think we found a format we like so I hope everybody enjoys it. Thanks to Trevor , trevor.jones@acadiau.ca, for the header. We now have 100 subscribers but I only received 15 articles this week. Please send in your news if you want to continue to read TAJ. Thanks....and now..... Doug digdug@iastate.edu ======================================================================== ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: This was an unusually busy week, and we both were lagging behind. If there are any errors I overlooked, or any news was missed, we'll make it up in the next issue. Promise. Anyhow, here's issue number three. Enjoy! And don't forget to submit your news! -- Mike, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENT: This showed up in the news submissions. I decided to go ahead and pass it along to the subscribers. -Mike The third issue of "Silver, Swords & Slaughter" is ready! "Silver, Swords & Slaughter" is an amateur rpg zine that covers nearly every rpg past and present. All articles have been submitted by readers, friends and net-folks. The only charge for this small zine is $1 which will cover the cost of the paper and stamp and will only be distributed in the USA. (this is to keep the costs down). I am making no money from this magazine all the money goes back into the next issue of this zine. "Silver, Swords & Slaughter" is done in black and white on standard 8 1/2 paper which has been folded so you get more for your buck. If you are interested in a subscription or just one issue please email me at sss@smashland.nelsonville.oh.us. Again the cost per issue is $1, sorry no discounts for subscriptions because a dollar barely covers the production and postage. Submissions are needed for the forth issue. The authors of the articles that have been used will receive a free copy of SS&S. Submissions can be emailed to the address above. Silver, Swords & Slaughter c/o Scott Mash 11685 SR 691 Nelsonville, Ohio 45764 ATTENTION! The 4th issue will be the double Christmas issue, this issue will be a double issue packed with articles, artwork and other surprises. Artwork and articles are badly needed, if you have any artwork that pertains to role playing games please send it to me. From: Scott Mash <smash@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM THE FORGOTTEN REALMS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Secrets of the Sages ==================== In September 1988, TSR published the first and only Forgotten Realms Newsletter. Summer 1992 brought the confirmation by the RPGA that this Newsletter was the only one to be ever published. Following is the text of this Newsletter that I have just scanned on my computer. Enjoy all of you... Until swords part! The Wanderer, sylvain_robert@uqtr.uquebec.ca --------------------------------------------------------------------- +-------------------------------------------+ ! A Short (for him) Greeting From Elminster ! +-------------------------------------------+ by Ed Greenwood "Tantam! Oh...er, hello; as ye say it... 'tantam' is what merchants of the North say, here in the Realms. "The Realms, the Forgotten Realms, o'course, as ye've all forgotten the way here, until now, that is. Of all the sages in Faerun, I am the first to walk among ye since Myth Drannor fen so it has fallen to me to welcome yeQye who have discovered the Realms through the offices of the good scribes of TSR, Inc. I bid ye fair welcome to my home, for 'tis a fair world, perhaps the fairest of all those I've walked. And mind ye, there have been a few and a few again, over the years. "Five hundred-odd winters I have lived in Faerun, most of them in the Dragonreach landsQthat is, those lands that border the Sea of Fallen Stars on the northwest. I've learned the odd thing in my time, here and there along my road; and so it is that I can pass on to ye what I think ye should know of the Forgotten Realms. "One cannot know too much beauty in one's life. Some such beauty is too fleeting, or too personal, to be passed on to others, but 'tis the duty of all beings who would rise to better themselves to pass on to others beauty that others can know. So it is that sages, of all worlds, preserve the lore and learning of their lands and peoples. Music, art, legends, and magecraftQall these we treasure, and TSR will bring ye as the years pass. And ye shall come to know the beauty of the Forgotten Realms. "For the life of a world can only be captured, howe'er imperfectly, in tellings that give one views of its landscapes and its lifeQits plants, its creatures, and their doings. I would Like to see the Realms come alive for ye, in this world, to delight ye as it has me. I have told one among ye, Ed Greenwood, of my world for years; through him, and others, TSR will bring ye more of the Realms in days to come. For some twenty winters only he listened to my tales, but I've talked long evenings away to more attentive ears, know ye, in the last season than in many seasons before, here and in Faerun. Ye who like to read what ye term 'novels'Qa novel term indeed, eh-heh...ahem...can expect to see more than a few tales of the Realms in times ahead. Some words ye can read already, as novels and game tomes, and of these I would speak now. "In all tales, a teller misses something, or speaks here and there with words unclear to someone who reads or hears, or tells not enough of what his listeners would hear about, if they could guide his tongue. Elminster's business is answering questionsQaye, and his pleasure, too. So, ask, I charge thee! Send thy queries to the good scribes, and I shall do mine own level best to answer, if not directly, then by producing more lore on locales, and matters, and beings, ye would know more of. The busy scribes of the realms can then turn such into modules, rulebooks, articles, and novels for thy entertainment. For, look ye, what greater purpose is there, if ye cannot heal or shape mountains or create life anew, than to entertain? "Ah, I envy thee all. To discover the Realms anew, as ye will! To walk amid the great trees of the Elven court, or glimpse (from afar, if ye would live long) the devil-haunted ruins of Myth Drannor. To see the welcoming farms of Shadowdale, or half a world away, the many proud spires of great Waterdeep, the City of Splendors! Ah, 'tis a grand world, I tell thee (and who should know better?) and it awaits thee, here and in pagesQand other ways, who knows?Q to come. When ye have seen a sunrise over the Moonshae Isles, or watched the stars glimmering above the beautiful city of Silverymoon on a clear deep night, ye will thank me! Aye, and it makes me glad to know the joy that awaits and proud, too, for the Realms are my home, even as ye would be proud to show a wayfarer thy abode, whate'er it be. "One thing more: know ye all that the Realms ye have seen in the box is but a small corner of the Realms! One of my favorite corners, aye, but only a small piece indeed of the mighty land that is Faerun. Ye have seen little of the North, little indeed of the lands between the Sword Coast and the Dragonreach, and little or nothing of Impiltur, Aglarond, and Thay to the east. "And these, too, are but a fewQthe entire South, from the Vilhon Reach through proud Amn, Tethyr, and hot Calimshan, ye have not even been shown yet. Nor Lantan, or Nimbral, the island realms (nor, far out to sea in the west, Evermeet of the elves); nor TharsultQnor the wild jungles of Chult, nor Tashluta and the lands about it, that we call Tashalar. Beyond this last lies a whole coast of realms, in the far south of FaerunQand ye could travel for many years walking east, across Raurin, and Durpar, and the Plains of Purple Dust, ere ye came at last to the mysterious lands of Karanm And Faerun is not the only continent of Abeir-Toril, know ye! Ah, rich years lie ahead of ye yet, ye who come along for the ride across this rich world of mine! I welcome ye, and wish ye wellQand will have more to say to ye anon (for I say much, and often, as they say). But for now, until swords part!" +-------------------------------------------+ ! LANDS OF THE FORGOTTEN REALMS ! +-------------------------------------------+ During the scribing of the Forgotten Realms tomes. some information was unintentionally overlooked by over-worked scribes working by far- too-feeble candlelight. The errant information literally came to light recently (when the scribery windows were at last washed) and is here included for your education, edification, and perusal. +-------------------------------------------+ ! AGLAROND ! +-------------------------------------------+ A small realm that keeps to itself, Aglarond exerts little influence in affairs of state beyond its borders. It is important in the overall strategic balance of the Inner Sea lands, however, simply because its continued existence prevents Thay from overwhelming the northern "East:' Aglarond's strength and danger, because she stands in magical opposition to the Red Wizards of Thay, who do not kindly suffer rivals, is its current ruler, a female archmage of fabled powers, known only as The Simbul. Aglarond lies on the northern side of a peninsula jutting out into the eastern end of the Inner Sea; a sparsely-inhabited, heavily-wooded