Wiki Category: Events 272/2023

Word spreads from Clan Shattered Spear. Their prolonged war effort against the Mordok is showing promising signs of coming to a final conclusion. Thanks to the strength of the Shattered Spear warriors as well as the unquestionable support from some of their trusted allies, the Mordok forces have been pushed back to where this all began: the village of Silfurfal, known to some in whispers and rumors as “The Maddened Village”

Reports have come in that the village has been bolstered and barricaded and that a large Mordok force has taken up residence inside along with the same villagers that have been plaguing the area. More alarming is that several reports have included mention of one of the mysterious blue-clad Mordok seemingly leading the forces within the village. This combined force has dug in deep and in response the Shattered Spear warpacks have surrounded the village and begun the process of setting siege.

As the camps come together Shattered Spear sends out a request for aid once more. From their request it’s clear that they feel this will be the final battle of this campaign and they seem almost excited to share this moment with the people of Mardrun as a whole. There is even promise of a great feast for any who come to help see this bloody chapter to its conclusion.

All this being said, it’s clear that aid will still go a long way in this endeavor. While Shattered Spear may be able to front the bulk of a siege force to bring Silfurfal to heel, any prolonged siege will in all likelihood spell the death for any Ulven still within the village as the Mordok inside would turn to devouring them long before they were able to be starved out. A large showing of force will allow Shattered Spear warriors to move north around the village and cut off any incoming Mordok reinforcements while a second overwhelming force presses into the village to remove the Mordok foothold once and for all.

People from around Mardrun flock to Shattered Spear lands, eager to see to the end of this most recent Mordok invasion and show once again that the people of Mardrun stand united against the Mordok onslaught. The banners of several Shattered Spear allies are already present in the various siege camps, no doubt personally invited by Shattered Spear leadership ahead of the public calls.

Soon the lands surrounding Silfurfal are filled with people from all walks of life, ready and willing to lay siege or support those who do.

-=Update=-

Under the banners of Shattered Spear and their allies, the warriors marched on Silfurfal. Though an early winter chill gripped the landscape the people found themselves stalwart in their task. Unfortunately the opposition was quick to meet them. A couple of skirmishes broke out on the road leading up to the village as the allied forces worked to push the Mordok and their corrupted villagers out of the way.

The battles were brief, but incredibly bloody. The allied forces suffered severe damage to their bodies and their equipment, but held firm and were able to rout, kill, or capture their enemies. A small handful of villagers and even an unfortunate corrupted Ulven trader that was caught in the area were able to be taken back to the camps to be cleansed and healed.

The second skirmish of the day saw the return of the Alpha that plagued the allied forces during their last push into the area some months back, but more alarming was the appearance of one of the strange, Blue-Clad Mordok. It appeared smaller than the other Mordok, but dressed in much finer clothing and showed a preference for deep, rich blues. Despite its smaller stature, the rest of the Mordok showed it an incredible amount of deference, often hunching even lower when it was nearby. The Blue-Clad Mordok and the Alpha pulled out of the fight early, seemingly satisfied with the damage and poisoning that they had caused. With this, the allied forces were able to push the Mordok and their corrupted Ulven allies back to the village.

With the village outskirts cleared, Shattered Spear and its allies moved their siege camp up. Removing any remaining stragglers and saving a couple more villagers, the new camp was set up on a hill across from the village and the sound of blacksmithing and horns of war could be heard as the siege reached a new phase.

After an engineer assessed the defenses, the next couple of hours had the allied forces bring a battering ram to the gates of Silfurfal and, through a torrent of arrows and spells, set to the tedious, back-breaking work of turning the proud gate into splinters. Villagers and Mordok spilled through cracks in the wall and assaulted the flanks of the siege party and at times forced them into a retreat to reorganize. The Blue-Clad Mordok’s poisoned arrows nearly caused multiple deaths, but equally shocking was when a handful of warriors heard it mock them in their own tongue as they retreated. Each round of ramming the gate caused great amounts of broken equipment and bloodshed, but the allied forces remained stalwart and returned repeatedly to see the job through.

