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Grimsburgh Chronicle
issue 1
Since
the last publication of this paper our town has been dealt a number of blows
that have hit our adventuring community hard.
The list of those from Grimsburg who have given their lives defending
Ithron has new names on it.
The first to pass on to Kharach was the apprentice
mage, and ex member of the town’s guards, Aaron Banath.
It was this gentleman who produced the report of the successful battle of
Killingholme in the last edition. He
died fighting undead trying to rescue his fellow companions Borran Surehand and
Wanda Vinghans.
The same mission,
to Esca in January also cost High Mother Wanda one of her arm, and as such she
has decided to retire from the adventuring community.
She can now be found at One-Armed Wanda’s Bar and Brothel in Town.
Father Drake of Longstor, also known as The Bastard, has also gone on to the
afterlife when he died on a mission near Labry.
Will Mr Bloodaxe brood over the loss of his most vocal opponent, or will
he rejoice one less enemy to deal with, Borran Surehand, who many of you should know from the
candid interview he gave last time, has also died facing off against members of
the cult of the new dawn on a mission to Kirk Leigh.
Prior to leaving on this mission he left at our offices a eulogy for
Aaron Banath
Although
he was not a resident of this town we feel that we should comment on the passing
of Sir Alec Guinness, who many of you may remember as the Head of Order for the
Templar Knights. It was the forces
sent by Sir Alec that saved a lot of unnecessary bloodshed at the battle of
Killingholme. He died with a number
of other knights in Fernham defending the Lady DeVilles lands.
Eulogies
The first two eulogies we present are both for Father Drake The Bastard, one
from a friend and colleague and another from an enemy.
DRAKE THE BASTARD
A pompous arrogant little ****, who knows if it weren’t for his devotion to
Longstor and the law, maybe we could have been friends.
As it is I am sorry for his death partly because I am going to miss insulting
and goading him, but mostly because I wanted the pleasure of ripping out his
heart for myself.
Sigmund Bloodaxe
AARON BANATH–A SADLY MISSED COMPANION
Aaron was a good man and his death at the hands of undead shocked me to my core.
He died a hero trying to save the rest of us who had fallen prey to the
spells of the undead and lay in unnatural slumber.
Had it been a sword he had charged in with and not a dagger maybe he
would still have still been here.
Alas luck was not with him and he fell. He
will be sorely missed by myself and others including his daughter Belladonna, I
hope he finds the peace in death he could not find in life.
May Kharach look after his soul.
Borran Surehand
BORRAN
SUREHAND
The Death of a Misunderstood Man...
Borran Surehand was many things to many people.
Having adventured with him myself on a number of occasions, I bore
witness to many of these facets of his character in action.
Always found in the thick of the fray, either spell slinging with the best of
them (Tralda truly did shine on him on many an occasion) or dishing out his own
particular brand of violence - he never shirked from his duty to his comrades.
Of course, his brand of violence did cause something of a stir and was to be the
source of all the misunderstandings. I
have it on good authority he was never a member of the Thieves Guild.
Why oh why are Traldans always to be persecuted in such a manner?
Though, Borran did display more resemblance than the average Traldan
priest, it has to be said.
Being one of Grimsburg's own Traldan recruiting duo (the other member being High
Mother Wanda), one of the reasons for my own foray into the ecclesiastical
scene, Borran gave me the benefit of a great deal of his guidance away from the
hazards of adventuring. Most of this I ignored.
This is probably the reason why I am alive and he ain't no more.
So, to some up, what can be said of Borran?
All I truly know, other than what has already been said is this;
"He was a good customer"
I can say no better of any man.
Borran Surehand, Rest in Peace.
Zeke Corhian of Grimsberg, Master Brewer of the Guild of
Alchemists (Retired).
Lord Weelsby
An Unauthorised History
By Aaron Banath
Eldril Gabriel Weelsby was born around 950 NC (Norham
Calendar) of his father Bryant, and mother Saquess.
Initially a member of the knightly orders Bryant turned to magic after
his wife died in childbirth. He
kept his obsession quiet but passed it on to his son and as a result left Eldril
in the care of Lord Swordsworth to learn magic.
Thereafter Bryant took his grief abroad and died in the crusades, his
last warning to his son was that he would be in danger from his own child.
To evade this Eldril never wed or bred (though rumours circulate that in
his youth he was less careful). Whilst
learning from Swordsworth the power of rulership moved to the mentors family and
Dimitri Swordsworth moved the boy to Linshire city and its community of
necromancers.
Eldril remained away from home for many years during which time the Swordsworths
became bloated with power. Eldril
had to return when, under mysterious circumstances, the Swordsworth manor was
destroyed. His rule began around 990 NC and was generally considered
hard but fair. Aspects of the new
lord were much like his father, he was a moral man but one with eccentric ways.
Eldril approved of high taxes, punitive laws, minimal civilian defence
groups, minimal council authority, and most notably the use of ghouls as guards.
