While I'm wrapping up my Gamehole Con commission and planning for tomorrow's Gabbin -where Jay and I will talk about what is going on in your campaigns, I wrote this teaser about some of the stuff going on in Meyer Hawk at our current campaign date Needfest 599 CY.
Gran March
Inns along the Watchtower Road have been witnessing a following of elves travelling from Shiboleth via Cynmor to Buxton’s Crossing. While only small in numbers, less than fifty strong and trying to keep a low profile, rumors quickly spread among innkeepers and barmaids along the route, due to handsome tips combined with modest demands and short stays. Local miscreants seemed to be deterred by the presence of the cloaked elves wearing mail and well kept armor underneath, and vigilant eyes gazing at locals to keep a distance.
Two knights wearing the tunics of the Commandant’s personal retinue over their armor have been see escorting them, so secretive but with the endorsement of the March.
Critwall
King Belvor’s is the main guest of honor at the lavish (by frontier standards) reception at the commanders residence in Critwall. He is propositioning a formal declaration of allegiance between the Furyondian Crown and the Shield Lands to be signed by both parties.
Katarina is hailed as a hero of the Kingdom, and yet again recognized as Marshal of Furyondy as well as Commander of the Order of the Shield. Long gone are the days of mistrust between Chendl and the Order. There are a few (very faint) mutterings of our new commander is too busy abroad and not even truly one of us to be the right one to lead us. She has been challenged twice and won both times, and no one (openly at least) challenge her wartime prowess openly.
More persistent and evenly openly spoken are rumors of she being prepared to be Belvor’s heir and the Shield Lands will become a province of a newly constituted Ferrond which include Veluna as well. Envoy Ubica Darmen openly flaunts the idea to the Earl of Willip, who for once seems to realize he is about to walk into a quagmire and smiles it off.
Furyondy Reconstitution – full provincial recognition and regional allied reaffirmed partnerships is to be finalized with the new pact with Critwall, and some of the now much more well titled lords seems to smile for real to this, others are muttering that titles are cheap and increase neither their land holding, subjects or coffers.
Havenhill
Has been thriving with activity this winter. Over decade of diplomatic activity (read gold and other valuables changing hands in lavish surroundings) have lead up to the Coronation. Prince Olinstaad is to be crowned a full royal sovereign on par with others sovereign realms. The prince can now enjoy his remaining years with a literary crowning achievement.
This had come about by, using the new kings on words “Letting go of ungrateful western subjects, and being paid twice for the pleasure of not having to listen to their grievances”. The reality as seen by those with their noses in the liquor, is more nuanced. The New Ulek Kingdom was bribed to hand over prime fertile lands in exchange for metals and other ores of the mountains that the Dwarven lord have too much of already, seems to be a common view among the dignitaries. No one complains about the hospitality thought, old regents tend to offer very good perks to those present to listen to their ramblings.
An unnamed representative from the Enstad under the moonlit skies admitted that a deal that gives dwarven lords earthly riches, human emperors more lands and the Faery court more friends without having to pay in blood is an event worth celebrating.
Celene
The city of Enstad was gossiping about a convoy leaving the city towards the south two weeks ago, with several wagon loads heavier than usual. Speculation of who was being bribed with Celenian gold was rife, and a congregation of “concerned” had gathered along the route to demand why so much of the realms resources was on the move.
Protests in the elven realm are both common, daring in their frankness to power, and overly polite, all at the same time. The companion guard gave their word that this whole lot of gold, gems and other valuables, belonged to not the realm, but was a gift from Lord Arvandor to please a future King of Ulek.
This sounded both entertaining and worrisome, and the concerned laughed in a way that the companion knights had a hard time judging. Trust among elves are deep, but to bribe a non-existent king sounded a bit too farfetched. The deliberations ended quickly when a huge wyrm suddenly flew over the gathering so low that everyone could swear they touched it. One firm gaze from it at the next flyby settled the matter, Lord Arvandor had the rights to transport his gold wherever he so pleased, even with companion guards.
To everyone’s surprise, a small chest full of gold was left behind and almost all present decided it was a good story. Bribing non-existent Dwarven kings an dragon gold makes for a good story, and the local taverns made good business that evening.
Greyhawk
Needfest was, as usual, initiated by a gathering of foreign and local dignitaries to the Lord Mayor’s private residence for the yearly summit, officially meant to show the with and depth of the city’s political might. It was seen as a chance for Lord Mayor, and his favored Oligarchs to receive “admiration” and “praise” by all the important guests. The guests knew it was time to determine how eager you were to have the city as a friends, and pay enough to keep your goods being sold on the cities markets. There was even a few guests unfortunate enough to come empty handed finding themselves lavishly entertained only to find themselves unceremoniously expelled from the city before they even managed to sober up. An unusually large contingent from the Barony of Axeport and a rival one from Admundfort. Even the most jaded political minds saw a conflict in the making, and opportunities paired with risks.
Nessermouth
Nyrond’s new sovereign having secret meetings in a far away city. Seems like he wants to go unnoticed. Keen port observers noticed that along with the royal presence was four ships from Hardby that didn’t carry any cargo of significance, only a handful of people that looked out of place in a port setting. Some of them looked like hardened thugs looking for trouble, but they disappeared into the city at night and no one dared to follow.
Scant
The scarlet banner have started to fray according to two “reliable” sources returning from a scouting mission to the beleaguered city. Commanders in Halmarn are starting to seriously debate if it is actually time to storm the walls, or if it is yet another ploy of the last of the occupants or the fact that most of the loyal ones have left. Very few ships have arrived, but only a few more have left the last year.
