Wiki Category: News & Rumors

“Warriors and Packleaders, our steel is not judged by how it shines during peace but by how it remains unbroken in war. Grimward has returned to once again become our honorbound, and we will break their clan like they dishonorably broke the skull of our leader who had met them for peace. March west Nightriver, march until the rivers of the Hackles turn red and our feet meet the sea.

May his ears ring with the voices of Grimward,

Warleader Holmar Bloodmoon”

The words of Warleader Holmar Bloodmoon carry across Clan Nightriver, spurring the many packs of Clan Nightriver to organize and march west to the Pass of the Great Wolf Hackles. The Warleader has declared a focus on driving back the small raiding groups that have struck the edges of Nightriver territory, and then driving Grimward back through the pass. While the clan is still organizing and mobilizing, their great numbers begin to quickly show on the western edge of the territory, eager to see a brutal revenge for their lost leader. While the clan is currently without a formal leader, Warleader Holmar Bloodmoon has taken control of the war effort and has begun to make moves to become the full leader of the clan. Several pack leaders also step forth to gain support in becoming the new Clanleader, or to take over as Warleader if Holmar becomes the Clanleader. Only actions in the initial months of the war and the support of other pack leaders will show who becomes favored in the end.

Soon after Warleader Holmar’s words carried across Clan Nightriver, voices from their allied clan to the north were heard pledging to stand by their alliance. While not known for martial capabilities, Clan Goldenfield is quick to promise full support to Clan Nightriver in the form of food for their warpacks. With many clans restocking after the winter, Goldenfield’s aid will be notable to allow Nightriver to carry on attacks with less risk to not having enough farmers and hunters back home to prepare for next winter.

As some of Clan Stormjarl’s allies return to their homes or other parts of the war, news returns with them that Clan Grimward’s raiding fleet has returned home, likely to recuperate. Clan Stormjarl’s northern border continues to be probed by notable attacking forces, seeming to be looking for weak points to exploit, although no prolonged attacks have occurred yet. It seems likely that Clan Grimward has yet to dedicate a force fully to this front, although no one can determine what is going on behind their frontlines currently.

Reports of Clan Ironmound’s mobilization have become clear, although with the clan still having not made any declaration it their intentions still remain unclear; whether they are preparing to march eastward, westward, or declare neutrality. They do not remain alone in this though, as many of the northern clans have yet to indicate their intentions or standing in this war either.

In the north, rumors carry that members of the Northern Protectorate, made up of Clans Whiteoak, Axehound, Steinjottun, and Clan Spiritclaw have received hawks from Clan Grimward. The letters request that they either stand aside, join them, or become thralls in their conquest. Each of the Clans are quiet, for there is much to consider for their own people and the direction of the war. Some are worried that Clan Whiteoak may join with Clan Grimward like they did in the Ulven Civil War. Some are curious how Steinjottun will react, with having little martial might. Many believe Clan Spiritclaw will stay neutral, as it has in so many conflicts in the past. Though to the possible thoughts of Clan Axehound, there is little doubt they won’t go down without a fight but with them being a smaller clan they are likely hesitant to pick a side due to the sheer force that would be bearing down on them if the Clan decides to take a stand. While Clans Axehound and Whiteoak are currently peaceful towards one another, some people say that this war could rekindle their conflict from years back. One thing is for certain, much deliberation is occurring within these Clans, and their decisions have yet to be made.

In the lands of Clan Ironmound a call makes its way to the people of Mardun. A summons to bring the Ulven clans together for a Moot. Tensions rise between the clans as stories of raiders and strife make their way across Mardrun. Rumors begin to spread. Many point fingers to Grimward, claiming they are the ones responsible. Others speculate rival clans such as Stormjarl or Nightriver are in action to cast Grimward as the villains. The most prevalent is the words of wandering skald who claims to have been in a skirmish between Nightriver and Grimward forces on the edge of Nightriver and City State lands. With such heavy accusations being thrown the meeting is sure to be a lively political affair and one that will have lasting consequences. If the rumors prove to be true several of these actions are in violation of the Armistice Treaty which ended the Ulven Civil War several years ago. With the meeting set in Ironmound territory it is uncertain how many of the Clans will be in attendance. The Ironward Alliance remains a standing pact between Grimward and Ironmound and may prove a deterrent for some smaller clans.

