Issue 4
Saturday, August 21st, 2004






Emissaries: Ambassadors have been sent repeatedly to both The Holy Launcian Empire, and Khâzad - Ankor, those going to the latter have mysteriously dissapeared, the Republic has offered a reward for information leading to the discovery of what happened to these individuals, whether the dwarves had killed them, or something else had happened. A similar reward has been offered for any willing to play escort to the ambassadors to the Church, requiring only that you be civil upon your visit, living expenses will be tended to by the council.

Research and Exploration: Funded by the Valanthas based ministry of discovery, individuals are rewarded for anything they can discover about the 'Great Divide', the mysterious gorge that had torn through old Launcia almost entirely sepparating the Church and the dwarves from each other, though a small amount of land exists between the two nations unclaimed by the Republic. Prospective members of these expeditions are accompanied by an apprentice mage, to verify the authenticity of their findings.

Common belief on the matter states that an earthquake had torn apart that portion of Feanor, as an attempt to balance out the horrors of the magical capital of Valanthas, or that a portion of Tallus had fallen from the sky above. Whatever had happened, it was surely linked to the massive deaths within Launcia, corresponding with the Destroyer's crusade south, doubtless any expedition would be dangerous, but who knows what one might find?

How might you react?
-Explorers: A new unexplained landmark for you to be among the first to see, and unrelated to the Republic, thus free for all to go and take a look at, how could you not go? Or find something out about it?
-Warriors/Mages: While the Divide itself might be interesting, you would far better serve your personal interests by aiding others seeking protection on their expedition that ways, or help explain whatever might be found therein.
-Everyone Else:While certainly interesting, oppurtunities are lacking, and the journey far thus thought of a trip there might seem overly farfetched.

Rebuilding of New Scarport: News has filtered down through travellers and Tigahrrim messengers that the City of New Scarport is being constructed over the ruins of the old city. Since the Duchy of Himo has been claimed by the Holy Launcian Empire, there are thoughts that the new city may lose a lot of it's flavor.

Seasons: Throughout the northern regions of Tigath the temperature is dropping from barely tolerable to just very hot, and with this change in climate comes the move of the Beefalo, moving steadily towards the south-western regions. With this moving of the Beefalo another trend is starting to display itself for anyone interested enough to watch, the Tigahrrim moved with their source of food, the northern regions like they were in every season with the food animals gone, was slowly growing more and more deserted.

Humidity is rising steadily, yet no sign of rain is yet to grace the sight of those within the region, and only a light covering of clouds hinders the view of the skies.

How might you react?
-Tigahrrim-aligned: Move south with the herds there's no reason to remain in this region with no feasible food source.
-Non-Tigahrrim: Worry about food, for with the Beefalo and Tigahrrim numbers depleting, you have no physical source of meat. Without those calling these plains their home, it will be impossible to obtain grains and other vital food stuffs from anything other than personal sources.



Undertakings: Merchants, travellers, vagabonds, they all speak of great endeavours taking place within the blasted plains of Tharivol Desert, the exact nature of these efforts remains largely unknown however. They say that the Kebeyen Republic is paying large sums of money for adventurers to go deep into the desert, and place magical poles upright into it's sand, though attempts to scam the fledgling government have failed as it seems they are able to detect where the items are.

Corruption: Patrols upon the border of the Republic have grown increasingly more vigilant of late, though the reason for this is rumoured not to be any sort of patriotic feelings, but rather greed. It is told that they seek out any attempting to sneak past their posts with unerring accuracy, though are quickly bought off when they catch these errant individuals. Whether true or not, the Austians think highly of these money-grabbing individuals, for the ill-gotten gold often filters into their own coffers, while they also gain whatever the smugglers had brought.

 Domestic Ailments: Ponce Du Lac, capital of New Austia, the largest city within the nation that had been the first to be struck at by the revolutionary, and had been the only that had surrendered rather then be conquered. It was not a respected nation, and the fact that the Republic continually dumped exiles on them, was not improving this reputation, although most of the exiles were law-abiding enough, many were also rejects, and these crowded the streets of the new capital. These people seek food and other neccesities of living, and when that was not immediately forthcoming, and they couldn't get honest jobs, they turned to crime. Attempts to quell this rising problem had not yet been succesful, and further problems after problems cropped up for the leaders to deal with.

Plague: Out of New Austia come rumours of disease striking at the heart of the nation as a result of the overflow of exiles thrust into the capital. so far the incidents reported have all been isolated within Ponce Du Lac, but the threat of it spreading is enough to keep anyone wary.