Strange Events Plague Crosswinds Tavern

Crosswinds Tavern, Shadokhan - A platoon of Silver Moon Knights has been stationed at the Crosswinds Tavern following several strange events concerning the North Portal. According to witnesses several cycles ago, a small metal sphere emerged from the portal, rolled into the common room, and stopped. It then exploded in a blinding light, leaving patrons momentarily stunned. No one was seriously injured in the explosion, but other details appear to be somewhat conflicting.

The second attack occurred only days later. By all accounts, a War Golem entered the tavern through the portal, bearing the sort of metal sphere previously encountered. The creature threw the sphere at Miss Zharyka Jelahldoran, the tavern's proprietress, where the sphere exploded, sending another blinding flash through the room. Again, there appeared to be no major injuries. No one in the tavern at the time seems to know what happened to the Golem or the sphere, but most believe it retreated into the portal, and reports of a War Golem lurking in the bordering woods appear to be wildly unfounded.

The Silver Moon Knights have established their presence in and around the tavern exclusively to ensure the safety of staff and patrons. No arrests have been made, in keeping with the Dreven Pact, and those in charge have made it clear that they fully intend to honor the Pact. Even the knights do not seem to know the exact nature of the threat, and speculations continue to abound. Anyone with information regarding the strange events can report directly to any guard in the Tavern.

Snow Doubt

Damansque, Luminii - Earthfreeze revelry began a bit early this year, when several intoxicated farmers were found outside, half-frozen, on the last day of the cycle. Vivomancers were called to revive the men, who later explained that they had miscounted the days and had already begun celebrating the passing of the cycle.

Traditionally the coldest cycle of the year, and also the shortest, the first day after Earthfreeze is commonly marked with festivity, especially among farmers, who believe the day to be a turning point toward the new season.

Logaine Bethe, one of the Vivomancers called to the scene, advised caution for would-be merrymakers: "The days surrounding Earthfreeze can be dangerously cold as well," he remarked. "If you wish to celebrate, it would be wise to remain indoors and out of the cold."

Earthfreeze at the Crosswinds?

Crosswinds Tavern, Shadokhan - Either the Crosswinds Tavern, just outside Dreven, is incredibly unlucky, or its owner is terribly clever. It is rumored the the long-vanished mixed mage known as Freon made an attack on the patrons of the Crosswinds. Some truth to this is supported by the presence of a five-foot, strangely blue-hued chunk of ice in the tavern's common room; encapsulated within is supposedly Freon himself. Despite the uncanniness, many patrons still insist on visiting the Crosswinds, braving the constant cold emanating from the ice block, partially warded off by a larger fire and warm clothes. It makes one wonder about the sanity of the local tavern-goers. This reporter certainly wouldn't hang around a mixed mage, frozen or no!

But did the whole event actually happen, or is it some stunt to draw a crowd and fill the coffers of the Emperor's special tavern? It seems unlikely that a dangerous villian like Freon is left in a tavern taproom that's still open for business; wouldn't the Emperor have the place closed off, and Arch-magess Annabella Morningstar summoned to ensure the man within is not a threat? Nothing comes forth from Taysayad about the event at all. Sounds to me like Mistress Zharyka has staged some intrigue to pull in the patrons that reads like a Carnival attraction: Come see Frozen Freon! Two bits!

Now Open

Cara's Tailoring, for all your tailoring needs!

Visit our new location just South of Taysayad Keep. Follow the main road and look for our bright green banner!

Also, while you're here, be sure to visit our expert Milliner for the latest in Court Fashions.

In today's troubled times, everyone's looking for something to take their minds off their worries.

Come visit The Smelly Rat located at the corner of Gravel Road and Cobblestone Avenue, all week to receive daily drink specials!!

Also, for your enjoyment, dancer Karayan Dianthe will be performing her enticing shimmies every evening all week long!

Single dwarven female seeking out dwarven male for fun and excitement. Must enjoy late night bar brawls and long walks in the swamps. Personal odor a requirement and a large, fairly bushy beard preferred. A large pick axe highly recommended. Any interested please send your requests to: Drauwen Ironcutter c/o the Double Axe Inn.

Quinn's
Thespian Troupe

Will be performing every even night in Blossombud, outside the main gate to Dreven City.

