The Gate-Kingdom News January/February 3000

In this issue:

Kingdom News

Local News

Constable's Blotter

Business/Financial

Offerings for Sale
Jobs for Hire
Trading Company Standings
Commodities

Features

Society Announcements
Obituaries
Writings of the Bards
Puzzles
Cityscapes
Horoscopes

Sports

Pit Fighting Standings
Commentary

KINGDOM NEWS-News From Around the Realm

King’s Daughter Declared Dead: Search Ordered to Continue Anyway

by Reed Keller, Master Journalist

After over two long years the search has finally been called off for King Justin Clairborne V’s daughter, the Crown Princess Melina. She disappeared June 22^nd 2997 while riding between Valerheim and Sooth with an entire squadron of guards. When she failed to appear for her scheduled appointment in Sooth guards were sent out to search for her. No sign of her or her guards were found. No evidence of a battle or an attempt to flee was found. In fact, no evidence of any sort of physical or magical capture was found.

Investigations by the Guild of Arcane and Alchemical Studies using formal magics such as Dream Vision and High Horoscope proved fruitless. They revealed nothing at all about the Princess or her location. Other lines of investigation which were not so standard were tried as well, such as the requesting of information on the Princess’ fate from Enigma on completing the challenge of his clock tower. This proved even less helpful as Enigma flat out refused to involve himself in this issue.

Several different groups demanded ransoms for her safe return. In the end after the use of a great deal of force majure by the crown all of these were proved to be false attempts to extort money from the King through his hope of the return of his daughter. All guilty parties were executed and denied the protection of citizenship upon their resurrection.

Since her disappearance a reward of fifteen hundred gold certificates has been offered by the King for her safe return and a reward of five hundred gold certificates per person responsible for her disappearance turned in to the crown for justice. Despite this high reward no one has stepped forward to claim the money.

Now as the laws of inheritance and standing in Neridia state: a person who is missing under suspicious circumstances shall be considered dead upon their birth date when a period of at least two years has passed between the day of their disappearance and the anniversary of their birth. The individual shall be considered dead until a time might pass to prove this otherwise by their reappearance. This past December 9^th 2999 was the anniversary of the birth of Crown Princess Melina Clairborne, daughter of King Justin Clairborne V.

Despite the fact that by law she is now considered dead, the King still hopes for her survival and the reward of fifteen hundred gold certificates still stands for her rescue and the reward of five hundred gold certificates for each of those responsible for her disappearance does as well.

Throughout the Realm, in the cities and in the countryside, black ribbons have been tied around tree trunks by Neridians in mourning, a kingdom united in its grief.

New Baron Named in Arcadia – Old Baron and Six of His Knights Removed for Illegal Transformations

by Frederick Dughal, Master Journalist

John Bainbridge, the former Baron of Arcadia, has been removed from his title, obliterated, and denied the protection of citizenship when it was found that he and several of his knights had necromantic transformations cast upon themselves. According to an anonymous source involved in the investigation and trial of the Baron the formal magics of transformation were placed upon the baron and the six knights shortly after the change in magics took place last year which rendered transformations latent. The Baron had apparently recovered the scrolls of transformation many years ago but had never used them due to the obvious nature of the transformations.

However when the nature of the worldwide change in the magics became known and the transformations became a thing that was not obvious during normal times the Baron saw an opportunity and he took it. Long had the Baron been searching for a method to increase his personal power. The Baron of Arcadia was considered one of the weakest of the nobles, never having earned any military commendations or led his court in battle with Neridia’s foes. He was a scholarly man who had been among the great healers of the Kingdom but not one of the great battle healers. He often felt himself the shame of the nobility even though most held him in the highest esteem for his prowess in healing the sick and injured as well as his noble works such as the organization of the field hospitals and healers for the war effort. This secret feeling of inadequacy gnawed at the Baron’s spirit until finally he searched about within his nobles and found six who shared his concerns and were willing to take drastic, even desperate, measures to prove their worth and become the Baron’s ideal of a warrior noble. Even the most ignoble of acts, a necromantic transformation, was not too far for these men and women.

The transformation was apparently cast within the last eight months, exactly when is not available, and the Baron was transformed into a creature of master level power which he called a Doomknight. His six knights became lesser versions of himself with Dame Lila Cheval-Bainbridge, his champion, becoming a thing of high power called a Doomscion. The remaining five knights all became a greater undead called a Doomtraveler. The Baron had apparently discovered a means to control the activation of the transformation so as to be able to use the power as he required. With these transformations the group set off to fight the enemies of Neridia, specifically the Varykite forces which were attacking western Winterthorne. They quickly became known for defeating mighty forces and word of their prowess spread throughout the army and the rest of the nobility. This sudden prowess however raised the suspicions of Dame Alestra DeVane who had grown up alongside the Baron and his knight Sir Aldeb Bainbridge and even been romantically linked with Sir Aldeb in the past. She investigated the matter and was able to find evidence that the Baron had performed the transformations and in fact was able to convince Sir Aldeb to turn himself in and testify against his Baron and fellow knight for the violation of the Chivalric Code and the Law of Neridia.

The landmark trial has set new precedent in trail law in Neridia as the Baron argued that the latent transformation was not by definition Necromancy with Reanimation. The prosecutor, Baron Lyle Versante, made the statement that clearly the act of necromantic transformation, even to a lesser state is considered Necromancy with Reanimation, on top of that the possession of such a latent transformation is a crime in the same vein. Furthermore, he stated the activation of such a latent state is clearly Necromancy with Reanimation in the strictest letter of the law and in its spirit. The trial was presided over by Grand Duke Martin Bainbridge, as the liege lord of the accused. His pronouncement in the end was that indeed the Baron and his men were guilty of Necromancy with Reanimation on multiple counts. The Baron was sentenced to obliteration and denial of citizenship rights. Dame Lila Cheval-Bainbridge was sentenced to obliteration, the remaining knights were sentenced to two deaths each, one being waived for Sir Aldeb in light of his testimony and willingness to turn himself in. Further they were all stripped of title and removed from the peerage such that they could never again hold title. The last part of the sentence was that all six transformations would be removed by Ronald Thomasfort, the High Wizard of Bainbridge using the formal magic Remove Transformation. The decision was such that should the guilty parties choose to resist the transformation, escaping through death, that death would not count towards their sentence and they would be charged with fleeing prosecution and the original sentence doubled.

The decision was appealed to King Justin Clairborne V and he supported it and penned into law the illegality of holding a latent necromantic transformation. He further stipulated that leniency should be shown to those who turn themselves in willingly for the removal of such a taint. And that, if there is no evidence of use of the transformed state within the bounds of his rule, the taint will be removed and no sentence of death will be given onto them.

Once Baron Bainbridge, upon hearing the King’s decision and the opinion of his peers broke down and wept. He willingly accepted the punishment, submitted to the removal of his transformation along with four of his former knights, including Aldeb. Lila Cheval-Bainbridge and Wallace Bainbridge both resisted the removal of the transformation during the casting of the formal magic and thus resurrected elsewhere with the sentence upon their heads now doubled and denied the rights of protection of citizenship. Let no hand aid or shelter them for they have spit in the face of the Crown and thereby declared themselves the enemies of Neridia. Lila Cheval-Bainbridge is currently under the sentence of three obliterations and Wallace Bainbridge is now sentenced to obliteration and an additional two deaths.

The former Baron went into exile with the remaining three knights; Jason Talon-Bainbridge, Mara Bainbridge, and David Bainbridge-DeVane. It is said he has traveled to the city-state of Andulon to make a new life for himself and his men.

Aldeb Bainbridge has taken service with Dame Alestra DeVane as one of her sworn men-at-arms. She has publicly stated that she feels he has come to understand his mistake and is willing to not only pay for it but try to earn back the respect he has lost, knowing he can never fully earn back his title or recover fully from the shame.

Diplomatic Relations with Evendarr Reopened

by Fadilla Katari, Staff Reporter

Neridia has had a long history for fair and open relations with many nations of the world. At the same time Neridia holds a particular disgust for the vile practice of slavery. Over four hundred years ago in 2598 N.R. under the reign of the great diplomat King Adam Winterthorne III relations were begun with the young Kingdom of Evendarr. For over three hundred years we held open relations with Evendarr both sides profiting from trade agreements and the mutual exchange of knowledge. Then in 2899 N.R. Evendarr chose to bring the Kingdom of Nimn into their nation as the Duchy of Niman. The treaty of incorporation between Evendarr and Nimn allowed the new Duchy to continue their practice of both slavery and necromancy. Neridia lodged numerous protests through official channels but they all fell on deaf ears. So in 2899 N.R. Neridia severed all diplomatic and trade relations with Evendarr in a political protest over the inclusion of Niman into their nation and the tacit support of the practice of slavery this represented.

