---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Armstead : PARTY LEAVES, HEADING NORTH The party that has taken it upon themselves to rid Armstead of the sorceror named Conor MacGregor departed earlier today, heading north. Though no news of their current whereabouts has reached the people of Armstead, they said they would follow Conor's trail as far as it leads. One lad of the village, said to be the finest archer there, left with them, stating that he wished to see more of the world, and this would be as good an opportunity as any. Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Selenica : BATTALION DEPARTS FOR ARMSTEAD One of the battalions of pikemen stationed in Selenica left today, heading for the town of Armstead, said to be besieged by humanoids. They have been briefed with what little information is available, and they are prepared to be there for quite some time. The office of the Chancellor indicated that this was ordered to make good on the promise to aid Armstead in the middle of the village's current troubles. Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Athenos : Athenos Canal : BARGE DEPARTS FOR AKORROS The merchant Bancohr, having found guards for his barge, saw the vessel off earlier. He was worried about the possibility that the increasing activity of bandits might impact on his shipments, so he refused to allow the merchandise to leave until he had found suitable protection for it. The guards are said to include an alchemist, a couple of fighters, a singer of some sort, and a scholar, as well as two sailors to make certain nothing happens to the barge. They were last seen headed into the Malpheggi Swamp. Mystara : Glantri : Viscompty de Malinbois : HEAD GUARD'S FAMILY DISAPPEARS! The family of the head of the Viscomptess' personal guard disappeared suddenly, under mysterious circumstances, shortly after the head of the guard was exposed as a werewolf. No one has seen the rest of the family since then, and attempts to find them have been unsuccessful, at least so far. It is feared that if the tensions in the area, brought about over the discovery of a silver-rich lode beneath the castle of the Viscomptess, continue to mount, a war shall be started between the humans and the apparently large werewolf populations. Mystara : Alfheim : Outskirts of Alfheim City : PATROL DISCOVERS TUNNEL A routine patrol of the City discovered a tunnel entrance near Alfheim City when they tailed a merchant who was acting suspiciously. A brief investigation of the tunnel showed that it ran fairly deep, and the elves are preparing an expedition to see just how deep the tunnel runs. Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : Threshold : RIOT SPARKED BY LOAF OF BREAD! Rioting was touched off in this tension-filled city last week when, on the heels of an attack by orcs that was repulsed by a Traladaran paladin and an apparently racially-motivated murder on Skodor Isle, a Thyatian baker sold a maggot-infested loaf of bread to a Traladaran citizen of Threshold. The Traladaran immediately demanded a new loaf, only to be spurned by the baker, and the story quickly spread. Several Thyatians have been injured in the rioting so far, and the looting continues as the troops under the command of Patriarch Sherlane attempt to re-establish order in this once very lawful town. Mystara : Sind : Mahasabad : FAMINE AVERTED! Officials breathed a sigh of relief when the food caravan arrived two weeks late, and the food was immediately dispersed as needed. Those who have looked into the story of why the caravan was late have been perplexed by reports of a land with people like Sind's, but different geography, and also strange man-shaped metal creatures that spurted fire from their hands. The official story is that they were overcome by delusions sparked by being overlong in the desert. Mystara : Hollow World : Tanagoro : MILENIANS AND NITHIANS CLASH IN FOREST! A force of Milenians headed for Nithia ran into a force of Nithians headed for Milenia in the middle of the forests of the Tanagoro. The resulting fight was bloody and short, with both sides limping off and claiming victory. Word has already come from some of the Tanagoro tribes that these troops are fair game, as part of the reason the Tanagoro continue to allow the troops passage through the forest is in exchange for no fighting amongst the trees. Neither force is expected to make it out of the forest. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Armstead : LEGION ARRIVES IN ARMSTEAD, ENTRENCHES Troops sent to Armstead to protect the village from humanoid aggression arrived earlier today, having met with no resistance on the road. They have begun constructing fortifications, adding to the already formidable town wall. Hope are high that the troops will demolish the goblin influence in the area. Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Elstrich : BARGE GUARDS AMBUSHED ON STREEL RIVER! The barge guards hired by the merchant Bancohr have put in at the working-class town of Elstrich for repairs, having apparently barely scraped through multiple encounters with fire, a near miss from a tree crashing into the river, and an attack by monsters from the swamp. The party is said to suspect that the attacks are by the same opponents. Mystara : Darokin : Akesoli : OFFICIALS BEGINNING INVESTIGATION INTO CARAVAN'S DISAPPEARANCE Officials in Akesoli are beginning an investigation into the disappearance of a food-laden caravan that vanished, then reappeared, en route to Mahasabad in Sind. They are advertising for seasoned adventurers to pursue the mystery. Mystara : Hollow World : Tanagoro : TROOPS DISAPPEAR IN FOREST The Nithian and Milenian forces that met in the Tanagoro forests seem to have disappeared, as they have not been seen in some sleeps. It is suspected that the Tanagoro tribesmen, who had left the troops alone as part of a mutual non-aggression treaty, may have destroyed the two forces after their bloody battle in the forest. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Elstrich : BARGE GUARDS NOSE AROUND, LOCAL MUSCLE HIRED The guards of a barge of fine porcelaine, being carried from Athenos, more than a week's journey to the south, have been nosing around town, hanging out with the locals, and listening in. They apparently docked here for repairs, after the hull of the barge was seriously burned in an incident a day's travel to the east. In an unrelated development, another stranger travelling through has hired some of the local muscle for a job some distance to the west. No specifics of the job are known, although people who weren't familiar with swordplay were turned down, and those picked seem to have a penchant for aggressive behavior. Little is know of the stranger, other than he hired these people, and everyone's memory seems a little foggy with respect to his presence. Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Armstead : GOBLIN ATTACK REPELLED WITH EASE Goblins attacked the walled village of Armstead recently, but were easily repelled by the troops temporarily stationed there. When questioned about how it compares with duty stations at Fort Hobart or Fort Nell, soldiers invariably replied that, one place or another, it's still their job. The citizens were suitably appreciative of the military's presence. Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : ruins of Krakatos : THYATIAN NATIONALS SLAUGHTERED DURING NEW YEAR FESTIVAL The bodies of five ex-Thyatians, all the scions of various Thyatian households that relocated to Karameikos when Duke Stefan was granted the land, were discovered in the ruins of Krakatos. They had apparently been in a fight of some sort, and investigation placed it as occuring during the New Year festivities. The five were all known for their anti-Traladaran sympathies, and were known to spend a great deal of time together. Officials are worried that this may be the beginning of nation- wide problems resulting from the recent riot in Threshold. Mystara : Empire of Thyatis : Thyatis City : PORTENTS ON YEAR'S EVE ANNOUNCED BY CITY'S PRIESTS Various priests of many different Immortals have announced mysterious omens, all occuring on the Year's Eve. They ranged from apocalyptic visions to warnings. It is said that beasts slaughtered for the festival did not die, or their entrails were tied into knots, and vultures perched on the palace of the Emperor and would not leave even when shooed away. Mystara : Hollow World : Kingdoms of Nithia : PHARAOH TAKES MILITARY TO TASK In a reaction to reports of the loss of several companies in the forests controlled by the Tanagoro tribesmen, Pharaoh Ramose IV has taken his generals to task and replaced half their number. The army had apparently clashed with Milenian forces in the middle of Tanagoro forests, breaking one of the conditions of the safe passage agreement made with the tribesmen. The new generals have vowed to take the agreement considerably more seriously, and the relieved commanders have been properly executed. Mystara : Hollow World : Hutaaka : MYSTICS FEAR THE WORST Various priests and priestesses of Pflarr, the Hutaakan Immortal, are worried, as visions of the avenger of a race of one-time slaves have plagued their dreams of late. They have frantically searched records and cast auguries to determine the source of this avenger, said to carry the fate of the Hutaakan race in his hands, so far to no avail. Mystara : Hollow World : Milenian Empire : Temple of Petra : HIGH PRIESTESS RECEIVES VISION The High Priestess of Petra apparently received a vision from Petra recently, in which the Empire was plunged into darkness at the hands of the Zargosian wizards. The calamity apparently can only be prevented by the faith of one of her Defenders, yet the identity of this Defender of Petra remains unknown. All that is known is that the Defender shall come from the east on a grim mission. