Imperial Court Herald

(Alliances Sealed Throughout Anuire): Tuornen was left in a state of shock when the Duke of Tuornen, Dietric Flaertes, unexpectedly departed for Boeruine, leaving nothing behind to hint at his intentions save for invitations to nobles to attend a wedding reception two weeks hence.
Two weeks later, the Duke returned alongside Tor Boeruine, Archduke of Boeruine, and presented a very surprised court with his new bride, the Lady Brigid Boeruine, Tor's cousin and the representative of the Archduchy in the Hall of the Iron Throne.  It seems as though that while he was in Seasedge, Lord Dietric was married to the Lady Brigid in a hastily arranged ceremony officiated by the High Priestess of the Hidden Temple of Cuiraecen, Fhiona Boeruine, the Lady Brigid's sister.
After a short period of festivities, Archduke Tor relinquished the loyalty of the magistrates and nobility loyal to him in the County of Haesrien to the Duke of Tuornen.  Though this pleased the Tuor nobles, especially those sympathetic to the Boeruineans, those with sympathies for the Prince of Avanil were notably less than happy.  Rumors in southern Tuornen say that some of the nobles there, who have long been known to support the claims of Avan over those of Boeruine, are considering cutting their ties to the Duchy.  Certainly the commoners there are uncertain about this new arrangement, as their homes now stand between the wills of the Archduke and the Prince.
Elsewhere, Avanil and Mhoried sealed an alliance.  In a grand ceremony in Shieldhaven, officiated by the Holy Order of Haelyn's Aegis, Aelissa Avan, sister of Prince Rhaegar, and Michael Mhoried, son of Duke Daeric, were married.  Soon after, Avanil and Mhoried signed a treaty of alliance.
In a surprising twist, the southern coast realm of Medoere swore vassalage to the Duchy of Mhoried.  Suris Enlien personally attended a ceremony of investiture and accepted Daeric Mhoried as her liege-lord.  Now that Mhoried has ties to Avanil and Medoere, realms hostile to one another, as well as ancient blood ties to the House of Boeruine, it is anyones guess as to which direction Mhoried will jump.

Other News:

• Tensions between House Isilviere and House Bellamie continue to grow with each day.  Gaelin Isilviere, nephew of Vaesin Isilviere, Count of Fairfield and Lord General of Roesone, was slain in a duel with Alric Bellamie, a distant cousin of the Baron.
• The Baron, Marik Bellamie, rode forth this season with a group of rangers into the Erebannien.  Once there, the Baron and his men slew not a few bandits that had been menacing the area.
• The Baron's agents tracked down leads in Proudglaive in order to catch the infamous Blackwater Killer.  They were not successful and the Killer claimed more victims.  As before, all the victims were apart of Orthien Tane's guild.
• A trade dispute has erupted in Roesone.  Agents working for Siele Ghoried's Spider River Traders were discovered spying on Orthien Tane's Southern Anuire Shipping & Imports.  Currently, Tane holds the agents prisoner and is demanding that the Baron of Roesone take authority in the matter and place the agents on trial.  Meanwhile, angry accusations flew back and forth between members of the two guilds and a riot nearly erupted between members of the two guilds in the Bellam town of Bruineridge, seat of the Bellamie family.  However, the situation was defused by the the quick work of the Baronial guards.
• Soon after the Bruineridge Riot, the Spider River Traders in Bellam started a price war with the Shipping & Imports guild, driving many of Orthien Tane's men out of business.
• And in what seems to be a concerted effort against Orthien Tane, el-Hadid's Port of Call Exchange was soon engaged in a price war with Tane, severely damaging Tane's business in Abbatour.

• Aerenwe has lain claim to the eastern half of Caelcorwynn island and begun construction on a settlement there.  Already, the King's government has moved several hundred new settlers to the island.
• The small Westmarch coastal village of Tannenholme was attacked in mid-Sarimiere by pirates from Albiele Island and completely destroyed.  The village was left a burning ruin, while the men and children were massacred.  The women and anything not literally nailed down were taken by the pirates as loot.
• The Spider River Traders has opened an orphanage and home for the ill in the southern reaches of the Spiritsend swamp.
• The Lady Siele Ghoried, regent of the Spider River Traders, was attacked in the city streets of Calrie and nearly killed.  Fortunately, her fast acting guards prevented the assassination attempt.
• The Eastern Temple of Nesirie too has begun colonization efforts.  The temple has lain claim to the western, forested half of Caelcorwynn island.  A small settlement has sprung up on the shores.  To help in the colonization effort, the ETN  hired the renowned Swords of Avan.  The Swords assisted the ETN in guarding the colony as it was being built.