Before the gate was able to be broken, one of the allied warriors stepped forward and challenged the Alpha to an honor duel. The Blue-Clad Mordok spoke up in trade speech and accepted the duel, sending the Alpha forward as its champion. A tense energy held the collective warriors as they watched the duel progress. Both combatants fought with unrelenting force, and the Ulven warrior was repeatedly thrown around the fighting ground as the Alpha’s ax struck with an unstoppable pushing force. In the end they both fell to each other’s blades in the grips of their unbridled rage, and shock took both armies before the brief silence was broken. The Mordok attempted to claim the body of the fallen Ulven warrior, but the allied forces charged forward with fury and were able to push in to reclaim him. The warrior was successfully rescued during the chaotic fighting and brought back to camp where he was immediately tended to by a healer. 

Breaking down the gate and holding the Mordok forces proved to be a great challenge, and the Warpack leader and rest of the siege camp found themselves having to make a difficult choice. They had only been somewhat successful with saving villagers during the gate sieging, and many more villagers were dying during these fights than in the outskirts. The opinions of all were taken into consideration as it was to be decided if the new focus would be saving the villagers at the cost of taking the village, or if they would still focus on taking the village and accept the increased casualties of the corrupted people of Clan Shattered Spear. After heated discussion and a close vote, it was decided that the village had to be taken at the cost of the villagers. While some additional villagers were able to be saved as the siege continued, many more had to die to keep the siege successful.

With the cracking of wood and a hail of splinters, the gates of the village were shattered and a volley of arrows and magic spewed outward from the village as the allied forces pushed their way inside. The Blue-Clad Mordok was seen laughing and taunting the allied forces as its body dissipated into the mana stream, taking with it the fallen Alpha’s seemingly enchanted ax. Any semblance of order quickly dispersed as fighting spread throughout the village. A small number of villagers were captured and brought to the camp to be cleansed, but the majority had to be cut down and executed where they lay. In the final minutes of sunlight, surrounded by the blood of Ulven villagers, a team of ritualists cleansed the Corruption Idol in the middle of the village that is believed to have jump-started this entire brutal chapter in Shattered Spear history; hopefully bringing it to a close.

Word has stretched across Mardrun with the announcement of the location of the Annual Market Faire. This year the responsibility and honor has fallen on Key’s Crossing, home of The Ravens. Their settlement has recently undergone an incredible boom in growth and they have officially become a State sanctioned under the authority of Newhope and as such have been given the opportunity to showcase their growth and prosperity.

Before long flyers and criers are seen across Mardrun inviting people to come and join in the festivities of the annual Market Faire. There are boasts of unique grand tournaments and contests. There are subtle mentions of chairs followed by absolute clarification that there will be NO CHAIRS at Keys Crossing, followed again with conspicuous winks. There are announcements of the accepted invitations from a great number of merchants and caravaneers so that there will be no shortage of shopping options.

Soon the cobblestone streets and market squares of Keys Crossing, already festooned with banners and garlands, are filled with throngs of travelers. The taverns pack tight and ply patrons with special concoctions. The Public Market Square erupts into life as local merchants hock their wares to out of town travelers. The City of Keys Crossing, already home to the happiest people on Mardrun, erupts with life.

UPDATE:

The day came and went, filled with mirth and good times. Contests were held and victors declared. Medals were given and prize purses distributed. There was even a successful attempt at enchanting held in the woods safely away from the faire goers. Liquor flowed freely through the Faire Grounds of Key’s Crossing as laughter and joy marked the success of this jovial expression of The Raven’s pride in the growth and prosperity of their home.

