Wiki Category: News & Rumors 270

The harvests around the continent are well underway. The fields of grain, late season vegetables, and hunting parties are hard at work to prepare for the long winter ahead. However, there are other events happening throughout the lands.

The largest commotion by far is that of multiple Clan Leaders and High Priestesses of Gaia putting in a request for scouts from Clan Steinjottun’s famous Pack Fleetfoot to head into the heart of the Dirge to verify the rumors that have been spreading about the Ancient Syndar and the origins of the Mordok. With Pack Fleetfoot being the best trackers and hunters on the continent, as well as possible volunteer’s from each clan to help protect them, the truth of what happened all those eons ago will be verified.

To the south in Clan Nightriver along the coastline stories of a different kind drift in. Gossip tells of an until recently forgotten glade. The tale goes that a group of merchants were wanting to cut some time off their travel and took an old logging road. After three days’ travel the merchants came across a large glade with a few houses on stilts around the edge. While staying in one of the houses for the night, two caravan guards spoke of what followed while drinking by the fire.
That during the night when the moon reached its height, the wind began to pick up for no reason. In the wind came voices, voices from beyond the veil. They said to run, run away far from there, before she arrives. As the guard started to think they had too much to drink a scream came from a neary shed, as they looked at the window in the firelight they saw blood spray onto it. Soon a high pitch cackle came from another nearby house, followed by more screams and sobs. They woke the merchant, dragged them to their wagons, the goats nearly mad with fright, and fled into the darkness. They warn to stay away from the location, for it is quite likely haunted.

In the Citystate of Newhope has been struck again by the Mass Murderer that has been plaguing them for the past year. This time the victim was at a hunting lodge where Sir Gordon Lanley the 3rd, a retired Knight of Vandergon who’d served during The Fall, was found butchered in the usual fashion along with his family where they were staying. No sign of forced entry was found and all the doors but the front were unlocked. The sight is rather gruesome, the only reason they found the bodies so quickly was due to a burning Vandergonian Regiment flag outside on a staff.

In happier news for the rest of the continent, festivals begin to spring up all around the land. The joy brought from such a bountiful harvest this past year could be felt through every clan and colonist town as town centers flare to life with lantern light, torches, and the sounds of laughter. Sales of salted pork, smoked fish, candied apples, winter goods flood every festival, along with their own unique games. In Clan Axehound there are wrestling contests, in Clan Goldenfield pumpkin growing contests take place for the largest gourd, in the Citystate events of ghost stories and hard cider drinking contests take place at every small hamlet to even the largest colony.

The leaves begin to change and the heat of summer begins to ebb and wane with the coming of autumn. Mardrun begins to hurry and start the early fall harvests for the bountiful year.

After the discoveries found in the center of the Dirge Swamp, the Celestial Arragoness immediately started to send out flyers and representatives to try and convince the populace of the ‘truth’ of what happened. While the results of these efforts seem to have some success in the City State of Newhope’s lands, the Ulven have had a more adverse reaction. Clan Grimward has closed its borders to all colonists due to the issue, other clans like Clan Spiritclaw are repulsed by the response and are looking into the matter with their Daughters of Gaia and their Truthseekers. 

Word comes down from Clan Steinjottun of a large hunt that took place among the crags and granite outcroppings. The hunt took some of the best of hunters and trackers from each pack and lasted fifteen days to finally corner the gang of elk that had foolishly wandered out of The Great Forest. In the early morning mist the hunters struck and were able to fall a decent number of them before the rest of the gang escaped. When the hunting troop returned, one of the hunters carried a pelt that was jet black, and antlers looked to have been made of obsidian, with enough meat between all the hunters to feed the packs for the fall. 

In Aylin’s Reach, news of a troubadour making a new sensational ballad for the royal court has spread to the masses. Those who have had the pleasure to meet this extravagant bard employed by the court speak of their impeccable word play, extraordinary charm, and immaculate skill with a lute and viol. Rumor among the staff of some of the noble estates speak of some of the noble daughters sneaking off in the night to go meet with this bard of extraordinary skill. 