Recently due to the pressures of internal war and outside invaders the nations of Avalon have begun to speak and form new alliances needed to hold back the forces endangering the sovereignty of the long established nations. Both Neridia and Evendarr participated in a large conference of nations held in Noawyrr in the far northwest of Avalon. At this meeting the representatives of Neridia and Evendarr discussed the initiation of diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors once again. Neridia held firm to their protestations over Niman and the approval of the practice of slavery therein. The reply of the Evendarrian representative was that Niman was itself one of the problems Evendarr faces and a reason for attending this conference. Niman while not in open rebellion certainly did not serve the Crown of Evendarr as It felt they should. Assurances were given to Neridia that Evendarr was now going to bring Niman into the fold and end the practice of slavery. Sir Maxwell Valerton, a knight of King Justin Clairborne V and High Minister of Foreign Affairs was sent to Niman in September as an observer of the trials and royal proclamations that were to occur there.

Reports are that Sir Maxwell was turned away on the road to Coventry as the Nimani had closed down access to all to their capitol city and denied the royal proclamation of the gathering to be held in that city. Sir Maxwell, we are told, then traveled to Evendarr City by way of the Duchy of Ashbury which is now held as occupied land by the forces of the Sessuar Impirium and is called Expansion Territory XIII by them. The exact nature of Sir Maxwell’s meeting in Evendarr City have not been revealed but when he returned to Neridia the gate to Evendarr City was reactivated for the first time in over a century and a new Evendarrian Ambassador came through, Dame Eryn Mallory.

The new Ambassador from Evendarr has wasted no time in refurbishing the old Evendarrian embassy in the diplomatic quarter. She has set about meeting all the other ambassadors present in Neridia’s Gate as well as getting to know the veritable who’s who of Neridia’s social and economic scenes. No one as yet is quite sure what to make of this determined woman from Evendarr, when she is not working on a diplomatic or trade agreement she is generally quiet and reserved but when engaged in her work she shows a dedication matched by few in this world. She has already arranged for several trade agreements between Neridia and Evendarr and is now expanding to the other nations of central Avalon.

Now that the old relationship between Neridia and Evendarr has been resumed there are of course several questions on everyone’s minds. That is, what happens if Evendarr does nothing about Niman? Does the relationship end once more? Do we now tolerate relations with a slaver nation? How much aid is Neridia willing to give Evendarr in dealing with the Nimani and the Sessuar, especially considering our own war with the Varykites?

The answers to these questions will of course be revealed as time goes on and more and more happens. All eyes turn toward Evendarr and their Duchies of Niman and Ashbury to see what will occur.

Diplomatic Relations with Avendale Begun, New Gate Created

by Ian Brock, Staff Reporter

Sir Maxwell Valerton had a busy few months as the King’s wandering diplomat and High Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition to his travels in Evendarr (see above article) he also spent some time in the recently formed Kingdom of Avendale. Avendale has an interesting and tumultuous history in which their Queen, Naomi Avendale, a former Knight of Duchess Jane Monay of Evendarr, led a group of settlers and a small army up north of the borders of Elysia, Evendarr, where she settled a new land named for her family. Over time the land went from a holding to a Barony to a County wherein Naomi Avendale appointed another to lead in her stead as she returned to Evendarr. From a County they progressed to a full Kingdom when Queen Naomi returned and declared her rule over all the lands including the ancient elven land of Silvermyst and the dark elven nation of Nebulonde. Within the year of their declaration as a Kingdom, King Justin Clairborne V of Neridia sent his ambassador, Sir Maxwell Valerton, to their lands to discuss the possibilities of opening diplomatic relations between the two Kingdoms.

Sir Maxwell met with Queen Naomi in an informal meeting upon the field of battle as Avendale was currently dealing with a crisis. She invited relations with Neridia and they discussed the placement of a mated gate to allow travel between Neridia and Avendale easily. She placed her head mage, Sir Kirath Nordenn of Silvermyst, in charge of determining the safety of such a gate. After the discussions between Sir Kirath and Sir Maxwell, the placement of the gate was allowed under some reasonable precautions from Avendale’s side. They wished for the gate to be encircled by both a Circle of Power and a Greater Ward which were both supplied by Neridia in the interest of fostering the new relations. In addition the gate is located at one of their military garrisons to be sure of the safety of the gate. So any travelers from Neridia to Avendale should know these things in advance and plan on the possible time delays going through customs at the Avendale end of the gate. The gate and its encircling ward and circle were placed at the beginning of the month of December in hopes that many Avendale citizens would come and celebrate the Feast of Nerid’s Day with us. Sir Maxwell spent a great deal of time in Avendale speaking to the citizenry and telling them of the culture and history of Neridia, he piqued the interest of a great number of people as far as he could tell. Many of their citizens have in fact used the gate to travel back and forth as can be seen from their correspondence on the common hall’s wall. Many from Avendale have made plans to attend the festivities; there is even some talk that Queen Naomi herself may attend.

