While Ravenholt slept in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 6th, a new Brood Queen ripped its way out of Countess Altair's chest within the ward of Dragonshire Hall. The Countess had apparently been infected some weeks ago when the people of Ravenholt stormed a Brood Queen's lair through a Time Ripple (see June 597 Raven's Herald.) The deadly creature then slew all of the Countess' Court members silently in their sleep, transforming many of them into Brood on the spot. The Brood then fled town to hide in the woods.

The defenders of Ravenholt soon awakened and rallied together as this grim news spread swiftly through the town. Soon large numbers of seasoned warriors were methodically searching the woods about town. All of the transformed Dragonshire members wee found and mercifully killed. A small number of other brood were found as well, proving that the Queen was already infecting other prey. The Queen herself presumably found some better hiding place to go to ground, for despite diligent and thorough search efforts, she was not found.

This Brood Queen is still on the loose and may well have established a hive by this point. It is believed to be even more of a danger than previous Brood Queens that Ravenholt has faced, as it is extremely stealthy and apparently very intelligent.

Any citizens sighting Brood or hearing any news of the Brood Queen's lair should inform their liege at once. All people of Ravenholt should be very cautious of this menace.

Some time ago, Ravenholt learned that the Necropolis of Talmar Spirit-Thief was being powered by the spirits of fifteen barbarian heroes. Recently, many people have taken important steps towards freeing them and weakening the Necropolis.

Barbarian Quest Haunts appeared in town regularly for months offering scrolls to townsfolk which contained clues that, once assembled properly, would allow the bearers a chance to link with the trapped spirits in order to free them. Each scroll bore the name of one of the spirits and a clue; the names had to be spoken to a certain wandering spirit in a particular order to open the way to link with the trapped spirits. Many sharp minds worked on piecing the order together, most notably Keyla of the Mage's Guild, but the correct order could not be found. Finally Countess Altair of Dragonshire sent a request for aid to the barbarians; this July a shaman called Spirit-Dancer came to Ravenholt in response.

Spirit-Dancer was able to send groups on a sort of dream-quest to garner more information from the spirits. Several groups confirmed the order of the names, and in the end they learned that Talmar Spirit-Thief had somehow warped the true order, throwing all their careful solutions awry.

With this information the scrollbearers were able to recite the names in correct order at last gaining the attention of the trapped spirits and winning a chance to aid them.

Each scrollbearer gathered a group of five companions, including one caster of celestial magicks, and once again was sent on a dream-quest by Spirit-Dancer. The way grew more and more dangerous; some people who "died" in the dream awoke as shaking wrecks or mindless shells, and it took time and effort to bring them back to themselves. Those groups that were successful were able to talk to the bound spirits and link their scrollbearers to them. However a number of groups failed in their quest leaving those spirits unlinked. It is hoped that these groups or perhaps new ones can try again, but there can be little doubt that these efforts will not escape the attention of the Necropolis forever.

This July, a number of strange orcs appeared in Ravenholt. They were unusual not in their appearance, but in their behavior- for they seemed very intelligent, polite, well-dressed, and well-equipped, rather than violent and dim-witted like the orcs Ravenholt knows so well. They claimed to come from an alternate dimension where orcs were citizens of Ravenholt much like other races. They asked for help in returning to their own realm, which they had not meant to leave.

It soon became clear from astrological portents when and where it would be possible to do the ritual to return the orcs to their own world. In order for them to return, however, a certain balance between the alternate realities had to be maintained; the orcs had to each have someone helping them in the ritual who was as close a match in training, skills, and personality as possible. Several townsfolk helped these orcs to maintain good relations with the town, and obtain what they needed for the ritual, most notably the court of Westmarch.

These orcs from elsewhere encountered our native orcs in the forest. By their report, the local orcs almost worshipped them due to their superior training and intelligence. Some of the alternate orcs tried to use their influence to calm the local orcs and encourage them to be less warlike, but unfortunately, one of their number decided that he wished to remain in Ravenholt and be showered with rank and privilege by the native orcs. This orc whose first name the Raven's Herald was not able to learn, but whose last name was Deathstorm, refused to help in the ritual to return them home.

When the first of two possible times came to do the ritual, Deathstorm led a large force of native orcs in an attack on the town, though Baron Northridge had ordered that the ritual not take place until the second chance on the following day for security reasons. Deathstorm cast the spell from which he takes his name-it was similar to magic storm, save that he hurled unlimited Death spells rather than small bolts of eldritch energy. Despite this power he was captured and his minions were killed.

The next day, the townsfolk and the otherworldly orcs gathered to perform the ritual. While the orcs and their matches stood in the ritual circle including an unconscious and unwilling Deathstorm . many warriors assembled to defend the circle from any interruption that would cause dangerous backlash. The circle was attacked constantly by lizardmen from the nearby lake; they had apparently made a deal of some kind with the native orcs. In the end, the ritual was successful, and the friendly orcs said their thanks and were returned to their own dimension. Deathstorm apparently resisted the ritual, remaining in Ravenholt. The Herald was unable to learn his current whereabouts, but presumably he is being held in a secure place.

