The Crosseye Tavern Noticeboard

It is I - Aran'gar. You will listen to me. That is you will listen if you value your weak, pathetic, worthless little lives. I am the master of the darkness, the hand of the shadow that creeps amongst you like the silent night. I am the rumours. I am the fact. Listen or die, I don't care. You will leave the city known as Outpost and proceed to the realm known to you as Nocturne. There you will find the city of Lamorre. It will be destroyed. None inside it shall live. There you will remain until your are told otherwise. You will do as I say or you will die. You have fourteen days before the shadow strikes. Do as I say. Do it NOW!

Aran'gar - The Hand of Shadow
8th November 900

The northern Circle of the Seraphim has declared the borders to the northern homelands closed to all southern travellers barring Iaché refugees or official diplomats until further notice. The Aldermen of Outpost who still fail to realise the full importance of the dæmon situation both in their own lands - the expansion of Nocturne - and in the North are ignorant blundering fools, or worshippers of the dæmons themselves. From this day forth any member of the Outpost Guilds or their associates who steps within the northern lands shall be considered fair game, minimum bounty 100 hexa upon delivery to a Circle member or senior member of a recognised Honourable Order. The people of the North can no longer allow the blunderings of the southern fools to weaken their defence against the Shadow. You fight alone amongst yourselves whilst we are your only true protection... as you have chosen you now have nothing.

Tarios Northwardern - Circle of the Seraphim
1st November 900

Citizens of Outpost,

The one calling himself Galen of the Mantis is to be considered outlaw within these lands for his treasonous, deceitful and divisive accusations against the Scout's Guild and his incitement of the peoples of the North against us. Furthermore, Corban Naresse, commander of the Guild of Scouts, declares a bounty of 200 hexa for the body of Galen, dead or alive.

In these troubled times, we need the strength of all the Guilds.

The law of the peoples of the North has no jurisdiction here. Any who attempt to collect the bounty offered by this 'Council of Seraphim' will be treated as the murderers they are. Anyone suspected of the crime of murder, either of an Iaché or of a member of any other civilised race, should be brought before the appropriate authorities so that justice may be served.

I trust you do not need the stupidity of a message which preaches unity while offering incitement to divisiveness and murder pointed out to you.

Likewise the idiocy of any message which assumes that the peoples of all lands are the same simply because they are of the same race.

Furthermore, the posting of unsolicited messages is now prohibited, and any establishment doing so will face strict penalties.

By our order,

The Council of Aldermen
11th October 900

I shall not be in Outpost for some time but not due to this matter - I will still have contact with those that can still be trusted in this time of darkness. The Scout's Guild will rue its folly in the times to come. I only hope that those with less choice in the matter do not have to suffer the consequences of this minority.

Galen of the Mantis
11th October 900

Citizens of the South behold the law of the North - From this day forth any creature of the intelligent races or summonation of one of those races that attacks or harms any of the Iaché people will be subject to an outlawing in the lands of the North. In these lands they shall be shown no mercy - it will no longer remain a crime for these persons to be slain and there will be a bounty of 100 hexa upon their head. This is by direct command from the Circle of the Seraphim - upon unanimous vote of the Council. I beseech you to heed the warnings of those who seek to protect you. We must work together as a united front against the darkness.

Kytara of the Lion - Speaker of the Seraphim
11th October 900

I, Galen of the Mantis, hereby rennounce my affiliation to the Scout's Guild of Outpost. Much as I appreciate the training they provide I can no longer be part of an organisation which goes so wholly against my moral and social beliefs. It is a Guild whose espionage has provoked, and I believe will continue to provoke, conflict amongst the peoples of the land. This is a time when we must unite together and I can no longer allow myself to be part of an organisation which shows in both actions and words how opposed it is to this aim. The Scout's Guild marches, albeit in the shadows of subterfuge and deceits, against the loyal and honest people of the Iaché. They pit the Ratkin and the Iaché head to head in what I believe will be a catastrophic confrontation. Their techniques and methods lack honour and dignity - they lie, steal (even from fellow Guild members), kidnap and kill those who would be their allies against the coming darkness.

This can no longer be allowed to continue. The peoples of the South MUST unite against the darkness or they will all fall prey to its perilous evil. Do not let the Scout's Guild blind your eyes to the truth.

