A Funeral for the Alpha

It was a warm day for late winter. The sun shone bright, the animals of the forest were awake and moving, after a short winter’s nap. But on this beautiful warm winter’s day, an area of shadow loomed over the manor house. A large, bearded man walked up to the guarded doors and was allowed to pass without question: The guards knew the time had come. Griswald, as the man is known, was escorted down to the crypts with a full honor guard in his wake. In the Crypt Aralia waited solemnly with the Baroness, tears glittering in her eyes. Griswald went into the crypt, paused for a moment, and looked at the remains of the Great Alpha, his sire, laying in the cold space before gently picking up his body. As he exited the crypt, the honor guard saluted and held their weapons in honor position.  As Griswald walked down the hall, Aralia and the Baroness walked behind him. As they all passed, the honor guard followed in formation behind them. When they got outside, many members of the township of Elmerton were waiting outside and followed the honor guard. The procession headed towards the town’s shrine to Gwendolar in silence and even the woodland creatures seemed to bow their heads as they passed. At the Shrine, Verdod is waiting, and slightly dirty, and looking slightly angry. The grave for the Great Alpha had been dug in a grassy grove slightly west of the obelisk, and was lined with furs. Offerings had also been left alongside and in the grave.

Verdod and Griswald wrapped the Great Alpha’s body in the furs and lowered him gently into the grave, allowing everyone to pay their respects. Among them was Lynsara and Wilfamin Clearwater. The latter gazed upon the scene sadly and whispered an incantation sending an aura of tranquility around the area and causing an early growth of vegetation to sprout from the frosted ground. Ancient words written to send forth loved ones to the next life were spoken by the Baroness while Verdod, Griswald and Aralia covered the grave with sanctified burial dirt. Finally a Grave Marker was set for the Great Alpha under a sky filling with clouds. Remarkably, sunlight seemed to surround the grave and stayed this way until night time when then the sky cleared and the crescent moon shone brightly over the grave. All through the land the howls of wolves, werewolves, and wolfkin echo.

these are the events as recorded by Elgin Prokaire, wandering scribe

Grave Robbers Vandalize Manor House Catacombs

House Lav’Endros is currently investigating a burglary which occurred during the late night hours of Gatheringday, the15th of Boneharvest. According to an eyewitness, a small group of a half dozen or so shady looking figures were seen around the midnight hour traveling along Elmerton’s southern road before disappearing into the hillside below the Manor House grounds. It was later discovered by Lav’Endros guards that a secret entrance, hidden and long forgotten, had been unearthed within the property’s overgrown hedge maze and had been used to access a narrow tunnel leading to the deepest levels of the estate’s catacombs. Reportedly, the tunnel had been deliberately collapsed by the criminals to evade pursuit after they had robbed the graves of dozens of the dead buried within.
Baroness Lav’Endros is rumored to be furious with the audacity of these criminals and is offering a reward for any information leading to their capture. It is also being said that she has assigned responsibility of the investigation not to one of her senior House Guards, but instead to a relatively new member of her servant staff, a man by the name of Dolamus Dunfarri. For purposes of the investigation, Dunfarri has been given the interim position of “House Inquisitor” along with the rank and entitlements of a lesser noble.

Any and all information related to the case is to be directed to Detective Dunfarri.

Memoirs of an Oohm’dolian

*The following excerpts came from the few intact pages of a journal carried by a female spider-fae whose mutilated corpse was recently found lying in the woods just outside the ill-fated, treetop village of Oohm’dol in Craftshire

Petalsong, Year 126 of the Age of FortuneBy Gwendolar’s light we find ourselves traveling along the path to a long forgotten region few know of and even fewer have visited in a very long time. The trees here say the lands once went by the name of Marshall’s Landing and that those who once lorded over it are long past and no more. What is more disconcerting though is that many of the stones here lament that we should never have come to these accused woods, but now that we are here, we should “get comfortable” in our new home, for “all who enter, are never permitted to leave.” Ash and I are not sure how to take these words, but the two travelers we met this morning, although questionable of character, seemed unworried and have kindly offered to lead us safely to where a large group of adventurers have gathered and are attempting to rebuild this lost settlement. We are strengthened by our hope and the promise that Gwendolar will bless both us and this new community.

