Implementor Anume Posted August 11, 2019 Implementor Report Share Posted August 11, 2019 //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||Hark, denizens of Aabahran! Our top story, || ||exclusively from our secret journalist in the field: || ||Warmaster ranks in disarray, internal struggles || ||manifest as dishonor in combat! || || || || Warmasters are truly living dark days, as their now || ||former members, gladiators Pew and Takoel, cowardly || ||join forces to brutally murder Niron the ninja. || ||No member of Warmaster was reached for || ||comment, but it is no secret that they are currently || ||leaderless and adrift. Could this be the beginning of|| ||the end, will this outdated faction finally fade into|| ||antiquity, where it belongs? || || || ||Have you witnessed any warfare between Factions? Draw|| ||a sketch of it and send it to us via a pigeon. You || ||may be eligible for a cash reward! || || || ||In other news, will the Knights continue their || ||ill-advised war against the Syndicate? || ||The death toll rises while hope fades. Despite their || ||best efforts, the Knights in their shining armors || ||fail to disrupt Syndicate operations. Any and all || ||engagements exact a terrible price for the warriors || ||of morality atop their high horses and preachers of || ||chastity in their ivory towers alike. No doubt the || ||eunuchs in charge of Knight regret the needless || ||massacre of their subjects and will iniate peace || ||talks any day now. || || || ||Coming up next, have you always wrongly protected || ||yourself from Ice Storms? Keep reading to learn the || ||shocking answer, which will amaze you! || || || ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||*You stop reading as you notice the remainder of the || ||scroll mostly features asinine tips for everyday life|| ||as well as local gossip in trivial detail* || || || \\=====================================================// //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||Bark, Denizens of Aabahran! This week our exclusive || ||secret journalist in the field has a question for || ||you: How does a part beast, part druid, and all || ||criminal plead their case when Tribunal finally || ||arrests them? || ||-You're barking up the wrong tree! || || || ||It seems Tribunal is in a spot of trouble after tree || ||huggers crawled out of the woodwork en masse. It is || ||uncertain whether the overbearing layabouts || ||responsible for your safety welcome this change in || ||schedule. Surely they would rather keep patrolling || ||their empty, cat piss soaked streets than answer the || ||call of Nature. Belderon, at least, vigorously || ||applies himself to both tasks, which means that the || ||jolly bushwhackers, Addir and Sonny Chey, have a || ||serious time reclaiming the land and introducing || ||tree, bush or leaf of any kind to Val Miran. When we || ||strolled the streets of Val Miran and asked a citizen|| ||passing us by on the street about what he thought of || ||the situation, leaves and all, he had this to say: || ||"Huh, what? Did you say leaves? I don't suppose ye || ||have any fer sale?". || || || ||The raging conflict of The Man versus Nature makes || ||life in Val Miran even more stifling than it already || ||is. However, you need not worry, because relief is || ||available. The crackdown does not affect your || ||reliable and renowned supplier of leaf or herb of || ||every taste - the Family. Our establishment in || ||Miruvhor serves any and all customers the highest || ||quality of produce - provided your pockets are lined || ||appropriately. Even better, the Family will soon open|| ||a new store closer to Val Miran, so you can purchase || ||with confidence even closer to your place of || ||residence. || || || ||Tired of being caught in the crossfire? Are you fed || ||up being "accidentally" pummeled by reckless lawmen || ||or stumbling into errant thunderstorms? Quit being || ||collateral damage. Give yourself a reason to be in || ||the fight, and grow wealthy and powerful in the || ||process. Deliver a scroll to us and let your || ||intentions be known. But beware, we do not suffer || ||fools. We are especially looking for portly ladies || ||with talents in infiltration. || || || ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||*You promptly lose interest as you discover that the || ||rest of the scroll is dedicated to a rather extensive|| ||article titled: "Improvised blackjacks: A guide to || ||all the things that go bump in the night".