Highport Defeated
Isle of Dawn Attacked by Opposition
Heirs Defeat Third Force
Turmoil in Lyndoria
Record Fog in Sea of Mist for First Day of Winter
Undersea Civil War Breaks Out
Doubts Cast on King Bud's Assassination
Ienos Responds to Speculation
Dedites Attack Eastern Highlands
Zakhara Defeats Zombie Invasion Fleet in Sea of Caravans
Mogador's Realm - Hellhaven
Society: Where's Watchdog?
Editorial: Ienos - Do they protest too much?
The pirate town of Highport was defeated by Haranlarchian and Ienian forces at midday of the 8th. The town itself now lies in ruins, while the captured forces of Yellow Sail barbarians have been divided up equally between Haranlarche and Ienos.
Highport, west of the city of Mythtropolis, was long known to be home to several pirate clans, as well as many notorious supervillains such as the nefarious Ape X. Those controlling Highport had recently aligned themselves with the Opposition in the current war. As a result, Highport found itself beseiged by Allied forces.
The seige of Highport lasted for several weeks, as the Haranlarche and Ienian navies and ground forces surrounded the city. The recent breakthrough seems to have come about despite the removal of some of the Allied forces to do battle elsewhere.
An official spokesperson for the Royal Divan of Haranlarche stated that the Allied forces had struck a blow for freedom in all the realms of the World of Mystery.
It is believed that the prisoners are assisting Allied forces with their enquiries into Opposition plans.
A fleet of war canoes and war rafts has landed on the eastern shore of the Isle of Dawn carrying savage natives of Sekuthar. The barbaric cannibals, believed to belong to the tribe of Zend, are the among the first organised groups of mortal allies who have joined the Opposition. More than five thousand of these troops set ashore, fighting their way inland. The army of Pharaoh Ixmaket II fled before the onslaught, and is believed to have disbanded. The Zendi have been raping or killing those that they capture. Womenfolk have been loaded onto rafts to be transported back to Sekuthar.
The Eastern Empire subsequently sent two Imperial Skyliners to take the island from the Zendi forces. This offensive ended tragically as the sky ships met a flight of evil dragons near the island's central plateau on the way to the Zendi fortifications. One skyliner crashed into the city-state of Oekron, incinerating the town. The other skyliner sold its life dearly, with fearsome battles between the Dragons and their riders and the Imperial Corsair crew of the liner. The liner exploded in midair in a coruscating storm of Dragonbreaths.
The Emperor is quoted as being "concerned" at the loss of his two remaining air dreadnoughts, with air operations now restricted to the riders of the Retebian Knights of the Air and the remaining smaller Skyships and Flitters together with the remaining Dragons loyal to the Empire.
The group known as the Heirs of Skull Craig were responsible for the defeat of the undersea city of Zagarond, the so called "Third Force".
Zagarond, recently awoken from a millenia long sleep, had started attacking naval fleets belong to both the Allies and the Opposition. The ruler, King Pel Cormordu, had decided to wage war upon all surface dwellers. It seems that he too was heir to Skull Craig, and he kidnapped the current heirs in order to shore up his claim to the inheritance.
With the assistance of sages who had also been kidnapped by Zagarond forces, the heirs managed to escape and defeat the King in single combat. This lead to the city and its inhabitants returning to their sleep. The heirs managed to free all the remaining prisoners before escaping themselves in a captured Zagarondian submarine.
Captain Esau Klionum of the Haranlarche navy, who was held captive by the Zagarond forces, said of the heirs "Those kids can sure put up a fight."
In Lyndoria Baron Ghoul Restenford-Erovanev has stood down in favour of Galion FitzSabot-Walker, hereditary claimant to the united island. The new Baron Galion thanked the Heirs of Skull Craig for recovering the Hammer of Wortz, as well as promising formally to honour their entitlement to a fiefdom on the northern coast of his island realm. He has also thrown open the trade in Bog Lillies. His army is now putting down the revolt that this announcement has caused in his town of Rhorton.
Bog Lilly futures have plunged in value. Financial analysts have, however, concluded that the newly reformed Herb Market in Lyndoria seems set to make the realm at least as much as the old monopoly did. A reduction in ill-feeling towards the realm for hoarding the Bog Lillies, which are a potent defence against undead and insects, is also a likely consequence.
Massive white fog banks have obscured most of the western coast of Sekuthar on the first day of winter. This has lead to most shipping and fishing traffic being kept in harbour at Minea and Lyndoria.
Reports from the fisherfolk of Lyndoria have indicated that they are not returning to their regular fishing grounds in the Sea of Mist. Nets cast into the deep sea are finding the bottom too soon, and there has been a record number of ghost ship sightings.
Octopus and Kraken nations are at war over possession of the deeps of the Dreadsea. What this will mean for surface travellers none yet know. Octopi are vastly superior intellectually to the Kraken and Squid species, which are often described by submariners as the "goblinoids of the deep", but the Kraken nation has giantism and foul sorcery on its side.
