The Reaver, a creature of the Void who had tainted many townsfolk and who threatened the very existence of Tyrra itself was finally defeated this October, at a terrible cost. The Reaver first came to Tyrra this April with many minions. He was then temporarily banished, but the left behind a number of tainted citizens whose spirits were threatened by the Void. The people of Ravenholt strove for months to discover a means of banishing him permanently or destroying him, or of curing the Void Taint. Two natives a plane once destroyed by the Reaver, called Kreegar and Jalista were summoned to help against their ancient enemy and to provide Ravenholt with the information it needed to triumph.

The keys to the Reaver's defeat were six stars tied to the elements of Life, Order, Fire, Air, Light, And Reason. These stars had been obtained in April , though some of them were since lost, and had to be recreated by Jalista. These six elements opposed those of which the Void was comprised: Death, Chaos, Water, Earth, Darkness, and Dream.

They were to be used in conjunction with a scroll based on the one that summoned and banished the Reaver, modified by Jalista to destroy him instead.

Jalista sent the heroes of Ravenholt on a number of quests to obtain items and information that would be useful in preparing for the Reaver's destruction. Meanwhile, the Void taint grew in strength, and the tainted townsfolk began to succumb to its power, one by one. Adrian of Stormwatch had been the first to transform, and was cured by the court of Eastwyck with the aid of the being known as the Auditor. In September, Willow Treespeaker transformed as well, sprouting claws and attacking townsfolk with claws and spells. Jalista was able to send several of Willow's friends on a quest to restore Willow to her natural form and cleanse her of the taint. It was clear, however that this was very costly, and that it would not be feasible to do the same for all of the tainted.

The next to be transformed was Arracor Stormhaven, whose form was even more powerful than those who had gone before him. The Void form of Arracor wreaked great havoc upon the town, cutting down and tainting many citizens. He even managed to form inside the Ward of the court of Westmarch, and taint most of the court while they slept. Only the valiant efforts of Lord Ferral, Zarak, and Marina to open the ward for a rescue team kept the court from even worse.

More townsfolk began to transform, apparently triggered by Arracor, including Voltreg, and Corwin of the Healer's Guild. With all of those who had transformed to a void form, it was sometimes possible to help them regain control by talking to them, and the friends of the tainted struggled to make them remember who they were. In the end it availed them little, buying only a few moments of time before the transformed ones attacked again.

Arracor eventually won free of the Reaver confronting him on his own plane, and fed by strength from his sister, Lady Bailiwick Stormhaven, and Forestlord Ehawk. The Reaver had to withdraw his power from Arracor, leaving him clean of the taint, because he had made Arracor too powerful, and could not stop him when Arracor turned against him. The Reaver was dealt another blow when Duke Roderick reaffirmed his bond to the land with Prince Kevynn's aid. The true land bond apparently broke the connection with Basil's tomb through which he had gained much power. After that, the rest of those who had transformed were returned to their normal state, and the void taint was weakened for a time.

Finally, in October, the stars and the scroll were all assembled and the people of Ravenholt were prepared at last to fight the Reaver. The ritual casters assembled in town created a great circle around the entire field that would prevent the Reaver and his minions from leaving once they were summoned there. They then summoned the Reaver so that he could be fought and destroyed, and then Jalista took the ritual casters on a quest to further weaken the Reaver and prevent him from being able to summon forth more minions. The casters who ventured on this dangerous quest included Kestrel, Dame Quin, Nathan and Divad of the Hinterlands, Kainon Andrews of the ARC, Tristemere Mirabad and Chastity Wolvestride of Stormwatch, Keyla, Nomad, and Dougan Steelforge of Anvil, among others.

Meanwhile the defenders of Ravenholt prepared to meet the Reaver's attack, though they were greatly weakened by the loss of their ritual casters. The Reaver struck an even greater blow, all tose who were still void tainted disappeared, to come back as minions under his power, with the exception of Gabriel Wolvestride of Stormwatch, who had been strengthened with help from his friends earlier that day.

