{{tag>publications !DM}} [[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eAV4viNhQB9-86rDQe5Ytt97LmNfk6CklR7aIQ71I7M/edit#slide=id.g59d8314f50_0_0|https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eAV4viNhQB9-86rDQe5Ytt97LmNfk6CklR7aIQ71I7M/edit#slide=id.g59d8314f50_0_0]] AT TH E M E RCY O F M E RC E NARI ES It seems the Sham Watch is outsourcing more and more of their jobs to contractors, also known as adventurers, also known as mercenaries, which is what these bloodsoaked hirelings are. While many of these second-rate thugs act like they have the absolute authority of the Sham Watch, know your rights! These sellswords can get away with atrocities, including murder, but only if such crimes are committed in the pursuit of their contracts. Should one of these ruffians steal from or harm you or your loved ones for no reason other than their barbaric attitudes, report them to the Watch and this publication immediately. The Sham Watch is bound by law to arrest these hooligans when they show their criminal natures. ---- A LI F E O F WATCH F U L S E RVI CE Brelon folk often forget that the Guardians of the Gate have a civilian branch that handles administrative issues and special customs investigations. Tethyn Olar has led that arm of the Sharn Watch for more than a decade. Many immigrants owe their safe and comfortable lives in our city to this man, but claims have surfaced recently charging him with corruption, saying that he took money from immigrants in exchange for a faster path into Sharn. Olar has refuted those claims with this statement: "Look at the lower wards to see the vast number of poor immigrants the Gate allows to enter in the city. Those with wealth tend to be more responsible and quicker to put their paperwork together, but none with worthy cause to be here are barred." ---- ASSASSI NS O N TH E LOOS E ! It is common knowledge that those with aberrant marks can't be trusted. It's not their fault; they're touched by Khyber, and the Dragon Below twists their minds. All aberrants will eventually become killers. And though I can see the appeal in using these creatures as weapons against our enemies, how could we bring such vipers into our midst? According to a high-ranking source in the King's Citadel, this secret operation predictably ended in disaster. After a few missions, the strike force slew their handlers and deserted, disappearing into the criminal underworld. They could be anywhere. There can be no clearer sign that it's time to bring down the monarchy and institute a government that is chosen by and answerable to the common people! ---- M O NSTRO US D EC E PTI O N Monsters are infiltrating our city! Though the Sham Watch acts as though Daask is a problem only for Malleon's Gate, and not a threat to law-abiding citizens, there is clear cunning in the criminal cabal's actions. Their recent attacks have targeted properties throughout the lower wards, all owned by a certain halfling family, as if Daask were attempting a violent takeover of Sham's underworld. Once these monsters control the city's crime, what will they do next? ---- CATACLYSM I N CYR E ! A magical catastrophe of unknown origin engulfed the nation of Cyre yesterday, bringing a century of war to an explosive climax. Surely when the children of King Jarot began their squabbles over succession a hundred years ago, they could not have foreseen the horror that would engulf the home of Queen Mishann. Our reporters are still sifting through accounts of what has happened, but it is clear at this point that beautiful Cyre, the jewel of Galifar's vast holdings, has disappeared behind a churning cloud of dead-gray mist. ---- DO TH EY KNOW TH E WAR IS OVER? Against all logic and reason, people in Breland continue to argue that the warforged-creations of House Bombardier, lest we forget-are living people with souls, deserving of the same rights as the rest of us. And yet, while philosophical debates rage and street protests grow heated, warforged who inhabit the dead land of Cyre continue to fight as if the war had not ended, launching raids out of the "dead-gray mist" to the neighboring lands-including, of course, Thrane. Proclaiming allegiance to something called the "Lord of Blades," these warforged don't seem to recognize the people of Thrane as living people with souls, so it's hard to appreciate why we should treat them that way. ---- BORAN EL CEDES WESTERN REACH ES In a shocking move, King Boranel has ordered that all Brelon citizens who live west of the Graywall Mountains must leave their homes and return to the eastern lands, or else forfeit their claim to the king's protection. In