Herald’s Quarterly 9169, 1st Quarter

Steel Realms

Hear-Ye! Hear-Ye! Read all about it! The Herald’s Quarterly. A semi-regular quasi-quarterly journal of events in The Steel Realms published by the World Watchers.
Herald’s Quarterly 9169, 1st Quarter CY 9169 Month 1 – 3

Dunstrand Rising Living World

Heartlands Spark > Set in Duchy of Dunstrand of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms, as a Living World storyline.

STATUS: Published in Oerdney

The Chains of the Lich Lords Tighten

The Ork knight, now dubbed the Chieftan of All-Sleep, has smashed the army of Kaald and the Freelands, restoring the supremacy of the Lords of Undeath in the north. It was a brief moment where the forces of the north seemed poised to make gains, but it was snatched away. The Chieftan of All-Sleep lead a never before seen army of Orrish zombies and skeletons that was smashed by northern powers that included Theodrose and his knights, Kaald, and even elements from Gwinn showing a rare amount of unity. The armies at North Gate Garrison gained a reprieve for a couple months though, and defenses were improved before the armies once again began their assault.

SOUL SCOURGE PROGRESS

Worsening impact of The Gruxxand Incident (“The Soul Scourge”) of CY 9168 – The High King has begun to raise an army of elves of Ynth and men. There is a corruption in Vale Evander, and the many wizards there are doing their best to halt its spread. The strange druids of The Fertile Crescent have been summoned to see if they can heal the world and reverse the effects. A great shadow has formed in the Vale Evander, growing ever eastward toward the Elves of Ynth, seeking sustenance in the life force of the ancient home of the elves.

It is thought that there are missing years in the timeline due to strange bendings of life and death of the Soul Scourge.

Peace Talks Between Gwinn and Dunstrand

Black sails color the storm skies. She spent three years off the Storm Coast wrecking pirates, now she is making her way to Bar-Innis. The Emperor’s Answer, newest flagship of the Gwinnish Navy, sails into Lilymarch for peace negotiations. Her elementals cause a high wave along the shores of Dunstrand, flooding inland. The shores were evacuated before she came, arriving exactly on time.

She hails from a day when the massive Battle Barges of the Sea Kings sailed up the large rivers and plied the coasts of the western heartlands. Her hull is said to be wrapped in the skin of a kraken. She pushes a massive break water as she moves, like she is riding a surge. Her dark black sail is always pregnant with the wind. She has a deep and massive keel and her reinforced bow is obviously for breaking the spine of other ships. It is an ominous vessel that makes little noise as its large form pushes across the surface of the water. The crew are always active but silent. Wisps of mist trail off of her wake rising to the air and flowing over the water and away from the boat. It is obvious, were it to stay put, that it would conceal the boat in a camouflage fog bank. There are many spaces in multiple banks of oars. None seem to do more than skim the water in order to propel it. The water it’s on seems to flow forward and the sails catch the slightest breeze seemingly to propel the massive craft with a crew of 400 in any direction the navigator likely wants.

Word spreads of an attack on the ship, just outside Dunstrand’s territorial waters. Lightning ripped the sky, and thunder echoed across the water. Only rumors abound, no details are clear.

More Materials

Viscount Mary Rellian of Dogwood Flats pens a letter – a history of Gwinn and why it’s the enemy.

The The Shielders of Pomata begin to gather their forces as the “War of the Soul Scourge” gathers steam.

CY 3-4-9169 > A few days before, the word is quickly spread of a fell force in Dwindor Swamp that was laid low at great cost to the Raiding Larks and the Pin Feathers. There is much ill will stirred up against the Orrish of Dwindor, even though they are not implicated (obviously recent raids have not helped though). A “week of rest” is called to acknowledge the sacrifices the Raiding Larks made. Their names are promulgated throughout the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. Those alive choose to retire to villas constructed for them in the lowland of the T’yendi Hills, near the headwaters of the Nanford River. In that week, many strange happenings wash over the western reaches of Dunstrand including animals running crazed, disease spreading, and mass livestock die-offs. The peace process is delayed for a week as things return to ‘normal’. The peace process picks up in full on CY 3-12-9169.

Portents Observed in Dunstrand and Beyond CY 2-25-9169

  • The main moon of Helca – Connace – is blue at night; Its smaller cousin Tillace is streaked with red.
  • Storm! From the east! This one crosses the entire length of Dunstrand Vale – from the T’Yendi Hills in the east, to Scar Flow (sunken Westmarch) in the west – along the path of the Nanford River. Bridges are destroyed. Areas are flooded.

! IN-GAME NOTE: The disposition of all items involved in the Hunting Mendollin chronicle have been updated. !

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic