SAVAGE BARONIES LOSE A HERO
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Rest in peace, Sir John On Eirmont the 15th, 1014 A.C, the Savage Baronies lost perhaps it's most popular Baron. John Cimmaron, "Duke" of Cimmaron County, lost his life fighting a horde of gnolls and undead in Little Big Rock, commanded by the evil necromancer, Black Jack. The attack took the town by surprise, with the local garrison being slaughtered by a force of over 4000 gnolls and undead. However it was not long before reinforcements arrived. The battle was desperate, and close fought, with not only the Cimmaron government forces in attendance, but temple troops of the Judge and the General brought shieldmaidens and cavalry to the fray. Even so, the Cimmaron force numbered only slightly over half the size of Black Jacks army.However, superior Cimmaron units, including the highly trained Cimmaron musketeers known as the "Brave Rifles" and Cimmaron's unique horse artillery companies, succeeded in driving back the foe. John Wain was mortally wounded as he fought alongside the Brave Rifles against his foes. His sacrifice was not in vain, as Black Jacks forces were swept from the field, wiped out, though fewer than 400 Cimmarons lived to tell the tale. The "Duke" was brought back to Smokestone City, but he proved to be beyond magical healing and died some time later, leaving a nation in mourning. It is unknown whether more drastic magic will be attempted, but the feeling seems to be that it would not be what John would have wanted. John Wains successor is not clear. His younger brother, Morris Cimmaron, is next in line, but rumour has it that on his deathbed John named a different successor. An announcement will be made soon - but whoever it is will be very rich, as a seat on the LBT Board of Directors comes with the position. |
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Almarron gains new Official Guild The main supporters of Baron Maximiliano's regime became clear today when he declared Royal Fine Crafts, the Eusdrian trading guild, official guilder of Almarron. Many thousands of gold pieces are believed to have been transferred from RFC to Baron Max in the last year. However, it may prove to be of little interest, as Baron Maximiliano currently holds only a tenuous grasp on Ciudad Tejillas himself. Gnolls and revolutionaries under Don Esteban control the lands beyond the city, which has itself been scarred in the conflicts. |
Don Esteban - Baron of Paso Dorado? Maximiliano's foe, the tenacious Don Esteban, claimed Paso Dorado for his in the month of Eirmont. Rumours abound of the Don making a pact with Baron Max to drive the gnolls from southern Almarron, but it is unknown even if Maximiliano deigned to reply. However, with Baron Maximiliano busy just trying to keep hold of Ciudad Tejillas, and with Esteban enjoying his own supporters, it seems that Almarron will remain divided for the foreseeable future, as the third Almarron civil war drags into it's second year. |
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Daring theft in Puerto Morillos Miles Killian O'Kayne, the famous pirate of the West, struck another blow against his pet hate barony of Narvaez recently. A band of intrepid sailors led by O'Kayne successfully sneaked into the port city, where the Narvaezan navy consisting of two frigates were being repaired after the encounter with pirates some months ago.With the assistance of magic and more than a little luck, their crews were subdued and O'Kayne's men set sail, but the alarm was raised just as they were casting off. The guns of the fortress opened fire with grapeshot, killing and stunning many of Mile's men on one frigate, which was then boarded by three Narvaezan coasters desperate to prevent the theft. With only a tiny skeleton crew attempting the theft, Miles fireballed a coaster to deter pursuit and abandoned ship with his men, seeking to make it to the other stolen frigate. Swimming for their lives, many pirates were killed by accurate Narvaezan musketry from the shore, but about half (including, it is believed, Miles himself) made it to the other frigate which got out of range from the fortress after taking only a little extra damage. | |
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Mile's Friends The heavily damaged Narvaezan frigate was then later seen dropping anchor at Boa Mansao, after having almost sunk on the trip. Pirate gold is as good as any here, and Texeiran shipbuilders managed to patch up the worst of the damage. Further enquiries from our Heralds indicate that Boa Mansao is the favourite place for Miles to purchase ships, as he is on good terms with most of the shipwrights there. Perhaps the Baron should do something to stop this pirate from terrorising law abiding citizens with dangerous warships? |
Sea Powers Unite Jorge Vilaverde and Bartolomeu de Texeiras signed a treaty together, the Treaty of Boa Mansao. It outlines in essence a treaty of mutual defence and military assistance, although it makes provision on other, additional members of the Sea Power alliance in the future.Vilaverde and Texeiras have already begun cooperation, with over a dozen heavy warships now based in Puerto Maldicao in the far West, in addition to over a thousand troops, including priests of the High Passion of Valerias. It seems the attack on Puerto Escorpiao by Nimmur will be avenged. |
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Piracy off Gargona Bosit Hojah as well as Baron Hugo felt the sting of piratical activity as warships engaged Hojan and Narvaezan traders off the coast of Gargona. With no significant Gargonan navy, the area is practically undefended, and the pirates enjoyed easy pickings. Miles again is suspected, with his flagship the Selwynn still showing the scars of its encounter with Pyre, and being escorted by a somewhat damaged frigate of Narvaezan construction... |
Even More Pirates! Hulean dhows were subject to piracy as well, with three of them being hit by a pirate frigate in the last season. This brings to six the number of ships attacked in the last three months in the Gulf of Hule - not including the frigate stolen by Miles. Hule isn't going to be a naval pushover for long - no less than eleven zebecs can be found almost built in the harbours of Boyazka and Yenigaz. Hule evidently intends to be the next sea power giant. |
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Zvornik Counterattacks Zvornikian forces counterattacked Zagora in the village of Kosovsko, inflicting many casualties. In heavy fighting, the Zvornikians managed to defeat the Zagorans marginally, although the mountains of Kosovsko make it difficult to dislodge defenders. Zagora promptly counterattacked with cavalry into the Zvornikian province of Merkovic, but the thrust was parried by Derdren Zvornik - barely. With Budve isolated and Kosovsko in Zvornikian hands, maybe the limit of Zagora's strength has been reached? |
