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.

The second fleet, sent just over two months ago to reinforce the troops on the Northern Isles, has returned unexpectedly. It brings with it a few broken remnants of the United Expeditionary Force; it is unclear what has become of the rest. Grumbles are already being heard that the Kirlsa contingent, who were left behind thanks to a diplomatic incident, could have made a difference.

The returning warriors of the United Expeditionary Force credit three great heroes with their rescue: Guardian Zubin of the Kirlsa, whose ship the Kosper sailed even onto the beach and into the heart of the foe; Captain Andar'Guzel'Es'Fra of the Aquienos whose War Fleet ships guarded the retreat, smashing the enemy asunder; Navigator Utu'Mana'Fra of the Aquienos who led them through the terrible storm that let them shake off their pursuers.

An emergency session of the War Council has been called to discuss the situation.

Damage assessment by Scholar Arma Yos Volk, to be presented before the Senate

… causing the gates to become damaged beyond repair, such that will require the fashioning of new ones, temporarily leaving…

… the chasms appearing across the farming fields and destroying 756 tons of produce, leaving the polis to rely on its own stores. I estimate that at least a quarter of these will be needed by the nearby poleis as a result of their grain silos being damaged as detailed above…

… thrown completely into disarray, such that a great number of records across all Teklo poleis were lost and must be painstakingly reconstructed from second and third copies…


Sylphim explorer Maystar records her feelings while experiencing the earthquake atop Mount Ilym in western Deep Mountains

All the world shook and as I stood atop the world, it quaked beneath my feet. North, the desert sands shifted and were thrown into disarray. The tree-tops of the forest East were toppled and cast down. The South erupted with fire and grim ash. The Western mountains ripped all to shreds.

Never has such ferocity shaken all of Djemity.


Kirlsa Beastmaster in pursuit of a mysterious creature reports sights on the Plains of Zhaar

I had to stop. There, just a handful of paces before me, a great chasm has opened in the earth. It must have come a week ago, when all the land was shaken by unknown herds of spirit beasts.

I didn't enter - I had quarry to pursue. But I saw a city there. Or tomb. Whatever it was, it had long been buried. Now unearthed and open for anyone to wander in and see.

Hmm. Perhaps some ancient beast lurks there? I must remember to return.

Reports have been coming in from across the continent of the melted remains of 'ice-craft' littering the more remote beaches of Djemity.

The most complete of the craft to be found was described by the local as:
'Pretty big and sort of rough cut to look like a boat. Not big compared to a proper Aquienos ship, mind you, nor looking all that graceful if you ask me. Wouldn't catch me trying to sail the oceans on a lump of ice.'

Scouts have also found signs of passage leading away from the landing sites towards the interior of the continent. Trails of feathers suggest that the Arkhivians themselves are now walking upon the continent once more, but after many deaths at the hands of vicious booby traps, curious amateurs are advised not to pursue the invaders.

Attending to this new threat will surely be on the agenda of the War Council.

Reported in the logs by Aquienos Captain Shol'Marna'Tru'Mas and made known to travellers of other races.

… came past the river mouth and rounded the cliffs of Umat. From there we were sailing past the old port of Kez-Dun and I had ordered double watch just to be sure. I had always heard about the wyrmlings that would set on unprepared travellers. I did not worry too much for the ship, as we would have enough warning to turn and outpace anybody who came for us - but it is wise to prepare.

At the second watch I was awoken by 3rd Lieutenant Al'Gilladis and informed that a great many wyrmlings swarmed at Kez-Dun. I told him that wyrmlings were expected and so long as the ship was not threatened, I was not to be disturbed. Al'Gilladis pleaded that I come see nevertheless, so I agreed to step on deck.

He was not wrong, of course, since the port city was teeming with a mass of what must surely have been wyrmlings. There were a number flying upon the cliffs above and the whole mountainside was covered with them. It was still dark, and we could only assume that they had been somehow expelled from the underground city itself. I stayed watching until the sun finally came up over the mountains and was terrified to see that an even greater number of wyrmlings was crowding the port and more were coming forth. I could not count the number but they numbered in the tens of thousands.

I ordered a change of course to take us further out to sea…

From beneath the magnificent Sylphim Capital Isle of Erli there comes is a collosal snapping sound that wakes the entire population from their early morning slumbers. Moments later there is second report and then a collosal 'SWOOSH' as something vast swings through the air.

The great iron barracks of the Imperial Chithana's 13th Battalion, the centre for the training and education of the Sylphim Fire channellers now dangles vertically beneath the Isle. Two of its four great chains hang down further still, shattered links occasionally slamming into passing mountaintops as the Isle drifts along.

A trail of thousands of broken bodies lie in the wake of the isle, and occasional detonations are heard as Fire enchanted items explode after the mile long tumble to the ground.

