Gameworld News
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1003 A.I. April 24, 1003 July 14, 1003 October 1, 1003 December 31, 1003 |
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View the news from 1002 |
December 31, 1003:
Inarra, Castagna, and Chardreau: While Inarra, Castagna and Chardreau have made no official announcements about their missing transoceanic ships, courtiers in each land say that their countries consider the ships dead or lost. In several cases, families of the ships’ crews have held funerals for the lost souls. Queen Isabella of Inarra, who staked much political fortune on the shipbuilding, is said to be particularly resistant to making any formal declaration of failure. Courtiers and longshoremen in Inarra, however, note that the shipbuilding program has been put on indefinite hold, and most of the Queen’s shipwrights sent home. With such minimal funding, insiders note, it would be years before the Inarrans can attempt another crossing. Vallino: On October 12, before the gathered nobles and clergy of Vallino, Lord Innocenti diMarra was crowned Doge of Vallino by Stephanos, Vicar for Kytos. Innocenti is the eldest son of Severus diMarra, who assumed the ducal throne after the abdication of Alessandro di Trevisi in spring of 1001. He is widely expected to continue his father’s polices of open trade with Yamamoto and Seiguntou. Bilgosh: Zdunarovan forces under the command of Sir Pavle pushed further into Bilgosh throughout the fall, reversing Bilgosh gains in Galau. Under their commander’s expert leadership, imperial troops outflanked the Bilgoshmen, garnering the surrender of significant numbers of the Bilgosh advance force before taking control of Galau, Pietra Slul, and Crazau. Bilgosh troops have since retreated towards the capital, burning bridges behind them in hopes of stopping the Zdunarovan advance. Zdunarova: Czarina Aleksandra announced in late November that she would be assessing an additional wartime tax and would be requesting more troops from her vassals. "With winter’s snow approaching we shall fortify our gains in the lands rightfully ours, and do require all manner of materials, soldiers, and funds to accomplish this just aim," proclaimed the empress. Duchess Wilhelmina of Silbermark, in the eastern Steinlands, has formally protested the wartime levy. "While I honor and respect the authority of her Imperial Majesty," said the duchess, "I find that we in Silbermark have no cause to raise arms against the Bilgoshmen and see no gain in emptying our coffers to spill their blood." To date the duchess has not sent out her officials to collect taxes from her people, and has not sent reinforcements southward to the war front. Marna, Kiljuk: Grand Duke Milos of Bilgosh warned Sultan Abdulhamid IV on December 3 about "increased activity to the south", stating that if the Sultan’s pashas think to take some advantage of the Zdunarovan situation that the consequence "will be borne by Marna [the Kiljuk capital] itself". While the Sultan declined comment, there was much rattling of sabers and dark tales in the coffeehouses about the weakened state of a Bilgosh ripe for conquest. Zdunarosk, Zdunarova: In recognition of his military successes in repelling the Bilgosh assault and pushing imperial troops further into Bilgosh lands, the Czarina granted Sir Pavle, commander of her elite forces, the title of Lord Yarokov on December 10. The new Lord Yarakov was not able to be ennobled in person, but celebrated at the front with his men and women, toasting their victories in "settling righteous Zdunarovan claims." Yarakov has ordered his forces to dig in as they ride out the snowy winter months, a period where large-scale troop movements are rarely practical.
October 1, 1003:
Tamplonia:
While Tamplonia's HHS Lumen returned successfully, there is still
no news from the other ships that attempted a transoceanic journey.
Nothing has been heard of Inarra's HSM Santo Sol, Castagna's HHS Catamount
and Chardreau's HSM Dauphine since their launch last November.
Archpatriarch Paul Carlo IV, speaking on behalf of the Prince,
announced a national day of celebration on July 20. Tamplonia "welcomed
its contact with the great land [of Meng Guo]", rejoiced that it could
"briing knowledge of this new land to Hesket", and asked for Elune's
continued blessing.
In Inarra, Third Chancellor Sofia Marin said that her Majesty,
Queen Isabella, had "continued faith" that Inarra's vessel would return
with news of more wondrous lands to the east.
Springsdale, Allondell:
Responding to a request from High Priestess Josephine Evans of the
local Majenirian temple in Springsdale, the monarchs of Bilgosh and
Zdunarova both gave written assent in July for safe passage through the
contested territories on the Bilgosh/Zdunarovan border for those "brave
souls willing to risk their lives to save others'". Since escorted
parties of clergy have been waylaid on the mountain passes in past months,
there has been a plea on both sides of the conflict for for healing under a
neutral canopy. High Priestess Josephine prays that this tiding of good
faith by both sides foretells an early end to the suffering.