Rumors come down from Clan Spiritclaw that all their available Truthseekers and researchers are out in full force. From what those could eavesdrop on and guess at, it seems the Truthseekers are busy trying to locate multiple Lorespeaker caches for some reason or another. While the true reason for this now frantic search is unknown to many, but those who have had to deal with the Truthseekers lately do mention a steely determination and are more prickly than usual.

Tales start to flow from some of the seedier parts of towns and settlements of something evil growing in the Great Wolf Hackles. A group of ‘reformed’ bandits were heard talking in Silver’s Crossing about something foul. The story that was told was that of finding a small valley filled with hot springs and plenty of game. However, while they slept there, odd dreams plagued them. Dreams of a bloody massacre, bloodlust, and deep primal craving for more. The band woke up to an unearthly howl that chilled their very marrow. They mentioned it being two days travel to the north of Davin’s Reach, just follow the old logging trail as long as it goes and then continue straight over three hills, but they followed up with a warning; Though they know not all will believe them, they are clear that whatever lived or lives there will haunt them till the end of their days.

The heat of summer beats down on Mardrun, however life thrives on the continent with crops growing well and the lives of the people who live there having more than just the recent summer festival to gossip about.

While bandits were once plaguing the Riverhead Lands, they now instead pester the surrounding areas, such as the Great Wolf Hackles, and Clans Nightriver and Goldenfield. While the majority of the bandits went south, the resistance from the Goldenriver Alliance has definitely slowed their progress and any hopes of planting a firm foothold in the area.

Hot gossip starts to fill the streets of the colony of Davin’s Reach as a couple of noted Knights drew steel and began to duel in the streets. It seems that a Knight from New Aldoria insulted a Knight of Davin’s Reach patron whom they carried their favor. The duel lasted for a solid fifteen minutes before the guards could pull them apart. No blood was spilled but many felt a call back to the days in Vandergon and the days when Knights went questing to prove their prowess and honor. 

News spreads down from a group of loggers from Clan Axehound of finding an ancient oak grove in the Great Forest. As they went to swing the first axe, they said it felt as if the woods stirred and went silent as the grave. When the group tried one more time, the noise of wind and insects vanished once more, this time accompanied with an eerie creek from the tree in front of them. The group left and came back with a Daughter of Gaia from the nearby village and found it to be an ancient ritual site of the Ulven. As for what it was used for and what is contained, they can only begin to wonder. 

The summer is in full swing, the land is covered in not only greenery, but vibrant whites, yellows, purples, and many more colours as flowers take over land. Life can be seen all around and with it the hustle and bustle of the populations of Mardrun.

To the north with Pack Riverhead, many people speak of what was an overwhelming force of arms sweeping through their ancestral home. Forces from Pack Riverhead, Clan Shattered Spear, Clan Ironmound, as well as assistance from a few smaller groups pressed through the lands with purpose. There were few encounters that turned to outright combat, but those that did occur ended with reports of severe losses on the bandits side. With this success, many are wondering how Pack Riverhead plans to hold all the re-acquired land. Some feel Clan Shattered Spear will use the opportunity to spread out more and build. Others are unsure if that is even possible. Whatever the outcome, many are curious to see what will happen next in the heart of Mardrun.

The highways of the Clan Goldenfield and Clan Nightriver are seeing a rise in bandit activity this month. Leadership within both clans believe this is due to Pack Riverheads reclaiming its ancestral territories. Clan Nightriver is already working on keeping the tides of these bandits held back, by whatever means seem fit. Clan Goldenfield is having less luck with the bandit incursions into their lands, however many people seem to be of the mindset that Clan Nightriver may send some martial aid to assist their long standing ally.

With the expedition to the north to find the ghost ship finally completed and the crew returned, rumors fly around the port and quickly spread inland of a fantastical adventure. Tales speak of gem encrusted treasure and chests of Vandregonian silver that were scavenged from the depths of the ship. Another tale tells of being lost at sea in a blanket of fog while being attacked by sea serpents. There was even a tale of a group of unknown monsters in the outlands that sounded otherworldly and hunted them throughout the nights. Tales aside, the venture seemed to be fruitful and provide some information as to the origin of the mysterious ship from Faedrun and many are waiting for the news to become public.

