EFUA Gossip, Major Events, and Rumors (IC Knowledge)

[DangerousDan]

The War of Red Eleint has finally drawn to a bloody close.

What exactly happened is still unknown, marred by confusion and misinformation. It is commonly agreed, however, that this day has been the single bloodiest of the war. It began with rumours of fresh fighting at Fort Senuspur arriving at the gates, followed by whispers of the Orcs finally moving to topple the Ziggurat. Soon afterwards, Zakarias Sharboneth announced that the procedure for evacuation was to be begun, and that all residents of the Colony were to take refuge immediately upon the Governor's Isle.

No sooner had the announcement been sent, that the firebrand Tetrarch of the Stygian Armada, Grand Larson Burkden began recruiting what remained of the armed soldiers in the Ziggurat in an attempt to take the fight to the Orcs. Abandoning the citizenry to its fate, Burkden lead a force of roughly sixty men into the Webbed wood. Hours of desperate fighting followed, as thousands of Orcs fell upon the beleaguered host. Midway through, horns resounded from Fort Senuspur indicating it had once more been retaken and the heavy artillery began to fall upon the Orcish hordes.

Many hours after they first departed, Burkden's force returned to the Ziggurat blooded and demoralised. Heavy, mad fighting followed as they desperately attempted to repulse the tide of Orcs which swept over them. Just as they made their grim final sound, horns resounded from the Webbed Wood signalling the arrival of the cavalry of Commandant Antoine Trenada. They routed the Orcs utterly.

As for the Spirit That Sings, no sign has yet been seen of the warlord. Rumours suggest that the mysterious black armoured warrior who was spotted slaying Orcs in their dozens during the battle was responsible for his death, although others have said the cowardly Orc fled once more upon the collapse of his host.

Whatever the truth, it is widely accepted that until a body is discovered, it can be assumed that he remains dangerous and at large.

[Mort]

A terrible event hit the Colony on this day. An explosion rocked the foundry, creating a wave of panic throughout the city as people flooded to it... During this time, it is said that a lone assailant infiltrated the Guard Fortress and assassinated Ruby Vizu Nemari and a Sharboneth Guard. Due to his sacrifice, the Emissary Zakarias Sharboneth was able to flee to the Governor's tower which has been sealed off ever since the attack...

Nobody seems to know what to make of the attack...

[Nickless]

Recent reports of strange creature sightings in the eastern ruins circulate the Ziggurat. Some claim them to be in cahoots with the Nightrisers, who are now plotting a day invasion of the Ziggurat to exterminate man once and for all, while others speculate they are animals, terribly transformed by ancient wizards in their vile experiments. Others still dismiss such claims as the ramblings of drunkards. The usual reports of disappearances continue to circulate

[Mort]

On Marpenoth 15's night, a strange and eery vision of a giant undead warrior upon the summit of the Ziggurat. It delivered words that the blades of its fallen warriors were stored inside the tower of the governor and that their return and the subsequent respect given to the ancient warriors of Targus by honouring their past battles would open the fifth Blade for a warrior to wield and gain the power of Zhanarruk at his/her disposal for one last glorious melee.

Following these words, the spirit dissapeared and Nightriser warriors started warping all around the ziggurats engaging civilians, guards and adventurers in a chaotic battle. Many people headed afterward toward the governor's tower where more nightrisers warped in to battle and assault the tower. After the lengthy battle, explosions within the tower were heard and a lone rat-man was seen leaping from 15 meters down unto the ground with a large bag unto his shoulder. Many tried to pursue but lost him soon afterward...

Many questions are asked by citizen and guards alike regarding its origin and purpose and tying the assassination of the Ruby to this same individual.

[DeputyCool]

Citizens make note of the rapid construction taking place on the dilapidated Amauntor Temple. Whispers abound as to what the purpose of it could be, though most are in agreeance that the High Justice frequently stops in to see the progress, and suspect that a deal of coin may be coming from him directly.

[DangerousDan]

Yesterday eve, men in Sharboneth uniforms arrived upon the Ziggurat. Their Captain, a man in ornate and foppish looking uniform, immediately departed for the Governor's Isle and was not seen for several hours. Several hours later, he was seen in loud argument with Karzan Fyoris shortly before the two disappeared into the Guard House. They have not yet emerged.

[Secutor]

The Ziggurat's portal opened today, welcoming to the community an unusual arrival. A huge, lumbering, and badly-wounded lizard beast with a mace for a tail was reported by many to have angrily attacked and injured a handful of residents, and was then lead away into the island's wilderness by a Chultan druid, murmuring foreign chants.

[Secutor]

The white-hulled Seagle arrived in port today. The first to disembark was a party of bodyguards surrounding a small, beautiful girl and her blue-blooded mother. They went directly to Kingsman's where the girl was said to play heavenly music on her harp. The performance was brutally interrupted by a madman with an axe who instantly slew the girl, then whisked her body away. People tut over and mourn the girl, cursing the axeman for purveying such evil and destroying something so lovely and innocent.