A call has gone out from Clan Shattered Spear to the holds and leaders of Mardrun. While they were distracted by the mysterious village of Silfurfal and its maddened occupants, a massive army of Mordok thrust itself past their outpost on The Shield and flooded into the Clan lands to the south. The Shattered Spear warriors fought as valiantly as they were able, but the force of the Mordok was far too great and forced them further south. Shattered Spear is noted as one of the most martially-proud Ulven Clans and a bulwark against The Dirge. Should their lands be overrun with Mordok there would be nothing stopping them from pushing deeper south and The Shield of Mardrun would find itself irreparably cleaved. Since this initial onslaught several villages in northern Shattered Spear have already gone quiet as they fell behind the Mordok front lines, Silfurfal included. A great deal of support will be needed to push back against the Mordok to force them back north.

 

Word of this invasion spread quickly as well as the call for aid. Shattered Spear tried to reach out to the other outposts along the Shield, but quickly learned that they were all dealing with massive waves of Mordok as well. It seems almost as if the Mordok coordinated this attack specifically to strike when the strange behavior at Silfurfal had pulled attention away from The Shield. Fortunately, aid has come from the other areas of Mardrun. Before long, banners of Warpacks from other clans and units from different groups have been seen marching toward Shattered Spear, fully aware that this will be a long fight, but it must be fought.

 

=Update=

The sounds of war soon rang out throughout the lands of Clan Shattered Spear. Warriors and supporters gathered into war camps along the front in a united effort to drive the Mordok back towards The Dirge. As is often the case the day began with a large, yet unorganized wave of eager and whelpish Mordok. These whelps are often unblooded and untrained, but are still incredibly dangerous. They fight with a disorganized frantic nature as if they are looking to prove themselves on the field of battle. No matter the nature of this wave of Mordok, the warriors were able to adequately break and repel these Mordok.

As it often goes with extensive conflicts, the rest of the day had repeated battles occurring across the line. Waves of Mordok warriors crashed against waves of defenders and warriors with the mordok being broken and driven back in most fights. The fights were hard fought and there were multiple close battles where only willpower carried the defenders to victory allowing almost all fights to be a win, all except a mordok wave that brought a unique foe.

An Alpha Mordok joined one of the waves, bringing along a retinue of highly skilled and armored warriors. It is incredibly rare to see Mordok in well fitted and cared for suits of armor, yet in this group it was more rare to see an unarmored Mordok than one who was fully kitted as a warrior should be. Arrows and death magic rained upon the defenders as the Mordok and their Alpha smashed through shield walls and batted their opponents around like a folding stool in a Chairs Tournament. The Alpha, clad in wicked, spiked armor, showed immense strength and was capable of delivering incredibly cleaving force with one arm and swings so powerful that they knocked people from their feet. In the end the defenders were wholly unable to stand against this Alpha and his retinue, finding themselves forced to fall back to the war camp. Luckily the Alpha seemed to lose interest in what he perceived to be weaker foes and moved on, not being seen for the rest of the day.

Regardless of this singular loss against the Alpha, the defending warriors were able to push the Mordok army back into the northern reaches of Clan Shattered Spear, allowing the front lines to push up and prepare to move on some of the villages that had fallen behind the Mordok push. While the village of Silfurfal is seen as a goal for many, it still remains farther to the north and will require much more time to reach and attempt to retake. Spirits were high as Warpack Leader Hersir Bodil Shattered Spear relayed information to the camp and relieved the warriors of their duty for the day, but this relaxed atmosphere did not last long.

As warriors doffed their armor and laid their weapons aside for the night movement was seen on the trail heading toward camp. A small unit of Ulven warriors marched toward the camp and a few guards went to greet their allies, but the truth of the matter was soon revealed. The incoming warriors roared at the camp, calling them Mordok who should leave Shattered Spear Lands and in the name of Laifnar Icefury they charged into the camp with weapons drawn. While the initial shock allowed some injuries to be caused by the attackers, the defenders were able to quickly defeat these invading warriors and clerics immediately set to work trying to cleanse them of any perverse influences. Fortunately, all of the warriors were able to be cleansed and treated by the camp’s healers. Those who weren’t under immense shock were able to relay stories of how they had spent the whole day fighting innumerable armies of Mordok, but they never worried for their lives because through the whole thing they fought alongside radiant nature spirits and landwights. While glad to be alive, further shock slowly dawned on the villagers as they learned who they had been really fighting that day. Unfortunately there was no time to dig any deeper and learn the truth behind their words nor understand the strange influences that drove them into madness.