Crazau, Bilgosh:
Mere days after Grand Duke Milos of Bilgosh received Czarina
Aleksandra III's official "Rules of Engagement", Bilgosh saw the first
influx of Zdunarovan forces into its territory in early August, signaling
the official beginning of a border war. Although the Zdunarovan ranks
quickly advanced into the wide countryside, Sir Pavle, Knight-Commander of
the Grand Duke's Elite Forces, assured concerned subjects that this "paper
siege" hardly constituted a battle, let alone a declaration of war.
However, farming villages clinging to their fields have been advised to
clear out of the way of the advancing armies until the conflict has been
resolved.
Vallino:
After a two-year reign, the elderly Severus di Marra, Doge of
Vallino, passed away in his sleep on August 22. Di Marra had been chosen
as heir by the previous Doge, Alessandro di Trevisi, upon the latter's
retirement in 1001. Upon takiing the throne, Doge Severus swiftly
normalized trade with the Yamamotoans, which earned his ports lucrative
trade, but also earned him enemies at home and abroad.
Severus is survived by his eldest son, Lord Innocenti di Marra,
who is to be crowned Doge as soon as coronation plans are complete.
Galau, Bilgosh:
After nearly a full month of mounting losses in life and land,
Grand Duke Milos proved his mettle in early September as his armies surged
past their position in eastern Galau and into the Zdunarovan duchy of
Virsk. Purportedly, Duke Grigorin of Virsk has been entertaining
conditions for surrender and the housing of Bilgosh battalions, but this
seems unlikely, as Grigorin's own forces are firmly entrenched in the
nearby Bilgosh barony of Pietra Slul, which fell to Zdunarovan occupation
in early August.
The imminent scissoring of Zdunarovan forces on either side of
Galau prompted an official "call to aid" from his Grace, Quentin
Rutherford, Ubriallan bishop and Collegiate, on behalf of Brother Baldin
of the Order of the Bringers of Life Unbounded, who are currently
administering mercy to the injured in Galau. The Bringers were one of the
first religious groups to gather in the area and set up an aid station;
currently, they are suffering from lack of food, supplies, and personnel
besieging their wounded charges (despite their flag of neutrality). Relief
recruiting efforts are currently underway throughout Hesket.
July 14, 1003:
Terdosa, Tamplonia To the surprise of all, the weather-beaten but determined HHS Lumen, Tamplonia's transoceanic vessel, returned home to port on April 28 after seven months at sea, having successfully sailed across the ocean and back! The crew spoke of the severe storms which plague the deep seas, storms which lashed the ship and caused the loss of many of the crew. The Lumen pressed on, bearing east, even after many of the sailors despaired for their fate. After several months of sailing, the lookout excitedly announced land, but upon closer inspection, the island ahead bore the banner of Yamamoto. Despite waning supplies, Captain Rabassa decided that landing in that hostile land would prove more harm than help, and opted to sail further east, where other kingdoms supposedly lay. Several more weeks passed as the Lumen sailed through the Yamamotoan archipelago, skirting islands, and at last sighted the mainland of the eastern continent. There they landed on the shores of a great empire, "Meng Guo", apparently one of Yamamoto's rivals. The Lumen's crew made contact with emissaries from Meng Guo, who gave recognition to the Prince of Tamplonia. They stayed several weeks, resupplied, and headed home, this time armed with Mengguonese maps of Yamamoto. The Lumen brought back not just letters from the Mengguonese government, but also ornate ceramic bowls and vases, and all manner of carved jade. Captain Rabassa expressed interest in returning to Meng Guo to bring made more of these trade goods, but the Archpatriarch's functionaries seem little confident in the wisdom of risking another journey through such dangerous waters before they can make further improvements on their ships. To date, there has been no news from Inarra's HMS Santo Sol, Castagna's HHS Catamount, or Chardreau's HSM Dauphine, all of which set sail last November, around the same time as the Lumen. (Allondell's HMS Leonine opted not to risk the storms and returned to port early last December.) Mwlyn, Linneraigh: Queen Fiona, who recently betrothed her second child Prince Liam to Prince Philip of Tamplonia's third child, is reported to be very excited about her new ally's successes. Galau, Bilgosh: In May, Baron Ionel of Galau stated that while he has been aware of the claims of entitlement on his lands presented by the Zdunarovan Duke Nikholai of Sovogna over the last several months, he has yet to see any evidence of their validity. Lord Ionel labeled the accusations as "both expansionistic and erroneous, not worthy to dignify with response." He counterclaims that Duke Nikholai may have deliberately manipulated the good faith of the Varslavl Accord, and has requested that the alleged documents be presented to the Grand Duke for verification. Baron Ionel has stationed manned guardposts along the border road, while actively recruiting additional personnel and submitting requests for seasoned reinforcements. The resultant