Imperial Court Herald

Issue 3, Autumn 1526 HC (553 MR)

(Ghoere Invades Coeranys): Continuing their lightning campaign in the Eastern Marches, the Duchy of Ghoere and the Militant Order of Cuiraecen invaded Coeranys this season after having occupied the entirety of Elinie. Crossing into Coeranys via the slip of land between the Hope's Demise and Sunken Lands swamps, the armies of Ghoere were immediatly beset by the famed landrunners of Coeranys. The heavy rains common to the Eastern Marches slowed the Duke of Ghoere's advance even further. Desite these difficulties, Ghoere pushed through the bogs and invaded central Coeranys. The Coeranians next attempted to halt the Ghoerean advance outside Rourven. Had it not been for the assistance of the priests of Cuiraecen and the powerful and mysterious Sword Mage, it is likely that Coeranys could have used their homeground advantage in the swamps to defeat Ghoere. However, this magical assistance enabled Coeranys to be defeated, though the landrunners inflicted many casualties. During the Battle of Rourven, the Duchess, Eluvie Cariele, was captured and her eldest son, Velaeric Cariele, was slain. Additionally, a Ghoerean army marched on northern Coeranys and siezed Caudraight.

(Conquest of the Five Peaks Continues): The Duchy of Alamie and the dwarven Kingdom of Baruk-Azhik were joined in their efforts to conquer the Five Peaks by the Duchy of Tuornen this season. In a campaign lead by the Dukes of Alamie and Tuornen, as well as the the King of Baruk-Azhik, the allied forces attacked the collection of bandits and humanoids in the province of Thasbyrn. Unfortunately for the allied forces, an early winter brought low the campaign. The allies were forced to pull out of the province as they were battered by fierce winds, heavy snows, and harassing raids by the tribes of the area.

(Merland Bireon Overthrows Count of Cariele): Merland Bireon, master of the Stowncrown Coster, has siezed control of Cariele. Bireon's mercenaries, assisted by goblins from Thurazor, have taken control over the county's three provinces and captured Entier Gladanil in a lightning campaign aided by the defection of most of Cariele's army. In less than a month, the guildlord had replaced the count in all respects. As Bireon has yet to fortify his hold over Cariele, some chaos has broken out. Many of the goblins in Bireon's service soon deserted him. Goblin bandits now plague the countryside.

(Chaos Erupts in Taeghas): Chaos and anarchy continued to spreach throughout Anuire when the Count of Taeghas, Harald Khorien, died suddenly. Khorien died peacefully in his sleep and the court physicians are convinced that the Count died of food poisoning. As Harald had only one daughter, Coerin, the realm now passes to her husband, Viserys Avan, brother of the Prince of Avanil. Nearly as soon as Viserys was invested as the Duke of Taeghas, the Count of Bhaine, Rodrik Bhaine, the late Harald's distant cousin, announced that he intended to take the throne and that he would not allow it to pass into Avan hands. Though he was unable to get his own province to follow him, the Counts of Islien and Seamist raised their swords in rebellion in support for Rodrik. More lawlessness visited Taeghas when the Western Imperial Temple of Haelyn declared a holy war against the Peaceful Seas of Nesirie, and brought their armies in Avanil across the Seamists and began to occupy the temples, shrines, and churches of the Peaceful Seas.

(Rebellion in Ilien): Elsewhere in Anuire, the descent into madness continued. The Count, Rogr Aglondier, ordered his forces to remove the priests of Nesirie, who had been supporting Medoere and opposed Ilien's vassalage to Diemed, from his country. However, the willingness of the Count's troops to oppose the god that many of them worshipped was slight. Following Count's failure to displace the Eastern Temple of Nesirie, the priests there stirred up discord among the people of City of Ilien, preaching about how the Count's ambition had threatened their livelihood. Angry mobs of commors and guilders alike rioted throughout the city. The Count's troops, unwilling to become involved, allowed the chaos to continue. The mobs stormed the manors of those lords who had sworn loyalty to the Duke of Diemed and slew many of them. The guards at Castle Aglondier, rebelling against their liege-lords authority, threw open the gates of Castle Aglondier and allowed the rioters access to the formidable edifice. Angry commoners ransacked the castle, slaying many a nobleman and lady. The mobs found Count Aglondier in his throne room and promtly carried him bodily from the room, where he was thrown from the battlements to die on the rocks below. Across the country side, angry peasant militia revolted against the Count's tax collectors and lawmen and soon were attacking many a nobleman's estate. By the end of the season, all of Ilien was swept up in the chaos of revolt.

(Talien Aglondier Wards Erebannien): Talien Aglondier, successor to the High Mage Aelies, has warded the provinces of the Erebannien, declaring that Imperial Law forbids the forests habitation. Already, hundreds have been displaced from their homes in the forest and sent north into Roesenwe.