the face of a few withered hags and a ragtag "army" of filthy ogres and mangy gnolls, King Boranel's legendary courage has apparently faltered. We can only assume he means to yield to Cyre next. ---- DAWN OF DISEASE You'll hear warning bells toll tomorrow morning. You'll see packs of people with their faces hidden by plague masks or strips of cloth. Brunet healers will roam the streets offering free examinations and blessings. If you're new to Sharn, have no fear! This isn't the outbreak of disease it appears to be; it's how Sharn observes the Lady's Day, commemorating a tragic incident in our past. Today, aberrant dragonmarks are rare. But there was a time long ago when they were far more common. An army of aberrant heirs made their home here in the early days of Sharn, led by Halas Tarkanan-known as the Earthshaker-and the Lady of the Plague, who had power over vermin and disease. When the dragonmarked houses laid siege to the city and their defeat became inevitable, the two unleashed their full might. Tarkanan's power reduced the early towers to rubble, and the Lady of the Plague called forth a horde of disease-infested vermin. For centuries afterward, the region was shunned. When our modern city was built, the cursed ruins were sealed away. But one never knows when the darkness could rise up again. On the Lady's Day, we remember the tragedy that once befell Sharn, and we prepare for the possibility that it could happen again. ---- IS YOUR NEIGHBOR A CYRAN INVADER? In the wake of the Mourning, our king welcomed the survivors of that tragedy into our cities. In Sham, High Walls alone holds more Cyran refugees than Karrnath has allowed across its borders. If you read the Sham Inquisitive or the Korranberg Chronicle, you've heard the endless litany of how difficult life is, tales of overcrowding, starvation, and disease. Although we at the Voice of Breland sympathize with all who suffer, we refuse to ignore the deadly threat in our midst. The majority of Cyrans who survived the Mourning did so because they were beyond the borders of their nation. And why is that? Because they were soldiers. The Sham Inquisitive talks about starving children and ailing peasants, but it doesn't mention the Cyran special forces and elite war mages who now reside in High Walls. As Brelon, we all want to show compassion to the truly innocent, but let us never forget that these people were once our enemy and could be again. And let us also remember that the cause of the Mourning remains a mystery. Was it divine punishment for Cyran sins that have yet to be washed clean? Or could it have been a premature activation of an arcane weapon-and if so, could Cyran artificers already be working on an improved version in the heart of our greatest city? Remain alert, people of Breland! Don't let the current plight of these unfortunates blind you to the danger! ---- ENIG MA O F TH E D IAMOND VO I CE I challenge anyone to leave a performance of The Broken Sword with dry eyes. I believe that even a warforged would be moved to tears by this unflinching look at the spiritual cost of war. It's brutal, painful, and true-which is why it was all the more shocking when it first opened at the Diamond Theater. The Downstairs district of Lower Menthis is mainly known for its bawdy entertainment and base comedy, not cutting-edge political commentary. Thus, we critics assumed that this dramatic work was a singular event, until a new play titled Fallen Angels exceeded our every expectation. Month after month in recent times, the Diamond has struck us to the quick with emotional works about the Last War and the psychic wounds we're still struggling with. Who is the playwright of the Diamond Theater responsible for these stirring stories? Her name is Luca Syara, but beyond that, she's an enigma. There's no such person on the rolls of the bardic colleges of Breland, and House Phiarlan and House Thuranni claim to know nothing about her. Syara shuns the spotlight and refuses all interviews. While her works are being debated and celebrated in classrooms and taverns, the artist spends her days in the dingy back rooms of the Diamond Theater. This seclusion has led to a number of fanciful rumors. Some say Syara fought in the Last War and that she was in Metro! on the Day of Mourning. A wilder rumor maintains that she is an exile from the Faerie Court of Thelanis, an archfey bound to human form. While we wait for answers to this mystery, we encourage you to sample Syara's latest work. Five Lives is a gutwrenching tragedy that forces us to look at our darkest hours, and to consider the suffering of our enemies and the common threads