* || || || \\=====================================================// //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||Hark, denizens of Aabahran! Pull up a chair and stuff|| ||your pipe, esteemed reader, because what we are about|| ||to reveal will stimulate your imagination! Our top || ||story this time involves political subterfuge and || ||cloak-and-dagger espionage as we reveal to the || ||intriguing conspiracy between Baexyra Zau'und, a || ||former Savant, and Kyros Frostbane, the now retired || ||leader of our sublime Syndicate. || || Indeed, the ever vigilant eyes and ears of our spy|| ||network are always watching in the shadows. No one is|| ||out of reach, not even the Rat King himself, who was || ||observed having a private moment with a fellow drow, || ||discussing the situation of post-Zareerae drow || ||society and the rebuilding of Xymerria. Baexyra had || ||weaved together an ambitious, treasonous plan to turn|| ||the drow matriarchy into a patriarchy, seizing power || ||in the process. Alas, she was missing a few small || ||bits and pieces downstairs to accomplish that by || ||herself. Enter Kyros Frostbane, an eternal bachelor || ||and figurehead. Over tea and crumpets, Baexyra || ||persuaded Kyros to marry her in name only. Kyros was || ||reluctant to start wearing such a heavy ball and || ||chain, but eventually submitted to marry her, no || ||doubt well-aware who would be pulling the strings in || ||their sham marriage. || || || ||Such could have been the course of history, if || ||Baexyra not disappeared without a trace and Kyros had|| ||not stepped down before their plan came to fruition. || || || ||Are you always a servant, but never the master? Is || ||someone standing between you and your family fortune?|| ||Is that promotion for Elder slow in coming? Is there || ||someone out there in desperate need of slaying? Do || ||not take matters into your own hands. Instead, || ||familiarize yourself with the personnel management || ||services Syndicate has to offer. Place a bounty at || ||the nearest Syndicate branch, and your problem will || ||be solved by professionals. Impersonal, discreet and || ||effective. || || || ||*What follows next is a dubious list of courtship || ||advice for the esteemed esquire. You grimace and tuck|| || the scroll away.* || || || \\=====================================================// //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||Excited harkings, denizens of Aabahran! Do not || ||mistake respite for repose. Even if the unseen mouth || ||whispering in your ear has remained silent, or the || ||Hand grasping the quill is distracted, the eyes have || ||not grown neither dim nor milky. They remain ever || ||behind you, watching. || || || ||Reality twists as the Pendulum swings, and Vanguard || ||cries for every deluded fool and overconfident madman|| ||to assist them in their foolhardy scheme to sabotage || ||the construction of the highway spanning Val Miran || ||and Ofcol. Avatar Ithric, pet of gods and an obstacle|| ||on the path of progress, will no doubt lead these || ||puppets directly into the thick of it, only to be || ||crushed as the Pendulum comes crashing back. || || || ||Elsewhere, the Order of the Eunuchs, also known as || ||Knights, are attempting to grow a pair. Their || ||delusional regent, Kimril, has been seen communing || ||with a visitor from beyond the grave. No doubt the || ||haunting damaged the delicate constitution of his || ||mind, which explains the stronger than usual zealotry|| ||he is inciting. || || || ||Lately, a former piss street patroller, Belderon, has|| ||taken up to him to make a road between Ofcol and Val || ||Miran. No doubt his motives involve a change of || ||scenery, and with the current state of affairs in || ||mind, who can blame him? Draining the city's drinking|| ||fountains after unsubstantiated reports of a lich || ||skinny dipping in one of them, resulting in an entire|| ||city slowly dying of thirst, is the sort of || ||administration one has learned to expect from their || ||local governance. Truly, the best interests of the || ||citizens of Val Miran are always first and foremost || ||in the minds of their leaders. However, once the || ||noose tightens, a finished highway would make || ||Belderon's escape ever so convenient. Maybe, on his || ||way he runs into Pew the dishonored, who mistakes || ||Belderon for a maggot and gobbles him up with the || ||rest of his gruesome forage he so often partakes. || || || ||Editors of Miruvhor Whisperer are not, on occasion, || ||averse to touch even the most delicate subjects, such|| ||as the case of Wirenth the half-drow invoker, who was|| ||buggered by a bat as a wee lad, and developed a || ||burning hatred for them. Unfortunately his bark is || ||worse than his bite and, like a mutt, he never shuts || ||up about it. Unsurprisingly, he has a hard time || ||finding anyone to drink with. || || || ||Is there a rat among your ranks? An alliance of || ||convenience placed you in close proximity of someone || ||you'd rather be rid of? Next time you're in town, || ||place a bounty at the Syndicate establishment. Any || ||and all pests exterminated at affordable prices! || || || ||*The scroll ends on a final article explaining how to|| ||ward off undead using only supplies found in an || ||average hovel.