[DeputyCool]

Colonists speak earnestly of Isengrim Sharboneth proclaiming himself the new Captain of the Guard today, atop the Ziggurat. He was said to have then rallied townspeople to follow him to the Gates, where he and the Dogshead were said to exchange words before the Dogshead ultimately laid down his arms and came quietly on charges of treason.

The new Captain of the Guard, Isengrim, has promised that in the following days and weeks many changes are to be announced and further traitors to be rooted out.

[DangerousDan]

As the corpse of the Colonial Guard begins to fester, the citizenry consider the tumulus past few days.

It began with the death of Conrad de Sonnac at the hands of the Fellowship of the Cheerful Dead in a duel meant to settle the matter of the Fellowship publicly for all to see. With the champion's death, many citizens took to the streets in anger, with the disturbances eventually coming to a head at the Mausoleum. The mob attacked the Fellowship upon their home ground, leading to the deaths of several people, both Fellows and rioters. Order was eventually restored by the Colonial Guard, but not before the Fellowship were driven from the Ziggurat.

The next day heralded the trial of Karzan Fyoris and his alleged co-conspirators. Finding the Captain innocent of all charges, but resting a heavy responsibility for the treachery of his men upon his shoulders, Eumond Hamuramos put an end to an incident which caused heightened tensions over the fate of one of the heroes of Red Eleint.

Finally, upon Uktar 8 the relatively unknown person of Isengrim Sharboneth addressed the Colony upon the matters of the Guard. Delivering a short speech, he announced that it was Karzan Fyoris' wish that he step down from the Captaincy, before dropping the unexpected revelation that the Colonial Guard was to be disbanded within the three-day.

The citizenry has taken this news with a surprising degree of nonchalence, although a small and vocal minority remains in advocacy of the deposed Captain Fyoris. In addition, rumours have begin to sprout of a flotilla of ships from Old Port seen embarking in the direction of the Colony.

[Howlando]

Regular ships are arriving from Old Port, disgorging large groups of poorly clad men and women. The crowds struggle to find adequate housing, cramming themselves into the interior chambers of the Ziggurat.

The new arrivals say there's little to no work in Old Port, and that in the Colony at least they'll find employment through the work-crews, even if they are only barely paid for laboring in cutting trees, hauling rubble, or performing some other service for House Sharboneth.

Lack of adequate space and nourishment begins to become a common complaint. Although Kingsman's remains as clean as ever, few other than sellswords and treasure-hunters have been able to afford staying there every night.

[DeputyCool]

Today, a group of men calling themselves the "Nine Hundred Brothers" came ashore in the Docks District, and spared no time in claiming a piece of land, where they quickly began to repair and rebuild a decrepit building, claiming it for their own.

They claim to be there on authority by the Count to oversee the repair and rebuilding of the Docks District, and to help maintain order within it.

Rumors speak that their leader is a Gnome, despite the rest of the company being of human birth. Other than this, little is known of their structure or numbers, though they seem to be plentiful.

[Howlando]

Word spreads that the Church of Lathander performed various rituals in the Docks district that supposedly will get rid of the nightly presence of Nightrisers. Although accounts garbled, it's said that the notable Patrician Montgomery Proversion was vital to this effort. Some also whisper that the Lathanderites made a mistake, and only warded a few of the access points to the region, but most seem happy that, for now, the Nightrisers in that area appear to have been dealt with.

Work crews are busily cutting down trees in the region, and working on hastening the repair of buildings.

[Secutor]

Gathering nearly many citizens and adventurers to the top of the Ziggurat, a man named Tortus d'Vo gave short speech denouncing the Order, and verbally attacked a presiding Footman. Several civilians revealed themselves as his followers, and they called themselves The Witnesses. Tortus was said to, with his presence, prevent events from turning to voilence.

Nevertheless, a Sharboneth Armsman attempted to arrest the speaker. d'Vo claimed that to arrest him is to arrest all citizens, and as proof, the Witnesses (common folk from the look of them) came with him to the Citadel, along with many loud, outspoken, and enraged citizens.

After several minutes, the mob re-emerged, cheering. Several angry Retainers were seen heading to Kingman's thereafter.

Some common folk of the Ziggurat say such things as:
"I cannot believe our Guards would arrest people for simply speaking their minds!"
"It's true, the Order worship strange gods. I doubt they are actually the Triad."
"How absurd, the Order shed blood for us at Red Elient. Hell, their Commander was mortally cursed at the defense of Senuspur Hill, I heard. How can anybody believe nonsense about them being traitorous?"

[DeputyCool]

With the completion of their barracks, the Nine Hundred Brothers begin to empty their docked boats of their numerous members.

Dozens of men begin to trickle into the Docks, all wearing the mottled brown of their company..