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The land begins to feel the cold fingers winter caress it, and the people hurry to finish stocking their grain stores. 

In the lands of some of the Ulven Clans there are whispers and rumors spreading among the people. The rumor goes that an Ulven is walking around and preaching a new rhetoric surrounding the Ulven afterlife. He spreads stories of death and seeing into the Maw of The Greatwolf. He tells of his initial fear and shock, but then an acceptance. Details seem to get fuzzy from there, but the end of his message seems to be that fear of being swallowed has been used as a way to control the Ulven people for many many generations. He seems to preach personal freedoms and acceptance of the gift of the Great Wolf when we die, regardless of which path it may be. Though many people call him crazy and a heretic, there are a small number who seem to be speaking well of this strange new speaker.

In the City State of Newhope the mass murderer strikes again, this time leaving a small family outside of Silver’s Crossing dead and disfigured. Authorities are working hard day and night to try and locate any clues to who this malicious individual is. Alas, the only clue found were the words painted on the inside of the door, “Such easy prey, their screams were so filled with life.” Many rural citizens of the Citystate are beginning to question just how much effort is being put  into catching this monster. However, the local nobility of the areas of where the attacks have occurred have oddly remained silent, only strengthening those concerns that are now on the lips of commoners. 

Members of Clan Shattered Spear whisper tales around hunting camps of a massive stag that roams the woodlands. It is said to stand as high as a fully grown man at the shoulder, its antlers heavy and bowed with as many as thirty points upon the both of them. One hunter tells a tale that the creature shook the very land beneath his feet as it ran, leaving small craters in the ground where it landed. Oddly enough though, nobody was able to slay this massive stag in order to prove the tale.

Clan Stormjarl is taking up an ancient tradition of hunting whales off the coast in these cold months. Many fisherfolk gathered up harpoons, rope, and warm clothes as they traveled into the deeper parts of the sea. While they were away scoring the grey watery wastes, those back on the shores waited anxiously for them to return. When they did return a week later, they were towing three massive behemoths between the ships. Even the newly joined packs from the Stormborn settlement joined in with this tradition, and with the help of the local packs, were able to haul in three medium sized whales and multiple large deep sea fish as well for the upcoming winter. Needless to say, many fisherfolk earned their salt and showed their skill to the clan those days, and even some of the newer packs felt a bit more welcomed than before.

With many across the lands are busy with harvests and enjoying the festivities provided by their quaint towns, the rumors fly and tales are shared at alarming rates.

More tales of an individual float from Davin’s Hold this month, and the theme is of courtly romance. It seems Lady Al-Azarma has been humoring the advances of the traveling minstrel that has been visiting her last month, and the visits have been noted to be frequent. One tale tells of the handsome individual visiting around eight different times in a single week, another tells of Lady Al-Azarma summoning the individual to her side for lunch, dinner, or even her time reading in the library. As for how true these rumors are, none can say, but it seems that courtly love is in the air. 

Stories drift down from the mountains, the stories are of a pack of branded Ulven that come down from the Great Wolf Hackles this time of year. It is said they prowled in the later nights of the month, stealing food, clothes, tools, and young adult Ulven. Many families awake to empty beds, claiming the branded packs from the mountains stole them in the night. While some Ulven wet nurses and parents may use this tale to keep their cubs in line. Those from Clan Shattered Spear take these tales to heart. Some even report of missing children throughout the month that disappeared during the night. 

In colonies to the south a logging competition takes place in the town of Silver’s Crossing. Many come from all over to watch many powerful lumberjacks, wood crafters, and merchants in the small yet ever growing town. What was of particular note was the tree climbing contest, where a young Syndar was able to out climb the seasoned veteran Ulven. While some claimed that the young Syndar cheated by “pushing” themself up the tree rather than climb it, it was never proved and deemed the young Syndar winner with a purse of fifteen silver. 

Tales of harvest festivals happening all over the continent fall on the ears of all. Tales of drinking contests in Balie Onair, pumpkin boat races in Crow’s Landing, scarecrow building in Key’s Crossing, scripture recitales in Starkhaven, fall fashion shows on the Phoenix Isle, fishing derbies in Stormjarl, archery tournaments in Onsallas, Fristad held a merry time in its taverns, and Lumalia had a lantern ceremony. However, some of the grandest harvest festivals were held outside of the gates of Newhope, skilled bards and swordsmen plied their trade for shows of comedy, foods of all sorts, and dancing for all. Needless to say, this month was a joyous one for all of Mardrun. 

The lands are ripe with the fruits of summer labors: Corn, beans, apples, and so many more are ready for the taking. The land erupts into motion in order to capture not only the food and other supplies, but at opportunity as well.

In the City State of Newhope, the sound of battle clang aloud in the fighting pits as warriors participated in a great tournament for fame, glory, lovers, and a fat purse overflowing with silver. Many warriors entered the arena, but few grabbed the attention of the crowds except for a notorious female Syndar named Veylena who fought with shortsword and axe. She quickly became the crowd’s favorite to upset the current sitting champion, Thennvik the Mad, a beast of a man that used two maces. The final battle was intense, with many spectators on the edge of their seats, but their faith in the newcomer was rewarded with Veylena standing above the broken and thoroughly beaten body of Thennvik. Many are curious of her origins, more so about what she will do with the exorbitant amount of silver she just earned.