that unite us all. If you're looking to forget your troubles, by all means, go see Facade or The Late Count. But if you want to take in a performance that might make you a better person, do whatever it takes to get tickets to Five Lives. ---- WHO OWNS S HARN? PO RTRAIT O F TH E I R'TAINS AND TH E 60 FAM I LI ES If you've read more than two issues of the Sham Inquisitive, you've seen at least two stories about the du Tain family. King Boranel might rule Breland, and the Lord Mayor might be our highest appointed official, but the du Tains are the true royalty of our city. What citizen of Sham doesn't have an opinion about the fate of Lord Dalian du Tain, lost at sea a decade ago? Many are sure that he's a prisoner of the sahuagin, which would explain why Lady Celyria has been funding expeditions into the sahuagin realms. Another camp maintains that Lord Dalian staged his death so he could embrace a swashbuckling life as a pirate king. If the truth ever comes out, you can be sure you'll read about it here! Matriarch Lady Celyria du Tain is the queen of high society in Sharn. Her activities and those of the du Tain children account for just as much newsprint as their father used to. Dalian's eldest son, Dalas du Tain, shocked society last week when he publicly denounced the Brelon monarchy. The dalliances of younger siblings Cyra and Dara! sell more issues of the Inquisitive whenever such are reported, and the wedding of middle sister Cariana du Tain and Mayne Jhaelian of Aerenal will surely be the biggest social event of 998 YK. C ENTRAL PLATEAU The power and wealth of Sham are concentrated in Central Plateau. Whether you're looking to deal with powerful merchants, city councilors, dragonmarked barons, or the ambassadors of other nations, Central Plateau is the place where big deals are made. UPPER C E NTRAL Gold and power flow down from Upper Central. The district of Highest Towers is the seat of government, where city hall and the municipal archives are located. The Korranath is the name of both the central financial district and the grand temple of Kol Korran that dominates it. This district also houses the Kundarak Bank of Sham and the Vaults, House Kundarak's ostensibly impenetrable storage facility. Some of Sham's wealthiest citizens live in the Mithra! Tower district, and Platinum Heights is the most expensive market district in Sham. It has fewer shops than the Bazaar of Dura, but if you're looking for top-quality goods or services, there's no finer-or more expensivesource to be found. If you maintain no better than a poor lifestyle, many people in Upper Central will assume you're a servant or vagrant; this could cause you to have disadvantage on Charisma checks involving residents. The du Tain fortune is tied to the City of Towers. Tain gold funded the construction of many of the towers of Sham, and the family owns vast sections of the city. You've likely heard of the Sixty Families of Sharn, considered the guiding lights of the city. Most assume that these luminaries are ancient and established, their status tied to a royal decree. In fact, when the Tains built their mansion on Skyway, they ordered the architects to design a banquet hall that would seat sixty families and their servants. The original Sixty Families were those that received standing invitations to the first Tain Gala. Though the list has remained generally stable through the years, just last year Celyria expelled the du Moros family and gave their place to Saiden Boromar-a surprising advancement for a family that began as Cliffside hooligans. Anyone who strives to rise in Sham society must earn the favor of the Sixty. Similarly, those who seek to explore and adventure in the wake of the Last War can surely find patrons among these elite. And from our desks, we will be watching to see which families will be next to rise and fall. ---- TH E RACE OF EIGHT WI N DS BEGINS! Banners are flying across Dura today, and the streets are full of color. Walk through Oldkeep wearing brown and red, and you'll be invited to raise a glass to the Griffon; if you're dressed in white and gold, the colors of the Hippogriff, you'd best be prepared to defend yourself. If you're new to Sharn, you might think our city's gone mad. And in some ways it has, but it's a madness that reaches its peak every summer with the Race of Eight Winds. Long ago, King Galifar used Dura as a proving ground for aerial calvary. What's more important, quickness or strength? Our modern race is a test of speed and skill through a course that weaves around and through the spires of Dura. There are eight competitors, and each of these brave