• The crown of Ilien has bought a controlling interest in most of the cattle production within the Free County.  This could lead to some tension with el-Hadid's Port of Call Exchange, as the cattle industry was the only Ilienese market not dominated by the Khinasi guilder.
• Mercenaries continue to pour into the City of Ilien, choking its inns and bars and leading to disorder in the streets.

• El-Hadid, master of the Port of Call Exchange, traveled to Aerele in order to conduct trade negotiations with Renly Avan, the Duke of Diemed.  Little was seen of El-Hadid in Dieman court and by season's end he still had not returned from Aerele.  Talk on the streets has it that El-Hadid has arrived to conduct some kind of secret negotiations with Guilder Kalien in order to form a great southern trade alliance.
• A labor dispute has arisen in the Aerele city guards.  The guardsmen are demanding a higher pay from the crown.
• Goblin raiders have again struck deep inside Diemed, slaughtering caravans and travelers in Moere.

• Much of the season was been spent in preparations for a threatened invasion from Diemed.  That invasion finally came in the month of Roelir.  A large force, flying the banners of Diemed and Avanil and under the personal command of Renly Avan, Duke of Diemed, set forth from Tier to march on Alamier.  Unfortunately for the Duke, his army encountered an impenetrable wall of mists that had been erected along the entire border.  Most believe that the mists have been summoned by Hermadhie, the court wizardess of Medoere.
• The perpetual storms over the Spiderfell have grown more violent these last few months and sightings of humanoids at the edge of that dark wood have increased.

• Western Mieres was the victim of several small raids this season.  It seems that the gnolls of the wastes to the west and south of the colony are growing increasingly bold.
• With a series of decisive raids, the Mierese government arrested several leaders of a dark cult dedicated to the worship of Belinik.  Those arrests were instrumental in the breaking up of several cult circles in Seaward.
• Efforts to expand the government's influence in Mielen backfired, causing the independent minded inhabitants of that province to complain bitterly about the Lord Governor's meddling in their affairs.
• In a ceremony overseen by the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie, the wizardess Mhistecai became a vassal of the Lord Governor of Mieres.
• The wizardess Mhistecai was also seen making a rare public appearance supervising the construction of a road connecting Brenlie and Ghaele.

• The Archduchy of Boeruine has been named the host of the next Sword and Crown.  Boeruine won an overwhelming majority of the votes, which included, surprisingly, votes from Avanil and its allies.
• The Theocracy of Talinie has sworn vassalage to the Archduchy of Boeruine.  As part of the deal, several lords and magistrates in Talinie were forced to change their allegiance to the Archduchy.  It is said that unhappiness swells within the ranks of the Northern Temple.
• This season saw the Archduke of Boeruine conscripting thousands of new soldiers, raising new commanders, and readying his war machine.  With the build ups in Avanil and Mhoried, surely a new period of war is about to descend upon Anuire.
• The Boeruine Trading Guild has been nationalized.  The new Royal Boeruine Trading Guild takes its orders directly from the Archduke and forwards the greater bulk of its income to the Archducal treasury.  The guildmaster, Arien Borthien, has been named a viscount by the Archduke and is said to enjoy great favor within the Boeruinean court.
• Soon after the nationalization, ships under the flag of the Archduchy and the Royal Guild set sail for the Sun Coast.  The fleet called in Masetiele, capital of Suiriene, the wayward Imperial colony.  There, Boeruinean officials met with the Suirienese Lord Governor, Mieles Buired, who is said to have been pleased at this new attention from the Empire.  By the time the fleet set sail for the return to Anuire, laden with Basarji trade goods, new ties between the realms had been negotiated.  The Archduchy created an embassy in Masetiele, and Suirienese officials returned with the Boeruinean fleet to establish an embassy of their own in Seasedge.