As the month of May rolls in, exciting and amazing news sweeps through Mardrun. Prince Aylin declares that Aylin’s Reach will be sending a workforce to The Shield to build a port-outpost on the eastern side of the defensive line to help keep back Mordok forces. This move seems to follow the current motives and road that Prince Aylin has been following as of late by befriending the Ulven Clans. In this endeavor he has requested those of martial ability to help protect the outpost while it is being built as a collaborative effort and a way for one of the colonist groups to “do their part” for the good of all. Mercenaries, laborers, and supplies start to flow northward at this announcement due to the anticipation of the construction and posting security against the press of possible Mordok attacks. With Spring nearing its end, Mordok activity has been noted to be rising in the area, so those who venture to the Shield should expect combat once the construction commences.

The previous news is almost overshadowed by the Prince also asking for assistance with another adventurous voyage. This time it is with helping set up a settlement with docks to an island north of Clan Whiteoak and Clan Axehound. According to both Clans, their leaders had laid a claim to settle the island generations ago. Between the island being a bit remote and the conflict that forced both Clans to focus on more immediate territories, neither one has tried to settle it in earnest. While the island seems to be uninhabited, it could still be a dangerous journey being so close to the Outlands. These two Clans, their long standing rivalry now set aside, have agreed to venture out with Aldorian forces to explore and begin to settle this island.

As such, Prince Aylin is looking for explorers and scouts to help investigate and map-out the nearby areas of the large island, and some martial forces to help keep the area safe as workers set up the docks and outpost. The proximity of the new Aldorian Shield outpost and this proposed settlement could allow a navigable waterway for fresh timber and materials to help maintain or expand The Shield. In return, those assisting Prince Aylin’s ambition will have temporary free reign to harvest the raw materials in the area as payment for helping protect and map out the area before the settlement is finished. With such a payment promised, those willing to travel to an unknown region so near the Outlands for potentially rare materials and vast amounts of unknown reagents or materials, Aylin’s Reach begins to fill with volunteers seeking adventure or material payment. Ship manifests of names of those looking for payment or adventure begin to fill up. The first ships have already set sail with the laborers and construction crews that have set the foundation of this new island outpost, soon to follow being the volunteer adventurer.

UPDATE:

The ships made landfall without much fuss and the early crews were able to set up the main camp without issue. From the early moments it seemed as though this would be a pretty rote expedition. Unfortunately in the end that was not to be the case. Soon after the arrival of the second round of ships, sightings of undead started to occur with regularity. 

This did not stop the adventuring team from completing all of the tasks they had set out to. The outpost was finished and fortified and the island was mapped for Prince Aylin in great detail. Several areas of importance were noted for resource extraction in the future. A small cache of letters was found as well detailing the fate of the people who became the undead on this island. Letters were cataloged and translated and there was even a mention of where their ship had sunk as well as the potential of some lost lore and treasure locked away in waxed sealed chests in her cargo hold. A great deal was accomplished and much was learned. In these endeavors the adventuring party was wholly successful. Should Aylin wish to capitalize on this hard work however, it is likely that the undead on the island would need to be dealt with decisively

The adventurers battled with the undead throughout the expedition, but were consistently placed on the backfoot by a powerful caster that was eventually understood to be a Wraith. She continuously demanded the return of a knife that she believed one of the adventurers held, but no one came forward with this object. This Wraith plagued the adventurers through their excursion and it seemed that no amount of battering would keep her from returning again and again and again.