Word reaches south that Pack Longfang stands after its call for aid and following stand against a new wave of Mordok. While they remain strong and continue their watch on the northern edge of civilization, they will certainly need more time before they are at their full strength again as defenders of the Shield of Mardrun.

The fluctuations in weather across Mardrun lead to an uptick in early preparation for the spring planting. Many farming communities take advantage of several streaks of warm dry weather. So long as Winter doesn’t return with a vengeance, folk can expect a good year of harvests and many bountiful spring festivals.

Clan Shattered Spear releases a statement thanking those who aided in the salvation of their lands from the Mordok. With the pushing back was a success, there is much work still left to do. Even with the weight of loss and the labor of rebuilding, there is hope that they will build back stronger from this attack from the Mordok.

The harvest season is in full swing across Mardrun. The areas that are not currently locked in battle with the Mordok have started building up their stores for the coming winter. Luckily Clan Goldenfield has had a bumper crop year and they’ve already begun to set aside excess grains and vegetables to be sent to Shattered Spear to make up for their lost harvests. As people mill through towns and villages, trying to get the most of the last few warmish weeks before things begin to wind down they bring with them News. And. Rumors!


The newest member of the Newhope Council, Duke Aailmyr, has been hard at work since he took up his new title. The Syndar District of Newhope has seen a great amount of activity in the recent months. It seems that the invention of Enchanting has caught the eye of many of the Syndar of Newhope as they see it as a way to help work toward restoring some of the cultural glory of their peoples on Faedrun. To this end Duke Aailymr put forth the capital to start a training program for young Syndar within the city who wish to take up this trade and help to bring back the delicate beauty of Syndar magic works. The pale blue arcane lamps that recently began to illuminate the Newhope Market District have been revealed to be the first of many projects that Aalimyr has planned to bring a kiss of Syndar culture to Newhope. Only time will tell how this young Duke will leave his fingerprints on Newhope.

Further news from Newhope! The Council has been hard at work building diplomatic ties with the strange Syndar from the Outlands. It seems that these efforts have begun to pay off. A small delegation of Northern Syndar have agreed to travel to Newhope and to develop a proper understanding of the people in the South. Duchess D’Argent sent a ship along the west coast of Mardrun and picked up the visitors from the outpost on the western side of The Outlands and brought them back to the docks of Newhope. The voyage went well and reports say that the seas were calm and that little more was seen than Ulven fishing boats off the coasts of Grimward territory. Newhope has pulled out all the stops and will spend the next few months attempting to ingratiate themselves to their new guests.

A chronicler has been working their way through Shattered Spear lands and recording the stories of any of the Ulven who were able to be saved from the grips of the strange madness that has been plaguing their lands. This scribe has begun detailing their findings in a book that they no doubt plan to sell, but some of the stories have escaped their grasp and found their way to the ears of eavesdroppers giving way to a series of rumors that have spread over the continent. The core truths that all of these rumors seem to hold is that the maddened Ulven all believed themselves to be fighting Mordok warriors at every turn when in reality they were fighting Ulven and Colonists the entire time. They also seemed to have believed the real Mordok to be nature spirits that had come from the forests to help them battle back the “massive Mordok army”. It is very common for these Ulven to pass out upon being cleansed and when they awake the last thing they remember is being surrounded by Mordok. Hopefully the assault on Silfurfal will see this bleak chapter in Shattered Spear history come to a close.

<Insert Framing Device Here> It’s News and Rumors, Baby!


Work crews have been spotted throughout the Merchant District in Newhope over the last couple months. They’ve been seen carrying crates and installing sconces and lanterns along the street ways, but for some reason none of these new light sources had been seen to produce any flames. People on the street asked the workers what they were up to and the most they were told is that the workers were on official Newhope business and that they were not yet at liberty to say. The days carried on until one night, just after dusk, in unison the lights slowly came to life. A clean, bluish glow blanketed the streets and chased away the shadows. Thanks to the recent discovery and adaptations of the new school of enchantment, for the first time since the fall of Tielorrien, arcane lights illuminated the streets of a major city. There is little doubt that this pilot project will lead to the expansion of enchanted lights across Newhope and perhaps further.

