The First Land Herald/421-06-25

Article Number: BI56

Dateline: 421-06-25

A MEETING WITH COUNCIL HERALD STREMBIN This evening, a proclamation was presented to the Rathan populace by Council Herald Strembin Redthorne, Speaker of the Council of Advisors of Ratha. The Council Herald began by addressing a large crowd of common folk assembled in Monument Square, just outside the entrance to Sshoi-sson Palace. “People of Ratha! Be it known that on the twenty-first day of this sixth month of Arhat the Fire Lion, in the year of the Bronze Wyvern, four-hundred and twenty-one years since the victory of Lanival the Redeemer, it was ratified by the Council of Advisors for the city of Ratha and island of Reshalia, to establish a temporary Home Guard of the Commons. To that end, all able-bodied citizens who are not members of any Guild, between the ages of sixteen and thirty, shall raise unto themselves such arms as they may afford, and enlist themselves within said Home Guard until such time as these immediate crises have been shown to abate.” His words had a noticeable effect on the crowd, and sensing the agitation Strembin directed several Malk’smo constables into motion to silence the murmuring. “The populace shall stand assured that with the passing of such dangers, said proclamation shall be lifted forthwith.” His message delivered, the Council Herald waited for the crowd of commoners to disperse then invited the Guilded adventurers in attendance to join him within the palace for further discussion. After leading the group to the west portico, Strembin first spoke of the recent attacks by Drogor’s minions and how the city was caught unprepared for them. He said that the invasions had prompted the Council’s decision to establish a list of heroes willing to bear arms in defense of Ratha should the need arise. And while this divine danger may be passing, the Council Herald noted that it was not the only threat Ratha faces. “We have recent and ongoing reports of particularly vicious pirate attacks plying the sea lanes between Ratha and the mainland, as well as here and Surlaenis...More than simple pirates, if our reports so far are to be believed, though some of them are rather...hard to substantiate. The general ramblings are of a great flotilla, larger than most have ever seen. Which would seem to be considerable, given the fleets which call Ratha home. “Several have babbled on about green-skinned pirates, which makes little to no sense. I can hardly believe there is a populace of Togs large enough to construct an entire flotilla.” Strembin remarked that despite expanded patrols by both Redthorne and Odalva vessels, an increasing number of merchant ships are turning up lost or destroyed. Normally this would not be a great cause for concern, he said, but the attacks have been growing bolder and occurring closer to Reshalia shores. Since the city has received no ransom demands with regard to hostages taken from captured ships, the Council is working under the assumption that the pirates may be in league with slavers. Strembin declared that Ratha has no intention of negotiating with any pirates, however, and that they should be eradicated whenever the opportunity presents itself. Aislynn Ranloa, Vice Speaker of the Order of the Apostles, inquired if there had been any sightings of Aedem of late. “That name hasn't been heard in quite some time, no. Though it does bring me to my next point of concern. “Some of our informants among the more...dubiously legal crews who call the city home port, have filtered in some information that gives me greater pause. They say, apparently, that a new Baron Var'Quel has recently come to power on Hara'jaal. And unlike his more recent predecessors, it appears this man is a bit less shall we coin the phrase again, ‘Hands-off.’” The adventurers discussed what this turn of events might mean for Qi'Reshalia. Council Herald Strembin explained that while the province has enjoyed many decades of non-interference from the barons, there is concern that this new leader may seek to bring back the “old ways.” When asked by Leucius Delarrazio what the old ways were, he responded: “A particularly vicious and well organized sort of piracy that the Reshal Sea hasn't seen in generations.” The discussion then returned briefly to the topic of Drogor and reverence to the Immortals in general. True to form, Sea Priestess Whiteburn defended the god of the oceans, stating that He would not command His minions to attack without cause and that He must always be honored and remembered irrespective of Harawep’s alleged involvement in the most recent invasions. Nazaruss Stormfall suggested that he and some of the other regulars at the Rissan Forging Society could aid the cause by crafting weapons for the new citizen militia. Strembin replied that although conscripts are usually required to provide their own arms and armor, the Council would not be averse to accepting such donations. “I knew that we'd find good and generous folk among our Guilded brethren and sistren.” As dawn was approaching, the Council Herald thanked everyone for their attendance and adjourned the meeting. Simera Asherah Assistant Reporter, The First Land Herald

Real Date: Unknown Date

Subject(s): Aedem Drogor Forging Society (Ratha) Hara'jaal Harawep House Odalva House Redthorne Immortals Qi'Reshalia Ratha Reshalia Reshal Sea Sshoi-sson Palace Strembin Surlaenis Var'Quel

Author(s): Simera