Desert Rogue
Back by popular demand!
Blossombud 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12th.
Admission is 1sp

Privateers of the
Seven Sisters Islands
A new play about adventure and romance in Southern Oceanuus
Blossombud 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26th.
Admission is 1sp

~ and ~

The 'Mancer
and the Maiden
Due to subject matter, no children will be permitted in the audience. Smelling salts will be made available to the audience.
Blossombud 28th and 30th only.
Admission is 1gp.

Plays begin 30 minutes after dusk.

The local druid predicts rainy, chilly weather for most of Blossombud, with sunnier days near the end of the cycle. Farmers should wait until after the first tenday, when flooding is expected in the low-lying areas of Shadokhan.

Fire and Ice on the Menu at Local Tavern

Crosswinds Tavern, Shadokhan - Alas, my fellow Drevenites, but that quaint tavern just outside of our austere city has proven to be the locale of yet another event to put fear into the metal armor of a Silver Moon Knight.

The Winds of Gossip say that the long-vanished mixed mage known as Freon attacked the Emperor's Crosswinds Tavern.

The whole event reads like a tale out of the Fables of Miarlech. Sources say that Freon began an altercation with the Oceanuusian Ambassador Edail Achiras, and then attempted to harm the Crosswinds' proprietor, Zharyka Jelahldoran. Miss Jelahldoran was saved at the last moment by the intervention of Solar Knight Cravideous Saerndakk--he's handsome, ladies, but always in the thick of trouble. And... Isn't he dead..? A young pyromancer also happened to be present, and he plied his art with artless care, nearly setting the whole of the commons on fire with a misplaced fireball! The distraction allowed the patronage of the Crosswinds to scuttle for cover while our local heros attempted to subdue the mage. Achiras and Solar Knight Saerndakk, along with bartender Adrahm Brine, an overly large fellow--makes one wonder what his mother fed him--engaged the mage with swords and an axe, while the pyromancer melted through the mage's defenses, my sources say.

Exactly how the conflict ended is muddled. Rumors abound, some saying that Miss Jelahldoran used unknown powers to bind the mage, and his last effort at freedom froze all nearby. Others claim that Edail Achiras single-handedly took down Freon with a magic rod. Yet another version entails Arch-magess Irmaa Vep showing up and subduing Freon, then melting into the shadows to lick her wounds back in Balthazor. The truth is buried within an ice block, however, and no one from the Crosswinds is talking, not even the contingent of Silver Moon Knights that were supposedly out back during the conflict. What's true is that two men are frozen inside the ice, and the Oceanuusian Ambassador is often guarding the block.

As an interesting sidenote, apparently, no stranger to these pages, "Lord" Delwin Simmons attacked the bartender Brine after the battle had ended, upsetting one young lady later reavealed to be the Solar Knight's own sister, Lorisha Saerndakk. A lover's tiff, perhaps? Even more saucy is the fact that Miss Saerndakk is really Lady Kielias; her husband lives in Luminii. Perhaps this is a story for our Mistress of Mystery, Brynnalia, to unveil!

Wanted!

Malcoven, Balthazor - Silver Moon Knights have long been on the trail of a string of murders, spanning back as many as thirteen years ago. The first of the murders occured during 25th of Bitewind, 1247 when Vanetta and Tra Adresack were brutally murdered in their Malcoven residence. Their newborn son was also recovered dead, the cruel murderer letting him starve to death. Investigators failed to recover the Adresack's eldest child, daughter Jazmine, and soon closed the case as unsolved. Until recently, many had thought the young Adresack girl fell victim to her parent's murderer. The Adresack's were a well-respected family, and were missed by many. Shortly after their murder, several books were stolen from the temple which they protected inside the city, suggesting the murderer and the thief were one and the same.

Now, thirteen years later, investigators have been uncovering more murders in a gruesome trail that started with the Adresacks. And yet, they feel they've uncovered the culprit; none other then young Jazmine herself. After reportedly frequenting the Crosswinds Tavern, and having several late-night rendevous with other tenants, Jazmine Adresack was last seen in the company of one Cecil Deathlight, another Necromancer. It is said that Adresack is responsible for over ten deaths over the past decade, not including the murder of her own parents. This gruesome list of victims includes: Sanbar Garrison, Vanetta Adresack's brother, Garrison's wife Barika, from Thermador; Balthazorian merchant Kaspar Borend, his apprentices, twelve year old Sieglaya and ten year old Tabitha Tymon; Owner of the Bleached Toothbrush Inn, Tobias Nikolos, stablehand Nadia Quinnlan, tender Jael Mercantum and two unidentified tavern patrons.

