Vol. 13 Number 8
Habitae Diem Gravis
September, 900
Pantherghasts Plague Town
As the September gathering began, the citizens of Ravenholt felt the cold dread and fear of the Pantherghasts' approach. Dwarves, Mystic Wood Elves, Elves, Sarr, and Humans were all gripped with the feeling of being hunted and watched, and before the night had ended, the creatures were seen on the field.
The first to be felled was the Mystic Wood Elf Pantherghast, by Tinker of Equinox. He was, in fact, the only member of his race in the town's recent history with the ability to actually damage the Pantherghast through its superior defenses. With the support of casters of his race and fighters blocking for him and goading it to him, he latched on and doggedly chased it until its defeat. When the Pantherghast was taken down and killed, a bottle apparently containing its spirit was found on its body.
Later that eve, Baron Gabriel led a group through the harsh and trackless wilderness to find the Elven Pantherghast. They were apparently called out of bed for help after it slew Guildmistress Ember Jongleur, prominent Mystic Wood Elf Kestrel, Viscount Larrister Greentree, and Lieutenant Archer of the Grey Raven Company.
Calls for help summoned the group of Elves and others to the Guild to hunt the terrifying creature. Later a group consisting of Dame Jatrina, Sir Antro Accipiter, and others joined the fight. It was slain, and left behind a bottle similar to the one the Mystic Wood Elf hunter had earlier that eve.
According to unclear reports, Ember Jongleur resurrected with no trouble. Kestrel had some difficulty resurrecting, and Lieutenant Archer and Viscount Greentree suffered their final deaths. Lieutenant Archer was restored to life by a boon, channeled through Squire Valamar of Cumberland, from the golem Ardus. The attempt was made to restore the Viscount as well, however it proved to be impossible.
As the gathering wore on, the other Pantherghasts were spotted and pursued, although they eluded capture for many hours. The Elven and Mystic hunters were not spotted, assumedly because of their bottle. Sunday afternoon, a Destroy Greater Earth Magic formal was performed on the Elven bottle, cast by Dougan Steelforge. It appeared to take its normal affect. Baron Gabriel Wolvestride, Sir Oberon Anduin, Squire Valamar, and a few others relentlessly attacked the Sarr hunter without the benefit of having a Sarr to aid in the fight. As dawn broke, they proved victorious, gaining the aid of an early-rising Sarr.
Sunday evening, the Elven Pantherghast reappeared to the dismay of the Elves nearby. It proved more elusive that time, and while it was about, the Human hunter also took the field. Soon after, the Dwarven Pantherghast appeared. All of the Dwarves in the town rallied together and with the support of their teams and other townsfolk, they defeated the Pantherghast and took its bottle. The Human Pantherghast was also hunted and slain that night, and according to reports, its bottle was not retrieved.
Somehow it was ascertained that the only method to destroy these bottles was to perform a Destroy Greater Earth formal within the confines of what has come to be called the Black Circle. On Monday of the gathering, the forces of the town converged on it and held a two fronted battle to allow Dougan Steelforge time to perform the formal magic. Archers were instrumental in the battle, while the folk outside attempted to take out a large amount of the Undead before they could reach those fighting inside.
In the end, the forces of Ravenholt triumphed, and the formal was defended long enough for completion. It is believed that the bottles of the Elven, Dwarven and Mystic Wood Elf Pantherghasts were destroyed, although because of the misconception of which circle these destroys had to be cast at, the Elven Pantherghast is still at large.