Merfolk from the Aquatican and independent dome cities, as well as the undersea barbarians from the seagrass villages and kelp forests have as yet not chosen a side although it is overwhelmingly likely that they will side with their traditional allies the Octopus nation.
The surface war in the Dreadsea continues, with fewer Zombie ships and squadrons reported at the beginning of the fourth week of the war.
Contact is still patchy between east and west amongst the Free Realms due to civil war in Braejr, revolts within the Eastern Empire and the overwhelming rearmament of Sekuthar under the leadership of Mogador from his capital of Hellhaven.
Tentative strikes against the Dedites have resulted in a devastating forest fire, but few Dedite casualties.
The Monster Duchies have been approached by their neighbours to join the Free Realms. As yet there has been no reply to these overtures from the Clans of Atru, the Seven Shires, Haranlarche or Korenzea. Wendar and Bordavia have threatened to leave the Free Realms alliance if the Monster Duchies join.
Accounts by several persons across the World of Mystery have cast doubts on the current suspicions of Mogador's responsibility for King Bud's death.
Eregorian, bard of Rockport passed along his doubts in the following
message:
"Bud's death is not the doing of Mogador. It doesn't feel
like him. Where are the Melters? Where are the Zombies? Looks like
someone else was responsible."
Eregorian was the bard present at the Allied forces victory at Rockport.
Taylor Piharre, wandering minstrel of the Monster Duchies had this
to say:
"10-9-1101YAC So Good King Bud of Greenport has swapped
jobs - instead of tending the flowers, now he's pushing them up. But
who's responsible? Was it Mogador? Uh-uh. He only uses zombies, monsters
and savages. So was it the Dedites, those lumberjack louts with the hots
for all points south? Uh-uh. They're too busy looking for the Skull Crag
kidz to worry about Bud and his shibbalicious shamans. So who DID kill
King Bud? There are whispers, dear listeners... whispers that crooked
militiamen in Mythtropolis are using the war as cover to set up their
own drug ring... pushing dreamfire, poppysap and all the old favourites
your grandsires told you about... plus a few new treats: Jump-baccy, the
scourge of the corsairs, and Krimm, the latest red plague from the
savage coast. Brave men and women, these guys... what with their blue
death commissioner on the warpath against corruption in the ranks. She's
spending her whole workday arresting and killing her own, word is. I
know, sounds impossible, in the city with the greatest militia in the
world...
But there are other whispers too. Whispers about a Free Realm that isn't so free, and that it was Bud's interest in their latest building projects that got him a hotshot from a hired killer by the name of Baobazz Gritt. Yeah, that's right dear friends - Baobazz "True" Gritt, the coolest trail hand this side of the Silver Sierras. With a king-sized payoff as sweetener, he might have taken the contract and defoliated Bud. But other rumours put him in Cliff City, harassing those crazy Skull Crag kidz. Still maybe he's booked solid, with a bit of king kulling here, bit of kiddie kidnapping there... As soon as I know, you will too. Whatever happens, remember you heard it here first."
Taylor Piharre is under sentence of death in absentia in Whitemere for his slandering and illicit Bard rumourmongering. He has also just been put under sentence of death by the Druids of the Emerald Council of Greenport. He is, however, considered to be the most popular troubador in the Monster Duchies.
There has been no official comment from the current ruler of Greenport, the druid Foldorn, about who the responsible party might be.
The Official Bard of Ienos, Feergul Zoon, delivered the following
message authorised by his master, King Gaudron Shen of Ienos.
"We
are amazing diverted by the hysteria some have sought to spread. Since
those who spread the lies about us are the youngest of the realms and
the least experienced of the rulers of the surface world we forgive them
their petty jealousy. They whisper lies about our towers. Know that our
towers are merely lighthouses, to guide the shipping in the Dreadsea. We
enjoy good relations with many independent ports, amongst them Freeport
and Rogosto. Both of these forward-thinking city-states struggle against
the pack of lies others tell. Their rulers do not have the luxury of
powerful friends and super-powered adventurer-thugs who force issues
down the throats of their neighbours. After the current hostilities
against Mogador end successfully we must turn our attention to the
plague of erratic freeswords and would-be "superheroes" who spread
destruction far and wide. Let us not forget that we lack the sharp steel
and quick wits of O-Ka-Lia in this battle because of the actions of the
so-called heroes of the Silver Knot."
This appears to be in response to mounting speculation about the purpose of towers being built around the realm of Ienos. Several theories have that these towers are astronomical devices or wizard towers, and that they are designed to help insure the realm remains free of the interference of superheroes who may not take kindly to the way in which Ienos is governed.
A state of war now exists between Korenzea and The Dedite Empire. This follows a massive influx of troopers from the northern Dedite lands into the unoccupied Eastern Highlands claimed by Korenzea (and its civil war opponent Great Braejr). The Dedites have sent ambassadors to the handful of realms still acknowledging them as a legitimate government.