As time passed these measures were faced with more opposition, not lest
from the towns adventuring community who would not tolerate Eldril's methods.
For a long time the greatest threat to Grimsburg was seen as it’s lord itself
yet at the same time he sent numerous forces to control external dangers, not
least against the mimes of Illudarius and to hunt down of the witch Nathaniel. Distracted
by one enemy too many, some feel - retrospectively – that Weelsby spread
himself too thin and missed the real threat. Others point to the ultimate success of campaigns against all
foes bar his nemesis Nathaniel.
Storvegga, a city-state in Limanuso, invaded Grimsburg in 997, some believed
heralding a major assault on Ithron. Most
locals believed the witch was really in control. Weelsby was captured, along
with others, and executed. Most
stories would end here, but Weelsby seemed prepared for death…
It was a time of brief
exile for Grimsburg’s citizens. At
this point to a claimant for Weelsby’s seat appeared, a lady Kialdine. Finding
herself unwed to lord who seemed cold to love made her hopes of power hopeless. Difficult
battles led to a final assault on the city that army barely the match of the
defending foe. Indeed the force was
all but defeated and in general rout, when Weelsby arrived.
Leading to some 200 undead Weelsby tipped the balance of battle and
returned to control his city, but it came at a price. In any real sense, he was dead. So it appeared Eldril had
studied under, or with, Nathaniel in Linshire, he had been his friend.
At the execution Nathaniel revealed his true self to Weelsby, then took
his head. No one knew why.
Nathaniel seemed to be trapped on Weelsby’s estate with Eldril, neither
could kill the other, neither could be killed.
At some point in late 998 things changed.
Lord Weelsby’s attitude changed, he became more aggressive towards
Grimsburg declaring his need for absolute authority. Simultaneously
Nathaniel appeared to no longer be restricted to Weelsby’s estate,
Killingholme rebelled, and the undead became a more co-ordinated threat.
Eldril demanded more territory including other lord’s lands, and soon
it set about acquiring it.
In mid 999 Weelsby took control of Ruban Blade’s
estates installing his own controls in the borough. A failed assault on Grimsburg itself was rumoured to have
more to do with a book than with his control of the town. While most recently a faint by mercenaries allowed Eldril’s
forces to control the Hollow Hills and the ancient ruins near Scabness, Rothwell
and Fort Dona despite this.
What a Weelsby wants is uncertain, but what is clear
is that most serfs and curls accepted control through a mixture of fear and
insecurity. Lands in his control a remarkably safe -no foulspawn, and the undead
seem only to attack armed parties. They
know the folly of opposing him. Against
this Weelsby seems aware of his own vulnerability and has avoided exposure in
areas he does not consider safe, he is rarely seen far from his huge burial
mound. Yet curiously he has
demanded the return of his head so he can be whole when he dies, one must ask is
he not dead already?
But maybe Lord Weelsby doesn't see it that way…
Linshire Beast Saved.
Good news; the Linshire beast has been restored to
his Longstorian status.
I set out on a stormy afternoon with a party of new
recruits only myself and High Father Yadaz of Kharach had any experience, but
there was a brother of Longstor who proved to be very dedicated.
I followed Longstor's instructions to seek out a tree in a nearby clearing and
spoke to a dryad who told me how to help the werewolf. We needed his holy symbol
located in the wailing wood.
A short walk led us into an area of undead were the Kharachian instructed a
wraith to obey him and took it along with us the rest we destroyed or dismissed.
We reached the wailing wood inhabited by a banshee and three elderkin! After a
long battle lots of scary & painful spells cast at us, we managed to take
the evil creatures down and retrieve the symbol.
We then went on a hunt to track the beast down and it led us into Weelsby's
territory. There beset on all sides by an army of undead one of my companions a
black knight fell whilst holding off half a dozen of the creatures and passed to
Kharach's side.
We pressed on and as we made our way along a lesser
used track, the Abraxis follower Bloodaxe jumped out at us and we began to
square off, at that point our quarry leapt out at them and tore through their
ranks biting Bloodaxe. The Abraxian ran off bleeding heavily and we gave chase
blasting spells off but he resisted it all .
I left the others to chase them and returned to the wolf holding out his own
holy symbol I told the beast that Longstor was willing to forgive him and as I
placed it over his head he changed shape horrifically!
His sin was of showing emotion in a very big way over the death of his wife and
child during birth, he was excommunicated and then went on to destroy a large
portion of forest in his anger. He was from that point cursed. However his
penance of removing certain undesirable elements from the area and the atonement
spell from the book of the faith has restored him to his former self, Father
Alfred Priest of Longstor.
He is currently in the dryad's tree recovering from his ordeal and I've asked
him to visit the church in Grimsburg for any help or advice I may be able to
offer.
Praise be to Longstor and the
seven,
Your
friend,
High
Father Ellvar lupan.
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