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Akorros : BARGE DELIVERED TO AKORROS, SUFFERS MAJOR MISHAPS The barge guards hired by the merchant Bancohr limped into Akorros' harbor, the barge barely afloat. They talked of a gigantic creature made of water and multiple ambushes along the way. As they were obtaining the warehouse space for the barge's cargo, one of the unloading cranes collapsed, driving its arm through the makeshift repairs in the barge's hull, and sinking the worn vessel. The guards, upset and distraught, reported to the authorities. One of the guards later turned up dead, and the remainder fled the city after reports of a reward offered for their heads began circulating. They were last seen heading south. Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Darokin City : MERCHANT MAKES INSURANCE CLAIM Bancohr, a merchant dealing in fine porcelaine, placed an insurance claim on the cargo destroyed in the accident in Akorros. Lord's of Darokin is said to have insured the cargo for its full value. Rumor places the claim to be in excess of 100,000 daros (gold pieces). The merchant has already announced his plans to leave the mercantile life. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Akesoli : ADVENTURERS HIRED BY JEDARRIN CORRAN Adventurers were recently hired by the local fish merchant Jedarrin Corran to clean out a recently discovered family keep. The adventurers were hired, a Corran Fisheries, Inc. spokesman said yesterday, due to their apparent honesty in what was called "that Bancohr affair". Mr. Corran was unavailable for comment, but the spokesman continued to explain that the merchant had inherited a deed to a keep, called Corran Keep, north of Fort Lakeside, which had been dropped from the records of both the family and the government. The Chancellor's Office in Darokin City has already indicated that Mr. Corran has full title to the property, and the adventurers are apparently engaged to secure the keep. Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : Threshold : GNOLLS UNUSUALLY ACTIVE IN FOAMFIRE VALLEY The gnoll tribe of the Foamfire valley, said to be the Death's Head gnolls, were remarkably active after a party led by the paladin who recently saved Threshold from an orcish seige headed north from Threshold. Following shortly behind them, one source claims, was a second band led by a lean man in red robes and a dark-haired woman with piercing blue eyes. The gnolls were definitely stirred up, and their war drums could be heard as far south as the village of Verge, but they apparently stayed in the valley, as there were no reports of raids even in the outlying areas. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines, and portions will be detailed in the upcoming 'Mystara' product line) Mystara : The Republic of Darokin : Fort Lakeside : STRANGERS FOUND IN CORRAN KEEP Word reached Fort Lakeside and the nearby town that the adventurers hired by Jedarrin Corran encountered stiff resistance, in the form a hitherto unknown type of undead. This new monster is said to glow with a soft blue light, and they apparently have some sort of electrical discharge. Their leader, the self-styled Lord Kazakk, escaped, along with an unknown number of these undead. The adventurers are reluctant to claim the Keep as emptied, per their commission, at least until this loose end is tied up. Other creatures in the area may have been affected as well, as some birds in the vicinity, larger than normal, seem able to emit miniature lightning bolts. The source is suspected to be a mirror- shield, about two feet across, assessed by the party as being a tremendous source of magickal energy. Basic scrying done by an FNN reporter indicates that Lord Kazakk and company have left Darokin, although the party seems unaware of it. It shall be interesting to see how long it takes for them to notice! Mystara : The Grand Duchy of Karameikos : The Lost Valley of Hutaaka : HIDDEN VALLEY REVEALED, TEMPLE FREED A paladin and a novice priestess of Petra, a locksmith from Kelvin, a once-retired adventurer, and a student from Ylaruam, having passed through a valley filled with blood-thirsty gnolls, came upon a display out of