To the East in Aylin’s Reach, there was a large and seemingly spontaneous festival. Many within the colony drank, enjoyed games of various challenges, watched or participated in performance duels in the streets. Throughout the days and into the nights the sounds of bards singing and performing at almost every corner in the city delighted most of the citizens. While Prince Aylin didn’t appear, many of his court did socialize and enjoy some of the festivities themselves. A small group of lesser nobles even found themselves getting in on a song with a bard troupe at a street corner. While the festival ended, many were glad to enjoy the break from the tedium and let loose to enjoy life without much worry for at least a few days, though they never really found out why the festival was called in the first place. Taverns throughout the city were soon filled with rumors that Aylin must be planning something big soon. Some seem to believe he’s gearing up to finally take the Aldorian Crown.

The brown of winter is now becoming a fragmented memory of the past as green begins to dominate the landscape of Mardrun. From tree, shrubs, and the now planted crops the world moves forward.

Reports from some river fishers from Clan Nightriver have some individuals questioning if there is another unknown type of creature on Mardrun. Sightings of a large hairy being off in the distance have been on the rise, as well as signs of its passing through the area. Among this evidence is large misshapen footprints, clumps of fur at odd heights, and simple tools scattered in nearby wooded areas. Some hunters have taken to try and capture the creature, however none have shown definitive proof or have yet to capture this elusive being. One hunter returns with a sketch he had put together based on what he claims to have seen, but is rebuked by skeptics that he meets and mocked by all for his blurry linework.

In Clan Goldenfield a mystery was solved that has bothered a local hamlet for some time. There were rumors of unusual spiritual activity around an abandoned old farm and its surrounding land. A small group of helpful teenagers decided to help get to the bottom of the disturbances, wanting to help put the spirit to rest. The tale goes that at first it was as if they were being watched, and then heard the rattling of chains and ghastly wails around them. Eventually they ran into a supposed wraith or specter that gave them chase throughout the property. After some sleuthing around the farm estate and buildings on the land, they eventually were able to set a trap and capture the ghoul. It turned out to be a local farmer who was trying to drive down the price of land by faking a haunting on the estate. It is thanks to this group of four teenagers and their faithful hound that they were able to help the small hamlet’s faux phantom. 

A flower festival goes into bloom in Davin’s Hold towards the end of the month. Common folk celebrate those who are better off at the coming of spring and the growth that will come in the coming year. The Council of Three make a speech of their plans to expand the ever growing settlement and add more housing, lumber mills, and even a possible quarry for stone based on some initial scouting missions. With the news of new work becoming available, along with news that the forces of Vandregon are growing and even accepting squires for those who swear loyalty to Davin’s Hold, the people celebrate long and joyfully as merchants come and go throughout the last weekend of the month. On the final day as the festivities begin to settle, many feel their purses heavier or lighter in one way or another as deals are made between those who play the game. The people of the settlement feel a strong sense of pride. A pride that comes from knowing that while they started with very little, they have gained so much by working together to make their little corner of Mardrun that much better.

Winter’s cold grasp on the land has loosened, and with it the cold rains of spring herald in the season. Green starts to blossom, and the cycle of life begins once more.

Cleric’s of the Richtcrag deity Sylv become busy as spring comes in full force, traveling from village to hamlet to village again blessing the fields to come. While there are few in number, many of those who remember the old ways back on Faedrun welcome them with open arms. Those that don’t know of the deity quickly learn to accept the blessing anyway, taking whatever help they can for the upcoming year to help protect their crops. Those outside of these practices tend to give the clerics a wide berth, viewing them both as oddities and remnants of a somewhat alien culture.

News travels south from the Shield of Mardrun of an epic battle that will be told around campfires for years to come. The tale of a small novice Feral Syndar mercenary vs. an Alpha Mordok in a ritualistic duel to the death. The tales vary from telling to telling, some claiming the Syndar to have used magic to bewitch the Mordok, some saying that the Syndar was channeling the power of a deity to even hold out as long as he did, others even state that the Syndar was a shapeshifter and turned into an eight foot Ulven warrior of legend and smashed the creature with a mighty club. But one thing remains central to these tall tales, the Syndar never received a single blow, and that the Alpha Mordok was slain by this previously unknown Syndar’s hand.