Several merchants from Avendale have already begun negotiations with Giovani Roshenko, the High Guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild, for trade routes to and from Avendale and Neridia. As with all new relations there appears to be a lot of money to be made by those in the right place at the right time and just as much money to be lost by those who do not react as needed in the new situation.

The search is on in Avendale to find one who can serve as the Ambassador to Neridia. To date none has been appointed nor has an Avendale Embassy been built in the diplomatic quarter.

There is some question that all of the negotiations may have been for naught though as King Mykel II of Evendarr sent his representative to Avendale in October stating that the time had come to bring Avendale into the fold of Evendarr as a new Duchy. This was apparently met with very mixed reaction by the nobles and commoners alike. Some say that Avendale will be joining and was always intended to be part of Evendarr. Others say that Avendale will retain its independence and remain a Kingdom ruled by a Queen who was once an Evendarrian noble but now is purely of Avendale. Still others speculate on Evendarr’s reaction to being denied in this case. Does the specter of war loom over Avendale? How any of this will affect the newly formed diplomatic ties none can predict.

Strange One Attacks in Morindell and Hartwell Increasing

by Reinhold Von Schal, Staff Reporter

The creatures called the Strange Ones continue to attack villages, farms, and settlements in the northern Grand Duchies of Morindell and Hartwell. No one has ever ascertained the true nature of these beasts or their origin but we do know that they have always come from the north, out of the Jagged Crags and the Earth’s Tear. The Strange Ones usually appeared at most one a year but of late have appeared multiple times in a single month. The Strange Ones are so called due to their common origin to the north and their greatly variable appearances and abilities. These are not a single race of creatures but a collection of creatures emerging from the same area with similar habits and levels of power. The Strange Ones are indeed powerful and deadly, each one seems to be unique and as such no one can predict exactly what they will be facing when they fight one.

Of late three Strange Ones have been reported storming about the northern Grand Duchies. The first is described as a large brown humanoid with shaggy hair and a deadly swing of its arms. About its waist it dangles the heads of several other monsters as well as several humans it has killed on its rampage. An adventuring group of moderate power called the Fury, who were also a popular Battleround team, engaged it in battle two weeks ago and were defeated. Of the six members, three resurrected and one permanently died and his head is now upon the creatures waist. This creature has mainly been seen in Morindell and is usually found by dairy farmers attacking their herds. It has been seen as far south as Versante where it apparently has developed a taste for horseflesh. It seems that Tarren, our neighbor to the north, has had even more trouble with this particular beast, as they raise more cattle and sheep than in all of Neridia.

The second Strange One sighted is exclusively found in Hartwell. It appears to be a humanoid insect of some sort; it has large slicing claws and a black chitonous exoskeleton. It often waits in unseen for its prey and then leaps out at it often cutting it to ribbons before it can even scream. Many of the Hartwell Rangers have tried to engage the creature, as have several adventurers and some of the Tirani, but if the creature begins to lose a fight it leaps away fleeing as fast as it can. Though it has been seriously hurt, it has not been killed. The same cannot be said of those who hunt it and the deaths of seven adventurers, rangers, and Tirani are blamed on this Strange One, as well as fifteen citizens of Hartwell.

The third of the Strange Ones currently attacking people to the north is perhaps the most frightening because no one has lived to describe it. Recollections of battles with it from those who have resurrected are sketchy at best and describe more of a whirlwind of motion than any specific creature. Those who did not resurrect only had their skeletons recovered; they were picked clean by whatever killed them. This creature has been reported in all areas of Morindell and Hartwell. Some think this is more than a single creature, others doubt it exists at all being the result of a criminal and their clever use of forget-it-wells. This Strange One was engaged in battle by Guildmaster Thomas Ramafort of the Neridia’s Gate Adventurers’ Guild and slew him to the permanent death.

The Adventurers’ Guild has taken a contract with the two Grand Duchies to deal with the problem and have been sending hunting groups from their membership. To date however none have yet succeeded in removing any of the problems. It is hoped that they can be killed before more of the things come out of the mountains and add to the problem.