jockeys rides a different flying creature- except for the gargoyle Carralag, who relies on his own wings! Speed is important, but merely surviving the race can be a challenge. The spilling of blood isn't prohibited, but the only weapon a rider can carry is a light sporting crossbow; the steeds can use their talons and beaks, which is what makes the Griffon such a fierce contender. Poison, magic, or anything else that would directly interfere with beast or rider is strictly forbidden-though over the years we've certainly seen imaginative attempts to stretch the rules! Dura is divided into eight regions for the race, each of which is represented by a different creature. If you're going to spend time in Dura, it's best that you know your mounts! The beasts of Upper Dura are the fastest in the race, and overall have the best record. The reigning champion is the Pegasus of Highwater, whose supporters wear white and silver. The Hippogriff is tied to Overlook and Daggerwatch in Upper Dura, and its colors are white and gold. Detractors often say that the Sharn Watch favors the Hippogriff and that House Létourneau helps the Pegasus, but the referees always insist that the race is fair. The beasts of Middle Dura are versatile. The Eagle represents Broken Arch and Stormhold in Middle Dura, and its supporters wear brown and gold. The clever Owl flies for Rattlestone and the Bazaar, and its colors are brown and gray. The Hawk represents Tumbledown and Underlook in Middle Dura, and wearing its blend of tan and brown can usually get you a good price at an inn. The beasts of Lower Dura are more infamous than reliable. The Griffon flies for Precarious and Oldkeep, and its colors are brown and red. It has never won the race, but there's gold to be made betting on which opponent it will bring down. The Aile-planante represents Gate of Gold and The Stores, and'its supporters wear green and gray; many believe that the Boromar Clan pays for the upkeep of the mount and its rider. Malleon's Gate used to be represented by the Bat, but twelve years ago they exchanged that mascot for the Gargoyle, whose colors are black and gray. The current Gargoyle is a stone-faced fellow named Carralag, and his supporters are quite passionate about their winged champion. ---- WATCH FO RFALLI NG D RU N KS Just this week a Brelon woman in Middle Central was squashed to death when a drunk Cyran man fell on her from the upper wards. He survived. A good Brelon woman, a veteran of the Last War, cushioned his fall! This incident isn't the first of its kind. Last month a clumsy warforged crushed two innocent halfling lovers. Before that, a shifter thief fell from a tower, injuring an unsuspecting griffon. I propose a new law: No traveling the middle or upper wards without a feather token. These affordable trinkets are all that stand between our safety and death caused by some rat who would rather spend gold on drink. ---- IT HAPPENED IN THE FOREST: TREE HUGGER TELL-ALL! The alliance of rebel farmers in western Aundair has declared an alliance with the Great Druid Oalian of the Forêt Imposante, asserting that the farmlands that border these woods are now part of the Confins d'Eldeen. The Great Druid is a figure of legend, a powerful mystic who serves as the spiritual leader of a diverse rangel of druids spread across the region. Another interesting fact about Oalian? He's a tree! Some say he's a child of Eberron hersElfe, while others assert that he's the spirit of an ancient druid trapped in tree form. Whatever the truth, the Great Druid Oalian appears as a massive greatpine in a grove called Coeurvert, deep in the Forêt Imposante. ---- THE KALASHTAR PROPHECY YOU CAN'T IGNORE ! Many of the people of Khorvaire have never met a kalashtar. Some say these people are in contact with celestial spirits; here at the Voice of Breland, we say they're a rare type of lunatic we've imported from Sarlona. So it was a special treat for tourists when one of the spiritual leaders of the kalashtar of Sharn made an unexpected appearance in the grand plaza of Sommet de l'Espoir. The enlightened Havakhad-that's what he calls himsElfe-issued a warning that "darkness was gathering" and that "a terrible time lies just ahead." He beseeched the assembled crowds to show kindness to neighbor and stRanger alike, and not to let "fear cause strife in the hard days to come." Apparently Havakhad hasn't heard the news that we're winning the war. But if the world does end tomorrow, you read it here first! ---- RAI D R EVEALS CU LT CHAOS The people of Beaurefuge were shocked by the revelation of bizarre cult activity in the center of one of that city's most