• The pirate lord Sigmund Svarkannek has struck again!  This time, he pulled off a daring nighttime attack on the seaside home of Lord Rourmad Taersiene, a wealthy viscount in Marilen.  The Viscount was abducted by the pirates and his nearly his entire household murdered.  The Brosen court was up in arms after the Duchess received a letter from Svarkennek demanding a ransom for Lord Rourmad.
• Rumors and gossip spread through the southern end of the Brosen Pennisula after a shipwreck washed ashore in late Talienir.  Though the ship was an Anuirean caravel, it is said that the marking on the ship were quite strange.  The few survivors of the wreck are said to be recovering from their wounds in a local town.
• The Duchess of Brosengae, Eriene Mierelen, has opened up a number of new trade routes in her lands, vastly increasing her wealth.
• This season saw the union of the Temple of Fortune and the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie.  The small Temple of Fortune, based in Brosengae, was subsumed into the older and larger Celestial Jewel.  The Temple of Fortune's former High Priest, Hyde Termonie, is now a high ranking priest in the Celestial Jewel and a lieutenant of Arlen Enderaine, High Priest of the Celestial Jewel.

• Harald Khorien was notably absent from his court for most of the season.  It seems no one knows where Khorien went and popular gossip spread a number of stories ranging widely from Khorien leaving the court to quest for arcane lore to secret consultations with his liege-lord, the Prince of Avanil.  However, Khorien's absense did little to cripple the realm, as most of the leadership functions of the realm are delegated to the politically powerful Privy Council or Prince Avan.  Khorien returned to his court near the end of the season, speaking little of where he had gone.
• The Brosen Royal Guild expanded its operations into Taeghas this season, and it is said that Facellies Sloere, master of the Taeghan Outfitters and a member of the Privy Council, is most up set with this turn of events and has begun pressuring Khorien and the rest of the Council to expel the foreign guilders.
• The Privy Council issued forth a decree this season ordering the arrest of all Boeruineans and Taliniens in Taeghas and the siezure of their assets.  Following the decree, several thousand Crowns worth of material was siezed and hundreds of Boeruinean guards, tax collectors, and lesser magistrates were arrested.  This has had the effect of raising tensions throughout northern Taeghas, where the Archduke of Boeruine assumes many of the duties of rulership.

• Prince Rhaegar was wed this season to Idele Dosiere, daughter of Caliedhe Dosiere, Lord High Chamberlain of Anuire.  The ceremony was a lavish affair, presided over by Rhobher Nicalier, Archprelate of the Western Imperial Temple of Haelyn.  The ceremonies and festivies were the largest Avanil had seen in living memory.  The Carnival of Roses was also present at Prince Avan's grand court, making the wedding truly an event worth remembering.  A day of celebration held throughout the realm gave the people a rest from the toils of their daily lives while gold was liberally distributed the poorest inhabitants of Daulton.
• Avanil signed two additional treaties this season.  The first was a pact of neutrality and trade with Endier.  The second treaty generated far more controvery.  Known as the Agreement of Daulton, this treaty declared that the 'intolerance' and 'dictatorial monotheism' of the Northern and Orthodox temples of Haelyn is unacceptable and that any attempt by those two temples to expand into the lands of the Agreement's signatories would be met with force.  The signatories of this treaty are Alamie, Avanil, Brosengae, Taeghas, Tuornen, in conjunction with the Western Imperial Temple of Haelyn, the Peaceful Seas of Nesirie, and the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie.
• The Prince has lain claim to the desolate island Lesser Baerghos.  The Avanese fleet arrived at the island, depositing several hundred troops of Avanil's Adurian Field Army under the command of Lord Baeric Salcoere, Viscount of Salcoere.  Soon after the landing, Lord Salcoere's troops began constructing a castle to guard the harbor.  Construction also began of a much smaller castle, designed to serve as a prison, on the small unnamed island between Lesser Baerghos and Aduria.
• Prince Rhaegar Avan also granted new lands and titles to many of his allies and loyal followers.  The Prince created Arlen Enderaine, High Priest of the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie, the Lord of Saldoerne; Harald Khorien, Count of Taeghas, was created the Lord Daepford; Rhobher Nicalier, Archprelate of the Western Imperial Temple of Haelyn, was created the Lord of Aelenmarc; Eriene Mierelen, Duchess of Brosengae, was created the Marchioness of Shaelcove; Regial Strom, Earl Marshal of Taeghas, was created Lord of Westgaard, and finally, Daeric Mhoried, Duke of Mhoried, was granted the Viscounty of Dorne at the wedding of Aelissa Avan and Michael Mhoried.
• A worst pest infestation in years has desceded upon Avanil's crops, devestating the realm's yield.