The King has ordered the Guild of Arcane and Alchemical Studies to place new mated gates in Aram’s Market and Ayen’s Hollow so that those who would attempt to destroy the Strange Ones can get there with all due haste. There is talk of placing new master gates there as well so that the territories can be quickly covered when a report of Strange One activity is noted.

The rewards for the capture or death of the Strange Ones are growing higher by the day. It is close to ten platinum certificates each at this point.

Strange Happenings, the Sessuar ask for Diplomatic Ties

by Ian Brock, Staff Reporter

In light of the increase in activities in foreign affairs it should come as no surprise that Neridia is reaching far afield in contacting other nations and maintaining relations with them. It should further come as no surprise that at times other nations seek out Neridia for diplomatic ties as opposed to the other way around. However in the wildest dreams of Zamphides no one could have predicted that the Sessuar Impirium would come to Neridia with open arms seeking diplomatic relations and even open trade.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Sessuar Impirium, it is a large nation in the northwest region of the continent of Ghandar. The sketchy maps of Tyrra which exist place Ghandar as the continent immediately to the east of Avalon which would make Sessuar the neighbor of the Kingdom of Evendarr though across the sea of the east. The Sessuar are known for their racist attitudes, believing themselves to be superior to all other races on Tyrra, particularly the elves. They have a history of imperialism and conquest being engaged currently with the elven nation of Brynmaerdyth on their southern border as well as holding an occupying force in the Duchy of Ashbury, Evendarr which they title Expansion Territory XIII. They have long been at war with the Kingdom of Evendarr having invaded their Duchy of Ravenholt first years ago using magic citadels which sound much like the Libram from our own history. Approximately two to three years ago they were involved in a major war throughout Evendarr and were turned back when plague struck them and weakened their forces.

So with their history one could see why it is surprising that they would now come not as conquerors but as diplomats with treaties in hand ready to be signed. Rumors fly that the Impirium is in turmoil that the plague still rages there and their population is devastated, dying by the hundreds. Some say the attempt at peace is due to this, perhaps they have heard that Neridia has dealt with such plagues in the past and overcome them and now seek our help in finding a cure. Other rumors say a new emperor has ascended to the throne and a new family is in power which is less warlike and more thoughtful.

Whatever the truth is, all speculation aside, the fact of the matter is that they have come seeking diplomatic ties and given Neridia’s history of negotiation, diplomacy, and trade, it is quite likely that we will see a Sessuar Ambassador taking his or her place in the diplomatic quarter in a newly built Sessuar Embassy. Negotiations on the part of the Sessuar have been handled by a single woman whose name we have been unable to obtain. Some speculate that should negotiations proceed to the point of the signing of a treaty or at least the exchange of ambassadors that she will be the one the Sessuar station here permanently.

Order of Swords Fight On the Border

by Zara Sevian, War Correspondent

The Varykites have been quite active along the western border with their swift raiding parties coming across the Thunder when its bed shifts. The Windriders act to swiftly contain these breeches to our Kingdom’s borders but at times they are not swift enough or they are defeated and units of the Varykite Cavalry make it through to Neridian soil and into the District of Winterthorne.

Recently the Varykites sent a particularly powerful group of raiders made up of the dreaded Boarok, the so-called "friend of the dead". With them came riding those who at one time walked as the living but did so no more, their eyes were aglow with a crimson hue and the scent of the grave wafted from them. Each of the dead-riders bore a sword and shield of purest ebon, the touch of which would make the strongest warrior sick with its foul taint. These creatures were clearly not the sort normally dealt with by the army, even the Windriders. Instead to the border came the eight leaders of the Order of the Swords. Taking charge of this situation as was his to do in this case was the High Sword of Purity, Sir Damson Reese Bainbridge. The High Swords set about tracking down the straying Varykites. This being done by High Sword of Duty, Sir Tomas Hartwell also one of the famed Hartwell Rangers and High Sword of Freedom Andrew Jansen, who proved his worth while serving as a common soldier in the ducal levies from Versante.

By the time the Swords managed to track down the Varykite forces, they had already reached the middle territories of Winterthorne and had set upon the small village of Miren. The dead-riders were busy killing townsfolk while the outriders of the group were sacking the houses. The Boarok Shamen had made their way to the cemetery and had begun a formal magic to raise those interred therein.

Quick to act, Sir Damson could not allow the desecration of a cemetery and the creation of those resting there. He rode toward the graveyard intent on disrupting the casting of the formal magic. As he did this, the other seven High Swords rode on into the town proper to engage and destroy the dead-riders and stop the living Varykites from doing further damage. With shouts of "Thou Shalt Shield Those In Need and Be Their Sword of Justice" and "Thou Shalt Shun The Forces of Undeath and Destroy Them At Each Turn" at their lips the seven remaining high swords engaged the enemy which outnumbered them more than two to one.