realm of few farms and no large cities. Jagged pinnacles of rock stand at its tip and run along the spine of its lands. To the east, these fall away into vast and treacherous marshes that largely isolate The Simbul's realm from the mainland. Travel in Aglarond is by griffon, ship, or forest trails. It trades lumber, gems, and some copper for glass, iron, cloth goods, and food when free trading vessels come to port, but sends out no trading ships of its own. Aglarond cannot boast a field army of any size, nor a navy, but within its woods The Simbul's foresters are expert and deadly troops, adept at fire-fighting and at using "coastboats" (long, canoe-like open boats handled with lateen sails. oars, and poles) to raid by night as well as traveling in the treetops and fighting among them. The foresters are alert and grim; the menacing might of Thay is uncomfortably near, and Aglarond's blades are all too few. At the battles of Singing Sands (1194 DR [Dalerecking]) and Brokenheads (1197 DR), Aglarond's forces turned back invading hosts from Thay, but the cost was great. Skirmishes with raiders hoping to win glory in Thay, or mercenaries hired by Thay, are common. Little is known of The Simbul's aims and true strength, but she is seen to constantly roam the northern Realms, working to influence all manner of events. This is presumably to better Aglarond's safety, although she is said to be a member or at least an ally of the Harpers, whose aims are more widespread. Initially a wilderland inhabited only by a few sylvan elves, satyrs, and the fell forest denizens known more to men in fable than in fact (owlbears, stirges, and the like), Aglarond was little disturbed by men as settlement spread east across the Inner Sea lands an age ago. Often visited by pirates and others seeking a temporary refuge or to cut timber, Aglarond remained unsettled for many long winters. A few adventurers ceased their explorations to colonize the land, mostly those too old, notorious, or badly maimed to continue faring. At length fishermen seeking untouched seas moved to Aglarond's shores, and slowly small settlements of fisher-folk took hold on the rocky coasts. These villagers faced the sea, and although the woods at their backs seldom erupted to endanger them, they did not explore inland nor boldly cut and fell in the manner of the settlers of Cormyr, Sembia, and the Dalelands. The far-off pinnacles and the endless woods remained hostile places for a generation or more; those who ventured too far in did not return. As the wood cutting slowly ate away at the forest edge, skirmishes with owlbears and satyrs became more common, and were-creatures began to appear. Adventurers on the run or seeking hire also began to arrive in Aglarond, and for a brief, bloody decade still vivid in songs and travelers' tales, men slaughtered the most dangerous of Aglarond's monsters. As the dangers of the woods grew fewer. hunters and fur-trappers ventured further inlandQand eventually discovered that the elves of Aglarond had grown few and humble, weakened by disease and continual warfare with the mountain trolls and the dark elves of the mountain deeps. Most of the fisher-folk remained ignorant (and fearful) of the forest depths, and did not venture far into the trees. But the hunters and adventurers fought the trolls and (rarely) the drow, knowing the elves first as wary allies and then as friends, and within another generation a proud (if few in number) half-elven folk had come into being in the depths of the woods, the elves being completely absorbed into the half-elven stock. Over the next decade, the drow "went under"(ground) and came to Aglarond no more, the trolls were nearly eradicated, and the satyrs all left Aglarond or perished in the forest wars, until the half-elves came to rule all of Aglarond's wooded interior. Indiscriminate wood cutting continued around the villages of Oskur and Dlusk in particular and at length the half-elves grew angry enough to move down into the fishing villages and take over. This led to several armed skirmishes, notably a pitched battle at the remote anchorage of Ingdal's Arm (in which the "pure" humans perished to a man), but at length the half-elves prevailed. For a time there was ill feeling, but the just rule of the half-elven (and their undeniable and ever-increasing blood ties to the fisher- folk) soon welded the people into a loyal fellowship under the rule of a king. The first king, the senior war-leader of the elves, was the aged Brindor. He established a fighting corps of veterans and youths, named an heir, as he had no surviving mate or off-spring of his blood, and began a tradition of government by monarchy and council. Each village chose a representative or elder to be a part of the council, to advise and debate with the king. Those who would not accept the rule of the King moved west, into Altumbel, or north and east into Thesk. Theskan raiders (and later, the growing threat of Thay) were encountered by Brindor's only great engineering works: the fortress of Emmech at the mouth of the Umber, and the "Wall of Giants,' constructed by giants in return for some mysterious magical service Brindor gave them. These works prevented any army that crossed the Umber marshes from sweeping into Aglarond's growing farms. Brindor's heir, Althon, began a great program of irrigation, road- building, and careful husbandry of the much-shrunken woods of Aglarond. Eventually to become known as Althon "The Old,' he lived nearly a hundred winters. In Althon's time Aglarond grew into a strong and happy realm, despite the growing power of Thay and the many cities along the coast to the south of the Yuirwood. The wood gained its name from the "Yuir" as the elven folk now absorbed into Aglarond's half- elven populace had called themselves. Althon had two sons, Elthond and Philaspur. Elthond perished in the first great battle against the forces of Thay at Singing Sands (so-called for the lamenting women of Aglarond, who cried and sang all night as they took up the bodies of their slain men from the sands around Emmech). Philaspur reigned thereafter, himself perishing at the fortress of Glarondar in the battle of Brokenheads. Philaspur's daughters, Thara and Ulae', ruled long and well together after his death. Known as "the Grey Sisters" for their raiment, they developed their magical arts to awesome heights and were believed to have used shrewd dweomercraft to thwart many forces from Thay ere these reached Aglarond's borders. In their later years, both took husbands. Thara wed Elthar of Milvarune, gaining thereby the friendship of Thesk (which survives to this day). Ulae' bore a son Halacar and a daughter Ilione. Halacar reigned from the death of his mother (1257 DR) through a disastrous campaign against Thay and diedQof poison, it is thoughtQin the winter of 1260 DR without wife or offspring. His sister Ilione came to the throne inexperienced but she was wiser than Halacar and carefully built Aglarond's strength. Ilione immediately named as heir her apprentice, the young and mysterious sorceress known only as The Simbul. She ruled long and wisely as Aglarond prospered. Ilione died of plague in 1320 DR. Since that time The Simbul has ruled the realm with magery greater than any known in the Inner Sea lands since the fall of Myth Drannor. She is thought to still live, and Aglarond still survives, because she personally overmatches even the infamous Red Wizards of Thay. If The Simbul herself has apprentices or a chosen heir, she has not publicly identified any such to the Council. Her style as Queen of Aglarond a title she never uses, preferring to be known only as "The Simbul" is her own, different from her predecessors and counterparts in other realms. As Mirt of Waterdeep once said, "Ah, that ladyQ she goes her own way." That way must be a narrow and often treacherous one; Aglarond's future may well be in the balance. +-------------------------------------------+ ! EVERMEET ! +-------------------------------------------+ Evermeet of the Elves is the island kingdom of the elves and lies west across stormy seas beyond the lands of men. It is a happy realm of deep, wondrous forests and much laughter. Here the High Elves, under the leadership of the Silver Elven Royal HouseQsix Princes and seven Princesses, under the ruling Queen Amlaruil (her king, Zaor, died some thirty winters ago)Q live in rich splendor. The art, the music, and the magical research all are far above what is seen here, even in Waterdeep the Splendid. All elves, except the Dark Elves, are welcome there, and many sea- elves live in the surrounding waters. To guard the realm against men, particularly the aggressive raiders from Ruathym and the Pirate Isles, Evermeet has a mighty navy, It is by far the most numerous and well- armed in the known Realms. Based in the fortress of Sumbrar, with smaller outposts at Elion and Nimlith, the vessels of Evermeet's fleets patrol from the Wave Rocks to the Gull Rocks and "the Teeth' in a wide circle of ocean. Boats are built and repaired at Siiluth ("Beaching Bay"), and call at only a few ports in the lands of men: Eskember, the Moonshae Isles, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep. In