trusted institutions. Acting on a tip from the Royal Eyes of Aundair, elite forces raided a Maison Létourneau facility and discovered a nightmare. Captain Allis says that her soldiers discovered a beating heart that filled an entire room, pumping blood through veins in the walls of the building. According to Allis, the staff claimed to be "creating the heart of Galifar," apparently believing that if completed, this monstrosity could reunite the shattered kingdom. When pressed to comment, Patriarch Dalin de Létourneau denied any connections to this cult. "These are difficult times for all of us. I assure you that Maison Létourneau will conduct a full investigation of this incident and work to regain La Tutelle of the good people of Beaurefuge." ---- CORPS E CLE R I C CONDE MNS CLAW Last month, the Griffe Émeraude took credit for the ghoul outbreak in Wroat. This terrorist organization has a new and unusual critic: Hask Malevanor, an "abactor" of the Le Sang Divin and high priest of the Monastère du Sang Pourpre, a temple in the city of Atur in Karrnath. Something else you should know about Abactor Malevanor: he's been dead for over fifty years! This putrid priest says that there's nothing unholy about his condition, swearing that his people revere all life. Despite the fact that the terrorists included priests from his church, Malevanor insists that his parishioners despise the Griffe Émeraude and harbor no hostility toward Breland. While we'd like to take the abactor at his word, our research shows that Malevanor was personally involved in the program that produced the infamous Karrnathi Mort-vivant soldiers. After decades of driving the Karrnathi war effort, this foul creature expects us to believe that he has nothing to do with the necromantic attacks on our people? Here at the Voice of Breland, we think something about this smells rotten, and it's not just the mummy. ---- NO FAITH IN SI LVE R FLAM E TOP TARE The nation of Thrane shocked the world in 993 AR when it appointed a six-year-old child as Keeper of the Silver Flame, the supreme leadership position of the Church. Now eleven years old, Jaela Daran continues to astound all who encounter her. She possesses poise and wisdom beyond her years, and she displays the blend of courage and compassion that is the cornerstone of the faith. As Gardien de la Flamme, she wields tremendous divine power; she has summoned angels to her side and resurrected Cardinal Halidor after his assassination. But some claim that these stories are fabrications and that Jaela is merely a figurehead for High Cardinal Krozen. The reclusive Krozen is a brillant strategist and ruthless leader. Many believe that Krozen was behind the death of Keeper Tagor in 992 AR, suggesting that he supported the child Keeper to solidify his own influence. Is Krozen the true power behind the Flame? ---- ARE YOU A S IX FANATI C? The Vassaux of the Légion Souveraine have long condemned the Sombres Six as forces of evil. Yet correspondents at the Voice of Thrane have uncovered a shocking phenomenon: long-standing cults that worship members of the Dark Six alongside the Légion Souveraine. Most of you know of the Restful Watch, the priests who tend Vassal cemeteries. What you may not know is that the priests of the Watch honor both Aureon and Le Geolier! They say that Le Geolier snatches the souls of heroes so they can be preserved from Dolurrh and returned when they are needed once more. Worse still is the Trois Visages de la Guerre, a cult that worships the Sovereigns of War-including Le Narquois, whom they call Doi Azur. Followers of this foul faith say that the battlefield holds a place for all of these gods, explicitly embracing a deity they acknowledge as the patron of treachery and terror! This cult apparently began in the Karrnathi military but spread across the Cinq Nations during La Dernière Guerre. So next time you're talking to a Brelon soldier, remember that they might be a devotee of Le Narquois! ---- NIG HTLI FE O F TH E WALKING D EAD The port city of Pylas Talaear is a place of wonders. Stand on the steps of the Grand Temple and look down upon the High Street and you'll see fountains of light casting Ombres across buildings that have stood for over ten thousand years. Brillant motes dance through the air-spectral messengers carrying words across the city. But the most remarkable feature of Pylas Talaear is the dead. If you know anything about Aérénal, you've surely heard of La Cour Éternelle, the Éternel cabinet that guides the nation. Only the grandest members of society win elevation to La Cour Éternelle, but there are many forms of preservation. Go