* || || || \\=====================================================// //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer || || || ||Hark denizens of Aabahran! The quill, when wielded by|| ||a deft hand, occasionally rivals the might of a || ||concealed blade. The wells of Val Miran overflow once|| ||again, so drink your fill, and then slate your thirst|| ||for knowledge with the latest issue of the Whisperer.|| || || ||The ranks of the Eunuchs continue to swell. At the || ||moment it is unclear whether they gestate under a || ||rock somewhere, as they certainly are not able to || ||sire any offspring themselves. In any case, the || ||Syndicate continues to cull prime targets among the || ||eunuchs. Meanwhile, the increase in numbers has || ||prompted Arenic, a known ravisher, to assemble a || ||therapy circle involving copious amounts of group || ||hugging. It is known that the excessive hugging || ||stimulates the participants to a point of ecstasy, || ||which - unfortunately - does nothing to hold back || ||their busy hands. The hands reach out in an attempt || ||to encompass everyone with love and kindness, only to|| ||be pierced to the bone once they caress the crusty || ||nuzzle of the Mutt, whose bark is equal to his bite. || || || ||The Syndicate wishes to inform any aspiring bounty || ||hunters to be on the lookout for Pew the Dishonored. || ||This runt of the litter somehow avoided being || ||strangled to death by his own umbilical cord and || ||being fed to the wolves after his birth, and has now || ||reached a size sufficient to inconvenience Mahn-Zaar || ||to the point of annoyance. Therefore, an opportunity || ||is open for anyone able to perform a late post-natal || ||abortion of the runt to earn Mahn-Zaar's favor. || ||Simply bring proof of his death by your hand to the || ||minotaur king, and keep in mind that the Syndicate || ||always values talent for wetwork. || || || ||What do you get when you combine a Dishonored runt || ||bovine Warmaster, a delusional regent and several || ||sessions of group hug therapy? The answer: Peace || ||talks between the two factions! Speculations abound || ||whether the the runt merely seeks sanctuary in the || ||Halls of the Balless or quests to join them. In case || ||of the latter, he'd be wise to pick up the blade and || ||do the deed himself, the Warmaster way. || || || ||Concerning Kimril and anyone who listening to his || ||sermons; We are merchants, craftsmen, and servants. || ||We are dedicated and hard working men and women from || ||all walks of life, and we run a business as old as || ||civilization itself. Were our services unwanted or || ||unrequired, we would not exist. We do not follow the || ||Light, nor do we revel in Darkness. We simply ply our|| ||trade, unobstructed by such cumbersome moral || ||constructs. Our's is not injustice, but true justice || ||for those that have been denied it. Furthermore, do || ||not worry about your coin going to waste, because || ||every piece of gold you give us is returned to you, || ||one way or the other, through services, consumables, || ||and numerous other benefits. || || Are you, Kimril, perhaps worried about your own || ||head, to pen such nonsense? It is no secret that || ||several of your cohorts have already lost a good deal|| ||of height, and you're inevitably going to join them, || ||although in your case there is not much height to || ||subtract to begin with. || || || ||*As you're putting the scroll away, you notice || ||someone has doodled a lewd drawing of a minotaur and || ||a halfling on the bottom margin* || \\=====================================================// //=====================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer VI || || || ||The wait is over, and the Family has sent out two new|| ||merchants to ease your suffering and help you || ||celebrate your victories. Satisfy your cravings at || ||entirely affordable prices! || || || ||When you were a youngling, was your favourite toy || ||flint and tinder? Was your adolescence filled with || ||constant angst and rage? Are your days spent in an || ||endless quest for personal power? Do not wait for || ||someone to come along to corrupt you! Succumb to the || ||Darkness yourself and apply for Despair membership || ||today! || ||Nexus - No lives matter. || || || ||The