Gameworld News from 1001

1001 A.I.
May 20, 1001
August 5, 1001
December 8, 1001

December 8, 1001:

Dubraugh, Cadfaigh:
      The kingdoms of Cadfaigh and Ragnorack both rejoiced at the news
that Queen Marilyn gave birth to a boy, Martin, on November 23. The
royal palace has stated that the crown prince is healthy and fit, and
that her Majesty is in good health and recovering fine. Already, the
Cadfainn nobility have showered the royal palace with
congratulations, and there is considerable joy among the nobles that
Cadfaigh has its first legitimate and uncontestable heir in three
decades.
      In Northhaven, Lord Frederick (King Dmitri's brother and
castellan) is reported to have sighed with relief upon hearing the
news that he is no longer his brother's heir.


San Stimpo, Inarra:
      Diego and Maria Delagossa, Inarra's royally-commissioned
shipbuilders, have begun construction on two more royal vessels.
Queen Isabella has asked for six, but the Delagossas claim that they
cannot build six at once unless the Crown is willing to hire more
master craftsmen. Rumors hold that the Queen's exchequer considers
this to be a bargaining chip to extract more money out of the royal
coffers, and that there have been heated arguments between the
Exchequer and the Delagossas about the same.


Nova Bacaronna, Inarra:
      Duchess Catalina de Cardenas has retreated into deep mourning
following the loss of her son and heir. She has offered a large
reward to anyone who can bring her the head of her son's killer, one
Miquel Barril, whose whereabouts are unknown after he teleported out
of Nova Bacaronna with a mysterious artifact. Queen Isabella has
expressed her deepest condolences and has instructed all loyal
subjects to help bring the murderer to justice.


Clan Wyrmsbane:
      A dwarven wedding party from the royal house of Clan Wyrmsbane
met with tragedy in Nova Bacaronna, Inarra. Two of the newly-married
couple's official escorts were killed when the newlyweds were seeking
to find and rescue the son of Duchess Catalina de Cardenas; the bride
was saved from death at the last second by the clergy of a local
church of Perinnia. Reports indicate that the noble couple was upset
about "being treated like bounty hunters" and felt the duchess's lack
of gratitude for the sacrifices of their clansmen to be "less than
honorable."
      Upon hearing the news, the families of the bride and groom
released the following statement: "The noble families of Clan
Wyrmsbane wish to extend their deepest gratitude to the keepers of
the Perinnian temple in Nova Bacaronna for saving the life of their
honored daughter. In recognition of this honorable deed, the finest
stoneworkers of Clan Wyrmsbane will be dispatched to offer their
assistance in building a new orphanage for the temple. Honor to Clan
Wyrmsbane!"


Philathos and Castagna:
      The Duke of Philiathos and the Prince of Castagna are both going
forward with their plans to "rebuild" their navies, taking audiences
from craftsmen and shipbuilders. Reportedly, Castagna has been in
contact with several of the Delagossas' former colleagues, in hopes
of reproducing their techniques.


Tamplonia:
      Archpatriarch Paul Carlo IV, speaking "on behalf" of Prince
Philip, has announced that the Principality will be stepping up its
naval forces. "Tamplonia has traditionally relied on her navy for her
defense and the defense of her allies," said the Archpatriarch,
referring to Tamplonia's involvement in Napermo. "She will continue
to guarantee her strength through her forces at sea." There is
speculation that Tamplonia will attempt to woo the Delagossas (who
are Tamplonian) back from Inarra.


Roudoigne:
      Duchess Nicolette has commanded her ministers to commission more
naval vessels. "As Roudoigne relies upon trade and shipping for her
prosperity," stated her Grace, "so must we safeguard our merchants
and their vessels in their travels at sea." Roudoigne merchants'
guilds are already readying for new harbor tariffs to pay for the
ships.