Jazmine is considered extremely dangerous. She is roughly 5'11' in height. She has long black hair and near-black eyes. She is also approximately 150 lbs in weight. Any sightings of her should be reported directly to the Office of the Magistrate.

Missing Silver Moon Knight Has Officials Worried

Dreven, Shadokhan - What seems to be a reoccurring trend since the Dreven Fire Rain, yet another Silver Moon Knight has gone missing. Lady Daria Barnes, Sergeant First-Class at Fort Wantlokin, Luminii, was last seen in the company of fellow Knight Sir Iridial Davistus right before the turning of the New Year, about a ten-day after her testified assault. From eyewitness reports, Barnes had been severely beaten and was near-death. Tied to a horse, Barnes was dragged an estimated one and a half miles by her own mare, Nightingale, to the Tavern where she was therein discovered by Davistus and several other Tavern patrons. According to official intelligence, Barnes was rushed to Fort Ubolutiin where she was taken care of by several Solar Knights.

She was released from their care a short time after her arrival, and was seen at the Swaggering Swan Tavern in the company of aforementioned Davistus two days after her release. The couple supposedly shared an intimate dinner before parting ways at the northern border of the city. This is the last alleged sighting of the decorated young Knight.

Captain Volaraine Shakar has told our reporters that, "Sir Davistus is not a suspect in our investigation, however we ask that anyone with any knowledge of the events that took place at the Crosswinds or otherwise, or any information on the whereabouts of Lady Barnes, that they report this immediately to the Silver Moon Knights."

Daria Barnes is roughly 5' 7" in height, 135 lbs in weight. She has medium-length chestnut brown hair and blue eyes. She also supposedly has a tattoo on her right shoulder blade of a moon being pierced by a long sword. After speaking to the Dreven Gazette exclusively, the Vivomancer revealed that he had indeed left behind on the young Knight a lightening bolt-esque scar on her left forearm. Lady Barnes served in Fort Wantlokin as Sergeant First-Class, and is said to be a good scholar. She graduated in the top 5% of her class, being placed in the Investigative Corps. Supposedly, Lady Barnes was on the heels of a top-secret investigation within the Silver Moon Knights.

If you have any information on Daria Barnes' whereabouts, contact as instructed above or you may also write the Gazette. All information will be kept anonymous if so chosen.

Thespian Troupe Arrives in Dreven

Renowned Writer-Actor Alexander Quinn and his Thespian troupe have begun a tour of the Silver Moon Empire, beginning with a cycle-long stint in the Imperial city itself. Performances will start at 30 minutes after dusk, outside the main gates of Dreven.

Three plays will be shown during Blossombud, the first is his popular telling of a traditional Thermadoran tale, Desert Rogue. Quinn is delightful in the role of the Rogue, and Giovanna d'Atelli portrays his lively cohort (and sometime thorn-in-the-side) Camilla.

Two other plays are to be presented, both new: Privateers of the Seven Sisters Islands, and The 'Mancer and the Maiden.

Girard ... who??

Let me begin with admitting my own surprise at this latest news. The groom of this much anticipated wedding since my last gossip column came as a complete surprise to me, hitting me upside the head with the rest of you when the wedding announcement was posted all over the capital city.

"Girard ... who?" was my first thought. Since then, I have been running about frantically, trying to gather news to bring you the gossip that you are hungering for.

Girard Khersones, as the announcement states, is the second born of the Emperor of our newly and rather inconspicuous neighboring Empire across the seas, the Khorezim. The wedding was indeed held in Arboria with selectively exclusive list of invited nobles and elven lords and ladies.

The rumor is that this Prince Girard is a rather handsome, likeable, gentle man. And highly educated. He recently graduated from some highly respected academic organization in his homeland.

How did he catch the eye of the Princess? And for how long was he courting her? Some say as long as since last autumn. Some servants at Taysayad Keep whisper that the Prince and the Princess were in attendance of the Masque together, while others say they met there, although no other guest can verify this. Others say that the Princess has been in Arboria since last summer, enjoying the elven hospitality since the dreaded reign of the Khan. Some rumors hint at a discourse between her and her brother, our Imperial Liege, Tumian Dreven.

Many rumors are burning upon the tongues of a few who know. Even fewer know the truth, and none of them are willing to speak. The Emperor and the Weaponsmaster have not been seen together for sometime now, but this has been the case since last winter after the Masque. But history has shown that the absence of the Weaponsmaster from public sight is not an entirely unknown event.