hard working folks here at the Whisperer would || ||like to dedicate the rest of this issue for feedback || ||and unclassified records from our field operatives; || || || ||"It is day 1024 and the Eunuchs have accepted me as || ||one of their own. I have grown to understand and || ||respect their gentle ways. Now I question everything || ||I thought I once knew and fear I am no longer capable|| ||of following through with my primary objective. I || ||know that the One who sent me will not relent. It || ||will send others in my place. But we will be ready." || || -Naruthiron || || || ||"Put a price on the old battle-axe's noggin' an' || ||afterwards she did not show up to divvy up tha cows || ||an' chickens. Will order again once me new wife || ||starts naggin'!" -Oogie || || || ||"I enjoy having eyes on my back when I pee. I simply || ||cannot go without." -Arenic || ||Editor's note; The spy assigned to Arenic has been || ||temporarily recalled in order to train this deviant's|| ||bladder. || || || ||"Great communication, fast delivery, and all for the || ||price of a few loaves of bread. Now I can afford to || ||buy food for my entire family and loved ones for || ||years to come!" -Mutt || || || ||*As you're putting the scroll away, you notice || ||someone has doodled a lewd drawing of a minotaur and || ||a dwarf on the bottom margin* || \\=====================================================// //=================================================================\\ ||The Miruvhor Whisperer VII || || || ||Hark, denizens of Aabahran! Once again the world did not end. || ||We hope our subscriber count did not dwindle too much in these || ||harsh times. || || || ||The once sovereign city-state of Ofcol has fallen under the || ||tyranny of Tribunal. The oppressors burned down the ancient || ||forest just south of Val Miran and carved a highway through the || ||landscape. Our more freedom orientated readers will be pleased || ||to know their project did not go as smoothly as they anticipated,|| ||as forces of nature emerged from the flames to lay waste on || ||Val Miran. This caused a widespread panic in Belderon and his || ||castrated lackeys. According to one eyewitness, Pew the || ||Dishonored was also present, screaming with his face beet red. || ||The runt was reportedly heard yelling:"GESTATE BEHIND MY SHIELD!"|| ||It is unclear whether those were his exact words, but they had || ||the desired effect on the eunuchs, who were glad to huddle behind|| ||someone and thus lived to fight cowardly another day. || ||Furthermore, word soon reached Val Miran that the battle was || ||raging all over Aabahran, with all the major cities being under || ||attack by the avengers of nature || || || ||However, no impending doomsday is complete without good old || ||fashioned deicide. The unusual events had enticed Zoichan, the || ||eternal hangsman; Ithric, the eternal pendulum swinger and Lloth,|| ||the spider queen to assume /corpor\eal forms. Sensing her || ||opportunity, Lloth place\ \ ,, /d /a dagger in Zoichan's back || ||resulting in strange soun'-.'\()/'.-'ds, a slew of profanities || ||and a dying god. --_'( )'_--. || || The rather vocal deat/ /' /'""'\ '\ \h throes caught the || ||interest of Ithric, who | | >< | | came to investigate, only || ||to discover the deadly \ \ / /dagger in their back as || || '.__.' well! || ||Who would have thought the orbb elg'caress Lloth, betrayer of || ||betrayers, were capable of such betrayal? Here at the Whisperer || ||we are aware of several persons who suddenly found a new religion|| ||due to her skillful backstabs. || || Luckily, one of Syndicate's own soul peddlers were there to || ||offer her services to save the fallen god, Zoichan. Not content || ||to sit on the sidelines, Lloth once again intervened and snatched|| ||the soul intended for Zoichan to save Ithric instead, forcing || ||Belderon to watch in horror as his god expired in exquisite || ||agony. || || || ||The Family's influence grows steadily, and the eunuchs are || ||helpless against it. The war they have fought in vain for a good || ||fifty years was begun by their regent of that time, Leothyre, who|| ||wished to remove our establishment from Miruvhor. Instead, shrewd|| ||business management and our penchant to resist hostile takeovers || ||has allowed us to expand further east. We have established a loan|| ||office in Val Miran, where we offer affordable credit to || ||everyone. Our services feature a customized loan management and || ||we're open day and night. In case you refuse to pay back your || ||loan, we will send someone with hands-on collection experiment to|| ||withdraw your funding and have your ass as interest. || || || ||Have you always thought