A Silver Celestine has been making rounds through villages all across Mardrun. He’s been preaching some words about the importance of Magic and the Old Ways and trying to draw interest in his talks about how the recent revelations of The Mana Stream and the Siphoning affect the very livelihoods and traditions of The Syndar people. He’s still a relative unknown at this point, but his public displays are sure to make him easy to track down for anyone who is interested to hear his words first hand.

Shattered Spear continues their counterpush against the Mordok forces! Things seem to be going relatively well at this point. Thanks to the aid of some stalwart allies, Shattered Spear continues to push the Mordok back toward The Swamp. The fighting remains consistent and the Mordok do not give ground easily, but nevertheless the warriors of Shattered Spear and their allies do not show signs of tiring yet. Some reports do come back from the front that tell of maddened Ulven attacking the Shattered Spear forces. It seems that most of them are able to be incapacitated and cleansed, but some are not so lucky and are forced to be put down by their own Clansmen. Additionally, some have sent word that they’ve recently seen one or two of the strange Blue-Clad, upright Mordok far behind the Mordok lines, giving commands and coordinating troops. What this means for the future no one can be sure yet, but in recent history these Blue-Clad Mordok’s presence has proven to increase the resolve and tactical-mindedness of the Mordok hordes. 

The sun beats down and warms the continent under its gaze and in these hot months people take refuge in taverns and under shady trees and in these meeting places there is the ever present spread of News and Rumors

News comes from Newhope territories. The serial killer that had plagued the villages of the City-state Territory off and on over the last couple years has been finally captured. She was found in a run down shack and taken alive into custody by a team of volunteers working alongside the Newhope Guard. Rumors hold that there were two individuals, unaffiliated with the guard, who were integral to the investigation. Supposedly Newhope plans to commemorate them during the upcoming Market Faire in Key’s Crossing.

Tragedy strikes! Nestled into the craggy mountains of The Great Wolf’s Hackles stands a burgeoning settlement, well at least until very recently. A young organization by the name of FATE had been in the process of establishing a settlement they called Fort Dreadwyrm near the pass that leads through The Great Wolf’s Hackles. They were in the process of building up their fortifications, but before they were able to have any form of martial ability, a raid came for them. The survivors tell stories of how the raiders, apparently all Ulven, struck with incredible speed and brutality. Before they were even aware of their presence, people were already dying. Those who survived fled into the hills and mountains as their homes and livelihoods burned behind them. In the end Fort Dreadwyrm was burned completely to ashes and a good deal of their citizens fell under the blade and ax of their uninvited guests. Only time will tell if FATE is able to rally themselves and rebuild or if they will fall under the weight of their circumstances.

Rumors continue to swirl around the undead plagued island to the Northeast of Clan Whiteoak. Though Whiteoak, Axehound, and Prince Aylin have agreed that the island should be quarantined until a plan is in place. Unfortunately the increased Mordok activity has drawn a lot of attention away from this project as Axehound and Whiteoak have to turn their attention back to The Shield. People have been saying that they’ve seen soldiers from Aylin’s Reach marching toward the eastern portions of The Shield, no doubt in an effort to aid their Ulven allies. Most people seem to be under the impression that Aylin is hoping to help repel this onslaught as quickly as possible so that focus can be retrained onto the island and the promise it holds.

Robins sing their songs and flowers begin to poke up from the ground. The planting season is well underway and News and Rumors fall across the landscape like a chilled spring rain.