(Unexpected early winter): In a continuation of last year's cold snap, winter arrived early this year. Heavy snows fell throughout the month of Emmanir, blanketing much of Anuireand heavy storms blew in off the Miere Rhuann. This long and hard winter is expected to have a serious effect on food stocks everywhere. Already, famine conditions are returning in Dhoesone and Cariele.

(Spider raids Caerwil): Throughout the season, the province of Caerwil, in northern Medoere, was the victim of a number of small raids by the forces of the Spider. Several farms and small homesteads were burned.

(Osoerde puts down bandits): The Duke of Osoerde's son, Alain Raenech, lead a campaign into Spiritsend this season, putting down the rising bandit problem there.

(Diemed invests Alamier): Diemed has been invested as the ruler of the province of Alamier once more, consolidating his conquests of last season.

(Tensions rise in the City of Anuire): Tensions have been on the rise in the imperial capital throughout this last season. The strange madness in the City continues to grow as more and more people have taken to setting themselves alight before crowds of horrified onlookers. The Lord High Chamberlain has outlawed this cult. Meanwhile, tensions have reached a boiling point between the Militant Order of Cuiraecen and the Life and Protection of Avanalae. It was all the city guard could do to keep mobs of adherents to either god from attacking each other.

(Chamberlain betroths daughter to Duke Alam): The Chamberlain, Caliedhe Dosiere, has betrothed his only remaining unwed daughter, the Lady Idele, to Daene Alam, Duke of Alamie.

(Prince Avan cedes control to vassals): The Prince of Avanil, Rhaegar Avan, has granted fielty of his lords and magistrates in his vassals of Brosengae, Taeghas, and Mieres to the lords of those realms. Additionally, the Prince has promoted the Lord Governor of Mieres, Torele Vaumel, to Baron of Mieres.

(New court wizard in Avanil): With the untimely passing of Harald Khorien, Prince Avan's sister, Raenwe Avan, has been invested with control over the late Count's sources.

(New order of knights in Boeruine): The Archduke of Boeruine, Shaene Boeruine, has commissioned a new order of knights called the Falcon Guard, so named in honor of the fallen Gaelen Riel.

(New lord in Roesenwe): Marlae Roesenwe's brother has been anointed as the Baron of Caercas.

(Church of Storm's Height declares for MOC): The Church of Storm's Height in Osoerde has recognized the supremacy of the Militant Order of Cuiraecen. The CSH is now a vassal of the MOC.

(Trial of Medoeran priests): Avanil has returned the lord Altawier Enlien to Rournil's Celestial Spell for a hefty ransom. The rest of the priests and Rournite supporters captured during Avanil's campaign last season were handed over to the Chamberlain in order to stand trial for rebellion. The trial was conducted by a panel that included the Chamberlain and several High Magistrates. The Chamberlain, refusing to rule on the legality of the rebellion, ruled that the priests in question had only followed the lead of their ruler, Suris Enlien, and were thus not guilty.

(Earthquakes strike Mhoried): A series of small earthquakes struck northern Mhoried this season. Many of the fearful commoners whisper that the earthquakes are the Gorgon's tread.

(Duke of Tuornen weds): Blaede Ghonallison-Flaertes, Duke of Tuornen, was wed to the Lady Shannen Cwll this season. Lady Shannen is the daughter of the Count of Cwlldon in Mhoried.

(Duke of Brosengae weds): In another wedding, Lucian Mierelen, Duke of Brosengae, was wed to Sobiene Avan, another of Prince Avan's sisters.

(Rebellion in Osoerien): The province of Osoerien in Elinie has rebelled against Ghoere's occupation.

(Titles granted to reward efforts in Rhoubhe): A number of realms and temples in western Anuire have granted titles in order to reward the efforts of those who fought in the campaign against the Manslayer last season. Notably, Prince Avan has rewarded nobles in his land and in Boeruine and Tuornen with the title. "Companion of the Order of the Obsidian Dragon." The Western Imperial Temple granted the title "Sword of Haelyn" to those regents who fought in the battle. The Duke of Tuornen granted honors to the knights and relatives of those who fell in battle.

(Strange events on the Eve of the Dead): A number of strange events plagued Anuire during the ominous Eve of the Dead, the night of the winter soltice. Strange green mists were reported in northern Medoere as well as the Mhelliviene Pass in Cariele.

(Reports on the Comet): Though the comet seems to have reached the apex of its intesity mid-way through the season, it has taken on a notably crimson hue. Scholors credit this to dust in the air, but the superstitious have taken as a sign of coming bloodshed and war. Indeed, with the anarchy in Cariele, Ilien, and elsewhere, it seems as though only chaos and blood follows in the Comet's wake.

(Khourane falls): The Magian's conquest of Khourane was complete when his armies marched into the smoking ruins of Ber Falaia.

(King of Halskapa dies): Bervivig, King of Halskapa, has died. The realm has now been thrown into a crises as he left no heirs and the various jarls compete for the crown.

(Gold Coast War continues): The war in Aduria continued when the realm of Bessam and its allies counter attacked and threw back the Sasandran advance.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws