(The Sword and Crown): The Sword and Crown conclave, held four years ago in the Free City of Endier, ended bitterly when the assembled lords and peers of the Empire failed to determine the location for the next conclave. Recently, the Lord High Chamberlain, Caliedhe Dosiere, called upon the landed regents to decide now, so that the regent to hold the conclave can make preparations. The realms eligable to host the conclave are Ilien, Ghoere, Cariele, Coeranys, Boeruine, Taeghas, and Tuornen.
(Signs and Portents in the Night Sky): A comet has appeared in the night skies over Cerilia. It first appeared late last year and has brightened considerably since. It can now even be seen in daylight hours early in the morning and in the evening. People all over the continent have speculated about what this comet portends, but there seems to be little consensus. Indeed, there is not even a common consensus for the name of the comet. Scholars at the Imperial College of Astronomy have noted that this comet has never before appeared in Cerilian skies in the thousand years of the College's existence. Critics of the College whisper that it is blindly ignorant of the facts concerning the comet because of the loss of the Book of Days. These same critics offer up dire portents and warnings of the comet heralding ill-fortune.
(Cults in the Imperial City): A strange and terrible new cult has emerged in the Imperial City. Ever since the last Eve of the Dead, a madness has swept through the City, claiming the minds of a number of commoners who then set themselves afire and preached to horrified crowds on onlookers about 'the coming of shadow.'
*(A New Season
of War comes to Anuire):
The end of
winter has raised the specter of war. Osoerdean soldiers attacked
a patrol of Elinien scouts that blundered across the border, killing them
all and hanging the scout's bodies in prominent places in local villages.
This act has already raised the tensions in the area.
On the Western Coast, skirmishes have continued
between Avanese and Boeruinean forces along the Elfwash River and resulted
in an Avanese nobleman, Aerlen Thiele, Lord of Braenir, being captured
by Boeruinean forces.
(Rumblings from the Spiderfell): The threat from the Spiderfell grows daily. Word from captured goblins has it that the Spider underwent some sort of new transformation several years ago in which his insanity and his power increased greatly. These same goblins also tell of untold numbers of new denizens in the brooding woods. Sightings of goblins, giant spiders, and other fell creatures that seem a twisted combination of both have been occuring in greater frequency at the very edge of the wood.
(Book of Days found?): Rumors have reached our ears concerning the legendary Book of Days. They say that the book has been found in Osoerde by a cult who is using it to perform demonic rituals.
(Pirates menace the Southern Coast): The lack of a strong naval power on the southern coast has lead to an increasing number of pirate clans in the Straits. It is estimated that there is at least twelve major clans operating from the many islands in the Straits and innumerable independants pirating shipping in the Straits. The Straits of Aerele are among the busiest routes of sea trade in Cerilia. If something is not done about this problem, trade in area will be seriously impacted.
(Terror in the streets of Proudglaive): The streets of Proudglaive have become a terror to walk upon during the night. A murderer, known by the fearful commoners as the 'Blackwater Killer,' is lose in the city. The Killer has already brutally murdered eleven people, all of whom were high ranking members of the Southern Anuire Shipping & Imports.
(Rumors of War in Roesone): Speculation runs rampant in the Southern Coast that House Isiliviere, lords of the County of Fairfield and sworn bannermen of Roesone, has grown wroth with the new Baron of Roesone, a member of House Bellamie. The ancient rivalry between House Isilviere and House Bellamie is widely known and many fear that the old hatreds now threaten to sunder Roesone in twain. The son of the Count of Bellam, Marik Bellamie, ascended the throne of Roesone several years ago after his wife, Marlae Roesone, was slain by bandits in the northern reaches of that realm.
(Disappearances in the Erebannien): Over the last two years, dozens of families have dissappeared in the Erebannien. The disappearances have not merely effected the inhabitants of the ancient forest, but also many of the Queen's Ranger's as well.
(Mercenaries amass in Ilien): None can help but notice the large number of mercenaries who are gathering in the Free City of Ilien. The inns and taverns of the city are now full to brimming with their like. Who has hired these mercenaries and to what purpose is unknown.