Some memories of the Old World led to the belief that there must be some type of an object or place of power that was keeping the Wraith tethered to our plane and after a great deal of searching something similar to a Gravestone was found. Luckily this stone didn’t seem to be a fully powered Gravestone as the adventurers were able to walk near it without the protection of Divine Barriers, though even remote proximity caused severe nausea. Attempts were made to destroy this stone, but without the proper rituals or understanding of the inner workings of this strange stone, there was little chance the stone and its foul magic could be fully destroyed. In the end a team of ritualists were able to place the stone into a temporary state of dormancy, but there was no time to sit and study to learn how long that dormancy may last. Screams rang out from the outpost.

A large wave of undead crashed against the outpost and its defenders fought valiantly before being overwhelmed and having to abandon the outpost until reinforcements arrived. Many were bitten or collapsed under the pressure of death magic, but as reinforcements continued to arrive the attackers were eventually crushed or driven away. This victory gave enough of a momentary respite to the party and they were able to quickly and safely load themselves and their equipment back onto the boats headed for Aylin’s Reach. As the ships pushed off from the docks many looked back and saw the sickening sway of undead just inside the treeline accompanied by the ghastly visage of The Wraith.

Back in Aylin’s Reach the news of the undead on the island spread quickly. Aylin sent word of this to the Clan Leadership of Clans Whiteoak and Axehound and the three parties agreed that at this time it would be best to quarantine the island until a time that a concerted effort could be made to return and handle the situation. There is no doubt that the story of this island is not yet over and if there are return trips in the future, they will be far more prepared for what they will encounter.

As the month of May rolls in, exciting and amazing news sweeps through Mardrun. Prince Aylin declares that Aylin’s Reach will be sending a workforce to The Shield to build a port-outpost on the eastern side of the defensive line to help keep back Mordok forces. This move seems to follow the current motives and road that Prince Aylin has been following as of late by befriending the Ulven Clans. In this endeavor he has requested those of martial ability to help protect the outpost while it is being built as a collaborative effort and a way for one of the colonist groups to “do their part” for the good of all. Mercenaries, laborers, and supplies start to flow northward at this announcement due to the anticipation of the construction and posting security against the press of possible Mordok attacks. With Spring nearing its end, Mordok activity has been noted to be rising in the area, so those who venture to the Shield should expect combat once the construction commences.

The previous news is almost overshadowed by the Prince also asking for assistance with another adventurous voyage. This time it is with helping set up a settlement with docks to an island north of Clan Whiteoak and Clan Axehound. According to both Clans, their leaders had laid a claim to settle the island generations ago. Between the island being a bit remote and the conflict that forced both Clans to focus on more immediate territories, neither one has tried to settle it in earnest. While the island seems to be uninhabited, it could still be a dangerous journey being so close to the Outlands. These two Clans, their long standing rivalry now set aside, have agreed to venture out with Aldorian forces to explore and begin to settle this island.

As such, Prince Aylin is looking for explorers and scouts to help investigate and map-out the nearby areas of the large island, and some martial forces to help keep the area safe as workers set up the docks and outpost. The proximity of the new Aldorian Shield outpost and this proposed settlement could allow a navigable waterway for fresh timber and materials to help maintain or expand The Shield. In return, those assisting Prince Aylin’s ambition will have temporary free reign to harvest the raw materials in the area as payment for helping protect and map out the area before the settlement is finished. With such a payment promised, those willing to travel to an unknown region so near the Outlands for potentially rare materials and vast amounts of unknown reagents or materials, Aylin’s Reach begins to fill with volunteers seeking adventure or material payment. Ship manifests of names of those looking for payment or adventure begin to fill up. The first ships have already set sail with the laborers and construction crews that have set the foundation of this new island outpost, soon to follow being the volunteer adventurer.

UPDATE Will come after the event on 5/28 – 5/29

Spring is in the air and the planting season is in full swing. It’s rough work tilling the ground and getting seeds established, but it is a breath of fresh air after a season trapped inside away from the bitter chill of winter. Soon the trade caravans also groan to life and the roads of Mardrun open up into thriving arteries of trade. As transit commences, word starts to spread throughout Mardrun for those looking for work; if you are looking for silver then look no further than Silvers Crossing.

