October 1209 Chronicles

October 2009 Chronicles
“If it bleeds, it leads.”
--Collected by Portia Rom

Magnus Von Ritter Killed By Priest of Glom
Sorel Argentblade reportedly the focus of attack.

A priest of Glom killed Magnus Zero Darkheart Von Ritter before the sun rose on Sunday morning, leaving much of the land of Travance in shock. As Von Ritter has already passed through the focus four times, his soul could not be saved.

Von Ritter was sleeping in a tent close to Ming Na’s tea when the attack occurred. Several Von Ritter associates, including Galen, Tari, Sorel Argentblade, and the gypsy Ilona Kahli were present and died during the attack. Ilona Kahli’s body was found, but unlike the others, her spirit was not.

Kleidin reportedly tracked the attacker to near to the guard barracks, where the tracks ended abruptly, probably indicating that the Glomite escaped through a portal.

The target of the attack was not Von Ritter but Argentblade, who said in an interview that the priest of Glom “questioned my morals” and “whether the light clergy is good” before killing their compatriots in their sleep. Argentblade said he “had no idea” why the Glomites targeted him, especially considering that Dragoons follow their own god.

Sir Apollo Abendroth is offering a 500 gold reward for information leading to the arrest of the parties responsible. Aneith Tal'Keric Von'Ritter of House Von Ritter will be conducting an official investigation into the murder.

Pracika Nightwing, who considers herself a light sleeper, was staying in a nearby tent. She said she heard “rustling outside and muffled voices” but that “when I looked out I didn’t see anything or hear anything.”

Later, Nightwing said she awoke to Sir Aleister Darkheart berating the new dragoon for staying frozen in terror when she might have been able to prevent the attack.

Sorrel Argentblade, voice steely with grief, said that from this point forward, “I will kill every dark priest.”


Portrait of the Slain – Magnus Zero Darkheart Von Ritter

Magnus Von Ritter, who tragically died at the hands of a Glomite priest early Sunday morning, was a devout Andorran who founded the Travance orphanage. Von Ritter associate Sir Aleister Darkheart said that Von Ritter had recently joined House von Ritter, a long line of witch hunters specifically trained to kill vampires. In his spare time, Von Ritter cooked and sang.

Sorel Argentblade said Von Ritter “cared deeply about those around him and had a big heart.”

Von Ritter’s funeral is currently scheduled for December, according to Darkheart.

The Chronicle will be putting together a more complete profile in the coming days, and would like to hear from friends, acquaintances, and yes, enemies in order to render a full portrait of this man in an upcoming Chronicle.


Town Beats Back Drow

On Saturday evening, the town of Travance united to beat back the drow who had taken control of the Baron’s manor in September.

The campaign was set in motion late Friday evening, when a young group of adventurers successfully penetrated the Underdark thanks to drow informants who marked the way in coded colored moss. The adventurers successfully woke up the Omni, a giant powerful eye. On Saturday half the town lured the drow back toward the Baron’s manor while the other half lured the now-awakened Omni to the same place in hopes that the Omni’s fearsome power could break through the protections surrounding the manor.

The plan was successful, despite taking longer than anticipated. It is unclear whether the Omni was successfully neutralized after the battle.

According to Gideon Weaveforger, the drow may have taken the Baron’s manor in order to gain access to the treasures locked below it; this would explain why a number of drow-controlled slaves appeared throughout Friday and Saturday asking for keys.

As Weaveforger told it, Count Sebastian Winterdark is the son of the former baron of our lands, the Baron Clarington Everest, who ruled for some time before the year 1204. The elder Everest was supposedly a full human who had extended his life to over 500 years through sorcery. It is rumored that he trapped the souls of the fallen in swords and practiced powerful purple sorcery.


Could A Local Dragoon Have Saved Von Ritter?

Naomi Tetsueana, a dragoon new to town, could have stopped Von Ritter’s murder, but did nothing. Just before the attack, Tetsueana was sleeping on a table at Ming Na’s tea pagoda. She said she “heard a low rumbling noise coming down the path,” a sound like “a deep guttural rrrrrrr.”

