July 2014

The End (EM Fiction) Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 30, 2014 at 3:52 PM CDT Originally posted July 29th, 2014 by EM Malachi on the Great Lakes EM Site: From Flain’s Final Book: The oldest rangers know when their time is near. When one spends his life observing nature, one learns to know how things live and die. One feels the moment when one goes from the hunter to mere carrion. I am a child of Skara Brae, and though they will no longer have me, I learned my lessons well. My end is near. I have a rose for each of the fallen, including me. It will end where it began. I was much younger when I followed Blackthorn’s call to anarchy. My fellow Chaos Knights and I stood against the polite and diseased authority of false virtue. Those beliefs brought me to this place and to the fight where I killed those I once called kin. When the certainty of combat had passed and my hands were covered in blood, my path was forever set. I could never turn back. To read the full story on the forums, click HERE.

Reports of Illness in Cove Unfounded Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 29, 2014 at 6:50 PM CDT Unsubstantiated reports indicated that the hamlet of Cove might be facing the outbreak of an unknown illness. Several traders had described seeing bleary-eyed citizens slowly shuffling around the city in a daze. Contacted via com crystal, Ingrid, Cove’s Chief Healer, stated that she has seen no such illness nor had any increase in patients in recent weeks. She believes what the traders described to be merely the results of late night overindulgence of spirits owing to the increased commerce after detente was reached with the local orc clan. Ingrid went on to say that there is nothing to fear from the citizens of Cove and that the Council of Elders eagerly welcomes both travelers and merchants with open arms. [Discuss This Article]

Zox’s Monthly Fishing Contest! (August 2014) Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 29, 2014 at 6:30 PM CDT Originally posted July 29th, 2014 by EM Elizabella on the Great Lakes EM Site: Congratulations to Dangling WORM for catching the heaviest crystal fish! Zox Greatsnapper loves the shimmering, glittery fish. The wonderful sparkliness of the crystal fish makes the little goblin crave even more pretties! She would like a rainbow fish and/or a unicorn fish. Both can be found in the Twisted Weald. The fish must be caught between July 29th and August 26th. Please leave the fish in the mailbox by August 26th at 11:59 p.m. CDT. If your fish is not the heaviest, you may have it back, if you leave a house rune to your mailbox with the fish. [Discuss This Article]

Request for Aid Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 27, 2014 at 6:03 PM CDT Originally posted July 27th, 2014 by EM Malachi on the Great Lakes EM Site: To any ship and crew loyal to Britannia: This evening, several explosions went off in one of the towers at Bordermarch. While no one was killed, Sir Sentri and several of our paladins were injured. We have discovered the person responsible and detained him. He claims to have acted under duress. He has provided information about an attack against Bordermarch, to take place in two days. The attack destroyed or buried our stockpile of powder charges and cannon balls, leaving us vulnerable. We request the aid of our privateers and any reinforcements the Crown can provide. Steve, the smith of Bordermarch (The Royal Spies should be ready to provide assistance.) [Discuss This Article]