The Town of Silvers Crossing in recent years has grown to be a major hub of trade within the lands of Newhope. Located on a major crossroads near Daven’s Hold to the west and Starkhaven to the north, a great deal of trade moves through the village. A few short years ago the village was not much more than a drop of ink on the map, but concerted efforts from entrepreneurs and local politicians have seen to it that this once small trading post has developed into a sizable regional powerhouse.

Spring brings opportunity and Silvers Crossing is no stranger to understanding that opportunities must be seized. The local magistrate has sent out an invitation to the people of Mardrun. There is work to be done in Silvers Crossing, and true to their namesake, there is always silver to be made from said work. Before long the settlement is filled with laborers and tradesmen looking to jumpstart the new working season. This increase in traffic brings merchants from the local areas out of the woodwork and attracts traveling merchant caravans. Beyond this, some come to the area as an excuse to get away from the doldrum of their daily lives; looking for a place to mingle with merchants and perhaps friends from across the continent. Regardless of the reason they are drawn there, the increase in foot traffic has caused the Town of Silvers Crossing to erupt into life.

UPDATE:

People flocked from far and wide in to Silvers Crossing and the day was filled with much merriment. It turned out that the promise of Spring was a fickle lie and the day was punctuated by periodic downpours of sleet, but even this unfortunate meteorological couldn’t dampen the festive air. People worked fields and passed drinks and there was even the coronation of a new noble; The Queen of the Hobos!

The day passed with peaceful festivity.

Following the destruction of the bizarre dual idols in Clan Shattered Spear territory in January of this year, the villagers were able to return to their homes. The small smattering of unsavory individuals in the area had been cleansed of their strange illness and sent along their way. Not long went by before a report came from the village. It seems there was still a degree of ambient corruption in the area, though its source was not immediately observable. Worse yet the villagers reported that they had seen small groups of Mordok stalking through the woods at night. Word was sent out to gather a team to return to the area and cleanse the land of its blight.

In the following weeks the reports from the village grew fewer and farther between, but those that did were increasingly disturbing. By the end there was a report from a traveling merchant who tried to journey to the village, but he was unable to get close. Before he was even in eyesight, his cart was pelted with arrows from the treeline. He ran back the direction he came and heard voices jeering and insulting him as he did. He couldn’t make out everything they said, but swears they told him, “Go back to your swamp!”

Clan Shattered Spear leadership has taken these strange stories seriously and has again requested the aid of Truthseekers from Clan Spiritclaw as well as any other people willing to help to suss out the matter at hand and cleanse the land once and for all.

UPDATE:

Many gathered under the request of Clan Shattered Spear and returned to the thought-to-be-cleansed village. It became quickly apparent that there were still pockets of ambient corruption dotting the landscape and crews quickly set to work to locate them all so that they may be properly cleansed. During these outings small bands of Mordok were seen stalking through the woods, but far more alarming was the sight of the people of the nearby village. They immediately seemed off in some way that would come into focus the more they were interacted with.

Before long, the villagers shouted curses and brandished weapons at the adventurers, telling them things like that they should go back to their swamp and that Shattered Spear would never stand down from a fight. It became evidently clear that something had warped the minds of these villagers and they now saw what should be their allies as Mordok invaders. Additionally these villagers seemed to show some degree of reverence for the Mordok in the area. They were heard calling them “Nature Spirits” and “Land Wights”. They gave them a great berth on the trails, but at one point were seen coming to their aid in the fight.

The rest of the day was plagued by the presence of these strange villagers. The Shattered Spear Hersir and the rest of the adventurers made attempts to peacefully speak with them, or to try to capture them alive, but in the end they were unable to do so. All of this being said the day was not lost. All of the ambient corruption was stamped out and in the final hours a scout was able to at the least confirm the presence of a large corruption idol in the center of the mysterious village.