Harvestwane, Year 126 of the Age of FortuneSeven of them, reputedly “heroes” from the town of Elmerton, sat in the bushes all day and all night, squatting like dogs while high up in the trees above we mourned the loss of two of our own. Even the ugly one had enough sense to show respect. If not for her, we would never have been able to lay my brother and sister’s spirits to rest. Dasher and Ashengale, I will avenge your deaths and bring to justice the ones responsible. 

Reapingdusk, Year 126 of the Age of FortuneThe letter is sent as grandfather had asked. I do not expect a response, nor any aid to come from the “Town of Heroes”. The very same people Dasher and Ashengale lost their lives for while trying to help them escape from a place they never should have been in. My brother and sister were the true heroes. If I ever find out that these Elmertonians are responsible for their deaths they will pay…they will ALL pay!!

Boneharvest, Year 126 of the Age of Fortune~ I guess I was wrong about them, about everything. Grandfather was right. He trusts that ugly ogress, so I guess I do also. From what she told him, Dasher and Ashengale’s murderers got the justice they deserved. May they both rot in the Abyss and may Gwendolar forgive me for my doubt. Brother, sister…I miss you both and I pray you have found the peace you so deserve. 

Harvestwane, Year 127 of the Age of Fortune ~ Words can not express the loss I have suffered. First Dasher and Ashengale. Now Grandfather and so many of the others. Nimzy, I wish you were here. I sent a letter to the “Heroes of Elemerton. I pray they get it and, PLEASE Gwendolar, let them say yes!

Newgreen, Year 128 of the Age of FortuneYou never came, but its okay, for if you had I may never have met my most handsome prince. He is the one who truly saved me and the others. I feel though, that I should thank you, for he told me that it was you who led him to us and now we are together. So, thank you and we all hope to see you soon!

Petalsong, Year 128 of the Age of FortuneYou finally came to visit our new home, but you didn’t stay very long. I guess you had to run. That’s okay, we will come visit you in Elmerton real soon. See you then!

Enlightening, Year 128 of the Age of FortuneOur family is so big now, so many brothers and sisters. Oohm’dol has never looked more beautiful, all covered in gossamer veils like a bride on her wedding day. I hope my prince will return soon. He said he is going to bring home an old doctor friend he used to work with for dinner. I hope he’s yummy! 

Boneharvest, Year 128 of the Age of FortuneDr. Vorkrop is a genius!! I can’t believe he is going make my handsome hero into a real life PRINCE!!! I hope he asks me to be his princess!

HEARTSONG HARUMPH

My dear readers. I’m not one to write a snarky review, especially to a venue as public as the Magestic Messenger. But, after what I saw at the Celebration of Faith event a few weeks ago in Point Edgar, I just can’t help myself. Some people deserve roasting. 

While at the event, I noticed that Minister Heartsong of the Allegiant was scheduled to provide the keynote address about the Incarnation of Faith and their importance in agreement as the baseline to all worship and, thus, incarnational magic. Although a young minister, the Celebration welcomed Heartsong due to the long-established Heartsong name and reputation. At least that’s what the pamphlet said. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the Minister approached the podium. How old was this kid? 16? And a minister? You know what they say – some people fail upwards. 
Case and point to that, when Heartsong approached the podium and the crowd shushed down, all he did was stand there, stumbling through his notes, talking about the weather. Didn’t mention A WORD about the Incarnation of Faith. Eventually, the crowd turned on the sorry child, booing him, demanding SOME mention about their chosen incarnation – or any incarnation!

And yet, nothing. Heartsong appeared INCAPABLE of reciting any knowledge about the Incarnations AT ALL. Some Minister, right? Gotta say, it was pretty sad until the breadsticks were tossed at him. Then it was pretty funny, actually. Saved the whole evening. I was too busy laughing, but I think I saw him wiping tears away as he fled the stage, probably to head back to the Academy for more lessons.

In any case, dear readers. If this is what the Allegiant has come to – ministers who are children with zero knowledge about the incarnations in the world – are they even worth our time?

Sincerely,
Disappointed Faith Worshipper

Mine Thievery

After the odd disappearance of the iron mine last moon, royal inquisitors have been looking for any clues with no leads. Once again, they find themselves baffled as a copper mine in the mountains east of Point Edgar fell to a similar fate, vanishing seemingly overnight. The missing metal is estimated at about 200 tons of copper. After an in depth search into the mines, the only clue found was a crushed clockwork machine that seemed to be shaped like a spider the size of a small child. If you have any information on the situation or are specialists in clockwork machinery, please contact Inquisitor Hawthorne in Point Edgar.

Academy Students Stage Walk Out!