• The County of Ghiere was all but closed off from the outside world by Gavin Tael's forces following the abduction of Halivier Maellen, Lord Mayor of Ghieste and a trusted advisor of the Baron.  Blaming the kidnapping on the emerging crime syndicate in Ghieste, the Iron Baron's forces, including the feared Iron Guard, under the leadership of Ghoere's First Lieutenant, Jonathan Miechael, turned the city inside out looking for the criminals.  Further, all travel into western Ghoere and the capital city, Bhalaene, was heavily restricted and constantly attended by a military escort.  Trade caravans were delayed as they were forced to undergo inspection and even priests of Haelyn were drowned in a sea of paperwork if they wished to travel in the area.  Many travelers were detained under suspicion of consorting with the syndicate and many remain in detention somewhere in the Iron Barony.
• Dozens of goblins raiders emerged from the Spiderfell in Talienir and raided the County of Bheline, destroying farms, mines, and villages.  Substantial property was lost and the people of the province are crying for greater protection.
• Snow melt from the winter has swelled the River Maesil and led to minor flooding in the County of Tornilen.

• Elves loyal to Rhuobhe Manslayer descended upon Elevesnemiere this season, butchering men, women, and children.  Several villages and holdfasts were torched and the Count of Elevesnemiere has demanded increased protection from the crown.
• Early in the season, a fire erupted in Haes, which swept along the river front, leaving docks, warehouses, and even some royal barracks in ruins.  The death toll is said to be in the hundreds.
• The Duke has sold off his guild interests in Haes to the Stonecrown Coster.  It is believed that other points in the deal will be quite profitable for both parties.
• A large farm construction program was undertaken in Alamsreft in which large new tracts of fertile soil was opened up, new granaries, and new silos constructed.
• The guildmistriss Mheallie Bireon sponsored the construction of several roads in Tuornen and discovery a large desposit of gold in Ghonallison.

• A large force of goblins and ogres struck out of Markazor and invaded the County of Balteruine.  Balteruine was only scantly defended and was raided and pillaged.  The most disturbing part of this attack is that it appears as though the raiders were lead by a wizard of some power.  This has led many to speculate that the Black Prince may have a new wizard lieutenant.
• The Count of Brynnor, Shaene Brynnor, was arrested on charges of treason.  While none are sure about what the Count has done to warrent such a charge, rumors are rife in Mhoried that Shaene was trying to organize some sort of opposition to Daeric Mhoried's rule.
• Suris Enlien, Celestial High Priestess of Medoere, was in Shieldhaven late this season, swearing vassalage to the Mhor.  This came as quite a shock to the court, as the Mhor had just signed a Treaty of Alliance with Prince Avan, who has been supporting his brother, the Duke of Diemed, against Medoere.
• A wave of new settlers has come to Cwlldon, building new towns, farms, and taming once wild lands.
• Braedonnal Tuare, commander of Tuornen's armies, was in Shieldhaven recently and signed a treaty of peace and common defense with the Mhor.
• The same flooding experience in Ghoere was also seen in the County of Tornilen, causing some minor damage.

• The Duke of Alamie spent considerable effort this season in raising new lords, creating new sheriffs, and hiring more guards.
• The Celestial Jewel of Sarimie has opened up a large new cathedral and a market place in Alaroine, where it is said that Sarimie spoke to her first Anuirean worshipper.