The battle was intense as the seven High Swords, noble and commoner alike, battled overwhelming odds, maintained only by their strength, skill, and dedication to a higher purpose. Captain Gerald Kent-Isley, the High Sword of Justice certainly did more than his share in the battle holding to the code and his calling and he smote each enemy and blocked and countered attack after attack on the villagers of Miren. According to John Fanos, the town baker, "you almost couldn’t follow his movements. He would see a Varykite attacking one of us and he’d be there. He would see one of those stinking undead and the next you knew its head would be falling to the ground, the red glow of its eyes fading like burning embers. "

Also dedicating himself to protecting the helpless townsfolk was Sir Genedy DeVane, High Sword of Compassion. He made it his duty to put himself between the blows of the enemy and the people, stopping in his path only to heal those fallen. Carson Derforth, the town blacksmith, said of Sir Genedy, "when a felt that curved Varykite sword go through my chest, I knew I was a dead man. But when I opened my eyes to see Sir Genedy standing above me and holding off three raiders, I knew I was saved."

The High Sword of Valor, Shayna Evens, an adventurer originally from Volta in Evendarr, was constantly charging the enemies’ position, leading the way and attacking at the enemy lest they find rest and take advantage of such to overcome the Neridians. Flanking her on her right side was Crystal Markovik, the High Sword of Honesty, a young woman from Endrikson who surprised all three years ago when she claimed the position. Dame Johanna Clairborne, the High Sword of Honor, guarded Crystal so she was able to use her magics and her curse to their fullest against the Varykites and the undead. Kyle Grimshod, a local shoemaker, described the three as, "like seeing a triad of hope in human form."

Though none of these seven High Swords escaped unscathed they all survived the battle and turned the tide against the undead and Varykite raiders. As the battle in the town proper was continuing a large flash of light came from the graveyard. The seven were unable to go to their companion or see what happened, as they were needed to protect the people and defeat the Varykite forces preying upon them.

When the battle in town ended and the Windriders began sweeping in to capture the last of the fleeing Varykites, only then did the seven allow themselves the time to go to the graveyard and see to their companion. The graveyard itself was a mess, with several headstones knocked over or fragmented. In the center, next to the one mausoleum they found their companion, bloody and burned, lying surrounded by several bodies of the Boarok and more empty sets of their clothes. A quick check by Sir Genedy, High Sword of Compassion, revealed that while the spirit still resided in the body, Sir Damson was indeed dead and in need of a life spell. All the life spells had long ago been spent saving the townsfolk and so, the seven stood vigil for the remaining minute until Sir Genedy’s body faded away, leaving behind bloody burned clothes, his sword, his shield, and his few possessions. They gathered up to them what remained behind and mounted their horses. They rode swiftly to Peter’s Rest and the nearest earth circle. There they waited for six hours before a spirit entered the circle for resurrection. They were relieved to find Sir Genedy beginning to reform in front of their eyes and even more relieved when his body remained and his eyes flicked open.

The High Swords stand as one of our greatest defenses and are the most noble of bearing in Neridia. They constantly place themselves between our people and anything that may endanger them. Sir Rodrick Clairborne has announced that in their honor, a special ceremony will be held at the Nerid’s Day feast, February 26^th.

State of the War/January and February 3000

by Zara Sevian, War Correspondent with contributions from Ian Brock, Johiah Seaborn, and Anderson Wheeler

The war with the Varykite Confederation continues at its normal pace. The series of attacks, which we have seen since the monthly shifting of the bed of the Thunder began nearly seven years ago, continue. The Varykites of late have been using their special troops more; this consists of the Boarok, or friend of the dead, and the Syntas, the so-called death singers. Of late when the Thunder shifts the Varykites charge across often led by members of their Tanok tribe, the fist. When this happens numerous groups on their fast ponies split off in any direction to make trouble within our lands. The Windriders rush in along with the Versante Chargers but often they do not arrive in time to stop all the groups of Varykites. The fact that they can somehow know exactly where and when the river will shift adds to the suspicions that they are somehow behind the shifts or can control them.