As told by a Becquerel Emissary visiting the Teklo polis of Vrank

I had taken the route I am used to, south out the Quelling Sea and following the river west until I come a dozen leagues out, then north again to the peak that you name Kran and I think looks very much like the head of a parrot. In any case, as I travelled over the river, a tree that I desired to rest upon was suddenly unstable and came crashing down into the waters. I moved quick and flew over to the next, away from water. When I came down to investigate, the great majority of the tree was already gone and what remained was being eaten by some fish!

Wood eating fish! I could scarcely believe it and no such creature I knew existed, and nobody had ever told a story of such a thing. I saw more upstream and it seems that all the trees on the banks were being consumed.


Claimed by a Kirlsa Infirm

To descend the river I had crafted for my brothers and sisters three large canoes so that we could speed from the foothills of the mountain and catch our prey. Just as we'd gone a thousand paces, so the canoe fell apart and was gone.

I had used the right carving techniques before Daris and Parisa bound them tightly - I can attest to their strength and honour. How could it be so? Well, it was some creature of the river, a fish that ate the wood. Of course we hacked at and slew a great number of those who had eaten the canoes, but what use is chopping at a shoal of fish? We continued on foot and made a meal of the fish that we caught.

A conversation in a Tavern on one of the Praetor ships.

“I can't believe the price of bread at the moment, it's through the deck.”
“Did you not hear, the grain shipment never made it, was attacked by a serpent.”
“Now that you mention it I remember the captain talking about it.
“Aye, its supposed to be nigh on 30 metres long”
“More like 50 I heard.”
“They're going to have to send out war fleet escorts for the ships until its dealt with, we can't go hungry.”
“Not sure they'll be able to spare them, what with the war going so badly.”

There are many rumours among the Aquienos about a sea serpent attacking ships carrying supplies between the Starfall Archipelago and the praetor ships.

Word spreads amongst the Aquienos and Teklo initially, and from there widely amongst the Allied Peoples, of the rebuilding of sections of the War Fleet.

A Teklo Polité relaxing after a hard day's work.

“Me, I volunteered for the work. Got a gammy leg means I can't march, but I can swing an axe, so I put meself forward for the woodcutting duty. Not bad pay neither. To begin with, there were only a thousand of us or so, brought together by Magistrate Ari Fra Vein, but then as I heard it Wordshaper Zur Fra Rai brought in near enough another five thousand workers, from the Polis of Lode, as I heard it.

We musta' cleared miles of woods between us. Cut the them down, the trees, and then floated 'em down river.”

An Aquienos First Mate recalling the restoration

“Oh it was a sight to see. I mean, a dozen of our Master Shipwrights guiding the work, but thousands of Teklo Craftsmen, cutting and shaping the trees as they came down the river. They even had assembly lines for some of the larger ship sections.

Of course, if it hadn't been for old Admiral Mar'Kaven'Fra actually getting our War Fleet (or part of it) up to the river mouths, there wouldn't have been much for all of those Teklo to do of course.”

Second fleet delayed

Following a confused battle last month in which Pirates attacked while Kirlsa were boarding part of the Second Fleet, Kirlsa forces are stuck in harbour pending resolution of a diplomatic incident. It would seem, you see, that (some of?) the Kirlsa were working with the pirates. Certainly by the end of the battle Kirlsa forces control approximately a quarter of the fleet, including the Praetor ship Masimas, and were seen forcing the crew to work at sword point.

Perhaps remaining in harbour is better than being chased by Arkhivian cutters, but this does not bode well for future alliance relations. Warleader Gravaldon has been appointed by the Kirlsa War council to resolve the issue with representatives of the Aquienos at the next council session. The Praetor Council has issued a request for the repatriation of Aquienos ships and personnel, reparations for damage to property and persons, and the renunciation of piracy in all its forms.

Our Kirlsa sources tell us that as senior commander present at the scene High Warleader Gravaldon has already dealt swift and very personal justice to the Warleader responsible. He is not best pleased at having to resolve this mess. Citing poor discipline due to insufficient transportation provided initially and inflammatory letters form senior Aquienos commanders, he suggests that a backstabbing attack from Aquienos forces as they were boarding really was the last straw. His people had no choice but to answer the challenge; any foes who admitted their weakness were spared. He has provided a copy of the personal correspondence in question:

Warleader,

Need I remind you that those defences protect all of us? I merely care about making sure you are adequately prepared to do more than just protect those three royal brats. I will stay well clear of your King's children if you so wish, I just need to be reassured that you aren't goning to collapse at the first sign of the enemy.

Jean'Lowe War Fleet

A notice pinned to the doors of the Citadel.

Have you fought something unusual or exciting?
Do you wish others to know of your glory and perhaps relive it by learning how to battle such a beast themselves?

I am compiling a Manual of Monsters to list great opponents across the continent of Djemity and beyond. A catalogue of their weaknesses will aid all the Allied Races as we fight great beasts evermore in these dangerous times. The Manual itself will be alive - I will add new Monsters as they are reported to me. Seek me out at the Council of War to contribute your tales.

–Shina Ari of the Kirlsa