The Reaver soon took the field accompanied by waves of minions and the transformed forms of many skilled townsfolk who attacked thier friends without mercy. The onslaught was too much for even the brave defenders of Ravenholt to stay, and all who feel were immediately dealt death blows by the Reaver's minions. The forces of Ravenholt fell back to the Healer's Guild Circle, leaving windrows of dead upon the field. Dozens of brave warriors littered the ground, dead and dying, and those few who made it to the circle could only watch in anguish as the minutes slid away. Many of Ravenholt's most renowned heroes including much of the Ducal Household, the Mage's Guild, Anvil, and Stormwatch, the noble courts, and countless brave commoners were among the fallen. Others, including most of the court of Westmarch paced outside the circle as minions of the Reaver, taunting those within.

For a brief time things looked altogether hopeless, but then many of those heroes who remained alive began calling upon whatever powers they knew for aid. An emissary of Life was summoned to the Healer's Guild Circle, a black Unicorn known as Dalmayn appeared as well, and these two beings were able to administer many life spells to the fallen. Forestlord Ehawk of Anvil drew upon some strange power and vanished, but his presence was felt upon the field as he sent fallen warrior after warrior to the Circle and safety through a mystic portal apparently called a "forestgate". Nork and Gabriel of Stormwatch were imbued with the power of Order elementals. Other townsfolk also called in various boons, including Viscount Daramor Darkcloud, and Arracor Stormhaven of Anvil. Eventually most of the fallen were recovered, the rest resurrected and the defenders of the town were all crowded into the Healer's Guild Circle. They still lacked sufficient force to attack, however.

Then the ritual casters returned from their own harrowing quest, and with them, came the news that the Reaver could no longer call forth endless minions to aid him. The weary and beaten heroes of Ravenholt rallied for one last, desperate push against the Reaver. This time his minions were overwhelmed and the Reaver at last was cut down.

The six elemental stars were placed upon him and the scroll of destruction read, and he was sundered into his six aspects which were in turn pursued about the field and destroyed by blades, spells, stars and scroll. When the last aspect disintegrated the Reaver was gone for good, and the tainted were all freed. The Void had been vanquished at last-but at a terrible cost of blood, life, and power.

Early Sunday morning, at the gathering of September 25-27, the spirit of the well-known mystic wood elf Nomad appeared in the Ravenholt Healer's Guild. After being resurrected by Arick, he rushed off into the darkness vowing revenge on Tiger-ty Darkwind of the Darkwind Funeral Parlor, setting in motion a chain of events which would end in the arrest, indictment, and execution of five members of the Funeral Parlor.

The story apparently began last November when the strange and impenetrable mist surrounding the town of Sercia in the Barony of Capulus dissipated and the Gate of Xylar opened. These occurrences drew many adventurers to the area including Nomad and several companions. While there, they were hired by a human to guard a ritual at night on the shore of the lake.

As the ritual began, the guards noticed a large number of assorted undead, including more than one death knight converging on the area. While concerned, they assumed that this was the reason for hiring them, although they thought that this was an unusual number of undead even for an untamed area. Curious as to the nature of the ritual, Nomad looked over the caster's shoulder, to discover that he was reading a "Create Lich" scroll. He promptly interrupted the ritual with several Flame Bolts. The caster crumbled to dust, and the undead soon stopped attacking. This necromancer, "Perryn" now a death lord has sworn vengeance on Nomad and the others who interrupted his ritual.

On Saturday night of the September gathering, Nomad was lured to an ambush by Tiger-ty and members of the Funeral Parlor, and captured by Perryn's minions in an isolated spot near the town of Ravenholt. When he saw his captors preparing him for some unknown fate, which might have been enslavement, transformation to an undead, or obliteration, he cast a death spell on himself and resurrected safely in the Healer's Guild.

Nomad warded himself in the (now empty Funeral Parlor to await the inhabitants' return, while Kestrel and Sir Delahr went in search of Viscount Grim and Viscount Daramor. When the nobles returned, the members of the Funeral Parlor had surrounded their house and were threatening to kill Nomad. The three nobles, members of the Court of Eastwyck and many others came to Nomad's aid, and after a battle, the members of the Funeral Parlor were subdued and arrested.

Tiger-ty, their spokesman was given an enslavement antidote, and declared that he and the others had been enslaved since February. According to Tiger-ty, he met a mysterious elf with a black and white striped face, a member of the Three Rivers Trade Company, at the Garson's Bridge merchant festival and was enslaved by him, or possibly by Perryn. Tiger-ty and the Funeral Parlor, later enslaved, were commanded to kill Nomad as quietly and as often as possible ,but once their cover was blown, they felt compelled to try as hard as possible to carry out their command despite the odds.