In an event that has never happened since the inception of the school’s history, students at the prestigious Irvanshire Academy of Point Edgar staged a walk out earlier this month. Even more shocking, the students have resisted returning to class ever since. When questioned as to why this was occurring, Emma Rawlings, who currently sits top of her class and president of the student council, explained: 

“After staring and staring at pages and pages of books and failing to retain anything, I kind of just gave up. What’s the point of trying to learn if you can’t recall anything? That’s what a lot of me and my friends were complaining about, anyway. Besides, everyone else bailed on class. Why wouldn’t I?”

Currently the Academy is still open, but its classrooms remain predominantly vacant as students blow off coursework, classes, and more. Local parents have grown desperate.

“When I deliver my son to school and find out that he plays hookey shortly thereafter, I have to ask: what are the teachers even DOING at that school?” one parent who wished to remain anonymous commented. “We pay a lot of coin for this school and I remain truly unimpressed with how the staff have been handling this issue. Just keep the students in class; how hard could it even BE? Shame on them!”


Weeks after the initial incident, attendance issues continue at the Academy. Anyone with any information or advice on how to curb this behavior is encouraged to reach out to the Academy directly.

Prominent Iron Mine Mysteriously Disappears.

After the tragedy that befell Tradegate two moons ago, supplies were called in to help rebuild. One such delivery was supposed to be a shipment of Iron Ore from a mine in the mountains south of Lakedale. When the shipment never arrived, a messenger was sent to find out why the shipment was behind schedule. What they found when they got there however baffled the messenger. The Mine was completely abandoned. No sign of life, and what’s weirder is, after some investigation, the Mine appears to have been completely stripped. An estimated amount of over 500 tons of metal ore completely vanished. Even the tools left behind by the now missing Miners were stripped of all metal, leaving the wooden handles behind. More investigation is underway.

The Sorrow of the Great Alpha

The following is a tale recounted by Albion of the Great Alpha’s pack to enlighten those without wolf blood, so they, too, can understand the sorrow of the Great Alpha. 

The moon has risen, large and full. Atop a mountain perch, a lone figure appears. The Great Alpha stands on the perch watching the full moon rise, as he has many times before. But this time his heart is heavy. Heavy with the loss of his pack members he has lost to the foul psychic shade that is corrupting his beloved wolves. He leans his head back, and a great mournful howl escapes his lips. It echoes across the land.

It can be heard by many- such a beautiful sound to most. But those with wolf blood in them know the truth within the howl. Pain and sadness is full within this howl. It tells a tale of how ten young wolves have lost their lives to the physic shade. The Great Alpha howls nine more times. Once for each member that was lost. All with wolf blood can see in their mind’s eye, the image of the Great Alpha standing on his perch howling, tears flowing from his eyes. He turns and looks at them all then fades away as if a dream. Because of all that the Great Alpha has done for werewolf kind, all those with wolf blood feel for the Great Alpha, and their hearts break for him and those that were lost. Well, almost all.  

Strange New Violent Creatures Discovered Near Elmerton!

Eugine Ladingail, a traveling merchant was returning home after a month away from home, to a small Hamlet named Ivy. When he returned home he expected to return home to his wife and daughters, but instead he returned to a ghost town. What happened? Where did everyone go? This is the story of Eugine Ladingail.  

“I think the first thing I noticed was the smell,” says Eugine. “The air it smelled strange, like a chemical smell, like acid, but there was something else mixed in as well, I don’t know what it was but it didn’t smell good.” Eugine then described to me how he searched Ivy looking to see where everyone had gone, calling out for his wife and children, but nobody answered him, nobody came. “I searched every building in Ivy, and I found no one, everyone was gone. That’s when I began looking for signs, seeing what could had done this and where could they have gone.” 

Eugine noticed that many of the doors were not bashed open, but burned open melted away with some acidic substance and that none of the valuables were removed from the house. Eugine also noticed that on the dirt pathways outside that he only saw the citizens boot prints and not any tracks made by the attackers. But then upon closer inspection he found strange “footprints”- areas were the soft dirt had flattened perfectly in the shape of a toeless foot. The same footprints were found inside the houses as well, areas where the stain of the floorboards were completely removed from the wood.