history. They had braved the dangers of the Black Peaks, passing through ancient guardians, to reach a long-hidden valley. After a brush with the inhabitants, they allied themselves with a race called the Hutaakans, a jackal-headed race much degenerated from days of glory and art. The Hutaakans are now opposed to the Traldar, a race of humans, degenerated from the same ancestors that the party claims. The Temple of Pflarr, dedicated to that Hutaakan deity and center to many undead, was re-taken with the aid of the adventurers, and things are looking up for the bronze-aged Hutaakans, as they are being taught to use bows and to forge steel. However, a long-time enemy of the party has also reached the valley, where he quickly allied with the Traldar. His current influence is unknown, but there have been a number of mysterious disappearances as of late. Mike Phillips, msphil@tsrv1.ts.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Soderfjord Jarldoms : Castellan : Thaumont 21, AC 1004 POETRY RECITAL POORLY ATTENDED Following a great deal of publicity, the eminent Thyatian scholar Hartur of Tel-Akbir gave a 3 hour recital of his translation of traditional northern love ballads in Thyatian. Sources indicate that there was only one audience member, a lovely blond woman who lives in the woods outside of town. Harfur declined to be interviewed for this report, stating, "Hmmph...no sense of culture...no sense of national pride...see if I ever bother to recite...hmmph..." Soderfjord Jarldoms : Soderfjord : Thaumont 26, AC 1004 THYATIAN MERCHANT VESSEL ATTACKED BY BANDITS The small village of Randagok was destroyed earlier this week by a giant attack, according to reports filtering down from the northwest. Apparently, the village was razed and all inhabitants taken prisoner, as the villagers are all missing and the village lies destroyed. Soderfjord Jarldoms : Soderfjord : Flaurmont 10, AC 1004 THYATIAN MERCHANT VESSEL ATTACKED BY BANDITS Reports indicate that the Thyatian merchant vessel, Sulla, was attacked by bandits while sailing up the Saltfjord River en route to the village of Sorfeld. Jarl Rangar the Stout issued the following statement, "Well, what do you expect? Any merchant bringing valuable goods upriver in the future would be well served to hire a solid company of my men to defend his profits, ya can't be too careful these days." While the extent of the loss is not fully known at this time, the Thyatian ambassador Marcus Asterius Lallus has acknowledged that a number of sailors and slaves are missing following the attack. The ambassador has offered a 5 markka reward for any escaped slave brought to the Thyatian embassy in Soderfjord. Soderfjord Jarldoms : Soderfjord : Flaurmont 13, AC 1004 TYRIAN PRIESTS STRIP DEFENDER OF TITLE In a ceremony today, the high priests of the Temple of Tyr today stripped the young beserker Eldgrim of his title of "Defender." Apparently the 17 year-old swordsman failed to act as befitting an emissary of Tyr during his service as Defender of Randagok, a small village in the northwest which was levelled by giants several weeks ago. Eldgrim's testimony at the open hearing indicated that he was struck unconcious early in the raid and awoke the next day to find the entire village destroyed. Confidential sources indicate that he was not lying, but that penance was still required under Tyrian edicts. High Priest Tangar announced that for two years Eldgrim would be stripped of his title and exiled from the Northlands, required to wander the world pondering his fate and attempting to atone for his failure as defender of Randagok. Eldgrim took his penance stoically, stating afterwards, "The judgment has been just, from this day forth I shall call myself Eldgrim the Bitter, for I have failed in my duties and must pay." Soderfjord Jarldoms : Castellan : Flaurmont 24, AC 1004 CARAVAN DEPARTS FOR YLARUAM Well-wishers and wives gathered at the gates today, to wish good fortune toward a laden caravan headed through the Jotunburg Pass for Ylaruam. The pass has been considered quite dangerous for several months now, and this is the first caravan to attempt the journey in several weeks. The caravan was organized by Ingi and Ivor Horicksson, two brothers based out of Soderfjord. They have invested a great sum into purchasing a large quantity of salted herring at wholesale prices. They hope to sell the sixty barrels of herring to the wealthy rulers of Ylaruam for an exorbitant profit. Another northerner, Bjorn "the Pungent", accompanies them, bearing a cartload of tea (Wilmik black) and tobacco (Suddland leafy #2) for the city of Ylaruam. The final merchant is one Walid bin-Asswan Shukry (also known as Abu Ziyad), an