to the Dalaen Forge and you'll see the ghost of Old Dalaen advising his descendants as they work wood and steel. Visit the Eidolon Tavern and you'll see poltergeists mixing drinks, and you can get advice from a spectral bartender with thousands of years of wisdom to share. Visit Maer Crossing at midnight and you'll see the spirit of Lady Jhaelian dance with a grace unmatched by any living Elfe. Wondrous as it is, as a Humain visitor, I found it more than a little unnerving. There's no escaping the past in Aérénal; it lingers all around you, whispering advice or warning you to avoid transgression. You never know when you'll feel the tingle of spectral fingers against your skin or hear the whisper of an Elfe who's older than Humain civilization. There are many wonders in Aérénal . . . just don't get buried in the past. ---- I WAS SCO RCH E D BY TH E S I LVE R F LA M E ! Growing up on the streets of the Callestan district in Sham, I learned not to put my fait h in anything I couldn't see or hold. I think that's why my editor sent me to Fort-de-la-Flamme to cover the Ascension; surely I'd see clearly, with eyes untouched by faith. I thought so, too. But then I found mysElfe in the Chambre of Tira's Sacrifice, a pillar of silver fire marking the spot where one woman gave her life to protect countless innocents. I saw people from all nations joined together in song, celebrating both that ancient sacrifice and the end of our current war. And looking into the innocent eyes of the child priestess, I truly heard the words of that song for the first time: a call for all of us to be better than we are, to protect those in need, to remember that we are all one people in the light of the Flamme d'Argent. ---- M RO R H O LDS: B I RTH PLACE O F ABO M I NATI O N ! It's been exactly seventy years since the Conseil de Fer declared the Bastions de la Nation' independence from Karrnath. King Kaius II was newly seated on the steel throne and lacked the resolve to bring the Nain lords to heel. Now we see the harvest we have sown, and it is horrifying. Without the firm hand of Karrnath to keep them on a righteous path, the Nains des Bastions have embraced foul powers. Witness Lord Malus Soldorak, seen in Korth this week for trade negotiations. His breastplate was forged from chitin and muscle, and it seemed to pulse with its own heartbeat. A guard present at the event said that Soldorak's axe moaned when the blade came close to him, as if the weapon hungered for Humain blood. This is what springs from our mercy and forbearance. Who knows what horrors the Nains are crafting-or breeding-in their mountain halls? We cannot stand by and let this vileness continue. For the good of our nation, we call on all true Karrns to demand that Regent Moranna unleash our full might on the Bastions de la Nation and cleanse this horror! ---- IN TH E TH RALL OF TH E VAM PI RE KING Kaius du Wynarn III emerged from L'Ombres like a villain in one of Kessler's plays. His guardians kept him hidden during his youth while his aunt Moranna served as the regent of Karrnath. So it was a surprise to many when he burst forth to claim his crown and his power, all the more so because of his uncanny resemblance to Kaius I, the ruler who plunged Karrnath into the La Dernière Guerre and instituted the brutal system of laws that bears his name. Given the circumstances of Kaius Ill's ascension, it's hardly surprising that the new king would face challenges from the proud warlords of Karrnath. Some questioned his lineage and his ability to command. But the most unusual challenge came from the warlord Drago Thul: was Kaius III actually alive? Kaius I had elevated the Le Sang Divin in Karrnath and instituted the use of Mort-vivant as weapons of war. Drago Thul asserted that Kaius III was actually Kaius I, a vampiric monster "seeking to drain the lifeblood of Karrnath itsElfe." This was a serious accusation; the Mort-vivant have no rights under the Code of Galifar and cannot inherit titles or lands. Thul's challenge spread like wildfire, only to be crushed when Kaius III met the warlords under the midday sun and cut his palm to show his freely flowing blood. This should have been the end of it, but the tale of the Vampire King has proven surprisingly resilient. Some say that the king developed special enchantments to avoid the effects of sunlight; others say that he has relies on changelin impersonators to take his place in the daylight. As for Drago Thul, he refused to stand down when Kaius III pushed for peace and the Treaty of Fort-du-trône. He fled to the city of Cap-Tempête in Xen'drik with a small band of followers, and he continues