Galen of the Mantis
9th October 900

Galen,

I have done nothing I am ashamed of, and nothing for which I feel the need to seek forgiveness from anyone.
I am glad you have decided not to try and kill me, I would not want to deprive Outpost of one who could be of assistance to the city, even in self defence.

Who made you a Knight? I ask merely out of curiosity.
For someone who carps on so much about 'honour', you showed yourself remarkably disrespectful towards the one to whom you owed your life, not to mention extremely unwilling to go some way towards repaying that debt, and contemptuous of his judgement as to whom should keep the sword.
You are treated with all the respect you earn.

And for one who preaches so much of wisdom, perhaps you should be told that wisdom consists of more than just arrogantly reciting the utterances of your elders and betters.
Remember, there can be no light without darkness, and there is good and evil both by night and by day.

We should move our squabble and your persecution complex out of the public eye - I have left a lengthier private reply for you at the Elementalist's Guild.

Aspen Greyve - First Prophet of The Lady
3rd October 900

It was safe in my hands. I only hope you can find forgiveness from your Lady for what you have done because you shall never find it from me. I hope that one day you find the true meaning of honour. Until then our ways will never lead along the same path. Who you gave the sword to I care not. I have been to the North. I have seen the terror, the bloodshed and the carnage that comes with the tide of darkness. I have returned to aid all that I can in the coming struggle. I am rewarded with contempt and disdain from those I seek to aid. I am rewarded with accusations of cowardice when my power is but a grain of sand in the desert, when my force is a well run dry. Death is pointless, worthless. To live in constant shame and without honour is a punishment more fitting for what you have done.

When the dæmons walk the streets I will destroy them. When the shadows dance in the everlasting night I will destroy them. When my power is all but gone I will seek any place I can so that I can live to fight the darkness until it is destroyed forever. Life is not everlasting. It is not merely to be given away in stupidity and reckless 'bravado'. Many of my people died because they would not retreat when the odds were so much against them. My kind now live a broken people. We fight where we can, until we can fight no more. But when we can fight no more we leave and preserve our lives so that we may fight the darkness another day. This is the way of the Mantis and the only way that we can truly beat the Shadow that comes from the North. If we give our lives in vain then they will kill us all and night will reign eternal. The forces of darkness outnumber us by many tens to one - we must preserve what life we have.

I have said too much because I know you will not heed my words. There are those that know what I say is true. They have never needed to be told. There are those such as you that scorn the teachings of Matarra. They may be told a thousand over a thousand times and still they will not listen. The greater number of people I have known are either dead or march with the tides of dæmons because they will not listen. I pray that you will listen. I doubt that you will.

I remain,

Galen of the Mantis - Elemental Knight of Air
2nd October 900

To Galen of the Mantis, Thaumaturge of Air:

I no longer have the sword - it has been given to one more worthy to hold it, and you can rest assured it is in safe hands.

Thus there is no point in attacking me in order to try and steal it back.

If you still intend to kill me, as you threatened when we parted, then rest assured that I shall be ready for you.

Aspen Greyve - First Prophet of The Lady
1st October 900

Death shall come upon thee who dare to striketh down the forces of darkness. He who sins against the Lord will feel the wrath of a thousand souls - With my blood stained hands I shall smite thy soul with ultimate torment - Klimdt will be avenged - those who besmirch the sons of Kaleth shall be rent asunder and destroyed forever...
I am the hand of night, I am Dækathi Sai Kaleth - death is swift.

Aran'gar
29th September 900

Weak minded fools! - Heed now my words. Soon the darkness will be upon thee. Soon the shadow will rip your souls asunder and feed upon your pitiful remains. I have walked where mortals dare not go. I have seen the face of The Destroyer and the power that will be unleashed upon this land. The darkness is rising... day by day, hour by hour the eternal night strides forth - soon it will surround us. It will devour you all - Nocturne will become the land - there will be no sun, no light, just eternal pain and eternal strife. The dæmons will strike down upon thee with furious anger and none shall stand to face their wrath. Pray to your wretched gods for they will heed you no sanctity - soon all shall fail and all shall fall - and as I stand and feast upon your flesh so shall you souls be destroyed forever!

The shadow is coming my friends - the shadow is coming to us all!

Arise! Dækathi-Sai-Kaleth!

Aran'gar
21st September 900

The time of trials is coming. The time of choosing is near. The time of war will wait no longer. An old friend is waiting. An old foe is sleeping. When I return much shall have been done or undone. In the darkness follow the blind man. In the times of insanity let the madman guide the way. I shall return - but for now I bid you good tidings in whatever form you may choose to take them... the North awaits...