• The Patriarch, Assan ibn Daouta, has named the Life and Protection of Avanalae the official temple of Elinie.
• Elinie experienced some small troubles with bandits this season.  Brigands and highwaymen attacked travelers and merchants in Hope's Demise on several occasions.
• The Life and Protection of Avanalae has discovered the resting place of a paladin of Avanalae who fell in battle over 700 years ago.  The site was declared holy and the body interred at a special shrine in Ansien.  Soon thereafter, reports of miracles began to occur at the shrine; the blind regained their sight and children afflicted with the pox were healed.  Followers of the Lady of Reason have flocked to the shrine from every corner of Anuire in order to bask in its radiance.
• The goblins of Markazor also raided in Elinie this season.  Fortunately, the Patriarch himself led his men in the realm's defense, slaughtering the raiding warbands with ease.

• The Lord of Endier, Guilder Kalien, has been quite busy this last season.  He personally traveled to Daulton to attend the wedding of Prince Avan.  While there, he finalized a treaty of neutrality with the Prince and established trade relations with the Prince's Pride guild.  Furthermore, the Guilder opened new trading markets in both the Imperial City and the City of Endier, boosting his profits mightily.  Finally, throughout Ghoere and Diemed, new merchant caravans under the flag of Kalien's Heartlands Outfitters were seen hauling goods between the two realms.
• In these bleak days of famine, Endier seems to be a beacon of hope.  This season's crop yield was far larger than normal, with record surpluses recorded.  The people of the Free County seem to have forgotten the old days of decline under House Endier and have embraced Guilder Kalien's reign whole-heartily.
• The Great Tourney of Endier, one of the largest such affairs in the Heartlands, occurs in the third month of the coming season.  Consisting of jousts, melees, and other such contests, the Great Tourney sees entrants from every part of Anuire, and more than one regent has been known to attend.

• Following the vassalization of Diemed to Avanil, the Duke of Diemed transferred control of its lords, magistrates, and guards in the Imperial City to the Prince of Avanil.  The Prince has now gained the largest share of influence in the City, as his juridiction encompasses close to half the City.
• Avanese agents in the Imperial City were active this season speaking out against the Archduke of Boeruine's influence.  These efforts seem to have paid off, as a large number of lords in the City, once loyal to the Archduke have changed their loyalty to the Prince of Avanil and several of the Archduke's charters to govern certain areas of the City have been revoked.
• Both the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie and the Western Imperial Temple have expanded their influence within the Capital, buying new buildings and converting new worshippers.  The growth of the WIT is of particular note, as its priests have been aggressively converting within the City, noting to those with no church that the WIT is the largest temple in Anuire and also noting the Western Temple's more tolerant attitudes.
• Further, sermons delivered by the Western Temple were noted for their vehemence toward the Militant Order of Cuiraecen.  These sermons berated the MOC for its continued support for Gavin Tael, the Baron of Ghoere, and his use of martial law.  The WIT continued by saying that if the MOC has its way, the Iron Baron will come to sit on the Iron Throne.  Though tensions between the two temples was on the rise throughout the season, the WITs efforts to convert the MOCs vendors and creditors did not succeed.
• The mysterious occult activity continues.  Though the Lord Chamberlain has outlawed the practice of the Shadow Criers, as they have come to be called, their activity continues.  There were a record number of burnings this season and no one seems to be able to offer an explanation for this bizarre behavior.  Furthermore, this activity seems to be spreading.  Several incidents of Shadow Criers were noted to the north of the city in Caulnor, as far west as Caelan's Crossing, a small village in Daulton, even outside a Haelynic cathedral in Cilinie.

• The Barony of Dhoesone, long an underpopulated border state, is well known for its reliance on others for its defence.  Knights whose salaries are paid for by Boeruine and Mhoried are stationed in the Barony, as well as elven troops maintained by the Prince of Tuarhievel, the Baroness' half-brother, and most controversially, goblin mercenaries hired from Thurazor.  Though this affords the Barony a large measure of protection, tensions often run high between the various factions protecting Dhoesone.  Nowhere was this demonstrated better than outside the walls of the capital city of Sonnelind on Talienir 23.  Angered at the insults of the commander of the goblin mercenaries, the commander of the elven archers stationed in the city flew into a berserk fury, ordering his men to open fire on the goblins.  They did so, and the goblins were almost completely wiped out.
• A plague has begun to spread through Romiene.  Though high numbers of deaths have not yet occurred, it is feared that thousands may be dead within several months.