The past two months have seen six major pushes by the Varykites with no less than nine raiding parties entering the western regions of Winterthorne to be hunted down by the army and in one case by the Order of the Sword (see accompanying article). The King still stands by a defensive war refusing to send forces into the Varykite holdings across the Thunder. Reports hold that the group known as Barnett’s Heirs is still operating in Varykite territory despite the denial of the King’s support to them. Ambassador Raidin has stated that the Neridian forces operating in the Confederation have destroyed six villages and killed an entire herd of prized horses within the last two months. Official government sources continue to issue denial of support or involvement in Barnett’s Heirs activities in the Varykite lands.

On the diplomatic front there is no progress, Ambassador Raidin continues to make demands for the surrender of Neridia. Chancellor Tyler Bainbridge continues to press for peaceful solutions to the war and attempts to negotiate for the cessation of use of necromancy and undead forces in the war as held by the Compact of Aniss signed by the confederation when relations were first opened with them. The seventeen other nations signatory to the Compact of Aniss have all registered official protests to the Varykite breaking of this treaty of the methods of war. All of the signatory nations have placed embargo on the Varykite Confederation but this matters little as they are currently trapped in their lands only able to cross into Neridia currently.

The totals of injured and dead in the army for the past three months are as follows. Wounded –3,047, Wounded beyond the capability of magical healing to deal with – 5, Dead and requiring a life spell – 211, Resurrected – 92, Permanent deaths – 7.

We hereby honor those who have met their end in this war since our last reporting of it. Private John Gambolt of the town of Between, Grand Duchy of Morindell died in battle November 5^th 2,999. Sergeant Mark Smythe of the town of Delos, Grand Duchy of DeVane died on November 5^th while rescuing seven trapped comrades, he was awarded the Silver Sash posthumously. Captain David Loft, Sergeant Gerald Davidson, Private Donna Miller, and Private Jason Franklin of the city of Neridia’s Gate, District of Winterthorne died on December 12^th in the attack of the Boarok on the town of Miren. Private Jane Salos of the city of Kail, Grand Duchy of Clairborne died December 20^th when she single handedly engaged a group of five Varykites to delay them long enough for aid to arrive, she was awarded the Hero’s Circlet posthumously.

Activities across Neridia

November 13^th - In Valerheim, a protest was led by Neridia First to speak out against the Crown’s expenditures towards celebrations of Nerid’s Day. Specifically they protested the recent expenditures toward putting up new gates mated to the master gate in Neridia’s Gate. Of largest concern to them the gate to the newly formed Kingdom of Avendale which may or may not become part of the Kingdom of Evendarr, and insisted upon the creation of a greater ward and circle of power around the gate as well.

November 16^th – In Clairborne, the Clairborne 3^rd Militia Group was called out and sent into the mountains pursuing a group of bandits who raided the Starbright Mine taking an estimated fifty gold certificates in raw diamonds and killing one guard in the process. The militia caught the bandits and defeated them in a pitched battle in the Cloudheart Peaks. Several of the bandits managed to escape and only three-fourths of the diamonds were recovered. The militia is still searching for the remaining bandits and the Bykul Nation Barbarians who live in that area of the Cloudheart Peaks have been asked to aid in the search.

November 20^th – In Hartwell, Aglaron Din’Nuestra, the Guildmaster of the Veduiore Guild of Arcane and Alchemical Studies has vanished without a trace. Senior guildsmen have noted that the Guildmaster had been working on a new project recently but he was reluctant to speak of it with anyone. It is felt that the disappearance may be voluntary and the guildmaster may be off in his investigations, but it is unusual that he would tell no one.

November 23^rd – In Winterthorne, a new merchant consortium is organizing. Calling itself the Winterthorne Alliance of Trade, it is being supported by members of the Duchek, Rhys-Hines, Lane-Hewitt, and Welleby Merchant Houses. Its stated purpose is the expansion of trade route to the east, especially to Evendarr and Avendale. It expects to open to investors in February.

November 26^th – In Bainbridge, a possible sighting of Rynn Kendik brought many bounty hunters flooding into the cities of Sooth and Majere as well as scouring the towns and countryside. Though this Biata is still sought for the murder of Queen Natalia Clairborne, the late wife of King Justin Clairborne V, it is doubtful he is still in Neridia after nearly four years.

December 5^th – In Winterthorne, the village of Kylain was the site of an attack by a creature out of the Forbiddance. This creature, which appeared to be made entirely of slime, came up from the Eastern Tyne River and attacked three people at the docks before it slipped back into the water. No one was seriously injured though the three were all sick and in need of magical curatives.

