1st Sviftmont 1015AC


HULE AWAKENS?

Spies in the City States - Hule Moves to its Borders

The late summer months have seen a great deal of things happen in the City States region. In Slagovich, the Zagoran spy turned over by the Zagoran government to the tender mercies of Margrave Miosz, who, after interrogating the accused, ordered him to be hung from the neck until he was dead. The crow pecked body remains in the city centre of Slagovich as a warning to all those who would act against the Margraves rule. The formerly rebellious population of Grabana seemed to take the hint, together with some nudging from priestesses of the Judge, and, in a shining example of the fickle nature of the Traladaran lower classes, are now amongst the Margraves more loyal citizens, although some angry words were exchanged between the Judge priestesses and the native Halavites.
Things were more interesting still further north. The Hagiarchy of Hule has apparently captured a number of Hojans within the town of Budavik, who were intent on causing the Hagiarchy harm. Reports indicate that the Hojans were all taken alive, and brought to Azurun where Ismet Atadervish will decide what to do with them. Meanwhile, the temple of Halav in Budavik is now deserted, thanks to a concerted effort by the priests of Bozdogan there to turn the Traladaran people there away from their patron.
In neighbouring Zagora, reports are coming in that there have been massive troop movements within Hule, with large numbers of Hulean janizaries now stationed in Ayskudag, while apparently spies from all participants in that area walk the streets in an atmosphere of fast growing distrust.

Island of Calm

Zvornik alone of the City States has seen a relatively peaceful last three months, with much time being spent on developing trade within the City State. The new revenues have had an immediate impact on the quality and size of the nation's standing army, with Margrave Derdren Zvornik adding approximately two thousand Zvornikian troops to his banner. All was not entirely well with Zvornik, as the Royal Fine Crafts guild, in some fine economic maneuvering, forced Derdren's operations in Ciudad Tejillas out of business.

Islands of Lawlessness

When not up to no good in Budavik, Margrave Bosit Hojah has also spent time on developing trade from the Hojan Isles, in partnership with Zvornik. Unfortunately, Hojan waters this summer appeared to be rife with pirates, with many thousands of gold pieces being lost the scourges of the Gulf of Hule. Frigates were sighted, laying the blame at the door of one of the Baronial powers.
In other news, apparently the Hojan Isles have been crawling with prospectors, looking for - something? Rumour has it that gold has been found, and the Margrave intends to set up mining operations as soon as possible.

What Is It with Narvaez Anyway?

It seems to be a tradition for pirates to attempt to steal as much gold from the coffers of Baron Hugo. A new, previously unknown band of pirates succeeded in pirating three coasters just over the horizon from Ciudad Real - all belonging to Narvaez. A short time later, another successful raid against Narvaezan shipping was pulled off. Narvaez wasn't their only target however, as the lightly defended treasuries of Isla del Cayo proved to be too much of a temptation to resist.

Don Jorge Meets his Match?

While exploring the various ruins of Terra Vermelha, apparently Don Jorge - a famous swordsman, and one of the finest duellists in the Baronies - met his match. A black cloaked, masked figure challenged him while in Antro do Dragao, and swiftly proved himself a master of the blade. While his fighting style did not appear to be one practiced in the Savage Baronies (Don Jorge himself being a master of the Moncorvo fighting school), it was certainly effective, with the Vilaverdan hero being soundly beaten. Who is this master?

Sea Powers Drum Up Support

The Nimmur vs Sea Powers conflict caused much discontent among the Verdan people, with many thousands of kinsmen being lost on the savage western battlefields. Both Vilaverde and Texeiras have been attempting to lift the flagging spirits of their people, while the High Passion of Valerias seems to be still intent on waging a war against Nimmur.

Almarron Settles Down

The civil war in Almarron appears to have quietened down. Don Esteban spent much time trying to evict LBT peacefully from Paso Dorado, but the LBT traders were nothing if not determined. Nearby, Baron Max was rooting out the last of Esteban's supporters from the capital city - and apparently selling frigates to the Royal Fine Crafts guild for extra cash.

More Plagues in the Southern Baronies

Disease - magical disease in particular - seems to be a feature of the southern Savage Baronies, and seems set to remain so while Black Jack is holed up in the badlands. Cimmaron County and Guadalante have both seen more waves of necromantic illness and death, though Smokestone City proved to be protected by the blessings of the Judge. In the face of the death of their worshippers, apparently the temples of Guadalante and Cimmaron will coordinate efforts to defend their lands magicall from now on.
Another plague has, as usual, afflicted Guadalante - gnoll raiders, striking at Dos Cabezas. The Guadalantan military was lying in wait though, and for once the raid did not go the gnolls way, with four hundred raiders being wiped out by superior gaucho cavalry. Cimmaron was not attacked, but enjoyed extra protection as several companies of soldiers from Robrenn landed in South Gulch and marched to defensive positions in Little Big Rock.