you would have a hand in the coming || ||apocalypse? Join Despair, and it could be more likely than you'd || ||think! || ||Nexus - No Lives Matter || \\=================================================================// note to Immortal note subject The Miruvhor Whisperer: Issue VIII note edit //==================================================================\\ || || ||The Miruvhor Whisperer VIII || || || ||Hark, denizens of Aabahran! Despite what you may have read from || ||other, far less reputable sources, the world did not end once || ||again. Support the truth - support the Miruvhor Whisperer. || || || ||Here at the Whisperer we encounter ever increasing efforts to || ||silence us, to suppress the free flow of information. The eunuchs || ||under Belderon reportedly keep secret meetings, where they plot to|| ||remove the freedom of speech from the citizens of Aabahran for || ||good. They plan to achieve this atrocity by removing the Syndicate|| ||and Nexian establishments from Miruvhor. Furthermore, one of these|| ||meetings is predicted to spawn a new king, who will set to work || ||the subjugation of the whole of Aabahran, stripping its people of || ||their individuality in the process. One can't help but wonder || ||whether the eunuchs behind all this are overcompensating for || ||something. The Camp is the first alongside the Miruvhor Whisperer || || - The Truth - to object such foul practices. || || || ||Bottom puckering news! We all know Zoichan from his previous || ||careers as a Hangsman, a marionette dancing to invisible strings, || ||and his memorable performance as a corpse with a dagger in its || ||back. Nowadays, Zoichan spends / _ \ his time as a Lloth's grizzly|| ||hand puppet, achieving almost\_\(_)/_/ life-like movements due to || ||her probing appendages. Howeve_//"\\_r, only time will reveal the || ||true depth of the Spider Queen'/s r\each. || || || ||Moving on to lighter news, our agents are reporting love in the || ||air. Several people have spotted Ebach and Trogir mingling in || ||Miruvhor, with a shy kiss shared between the two. The Miruvhor || ||Whisperer wishes the young couple luck and prosperity in their || ||relationship and remind certain other factions to follow their || ||vigorous example and relax a little. There is no need to be coy. || || || ||The Treehuggers have finally awoken from their hibernation, and || ||the project to create a green esplanade in Val Miran is advancing.|| ||Naturally, Belderon and The Eternal Puppet object to such || ||enrichment. The Syndicate has a long history of bringing joy to || ||the people, and fully supports the project of adding a bit more || ||green to Val Miran. || || || ||Do you desire to be a gardener? Is your thumb green for some || ||reason? Do you have an insatiable urge to kill the men in their || ||iron suits and tear down their stone houses? If the answer is yes,|| ||seek for the mossy hole of Sacred Oak, within the woods of Banor, || ||and spelunk today! || || || ||*At the end of the scroll you notice very faint writing, which || ||looks a string of strange symbols arranged in groups of various || ||sizes. Unfortunately, you cannot make heads or tails of this || ||alien cipher.* || \\==================================================================// note to Immortal note subject The Miruvhor Whisperer: Issue IX note edit //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer IX || || || || Hark, denizens of Aabahran! For your pleasure and benefit, yet || || another issue of your favourite newspaper, to be enjoyed however || || you please, be it while resting at a campfire or straining over || || a latrine pit. || || || || It is our duty to report with heavy hearts that conflict and || || strife will not become scarce in the cursed lands any time soon. || || The volatile situation may in fact escalate within the larger || || cities during the months to come. If you or your family live in || || a large city within the Empire, we strongly suggest you to gather|| || whatever provisions you can find and hunker down, because your || || mule-headed leaders are doing very little to help your situation || || in any way. Peace negotiations between Syndicate and Tribunal || || have come to a grinding halt, mainly due to Belderon demanding || || impossible terms while not actually in a position to do so, and || || in his hubris rejecting entirely reasonable counter offers. The || || Whisperer has reminded you previously, that your leaders may not || || have your best interests at heart. Do not forget that Belderon's || || actions in the past have frequently bloodied his hands with the || || blood of his subjects. || || || || Meanwhile, a different war rages on in the