December 8^th – In Morindell, there is a heavy increase in shipbuilding activity in the City of Boondock. The famous Boondock Shipyards, which receive much of the lumber sent down river from the Hartwell forest, have been a flurry of activity as the ribs for no less than eight new ships have been laid this month. The master of the shipyard, Kory Trundle, says that it’s all from the merchants wanting to increase trade to the south.

December 15^th – In Bainbridge, a scholar of the Bardic Collegium has reportedly found a fragment of the legendary Book of Solace. The work is currently being authenticated but if true, it represents the first piece of the Book of Solace found since the disappearance of its author, the astrologer Zamphides.

December 23^rd – In Versante, the N.M.G.S. Bykul’s Mistress, a registered merchant vessel out of Rilforth Graze failed to meet its expected date of arrival in Neridia’s Gate. There was a great storm on December 24^th and it is thought the ship may have been sunk during the storm. There has been no sign of wreckage or survivors though and none have attempted to resurrect at any Healer’s Circle as of yet.

December 26^th – In Valerton, the noted Master Bard Alan Thespian has disappeared from his home in the City of Valerheim. The Master Bard was best known for his work on the stage and the plays he has written for performance in front of three monarchs of Neridia. There are no clues as to what caused his disappearance and a twenty gold certificate reward has been offered by the Crown for information leading to his recovery from acts most foul.

Five Questions By I. N. Quire An Interview with Aldeb Bainbridge, recently removed Knight of Arcadia

Quire: Good day Goodman Bainbridge, I would like to thank you for speaking with me about the acts you committed and the trial and punishment you so recently faced.

Aldeb: You’re welcome, I’m glad I will have a chance to address the people and ask for their forgiveness.

Quire: I think the main question on everyone’s mind is, why did you do it? Why transform yourself into a creature of undeath?

Aldeb: In the end there were two reasons I think, though neither one worth what we did. The first was out of loyalty to the people. I thought that with the power it gave me I would be able to help them more in the war. Of course I now realize that I betrayed their loyalty to me and their trust in me when I did it.

The second reason was loyalty to my Baron. He told me this was a good thing and convinced me it served a higher purpose and was not against the code or the law. It’s easy to say I was misled but I should not have been. My oaths and my conscience should have served me better in this.

Quire: How did the Baron plan to cover up something like this? It does seem a bit unusual that a Baronial Court dedicated to healing, not warfare, would all of a sudden become a fighting force against the mighty Varykite army.

Aldeb: I’m not sure the Baron really thought about covering it up. He didn’t think we were doing anything wrong. Not until the end when the King made his final ruling after the Baron appealed the case to his ears.

If anyone truly was concerned about covering it up it was Lila Cheval-Bainbridge. She worried me a great deal, she was always telling us and the Baron how no one would fully understand the sacrifice we were making to aid them and how we needed to keep the transformations secret.

I think she was in this more for the power of the thing. I guess with her fleeing justice and retaining her transformation that is confirmed.

Quire: What do you think Lila Cheval-Bainbridge and Wallace Bainbridge will do now that they have fled?

Aldeb: I’m not really sure, I don’t know if any of us truly knew her now. What could drive a knight sworn to the code to flee the rule of her liege like that? She may have fled Neridia but I certainly wouldn't put it past her to have prepared herself a fallback point. She was always one to plan for most eventualities. Given her concern over keeping this secret I certainly would assume she was ready for discovery.

Quire: How powerful is her form, should we be concerned about her attempting some form of revenge?

Aldeb: She was the second most powerful of us, the Baron having the most powerful form. But the Baron was the only one who knew how to invoke the transformation and he didn’t reveal that secret to her. So while her transformation still exists it is latent. I would be more concerned with the mind that lurks in her rather than her physical power. She was a brilliant tactician and clearly willing to do almost anything to achieve her goals.

Quire: One final question for you Aldeb. What now? Since your trial and punishment, what are your plans? Do you intend to try and make up for your wrong doings?

Aldeb: Well certainly there is nothing I can do to make up for the betrayals I committed in the name of what was right. If I had been a stronger person, better honoring the code I forsook rather than paying it homage and rationalizing my breaking of its tenets, I would not be in this place now.

Now I can only try to live as I should have and honor the oaths I swore to the code so long ago. Now I will try to live each tenet, as I should have before this time without the privilege of noble title.

I have sworn allegiance to Dame Alestra DeVane, she more than anyone else made me see the error of my ways. She has forgiven me my crimes and brought me closer to forgiving myself. I will serve under her doing charitable works and asking only my maintenance in return. Thus will I live simply, without any tangible reward, only the reward of the cleansing I feel each time I go to do good works now.