to rally support against "the monster that sits on our throne." ---- D ESCE NT I NTO DROAAM: MY TRAI L TO TERROR We're all going to die. That thought echoed through my mind as the wagon carried us toward the Grand Rocher. The diplomats around me intended to speak with the Filles De Sora Kell. All I could think about was the stories my grandmother used to tell me. Sora Maenya can crush a Géant with her bare hands. She can eat the whole creature and still be hungry. If you're bad, she'll come in the night and carry you away. She'll make a lantern of your skull and torment you until the end of time. And she's the least frightening member of the Filles De Sora Kell! When I could set aside my sheer terror, I was learning a great deal about this strangel nation. The Daughters invested power in warlords, each of whom rules a territory in their name. It's sort of like Karmath, except each of the warlords of Droaam is a horrifying monster. We were traveling through the territory of Le Prince des Os, an ancient troll said to be too evil to die. We'd already passed through the domain of Queen Sheska the Méduse, where even the trees are turning to stone. Harpies. Gargouilles. There's even a king of the kobolds. Our caravan was being protected by gnolls. Not protected from gnolls, protected by gnolls. I thought things couldn't get any stRanger. I couldn't have been more wrong . . . . ---- WINTE R PALACE UND E R S I EG E Although untouched by a century of war, the Winter Palace suffered an attack from an unexpected quarter: the people of Breland. The so-called Épées de la Liberté have taken credit for a daring raid that left the east wing of the palace in flames. No members of the Brelon royal family were in attendance during the attack. The Épées de la Liberté call for the violent overthrow of the Wynarn monarchy, demanding that all power be invested in the Brelon parliament. Their manifesto draws on the speeches of Lord Ruken du Clarn, but Lord Ruken has condemned their action. "No victory is possible when Brelon fight Brelon," he said in Wroat. "But I hope King Boranel can see that the time for changel is upon us and help us navigate a peaceful transition of power before any more innocents are hurt." ---- WIZARD WAR B R EWING AT ARCANIX? Before the war, the Congrès Ésotérique served all Galifar. The most promising students from across Khorvaire came to study at Arcanix, and students from Khorvaire, Cyre, and Aundair worked together to win honor in the Trials of the Ninefold Path. Known to students simply as the Nine, this contest pits students of the eight traditions against one another in a series of arcane challenges, along with a ninth bracket for those who have yet to select a tradition. Teamwork, independence, memorization, innovation-the Nine challenges competitors on many levels, and the finest wizards of Galifar were invariably champions of the Nine. Thanks to the Treaty of Fort-du-trône, students of all nations once again study side by side in the towers of Arcanix. But no treaty or ritual can easily dispel the tensions of a century of war. Over the last year we've reported on a number of hate crimes in the towers fueled by nationalist passions. Optimistic teachers hope that the Nine will showcase the diversity that has evolved over the course of the past century-highlighting Karrnathi advances in necromancy and evocation, Cyran illusions, and more. But privately, professors fear that the competitive aspect of the Nine will inflame nationalist tension. Some even believe that the lives of foreign students could be endangelred should they defeat Aundairian champions. Only time will tell if the Nine can bring us together as it once did, or if it will drive us further apart. ---- PRO F ITS TRU M P PRO M ISES AT B LACK MARKET U N IVE RS ITY In response to last week's exclusive report detailing a scheme to remove precious antiquities from storage at Université Morgrave and sell them on the black market, Master Larrian du Morgrave has issued a statement full of the usual platitudes and empty promises we have grown accustomed to hearing from the Office of the University Master. In it, du Morgrave vows to put an end to the criminal activities occurring within the university and bolster the school's academic reputation. As regular readers of this paper know, he makes such promises frequently, but we have yet to see him take any substantive action to back up his promises. ---- Voice of Thrane S I LVE R F LAM E'S CRISIS O F. FAITH ! The Templars of the Flamme d'Argent are supposed to represent the Church and the nation in pursuit of the highest ideals of the faith, as they crusade