August 5, 1001:

Dinkeldyne, Sneem, Cadfaigh:
	Queen Marilyn of Cadfaigh welcomed her newest vassal, the
Lady Sheba of Dinkeldyne, into the ranks of Cadfainn nobility on June
30. On the advisement of Rojer Appin, Baron of Sneem, the vacant
Lairdship of Dinkeldyne was awarded to the Ragnorackan knight. The
Baron also created a new landed knight, Sir Malcolm, whom he expects
to be a strong bulwark in helping to restore the former prosperity of
Dinkeldyne and Sneem.
  	That evening, Cadfainn naval forces, in a daring night raid
assisted by Balthazarian priests, succeeded in capturing the flagship
of the dangerous Corsair pirate fleet that has long been harassing
the shores of Cadfaigh and Allondell. All aboard were immediately
executed, although there are rumors that the two remaining ships of
the fleet successfully escaped into deeper waters. The Baron of Sneem
ordered that the head of Eric the Black, Captain of the Corsairs, be
pickled in the pirates' own rum and sent to King Harold of Allondell
as a gesture of goodwill.


Iñarra:
	Diego and Maria Delagossa, the famed Tamplonian shipbuilders,
completed construction of the new Iñarran royal vessel, the H.M.S.
Santa Virtud. Queen Isabella inaugurated the ship herself on July 11
in the harbor of San Stimpo, welcoming the new craft as the herald of
a "brighter day for the Sun Crown at sea". The Queen announced she
was greatly pleased with the new ship and has commissioned the
Delagossas to construct a half-dozen more.


Tolbury, Allondell:
	The Swan and Crescent, one of Tolbury's grandest inns, famed
for its cuisine, caused much uproar and excitement a few weeks ago
during the annual banquet for the Fellows of the University of
Tolbury. For the main course, cooks from the Swan and Crescent
brought in two silver platters, which they revealed to have only two
tiny, brightly-colored cylindrical objects on them. The Fellows were
mystified until the master chef poured his special sauce over the
cylinders. Instantly, they transformed into a huge, wriggling tuna
and sailfish, which were promptly returned to the kitchen until the
cooking process was finished. The banquet is rumored to have cost the
University more than 250 marks. Unfortunately, the cooks of the Swan
and Crescent claim that this alchemical wizardry is not repeatable,
and refused to give the source of the miraculous fish.


Philathos and Castagna:
	The Duke of Philiathos and the Prince of Castagna have both
announced plans to "rebuild" their navies, to account for losses
during the war with Yamamoto. Courtiers in both lands say that
Philiathos and Castagna had long since replaced their lost ships, and
in truth are boosting their navies in response to Iñarra's increased
construction of vessels.

May 20, 1001:

Vallino:
        On March 30, during the celebration of his 70th birthday,
Alessando de Trevisi, Doge (Duke) of Vallino, announced to his court,
who were gathered at his summer palace, that he would be abdicating
his throne. While the Doge's impending retirement was no surprise to
many, his timetable was: the childless Doge announced that he would
be naming and crowning a successor but two days hence.
        After much consultation with his advisors, Alessandro named
Severus di Marra, baron of Stacastia, as his heir. Doge Severus was
crowned on April 1, and quickly announced an agreement made with a
Yamamotoan emissary to normalize trade relations with Seiguntou,
including the nomination of one of his kin as Ambassador to Seiguntou.
        Spokespeople for Yukinaga Mizuho, viceroy of Seinguntou,
expressed delight that "Vallino has opted for the path of neighborly
harmony", while Veneza and Allondell expressed dismay that the new
Doge has "so quickly forgotten his friends and embraced his enemies."