She saw someone open the flap to Von Ritter’s tent, “but at that point I was a little scared. I heard Tari scream ‘help me.’”

Tetsueana acknowledges that she should have gone for help, but “instead I froze. I hid under my sleeping blankets.” Even after the attack was over, she remained paralyzed with fear, as she’d seen Tari attempting to incinerate the interloper, to no avail.

Sir Aleister Darkheart called Tetsueana a “coward” and Father Edwin Haroldson owned that although Tetsueana showed “proper discretion” in not getting killed herself, that she should have gone for help or raised the alarm. Haroldson wondered “was she complicit in the attack? Was she questioned?”

For her part, Tetsueana noted that while many people had been questioned following the attack, she had not seen anyone question Darkheart, who was seen at the scene afterwards.

Tetsueana plans to ask Tari for forgiveness and “to live my life as Magnus did, with a balance of duty and pleasure.” She also said that she is “prepared to undergo the ritual of hari kiri seppuku if that will gain Tari’s forgiveness,” and called her own behavior “pure dishonor and cowardice,” but owned that “sometimes fear strikes you.”


Londwynians Ravage Dreaga’mire

On Saturday, it was discovered that Londwynians armed with giant machines were destroying land on the border of Dreaga’mire. Various animals that drank water polluted by the Londwynian industry went mad and attacked townsfolk, exuding a blackish substance through their mouths as they died.

Lord Alexis Devir emphasized that foreign group should be bargained with, as “we can’t go to war with them right now, not while the drow are attacking.”

A party that included Lord Devir Londwynian Jack Cypher confronted several of the Londwynian workers, who promised to pass the Lord Devir’s edict to “cease and desist” until “you find a way to control your waste,” up the chain of command.


Slack McDermitt No longer Cursed

Squire Slack McDermitt wishes it to be known that he is no longer bound by the vampiric curse that increased his anger ten-fold, a curse that he says he has been suffering ever since Pesmerga targeted him last year. McDermitt claims that Father Orion descended from heaven and kissed him on the head, thus curing the unfortunate condition.

McDermitt is one of the oldest members of town, having arrived on the first caravan out from Ravenhurst.

Anyone who has been putting off unpleasant business with McDermitt should contact him immediately.


Ming Na’s Newest Venture

First he brought the civility of the tea ceremony to Travance, but now Ming Na will be bringing the light of civilization.

Ming Na has announced plans to set lanterns along the roads of Travance, every forty feet. Anyone will be able to sponsor a light for the nominal fee of 5 gold per light, which comes with a plaque stating, “This light of civilization is brought to you by…” Additional maintenance fees to cover oil and lamp lighting services have not yet been determined.

Lethian, who recently opened the wildly successful Lucky Bastard Casino (and evidently, floozy emporium), has already pledged to light up the road to his new business. He called the nascent venture “a very good investment.”

Rudulf vonKreutzdorf of Alkemical Kandies has also said he will sponsor a few lanterns.

For his part, Ming Na hopes to start out with at least 10 lanterns. “We’re bringing light and safety to Travance,” he said. The lights will also serve commemorative purposes, he said. “I will dedicate the first lantern to Magnus Von Ritter.” That lantern, unlike the others, will stay lit during day and night.


Better Know Your Neighbor: Commodore D'Elvantes

Meet Commodore Artemis D’Elvantes, the old sea dog who will spin you a yarn quicker than you can say “is that a drow over there?”

D’Elvantes related many tales in a short period of time, including a story of a man who said he was the best mah jong player. As they played, a duck landed on the table and said, “This man you are playing is charged with insulting me.” The duck reportedly nipped out the man’s eyes with his bill, and then told the Commodore that the man had said he was also a master of ‘duck fu’.

Yoshimitsu, the Commodore’s quartermaster of many years who has now been named the captain of The Golden Spider, said that a mage cursed a man to turn into a duck many years ago.

D’Elvantes also revealed how Sleafus lost his hand, to the Mekkladon, a giant shark longer than 30 feet.


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