So long my friends,

Galen of the Mantis - Emissary of Valen, Truthspeaker of Valinor
24th July 900

Worship The Lady, for all our lives and souls are but counters in the great game of chance that is existence, and it is Her ivory hand that rolls the dice of fate. She is beautiful to behold beyond all earthly women. Yet speak not Her sacred name, lest thou draw Her terrible blind gaze upon thee!

The Lady needs no temples, for wherever people meet to gamble, or wherever a great risk is being taken, there is a temple to Her name. The Lady demands no offerings, for every hexa staked upon the roll of a dice or the turn of a card, every belonging gambled, every life risked, is an offering in Her name. The Lady seeks no prayers, for every jump of the heart and every indrawn gasp of breath when a great gamble is taken is a prayer in Her name. Where better to worship Her than here on the borders of Nocturne, where great danger may come upon us at any moment? Many of us here in this city, and in the settlements and bastions within Nocturne itself, serve as adventurers, whether in the noble defence of the realms of light or in search of fame and fortune. As such, we stake our lives and fortunes daily upon our skills and those of our comrades. Thus who better to turn to than the patron Goddess of risks and gambles?

Aspen Greyve - First Prophet of The Lady
23rd June 900

In addition to the scrolls previously mentioned - which I now urgently require (anyone with expertise should note payment rates will be substantially higher than normal...) - I am also in need of alchymycal talents...
Anyone capable of manufacturing the toxic substance more commonly known, I believe, as alcohol, found in many ales, wines and beverages, should contact me immediately. I am in dire need of the concentrated form of this substance - payment for provision will be ample - please contact me by leaving a message with the bartender of the Withywindle Tavern in Tarnsville, or directly.
Please get in touch soon - it is extremely urgent!
yours,

Galen of the Mantis - Emissary of Valen
14th June 900

I am currently looking for certain items to aid me on a specific quest - I am willing to pay handsomely to anyone who can provide me with any of the following things:
Elementalists - scrolls containing the spells Fluid Form, Fire Storm, Blink, Summon Gnome, Summon Sylph, Summon Sprite, Summon Shade, Sleep, Ignite, Melt, Wall Of Fire, Sword Of Power and Flameblade.
Lorewardens - scrolls containing the miracles Cure Serious Wounds, Total Heal, Cure Disease, Cause Fear, Suspend Animation, Cause Grievous Wounds, Rune Of Power and Spirit Weapon.
If anyone has access to any of these items or has the means to make or somehow attain them, could they please get in contact with me as soon as possible by repsonding to this message.
Yours,

Galen of the Mantis
Doom of Spiders, Emissary of Valen
13th June 900

Announcement from the Adventuring Guild Heads

It has been brought to our attention that the recent high number of casualties incurred by adventuring parties to Nocturne is partially due to the tendency of adventurers to leave the security of their parties.

We would like to draw the attention of all adventuring parties to Section II, Clause 3, paragraph i of the Adventurer's Code, which clearly states:

'Adventurers should, as much as possible, remain in their Party groups to ensure the safety of all. The Party system was designed to bring together a range of skills, and to provide safety in numbers. Many creatures of Nocturne which would not attack a fully armed party would be more than willing to attack a lone adventurer.'

In several recent cases, the reckless behaviour of some adventurers has not only endangered their own lives, but also risked the lives of their former comrades, by depleting the range of skills available within the party. Future instances of such behaviour will be treated as disciplinary offences by the Guilds.

Alderman Matthew Carr, Elementalist's Guild Head
Alderman Kurt Zelchew, Lorewarden's Guild Head
Brimstone the Younger, Guardian's Guild Head
Corban Naresse, Scout's Guild Head
12th June 900

Adventurers of Outpost & Nocturne,

I am currently compiling a guide to the realm of Nocturne which I believe may be of great help to those who wish to venture into these lands of darkness. The Aldermen of Outpost have kindly offered to fund such an endeavouur, and as such I find myself in the position of bartering for information. I would very much appreciate it if those of you who know of such things could tell me of the creatures and people who dwell in Nocturne. Please send details of creatures encountered, peoples and places, and so forth. Anything you feel would be useful. My address is:

My greatest gratitude,

Dr Fuggle
27th February 900