the past, the ships of Evermeet have fought many battles with Ruathym, the reavers of the Nelanther (Pirate Isles), and Calimshan, and have hurled back all attempts to seize the island or its treasures. Recently, many elves from troubled lands in the interior of the Realms have begun to take ship in Waterdeep, to come to Evermeet where men are not seen and evil threatens not. +-------------------------------------------+ ! HALRUAA ! +-------------------------------------------+ A small, rich realm fed by the verdant farms of the Maeru valley and slaked by the fiery wines born in the vineyards of the High Aluar, Halruaa is famous for its rich electrum mines and its magic. Halruaa is a realm defined and isolated by mountains, but often invaded from the sea for its mineral wealth (principally located east of Lake Maeru, in astonishingly large and pure deposits). Its people have become, as a result, warlike, and led by tradition. The realm is not at peace with its less powerful neighbors. Formerly, out of necessity, they were led by wizards. These Halruan magic-users are of great and mysterious power. Thay's current regime is said by some to have been founded by renegade Halruan mages. Halruaa is always ruled by a wizard-king. The current ruler is Zalathorm, an elderly man of great mystical powers. The Elders of the "Halruan" (as the wizards are known) advise him, and will choose from their own ranks the mightiest mage to become his successor, when that time occurs. Halruaan mages wander in secret over much of the Realms, always seeking items of magic (particularly unique and ancient items), and they have gathered many thousands of such treasures in their temples. The Halruar worship Mystra, and their temples are vast strongholds where they live, work, and study to further their arts, as well as worshipping The Lady of Mysteries. The most mighty of these temples lies within Mt. Talath and is a vast and ancient network of caverns, passages, and mountain top turrets. Most of the other large temples (as opposed to the devotional shrines of the cities) are located in the mountains ringing the Nath, or northeastern basin, where vast herds of wild rothe and aurochs roam, and are culled regularly for food. Halruaa has a small war-navy, based in Halagard and Zalasuu. Its principal fortified base and construction docks are on the outlying isle of Rulasuu. This realm is little known in the North. These paltry words, and the map, are all Elminster could ten you of it, except for the badge of the realm, borne on navy sails and diplomats' cloaks. It is a star surrounded by three concentric circles, all in white (on a darker background, which may be of any color). The star represents Mystra, the inner circle the land. This is encompassed by the second circle, representing the Halruans, and an outer circle represents the world beyond. TSR --------------------------------------------------------------------- SILLY VICIOUS GOONS MISSING AT SEA Forgotten Realms (modified, pre-Time of Troubles): The adventuring group SVG (usually known as Silly Vicious Goons) has disappeared on Straitguard Island (about 2 weeks sailing south- east of Waterdeep) while acting as a scouting party for King Jaylith. Rumours of drow involvement are being denied by official sources in the kingdom; the adventurer's guild has declared the group "missing, status unknown". Any person(s) knowing the whereabouts of this adventuring group should report its presence to the local guild hall: standard guild payment schedules will be followed. SVG is comprised of two dwarven fighters, one human cleric, one elven cleric, one elven thief-mage, one elven fighter-mage, one female human mage, and one (very attractive) female human swashbuckling thief. Vincent Gray, VINCE@sscl.uwo.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM GREYHAWK - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Patchwall, 580 PRINCE OSKAR LEAVES NAERIE Greyhawk : Iron League, County of Idee : Naerie : Prince Oskar has finished gathering his troops and has set off for Irongate to procure ships to take him to Mithat or Old Red in Nyrond. He is attempting to free his homeland of Tehn from the hold of Sevvord Redbeard FEALBRAND RAIDS AHLISSA Greyhawk : Great Kingdom, South Province of Ahlissa : Zelradton: Raiders under the command of one Fealbrand have raided several border posts and attacked troop garrisons in the border regions. He has disrupted the Duke's plans of staging a late fall attack on Idee. NEW MERCENARY BAND FORMED Greyhawk : Iron League, County of Idee : Naerie : A new Mercenary Band named "The Spines" and headed by a warrior named Adolph and consisting of several highly skilled soldiers and a collection of other men-at-arms. They are looking for work and say that their fees are very reasonable and that they are familiar with the Spine Ridge between Idee and the Scarlet Brotherhood. To retain them please leave a message with the Bartender at the Laughing Halfling (acc_dtw@exodus.valpo.edu or acc_dtw@valpo). BANDITS IN HOLLOW HIGHLANDS Greyhawk : Iron League, County of Idee : Naerie : Merchants have been reporting a large number of raids on their caravans as they travelled between Sunndi to the East and Idee. In fact no less than 7 caravans have gone missing on the normally quiet and safe route. Currently the only safe route passes through the Elvish Earldom in the Rieuwood, and the Earl charges higher tariffs than the independent villages of the Hollow Highlands. GNOLLS ATTACK VILLAGES Greyhawk : Iron League, County of Idee : Naerie : Refugees have been arriving in the outlying villages around Naerie reporting that Gnolls have been destroying whole villages near the Menowood. It is suspected by Count Fedorik Eddri that the Caravan raiders and the Gnolls may be one and the same. Sources close to the Count hint that due to the fact that the majority of the mercenaries and troops in Naerie have been moved to the front with Ahlissa to the north, the new mercenaries, The Spines, may be hired for the task of killing the Gnolls and Bandits. ACC_DTW@exodus.valpo.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EMMINENT POLITICAL FIGURE CATCHES INTIMATE SOCIAL DISEASE Greyhawk : Keoland : Niole Dra : There is talk in the city of Niole Dra, Keoland, that a certain emminent political figure has been suffering from a certain disease passed on from intimate social activity. Martin Crossman, mcc5@leicester.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM KRYNN - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Krynn: Taladas: Kristophan: FIRE IN THE ARENA A fire erupted in an uncontrollable blaze on the west side of the arena when a combatant became angry when he was defeated in a trial by combat. The combatant, an elf accused of theivery, began casting a spell after first blood was drawn. Before authorities could reach the elf, a lightning bolt was cast at the other combatant. The lightning bolt hit the other combatant in the chest, which killed him. The lightning bolt then passed through the combatant and entered the stands and caused the wood seats to erupt in flames. Seven minotaurs died in the panic that resulted. The Elf was executed on the spot by the Royal Court Mage, Mortellius. The fire continued to burn through the night. By morning the fire had burnt itself out. The construction on the new seating will begin next week. Next months trials by combat will be postponed for two weeks. ROYAL MAGE NEEDS NEW APPRENTICE Upon the new year a new apprentice will be chosen to study under Mortellius. Applicants should submitt an essay to the court scribe. The essay should include study interests, prior research, references, and reasons why this highly honored position should be fill by the applicant. Essays will be taken for the next six months. Upon the new year in eights months a new apprentice will be chosen at the winter festival. BATTLE BETWEEN IMPERIAL LEAGUE IS OVER Krynn : Taladas : The battle between The Imperial League is over. The Imperial League lost every living being to the battle. It is rumored that the Army of Thenol had the fabled sword Hellfire, because every soldier of the League had burst into flame and died. The Imperial League is offering 500,000 st for any infomation that leads to the capturing of the sword Hellfire. The Imperial League is offering 1,000,000 st to the person/persons who brings the sword to Lord Batian of Kristophan. Notes on the battle.... The battle lasted for 5 days. The Army of the Imperial League numbered at 2423 and the Army of Thenol numbered 3446. The first day looked as if the Imperial League would slaughter the Army of Thenol. The second and third day very little fighting occured because both Armies pulled back to a defensive position. The fourth day the Army of Thenol sent a assassin squad to kill the commander of the Imperial League, but the squad failed. On the Fifth day, the Imperial League attacked, While they were approaching a lone man stood ahead of the Army of Thenol holding a two-handed sword. As the Imperial League approached the man swung his sword and a fireball erupted from the blade, a fireball as great as if a thousand mages had cast it at once. The Imperial League died