Having heard the reports that Sessuar forces were succeeding against our lower numbers and poorer skilled troops, I set out to find more in depth information. Sure enough, I learned that the Sessuar seem to vastly outnumber our basic troops and more assuredly have an edge in training. My hope fading fast, it was with great delight that I received a few tales of a different nature.

The first report concerned a series of mines in Westmarch near the town of Tarinthan's Mines. Apparently Baron Northridge himself led a group which had learned of the Sessuar imploding mine entrances to prevent the production of war supplies. Although the main force of the army couldn't mobilize as quickly, this group of roughly thirty took on the advance forces of the Sessuar and continually drove them back until the main army could arrive. although two mines were lost, the Sessuar took heavy casualties, and the supply source remains accessible. More amazing is that the Ravenholt forces didn't lose a single supporter!

The next tale I heard was atop the Mystic Wood in the fallen town of Elveswood. Apparently the Sessuar had built some ritual type thingie which was charming folks with the strength of a dominate in command, but more easily rid. Seems like this effect was being extended and a ritual needed to be performed. A gaggle of Mystics and Sir Victdar himself, along with a band of thirty or so folks including Anvil made the foray into enemy territory to disrupt this ritual. They were racing time as a major Sessuar support forces was moving back towards Elveswood. As I hear tell they decimated them poor Blackrobes in short order, though trying to sort out who was who afterwards led to a few fallen as the Sessuar forces started arriving in full force. Lost a few folk but succeeded in the mission.

Seemed like these missions were allowing some of Ravenholt's finest to show the Sessuar that nobody walks on Ravenholt. Even one of the losses turns out to show a little Ravenholt pride. Up by Glen Farcas a mostly battered outpost held significant food reserves. The forces in support of Cumberland were few. with Maelstrom being the most notable group-oh and to hear tell, a band of goblins led by a goblin shaman of impressive power - took to defending the food until the Cumberland forces could arrive to retrieve it. The outpost was so beaten these folks were plugging up holes with bodies of fallen Sessuar, and eventually their very own. They were outnumbered pretty severely, and the second wave of Sessuar no longer dreamed of victory, but only of destroying the food reserves. Moments before the reinforcements of Ravenholt arrived those food reserves finally fell victim to destruction. A few of the citizenry were likewise victims. Seems folks turned out to help though they weren't militia or residents. Seems like all of Ravenholt is starting to get into full arms against these invaders.

Three other tales were told, and I'll be damned if I have the full details, so expect a thorough report when I am done. Again back in Westmarch, on the road to Trader's Rest, I heard that the noble court and a fair piece of Anvil sliced their way through enemy lines to escort food supplies to needy troops. Apparently it was rough, and at one point Donal McRenn of Anvil was counting dead friends by the second. Heard that folks were saved with the stuff of legends, so you can bet I'll have that story soon.

Meanwhile forces of Eastwyck apparently were pulling out some scouts with valuable information. Heard they ended up way behind enemy lines near the mists of Shandlin's Ferry, and though a few scouts were pulled out it cost the folks more than a few of their number. Heard they fought together to the last, not one wishing to let another fall and be left.

The final tale was perhaps the largest success. A scout had managed to spot three of the BlackRobed Sessuar hidden away in a cavern preparing some type of ritual.

Though it wasn't confirmed, a small number of soldiers were spared to accompany a very small number of very brave citizens near Briar Cumberland. It seems that this group managed to take the first group of Sessuar somewhat unprepared, and then on the strength of a single wizard, power their way through much tougher guard forces and leap into the BlackRobes before they could complete whatever nefarious enchantments they had planned. I am heading to the caves to explore that one in more detail myself. Hope to report more very soon.

The defenders of Ravenholt have exhaled a collective sigh of relief this winter as undead movement, usually heavy over the winter has slowed to nearly nothing.

Garren Sillanian a member of the Town Guard, was overheard to say that," It's like they all just packed up and left. Every often you'll see a little zombie or something skitter across the snow, but they'll walk right past you like you weren't even there. Like they're on a mission or something.."

Attempts to locate the destination of such undead have as yet been unsuccessful and the reason for the lack of undead numbers has been much speculated about, but as yet remains undiscovered.

No less than three complete caravans and numerous travelers have gone missing within the Duchy of Ravenholt over the last few months.

Usually when caravans are attacked by brigands and the like the burned out remains are found and the people resurrect. These disappearances are all the more disturbing in that there has yet to be a single resurrection or trace of caravan found. A few people have suggested that perhaps the destruction of magic that rocked Ravenholt this past year may have something to do with these disappearances, but they are in the minority. It seems far more likely to most that there is something more sinister at work here.

Anyone with any information leading to the location of any of the missing caravans is encouraged to contact the Town Guard, or their local Magistrate.

Come one, come all! Death may now be one of our own, but he still has a job to do! Make your final reservations now, while you can still do it yourself! Put yourself in the capable hands of the Darkwind Funeral Parlor!

B.O.C.-The beauty of your words far surpasses that which you profess of in me.
-Willow(Calico) Treespeaker.

Mango-
T.Q.o.t. W.S.
D.o.t. M.V.

Attention Poisoners!
There will be a meeting of the Poisoners Guild on Saturday April 20th, at 10:00 am in the tavern . All those with skill in the creation and research of poisons are welcome to attend. The goal of this meeting is to discuss and exchange poison recipes that have been discovered since our books were destroyed last year.