Korenzea has been swamped with offers of assistance, although with the threat of Zombie attacks by Mogador and the new threat of Mogador's growing forces in Hellhaven it is not known how much support most of the Free Realms could really provide. One surprising ally for Korenzea, given the previous bloodshed between the realms a decade ago, is the confederacy known as the Monster Duchies. It is thought that, deprived of status by most of their neighbours they are currying favour with the tolerant mages of Korenzea. Ghyr, in the far north, has also supported Korenzea and has already used its own powerful sorcerers to teleport a legion into the Eastern Highlands, with the permission of Korenzea. The involvement of Ghyr, source of the world's power prisms, hints that maybe there is something special to be found in the Highlands; something that the magarchies surrounding it do not want anyone to disturb. Typically, it is the ambitious and careless evil Dedites who have decided to stir the pot.
The Zakharan fleet known as the Golden Wolves has crushed a fleet crewed by the undead of Mogador.
The Zombie Fleet was struggling across the Sea of Caravans in heavy weather magically enhanced by Genies from the defending Zakharan fleet.
After the Zombies turned near the Island of the Elephant, the Zakharan fleet attacked in a series of hit and run engagements, restocking on the Island of the Elephant before driving the remaining Zombie ships into the Southern Ocean where contact was lost with them at nightfall.
Zakharan casualties after the engagement were discovered to be light, but two significant casualties were Crown Prince Aziz al-Almawa and the Zakharan metahuman superhero Jheremiah. Jheremiah is survived by his wife, the metahuman Sheherazade.
Sources in Minea have revelaed the existence of Mogador's capital, a benighted pit known as Hellhaven. The empire of Harul, on the continent of Sakuthar, has fallen to Mogador and his undead minions, and has been replaced by the Shadow Empire of Hellhaven. Various tribes of Sakuthar have allied themselves with the evil of Mogador.
The troops of Hellhaven have been moving across Sakuthar to the west, invading the Grasslands of Gen. These troops appear to be poorly armed, ill-equipped and underfed, but still they march on, their primary motivation being the fear of failing Mogador. they have lost many soldiers in assaults from Var, Durapur and elven forces, but still they advance across the grasslands.
In the skies over Sakuthar, Eagle Lords have been engaging griffon-riding Darkelves and Half-Darkelves. The leader of the Eagle Lords, Chrauron, struck mighty blows against the leader of the Griffon-Riders, Prince Gnorithus. The battle began in the roiling clouds above the bottomless lake before descending into the ruined streets of the city of Hellhaven itself. Smiting each other mightily, it was the Eagle Lord was the man who fell.
The surviving Eagle Lords report that Hellhaven is cleaning out and restoring the shipyards where the previous regime constructed their sky galleons. It appears that Hellhaven intends to build up an air force, news which will strike fear into the hearts of citizens of the Free Realms.
Speedy superhero and Silver Knot stalwart, Watchdog, has not been seen around Haranlarche for the past few weeks. Normally, this doesn't consist of much of a problem, as the hero is so fast, people rarely see him anyway. But lately, the rumours as to his whereabouts have been flying thick and fast.
One popular idea holds that the 'Dog is working undercover on a top secret mission for the King. "Given his amazing abilities to get in and out of tricky situations, surely he would be a valuable spy for the Realm," goes the theory. Others contend that he is 'in the Doghouse', laying low after yet another romantic encounter gone askew. It has to be said that from all the evidence, when it comes to love, bad luck dogs him.
Other, more outlandish, theories abound as well. There is a belief that Watchdog has been moving so quickly, he may have actually ascended to another plane of existence. Alternately, some say that he may have been kidnapped, and that even now, the Silver Knot are preparing his ransom. Of course, these sort of theories strike most of us as ridiculous.
On behalf of the people of Mythtropolis, we at the Gazette say, come back soon Watchdog, we miss you.
The recent official pronouncement from the King of Ienos about the newly constructed towers is, on the surface, a reasonable explanation designed to quiet some of the recent speculation and criticism. However, if you examine the words used in the message, you will note that the language used has a strident tone, almost as if questioning the purpose of Ienos in this matter is tantamount to heresy.
Whilst we are all used to the arrogance of other realms that consider themselves Haranlarche's better purely because of age, given the current circumstances, it would be deeply unwise not to question what our erstwhile allies are up to. If the war has taught us anything, it is that even the most noble of acts can have terrible consequences if no one examines them.
These towers may be lighthouses, as the Ienians say, and if so, then perhaps represenatatives from other realms could inspect them and be reassured. But the rumours of other, more sinister purposes for these constructions continue to spread, and despite the words used by Feergul Zoon, the tone seems to indicate something else.
Certainly, from one point of view this argument can be seen as paranoia. But as victims of the horror of the war with Mogador, none of us can let our vigilance slide ebb away when it comes to threats to our world, both external and internal. Let the Ienians prove the harmlessness of their towers, or let us find out their purpose before it is too late. No one wishes to trade one evil for another.