in flames. Thus the Kingdom of Thenol claims the battle won. From the Sage Jansus. Kelly McCauley MCCAUKA@WKUVX1.BITNET -------------------------------------------------------------------- Krynn:Northern Ergoth: WAR DECLARED! Emperor Mercadior Redic V of Northern Ergoth's latest treaty bid with Qualinesti has failed. Expeditions sent by Mercadior to Qualinesti to capture Speaker of the Suns Porthios have failed mysteriously, none ever even reached Qualinost. Mercadior's numerous attempts to set up outposts in the old Ergothian ruins of Hie and Khimel on Southern Ergoth have disappeared without trace as well. Accusing the elves of Southern Ergoth of conspiracy, Mercadior sent a punative army (5000 men) south and, landing at Daltigoth, reinforced it with Storm Ogres (500 ogres)and marched on the Kaganesti village of Rain. Apparently an alliance had been formed betwixt the ogres and the humans. The newly formed elven nation, Ergonesti, composed of Kaganesti, Silvanesti, and Qualinesti elves sent forth a small army to meet them (2500 elves). In addition, Merathanos, Belthanos, and Cher-Kal, the triumvate ruling Ergonesti, also sent out three ships to Qualinesti asking for aid. Apparently the aid was unnessecary. When the two sides met on the borders of the elven lands, the Ogres charged their human advesarys, apparently to avenge themselves for the ancient slights that the Ergothian humans had committed against the Ogres. The Ergothian army broke before this unexpected charge and most were destroyed. The rest fled into Ergonesti where none are reported to have survived. The ogres, under the command of the ogre Kthaaarx wisely retreated before the sudden onslaught of arrows from the forest. Unfortunately, like the Armachnesti before them, the elves in the three ships were lost at sea.... Krynn:Solamnia(High Clerists Tower):SOLAMNIANS SENT TO SANCTION Two months after the defeat of Kitiara and her blue dragon armies at Palanthas, strange rumors that Kitiara had returned to Sanction were heard. Reports from Tanthalas Half-elven and Dalamar the Mage give all indication that she had died in the battle. A group of adventurers were asked by Gunthar Uth-Wistan to investigate these rumors. They accepted and, they were sent with an escort of three Solamnics knights. The party included: Ferrel Ironbeard : Fighter (Mountain Dwarf) Hauk : Ranger (Human) Kelida : Fighter (Human) Werdna : White Robed Mage (Elf) Tasslehoff Burrfoot: 'Handler' (Kender) Lavim Springtoe : 'Handler' (Kender) Tasslehoff's cousin Sir Heros of Coastlund: Abbot of Swords (Human) Squire Caaman : Knight of the Crown, (Human) Lord Crownguard : High Justice, (Human) Most suprising of the group was Lord Crownguard, a High Justice, and father of Derek Crownguard. He went for reasons of his own that he wouldn't share though dark rumor has it that the ill-fated knight Derek Crownguard had been raised as a death knight. Krynn:Jansburg(Solamnia): The party arrived in Jansburg carried by three bronzes headed on a scouting mission over Throytl. In Jansburg, the party made inquiries at the local inn, The Black Feathered Harpy about Kitiara. No one had heard anything about this, but a man dressed in furs, a Que-Shu tracker presumably told them to meet him outside of the village after dark. Lord Crownguard agreed, much to the chagrin of Hauk and Ferrel whom both refused to go. Kelida, the other two knights, Werdna, and Tasslehoff agreed to go with Crownguard. Lavim was no where to be found. That night while Hauk and Ferrel stayed at the inn while the rest of the group, still without Lavim, went to the agreed meeting place. Meanwhile, minutes after they left, Lavim arrived and told Hauk that their companions were being led into an ambush. Lavim, Hauk, and Ferrel took some horses that Lavim had 'found' and rode out to the ambush fight. What they found amazed them. Baaz draconians, at least fiveteen of them, were attacking the party. Kelida had been knocked to the ground and was unconscious, Squire and Tasslehoff were surrounded. The others were holding there own. Lavim and his group charged into the battle. The Baaz scattered before the charge and gave the heroes time to regroup. Werdna cast lightning bolt and killed two of them. The rest fled to the south-east. The party dressed its wound and returned to the inn. In the morning, it was decided that Lavim and Squire must carry the news of the draconians back to the High Clerists Tower, while the rest would continue on. Raistlin Majere, Alpha Institute. - DOMAIN lucas@scicom.alphacdc.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM DARK SUN - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry, no news. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - KNOWN WORLD/HOLLOW WORLD - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D Known World/Hollow World campaign setting) TROUBLES ALONG ARMSTEAD ROAD Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Armstead : The Chancellor's special investigator arrived, reporting serious problems along the way. Apparently, of nearly a dozen guards, only two survived the trip. They were set upon by a mixture of mounted goblins (on worgs) and goblins on foot, all weilding crossbows. The investigator is worried and is looking for guards to take him back to Darokin City. SOLDIERS DEFEATS 1000 ORCS Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Fort Nell : The soldiers of Fort Nell reported turning back an assault of nearly a thousand orcs, all on foot. The orcs were wielding long swords, backed up by nearly two hundred crossbows, and they exhibited unusually good military tactics. Darokinian casualties were heavier than normal, but still light. The commandant has requested reinforcements. EYE OF THE SERPENT AGENT DIES DURING INTERROGATION Mystara : Alfheim : Alfheim City : Elves report having captured a shadow elf who, under heavy magic questioning, reported being an Eye of the Serpent. The authorities are slightly worried, since they were able to determine that the shadow elf was connected with many more people, but the questioning killed the captive before names could be extracted. SILVER FOUND AT CHATEAU DE MALINBOIS Mystara : Glantri : Viscompty de Malinbois : The Viscomptess de Malinbois today announced the discovery of a large silver depost under her own castle, the Chateau de Malinbois. The Fellowship of Were-Hunters, a group formed to hunt lycanthropes to extinction, were pleased to hear this and are already working to get silver weapons. Mystara : Glantri : Glantri City : Glantri, after minimal research into its records, asked the Darokinian emissary to go to Crownguard, the castle of the Klantyre family. The emissary, who was trying to find information on Conor and Angus MacGregor, was a little disappointed, but apparently he is following up on the lead. VYALIA ELVES ATTAINS COUNTY OF VYALIAN Mystara : The Empire of Thyatis : Thyatis City : The Emperor announced the secession of part of the County of Vyalian to the Vyalia Elves, who formally claimed their ancestral lands a short time ago. The rumor mill has gone wild with speculation on what assurances the Emperor received. BLACK EAGLE BARONY RAIDS DURING FESTIVITIES Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : Luln : The arrival of a nobleman, Lord Valerius Luctivitae, prompted festivities. Unfortunately, the festivities were interrupted by a nocturnal raid from the Black Eagle Barony. Town's mistress Sascia, personally leading the town militia, repulsed the incursion, and Lord Valerius praised her for actions similar to those that earned her a barony. Baroness Sascia is now the ruler of the Barony of Luln, and she immediately adopted Luln as her patronym. ELVES SPOTTED IN DYMRAK FOREST Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : Dymrak Forest : The forest has been silent of late, and the frontiersmen in the area are concerned that there may be some problems if the goblins are preparing for some great move. However, elves have been sighted for the first time in decades, and they were lightly armed and armored, but fast, silent, and apparently deadly. They warned off any humans they encountered, telling them to get out of the "Vyalia Woods." GENERAL AKHENTOPEN APOLOGISES TO THE CHURCH OF PFLARR Mystara : Hollow World : The Kingdom of Nithia : Tarthis : General Akhentopen was called to task for his heresy, failing to recognize that the people he called "those vile dog-men who dare profess worhip of Divine Pflarr" are in fact the chosen race of Pflarr, created by that Immortal in the distant past. The General issued a formal and very lengthy apology to the Church of Pflarr. MILENIAN TROOPS DEFEATS NITHIAN SOLDIERS Mystara : Hollow World : The Milenian Empire : Eastern Border : Milenian troops were reported victorious in a confrontation with Nithian soldiers. Light casualties were reported. ACOLYTES SACRIFICES FOR HERESY Mystara : Hollow World : The Azcan Empire : A number of acolytes and a few of the mid-llevel priests were sacrificed after proclaiming heresies against Atzanteotl. Apparently, they were also secretly following the teachings of a mysterious emperor of ages past, called Atruatzin, the Quetzalcoatl. Priests of Atzanteotl viciously denounce these beliefs, and they are quick to sacrifice any who profess them. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - ORIGINAL WORLDS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Original : Cord - A city of the Free City Alliance : WHO TRIED TO KILL PRINCE ARKENSHIELD? Rumors are still flying in the city about the aborted assassination attempt on Price Arkenshield. Was it a disgruntled merchant? The Brotherhood of the Night? Or his wife? Only time may tell. CONTRACTS SIGNED WITH DWARVEN MINING COMPANY The city fathers of Cord are pleased to announce that they have signed a contract with a dwarven mining company from the Western Kingdoms to construct a complete set of sewers under the city. Though the costs will be high, the long term benifits to the city will be well worth it. ELVEN MINSTREL VANISHES The newly arrived elven minstrel who was fast becoming the most popular act in Cord has apparently vanished from the city. Several well to do locals are still looking for the missing minstrel. TROUBLES ON THE EASTERN ROAD OF CORD The roads east of the city appear to have grown more dangerous as fall approaches. Master Send, local grain merchant, reports the loss of a grain caravan this week. City guardsmen report that the caravan was apparently attacked by a large band of orcs, last seen headed in the direction of the evil Lake Tanga. Captain Migan Stonefist reports that patrols eastward will be trebled, and an attack force is being prepared to deal with these marauding orcs. ADVENTURERS SAVES MERCHANT'S SON When Master Send lost his caravan, he also lost his youngest son. Apparently the lad was on his way back from visiting relatives in Mist. Fortunately a group of adventurous citizens managed to negotiate his release from the foul orcs. This same group of citizens were also responsible for returning a recently stolen tax chest from a group of marauding bandits that performed a daring raid in the middle of Cord itself. FATHER TIRLY STILL ILL On a sadder note, Father Tirly of the Temple of Alara is still suffering from ill health. Apparently the main temple in Reap has still not agreed upon a replacement for the elderly and popular high priest. Let's hope the temple hierarchy makes up its mind soon, so Father Tirly can retire in peace. Mark A. Thomas (thomas@capitol.com) Capitol Multimedia Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Original:Sea of Mist: What started out as a simple dare between Brother Jorune the Learned, Priest of Daenku, and his adventuring companion, the elven ranger, Ferrin Greenleaf, soon became a paramount discovery which led to many unanswered questions. The incident began two nights ago, in the Last Tankard Tavern, in the village of Blackwood. A somewhat intoxicated Ferrin accused Brother Jorune of having no "advent'roush shpirit <hic!>". The insulted priest denied the claim, at which time the drunken ranger proposed a challenge: journey to the unnamed isle at the heart of the Sea of Mist. Since the shores of the Sea of Mist are eternally shrouded in thick, swirling clouds of mist, the existence of the speculated isle is as yet unconfirmed. The brave duo set out the following morning, and returned by mid-afternoon, visibly shaken. Later that evening, as they warmed their souls in front of a roaring hearth at the Last Tankard, they recounted their experiences of the past day... "It was quite unlike anything I expected," began Brother Jorune. "The dense fog does not cover the sea -- only the shores, as if it were a great ring." While his associate paused to sip some expensive imported wine, the young ranger took up the tale. "We were able to see far out across the surface, but we could never see land. Lucky for us I knew which direction to steer us in, otherwise we'd never have gotten back! Anyway, we were about three miles or so off shore, when we stopped to eat and rest for a while. That's when it happened." Ferrin looked deeply into the dancing flames, seemingly lost in thought. Brother Jorune decided to continue at this point, deciding his friend was probably too tired to discuss the matter any further. Heaving a sigh, he said, "A long black finger rose from the sea itself! As we continued to watch, others followed. The water roared as it cascaded down their sides, almost deafening us and drowning us. We hastily began rowing back, and did not look behind until the roar had subsided. When we turned to gaze upon the ebony fingers yet again, we saw..." His voice trailed off. "Spires!" exclaimed Ferrin. "There was a HUGE black castle just floating there on the water!" Sandra S. Stanford stanford@lonestar.utsa.edu <Original> : Seahaven The latest news from the Seahaven courier ship is that the Lord Mayor, in conjunction with unnamed parties are offering a captured mated pair of adult bronze dragons for sale. It is unknown how the dragons were captured or how they remain subdued, but one will be on display in the Lord Mayor's castle grounds until the auction, slated for two months hence. The Pirates of Centilla have been contracted to provide defense against rescue attempts. Rumor within a caravan: Don't look like you're enjoying the priestess' company too much. Lord Philip [the leader of a group of heavy cavalry helping to guard the troop] has taken quite a shine to her. Heed my advice, my Viristi friend, or he'll put you on double guard duty faster than you can say deus sol. Huh? What does him being a paladin have anything to do with anything? He's still a man and he's breathing! Rumor in Yagwa: They say those people to the east are having trouble with a plague. Seems that their sailors brought it back with them. Like I always say. If God had meant for people to be traders and money-grubbers then he wouldn't let these things happen. Probably serves them right but we should send some people over to help them. Rumor in Vir: Insane and wicked humans to the south are pillaging helpless and innocent communities as they marOAch towards the city. The millia [army] has been sent to deal with them and the humans will most surely pay dearly for their impudence. [Actually the humans are marching in the opposite direction, they are not complete fools.] Legend in a Timnari Clan: Bearslayer [the long dead ancestor of one of the PC's] took shelter in one of those ruins and found what looked like a human skull except it was made of stone. He brought it back to the tribe for everyone to see [and left it when they moved on]. That next year he disappeared while on a hunt and was never heard from again. Rumor amongst the Orcs: Stay away from the human women. They are all able to summon up the wrath of the gods and use it as they choose. Common belief amongst the Orcs: Humans take great pleasure in cutting off the heads of orcish babies to make what to them is a great delicacy. They strip the flesh from the skull, cutting it into strips and deep frying it. The brain is liquified and heated in the brain case. the strips of flesh are then dipped into the brain mixture and eaten like chips. Common belief amongst most other races concerning Orcs: Orcs are creatures of pure evil that delight in pillage, slaughter, torture and rape. This is proven by the fact that orcs never attempt to do anything but attack or flee [usually the latter]. One would do well to assume that they are up to no good. A little preventative pesticide cannot be a bad thing. After all, the paladins of Yagwa confirm that they are evil. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - QUICK GUIDE TO THE KNOWN WORLD - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WORLD: The Four Kingdoms CREATOR: Ristonofer - THE FOUR KINGDOMS, - - A GUIDE FOR THE ADVENTURER - THE FOUR KINGDOMS PRIMER as told by Ristonofer Glamdring, Seminarian of the Academy SHORT HISTORY of the KINGDOMS "The lands known as the Four Kingdoms encompass a great stretch of land slicing north and south through the center of the continent of Therduin, far west to the great Kingdom of Lorgaard, and east to borders of the ever-encroaching Tyresian Empire. The Four Kingdoms stand now as tentative allies against the threat from the east, a situation that has not always existed. We are in the first century of what scholars have termed the Third Age of Man. The First was the reign of the great Skuldavian Empire, which ended in decadence and decay. The Second Age encompassed the majority of the history of the Mannish races, spanning nearly three millennia. It ended when the Four Kingdoms themselves united and repelled the threat of the Tyresians for what was thought to be the final time. We have since, to our chagrin, found the celebration to be a bit premature. The Tyresian Empire, now not a threat not to destroy, but to slowly conquer, looms large on the eastern horizon. During the Second Age, the Kingdoms of Lisorian and Hubran dominated the central part of the continent. In the second millennium, civil war broke apart Hubran, and the Kingdom of S'ilaran was born. River Ophis divided the lands east and west, a barrier that has stood unto this day. Exiles from this civil war migrated to a large island in the south, and the roots of what was to become the Island Kingdom of Kiron were formed by the House of Garwen. By the end of the second