The Royal Chamberlain and an associate known only as Oubliette, have been slain by a Mithmorgar.
Oubliette was believed to be a metahuman, charged with maintaining metahuman co-operation within Haranlarche. Little else is known of her.
Following the attack, the areas of Mythtropolis infested with undead were cleared out by the Militia, at some cost to the troops. Official reports put the casualty rate at 10%.
As a result of these attacks on the highest offices, martial law has been declared in Mythtropolis, Edge City, Castle Lobelia, Hunter�s Wharf and Daggerford. This effectively places all smaller settlements within the protection of the larger towns under martial law as well. Martial law will be administered by the Militia backed up by the surviving wizards of the Royal College.
The position of Chamberlain has been replaced by a Royal Divan comprising of seven members. A Privy Council and a High Court have also been put in place in sweeping reforms introduced by the king.
The quiet hamlet of Treekeep, ancestral home of Count Durous Sabot, a.k.a. Ironthorn of the Silver Knot, became a war zone as infiltrators within the Westshire council were exposed and eliminated, all while a flight of harpies attacked from the skies.
A flight of several hundred harpies made its way towards Treekeep, but the barbarian Daykin of the group calling itself the �Heirs of Skull Craig� riding a wyvern made short work of the evil flying beasts. The rest of the Heirs made their way to Treekeep while Daykin was taking care of the flying menace whereupon they uncovered the unthinkable: several members of the Westshire Regency Council had been replaced with Mweltrem - shapeshifting reptilian allies of the Opposition.
A battle ensued on the river banks as the Heirs of Skull Craig fought against a group of the tough reptilians. Witnesses described the melee as a hard fought stoush between two dangerous and dedicated groups of opponents, with no quarter given. The fight was brief and the Heirs triumphed with no casualties on their side.
Meanwhile, back in the Council chamber, Ironthorn was fighting a battle royale with a fiend-touched Mweltrem named Shath. It appears that Shath was the son of Mogador, the self-styled Leader of the Opposition. Shath had infiltrated the council disguised as the Count�s uncle and regent proxy, Leontes Deparle who is now missing, presumed dead.
Whilst seemingly tougher and stronger than Ironthorn, Shath was worn down by the Count�s ability to land many more blows upon his opponent than could be returned. This, combined with judicious use of the Count�s affinity for nature, allowed Ironthorn to kill his enemy in a drawn out one on one contest. The fight left the Council chambers in a poor state of repair, and Ironthorn nursing some unpleasant looking injuries which, fortunately for the Count, were easily healed by medics and healers at Treekeep.
As a result of their heroic deeds in the Battle of Treekeep, The Heirs of Skull Craig were all made Palatines of Westshire, while the hero of the harpy battle, Daykin the Barbarian, was awarded the Order of the Gold Oak Leaf.
�My grief is only matched by my anger,� said Count Sabot after the battle. �The Opposition has robbed Haranlarche of good, honest leaders of the people, at a time when leadership is most needed. Fortunately, heroes have risen to the occasion and they have not only my gratitude, but the gratitude of all true citizens of Haranlarche.�
�We have all been touched by the spectre of evil in this war, and I vow that the evil will be crushed underfoot and goodness will be restored to the World of Mystery,� the Count added.
Captain Rocco Deparle, otherwise known as Captain Rock of the Silver Knot, has lead a small force of sailors and marines to an epic victory against the Opposition forces at the town of LeRochesse, a.k.a. Rockport, on Pterysaur Isle.
Pterysaur Isle had been under constant attack by Opposition forces, and despite the skyships being blasted out of the air by the navies of the Free Realms, the zombies continued to attack, marching out of the surf.
Allied forces had been massing off the coast of Pterysaur Isle over a period of days. On the Fourth Day of Ninemonth, a force of Haranlarche Marines stormed the southern beach, holding the position for one day before being mercilessly killed to an individual.
On the Fifth Day, the same southern beach was stormed by a mass of Allied troops, coming aboard from undersea ships lead by Captain Rock, as well as marines in other landing vessels.
Meanwhile, on the northern beaches, skyships from the Free Realms and surface vessels from Haranlarche and Ienos bombarded the island. This resulted in its forests catching fire. The blaze soon spread across the island, making its way onto the beaches.