Minoc to Bordermarch Caravan Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 24, 2014 at 11:49 PM CDT From the office of Tanda Knighthawke, Governor of Minoc: For more than a week volunteers and staff of Governor Tanda Knighthawke’s Grotto worked to ready supplies for the trek to Bordermarch. Arrangements were made with local shepherds to arrange for wool for weaving, and for shipping in bulk, lamb to be readied for shipping, and some to be slaughtered. Haggis was prepared, bread and pies baked, cloth woven, ale bottled and animal feed crated for the long march and shipboard journey to Dragon Isle. Once all was ready and packaged for shipping upon the backs of horses, the animals were led by Piero, and employee of Governor Knighthawke’s father in law, to the Minoc bank. Governor Knighthawke by virtue of magic delivered a specially ordered barrel of brandy along with a few sheep, chicken and goats which she was able to enchant and lead through a gate. Using the cover of the Britannian Armed Forces building she was able to arrive with minimal risk of being seen. Tanda left a note and the goods she’d delivered for Sentri and those stationed there in the secured receptacle. A small group gathered near the bank, Lord Nox, Denubiss, Nivers Nexus, Piero, Sir Basil Thorn and Vasortylem. Governor Knighthawke greeted the group and the route was discussed only so far as the first destination. In the party was a gathering of mages, archers and melee fighters, the plan was to march to Cove where a ship was waiting for them to board for the next leg of the journey. With no dock available in Minoc and Sweet Maid Sally in Vesper it seemed safer to risk the Orcs near Cove. During the long tromp through the woods the small group ran into an ambush. From seemingly nowhere wolves and an archer appeared. The attackers attempted to split the party. The guards did well sticking together but the first pack horse was lost before reaching the Buccaneer’s Den land gate. The supplies from the dead horse were split between the remaining horses and people and the journey continued. As the group left the ease of traveling by road to move cross country to Cove, the attacks increased. It soon became obvious the intent was to lure guardians of the caravan into pursuit where they could be picked off one by one. Many wounds were inflicted up on the guards, nothing the healers couldn’t manage in the field. The second pack horse was lost in this section of the trip, the contents abandoned in hopes of moving what was left more quickly to the port. Upon arriving in Cove, the group entered the city gate. The city guards held off the attackers from entering the city and the caravan headed for the cove docks. The ship was loaded, as a sign of peaceful intent the ship carried no armaments relying instead on speed to out run anything choosing to pursue. They departed Cove for the Trinsic port, the sail was uneventful save the odd water elemental and slight pause to watch the dolphins play. Once in Trinsic, the party made their way through the city and out the main gate again working their way through the trees and brush until they reached the Dragonhame Mountains. Following the mountain range south then moving cross country to the shore across from Dragon isle. There they boarded the ship again to sail to the island where Bordermarch Fortress stands. From the tales related to me I am not sure if it was fate dealing us a good hand or the Goddess protecting them, the sea monsters plaguing the began to give chase just as another ship appeared on the horizon. Thankfully due to the tremendous skill of the ship’s captain the sea monsters opted to pursue the brigands. Once anchored offshore, the unloading began, the next assault came as the group entered the fortress an unseen assailant waited, they were run off and the remaining goods delivered to the fort. Governor Knighthawke and her husband, who had been waiting at Bordermarch, thanked and welcomed the caravan party. Payment was made to settle up with those who risked injury or their lives in its defense. Sadly, upon inspection it seems what was lost in the attacks was the crate of ale from Minoc and the cloth and wool.

Advertisement Submitted by Ad_Weasel on July 22, 2014 at 2:56 AM CDT [Discuss This Article]

The Running of the Humans Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 18, 2014 at 8:27 PM CDT Originally posted July 17th, 2014 by EM Elizabella on the Great Lakes EM Site: Annually, by their reckoning of a year, the minotaurs have a Running of the Humans. The minotaurs consider it a festive event. Captive humans have traditionally been released along the path, for the contestants to battle as a show of their strength and bravery. This year, in a nod to human rights activists amongst the minotaurs, volunteer humans will be tried instead. If you would like to participate, please meet at the Counselor Hall on Saturday, July 19th, at 8:00 p.m. CDT. Wear a bright red cloak, if possible, and be well-armed. You are not a contestant in the race. You are the obstacle. [Discuss This Article]

Fourteenth Royal Council Meeting Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 18, 2014 at 8:17 PM CDT Originally posted July 16th, 2014 by an EM on the Great Lakes EM Site: His Majesty King Blackthorn invites the governors and all interested citizens to the fourteenth meeting of the Royal Council. It will be held in the Council Room at Castle Blackthorn on Friday, July 18th, 9:00 p.m. CDT. Please note that the time is an hour later than usual. If a governor will not be able to attend a meeting, please contact one of the King’s secretaries. [Discuss This Article]

Bordermarch Letters of Marque Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 11, 2014 at 6:51 PM CDT Originally posted July 10th, 2014 by an EM on the Great Lakes EM Site: Sir Sentri has put all granted Letters of Marque on display in a gold box in the war room at Bordermarch. He will grant additional Letters to those who successfully apply. Interested ship captains should speak to him. [Discuss This Article]