Before his capture, Deathstorm succeeded in creating a permanent Earth circle in the woods. The aggressive local orc tribes who supported him are presumed to have members invested in this circle. The orcs' visit will certainly have long-reaching effects on our world; it remains to be seen whether the more friendly orcs' claming influence or Deathstorm's incendiary one will win out in the end.

A force of 200 clockworks engaged and assaulted the Sessuar forces holding the estate of Kragen's Helm. After suffering moderate losses, they took back the estate, and are now holding against the onslaught of Sessuar reinforcements.

Harbinger himself along with his greater clockwork bodyguards leads the defense against the invading armies. They have been successful in holding their ground. It is unknown if the clockwork division of the Dragonshire army will be able to hold out without reinforcements. All attempts at communications to those within the city of Kragen's Helm have been futile, as the Sessuar have kept a constant assault upon the estate.

Saturday afternoon, July 5th, a resident of the Raven's Perch Inn named Moose brought a farmer to me who wished to report seeing dark, hooded figures coming and going, and colored lights flashing from his neighbor's farm. I gathered a group, including Moose, Oberon, Kain of Omega, Koshi and Nova of the Healer's Guild, and Gee of the ARC to investigate.

The farmers there had been enslaved by Sessuar alchemy. We gave them antidotes and questioned them. They were very cooperative and informed us of the following :

the Sessuar had left a box in their storage shed, and instructed them not to let anything happen to the box or its contents. (Which we have determined consisted of potions, scrolls, gasses, and some money. ) and ordered them not to leave their farm until after fall harvest, when the Sessuar would be coming back for the box.

The Sessuar have been stockpiling chests with similar resources in many farms just within our borders and enslaving the residents and /or threatening them with their lives. The Sessuar also spoke of an assassination attempt against our beloved Duchess, which we believe was thwarted in May.

Finally the Sessuar spoke in fear of a creature that they referred to as "The Hunter". Presumably this is the same hunter that some of the people of Ravenholt have already faced. While the Sessuar expressed fear of this Hunter which I have been told they themselves unleashed on Ravenholt, they have been thus far unable to control it. The farmers overheard their captors mentioning the possibility that they had found a way to control it. They also overheard the Sessuar saying that this Hunter will be Breeding in just a few weeks. I fear that we may have to deal with its full rage and power then.

I attempted to get a tracker to follow the Sessuar's tracks to the other farmhouses where they have been stockpiling resources apparently for a large scale attack after the fall harvest, but our spies along the border told us that it was too dangerous to attempt it at that time. I hope to be able to get a similar lead in the future and be able to confiscate some of the resources the Sessuar are expecting to be able to use against us

Recently the mystical spring which alchemists use to mix some of their elixirs has apparently become corrupted in some way. The spring itself is rumored to be strongly connected to the world itself, so this corruption may prove to have far-reaching effects.

Groups have been discovered doing rituals at the spring which involve both earth magic, and alchemy in a strange mix. These groups seem to be both alchemically enslaved and cursed with some magic to perform their rituals.

Several pages from what is apparently a journal of an alchemist who discovered the spring's strange properties have been found and may contain clues as to what is happening and how to stop it. These pages seem to be cursed themselves, however. All who read them feel an irresistible urge to learn alchemy or ritual magic. It is possible that these pages themselves may be compelling groups of people o perform these rituals.

Alchemists and other concerned townsfolk are still seeking information, but one thing is certain: the spring has become a dangerous place and all elixirs mixed with its waters may well be corrupt as well.

Many people have been asking me what the laws are pertaining to the forest creatures such as kobolds, goblins, orcs, trolls, etc. that come into town. I have spoken to the Magistrate, some of the nobles, and briefly, to Our Good Duke Andros Holmsong regarding this subject, and I have researched the town laws in an effort to come up with a clearly defined answer. the only information contained within the text of the laws that pertains to this subject is as follows:

"Those who are established citizens of Evendarr or recognized visitors are protected and subject to these laws. the Nobles or Magistrate will make the final decision of who is or is not covered under law."

At this time according to my conversation with our Nobles and Magistrate, none of the creatures of the forest are considered citizens, or recognized visitors, except to say that Sir Thedien mentioned that we are working toward a treaty with certain orcs. In addition, I have been informed that some of the orcs who visited our city of Ravenholt this July from an alternate time-line have stayed in our time-line and will be living in Ravenholt.