*(New regent unsettles Diemed): The rise of Renly Avan to the throne of the Duchy of Diemed seems to have upset a great many people. Much of the House of Diem and the noble lords of Diemed are incensed that a foreigner now rules their land and rumors tell of unhappiness amongst the clergy of the Orthodox Imperial Temple. In some of the more seedier taverns in the Imperial City, bets are already being taken on how long Lord Renly can hold his throne.
(Raids plagues Diemed): Goblin raiders are lose and raiding in central Diemed. Already several farms have been destroyed and the roads have become unsafe for travelers and merchants. How these raiders made it so deep into well populated Diem territory is a mystery.
(Gnolls in Aduria): Mierese scouts have taken note of a large increase in the gnoll population in the hills to the south of the colony.
(Taeghan Count dies): The powerful Ruinil Bhaine, Count of Bhaine, Lord Chancellor and Lord General of Taeghas has been slain in a recent raid by the Manslayer. With his death, the inheritance of Bhaine and massive Stormpoint Castle comes into doubt.
(Trouble on the Western Coast): In
the lands of Boeruine, trouble has erupted between the Hidden Temple of
Cuiraecen and the Northern Imperial Temple of Haelyn. Though both
of these temples serve their flock well, they are well known for their
rivalry. There has already been bloodshed between the two, and many
fear a religious war could erupt within Boeruine.
Meanwhile, in Talinie, the cutthroat competition
between the guilds threatens to spill over into violence.
(Famine plagues Northern Anuire): The recent winter was one of the harshest in living memory. The arrival of early frosts seriously damaged the harvest, and during the winter, a famine ensued in Dhoesone, Talinie, Cariele, and northern Mhoried. Though the arrival of spring seems to have solved the problem for now, trouble brews in those northern realms as shortages seriously test the patience of the commoners there.
(Rjurik pirate defies Anuire): Baerghos Island has been the site of a staging base for Sigmund Svarkannek, the infamous Rjurik pirate. It is said that a high ranking member of the Taeghan nobility was recently abducted by the pirate and that he is now demanding an exorbant ransom for this noble.
(Ominous signs in the Gorgon's Crown): The
fiery volcanos of the Gorgon's Crown have been active lately, spewing their
ash and poisonous gases into the air. Mhoried has felt the brunt
of this portent, as the ash rains down into the realm, blanketing farms
and towns, choking rivers, and blotting out the sun for days on end.
Similar reports have come out of Tuarhievel, where it is said that the
sun dissappeared from sight for over a week.
Meanwhile, the goblin population of Markazor, starving from the winter
famine, has already begun raiding into Elinie.
(Troubles in Ghoere): A
crime wave has plagued the city of Ghieste. Well known as the seediest
city on the River Maesil, Ghieste has long been a source of trouble for
the regents of Ghoere. With the recent wave of killings, thefts,
and arsens, many believe that a new crime syndicate is taking control the
criminal underground in the city. It remains to be seen whether such
a syndicate can survive a new crackdown by the Iron Guard.
Elsewhere in Ghoere, life continues as normal,
the feared Iron Guard patrols the realm and the Sword Mage's agents are
seen to come and go from Rook's Roost. All across the realm, common
consensus believes a new crackdown is imminent.
(Religous Wars brew): Boeruine is not the only realm where religious tensions are boiling over. In Avanil, the priests of the Celestial Jewel of Sarimie and the Western Imperial Temple of Haelyn have taken on a definent distrust of one another. Priests of both temples have been seen appealing to the Prince for more influence at the expense of the other.
(Hunt of the Elves on the rise): The gheallie Sidhe has been increasing its activity in Tuarhievel. In the last two months alone, there have been several dozen human deaths. Many of the guilders in Tuarhievel are considering closing down their operations and pulling out before they too are murdered.
(Plague in the East): Great woe has befallen the Saere Sindaere. A great plague runs rampant through the eastern Khinasi states and the city of Ber Falaia is said to have been leveled in a rain of fire and rock from the sky.
(War in Aduria): The whole
of the Adurian Gold Coast has erupted in a great war. It is said
that slaves and warlocks lead an uprising against the states of what is
often called 'The Slave Coast.'