Royal Spy Promotions and Secret Decoder Rings Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 9, 2014 at 7:27 PM CDT Originally posted July 3rd, 2014 by EM Malachi on the Great Lakes EM Site: Your Royal Spy rank, and the item that goes with it, will be available, upon request, during the month of July to spies who couldn’t be at the ceremony on Tuesday. These are for ranks earned by the end of June by attending at least three Tuesday events. [Discuss This Article]

Oceanographic Survey Mission Summary Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on July 1, 2014 at 7:52 PM CDT From the office of Governor Knighthawke of Minoc: The night was fair and the skies clear as a small crowd gathered on the shores of Yew to set off to map out the water boundaries for two of the King’s cities. Tensions have been escalating between Jhelom and Skara Brae for some time now. Ever since the abduction and deaths of a number of citizens including children from Skara Brae the Governors of Skara Brae have believed Jhelom to be at the root of all their problems. During a peace summit held on the island of Nujel’m , graciously offered as a site by the Sultan himself as neutral ground, there was a plan put in place to attempt to establish borders and there by hopefully deescalate the situation. Only to have an attack occur along the coast of Nujel’m severely crippling a fishing vessel from Skara Brae that had brought then Governor Neptune out to the island. Around 8 p.m. by the central skies Governor Tanda Knighthawke and her husband John, Governor Thom Jameison of Jhelom, Governor Riley of Skara Brae(known as "Captain" Riley), Malag Aste of Newcastle (appointed by Governor Willa), and ship’s Captain and Britain appointee Vasortylem set sail from the Yew coast to the seas north of Skara Brae.It had been arranged to use the High Council's frigate, officially named the Queen Dawn's Legacy. Rapidly, the debate began in earnest about where the northern border of the seas to be protected by Skara Brae should begin. Governor Knighthawke and her husband had done extensive exploration looking into the waters, what sits on shore, where the cities outer limits land attempting to at least give an initial heading to the Captain. So the group headed to approximately 0 degrees North by 90 degrees west as the first coordinates, a northern mark in the middle of the ocean. Governor Riley said he’d prefer the Northern border to be near the beach, about 13 degrees north by 83 degrees west. Everyone else, however, felt that beach was definitely a portion of Yew. The proposed southern end was about 76 degrees south and 31 degrees west as scouted by Minoc. This was thought to be too restrictive in general by the remainder of the surveyors, it left the southern end of Skara Brae about even with the lowest farm fields and well above the dungeon of Destard. The next proposed southern end would have extended Skara Brae’s control to include about 120 degrees south just above Serpent Pillars. Governor Riley felt that Skara Brae could control the Serpent Pillar with little or no complaint from Papua for having done a favor for that city's now-former Mayor. With much debate a settlement was reached leaving the Serpent Pillars and Dragon Island as neutral area. Next began the task of trying to define Jhelom. It was suggested that Jhelom should be inside a box around 30o West to 90o East and then 150o South (Server line) to 145o North. The group arrived at the northern end just south of Dragon Island began discussing again the neutrality of Dragon Island and Serpent Pillars. As the group began sailing south toward that end of the Jhelom islands, they noted a ship tracking their course, gaining on their position. Never gaining enough ground to be completely visible. The group presumed it to be a pirate ship. When it nearly broad-sided the Queen Dawn's Legacy, the group knew they had been right and fled at top speed. Governor Knighthawke's husband, John, had settled on this strategy early on, knowing that pirates had too much of an advantage. Safely back in Yew the Governors and their representatives disembarked and then went about their normal routines. Later on, Governor Riley submitted a written proposal following the mission with the following description, transcribed exactly by Governor Knighthawke: “Territorial boundaries: The City of Skara Brae proposes the following boundary lines. The northern boundary line shall be set forth along the 49o 59S according to the sextant lines. The southern boundary line shall be 99o 18S according to the sextant lines. The eastern boundary shall be set forth along the serpents spine mountains not to go past the proposed northern boundary, to encompass the landmaks known as the heage maze and spiritwood. To stop at the river banks and down to encompass Dragonhame Mountains not to exceed the prepoised boundary line. The western boundary shall be set forth along the 92o 36W line according to the sextant lines." A map was commissioned to depict what was discussed after the mission and the debates and notes that followed from other cities. [Discuss This Article]