As Sheriff, it is part of my job to make sure that the laws are posted at the four major roads to the town limits. In addition I will look into posting the laws in the Voltan Bear Tavern, the Healer's Guild, and the Raven's Perch Inn. You may remember that the laws were posted in the Voltan Bear Tavern during the Commoner's Tourney, which I feel worked out very well. If ever laws are not easily accessible, and you wish to refer to them, I carry a copy of them at all times.

Another question I have been asked is in reference to the group known as Omega. To clear up any confusion let me explain their role. The Order of Omega exists separate from the office of sheriff at this time. That is to say if I were not sheriff , Omega would still function. In the past, when I have needed assistance, I have asked for it from the members of Omega, and they have always given freely of their time. I have whenever possible arranged for some form of payment for their assistance, but I wish to make it clear that they are not employed by the Sheriff, Magistrate, or Duchy, in any way. The Ducal town guard can be recognized by the color purple with a gold four pointed star. I also work closely with them on a regular basis.

The members of The Order of Omega have offered their services as a supplement to the Ducal town guard knowing that in times of war such as we are in the midst of, our resources are taxed to their limits, and any and all help is appreciated. I am confident that Duke Andros and Lord Magistrate Ezariah will once again demonstrate their exemplary leadership and do what is best for the citizens and town of Ravenholt regarding this offer. I as I hope they accept this proposal, everyone will be notified as soon as possible at an appropriate time at a town gathering, or in the Raven's Herald, or both.

To the Court of Dragonshire:
Thank you for your courteous assistance recently to me. Your help was appreciated in making my first trip to Ravenholt not the total disaster it could have been.. (smile) When I return next time, I hope to continue to have the same good relations with you as we have had so far. -Louis Sadrian

Help!! The ARC is searching for several black wooden sticks with numbers and Quentari words on them. Please pass any information you may have to us.. Thank You.. The ARC

L7 ,
We have your coppers.. Lets make a deal. We want the MAGIC, All of it for ourselves!! -Angst & Woe

The Ravenholt Mage's Guild is accepting new members. All interested parties should contact the guild about joining. There will be a meeting on Saturday August 30th at 3:00pm for perspective members. Requirements: Interest in magic and a wish to gain knowledge; no magic skill is required.

Mage's Guild Council Members:
There will be a council meeting on Saturday august 30th at 1:30 p.m. I ask that all council members attend, send reps, or give proxy. -Viscount Daramor Darkcloud Guildmaster

Baron Northridge,
Remember that someone out there cares about you. Be careful and don't get yourself killed.

On July 3rd, we were honored to receive into our town Lord Prane Levidius. Lord Levidius is a Lord of the Prince; he traveled from his estate of Silton in Volta to conduct a challenge in order to find a resourceful and skilled group to assist him.

The initial test included puzzles, traps, skills of perception and agility, some combat, and an observation of how well the group operated as a unit.

Lord Levidius announced that his decision was very difficult and that the overwhelming majority of the teams performed exceptionally well. The final results were as follows:

5th place: The ARC

4th place: Anastasia's Team

3rd place: Westmarch

2nd place: The Mage's Guild

1st place: Omega, the team consisting of Oberon, Endrill, Pinky, and Algorian (also called Phoenix)

Without divulging the details of what Lord Levidius has asked of us, I wish to make it known that after conferring with the other members of the group, we plan to offer him our services to assist him in his endeavor.

To the Baljar Gypsies:

I have seen you and your family in action. Yes, your alliance with the townsfolk is good, but I think that you DO indeed forget where you came from. I do not know all of the Gypsy ways, but I have seen you so many things which seem to directly go against them.

In my heart there is respect for most of the Baljar Clan. I know you are proud and tell very good tales, but you have seemed to become more like Gaje than a gypsy should, recently.

And Catahoula, You threaten my life. If you ever find me and do carry out your promise, things will not be good for you and anyone that aids you

-Anonymous

I have to wonder what is really causing this anonymous gypsy to say some of the things that he/she is in a public forum like this. If you have a problem with the Baljar gypsies, you should have gone to them directly with your problem. Why do you hide in the shadows while you insult others? I did not think any Gypsy with honor did such things.

Maybe it is the gaje in me speaking this, but do we really have to come down to threatening one another? Catahoula, I realize that you feel insulted and want to protect your family, but what would killing this person gain? You would not be proving them wrong.

Whoever would say such things while not making themselves known is obviously misguided in some way.

Personally I think that you should show them the truth of your clan. Perhaps this person was accidentally insulted by something that you did without realizing it, and is saying such things in anger.

Killing them will not fix things. That will not make the lies go away. If this Gypsy sees the truth for what it really is, and continues to make such anonymous claims, then perhaps they have no honor and should be dealt with harshly. But lets give them a chance to apologize first. Is a peaceful settlement not better for all peoples of Ravenholt than such meaningless revenge? There are enough things outside of town who kill our people, we do not need fighting amongst ourselves. -Louis Sadrian