“It’s almost like whoever came into Ivy didn’t come here for any valuables, they came there for the people” Euigine said.“It was quiet for a very long time until I entered one house searching it for anyone still left. It was empty, same as the others, but the smell of acid was stronger in here, that when I heard something. I turned and ducked just in time as a large hand soared over my head, if I had not reacted I surely would have been hit. Standing before me was a humanoid creature, standing at around 6ft tall, it’s limbs were unnaturally long, it’s head or what resembled a head was devoid of features, and it’s flesh was made of translucent green slime that smelled strongly of some acidic chemical. And within it’s it’s slimy body I noticed floating within was swirls or crimson and bits partially dissolved bone. In it’s other hand it held a rusted mace, the grip of which was slowly being eaten away by the creatures touch. 

“I unsheathed my sword and took a swing at the creature. It dug deep into the creatures torso and it let out an inhuman scream, like some horrible demonic fetus screaming through sludge. As I drew my blade out of the creature, green thick sludge poured from the wound sloshing onto the floor. I looked at my blade and I noticed small pockmarks all across the part of the sword where it made contact with the creature. It continued with its otherworldly piping as it swung its mace at me, I dodged out of the way and the mace collided with a nearby wall and got lodged in place. While it tried to free the mace from the wall I slashed at it again, it landed in the thing’s shoulder blade, I pulled out the blade and slashed it across the stomach. It cried out again, its… well… what mimicked breathing, grew more raspy, and more and more of its thick sludgy innards lapped onto the floor. 

“It staggered towards me and sung at me with one of its fists. I dodged out of the way but the second fist caught me off guard and grabbed onto my left forearm. It felt like my forearm was being stabbed with a thousand razor blades over and over again. I tried to pull away but its vice-like grip held strong, while its other hand began to reach towards my head, its rasping labored sludge filled breathing echoed in my ears. I pulled and pulled and felt its grip loosening, I pulled one last time, moment of awful pain and I freed myself from its grip. I stepped back and swung my sword, I swung once at the chest making a diagonal cut across the creature’s torso, and again at its neck. With a wet slap and a loud gurgling scream its faceless head toppled to the floor, its neck began to spill more of the foul sludge as its headless body stumbled towards me, hands groping at the air, and with one last gurgling otherworldly cry it fell onto the ground and died.

“Its body immediately began to lose shape and melted into a pile of ooze, I noticed that the pile of ooze that was its right hand was was a deep shade of crimson and looked down at the arm that it had grabbed. Most of the skin on my forearm was gone leaving the severely damaged muscle and in some places, like my fingers, bone was also exposed.”

Eugine told us that he then walked to the next town over to get medical attention and to report the hamlet’s destruction to the town guard. Eugine ended up having to get his left forearm amputated and he has completely recovered from his injuries. 

Eugine’s story is sadly not unique, over the course of the summer, many small communities that were once thriving and full of life are now ghost towns and larger settlements have been reporting disappearances and sightings of these strange long limbed humanoids roaming large packs. However, what is strange is that all the farms, hamlets, and small towns that were attacked were nearby or somewhat nearby to the large town of Elmerton. Even some of the large farms and settlements that have survived attacks from these creatures were seen approaching from and retreating toward the direction of the town of Elmerton. What could this mean? Could Elmerton the town of heroes created the creatures? If so then why? More as the story continues. 

Magestic Messenger Reporter: Miles Dakly

Traders’ Bay attacked and burned down!

In a vicious attack that was done by either pirates or terrorists the world renowned trade port, Traders’ Bay was sacked just a night ago.

As night fell a fleet of ten ships approached the bay. They soon walled off the dock area with their ships and attacked both the Traders’ Bay and the Unity Mining Company in an attack that will cost tradesmen and commoners an untold fortune. Wooden structures where burned to the ground, mines were collapsed and robbed. Men, women, and children who were part of the community, who lived there, lost their lives to these enemies of decency.  Rico Demesmarc, the overseer of the Bay, did his best to mount a counter attack against these villains, but the numbers were just too great. His men were slain, dying bravely in combat in defense of the lands and people. Mr. Demesmarc’s modest home was sacked and set ablaze. His body has yet to be recovered, but there is so much chaos and wreckage left behind it may take some time to fully have a count of those murdered.

The loss of innocent life is tragically high but the real numbers may never be known due to destructive fires and the mine cave-ins. The loss of money is nigh incalculable as the repercussions on, not only the local economy, but the global economy, will be severe. Everyone from the simple farmer to the highest member of royal society will feel this for years to come. We can only hope and pray that something of this terrible magnitude will never occur again and that these pirates will be brought to justice.

Brenard O’Callighan
Royal Scribe of Terl Ayre