One thing I know for certain, ladies, is that while this little shocker may have brought seeming misfortune to the Weaponsmaster, it is good fortune for the rest of us! This means Chajar Shaldolf-Sundew ... is back on the market

Dead or Alive

That is the question when it comes to the Solar Knight, Cravideous Saerndakk. It seems this knight does not know which way he wants to lay. It was reported a few cycles ago that the Solar Knight met his death in the alleyways of Dreven City at the hands of an assassin.

Many gathered on a winter's eve to mourn his death, with Lord Delwin Simmons speaking on behalf of the deceased. But the seemingly quiet gathering was abruptly ceased when Irmaa Vep decided to also pay her own kind of respect to the dead ... either by making sure he was dead, or that he became undead. What her exact intentions were, who knows?

Whatever the case, she announced to all that the Solar Knight lived! One particular cloaked attendee was not at all pleased in this, for he then surged forth and implanted a dagger in the chest of the still-alive Solar Knight, attempting, apparently, to ensure the funeral was not for naught. This prompted the supposed dead Solar Knight to rise from his coffin, shocking all in attendance.

More chaos ensued then when the doors to the memorial were kicked down and a squadron of Silver Moon Knights entered, headed by Captain Pergaeron himself. Orders were given to apprehend the assassin, but too quickly the assassin turned the dagger onto himself, ending his own life. Meanwhile, the stabbed Solar Knight was tended to by a Vivomancer in attendance before there was an actual need to renew this fiasco of a funeral.

Ah ... but one should never think that death ends all. Not when the Arch-Magess of Necromancy struts about. Irmaa Vep raised the lifeless corpse, and the knights, including Cravideous Saerndakk, interrogated the oddly animated assassin. Many implications were made, including an involvement of an organization called the Triumvirate (I do not think Triad will be happy with such an obvious duplication of their name) who was responsible for sending the assassin. There were even accusations that this little known organization had reaches into the Knighthood itself!

A part of me wondered if the Arch-Magess could manipulate the undead like a puppet at this point, and put words in its mouth. It would not surprise me.

Most were ordered out at this point from the scene, leaving only Knights about. I managed to stay upon the authorization of the Undead Queen, and before she took her own bedding in Cravideous' former coffin, she did tell me this: Much is to happen soon in the capital of Balthazor.

With this new Triumvirate scheming about, it seems Necropolis is not the only capital that will see interesting times, and soon. Does Triad have a rival ... or a rip-off?

Mad Mad Mage

To completely change the pace, let me relate to you some harrowing bit of gossip. The tales burning like wildfire about the capital city regarding the recent attacks at the Crosswinds Tavern are true, the Mad Mage Icaruss Ap-ol Ithgath himself (a mouthful to say the least) did visit the infamous tavern! This I did witness with mine own eyes.

The Mad Mage came without a warning through the -- what many about the capital now whisper as the "cursed" or "dangerous" -- Northern Portal. He entered as if he was the proprietor himself, his stature proud and arrogant. Many, including myself, did not notice his rather fanfare-lacking arrival, until that is ... the room went colorless. This was the same phenomena that had happened before, with mysterious delivery of orbs and even a sighting of a Golem from the Northern Portal.

Let me segue here to say that Icaruss Ap-ol Ithgath does not wear the face of a mad man as I had suspected, as many believe they have seen in their nightmares. Nay, he wears the face of a man. Seemingly a mortal man. And although his face has burned itself permanently into my memory, oddity is that an exact description of him escapes me. He looks simply ... average. And yet he is nothing of the sort.

I do not think the rest of the patrons of the crowded tavern had enough sense to react ... until the Mad Mage began an attack on one particular patron, Edail Archiras, the Oceanuusian Ambassador that I am certain my readers are already familiar with. It all happened much too quickly, but the Mad Mage suddenly unleashed an assault of a fireblast then a bolt of necromantic energy. Archiras was somehow fortunate enough to evade both, but not the final attack, when the earth below the tavern rose up and swallowed him whole.

With his apparent target buried, and a few crazy patrons beginning to assault him, the Mad Mage then left ... leaving many reeling in the aftermath.

Edail Archiras was pulled free from the earthen grave, and now walks with a limp -- luckily his only reminder of the wrath of Icaruss. There was also a note left behind by the Mad Mage after the entire incident, that was delivered personally by me to the Emperor. The consequences ... have yet to be seen.