Tales of strange happenings in the Great Forest reach the ears of the common folk of Mardrun. These tales tell of a section of the wood, deep towards its heart, where the light is barely able to reach through the trees. A group of hunters from Clan Whiteoak were the first to speak this tale, one of hearing the laughter of children, seeing small shadows dart in the corners of their eyes. One of them even stated they felt something bump into them and noticed his waterskin went missing, though the other members of their party claimed they were drunk. They continued to travel through this area, noticing small ruined wooden structures as they went by. When the hunting part got to the other side they heard a voice say “Better hurry before the big bad Huntsman gets you…” That is when they heard the heavy labored breathing and heavy footsteps in that twilight lit place. One of the hunters looked behind and swore to have seen a massive being covered in furs and hides carrying an axe and massive blade with piercing red eyes. The hunters then ran, ran as fast as they could while hearing the thundering footsteps behind them. They eventually made it to a clearing where they heard a bellow and roar as they left, along with the voices of children giggling once more off in the distance. Once home to their village they were resoundly mocked and laughed at by their fellow ulven, though some have taken their story to heart and spread it far and wide.

The cold grasp of winter wanes and the warmer winds of spring slowly blow on to Mardrun. With the winds come the stirring of activity of restlessness after a long cold winter.

Word travels from Clan Stormjarl as boats set off into the bitter cold seas for a month of hard fishing and hunting. However, a rumor of a specific small band of boats led by a Jarl Yisef Stormbrand is what is told in the longhouses and mead halls. The rumor is that the Jarl’s ship, the Crowbane, along with four other vessels sailed south to find rich waters to fish and whale. The members of the crew spread tales of finding a large area filled with kelp and fish almost jumping into the boats. However, after collecting their bounty from this secluded place, nature tried to keep it secret and not allow the sailors and fisherfolk to return to Mardrun. The storms that wracked the fleet were beyond anything the crews have faced. Many of the sailors blame the streaks of white in their hair from the stress of the swells and waves. Lightning was their only source of light for what seemed to be weeks. A rain as cold as ice pelted them and soaked them to their core. But during this entire ordeal, Jarl Stormbrand and his Crowbane led the way, and the crew of the Crowbane say that the Jarl was laughing and thoroughly enjoying the storm to the point that some began to question their leader’s sanity. However, he led them through and got back to the shores of Clan Stormjarl, and with the plentiful bounty they just barely secured on their month-long trek. 

To the north the unaffiliated Pack White Stag begins a ceremonial hunt for a white stag so that a new Pack Leader can be selected. Many potential candidates head into the woods to seek the honor and prestige of being able to lead the noble and ancient pack. However, only one is able to claim the glory of the kill, Celsti Whitestag. With the stag on her shoulder and bow in hand she approached the withering old Pack Leader upon the anther throne. After a brief ceremony the new Pack Leader was announced and a celebration was held at the success of the hunt, and many other hunts too. Members from other packs, including the honorable Pack Longfang, made appearances to pay homage to their neighbor and continued ally in the north.

 To the south in Newhope, terror strikes again as the mass murderer hits another small home out in the countryside. Guards were alerted to the small house due to a horrible smell coming from it due to the warming weather. When looking upon the inside were the butchered and frozen corpses of a family of three, thawing like the rest of the world was. A nearby cleric was able to estimate that they died sometime back at the height of winter. There was no message this time, but the method is still the same as well as the area and location. Many begin to wonder just how many have died like this, undiscovered and left to rot till someone eventually finds them.

On a lighter note, an orphanage has been opened up in Newhope, a project that has been headed by Duchess Mary Tri-cuspis. The orphanage immediately began to welcome young children without homes to help them find families of their own, as well as gain some mild education and pick up some trade skills from nearby trade workers if they are willing to take the government-funded apprenticeship. Many see this a very generous step and a way to help prevent theft and poverty in the citystate as a whole.

The month is bitter cold as it is every year, however activity with the cities and colonies can be easily noticed by many who live there and spread news.