millennium, the Four Kingdoms were formed. Owing to their origins, the Kingdoms were ever at war or strained relations with one another, save Lisorian, who maintained a bit of neutrality, though always aware of the threat from Hubran in the west. The Hubrian Range, however, has always provided more than a sufficient deterrent to those wishing to invade Lisorian from the east; the wild lands that lay between western Lisorian and Lorgaard have simply never been quelled. In the latter part of the Second Millennium, the Tyresian Empire, at the time called Vomica Noire, grew in strength and began to expand its arms both east and west. An Emperor by the name of Tyrus seized power and began building his empire through shrewd and some say arcane means. On his deathbed, he vowed to reappear a millennium hence and seize power of the Known World. The empire built on that promise, and harried S'ilaran for centuries, pushing in, then being repelled, and so on. Finally, less than a century ago, it all came to a head. In the year 2A2882, a man claiming to be Tyrus seized power in Vomica Noire, renaming his land Tyresias, and claiming all lands within his Empire. The Four Kingdoms, embroiled in their own disputes, signed a truce to deal with the threat once and for all. Within days, the leaders of those lands were all slain by assassins. Young Victor of the Kironian House of Garwen, a direct descendent of the founder of the Island Kingdom, took control and enforced the treaty. Soon after, the Kironian Navy sailed for the east, and turned the tide of the war. The Tyresians, who had invaded almost as far as the River Ophis, were repelled, and within a few years, the Tyresian Empire lay in ruins. This is where we stood until recently. Order returned to the Four Kingdoms, and the House of Garwen regained power in Kiron. Less than a decade ago, however, the Tyresian Empire, thought to be far too weak to consider imperialism, began another march into S'ilaran. Today, the Kingdom that was S'ilaran is totally occupied by the Empire, and the Empire now makes its effort to push into Hubran. The brave Hubrans boast the finest warriors in the Kingdoms, but soon, the Empire will simply be far too much. The Hubrans have withstood two great pushes to cross the river, but their state is weakening, and the Empire is relentless. On our own shores, the Pretender King has been put down by the valiant forces of the Loyalists, and the Rightful Heir has been returned to the throne. There is celebration across the island this day, but that celebration may be short-lived. Civil war, if it can ever be called that, has weakened this land to the point of not being able to defend itself should the Empire continue its conquest into Hubran. Even internally the land may suffer now that many good, young and strong men have died in battle, leaving many a widow and untended field. THE MANNISH RACES There are three distinct races of man that populate Continent Therduin, divided roughly along east/west lines. These include the Lors in the west, the Therduin of the Four Kingdoms, and the Noirians of the east. The Lors are the descendants of barbarian raiders from the far northwest shores of the continent in ages long past. They tend toward fair hair, heavier structure and great height. As one migrates further south in Lorish lands, the hair and complexion of the folk becomes a bit darker, but rarely will one find a black-haired Lor. The Therduin come from the original strain of Mankind as one of the Lesser Races. These people owe their heritage to the primitives than wandered these lands in the time of the Creator Races themselves, and as thusly as widely diverse as the day is long. Free interbreeding with the other Mannish races has led to broad spectrum of body shapes and sizes, hair colors and skin tones. The Noirians as a race as olive-skinned and dark-haired, more hirsute than the other Mannish races, but not so much as Dwarvenkind. They tend to be thinner as a race than the others, but this is not to say that a Noir could never be of great stature. Little is known about from where their ancestors come, and there are as many theories on this as there are "experts" on the topic. THE AMANNISH (DEMI-HUMAN) RACES There are three major Amannish races, commonly referred to as demi-humans. These include the enigmatic Elvesti, the pragmatic Dwarves, and the problematic Ugoth. The Elvesti lay claim to being the oldest of all the races. Their progenitors, known to scholars as The Eldritch, were one of the Creator Races. They are prolific in their environs, but have no real desire to expand beyond those. Elvesti appear as shorter, slighter humans, of fair complexion and hair. Average height for an Elf is about 5'5", but rarely does one exceed 5'10". Females are not much smaller than males, and more similar in appearance to their males than any other of the Races. Even Elvesti of extreme strength are not burly the way Humans would be. It is relatively easy for an Elvesti to pass for the opposite gender among those that know few of their kind. Their hair runs from pale blond to bright copper, with many shades of the forest in between. Eyes are generally blue or green, but metallic purplish and red colors are not uncommon. The language of the Elven-folk has been learned by many other races, but none can speak it in the beautifully flowing tones as the People themselves. It is said to be one of the most beautiful things in all the world. It is also not shared very often with outsiders. Elvesti will not carry on a secret conversation in their native tongue in front of others simply for convenience. It must certainly be a matter of great importance. To do otherwise is considered boorish at best, something that only a Human would be capable of. The natural capabilities of Elvesti are far above the other races. They are smarter and longer-lived. Their attention spans, however, are short, and their perspective on matters others consider important is radically different. When you have two thousand years with which to play, a few weeks of poetry and song is insignificant. Other races consider Elves frivolous. This is not necessarily true. When they decide that a matter is worth their attention (be it a war or a flagon of mead), they pursue it fervently. Elvesti have a great distaste for killing, but are very interested in swordplay and archery. They consider both great art forms, not to be corrupted by use for excessive violence. They understand the need for hunting, but are very protective of any forest environment and it's denizens. They have a great appreciation for things in the wild, but are very aware of the inherent dangers found in nature. Dwarves are tough, resilient people given to hard work and war, descendents from the Creator Race known as the Drangor. They live mostly in or near underground mines and tunnels, spending much of their time under the earth. All their arts and work are tied to earth and rock. Dwarves average about 4'7" in height and weigh 150 or more pounds, but it is not uncommon for a Dwarf to reach 200 pounds. Rarely does a Dwarf exceed 5' in height. Their skin tends to be rather pale due to the time they spend out of the sun. They are a hirsute people, and beards especially have great significance in Dwarven life. "Go get shaved" is a popular Dwarven insult. There is a common misconception that Dwarves hate Elves. While the two races are at opposite ends of the spectrum philosophically, there has never been a Dwarf/Elvesti war. In fact, the two Peoples have often come together during troubled times to face a common threat. Dwarves do have a distaste for Elven lifestyle. While Elves, as mentioned above, think nothing of frolicking and making merriment for days or weeks on end, Dwarves would never consider such nonsense. Time is better served doing or making. The time an Elvesti would spend playing, a Dwarf would happily spend digging through strata after strata of rock in search of gems, or making a carving from a huge piece of stone. Dwarven outlook on life is serious, and their every activity reflects this. Dwarvenfolk also tend to be more social than other races. They identify greatly with family units and bloodlines. A Dwarf will take great pride in being descended from another Dwarf of renown. Dwarves use family names when identifying themselves with phrases such as "Thangor, son of Groznich", or "Thangor of the Bloodrock Clan", or if a ancestor was particularly noted, "Thangor, blood of Throin Oakenshield". Though very familiar within their own clans, Dwarves are extremely wary of outsiders, and will not identify their clan name to strangers. The simple greeting "Thangor, of the Dwarves" suffices in most situations, although the unspoken implication is "and you're not important enough to know more." There are rumored to be twelve great clans of Dwarves. Each clan is separate from the others and has it's own personality. Each clan has it's own craft in which it specializes. There are also said to be several Lost Clans. The bane of the Dwarven race is their reproductivity. Only four in ten Dwarven females is fertile enough to reproduce. The only thing that has kept the race from becoming extinct is their relatively long (300-500 year) life-spans. There is much effort among Dwarven communities to find a cure for this infertility, but as of yet nothing has surfaced. The language spoken by the Dwarves is a rough, guttural tongue, quite an opposition to the lilting, melodic tongue of the Elvesti. By Mannish standards, the Ugoth are the most vile of the Races. Physically they reflect the standards of their very warlike society. They are big and brutish, more than head and shoulders taller than the average Man, thickly muscled, with skin that tends toward yellowish- green. Facially they tend to be hairless, much in contrast to the rest of their bodies; their features tend to be rather flat, gaining them the epithet "pig-faces" amongst Men. There are several subspecies of Ugoth throughout the Kingdoms, some far larger than normal, and smaller ones, called Squats that have the cunning and guile that their larger brethren lack. The different strains of Ugoth have many different names. Constantly at war with something, Ugoth have a tribal society, each tribe being led by the strongest warrior, male or female (though the latter is exceedingly rare). This position of leadership is tenuous as best; a moment of weakness can lead to a new chief. They are warriors without compare when guided by competent leadership, but their own stubbornness and low intellect has kept them a minor, but irritating, force in the overall scheme of things in the Kingdoms. RELIGION A great part of the conflict in the Kingdoms is still the struggle between the "Old Gods" and the "One God". The recent war, as you remember, was mostly divided along these lines. The Old Gods have been worshiped by most peoples of the Kingdoms for ages; the One God is less than a thousand years in the memories of Men. Pantheism The Pantheist view lends itself to the belief that all facets of life are intertwined. The various deities have lain out guidelines for mortals to though the motivation for those guidelines escapes Men. Common folk routinely entreat, thank and curse the various deities throughout the normal course of their lives. They see their lives as controlled by the whim of these entities, and do what they can to curry their favor. This comes in the form of both organized and individual worship. On the organized side, Priesthoods form hierarchal structure through which this worship is done. Priests of a particular deity have had training in the practices of the veneration of that deity. They know the ritual and history of their specialty. They are normally well-respected members of their community, and are looked to for leadership and guidance. Regardless of the deity of the Priesthood, Priests are afforded the respect accorded to Freemen, and those in the upper ranks of the hierarchy are treated as lesser nobles. Recognized Priesthoods Though all recognize the existence of the entire Pantheon, Priesthoods are normally restricted to the worshipers of those deities commonly considered "good" by Mankind. While no one questions the influence of Eregul, god of Death and the Dead, no "good" person would consider worshiping him. The structure of all Priesthoods vary from sect to sect. There have been known to be cults dedicated to the gods of evil, but these are few and far between, at least on the surface. MONOTHEISM The Monotheists are no more or less devout in the worship of their god than the Pantheists, but as a community are far more fanatical. The worship of a single, omnipotent being has existed for centuries, but this particular faith springs from the efforts of a single Man named Iescu. It is said that he came from a little fishing village in the mountains separating Lisorian and Hubran. It is said that his mother was a maiden and his father was the One God himself. Little else is said of his childhood. It was his mission to bring together all men in worship of the One God, to complete Man's understanding of his relationship with the One God and how to properly worship Him. He is said to have performed great miracles, such as feeding 4000 people with seven fishes and a loaf of bread; healing the sick and infirm; even raising the dead. He made most of his impact here on the Island Kingdom. The roots of the faith and the Kingdom itself come from roughly the same time period, so it is easy to understand how and why this is the primary religion on the Island. The Pontiff is the leader of the church as a whole. The previous one, who was loyal to Rathsmore, died under unusual circumstances early this year; the Council of Arch-Prelates selected another (with some assistance from His Majesty). The Council consists of 15 members, one each Baronial Arch-Prelate, and the Arch-Prelates of Mele'Kiron and Phila'Kiron. SOCIETY ROYALTY This station is reserved for the family of the King. Historically, the descendants of the family of Garwen have ruled the Island Kingdom. King Drew, and his father Victor before him are from this royal line. Should Drew sire a son, he, too will rule Kiron. The remainder of the family is accorded the station Royalty, though there are precious few of them left. Drew's elder sister Alicia is married to the Crown Prince of Lorgaard, and his other sisters have been married off to nobles in other lands. NOBILITY Even though there is a Royal Bloodline, appointment to many posts are given by merit. Titles are normally maintained by birthright, though the King has the option of appointing or removing an entire noble's family from that status and granting it to another, should he so choose. Drew has gone a long way to redefine the nobility of Kiron. Many who were loyal to the Pretender King have been removed, some by force, and new Baronial lines have been redrawn in the Kingdom. The families of Dukes and Barons comprise this class. LESSER NOBILITY This class is comprised of both petty landed Lords and those that have been appointed to Lordship by virtue of their deeds. An example of those appointed to Lordship are the two Lord High Protectors, Mystra the Chaotic and Kel'wyn Weavemaster, who (along with other companions, now deceased) were instrumental in the Liberation of Phila'Kiron in the early stages of the Civil War. Other post-holders that fall into this class (unless they fall into a higher class already) are the various officials that see to the running of the Kingdom and Duchies. This includes Castellans, Overseers, Marshals, Religious Leaders, and the Knights of the Order of the Crown. FREEMEN With the rise of the great cities of Mele'Kiron and Phila'Kiron, the middle class of Freemen is expanding at unprecedented rates. These are primarily merchants, artists, and those that have earned their freedom by deed. The allegiance of a Freeman to the Crown is different from the Commoner. They are expected to obey the laws of the local Lord, and support him in times of need. Unlike the serf, however, they need no permission from the Lord to come and go; likewise, they do not enjoy many of the same protections and services that the Commoner does. COMMONERS The Commoner still comprises the majority of Kironian society. These are the peasant farmers and soldiers that serve the Lords of the Kingdom. In turn for his allegiance to the local Lord, the Commoner receives protection and assistance from that Lord, who in turn, owes allegiance to the next, higher Lord. The local Lord is responsible for the Commoner, ensuring that he is outfitted well enough to ply his trade (usually on the Lord's land), or, in the case of the soldier, fed and housed as well. The Commoner (sometimes called Serf) forms the basis of the whole feudal society. Some say it is no more than a different kind of slavery. In the eyes of the Theotian church, lower-ranking religious persons are considered Commoners, under the jurisdiction of their Lord, which would be the leadership of the church. The Crown tends to stay out of these matters, as it does with much concerning Theotianism (at least until recently). SOCIETY AND ATTITUDES IN OTHER LANDS Other lands certainly have their own societies and cultures. All being far larger than the Island Kingdom, they have their various layers of subcultures and countercultures as well, but we will stick to the primary cultural thread of each land. What you discover deep within each land is up to you. HUBRAN Officially called the State of Hubran, this Kingdom is by far the most rigid of all. It is structured much the same as a great army; war and puissance at arms are of high value here. The capital, Trevor, has very rigid laws concerning who can and cannot carry weapons within the limits of the city. When traveling there, expect to encounter a coldness toward all types of non-Hubrans, especially those who follow those rather esoteric professions such as the Priesthood. Sorcery is strictly forbidden, and any official may make immediate capital judgement on someone accused of it. If you a Weaver of even modest skill, be very wary in Hubran. Currently the Hubrans are involved in defending themselves from the Tyresian Empire; this effort is draining their resources to critical levels. LISORIAN A peaceful and gentle land and people. The Lisorians have never known invasion from outside forces, and their attitudes show it. They have a fierce