against the forces of evil across Khorvaire. But are they fulfilling that high calling? Or are they just as mired in politics as the Brelon bureaucracy? High Cardinal Baerdren du Davik, who also holds the rank of grand master of the templars, appears to be an exemplary templar, utterly dedicated to the mission of the order. Yet it is widely known that he chafes at the political and bureaucratic responsibilities that his position on the Council of Cardinals demands of him. This reporter has learned that Sir Baerdren would readily surrender his position, were it not for his distrust of his seneschal, Ofejjaia of Korth. Lady Ofejjaia, it seems, has other issues on her personal agenda besides advancing the cause of the knights templar, and one wonders if those issues are tied to her Karrnathi origin. Though her wisdom and sound judgment are not in dispute, it seems that Sir Baerdren fears that she would drive the order into obsolescence or even banishment if she were in charge. Does Lady Ofejjaia hold her lofty position because of her loyalty, her piety, and her qualifications? Or is she there simply so that Sir Baerdren can keep his eye on her and ensure that she doesn't sabotage the templars from within? ---- KO R RAN B E RG CH RO N I CLE EXPOS E D ! Who really pulls the strings behind the ostensibly unbiased news coverage of the Chronique de Korranberg? The Chronicle's publisher, a wily Zil gnome named Cassia Lorridan Claddik, is the most public face of its leadership, and her connection to Korranberg's ruling Council of Nine is well known. But she is not the ultimate authority determining what gets printed and what does not. No, that honor goes to L'Ombrey board of the Chronicle's owners. Voice reporters have uncovered the names and positions of several members of this board, and the results are nothing less than shocking. La Tutelle-L'Ombrey secret police who maintain order in Zilargo-is well represented on this board, raising questions about the extent to which the Chronicle is a propaganda engine for Zilargo. Worse still, several of the wealthiest and most influential members of the board are associated with the Aurum, a Ombrey cabal whose primary interest seems to be increasing its members' wealth and influence. Whose interest, then, does the Chronicle serve? All the more reason, loyal readers, to rely on the Voice of Brelandefor unbiased news you can use. ---- Nouveau-trône ledger TH I RTE E N D EAD I N B LACKSCALE S LAU G HTE R ! Venturing unusually far from their accustomed territory in the eastern jungles, a band of enormous Homme-lézardsdescribed by local experts as members of the Blackscale Tribe-broke through the fortifications at Port de la Vipère and killed thirteen residents before retreating back into the jungles. Khalar de Tharashk has announced a plan to track the perpetrators and exact retribution under the sponsorship of King Se bastes. ---- G E N I US I N QU IS ITIVE S E RVES CO LD J USTI C E In yet another embarrassing blow to the Beaurefuge Watch, renowned détective "Feather" Fallester has apparently solved yet another case she randomly pulled from the watch's files of unsolved mysteries. The case-the theft of a bejeweled statuette on display in the University of Wynarn Museum of Antiquities-baffled watch officers seven years ago, but in a matter of five days, Fallester managed to pin the crime on a changelin thief called Spaut, who has confessed. ---- E LD E E N F RACAS FU LFI LLS PRO P H ECY "In the darkest night of the Dragon d'En-dessous, storm and dragon are reunited, and they break together upon the legions of the Blasphemer." According to Thausil Kennar, a noted scholar at the Bibliothèque de Korranberg, these words, translated from an ancient prophecy, foretell the course of recent events in the Confins d'Eldeen, where an upstart warlord led a barbarian army from the Demon Wastes on a mission of plunder. For all your news needs, be they ageless riddles or breaking modern developments, keep reading the Chronique de Korranberg! ---- BrelandeLedger LI ES O N TRIAL! KAR R N. S PY FACES J USTI CE In a courthouse surrounded by agents of the King's Citadel and thronged by reporters, judge Haliss du Cronn took her seat for the first session in what some are calling the "trial of the century." Barath Drinn, a Karrn who has been living in Wroat since the end of La Dernière Guerre, stands accused of stealing state secrets, sabotage, and one count of murderthough an anonymous source suggests that he is guilty of many more killings. A spokesperson for the King's Citadel vehemently denied reports that Drinn is employed by the Citadel. ---- THE KORRANBERG