Ice grips even the southern portions of Mardrun and the people find themselves spending more and more time in their homes waiting out what is often the coldest month of the year. There are few things that draw excitement in the month of February, but the one that does is always a grand event. Throughout the City-State lands and beyond people sit in eager anticipation of the announcement of what has colloquially become known as “The Annual Political Dinner”

Sure enough near the beginning of the month the word goes out that an upscale venue has been chosen in the heart of Newhope’s merchant district. Known as the Glinting Emerald, it’s a newer space for sure, but one that has already caught the eye of the citizenry of Newhope. With the announcement 

Before long the streets of Newhope are flooded with people. Though not everyone has a chance to attend the official gathering, many still find themselves traveling to the area to partake in the festivities that always find themselves materializing in the orbit of these grand gatherings. The recently quiet streets of the Merchant District are now a buzz of activity as people shout sales and specials into the streets from their storefronts. Bards and bands traverse the streets looking for gigs or even just a free corner to ply their trade. Many come with business proposals, hoping to get a chance to rub elbows with the wealthy or noble. Music and mirth fill the air as all prepare for the of the venue also comes a great open invitation to all of the peoples of Mardrun. The unanimous voice of the Council of Newhope rings out through their missive inviting representatives from the Ulven Clans to come and partake in the hospitality of Newhope and it’s people, no doubt in an interest to ease some of the recent tensions. The announcements all carry with them the feeling the recent dark moments within the City-State have been addressed, the future will be bright, and they want all to be able to share in this hopeful outlook for the future.Annual Political Dinner.

Update:

It was a lively time in the Glinting Emerald. People from all walks of life attended to mingle with new acquaintances and catch up with old friends and comrades. Though no persons of high station attended in person, representatives from a few of the major players around the continent made themselves present. 

At one point a meeting of Syndar people in attendance was called together to discuss the possibility of fracturing off and forming their own society or, at the very least, learn how they could come together to further their collective needs and desires. In the end it was clear that this talk would lead to a larger discussion and more meetings in the future, but attention was quickly drawn to the eagerly awaited announcement of the day.

One of the major draws to this dinner was the expectation that Clan Spiritclaw and Newhope would be making a joint proclamation regarding the recent research into Witch Magic and its effects on The Siphoning. By the end of the day they had finished comparing their notes and come forward with a final statement. Both parties agreed that Witch Magic does, in fact, lead to The Siphoning. It seems that every time a Witch casts a spell a portion of the mana is unwound and unable to return to the mana stream. Over time this piece-by-piece unwinding reduces the amount of mana in the stream. They also learned that Mordok Corruption Idols draw on ambient mana, but that they also have a unique ability to draw in this unwound mana and use it as a power source. The researchers believed that these idols may hold some secret that could help collect and maybe fix this unwound mana. The idea of trying to use these idols as opposed to destroy them on sight ruffled some feathers. The Order of Arnath also announced that they had some success in creating what they called a Cleansing Idol. People were excited to hear more about this new device moving forward.

The Researchers also brought along some fresh arcane research in the hopes that a collaborative effort could help solve some problems they’d been having. The researchers and some volunteers worked diligently at their task in the hopes of creating a new Divination Ritual that could pinpoint areas of corruption with extreme accuracy, no matter how small or weak. Unfortunately they were unable to finish this task. The researchers were invited back to The Ravens University to continue their research and hopefully use what they were able to learn so far to finish their task in the near future.

Things have been very quiet along The Shield of Mardrun for quite some time now. It seems the series of outposts have been largely accomplishing their task of keeping the Mordok threat from spilling into the inhabited southern lands. With the final raids of the year seemingly in the past, the whole continent began a slow ease into the cold of winter.

Unfortunately it seems that rest is not in the cards for Mardrun. A small band of Mordok following command of one of their mysterious blue-clad leaders was seen near the Clan Shattered Spear outpost on the Shield. They did not approach the outpost proper and instead moved further South. After their departure a scouting team was sent out to follow the Mordok until a Warpack could be mobilized. They found a strange, new type of idol near the closest settlement just past the defensive line of the Shield. Corrupting influence spread forth from the idol and seemed to sap the land itself of life in a way not seen since The Red Eyed Syndar raised corruption to swallow Onsallas Outpost near the home of Pack Longfang. As the corruption spread, some of the Ulven at the settlement began to fall ill and the leadership of the village ordered the townsfolk to evacuate.

