Herald’s Quarterly 9168, 3rd Quarter

Hear-Ye! Hear-Ye! Read all about it! The Herald’s Quarterly. A semi-regular quasi-quarterly journal of events.

Dunstrand Rising Living World

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

Steel Realms
Herald’s Quarterly 9168, 3rd Quarter

The Gruxand Incident (“The Soul Scourge”)

CY 8-9-9168 > The Necromancer Gruxand, of Vale Evander, discovers a new means of eternal life (lichdom?). The memories of tens of millions of dead souls going back in time are released all over Helca, killing many – 20% on average of the population dies in Steel Realms (continent of Ustermaya); Umbak suffers very little, and Gwinn (Seabourne Isles) only suffer about 10% loss. Sayvalod/Forlad the western continent suffers a 40% population loss. Bodies lie where they fell, their faces frozen in death from the death-memories of all the souls pouring through their mind.

  • Omsara Steel Souls no longer produced
  • Umbak rides to Dunstrands Aid in Crestwold.
  • Gwinn takes a greater offensive role in the chaos

Soul Scourge in Ynth

The council of Sky-Lens cleared the sky above Lake Evendim when the Soul Scourge came, and Ezrilus guided the light from the stars which shone into its depths. The light was reflected by the great Silver-Eye of Evendim, bathing Ynth in light the moment it rolled through and protecting the elves from the worst of the effects. For a moment, the Laey of the Aelfpaths through Ynth was illuminated and the mother (Gaia) and father (Darupet) came together to protect all the soul wells of the elves – regardless of their form. Elf kin were momentarily disoriented from the protecting light of Evendim and missed several shades getting into Ynth to hunt their prey. They would go on to extinguish several lights of the Heart-Shine, pulling the life from those they hunted. Like predators hunting deer, they pursued many through the dense woods of Ynth – leaving several shadow-tainted with a black maw of Mog Creoch on their chest covering the soul gem.

Vale Evander War

CY 9-8-9168 As it becomes apparent that the Soul Scourge is not leaving, many rumors have spread as to its source. The most persistent information is that one of the powerful wizards of Vale Evander, in seeking immortality, has called upon some dread power and perverted nature to such an extant it disturbed the spirits of the restless dead and cast a pall of ill-health upon all living creatures. There is even evidence that it has drawn power from death itself to such an extant even the Lich Lords power is weaker. A great army of Elves, men, wizards and priests of the Green Church was assembled and attacked the tower of the wizard Gruxand – the source of all this evil. Even the famous Ten Sword Academy of the vale emptied its halls and attacked with the others. It was repulsed after several days of battle, though the necromancer Gruxand was driven from his tower and fled. No one knows where he has gone, but his hold over death itself remains unchanged.

Sayvalod Wreckage!

CY 9-11-9168 Though it is believed to somehow be connected with the events of Gruxand, the massive volcano of Whelms Furnace erupted, sending a massive cloud of ash eastwards. It triggered the Ring of Red Embers in Sayvalod, and the entire continent was rocked by quakes. Devastating waves in all directions were sent. The entire burgeoning continent is a wreck of nations, states, and cities. Many ships at sea were capsized or smashed. Mystical communication still exists, and there are survivors, but it will be years to pick up the pieces. No tribute will flow from the west now. News is sparse. There will be refugees, the situation is dire.

High Seas Danger

CY 9-24-9168 Imperial Gwinn has launched a naval campaign to smash anything on the high seas but its own. Taking advantage o strange weather, sickness, and The Soul Scourge, they seek to rule as their ancestors once did. The coastal areas remain as safe as ever, though hugging the coast defeats one of the advantages of open sea trade. Nominally, the Gwinnish claim a epidemic of piracy

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic
after the Soul Scourge that the High King seemed to be unable to do anything about. While it is true that there was some increase, it was almost all closer to the coast. Gwinn has begun to levy a protection “tax” on those it finds at sea, and not even taking slave prisoners of pirates and smugglers (the ones not affiliated with them in some way). As the High King has no navy of their own, it remains to be seen what can be done to stop this.

Quakes and Waves from Scar Flow in Dunstrand

More strange weather and mini-quakes are coming from the Scar Flow region of Dunstrand. It has gotten more frequent and more intense over the last year – like something is trying to shake Gwinn loose! It has made things difficult for the Gwinnish in the occupied Tarmysian Peninsula, but they has thus far remained. Western Dunstrand has had a few minor quakes that have done minor damage, but most of the worst ripples out to Tarmysia. A few small tsunamis have hit the region, affecting some fishing and trade.