Alaysian. Abu Ziyad is bound for the high lands town of Cinsa-Men-Roo with a load of powders and dyes for the plateau town. He carries red iron powder, indigo powder, yellow sulfur powder. Guarding the caravan will be Holgar's Free Axes, a mercenary band based in Castellan. For this job, almost the entire company will be going, amounting to some 60 footmen, six sergeants, and of course Holgar himself. Joining the caravan as passengers are several unidentified foreigners and one northerner. [Editor's note: The text of the news was chopped off by the mailer. While there was more, it did not arrive in time for inclusion in this issue. Hopefully, it will be available for next issue -- Mike] Anthony Ross, ROSSA@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : Atruaghin Clans : Children of the Elk : MYSTERIOUS APPARITION STARTS REBELLION! Several villages had been enslaved to the whims of some spirits over the span of the past year, but recently an apparition, apparently resembling the Great Atruaghin Himself, warned the Children that these spirits were false. The apparation claimed that these spirits were men using magic to trick the Children. A small band of warriors, from the village of the Bobcat, journeyed to the nearby village of the Beavers, from whom they had not heard in some time. Through the power of their shamani, they confronted one of these 'spirits' as it visited the village and subdued him. He confessed to the trickery, but refused to do anything to betray his comrades. The band of five magicians claim to hail from a land called Alphatia, of which none of the Children had heard. The precise punishment of the remaining tricksters remains to be decided upon, but, in the words of Moonfeather (the shamani who unmasked the first one and broke the charm on the village), "They shall receive their just due from Atruaghin." The one captured already is being watched by several powerful shamani as he learns more of the ways of the people he attempted to exploit, in the hope that such knowledge will teach him the error of his ways. Mike Phillips, msphil@birds.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D "Known World" as introduced in X1 - The Isle of Dread and developed in the Gazetteer and Hollow World product lines) Mystara : Grand Duchy of Karameikos : Kelvin : Thaumont 16, AC 997 SCHOOL OF PSIONICS FOUNDED Aleksander Gerasimov, born to a Traladarn family of merchants and trained at the Great University in Ylaruam, recently announced that he would found a school dedicated to the powers of the mind. Sasha, as he prefers to be called, is known for his participation in several heroic efforts, including saving a homestead in the Vyalia Forest, assisting in the liberation of Threshold from orcish troops, and mysterious adventures in an ancient valley. Of late, he has made a name for himself investigating ruins of the Nithian race, a people who lived in the Nithian Valley an untold number of centuries ago. He has a knack for the language, colleagues say, and has single-handedly advanced knowledge of that civilization to a point where it is being offered in courses at major universities. Sasha feels that the new school will fill a void in the training available to young Karameikans, although he is still having problems locating enough instructors. Mike Phillips, msphil@birds.wm.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NEWS FROM MYSTARA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Mystara is the D&D world, now updated for AD&D) Karameikos : Specularum : ATTEMPT ON DUKE STEFAN'S LIFE THWARTED! Thanks to the bravery of a small band of elves, an attempted assassination of the Grand Duke Stefan Karameikos failed yesterday. The elves, emissaries from the newly-recognized Vyalian state, expressed concern over the assassination attempt, and they were duly thanked and feasted by a grateful Duke. This seems to have been an unscheduled highlight of an otherwise routine ceremony, welcoming the emissaries as official ambassadors for the country of Vyalia, a new realm created by elves rebelling against both Thyatian and Karameikan occupancy. The Vyalian elves, in founding the state, took only unclaimed forests in their campaign, so they claim, to save the Dymrak (now called Vyalia) Forest from the ever-encroaching human and humanoid settlers. The assassins, unfortunately, escaped the authorities, and descriptions range from a band of mad dwarves to Callarii elves to disgruntled Thyatians or Traladarans have been circulated by witnesses. Since no two witnesses agree on their appearance, the authorities give credence to none of them and are simply looking for a person or persons unknown. Mike Phillips, msphil@birds.wm.edu