Clan Shattered Spear has sent forth a request for aid in dealing with this strange and potent form of corrupting magic. Clan Spiritclaw has answered the call and has agreed to send a team of Truthseekers and Daughters of Gaia to the Shield to help understand and hopefully destroy this idol. They welcome any additional outside help that can be mustered, both in the realms of research as well as security. Spiritclaw leadership has also made it known that they’d been looking to undertake a few research experiments of their own and that this will grant them the perfect moment to bring these tasks into focus.

Ravina Spiritclaw seems to have taken a strong interest in the announcement from the late Celestial Arragones that the Ulven’ Witch Magic is the leading cause of The Siphoning that plagues the Syndar people and other magic users of the world. A second call has been placed inviting anyone who wishes to see this question answered once and for all to travel to The Shattered Spear Outpost and give what aid they can.

UPDATE:
With the sun high in the sky, a sizable group of researchers, warriors, and curious parties marched into Shattered Spear territory. Despite the cold, it wasn’t long until rituals headed by the Daughters of Gaia and several eager volunteers were well underway. Brave individuals moved forward to scout the land and locate the idol. However, it became swiftly apparent that the effort was not going to go over smoothly. A group of bandits, who were unaware of their sickened and maddened state, harassed various travelers and groups along the roads. The bandits haggled the lives and safe passage of captured travelers for silver and food, or sometimes demanded payment to simply leave the area temporarily. The bandits did not seem to be aware of the affliction that they carried, as any individual who got too close to these brigands began to suffer from a strange form of corruption that seared through the body and spread amongst the camp.  Now faced with a dilemma, the adventuring party set out to research the idol while keeping the bandit threat at a distance. Thanks to the efforts of several kind and …persuasive healers, the bandit forces slowly dwindled throughout the day, as they were one-by-one cleansed of their corruption. 

Despite research taking precedence and some difficulties on the road, it was not long before the idol was located, and a horrid visage met those who dared to investigate. The idol was not one, but two. The idols, constructed not far from each other, were tethered with stinking viscera and pure corruption magic. Impossible to destroy separately, the research team decided to complete their ritual for the idol’s potential relation to the siphoning, after which the aim would soon turn towards severing the connection between the idols to weaken them with the little remaining time available. The researchers hoped that this would ease the ever-growing damage on the surrounding land and allow their endeavors to destroy the remaining parts to become easier in the future.

With everyone eager to witness the severing of the idols, a crowd formed around the ritual that had begun as the sun was setting.  Once the Daughter of Gaia’s severing ritual was completed, feelings of accomplishment quickly fell to horror as realization struck. The Mordok had set a trap; the idols were triggered to build and release a massive burst of blighting corruption throughout the nearby land should the tether be snapped. With time as the enemy, everyone unable to provide assistance in destroying the idols was ordered to evacuate. A panicked effort to organize capable casters was thrown together as corruption began to grow thick in the air. With only a few moments left until eruption, the idols were destroyed simultaneously, and the remaining crowd broke out in joyous cries. Although the destruction of the idols was successful and a brief celebration was shared as the sun faded on the horizon, an undeniable feeling of unease remained heavily on everyone’s minds. The lead ritualists could only imagine the extent of the damage the disaster would have caused to the land of Clan Shattered Spear, or how many of them might have been killed outright or left grotesquely corrupted.

Some days later word of preliminary results regarding the siphoning divination rituals start to spill from Spiritclaw. It’s too early to have any real results yet, but it’s clear that they are hard at work. Some who are more connected learn that Spiritclaw has also sent copies of the raw data to Newhope’s Research Wing to process in their own manner. This seems to be in an attempt to make sure that no one can imply any biases in the results should both sides come to the same conclusions. Rumors spread that both sides intend to report their findings at the February Political dinner. People of the continent with a stake in the matter wait with bated breath.