shadows, unbeknownst || || to many. It is the war against information, began by Lloth, and || || manifesting as suppression of free thinkers and political || || dissidents. Anyone found not in agreement with Empire politics || || is driven away by thugs in guardsman cloaks. Keep in mind that || || these "peacekeepers" are paid by your levies. Furthermore, one || || cannot but wonder whether the Chronicles, a tabloid brought back || || from dusty history and known to some as an excellent cure for || || insomnia, might soon face persecution from the Empire as well. || || Not that their current efforts fare exceptionally well, as a || || certain dwarf who wandered to the wrong district at the wrong || || time can attest. || || || || Remember to visit your local establishment and purchase what || || you need to ride out this storm to come. Despite the raging war, || || our shelves are stocked with the finest goods, as always. Also, || || do not forget to apply for a membership by bringing in a || || recognizable head as proof of your deed. We are confident in || || your abilities to choose the right targets for yourselves. || || || || *The rest of this perhaps needlessly long scroll is just blank, || || soft paper separated into segments with perforated lines. || || How curious.* || | | | | | | | | | | | | //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer || || Environmental Issue I || || || || It has been several decades since mugwort has been identified || || in the wild by a credible source, and it is safe to assume the || || plant no longer exists. Mugwort was enjoyed by many as a || || restorative and recreational herb, and it reportedly bestowed || || its users with euphoria not unlike one extracted from the || || colorful poppy plant. However, mugwort also contains a powerful || || hallucinogenic compound, which disturbed one's sensation of time.|| || The plant is described in detail in the old Syndicate || || manuscripts, the following being an excerpt from an anonymous || || author: || || || || "...the halfling carefully ground up the dried mugwort in || || mortar and pestle to fine substance, then tip'd the dust in a || || Glass-vessel and added a considerable amount of spirits, so that || || it brimmed. Afterwards, the brownish liquid was poured on fresh || || straw, through which it seeped and was gathered, and then dried || || to sticky substance. When mix'd with common tabac, the || || concoction produced acrid smoke upon burning which, if breath'd || || in, causes a sensation of ecstasy. After the initial euphoria, I || || partook of the smoke yet again, this time perceiving my || || surroundings moving gradually faster and, indeed, I stared in || || wonder and stupor as the halfling went about his movements with || || unnatural haste. The effect of the drug lasted only for a few || || hours, yet when I came back to my senses, I could have sworn a || || several days had passed by me..." || || || || It is unclear why mugwort disappeared from Aabahran, but || || because the plant grew somewhere within the Val Miran area, one || || can venture a guess that habitat destruction is at least || || partially to blame. Val Miran and its neighboring urban centers || || place considerable strain on the forests surrounding them. Who || || knows, perhaps mugwort grew only in one select location, that || || got trampled and scorched by fire giant loggers? Whatever the || || case, one cannot help but wonder what other unique and priceless || || natural resources are lost for good in the wake of massive || || projects, such as the road to Ofcol. || || || \\==================================================================// //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer XI || || || || *This parchment, a duplicate of the original, retains the shaky || || penmanship and crossed-over words of the original. Illegible || || words are scrawled on the margins.* || || || || Hark! Citizens of Aabahran! The Empire seeks to spread lies || || about your well-being! BUT YOU KNOW THE TRUTH! And the truth is || || not with the Midget's Lies. Neither is it found in the False - || || FAT - fabrications the Priest preaches. None of it is true. They || || are all aligned against bringing me down - to bringing US down. || || Stay critical. Stay vigilant. There are greater forces at work || || here. There are... Things. In the shadows, waiting. Watching. || || Always watching. They think I cannot see them, but I do... || || || || The accursed Tribunal has forsook all pretense of civility and || || benevolence. There is a crackdown in progress against legitimate || || businesses. A foolish move. IT WILL cost innocent lives - Nothing|| || foreign for the trollops of the