Reports continue to come from Clan Shattered Spear regarding the strange happenings at their remote village. The Clan has diverted some of their people who were aiding in the resettlement of Riverhead Lands and have established a formal forward camp to try to reach out to the villagers and settle the bizarre matter peacefully. This choice will delay the resettlement efforts, but Riverhead understands the need to attend to these bizarre circumstances. Luckily the efforts put forward in March to cleanse the area of ambient corruption eased the logistics of setting up the forward camp and allowed Shattered Spear to more quickly turn their attention toward the village. Unfortunately, at this time it seems that Shattered Spear has not yet been able to reach the villagers in any meaningful way. Some reports come back that the villagers have begun to barricade all the entrances in an attempt to wait out the Shattered Spear Forces. Sometime through the middle of the month a hawk arrived in Shattered Spear Village from the remote villagers. It requested aid to come and help defend their village against a Mordok siege and boasted the resolve of the villagers and sang their own praises of the great number of Mordok that they have defeated and driven back.

Rumors begin to swirl through the streets of Newhope following last month’s proclamation of a new Councilor. Though no official word has been given yet, it is not long before people are able to piece together rumors and it’s fairly clear that the new council member will be a Serous Syndar named Aailmyr. Over the last few years Aailmyr has become an increasingly noteworthy lower noble in the Syndar community around the City of Newhope. He is well regarded by the Syndar populace and has proven himself time and time again to be a strong advocate for the needs of the people of all races living in his district as well as the Syndar people as a whole. With City-State research being unloaded from the council and placed on Ravens University, the open seat on the council will have the ability to focus far more on the growth of culture and the continued success of the city itself. An official proclamation is expected soon.

Murmurs swirl around the docks of Aylin’s Reach. Word has come down from on high that Aylin is ready to move forward with settling and setting up a harbor on one of the larger uninhabited islands to the North East of Clan Whiteoak. This land will drastically increase the overall size of Aylin’s Reach and bolster their access to raw resources as well as create an area that could serve as a hub and harbor for ships traveling in the North East Sea of Mardrun and could act as a supply-stop for excursions into the swamp from it’s eastern shores. Prospective settlers vibrate with excitement over this upcoming new venture.

Ice thaws and the continent begins to spring back to life. Throughout the land, people leave their homes and local taverns and the flow of news spreads like wildfire. It seems that the people of Mardun made great plans during the cold months and they are now ready to put them publicly in motion.

Clan Shattered Spear released a proclamation regarding the lands of the former Clan Riverhead. Some years ago before the creation of the outposts that make up The Shield of Mardrun, a large warband of Mordok swept into Riverhead lands and decimated their populace. In the end Riverhead was unable to maintain its clan and was restructured as Pack Riverhead and taken in by their neighbor Clan Shattered Spear. Now years later, Pack Riverhead feels that it is time to try to return to their ancestral homelands. They know that they do not have the numbers or strength to maintain a Clan of their own, but Shattered Spear has seen the benefits of returning these Ulven to their home. Clan Riverhead will be reconstituted as a vassal state of Clan Shattered Spear. Shattered Spear will aid in the clearing and resettling of their lands and in return Riverhead will exist as a sub-Clan under their banners and protection much in the way The Watchwolves of Luna exist as a protectorate of Clan Grimward. The process will take some time, but the Ulven of Riverhead are excited to return home, even if it is as vassals to their once neighbor Clan.

 

The Council of Newhope has released a proclamation as well.

“To the People of Newhope,
We of the Council feel that it is in the best interest of the people that we remain open and truthful with all of the citzens of Newhope. We have heard the discontent in the voices of the Syndar citizens of Newhope and we understand that it may feel that in the loss of Celestial Arragones that the Syndar have lost their voice on the Council. We want you all to know that this is not true. It was never the intention of The Council to remove the voice of any people and as soon as we had sentenced Celestial Arragones, we began the process of promoting a new Syndar voice to the council. We tell you this now because our process is nearing completion. We have selected the final candidate and, should they agree to the terms and responsibilities of service, over the course of this next month we will be finalizing the procedures and will be officially promoting a fresh, new Syndar voice to The Council of Newhope. We remain hopeful and excited as we look toward the bright future of our collective people.
The Newhope Council”

 

Bad news spreads from a small village in Clan Goldenfield. Gudrun Whiteoak, the Daughter of Gaia that had gone missing on her way to the Daughter’s Summit in January was found dead not twenty paces from a major roadway. It seems the falling snow had kept her body hidden until the thaw came and melted away her icy funerary trappings. Gudrun was found with no marks of struggle on her body and was taken away to a local surgeon so they could try to uncover what caused her death. The surgeon found traces of poison in her veins and turned her over immediately to a local Daughter of Gaia to purify her body before it would be returned to Whiteoak to be burned. The Daughter of Gaia found something even more alarming when she came to cleanse the body. From what she was able to tell, Gudrun had been hollowed and it appears to have happened before she died. Clan Whiteoak has sent a group of investigators to Clan Goldenfield in an attempt to uncover the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Naturally Clan Goldenfield has pledged to help Whiteoak find those responsible.