Opposition troops numbered about twenty-four thousand thinking zombie footsoldiers, as well as a flight of eighteen bone dragons. The Opposition was also assisted by a black acid rain that created rainmurmers, an undead elemental mithmorgar spawn and its progenitor.
Captain Rock lead his troops up the beach, suffering heavy losses in the process. He met with the survivors of the assault on the northern beach and gathered them into a burnt out marine base. He then used his stone magics to barricade the troops against the acid rain and dragon attacks.
The skyships of the Allied forces were forced down by the dragon attacks. At this point, it is believed that Admiral Shinvari of Ienos deserted his post commanding the sky vessels. The zombie troops stormed the surface vessels, sinking some of them by sheer weight of numbers. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the sailors.
Having sat out the attacks, Captain Rock and his troops fought their way back to the sky vessels that had landed near the marine�s fortress. He made his way to the flagship sky galleon, the converted Ienian pleasure craft �Host Island Princess�, and took the command position on the bridge.
It was there that a lizardman bard, Eregorian Sith, recited the Song of Haran to the survivors, a force now numbering around five thousand. This epic tale of courage against the odds inspired the troops to rally and fight on.
The fighting force of five thousand proceeded to destroy the tens of thousands of zombies, and the dragons with few further casualties - indeed it is believed that only a further sixty-three soldiers lost their lives in the battle. Captain Rock was swooped upon by the mithmorgar itself, and engaged in hand to hand combat with the shadow being. After a mighty battle, Captain Rock was victorious, destroying the physical form of the beast, but suffering terrible wounds in the process, injuries that would have killed a normal man.
The survivors of the Battle of Pterysaur Isle are now recuperating in Mythtropolis, where a feast in their honour is being planned by the grateful citizenry.
The IXth squadron of the Ienian Navy is currently besieging the Opposition base of Highport. They are supported by a Host Island Mageship.
Ground forces from Haranlarche are surrounding the land parts of the city, and are believed to be attacking the harbour entrance.
The Sky Samurai and associated sky heroes, including Cardinal of the Silver Knot, suffered a major setback following an attack by the shadow mage Mistress Ebonshere and her flight of dragons, comprised of twelve black dragons and a dragonqueen, plus an assortment of lesser draconians. Mistress Ebonshere appears to have thrown her lot in with the Opposition forces, and may now be a Shadow Vampire.
Heavy casualties were suffered in the ensuing battle, and survivors have returned to Shireton to recuperate and regroup.
The Eastern Empire has been forced to evacuate its people from the Isle of Dawn after suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of an Army of Undead led by Mithmorgar. �
The commander of the Eastern Imperial legions involved has been summoned to the Imperial Palace to commit ritual suicide.
Reports from the northern wastes indicate that the infamous dwarven bandit gang, known as the Ma Stein Gang after their leader, has been defeated and turned out of their mountain hideout. At this stage, there is no description of who defeated the legendary outlaws.
Locals have been rejoicing at the news of the gang�s defeat. �She were a bad influence and no mistakin�,� said one local farmer.
Rocco Deparle was made made a lord of the Realm and given the Grand Duchy of LeRochesse as a result of the bravery and tactical skill he showed in the Battle of Pterysaur Isle. He will also be rewarded with a Karameikan castle that is being magically transported to the new island realm. The survivors of the Battle will make up his retinue, and he will be accompanied by his herald, Eregorian Sith, a lizardman bard.
He has also married the pretty young woman who he was seen with prior to the battle, following what can only be described as a whirlwind romance. Her name is Lyddia, and she seems to suit the Lord of LeRochesse to a �T�, being of similar complexion and outlook.
The wedding itself was a simple affair, conducted by a priestess of Valeria, with only close friends and relatives of Lord Rock attending. Strangely, there seemed to be no family of the bride present. All of Haranlarche wish the happy couple a long life together.
Haranlarche is once again inspired by its youthful leaders and heroes. Captain (now Lord) Rock lead a small force of our bravest against overwhelming odds, and triumphed spectacularly. Count Sabot fought a hand to hand battle against the son of the ultimate opponent, Mogador, and defeated him. Examples such as these serve as an inspiration to all Haranlarche citizens.
We should all rejoice in our victories, but we cannot allow ourselves the luxury of allowing our guard to rest while we take stock of our victories. This war is far from over, but there is now a glimmer of hope that victory might soon belong to the forces of good.
