====== Turn 3 News ====== //In the world of Djemity, news travels fast, borne on the fleetest of Aquienos Ships, flown across the land in Sylphim Floating Isles, or whispered through miles of stone by Teklo Wordsmiths. Of course, as fast as news and official reports travel, rumour and hearsay are quicker to spread throughout the world.// ===== Kirlsa Army awaits Invaders ===== Travelers reports that the Kirlsa army is massing in the desert. Is this just a gathering of the tribes for their clan council, or are they going north to kick some Arkhivian butt? We don't know, they don't know, but I wouldn't want to be attacking that grouping. Did you see those guys at the unity parade, or hear how they kicked Jean'Lowe's butt 3 months ago. Good job there's someone doing something about that great invasion fleet anyway. We hope rumours that they're going to try and attack the Aquienos are false. That would really just be handing the Enemy an invitation, wouldn't it? ===== Invasion Fleet Scouted ===== //Reported by Captain Thimel'Rasehren, attached to High Admiral Andar// At the end of the first week of scouting, we finally spotted the fleet. Not able to come too close, we observed from afar and made several trips approaching the gathering. As noted in the report to Admiral Andar, the Enemy's fleet is in a state of readiness. By my humble estimate they are ready to set sail for Djemity. The Arkhivian Invasion Fleet is on our reefstep. ===== Great Polis of Hite Flooded ===== //A report, submitted to Senator Jeh Yos Har, detailing the events at Hite.// The Polis of Hite, which resided to the West and further down the mountainside from the Great Lake was, in the estimation of the Committee on Internal Security, a natural target. Its great aqueducts, the envy of all of Djemity, bringing fresh water down from the Great Lake, were it seems, an obvious weakness because of the extensive damming that was required to retain the flow of water. It is believed that Arkivian Infiltrators, perhaps posing as Teklo themselves, gained access to the various dams and performed great acts of sabotage upon them. On the fourteenth day of this month, the dams broke and a full third of the Great Lake was freed to flow down the mountainside and in to Hite. The force of the water was such that it is no exaggeration to suggest that where once one of our mightiest Poleis stood, now no stone rests upon another. The destruction is almost too terrible to consider. We cannot even offer up an accurate census of the dead, as //all// the records are washed away, but it is estimated that **tens of thousands** Teklo resided within the Polis at the time of the flood. //Sanos, a Becquerel visitor to the Polis of Dight, surrounded by a mob of Teklo.// "I promise, I am not an Arkivian! I am not an Arkivian spy! Please, please, I have a Copse-mate, and children... //His body was later returned to the Seraphol and several Teklo were found guilty of murder and hung.// ===== Starfall Under Siege ===== //News brought back by Captain Zerik'Astral'Tru'Fra from the Starfall Archipelago// I could only see smoke from afar all across the North and North-Eastern isles of the Starfall. When I put in at the isle of Tremis, I heard the whole news - Arkhivian raiders landing en-masse and burning or taking the crops. Or so I was assured. From there I sped first to the centre and from there had to see the destruction wrought for myself. Already the thick pall of smoke hung across a full third of the Archipelago. Twice, from afar, we saw the Arkhivian raiders, but when I attempted to intercept the crafts they were using for island-hopping, they sped away and chose easier targets. Weeks in, I chanced upon a party unprepared and we fought them back, but I am sure that many more parties remain. That night the smoke was so thick as to block out the stars and I could do little to recover the morale of my men. I will bring this first to a Praetor ship, and thence to the Citadel... ===== Tales of Erimbore Wyrmslayer Reach Across Djemity ===== //Stories told by several Storyweavers of the Becquerel and quickly spread out of the forest.// ... seeking to find means to fight the Great White Wyrm, the terror returned to Djemity's seas... ... brave folk went far far East and saw the tomb of Erembor. Therein a great tale was told, unveiling the great legend of Erimbor Wyrmslayer... ... some say the greatest hero of the Aquienos, who but alone confronted the Wyrm and put out its lights and slew it... ... fought for months at sea, until Erembore bested him... ... now they return with great relics of the Wyrmslayer to destroy this great enemy once again... \\ \\ \\ //Fragment of an Aquienos Captain's report, now heard in some of the meeting places on Djemity.// When I came to round the island and begin on the way home, the bosun spoke of the tiny coral island. It was a space, below sea level, that my Explorer tells me is likely an Aquienos tomb. It was opened, but our cargo holds now full, I left the place alone - doubtless its treasures are already taken. ===== Adventures in the North ===== //A speech made my an activist on one of the Praetor Ships. Similar sentiments are being expressed across Djemity.// ...and so our leaders say our heroes have achieved success in the north, but what have they really achieved? A few lightning raids and some harrying of the Arkhivian supply lines. While all well and good, what damage does it actually do? When are our leaders going to take the fight to the enemy, because at the moment it looks like they are going to wait for the Arkhivians to come to us, and fight them here, where they can scorch out lands and slaughter our children. What we need is leaders who take the fight to the enemy to take back our lands, then push forward, eliminating the threat to our peaceful existence once and for all... //Across the continent there is simmering discontent from the public that they are not seeing any full scale battles fought with the Arkhivians.