• The Count of Cariele, Entier Gladanil, was wed on Sarimiere 17 to the guildmistriss Mheallie Bireon.  Bireon's control, which is nearly absolute in Cariele, is expected to grow.  Following the wedding, Gladanil began to style himself the 'Duke of Cariele.'  While Cariele was once one of the Twelve Duchies, this move is very likely to cause controversy among the more conservative elements of the Empire.

• Reports have filtered in from the lawless Five Peaks that a massive force of humanoids and human mercenaries are gathering near the Gorge.  What fell purpose such a gathering might have remains a mystery.
• The Hidden Temple of Cuiraecen has begun the process of trying to tame the Five Peaks.  The temple dispatched priests and soldiers to guard roads and settlements, collect a small income, and generally try to impose order in Thasbyrn.
• However, not all has gone well for the Hidden Temple this season.  Forces of the Hidden Temple clashed with forces of a local bandit king in Thasbyrn.  Reports are that the Hidden Temple's forces were wiped out.

• The gheallie Sidhe was active in Tuarhievel this season, raiding the trade routes of the Stonecrown Coster.  Naturally, the only casualties were humans.  Should this problem grow any worse, trade with the elven kingdon will be seriously impacted.
• As is nearly always the case, no news has come from the Sielwode.

• Little word has come from Baruk-Azhik this last season.  Rumors of war with the orogs beneath the mountain have spread, but little has been confirmed.

• Minor raids were reported on the border of the Chimaeron and Coeranys this season.  Little damage was done to Coeranys and the bandits were easily dispatched by the Landrunners.
• The Life and Protection of Avanalae has been named the official temple of Coeranys.

• Earlier in the season, the Duke's government announced the formation of the Southeastern League of Anuire, a mutual defense pact between Osoerde, Aerenwe, and Roesone.  It is known that an invitation to join the League was sent to Medoere, but Suris Enlien's government has yet to accept.
• The Duke of Osoerde, Jaison Raenech, has raised a new man to his council.  This man, Hadrien Flint, a priest of Haelyn and cousin to Marcus Flint, the Count of Algael, serves to advise the Duke on matters of the Haelynite faith and acts as an official liason to the Impregnable Heart of Haelyn.
• The Duke's men, under the personal leadership of Terence Gryphon, the Lord Sheriff, conducted a large investigation in Moriel, the capital city.  Hundreds of people found to be collaberating with William Moergan, from nobles who offered him money and support to commoners who provided safehouses for Moergan's agents to collaberators who passed on information, were arrested.  Most of the arrested were then either imprisoned or crucified just outside the city walls.
• The blood continued to flow in another Osoerdean province.  Fearing the growing comet in the night sky, panicked mobs rioted in Gulfport, burning and looting as much as they could.  The riot was brutally suppressed by Michael Raenech, Baron of Gulfport and cousin of the Duke.  Hundreds were killed and then buried in shallow graves outside the city or hanged from the castle walls.
• Again problems have arisen between Osoerde and Elinie.  The Elinien Count of Chalsedon, bent on revenge for the hanging of his men last year, rode at the head of large band, raiding and pillaging along the border between the two duchies.  Several farmsteads and villages were burned.

• The comet visible in the night sky has grown larger and brightened considerably.  Though some have taken to calling the comet 'Haelyn's Sword,' or 'Cuiraecen's Banner,' many seem to have given in to fear in these uncertain times and dubbed it 'Kriesha's Fang,' and even 'Azrai's Hand.'  This fear spilled into uncontrolled violence throughout Anuire, leading to a number of riots throughout the land, including the riots in Gulfport and Talinie.
• The volcanic eruptions continue in the Gorgon's Crown and word is that most of that foul realm is covered in a layer of ash.
• The civil war in Brecht Rohrmarch continued this spring with renewed vigor.  The opening of the campaign season saw the Prince Odin mount a powerful offensive against King Alric, pushing deep into the King's lands.
• The plague in Khinasi, called the Grey Death by the scholars, has spread.  Tens of thousands have now died in eastern Khinasi.