GNOLLS AND UNDEAD SWARM IN SAVAGE BARONIES
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Fighting throughout the southern Baronies Fighting intensified throughout the south of the Savage Baronies recently. Black Jack led an army of gnolls mercenaries and undead against Guadalante, striking from the Sierra Desperada region, and managed to loot Copetez and Bigotillos. He was harried at every step by the Guadalantan gauchos, and it remains to be seen how long his army can hold.Meanwhile Don Cristobal led his forces against the Flat Noses, where orcs of the Highlands were encountered and attacked. Flat Noses land is currently occupied by Guadalante, but not without loss - Don Cristobal himself is reported to have disappeared. He was last seen galloping across the plains towards the orcs, but in the ensuing melee he disappeared. No body has yet been found. |
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Saragon Strikes, Thwarted by Undead Gnoll mercenaries in the employ of Baron Balthasar struck Cactus Eater land. The natives there put up stiff resistance against their mercenary brethren, but the presence of magically summoned ogres tipped the balance. The defenders were broken, and Cactus Eater land occupied. Saragon then attempted to claim the Sierra Borgosa, but a veritable swarm of undead prevented Saragon from peacefully adding the territory to its lands. |
Almarron, the Lawless Barony Esteban may have been defeated militarily, but its not over yet. The former dictator organised dissidents in the Barony and made several attacks on the already stretched constables of Almarron. A full scale peasant revolt was soon in progress. In Ciudad Tejillas loyalist musketeers opened fire on a riot by the citizenry, and thanks to martial law managed to regain control, though many of the peasants were killed in the fighting. Paso Dorado has declared itself for Esteban, and broken away from Almarron completely, as the Baron has no forces in that province. |
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Draw!!! John Wain, with General Clay and Force-Lady Marelder as his seconds, duly appeared at sunrise in the wilderness south of Renardy to duel with the the Great Wyrm Himself, Pyre. The wyrm turned up in human seeming guise, and was provided with one of John's duelling pistols. At ten paces, it turned out that John Wain was the faster draw, with Pyre evidently not having any great skill in the Cimmaron technique of fast drawing, and John succeeded in scratching the Overking with his pistol - first blood. Unfortunately, Pyre returned fire, and with a masterful shot took off a finger from John Wain's right hand. After returning the pistol and nodding agreeably, Pyre resumed draconic form and flew off, leaving behind a victorious but bleeding (and 9 fingered) Duke of Cimmaron in the dust of his passing. | |
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Church of the Inquisitor bows down The Order of the Inquisitor in Narvaez have sworn vassalage to Baron Hugo, ending the dispute between the two Narvaezan religions. It is understood that Hugo will be providing the Order with extra influence to cement the relationship, while the Order will be given special responsibilities as the Narvaezan "Guardas de la Moralidad". |
Frigate Duel Pirates struck Narvaezan sea trade once more, but this time two Narvaezan frigates on patrol successfully intercepted the raiders - two pirate frigates. There was a running gun battle, in which one pirate frigate was sunk and the other fled. Both Narvaezan ships took heavy damage in the engagement however, and have been confined to port.In other Narvaezan news, the King of Eusdria declared Narvaez's trade route into Harstal illegal, and closed it down. |
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Love is in the Air Gloriana de Rondalla and her apprentice, Mariella, visited Eyf and were entertained by King Edwix himself with his court. Gloriana and the King even ventured into the sacred Carnuilh Forest together, alone, and with the druids blessing (!). Afterwards, exhausted, Gloriana left the Kingdom on her frigate (the Sharper Commentary), but Mariella remained for some months - on vacation. Apparently. |
Queen Fifrelyne Taken Ill Queen Fifrelyne, the wife of King Louis of Renardy, has apparently been taken ill. The Queen has not been seen in public for some time, and is being attended by the very best Renardois physicians. The doctors themselves were remarkably close mouthed when approached by our Heralds - apparently King Louis will be making a statement on the matter. |
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Colony of St Kitts Founded The Royal Navy of Bellayne deposited some colonists on the remote Arm of the Immortals, claiming the province of Sulkar and renaming it St Kitts. While the colony is currently small, sources close to Queen Catherine indicate that it is her intent to develop the location as quickly as possible. The founding of the colony will disappoint Pyre, who sent his own agents to Sulkar some months afterwards, in an attempt to claim the province for himself - the rakasta there politely turned them back. Queen Catherine appointed Lord Rodney the Intrepid, her most loyal Earl, as Governor of St Kitts in addition to his other duties. |
Lively debate in Parliament The House of Commons in Leominster saw some exciting scenes recently in response to the tax rises made by Queen Catherine recently. Reginald Blackston, MP for Norchester East, was an outspoken critic of the Queen's taxes, and had some support. However, a generally hawkish Parliament under Edward Hampden's guidance supported the Queen's taxes, citing increased dangers to the security of the Kingdom, which needed to by met by "appropriate spending on the nations army and navy". When asked if Parliament would involve itself directly, the answer was apparently no. Parliament will maintain the Leominster Trained Bands, but will not muster any more units at this time. |
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Puerto Escorpiao Wiped Out Overwhelming Nimmurian forces struck the Vilaverdan province of Puerto Escorpiao, wiping it out. The colonists there have all either been killed or taken into slavery. A galleon flying the Nimmurian flag has also been spotted in the region, extending Nimmur's reach. Eshu is still out there though, a raid against Suneveh by the enduks was attempted, but the presence of the Nimmurian army forced the enduks back. Losses are reported to be light on both sides. |
Um-Shedu given to Aeryl The town of Um-Shedu, previously occupied by enduks, was given to the ee'aar voluntarily by Nimmur. Vast numbers of manscorpions were reported to be streaming out of the town towards the east - the precise nature of the arrangement between Aeryl and Nimmur is unknown, but presumably it will be of great interest to King Gildesh of Eshu. |
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Zagora Marches On Zagoran troops pressed on from Kosovsko, hitting the province of Budve and taking it without loss. Zvornik has yet to make an effective military response, with the scale of the Zagoran attack taking the new Margrave by surprise. However, the toll of maintaining such a huge army is evidently straining the City State of Zagora, with several armies stranded in the mountainous regions, without the supplies needed to advance. Margrave Munte III of Zagora issued a decree, proclaiming that the current expansion "marks the borders of the City State for all time - and we have no further interest in expansion". Whether the other Margraves trust him remains to be seen. |
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Other News and Rumours
- Great riches abound in Aeryl apparently, as trade bustles and there is so much gold that the very streets appear paved with it.
- A gurrash raid against Herath was wiped out to the last lizard. The few survivors speak of "much magic, much surprise, much death".
- Shazak raided Ator. However, the perpetrators were not a part of the regular Shazak army, instead belonging to an organisation known only as the "Forked Tongue".
- Miles and Margrave Miosz succeeded in looting Khorhepsha's pyramid, despite the fact that Khorhepsha himself was still walking around in it.
- Lupin spies from Renardy were found inciting unrest in the new Eusdrian province of Hunden Hills. Apparently they were apprehended by a chance patrol, King Sigismund has yet to make a response.
- LBT representatives have made an alliance with the Yazak hordes north of the Richland area.
- Baronesa Isabel of Torreon is rumoured to be having a lusty affair with Don Jorge Vilaverde. The Baronesa was seen entertaining the handsome Don in her sumptuous villa.
- Freak floods in Shkodar have inflicted great damage upon the harbour area. The influence of Bozdogan is suspected.
- King Sigismund of Eusdria has taken a particularly racist stance lately, removing Renardois and Narvaezan influence from his lands. Rumour has it that he is even secretly in league with Pyre and his Vermillion Empire!
- Shieldmaidens have been added to the defenders of Smokestone City. The presence of heavily armoured women with huge swords and bigger shields(!) has caused much gossip amongst the rough Cimmaron regular troops.
- The Baronesa of Torreon is playing with fire again - this time attempting to make her artillery units even more powerful.
- Similarly, Baronesa Esperanza of Gargona has decreed that all Gargonan castles from now on will have siege cannon as an intrinsic part of their defence - making them nigh on impregnable.
- Vast sums of money have been donated by Queen Tigurta of Apsur to King Anupalassar of Gilmun. The sheer size of the donation have upset many subordinate priests of Nin-Hurabi in Apsur, who do not agree with the religious outlook of the Menlil worshippers from the Land Above.