// ===== Has the Age of Heroes Passed? A special investigative report ===== //An unusual pamphlet composed by a number of authors from all five races of Djemity. Edited by Minak Yos Wren.// Has the Age of Heroes now passed? Did all the greatest people of all Djemity die on the Northern Isles? We have seen the best of us go off to war and now they all lie dead, and while we all mourn, there are none who step into the breaches made. We posit that with these tragedies we have passed from the Age of Heroes and into an age of Strife and Catastrophe. Where once our heroes would have stood against the calamities that befall Djemity, now chaos reigns free and monsters, spirits, wyrms run amok. Where once our heroes would have kept the shores of Djemity free from invasion, they lie at the bottom of the sea and the Enemy walks freely among us, free to pillage, loot, destroy. So great a struggle for us all, but what can the common Teklo or some Aquienos sailor do against all that comes crashing down upon us without heroes? Have we entered an Age of Despair? (We think we should be told!) ===== Becquerel the Only Ones Defending Homelands? ===== //Pamphlet by an inquisitive Teklo called Alam Fra Ginri distributed to the Teklo Poleis and also sent to the peoples of Djemity.// I have now received verifiable reports from several Becquerel sources that a large force of Arkhivian raiders and spies have been caught and slain within the Seraphol. Furthermore, others bands have been eliminated, at least one at the hands of a Hunter they called Raegfes. It is true that they have suffered a number of these raids, but it seems that the Becquerel have finally risen to the occasion. Now it occurs to me that these Becquerel have fared well against the invaders. Although we, like they, have enjoyed the protections of the Aquienos, what is the story in our lands? Roads missing, Poleis destroyed, territory attacked. Likewise with the other races. What use are our governments, whether the People's and Senate chambers of the Teklo, Kirlsa King, Council of Captain or the Sylphim Empress when the anarchic Becquerel are more capable and willing to defend their domain!? They have shown themselves a great race, and we have all failed our peoples and Djemity itself. I struggle in this time of strife to see why we tolerate such inaction in our governments and our people! ===== Unity Celebrations===== Members of several of the Races of Djemity have attended Unity celebration aboard the Sylphim capital isle of Erli. Several representatives from the Kirlsa came to demonstrate their personal strength and skill of arms with displays of martial prowess (though to the relief of many, no great amount of blood was spilt). Notably the great warrior **Zubin** impressed with his resplendent beast forms and marvellous floating ship.\\ The Teklo sent both warriors and poets to represent their people, with troops from Warden **Dach**'s commands marching in close coordination with the Fifth Legion Chithana of General **Chath**. Meanwhile the Empress was entertained by the expert storytellers of the **Drril** family. Notable in their absence were the Becquerel and is believed that tensions are still running high between the Sylphim and Seraphol dwellers over alleged raids. Also not represented were the Aquienos and the Empress is believed to be anticipating a spectacular naval display in the months ahead ===== Rumblings at Broken Peak ===== //The words of Sanos, a Becquerel travelling to the Polis of Dight// "I thought I would travel past the great volcano of Broken Peak, to see what I could see. I have heard so much about the world beyond the borders of the Seraphol, and I just want to experience it all. Odd thing was though, I had heard that it was a great natural place, where none had ever succeeded in adding to it. And yet, there upon the summit I spied what was clearly the work of Earth-Channelling. It appeared that some great funnel had been shaped upon the summit and a great stone wedged into its mouth. I cannot imagine what this could be for or about. Perhaps it is a sign of the bonds of friendship that hold between all the five Peoples of Djemity now. I, for one, am looking forward to the famed Teklo hospitality and to hearing many of your beautiful words." ===== New Pirate Squadron ===== // Missives distributed through the Home Fleet and eventually news reaches the other races, the information is met with some raised eyebrows.// ... Henceforth the War Fleet shall contain the 6th "Corsair" Division, made up of those pirates captured and those who wish to redeem themselves though acting in the north against the Arkhivians. Those pirates who join the division have been temporarily pardoned, and loyal and committed actions in the north will earn a permanent pardon after the conclusion of the war, assuming their life of piracy is abandoned for good. The seven squadrons of the 6th Division report to Jean'Lowe'Tru'Fra who will make sure they are acting in Aquinosian and their allies interests. ===== New Land Formation Spotted ===== //As seen by an amateur Becquerel sailor Maraqen.// I did not see it rise, but I am told that it was never there before. A dozen jutting spurs akin to tips of mountains and about them a handful of plateaus. I sailed closer, this tiny archipelago so far from the Seraphol, or the Starfall, or even the Empty Isles. I marked each one in turn and noted the lake and pools as I describe them now - deep and calm. A marvel that in the wondrous roughness of the ocean around, this set of islands seem immovable and quite so still. I cannot imagine that their creation was anything but a great and terrible sight! If you show me the charts, I shall mark its location for you perhaps...