During the arrest there were not enough enslavement antidotes for the Funeral Parlor, and several of them had to be repeatedly subdued while attempting to attack Nomad. Both Tiger-ty and his companions claimed large gaps in their memories as to the exact circumstances of their enslavement. The stone elf Jatrina attempted to enter Tiger0ty's mind and found sorrow and remorse there.

In the course of the inquiries, Nomad requested that the possessions that he had lost during his capture be replaced. Tiger-ty allowed him to find replacements from the Funeral Parlor's Treasury. While looking through the treasury, Nomad found a letter from Perryn to Tiger-ty, addressing him as "partner" and also some necromantic items of unspecified nature.

When asked, Tiger-ty declared that the items were found on creatures they had slain during that night, and they had put them into the treasury without examining them, and did not know what they were.

After about an hour and a half of deliberation, five members of the Funeral Parlor including Tiger-ty, were convicted of assault, murder, consorting with undead, and possession of necromantic items, and sentenced to one death each. The sentence was administered immediately.

The next morning, Tiger-ty committed seppuku for failing to protect his household. It has been speculated that he may commit seppuku a second time for failing to honor his contract with Perryn.

A series of black gates have been opening lately in Ravenholt. These gates open seemingly at random in places where people are gathered. Those entering them are generally presented puzzles or riddles to solve, and are rewarded with treasure when they are successful.

The gates seem to be opened by otherplanar beings who are curious and wish to study the people of Tyrra, possibly in a search for other intelligent beings. The gates have gone to various other planes, including Fire, Darkness, and Dream.

In one case, these beings apparently needed inexperienced adventurers to retrieve an essence of shadow. The group was rifted to the plane of darkness and retrieved the essence, however the rift was shunted and the adventurers found themselves tested by riddles. Coellad Arija solved or created most of the riddles the group needed to return safely.

Other townsfolk who have entered these gates include Darius Brisbane, Ulrich, Andel of Maelstrom, members of Stormwatch, and many others. Each time those who pass the gate are greeted with puzzles, riddles, and other tests of intelligence or agility. Treasure generally appears to reward the successful. Some townsfolk have apparently been offered information as well.

This September, three tourneys were held simultaneously in Ravenholt to honor the visit of Prince Kevynn Blackfox; a Noble's Tourney, a Commoner's Tourney, and the Highland Games.

Westmarch place first all around in the Noble's Tourney, winning first place in the Hunt, Entertainment, and the Melee. The court of Cumberland came in second, and also tied with Capulus for first place in Decryption. Eastwyck withdrew, due to threats to the town.

Placing first in the Commoner's Tourney were the Baljar Gypsies, who also won the Scavenger Hunt. Second place in the Commoner's Tournament went to the Companions of the Spoon, who won the Entertainment. Asylum won third place by winning first place in the Melee. Other teams that distinguished themselves included the Mage's Guild, who won the riddle competition, and the Onyx Scorpion, who took second place in the Entertainment Competition.

The Highland Games were also won by the Baljar Gypsies, who took first place in the Practical Joke, and Insults. Coming in second overall were "The Other Highlanders" who also won the Dagger Fight. Other teams distinguishing themselves included the Healer's Guild, who place third in the Games, Clan MacEanruig, who won the Foot-race, and the House of Al-Quadim which took first in the Caber Toss.

A mysterious pattern of disappearances has become evident in the lands surrounding Arkham Keep. More than one hundred travelers and merchants making their way to the Capitol have gone missing without a trace over the last several months, and local officials are calling upon the citizenry of the Duchy for aid in discovering their fate, as not one has resurrected or been recovered.

The disappearances were at first so quiet and solitary that a pattern was not discerned for several months, but at this point local officials estimate that various citizens of Arkham have been going missing at the rate of one per night for several months now. No clues have yet been found for means or motive of these kidnappings. Those missing have no personal pattern . They range widely in age, wealth, experience and sex, so much so that common thievery has been ruled out as a major motive. The only pattern in all of the kidnappings has thus far been that all those counted among the missing were traveling alone, and most of the disappearances seem to have taken place during dusk or at night. Some went missing as they walked to or from their taverns or outhouses, others missing from their tavern rooms as they slept. Most puzzling of all no signs of struggle or violence were apparent in any of these cases, leading officials to believe that the disappearances may have been mystical in origin. If anyone has any clues leading to the recovery of the missing, they are urged to notify their local guard.

