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

[Mort]

Rumours of an attack of giant spiders led by a strange half-man half-boar begin to surface shortly after Kingsman had announced his bounty across the city. The mass of spiders which were lured from the webbed woods to the city gates proceeded to injure all those who stood bravely to defend the gates as well as mortally wounding one or two. Anger, resentment and confusion were on every civilians' lip as to wonder why dangerous beasts such as these wereboar are allowed within the city. To which the guard quickly defended that they were working around the clock to defend the civils from the dangerous monsters that harass, rob or injure them.

[DangerousDan]

In the early hours of the morning, Fleet of the First Bolt departed for Old Port to join a reputed armada that is assembling to deal with the Orcs. No sooner had they set sail, than a thick blanket of mist set across the ships, with the Barren Bitch of Captain Mitrov being the sole ship to emerge from the other side. It was said the Captain made anchor just off the port, but little of consequence can be established.

Some time later, Lord Roderick de Velen returned to the City with a ragged column of men of the Order along with a few weary looking Stygians. Rumours soon begin to spread that the Orcs have gone missing, and that a few isolated columns of guerillas is all that remains of the vast host. A small militia blockade of the Gobsquat has begun, with people darkly muttering that the Goblins have made compact with the hated Orcs.

[DangerousDan]

The day has been a long one. In the early hours of the morning, a small party of Orcs and Men arrived at the Gates of the Ziggurat. A party of Stygians and men of the Order arrived to meet them, and they soon turned to leave. Exactly what was said is unknown to the populace at large, although rumours spread like wildfire: the Orcs claim to bring freedom with them. The urgings of the Orcs to welcome them with open arms have been met with widespread scepticism, and the exact meaning of this message is not entirely clear, although following the delivery, a few families collected their belongings and disappeared into the forests of Ymph.

No sooner had the rumblings of discontent be heard, than Cesare Malatesta was said to have boarded a ship bound for Old Port, and his house scattered to the four winds. However, several of his men have been seen sporting the uniform of House Sharboneth following his departure.

Finally, it is said that following an emergency War Council of the Court, Lord de Velen of the Order has been seen gathering a large force of his own men along with Stygians to his banner, some say in preparation for a great salient against the Orc hosts arrayed before the Colony. More cynical voices have been known to remark that such a move would be nigh-suicidal, no matter the quality of the men who march out to fight.

[Mort]

An earthquake late in the day has rocked the Ziggurat causing no visible damage, but making a many a citizen wonder what may have caused it. Following it, people travelling through the forests and the bogs reported noticing odd and bizarre occurences. Bodies of rotting flesh suddenly waking up and walking toward the city. Mounds of rotting matter forming themselves by the dozens in the Bog and attacking all and any whom would dare venture within... Uncertainty facing these new events certainly leaves more than one civilians of the settlement anxious...

[Mort]

An herald to the Jawed God came to the gates of the city flanked by three enormous masses of rotting matters bringing words of an ancient ritual being slowly perform upon the Isle that would determine the length of the blight that has corrupted parts of the Isle. An unknown assailant wielding a trident tried to take him out before fleeing under the incessant pounding of the mounds of rot. He invited all those with a desire for immortality to join him as the ritual will bring all closer to the divinity, and spoke of a desire to collect organic artefacts known as the "seeds of the Rot God in order to end both the presence of Jawed God on Ymph and the threats in poses to the city. The shambling mounds then proceeded to assault those present in response to hostilities given as many civilians departed toward the unknown into the wild... ...with little knowledge of what happened afterward.

[DangerousDan]

Earlier today, a large column of soldiers from the Stygian Armada and the Order were seen leaving the Ziggurat, and disappearing due east. The atmosphere, already tense has become even worse, with the sorry remnants of the 'militia' and Captain Fyoris' Guard serving as essentially the only defence against the Orcs and the Rot. Citizens speak fearfully of the days to come, with many now refusing to leave the dwellings, or requesting sanctuary upon the Governor's Isle. All requests have been denied.

[Sternhund]

Word spreads that several days ago, William Bell, Founder of the Archaeological Society went missing while working with Society members to uncover the secrets of the Ziggurat. In his will, Bell asked Adelia Tyrell to take leadership of the Archaeological Society, which she has accepted. While most citizens who hold interest are discouraged by the loss of William Bell, the former denizens of Sanctuary are happy to see Adelia Tyrell take an active role in the community.

[Nuclear Catastrophe]

A -LARGE- pack of wolves has been preying on a good many animals from the various farmsteads that have sprung up around the ziggurat.  Rumor has it one or two human beings have also been killed and half a dozen wounded, although the reports are sketchy, and the information has varied on quality as the rumors have spread, and the grisly details have become more and more exaggerated with each retelling.

The local druids are silent on the issue, strangely, but express their desire that such matters are left to them.

Some folk stories have  sprung up that if you go into the wilderness at night, and howl as loudly as you can at the night sky, that they will appear...

((reminder to druids/(proper) rangers about THIS THREAD.))

[Nickless]

A large convoy of cattle, led by a dirty and ragged band of adventurers, makes its way to the front gate, where it is unloaded in a ruined warehouse at the behest of a large, obese merchant. Gossip, amongst the more idle minds of the Ziggurat, spreads. Some speculate the cargo (Ranging from steel swords to fur coats), will be seized by the government for the war effort.