First Slagovich Cannon Fired Slagovich succeeded in firing the first Slagovich-smelted culverin in Kaldmont. Slagovich engineers, already well skilled in mechanical wonders (as anyone who has visited the famous Slagovich docks will know) have been in close consultation with representatives of the Smith and Westron dwarf and halfling clans in Cimmaron County, who have been helping Slagovich advance their military technology. |
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Guadalante Clears out Black Jack, Angus Moves In Dona Catalina's gauchos, with help from the General's Lead, overran the positions of Black Jack's gnolls in Bigotillos and wiped them out while suffering no significant losses. Dona Catalina then moved to claim land previously owned by the Flat Noses. Unfortunately superior forces loyal to Angus Bloodtusk of the Highlands then moved in, and in a fierce battle with Torreoner mercenaries, managed to dislodge Dona Catalina's forces and take over. Angus seems set on uniting the goblinoids of Bushwack Prairie under his own banner. |
Friendly Fire Robrenn forces, backed up by orcs from the Highlands and priests of the Holy Saimpts Convent and Knightly Temple of Eusdria, attacked the undead forces massing in Tortle Country. The allied forces succeeded in wiping them out, and King Edwix is administering martial law over the territory until it quiets down. Later on, Texeiran warships bombarded the province, reducing the power of Khorhepsha's source. Unfortunately, Gloriana de Rondalla owns a source there as well, and the indiscriminate fire from the warships damaged that source as well. |
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All Quiet on the Western Front Nimmur, previously fighting the enduks tooth and nail, has seen unprecendented silence over this winter. A great hush descended over the kingdom, which appeared to be waiting for something - a counterattack, perhaps. One never materialised however, and Nimmur saw its first few months in a year without blood being spilled on it's soil.Things will soon change however. The Texeiran and Vilaverdan navies are massing more firepower than the West has ever seen afloat in Puerto Maldicao, with five big Baronial warships and a host of frigates in evidence, and a range of army companies, from regulars to hussars. Eshu meanwhile has somehow obtained Baronial galleons, number unknown but more than one has been sighted, and massed its own armies in Gildesh, where the Priest-King himself called down Ixions blessing upon his forces - now leavened with a mercenary rabble drawn from the savage humans further west. Spring 1014 is going to see perhaps the biggest war for a century on the Savage Coast. |
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Ator Raided A band of shazaks, calling themselves the Forked Tongue, have been making life difficult for Ator ever since Pyre took over. Claiming to be a group opposed to Pyre's rule, King Shaz himself seems to be unable - or unwilling - to stop them. Their attacks are only small scale, and had little effect thanks to the might of the bestial gurrash warriors, but did arouse the wrath of Ator, who returned the favour by raiding Shazak lands. |
Multiple Claims in Forbidden Highlands Jibaru has clashed with the wallaras over the Forbidden Highlands. Queen Barana-Ui, chosen of Ordana, claimed all of the Highlands last season, but wallaras from Risilvar moved into the easternmost regions and had their own ideas of ownership. There was no fighting, and the invasion was a fairly peacable affair (as invasions go), but it remains to be seen whether things get more serious there. |
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More Trouble in Parliament Edward Hampden, Prime Minister of the Bellayne Parliament, may be facing the first real challenge to his leadership - over tax. Reginald Blackston, dwarven maverick representing Norchester East, has amassed a coalition of MPs willing to defy their leader over both the high taxation levied by Queen Catherine ("for an attack by Pyre which never materialised!") and what is perceived to be Prime Minister Hampden's overly enthusiastic support for the Queen and her policies.Parliament is considering a vote of no confidence to oust Hampden from his position over the matter - such a move will be a blow to Queen Catherine who has enjoyed parliamentary support for some time now. In the betting shops of Leominster the odds are apparently in favour of Hampden coming out on top, but there is a wild card - neither church of Bellayne has yet made a statement, and they exercise considerable influence over Parliament. The views of the two Bellayne heads of faith could be decisive. |
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Other News and Rumours
- King Shazak is actually behind the Forked Tongue - he secretly hates Pyre and will do anything to overthrow him.
- The Royal Navy of Bellayne is equipped with Baronial ships!
- King Edwix of Robrenn has signed a secret deal with Pyre - perhaps the Ebony Eye of Robrenn was involved in the agreement.
- Monsier Navarre of the Vintage Guild Royale and Guildmaster Durifern of Royal Fine Crafts hate each other. This is the reason why the two guilds have been feuding for the last year.
- Queen Fifrelyne of Renardy is dead!!!!!!! She hasn't been seen for months, and the royal household are covering something up!
- A Heldannic Warbird from the far east was sighted near Eusdria. Perhaps the Heldannic Knights and King Sigismund have made a deal? Does this mean Eusdria has access to flying ships?
- LTI recently complained to Parliament about the level of tax levied upon their routes. 4000gp per route is believed to be too much. This will undermine the Prime Ministers position still further.
- King Yahav of Herath and the LB Trading Company have signed a secret deal of some sort.
- Angus Bloodtusk is supporting Black Jack in his wars against the Baronies.
- So many gnolls have been killed in the last year in the various wars that their numbers have been severely depleted. The warriors, especially, have been depleted.
- Torreon has invented a cannon that can fire accurately at much longer range than was thought possible!
- Baron Hugo de Narvaez is funding the gnolls of El Grande Carrascal. Some of his money has even found its way to Black Jack.
- Pyre has set up a huge magical network of ley lines throughout the Orcs Head Peninsula. Herath may have helped him do it.