Winter may cool the continent, but nothing can cool the spread of News and Rumors!

 

***

The meadhalls of Clan Shattered Spear have been filled with raucous laughter as stories pass from village to village. Skalds and rumor mongers have spread the song and story far and wide of a newly minted legend among the Ulven people, an otherwise unknown mysterious figure known only as ‘Haldar One-Finger’, named for the incredible tale of how he held an enemy army at bay with a single finger. The story has collected increasingly outlandish vignettes and happenings, but the core remains the same as it travels through the continent. The story goes that Haldar was a raider, a profession of mixed repute, but one bathed in romanticism. On a raid Haldar found himself standing watch over a road with not but two fellow warriors by his side when a squad of fighters marched toward him. Haldar and his comrades stood stalwart on the road knowing that the pride of an Ulven was in their ability to stand against all odds and not waiver. The massive enemy army sent a speaker to the front in an futile attempt at diplomacy. “Where is your honor!?” the speaker called and Haldar answered not with words, but with the raising of a single finger; A single middle finger. The army, in sheer awe of the unquestionable power of Haldar, froze in place, turned on their heels, and marched back to their walled outpost. And so goes the story of Haldar One-Finger.

 

In the more densely populated areas around the central village of Clan Nightriver a meeting has taken place among some of the highly respected Daughters of Gaia from the various Clans. Grimward and Ironmound did not field any representatives. The Daughters of Nightriver called this summit with their sisters from around the continent to discuss what they see as a problematic growing trend. It seems word has spread of some of the more rural Ulven people returning to ancient rites of Land Wight devotionals and this word has reached the ears of The Daughters of Gaia. As the spiritual heart of the Ulven people, the Daughters of Gaia have grown concerned that these “Wight Worshipers” as they have taken to calling them, are abandoning their true Gods in favor of lesser spirits. The meeting goes on for days and though the general consensus seems to be that this worship of lesser spirits should be stymied, the Daughters don’t seem to come to a conclusion on how to move forward with doing so at this time.

 

After the Daughter’s summit in Nightriver rumors start to spread far and wide about the disappearance of Gudrun Whiteoak, a well beloved Daughter of Gaia from Clan Whiteoak. She never made her appearance at the Daughter’s summit, but many report that she’d spoken at length about her travel plans in the preceding days and that she’d left Whiteoak lands with more than enough time to arrive well ahead of the summit proceedings. Even as the month comes to a close, no one has reported seeing Gudrun.

A crispness holds in the air as people continue their work bringing in the year’s harvests. As the nights come earlier in the day more and more people move inside to spend their evenings within the shared warmth of taverns and mead halls. With proximity comes chatter and with chatter comes the spread of News and Rumors.

 

A shocking piece of news quickly makes the rounds throughout City-state territories and it’s not long before it erupts beyond the borders and spreads over the continent. All had heard the news that Arragones was set to be hanged in a public execution, some had even begun planning their travels to make sure to be there to see the highest profile execution of an era, but what came next was a shock. Arragones was found dead in her cell. Details are hard to come by as at this point rumors have taken a firm hold, but what can be ascertained is that she was found clutching a glass vial with a soft-green foam leaking from the corner of her mouth. No one is certain how she managed to come to possess such a poison. Some believe that another member of the council must have brought it to her and given her the chance to accept a graceful death in exchange for her keeping her mouth shut about any scandalous information she may have on them. Others believe that one of Arragones’ own supporters must have brought her the poison to spare her the spectacle of a public execution. And some even believe that it was staged all together and that she did not drink the poison by her own volition, but was instead murdered and set up to look like a suicide. With these ideas, and many other traveling stories and theories, no one is entirely sure what happened. Regardless of the details, the truth remains that weeks ahead of her public execution, Celestial Arragones was found dead in her cell from an apparent poisoning.