[DangerousDan]

Reports are beginning to flood into the Ziggurat about a ferocious battle at Fort Senuspur. It is said the Orcs have finally come in number, with hundreds falling against the walls of the Fortress. Following hours of grim fighting, the garrison withdrew to the tunnels beneath the Fort, before turning the tide against the depleted Orcish attacks. Standing victorious, the adventurers left what remained of Lord de Velen's garrison to tend to the dead.

Scores of the wounded have been sent to the ruined Temple of Amaunator, which is functioning as something of a hospital. Rife with disease, the beleaguered healers can seemingly do little to prevent the deaths.

Shortly before the battle began, Governor Ortred disappeared with a small retinue of Guardsmen and Stygians and has not yet returned to the Colony. To whence they departed none can say, although it is quietly whispered that he has fled Ymph for Old Port in the face of the overwhelming Orcish threat.

Whatever the circumstances, it is safe to say that thousands of Orcs now roam Ymph, with the host continuing its attacks sporadically. Rumours spread that Lord de Velen is soon to announce a withdrawal, lacking a supply of able men to hold off the baying hordes.

The outlook is bleak. Hundreds of Orcs now roam the Island, with the Militia and Guardsmen desperately attempting to stave back an attack upon the Ziggurat itself. A single glimmer of hope remains in the rumoured expedition from Old Port lead by Commandant Antoine Trenada. It is said that if the Orcs can be held off until his arrival victory is assured. Whatever this optimism is warranted or not, it is safe to say that all sharpen their blades for the days to come.

Upon looking northwards, it is noted by some that the thick columns of smoke rising from Old Port have ceased.

[Mort]

Scared and angered by the recent new declaration of the colony, a small, usually the poorest of the city, are seen making their ways to the mountain. Some say that they were drove away, nevertheless, maybe think they may have left to go reinforce the hordes that lie in wait... and the tilt some more the impending battle that will soon be at the gates in the favor of the Orcs. Others believe they have simply went to established themselves away from tyrannical laws.

[DangerousDan]

Fort Senuspur fell to the Orcs just before dawn yesterday. It is said traitors in the numbers of the defenders allowed Orcish guerrillas to infiltrate, and capture large numbers of the garrison. A few ragged survivors managed to flee the fighting, and rallied a militia of adventurers to retake it. What happened afterwards is confused- a small column was seen heading towards the Wyldwater, only to be bloodily beaten back by overwhelming numbers of Orcs. However, the arrival of Governor Ortred quickly rallied the adventurers, who departed deep into the forests.

No sooner had they disappeared, than war horns blew from Fort Senuspur announcing the recapture of the hill, and the banners of House Sharboneth flew once more. The fighting was bloody, and hours later a retinue of House Sharboneth Guards were seen bringing the broken body of the Governor back to the Colony. Additional whispers quickly spread that Lord de Velen was turned to stone during the fighting, and has yet to be cured by his brothers. With two of the chief war leaders of the Colonists dead or petrified, the Colony has had scarce time to mourn. Fresh rumours of Orcish reinforcements arriving to the eastern marches add to the feeling of impending dread that is slowly growing amongst the populace. No successor to the Governor has yet been appointed, and Emissary Sharboneth is said to have taken control of the Court for the duration of the war.

The rising sense of foreboding causes more eyes to turn to the east, and the promised arrival of Commandant Antoine Trenada. No further word has been received, and some have begun to suggest that perhaps they have been crushed by the Orcs when they attempted to strike south. With no word from Old Port or the Stygians, an increasing number of citizens are demanding the few ships remaining in the Colony strike northwards for Old Port. They have been denied.

[Mort]

Rumours of desertion by the members of militia are heard throughout the city, it seems that with the death of Governor and the impending orc attack, many militia-men were convinced by a Cultist of the Rot God to desert the city and become protected by the Jawed God himself... few members stationed at the gates were seen leaving the city before Captain Fyoris himself, furious, descended upon the cultist with his sword in hand. Although' the two fought for some time, the cultist managed to flee...

[Sternhund]

As dawn peaks over the horizon, the colonists wake to find scrolls of a text entitled "Fulfilling the Dream, by Adelia Tyrell" readily distributed throughout the camp. Some are posted prominently within the Kingsman, and on the walls of the Ziggurat. While Colonial Guards remove rebellious texts from places of prominence, former citizens of Sanctuary privately begin to question Sharboneth's leadership, and the vulnerability of government now that Governor Erasmus Ortred is slain.

[Sternhund]

Later in the day, Adelia Tyrell was publicly arrested for spreading word of treason. Former citizens of Sanctuary are clearly displeased, but with the threat of orcs, Old Port, and the Stygian Armada, they make no rebellious action. Those colonists who were brought here from Old Port and the Ziggurat praise this move, claiming that Tyrell was nothing more than an anarchist and traitor. Many former members of the Archaeological Society criticize Tyrell of swaying from William Bell's vision of political neutrality, while others quietly support her ideas of rebellion. The last group of individuals subscribe to the name Luminary Social Club, and claim to carry out Tyrell's dream of peaceful revolution.