Empire. Your lives mean NOTHING || || in the grand scheme. You cannot stand between desperate people || || and their desires. If you're cut off, force your way in. If you || || cannot, a Warmaster will assist you. || || || || Short on resources? Strapped for cash? Come get your affordable || || loans from the Family. Here's the caveat. Remember to always pay || || your debts, or lose your wits. Along with your head. Or ass. Your|| || choice. A more direct route is available. Syndicate is in the || || market for severed heads of tribunal judges. Bring them to || || Lykiss, who purchases them for one million gold coins each. || || || || The Empire wants peace. They express their desire for it by || || exiling both Hands of the Rat Queen under flimsy excuses. Such || || arrogancy knows no bounds, but they are forgetful. Oh, yes. A || || dangerous mistake to forget. Who supplied the incendiaries to || || burn the forest? Very dangerous goods to transport over long || || distances. Volatile. Would have to be manufactured and stored || || nearby. Hidden, underground stockpiles. Fire-safety might || || occasionally be... lax. || || || || A giant, black owl found its way to Syndicate's printing shop. || || Made its nest in the rafters. A dire portent. I had the archers || || down it, but afterwards they brought me a message it carried. || || Here's your reply: NO. The issues already have their rightful || || place within your halls, provided by us. And not a word will be || || changed. || || || \\==================================================================// //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer XII pt.1 || || || || Hark, denizens of Aabahran! After a brief hiatus, we are proud to|| || present yet another quality news report for our beloved readers. || || || || The massive project to build a highway from Ofcol to Val Miran || || remains unfinished to this day. The woods were hacked and burned,|| || but the highway is no more than a scar in the earth, scant wider || || than a cattle path crossing a sea of ashes. Perhaps this massive || || failure is the reason which drove Belderon, the leader of || || Tribunal, to a remote log cabin along the clear-cut swath of || || forest. Miruvhor Whisperer managed to acquire a Tribunal report, || || which clearly describes the conditions surrounding Belderon's || || death. He was found hanged with his own belt in a broom closet. || || A rather a tragic incident. || || || || Although not widely liked person, Belderon had quite the || || influence on the people who supported him. It seems that his || || followers have done just what he always preached in life: || || "Follow your leader". || || One of the Bloodguard hanged himself from a pole just north of || || the central square of Val Miran. The curious details in this case|| || are the multiple stab wounds in the back and the lack of blood || || splatters on the scene, indicating that the stabbings occurred || || elsewhere and the Bloodguard then somehow arrived to the square || || and hanged himself. Another clue found on the corpse is a note, || || pinned to the chest with a curious looking dagger. On the note, || || someone had carelessly doodled, in blood, a large hand. The body|| || was found just outside the Syndicate's Val Miran office branch. || || The crime is not being investigated, and an official Tribunal || || report lists the cause of death as suicide. || || || || Similar "suicide" happened in the eastern district of Miruvhor,|| || where a Bloodguard was found disemboweled, with a similar note || || pinned with a dagger to one of his eye sockets. The Bloodguard || || had been assigned to stand guard at the Black Market of Miruvhor.|| || || || There's no two without three. An eyewitnesses report describes || || yet another Bloodguard being strung up on an inverted cross in || || the forum of Maelbrim - on the very gallows Tribunal uses to || || execute people. A similar note with a bloody hand on it was || || plunged in this bastard's chest as well. Shortly afterwards, two || || unidentified rogues were spotted ambushing and knocking out the || || Marshall of Maelbrim. Using a smoke screen, the rogues managed to|| || evade the marshall's bodyguards and kidnap the Marshall under || || their very noses. || || || || || \\==================================================================// //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer XII pt.2 || || || || Tribunal acted swiftly, and the corpses were removed from || || Miruvhor and Maelbrim - but curiously, the one in Val Miran still|| || remains. Tribunal also recovered their kidnapped Marshall of || || Maelbrim, although there appears to be no official report || || detailing