LBT Problems

Baron Balthasar has spent almost all his waking hours this summer in trying to shut down LBT trading operations in Saragon. While he did not resort to force, he did all in his power to remove the Trading Company from his lands. He met with mixed success, but at least shut down their operations in Ciudad Matacan, and impeded them in Tolon.
Elsewhere, off Dunwick, two heavily laden LBT merchantmen were pirated by unknown pirates, despite intensive pirate hunting patrols.

Pirate vs Pirate Hunter

Meanwhile, in Narvaezan waters, Miles Killian O'Kayne in the Selwynn met his match in a spectacular naval battle with the pirate hunter, Angell Firestear. Miles managed to escape as usual, but Firestears ship was captained with great skill and daring, managing to inflict significant damage on the Selwynn before it withdrew. The next month saw Miles adventuring in Biclagul with his old friend Margrave Miosz, presumably while his ship was being fixed by his supporters.

Renardy Responds to Raids

Renardois soldiers headed into the Yazak Steppes two months ago, intent on stopping the raiders that have afflicted Renardy on occasion in the last year. While the lupins attempted to parley with the goblinoids, they were not responsive, and a fight ensued. Renardois heroism, with the legendary Musketeers (who have been expanded massively lately - almost every Renardy company has a band of heroes attached to it nowadays), carried the day, with the goblins being routed, fleeing deeper into the Steppes.
At home, King Louis dismissed the dockmaster of Marmandie, who refused to close down Vilaverdan trade from Marmandie ports last season. Apparently Jorge Vilaverde has not been paying his tax, but the dockmaster thought it unwise to remove him and took the law into his own hands. Similar rumbles of complaint came from HM Customs and Excise in Bellayne, where Parliamentary officials tell us that Vilaverdan trade in Theeds has likewise not respected local taxation laws.

Parliament Supports Forked Tongue?

Parliamentary subversives in the Kingdom of Shazak switched allegiance - after Parliament endorsed it - to the Forked Tongue, the paramilitary organisation that has been causing trouble for Pyre almost since Shazak became a part of his Vermillion Empire. Meanwhile Pyre was cultivating the Forked Tongue leaders, attempting to bring an end to this interminable conflict, seeming without cause. Forked Tongue commanders did not agree on a course of action given these twin events - apparently there has been a split in this organisation, with a new group, the Real Forked Tongue, refusing to have anything to do with Pyre and still taking a hardline stance, while the Provisional Forked Tongue seem prepared to at least talk to Pyre. King Shaz appears to be trying to defuse the conflict by giving the FT legitimacy, and so has not acted against the new FT strongholds passed over by Bellayne.
To prove they could still do it, Forked Tongue warriors attacked the province of Snaat, but found it well defended, and were defeated by Shaz's troops, supported by Pyre's orc warriors.

Suspiciously Quiet

The Kingdom of Herath has been suspiciously quiet lately. The Wizard-King has not been seen for months, and rumours abound as to exactly what he is up to. His magical power in Almarron has reputedly grown - what is he doing out there?
The Shadow Council also, never an easy organisation to pin down or even identify, has on the surface been quiet. In this land of secrets, who knows what the agenda is?

Jibaru's Landgrabs

Queen Barana-Ui has turned from Wallara, and looked to claiming the lands bordering her to the west - namely the Horn. Apparently she is concerned by the foreign attention near her borders, with the Zagoran colony and now a Eusdrian one as well. Her army is still quite considerable, and apparently she may be considering forcibly evicting the new encroachment, although the phanatons are normally loath to leave their jungles.

Aeryl's Landgrabs

King Enerin of Aeryl has also been snapping up unclaimed lands. This is apparently explained away by Aeryl's desire to maintain a buffer of provinces between their mountains and the rest of the world. Others are not so sure, but given the ee'aars preference for high mountains, maybe he is not lying.

Eshu Consolidates

King Gildesh took a great of effort in rooting out all Nimmurian influences from his realm, while building his army, presumably for yet another strike. New generals have been added to the ranks of his commanders, and with their usual righteous zeal the enduks appear to be set on another attack against the hordes of the Nimmur once more. Nimmur itself is quiet - presumably the calm before the storm.



Other News and Rumours

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