L7, We're going to get you!
Ravenholt

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Announcing the long-awaited arrival of the famous Singing Crow Carnival! We are the wonder of Evendarr, the toast of Volta, and the Celebration of Rotaria! We have wandered the world in search of the mysterious, the weird, the wonderful, and we have brought it all to your doorstep! We speak all tongues, know all customs, and have entertained both the lowliest commoner to the King himself, to the joy of all! We beg your indulgence, ladies and gentlemen, to take a few moments of your time and behold what we have to offer. Coming soon to a city near you! We promise, you shall not be disappointed!!

-The Singing Crow Carnival

The woods of Ravenholt have been unusually active this winter. Creatures usually not seen at all much less during the winter, have been spotted all over Ravenholt. Sprites, Nymphs, Satyrs, and the like have not been seen for years. Now, however, not only have they been spotted by local inhabitants, but in some cases they have actually attacked passersby (a behavior most unusual for such creatures)

Those which attack are obviously ailing. In one case a Satyr which assaulted several woodsmen was visibly ill. The poor creature was blackened, twisted, and deformed, nearly unrecognizable as a Satyr, and babbled incoherently at the woodsmen before attacking. Others, that allow themselves to be seen but do not attack, seem likewise stricken with some form of corruption, and in some cases have begged for people to help, but have run off before explaining what it that was

that was wrong.

Anyone with information pertinent to this situation is encouraged to speak with the local magistrate.

I think maybe there is much confusion on how the Harmony works, so I try to tell people what to expect, eh? Some of the gaje, they been calling the spell singers something like "Harmonicasts". That's pretty clumsy, eh? Spell - singer is good.

The Harmony magic works two ways, for the hearth and traveling. For the hearth is harder to cast but more powerful. For the hearth magic you gotta be in a room and the spellsinger gotta pace the bounds of that room ,and do that again if they goes out and comes back, unless they use a spell to make the pacing stick. For the extra trouble of the room, the Harmony is stronger and can make more than one casting at a time, so it makes many healings, or protectives, or whatever.

Whatever else, the spellsinger gotta have a tuner, sorta like a spellbook, an before casting, the spellsinger gotta say something to call the magic, and tell what way they is casting.. Each spellsinger must say something different and personal, and must sing their own songs. There's no way for spellsingers to help each other . To start, I say, "May Harmony Dwell in this room." for the hearth magic, and "May Harmony dwell in me." for the traveling magic.

All people what gets a spell effect gotta be close when is cast, because Harmony is just like touch casting of other magics. The spellsinger says who gonna get what, then gotta sing the song. The song gotta be pretty good poetry and music, or the Harmony doesn't work. If the spellsinger play the tune of the song on an instrument before the song, or play pretty along with the song, gets one more casting. The song gotta be about one second per level, plus the name of the spell, and it takes effect when the spell name is sung at the end.

That's about it. Oh, and there's a way to put the magic in a crystal, sorta like putting the star magic in a scroll. That's how you can cast somebody else's song.

Samus Powers suffered his third and final death on March 1st, 597, during the Unfey activity in Ravenholt. An attempt by an Unfey to resurrect him led to his spirit being trapped briefly in the undead form of a revenant, but he was sent to his final rest soon after. Samus was a Squire to the fey creature called Will-o-Wisp and an enthusiastic bladesman. He leaves behind his clan, the O'Neils, and many, many friends. Funeral arrangements are being handled by his good friend Kain Kircell.

Several months ago a clockwork repair station guarded by Skyeguard Regiment III had exploded without warning. The clockwork Lucien was thought to have been inside, undergoing repairs. Skyeguard has been investigating the incident. Sergeant Krue reports, " We have excavated a good portion of the building. Most of it was turned to rubble. Some may have been aware that there was an access tunnel beneath the building. We uncovered two charred skeletons in the wreckage, which I can only assume were Blood Alliance assassins who tripped a powerful door trap trying to get into the building through that access tunnel. Lucien was nowhere to be found; however, and we have found no wreckage that seems to be from his body. Further investigation of the access tunnel has resulted in cave-ins a mile or so down the corridor. These cave-ins seem to have been caused with heavy tools. I assume that the clockworks themselves wish to prevent the Blood Alliance from using their tunnels.

Skyeguard Regiment III is scheduled for heavy border patrolling now that their investigation is concluded.

One of the visitors from the Folke realm who plagued Ravenholt this winter was an Unfey named Mortencius, the being who collects the Unfey when they die. -not by killing them, but by asking them.

He held a contest in which each contestant would tell a tale of one of their own deaths. The teller of the best story would have a death removed from their spirit, and the teller of the worst story would have a death added to theirs. Mortencius also allowed stories to be told outside the competition: if such a story pleased him sufficiently, he might reward the teller in some other manner.

Only one man entered the competition-Mortencius' own minion Tergas. Mortencius asked Delahr Greymist to help him judge to ensure that Tergas' close ties to Mortencius would not swat the judgment. At the end of Tergas' tale, they were unsure whether to reward or punish him. Mortencius decided that the non-competitors would decide Tergas' fate. If he was pleased with their tales, Tergas would have a death removed. If not, he would have a Life removed. Many tellers came forward. After the last tale, Mortencius was sated, and a death was removed from Tergas' spirit.

Houlie commented, "You would expect a man as frightening as Mortencius to be difficult to talk to. On de contrary, I spent much time in conversation wid him. In the end, he helped to take the hurt from the story I told. How to see it not as a tale of torture and death, but as a tribute to loyalty and family. It is funny that the unfey embodiment of death would do such a thing, or even that he could, but that is as it is.