In other gossip, it seems Lady Ala’zarma was seen being courted by a dashing young noble. Rumor has it that the dashing individual was seen handing a rose while reciting a sonnet to the Baroness in her gardens. While many didn’t see the spectacle, the gardener who did claim the noble to be almost half the Baroness’ age, and may have a slight reputation for drinking on the job.

Harvests are going beyond expectations across the land, many farmers are experiencing a large bumper crop of corn, potatoes, onions, and apples. Leading to many small festivals to thank Gaia and other deities for the extremely bountiful harvests throughout the land of Mardrun. With this bumper crop, many merchants are reporting a good economic uptick just in time before the pre-winter rush begins. One thing is for sure, winter will be easier on the folks of Mardrun this year.

In the lands of Clan Ironmound, many are beginning to breathe a sigh of relief as repairs and recovery of the lands affected by the earthquake this previous spring show signs of near completion. While there is still a little left to do before the harsh winter around the hackles sets in, the clan is more than confident it can finish what is left easily enough without the help from outside the clan. There have been many that have helped the clan in its time of distress and the distrust of colonists seems to have been lessened some by the actions of those who have aided them. As for the fate of the Lorespeaker Cache, that is a tale for another time.

Darker rumors start to flow from the Riverhead Lands, rumors of a dark alliance. Many are aware of the large amount of bandits in the area, but what isn’t as commonly known is who is keeping these thugs organized. These self named ‘Bandit Lords’ seemed to have had a meeting this past month. Nobody knows for certain what was spoken of or what deals occurred, but what is known is that the raids on other bandit groups seems to have died down considerably and are now working in a more organized manner.

With the heat waves rolling and receding throughout the month, most of Mardrun finds ways to cool off and relax before the busy months of harvest that are coming up quickly. However, some of the world has other plans in the works…

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Clan Ironmound continues to rebuild after the devastation, and with the help from outside forces the process has expedited some. The prideful and usually prickly members of the Clan are starting to warm up to those who have come to help with the reconstruction, often ending the night drinking with the volunteers. While there is still extensive amounts of labor and work ahead, many within Clan Ironmound are starting to feel some hope after many months of desperation. 

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In a Grimward outpost along The Shield of Mardrun a horrible accident befell a workman in the process of patching a section of an outpost wall that had been damaged by recent high winds. One of the legs of his scaffold gave way and he fell nearly 15 feet before landing on a jagged piece of his broken platform. The worker was quickly carried to a nearby surgeon, but by the time he arrived the wounds proved to be too great and he passed away. Not willing to accept this outcome the surgeon quickly set to work on the newly deceased body and through what can only be thought of as a miracle of medicine, she was able to bring him back from the otherworld..and bring him back from the otherworld she apparently did. The Ulven shot to his feet with a wild look in his eye, screaming at the top of his lungs. Slowly he came back to reality and told everyone around him what he’d seen. His words have spread far and wide.

“There I was, falling from a scaffold. Next thing I know I’m on my back and my vision is fading out and my lungs are filling with blood. I close my eyes. Then suddenly I feel totally fine. I open my eyes and I’m standing in a forest and off in the distance I see the hulking shadow of The Great Wolf as it stalks its way toward me. Naturally I freeze in place. Then I hear a voice, low and rumbling like a growl barely escaping the throat of the great beast, ‘I do not know you yet you intrude on my forest?’ the beast called to me, ‘Without a name, you are nothing to me. Nothing but a morsel.’ Then the Great Wolf turned and began bounding toward me, his maw open. I tell you the likes of it I have never seen. When he opened his mouth, by Gaia’s grace his mouth so large it could swallow ten warriors without thinking, I saw the stars inside. I saw the very cosmos itself, but at the center of it all, I saw something that scared me more than any of the rest of the experience. I saw nothingness; a void of pure emotionless, nothingness. I screamed…and then I was here.”

The laborer spread his story across the outpost to any who would listen to it and when he ran out of people to tell he packed his things, threw on a cloak and started walking south to continue to spread his word. “When he sees me next he’ll know my name!” he shouted back into the outpost as he left, “Hjalvar the Great Wolf’s Priest!”

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In the City State of Newhope people enjoyed their time relaxing in the late summer days, children playing in the fields and streams, parents enjoying a bit of peace. In the manner of a single night, this peace was turned into chaos as the mass murderer struck again. A family of five were the targets it seems, their bodies all found in the barn, hanging by their legs upside down. The sight of the scene soon spread like wildfire, along with the words carved in each of the victims. “Did you miss me Newhope?”

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Bandit activity in the Riverhead lands reaches an all time high this month. Caravan’s are now refusing to go any further north without significant martial support. While some packs from Clan Nightriver and Whiteoak do offer aid in this, more often than not are met with overwhelming amounts of bandits rushing the caravans. Many are pleading for higher up authority figures to do something about the situation, but many are conflicted on the proper way to handle this situation.