Dunmorrie, Cadfaigh:
        Queen Marilyn of Cadfaigh and King Dmitri of Ragnorack have
announced the impending birth of their mutual heir.
        The two monarchs stopped in the town of Dunmorrie, en route
from their winter home in Dubraugh, Cadfaigh to their summer
residence in Northhaven, Ragnorack. They made a public dedication of
a new fort to guard the main trade road between northwestern Cadfaigh
and southern Ragnorack, a route gaining increasing significance.
        The Queen took the opportunity afforded by the gathered
audience to make an appeal to her subjects for national unity. She
beseeched the Cadfainn to accept the "bucks" (the Caelti renouncing
blood magic and becoming Cadfainn) as one of their own, no different
from those "born under the sign of the Stag." She said it was her
dream to have "a land safe for any child, where every child is free
from blood and free from hatred..." Much to the surprise of the
audience, the Queen began to choke up, ended her speech, and took her
seat.
        King Dmitri, rising to face the audience, announced to the
gathered crowd that his wife has such concern for the kingdom's
children because she herself is with child. The stunned crowd roared
its applause, and the Cadfainn and Ragnorackan courtiers expressed
their best wishes for the two kingdoms' mutual heir.
        Two days later, Cormac Gulloy, head of a local Caelti clan,
declared that "the time for unity is at hand" in Cadfaigh, and he
(along with the rest of the Gulloys) took the buck's pledge to
renounce blood magic and acknowledge Marilyn - and her child -- as
rulers of the kingdom. "What good have the Shelledys and the Neighans
and the O'Suilebhans brought us?" added Gulloy, naming three of the
leading rebellious Caelti families. "They say they'll retake this
land -- how, when the Cadfainn outnumber the Caelti three to one?"
Gulloy added that the presence of the Stone of Kings in the Cadfainn
throne further cemented the link between the two peoples.


Eastbrooke, Allondell:
       Residents of Eastbrooke, Allondell and surrounding
communities are still sorting through the rubble of this
once-prosperous city after it was ravaged by a great conflagration.
The few remaining witnesses to the recent fire reported a massive
explosion that destroyed a great portion of the town; flames quickly
spread and engulfed the rest. While rain showers and the efforts of
survivors brought the blaze under control, every building in town was
destroyed. Among the victims of this tragedy were nearly all of the
residents of the town, many visitors attending the town festival, and
a bishop of Nen investigating the claims of the recently-returned
heir of Baron Evan Eastbrooke.
        More distressing are the current investigations taking place
over why this tragedy occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the
legendary Sturian general Janus Flavius had risen to destroy the
village, though these reports have yet to be confirmed. Currently,
investigators from the Collegium, the Allondine crown, Sturian
historians, and the Allondine Geological Society are surveying the
damage and looking for answers. The new baron, Lord Nicolas
Eastbrooke, has pledged that the town shall be rebuilt.


Dinkeldyne, Cadfaigh:
        Alistair Dingle, Laird of Dinkeldyne, has been officially
declared dead after being lost at sea for six months. Laird Alistair
his entire family were tragically caught in a sudden storm while on a
voyage to Allondell in the autumn, and have not been seen since.
Queen Marilyn of Cadfaigh and Rojer Cairnahan, Baron of Sneem, both
expressed their sadness and regret at the loss of their loyal vassal.
Various scholars at the University of Tolbury, whom the Laird was
traveling to visit, also mourned the death of the Laird, as well as
the lack of the valuable information he was bringing to them.


Iñarra:
       Queen Isabella has announced a contract with Diego and Maria
Delagossa, two famous Tamplonian shipbuilders, to build more
merchant-class vessels. The Iñarran court believes that the Queen
wants to boost the kingdom's prestige through an increase in its
navy. The Delagossas arrived at the shipyards in San Stimpo on April
7 to begin their work.


Cadfaigh:
       Recent reports from the Cadfainn and Allondine navies, as
well as various merchant vessels, suggest that the Corsairs, a
notorious pirate fleet, have returned to northerly waters. The
pirates, who raided Cadfainn and Allondine shores until moving south
into Delona during the war, seem to have abandoned their raids on
Seiguntou after meeting with increased resistance.