 

The recent rumors of wights stalking through the landscape has shaken the core of some of the Ulven people, especially those living in more remote areas. A few Nightriver villages bordering The Great Wolf’s Hackles have resurrected an ancient Ulven practice of leaving offerings for the Nature Wights to insulate themselves from the harsh conditions that often follow in their wake. A young Nightriver villager recently set out on a journey to the top of The Hackles to leave an offering of mead and bread for the wights and was surprised to find that he was not the only one that had made this journey in recent time. He came home and told his friends and family that when he summited the mountain he found that there were already offerings left, and fresh ones at that. He made sure to add his offerings to the pile. The people of his village were surprised to hear that they weren’t the first to send someone up the mountain and given their location they assume that the other offerings must have come from a Grimward or Ironmound village on the other side of the mountain range. It seems that in the more remote areas of Mardrun that some of the Ulven people are embracing the traditions of their old ways and these traditions may be spreading.

 

ANOTHER massive turnip! Rumors have blanketed across Clan Goldenfield territory and spread from there of another village unearthing a humongous turnip! Some say that this turnip rivals that which was dug up in another village recently. People flocked from nearby towns to peek a gander at this marvelous vegetable, but faster than the news of its harvest spread, so spread the news of its deceit. Though truly a splendid specimen and while it was a well and enormous root, it turns out that the farmer lied. This was not a turnip set to rival all others. This was, in fact, a radish. 

A crispness settles into the air all across the continent of Mardrun. The very first of the leaves begin to change their colors and the harvest season is well and begun. Fall blankets the denizens of the land in her cool, refreshing embrace. But then somewhere on the eastern seaboard, someone accidentally knocks over a small ceramic pot, spilling tea all over their tablecloth. It’s News-and-Rumors, baby!

 

After her notoriously sloppy escape attempt, Celestial Arragones has been captured by Newhope forces and turned over to the Lictor Courts to stand trial. Many rumors swirl over the lands about what is going to happen to her. Many agree that she was likely looking at a stern rebuke and an escort back to her holdings prior to her attempts to raise an army and fight against her state. Now most agree that she is likely looking at charges of treason, though not all agree on what this could mean. Some say she could lose her head, others argue that the nobles on the Council would never eat one of their own like that and she’ll probably still escape with blood on her hands and a slap on the wrist. No one at this point knows what will happen, but there is no doubt that many eyes are resting on The Newhope Council.

 

Deep in The Hackles a story was born of a young Ulven hunter. That tale goes that she was stalking some prey through the wilderness when a heavy bout of hail struck that forced her to take cover in the hollow of a mighty oak tree. While she hunkered down she heard what she swears were the heavy footsteps of a large beast walking on two legs. She tried to poke her head out and get a good look, but was unable to see anything. Eventually the footsteps marched off into the woods away from her and soon after the hail eased and let up. She immediately ran back to her village and told everyone in the local meadhall. Most laughed at her, but some piped up to mention ancient Ulven tales of spirits and landwights bringing storms, hail, and forest fires. Did the echo of hail on the tree trunk cause this young hunter to imagine the sound of heavy footsteps, or has something called back the landwights that walked Mardrun in the eras before history.

 

News is slow in the small village of Brackenloft in Clan Goldenfield. In fact not many people even know it exists. Most maps don’t include it and those that do often find this little village mistaken for an accidental drop of ink. But this miniscule village has found its way to the forefront of the harvest season news. A farmer by the name of Harrod Mudfingers has risen to great acclaim for a feat unlike any seen before. This year Harrod managed to grow the most amazing turnip. People have flocked to the village to see this turnip, which is so large it could almost be hollowed out and turned into a hut! Harrod will stop and tell any who will listen of how it took him days to dig this turnip out of the ground and how it took a team of sixteen burly Ulven with ropes to pull it from its hole. If you want a chance to see this marvel of root-veg then make sure to take a trip out to Brackenloft!