The Political Gala thrown by the Citystate of Newhope is the talk of the town. Tales of fantastic foods, magical dances, gowns worth as much as a four-hundred silver, and possible political scandals flood the streets. Some of the biggest gossip is that Prince Aylin snubbed the higher ups of the gala by attending the commons feast for half of the event, which seemed to have greatly irked Grand Duke Baron Richards. Another juicy rumor is that of political scandal as a noble of the citystate was caught red handed in an affair during the gala. With the noble disgraced, and the onlookers thoroughly entertained, the night wrapped up with deals and secrets created and honored from the elite of the colonies.

Meanwhile to the north along the shield, rumors of another powerful mordok leader circulate among the outposts at the Shield. Many speak of the brutality of the attacks, and the often left mangled bodies left near the outposts in the night. The greener warriors seemed to be completely spooked by the situation while veteran warriors of the shield recognize the psychological attacks for what they are, and even the most hardened feel a cold chill down their spine as the screams echo in the night.

Along the western coast, Clan Grimward’s smaller but well known Pack Fieldcrow have left their home village to gather for an annual ritual to divine the future and fate of the leaders of the clan.   Each elder and runeseer gather in a single tent where incense is burned and herbs are ingested to help connect with the mana stream and to be closer to Gaia. Each Pack Leader and high ranking member that attends is given their fortune, but to be honest not many of the Pack Leaders seem to give this strange ritual much credence. When they leave, they are not allowed to share the info they are given for the wisdom they were granted was for their ears alone. By the time the week-long ritual is over, many of Clan Grimward’s ranking members have received their fortune, for better or for worse.

The frozen air blows through Mardurn and along with it a heavy snowfall that covers the land in a blanket of white. Some celebrate the new year, others wish and dream of warmer days.

Rumor spread from Clan Ironmound that are grim and frightful to hear around the hearth’s of taverns and longhouses across the land. Tales speak again of the abandoned and destroyed mining village of Ambervein. Tales that were once shared of the spiritual unrest in the mines seem to grow as new information flows in from a recent group of scouts who went to see if the land was still usable by the clan. When they entered the ruined village, it is said that the seasoned scouts felt as if they could feel as if something was clawing at the bottoms of their boots. Many thought it to be the loose rubble and ignored it, though a few took a long and scenic route around the outskirts of the village. When they stayed the night, they could hear screams and cries for help from the mine entrance. One of the bravest of them, a scout from Pack Stonefist, entered the mines to prove them craven. They waited till the dawn and finally the scout came back, his flesh clammy and covered in what looked like dozens of scrapes or claw marks. He couldn’t speak, he could barely move, but when he sat next to the fire and saw the shadows, he fled screaming back from where they came. To date no one has been able to get him to speak on what he saw.

Less disturbing by far is the tales of Clan Axehound and what some villages noticed as the days of the Great Wolf’s Hunt came near. The village of Timberpaw took note of a large number of travelers coming through their small and quiet settlement. They would always appear in the morning stay for a few nights, then disappear before the next sunrise. One day the Innkeep decided to follow one of these guests, and to her surprise watched as they lit a single lanturn and headed towards the pitch black trees of the Great Forest. When they got to the edge of the forest though, more lanterns appeared and seemt to gather and go deeper into the wood. One thing is for sure, there is a group in the Great Wolf’s Forest, and they are trying to keep what they are doing a secret.

Strange posters began appearing all across the populous areas of the City State of Newhope. Covered in illustrations of incredible and before unseen creatures these posters act as an advertisement for a new travelling show. “Alexei the Traveller’s World of the Unseen” claims that it will begin it’s travels after the thaw of spring and promises to show creatures and oddities that the people of Mardrun had never before seen. “Save your silver now! You won’t want to miss this once in a lifetime experience!”

From the lands of Aylin’s Reach, there is a tale of a fantastical masquerade ball that Prince Aylin threw to ring in the new year. It seems only the most elite and politically astute were invited to join this soiree for the amount of people that showed was rumored to be no more than forty according to one of the servants of the Prince’s estate. Fine music, Fire Isle wine, fine cheese, and other delicacies were present, and it was said to be one of the Prince’s finest parties in recent years. As the party ended and the lights dimmed in the estate, many outside the estate wondered what it would be like to dress in silk and fine cottons, eat foods fit for royalty, and taste wines of long forgotten lands.