The Healer's guild wishes to thank all nobles and commoners alike for their support both in contributions and financial remuneration at the Ravenholt Healer's Guild Auction. We appreciate everyone's patience for sitting or standing in the hot sun. We certainly had a good time, and hope that everyone else enjoyed themselves as well. See you next year at the Guild Auction!

I would like to send a special thank you to the court of Cumberland, especially Squire Solace. At the September gathering you proved yourselves most admirable and just. I hope that your reputation continues to soar.
-Kainon Andrews of the ARC

Wanted-Ritual components of all types, common through singular. I pay excellent prices!
Contact Darius Brisbane

Wanted: I am interested in recruiting new adventurers to the lands of Ravenholt as bodyguards for my shop. Please contact Amra Asland Al-Quadim at the House of Al-Quadim, located in front of the Healer's Circle.. Safe Journey to you!

Found: one unique two-handed sword. Contact Sheriff Logan if you can describe it.

Wanted! Everything! I am looking to buy, sell, trade for many items. Potions, Scrolls, components, armor, weapons, and crystals. Please contact Amra Asland Al-Quadim at the House of Al-Quadim, located in front of the Healer's Guild Circle. Safe Journey to You!

Now holding open interviews for any wishing to join the group "Omega". Contact Sheriff Logan.

ATTENTION!!

Come jon the Wenches Guild! Come to the tavern Fri. Oct 30th at 8:30 for training! TIPS!TIPS!TIPS!!

Again I make it known to all in town. ARC has possession of the ritual scroll for "create lesser earth focus". If any seek use of this scroll, please contact Kainon at the ARC, and we shall make arrangements. Good Travels,
Kainon Andrews of the ARC

Currently seeking any and all ritual components. As many other people are, I expect little reply, but I am offering suitable payment for said components. All help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. -Kainon Andrews of the ARC.

Let it be known to the town of Ravenholt: the Mage's Guild is currently in possession of the ritual scroll of Celestial Spirit Forge. Any seeking its use should go there and request permission to use it.

Seeking Historians and researchers to share information and correspondence. Please contact Severa Winternight in Tyrangel, Southwatch.

A great thanks to the barony of Cumberland, Many times you have proven yourselves most worthy of your noble titles. I bow down to you in honor like I would to no other. Let it be known that your sacrifices are not going unnoticed. I wish you success in your future.
Your Average Commoner

To those who would die with me, I pay thee homage. To those who would laugh at me, I curse thy spirit. Even though I bleed like you, I am not your kind. Some would mock me, some would praise me. I ask of thee neither. Smile upon a stranger, for that is what you are to them. Be kind to your commoners, for they will remember it come judgment day.
-But One Face Amongst the Crowd.

Liri
Thank you.
(Now someone has said it)
-K

To All Who Would Hear:
Oberon Anduin of the court of Cumberland has taken on the mantle of Champion of Arms for the Barony of Cumberland on the 9th day of October.
On the 11th day of October the position of Court Healer was granted to Dulcinea Bronwyn.
        -Sir Alan Moonwind

Please report all Deaths, Births, and Weddings to the Raven's Herald so that proper announcements may be printed.

Remember that Public Notices must be limited to 75 words or fewer.

A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF RAVENHOLT

To the Good People of Ravenholt,

It has been brought to my attention that many of you may be unsure of how to address me. My name is Merry MacGregor, and I have the honor of being a Royal Knight. I also have the Lake Hollym title of Mother Superior of my Order. When Prince Kevynn Blackfox ordered that all nobles be addressed by their titles, I asked for and received permission to use my Hollym title, that of "Mother Merry". Although usage of Dame MacGregor or Dame Mother are also correct, I don't "Hear" them. It takes me a moment or more to realize that I am the person being addressed, as I have answered to "Mother" for some thirty years. Thank you for your patient attention.

Yours In Service to the Crown.
Long Live King Mykel!
Long Live Prince Kevynn!
Long Live Duke Roderick
Dame Merry MacGregor
Knight Protector of the Orphans of Evendarr.
Mother Superior, OBDFL