independence of spirit, but are rather warm to outsiders when their independence is not encroached upon. I would encourage travelers to Lisorian to visit the Free City of Gramarye, a most splendid place, especially to those interested in collections of culture and knowledge. It must be experienced to be understood. The Academy, the greatest institution of higher learning ever known, is crowning jewel of this fine city. Lisorian has become a haven for many refugees and those that would otherwise be political prisoners. Given that there is much undeveloped land within the borders of the Kingdom, there is plenty of space and suitable resources to support the plethora of folk crossing into the Sage Kingdom daily. Some scholars believe that this is good for the Kingdom, and the positive repercussions of new blood will be felt for generations to come. Due to its geographical separation, Lisorian has been least affected by the current conflicts. S'ILARAN Technically, S'ilaran no longer exists, having been absorbed by the Tyresian Empire, but I will make a few notes on the people there. Silaranites are hale and hearty folk, truly dedicated to the lands that they farm and cultivate. There is an earnestness to these folk that seems lost in the great cities of other lands. Many in S'ilaran believe that the land will falter under Tyresian rule, and have dedicated themselves to the preservation of the land itself, regardless of who rules. TYRESIAS I honestly know little of Tyresian society, but I do know this: they are marvelously efficient at all they undertake. Their war machine has effortlessly swept across nearly a thousand miles of land and brought it under their yoke. Their leader, the Emperor Alokkair, I believe, is said to be a shrewd, cunning and cold man of indeterminate age and unsurpassed intellect. It is whispered that many Tyresians truck with Dark Forces, and it is certain that there are Weavers among them. LORGAARD An ally to Kiron for many centuries, this great Kingdom runs more than a thousand miles north and south on the western coast of Therduin. It has stood since the early years of the Second Age, and the people are proud of their heritage and traditions. They have the reputation for being a bit stuffy, but are indeed people of honor and dignity. They also produce the finest Mannish wines I have ever tasted. As noted, heritage and tradition play a great part in their society. Instead of building new things, the Lors are fond of refurbishing old things. The great keep Vatis Sacer has recently undergone its 32nd major renovation. The society is patriarchal to the extreme; a son proudly bears the name of his father (ie-Pierre, son of Jean-Paul) for his entire life, unless his father has met with some loss of honor or other deleterious circumstance. Women are both placed on a pedestal and relegated to second citizen status, all in the name of tradition. TEVER SYPERE A small, very independent land north of Lisorian, Tever Sypere has been able to maintain its neutrality due to the fact that it is totally surrounded by a ring of mountains, with few passable places, normally with names like Troll Pass and Dead Man's Gorge. Very little is known of the Syperians. The only person I know from Tever Sypere is Lord High Protector Mystra the Chaotic, a volatile and unpredictable Wizard (never call her a sorceress, please) that has done many great deeds in service of the Island Kingdom, and one I number as friend. ORGANIZATIONS There are several organizations or 'secret societies' at work in the Kingdoms. These range from the benign to the malevolent, but one thing is sure. There's got to be a reason they're secret. Here's a thumbnail sketch: 1. The Keepers, a society dedicated to the preservation of all knowledge arcane. They have become paranoid and dangerous. Avoid them, especially if you are graced with the Gift. 2. The Order of Order, a renegade faction of the Theotian Church. Unlike the Keepers, they seek to destroy all things arcane, including sorcerers, whom they see as "pawns of Dark Forces." 3. The Order of the Crown, the premier association of Knighthood known to all the Mannish races. The Order is dedicated to goodness, justice and chivalry, paying strict adherence to the Code of Atturh. 4. The Web. Spinning their treacheries across the Four Kingdoms and beyond, the Web works toward unknown nefarious ends, linking together similar organizations in all the lands. Their prime foci are feeding the Tyresian slave market and influencing trade (to their own advantage) across Therduin. 5. The Brotherhood of Pathfinders has dedicated itself to assisting the traveler through the wild and wooded lands of the Kingdoms. Little is known of their origins or long-term goals; suffice it to say that they are a welcome site to the lost traveler. CITIES Owing to the feudality that still exists in much of the world, there are but a few great cities of the land. Let me touch on the most important. Mele'Kiron Said to be the apex of civilization, this, the capital city of the Island Kingdom is a vast and sprawling metropolis that houses more than 100,000 people. The Theotian Church holds much sway here; the great spires of the First Church dominate the cityscape. The King's own castle stands north of the city, less than five miles away. There is much of this port city given over to art, theatre and high society (such that it is). There is even an inn that boasts running water! Phila'Kiron Across the island from Mele'Kiron, more than 200 miles by the King's roads, Phila'Kiron has established itself as the "second capital" of the Island Kingdom. It is from here that good King Drew held his power base while the Pretender sat on the throne, and it is from here that many great works were begun, to include the Street of the Gods, a broad avenue with temples dedicated to both Theos and the Pantheist deities. This tremendous undertaking is still under way. Trevor A great city in the land of Hubran, Trevor has stood almost 2500 years. The city itself is divided into three distinct sections, the Upper, Middle and Lower Cities, mirroring the social station of the three. The Upper City is from where the nobles of the the Ten Families overlook the rest of their hold; the Middle City is dominated by the ever-growing middle class merchant and his business; the Lower is filled with the peasantry of the city--the common laborer and his ilk. The city is bustling and alive with intrigue. Each of the Ten Families attempts to exert its influence over the others and the Overlord himself as well as corrupting trade and warfare to their own advantage. The officials of the city itself are rathy wary of adventurers and mercenaries, labelling them nothing more than troublemakers. Passage out of the Lower City into the others is next to impossible for such folk (without judicious application of grease to palms, so to speak). Thanator The capital of the great Tyresian Empire, I have not personally visited it, but I have heard reports from a reliable source. It is at once a beautiful and fearsome place, great artistic buildings spiralling into the sky, hiding dark places of untold evil in their shadow. It is a place I would at least once like to visit. Gramarye The greatest city ever, simply put, this free city-state in Lisorian has stood since the early days of the Second Age. It is here that stands the Academy of Gramarye, the greatest institution of higher learning in all the Kingdoms. It is indeed a place for all to see. Ristonofer, menery@anthem.gn7cg.osd.mil ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - WEATHER COLUMN - - BY: SEM - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather for the Scarlet Forest Day One: Warm, Partly Cloudy, No Winds Day Two: Warm, Partly Cloudy, Light Winds (West) Day Three: Hot, Clear, Light Winds (North) (Morning Fog) Day Four: Hot, Clear, Light Winds (West) Day Five: Hot, Clear, Light Winds (West) (Morning showers) Day Six: Warm, Partly Cloudy, Light Winds (West) (Overcast towards evening with scattered showers) Day Seven: Cool, Overcast, Rain (heavy at times) Well, this isn't much but it is the predominant weather for the Scarlet Forest this week. Next time I'll explain the general parameters and perhaps my calendar system, rather than saying "day one", etc. But in any case I'll do it in seven day blocks, more if needed since it is pretty easy to generate, though not very scientifically accurate since I know next to nothing about meteorology. SEM <===========================================================================> FNN NOTES I. How to submit a news article: 1. Post mark it : FNN-news (use this for subject header) 2. Use these formats for the news: a) <world>:<Location>:<news> ( use a title for the article if you can) ex: MAGIC SWORD FOUND Forgotten Realms:Waterdeep: A sword was found etc. b) preferred method. <world>:<country/state/kingdom>:<city/location>:<news> ex: ARMIES MARCHIES TO WAR Greyhawk:Kingdom of Keoland: Niloe Dra Note: If you have a home-brew world,use original for world. ex: Original: Hasfur: A sword was found with no blade. 3. Make sure you include your e-mail address at the END of the article. II. 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