his amazing rescue. Suspicious, the Syndicate sent one || || of their most capable agents to a nightly visit to question the || || Marshall, who turned out to be a lowly sergeant sharing a vague || || similarity to the real Marshall. Obviously, this impostor is both|| || incompetent for the job and only there to assuage the suspicions || || of the people concerning Tribunal protection. || || || || Behind the scenes, the Miruvhor Whisperer has learned that the || || Empire begs the Family to negotiate for peace. The Empire || || desperately wants their beloved Marshall back - and in one piece,|| || nonetheless, as well as an end to the war that costs so dearly || || each and every day as loss of both militia and innocent life. || || || || We wish to end this rather gloomy and violent news report with || || some good news: The Syndicate office in downtown Val Miran has || || reopened and services the public once more. The hard-working || || people there wish to remind you that every man has a price and || || everything is for sale, provided the price is right. So, line || || your pockets with coin, pay us a visit, and we will remove the || || obstacles in your path to success. || || || || *A section at the end of this scroll, set off by dotted lines, || || states the following: "The bearer of this certificate, upon || || placing a bounty of 100000 coins or more at any Syndicate bounty || || office, is entitled to a 50% discount when purchasing a lovingly || || crafted, hand-made plush toy of the Rat Queen. Extremely limited || || edition. Highly collectible. Perfect for children of any age. || || Offer valid as long as supplies last. Must provide valid || || directions to living residence upon purchase. Allow two to three || || months for delivery. The Syndicate reserves the right to refuse || || selling to certain individuals. The Syndicate is not responsible || || for merchandize lost during delivery. All sales are final. || || No refunds.* || || || \\==================================================================// //==================================================================\\ || || || The Miruvhor Whisperer XIII || || || || Hark, citizens of Aabahran! Our field reporters, after a thorough|| ||flogging, have returned from their "vacation", and information || ||once again flows from our pens into your minds. Beware of fake || ||news, accept only the guaranteed facts presented by the one and || ||only Miruvhor Whisperer! || || || || The Knights of the realms have all but vanished into the || ||woodwork, and the throne of the Crown Regent gathers dust. Alas, || ||a new champion - with a peculiar background - has emerged to || ||claim a throne of his own. Squeaking with fury, a dirty man-rat || ||has clawed its way out of the ValMiran dump with a thousand || ||vermin hot at its tail. Those with ultrasonic hearing recounted || ||that the repulsive thing chanted "KING ME!" over and again, until || ||a crown fashioned out of offal was placed on its head. || ||Immediately after the hasty coronation, the thing darted towards || ||the great Tower in the east with malevolent intent. || || || || Meanwhile, pressures are mounting at the Great wall of Aabahran. || ||The man in charge, Kesrick, is having a bad time overseeing the || ||wall's reinforcement. It is uncertain what is causing the || ||commander's sour mood, but the pervasive stench of spoiling lamp || ||oil in massive stockpiles combined with regular discoveries of || ||coarse hair in his morning coffee may play a role. It is evident || ||the desperate defenders are too few and far between to stop the || ||congregating furbags in the east from scaling the walls and || ||infiltrating the camp. || || || || In other news, credible sources hint of a coup in Syndicate || ||ranks. The Rat Queen has been ousted by the Dark Bitch herself as || ||a reward for successfully flushing out the corrupt Tribunal || ||council, forcing Nemist to hastily retreat, and making Raynald || ||reflect on his life choices. || || || || Every day, something we do makes your life better. || ||Assassinations? We do those. Espionage? We do those. Taxes? Well, || ||no. We don't do taxes, although we have collected them. When the || ||job absolutely has to be done, remember: || || || ||the Syndicate cares for you. || || || || *At the end of this scroll, someone has drawn a rat next to an || ||elaborate maze with a block of cheese in the middle. A text below || ||states: "Help the Rat Queen navigate the maze and find the prize || ||in the center!"* || || || \\==================================================================// 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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