tension has spurred increased night-fighting along the border. Sovogna, Zdunarova: Duke Nikholai of Sovogna, along with Duke Grigorin and Duchess Franciska of the adjacent duchies of Virsk and Krozny, issued a joint proclamation in late May to Baron Ionel of Galau, Bilgosh, that further encroachment of "rogue soldiers" along the border of their duchies will not be tolerated. "Our peoples' safety is in jeopardy of monstrous attacks; first by beasts on four legs and now by beasts on two," stated Duke Nikolai. Their public announcement also carries with it a boon of safety in the name of Czarina Aleksandra III for all "afflicted villagers" in Bilgosh who wish to relocate over the border into Zdunarova. Northhaven, Ragnorack: King Dmitri celebrated the tenth anniversary of his coronation with a large celebration at the royal palace in Northhaven. Notables both native and foreign praised the king for ending the chaotic Troubles which plagued the kingdom before his arrival, and for the nation's current prosperity. "His Majesty has been an example to his people," praised Baron Peter of Arregal, Ragnorack's oldest living noble, while Nynellan, elder of the Raerock mahiri, said that the elves "are happy to have the friendship of a king" who values order and mutual trade. Desdovo, Bilgosh: On June 17, a special courier teleported directly from Desdovo to a secret destination in Zdunarova, bearing a sealed correspondence from Grand Duke Milos to the Czarina Aleksandra III. Many surmise this to be the Grand Duke's formal response to the increasing numbers of uniformed patrols, guardposts, checkpoints and fleeing villagers that are crowding the border between the two countries. The situation has grown extremely tense, even openly hostile in places, with both sides accusing their neighbors of everything from cowardice and corruption to outright treachery; there are even accusations of deliberately causing a cattle plague said to have affected dozens of local animal herds. These combined pressures have erupted in routs of violent in-fighting and cross-border skirmishes that threaten to spill over into the standing armies, threatening the stability of the entire region. Local religious orders dispatched a flood of requests to the Collegium for advice and support. Zdunarosk, Zdunarova: On July 2, Czarina Aleksandra III rejected a demand by the Grand Duke Milos of Bilgosh that Bilgoshmen attempting to relocate to Zdunarova be detained and returned to the Bilgosh emissary in the duchy of Sovogna. The Czarina issued a statement that, based on the evidence brought forth by Duke Nikholai, those persons are rightful subjects of Zdunarova. The Czarina, in turn, demanded that Bilgosh immediately surrender the territories of Galau, Crazau and Pietra Slul and withdraw all forces residing there. Grand Duke Milos announced his intention to "defend his country and its subjects against the mendacious aggressor [Zdunarova]," warning that he will do so by any means that should become necessary.
April 24, 1003:
Bluewall, Allondell:
About two months after setting sail, the Allondine ship HMS
Leonine limped home to this Allondine port city in December, bruised and
battered, its sails ragged and its timbers splintered. A third of their
number dead, the remaining crew reported fierce oceanic storms, the likes
of which they'd never seen. "The clouds turned the sky as black as
night," reported one sailor. "We were lashed and hurled about deck, day
after day." King Harold praised the courage of the sailors for their
valiant attempt, though courtiers say that in private the King was,
unsurprisingly, bitterly disappointed.
Mwlyn, Linneraigh, and Terdosa, Tamplonia:
On Aliane, Alia's greatest feast day, the monarchs of Linneraigh
and Tamplonia announced the betrothal of their children. Queen Fiona's
second child, Prince Liam, is to marry Prince Philip's third child, the
Lady Celeste. An engagement on Aliane is considered auspicious, and the
couple (and the parents) have been showered with gifts and messages from
well-wishers. No date has yet been announced for the wedding.
Loch Meagan, Cadfaigh:
On March 28, Queen Marilyn dedicated a new monument here, on the
shores of this Highlands lake, to signify the tenth anniversary of the
Battle of Loch Meagan, the battle that ended the failed Caelti rebellion
of 993. The Queen praised "the honor, the virtue, and the courage" of
those Cadfainn and Ragnorackans who "stood firm in the face of the rebels'
violence and their despicable dragon, and brought order and stability to
the kingdom once again." Observers noted that the Queen frequently (and
carefully) used the term "rebels" instead of "Caelti", to separate the
would-be usurpers from those Caelti who did not take up arms -- since many
of the latter have since taken the buck's oath and become Cadfainn.
Loch Meagan also marks the tenth anniversary of selection of the
Queen's husband, King Dmitri, as new King of Ragnorack. This event was
not publicly celebrated, instead with festivities in the works to mark the
tenth anniversary of his coronation in June.
Zdunarosk, Zdunarova:
Duke Nikolai of Sovogda has formally presented documents to the
court of Czarina Aleksandra III which lay claim to substantial portions of
land south of his duchy, in the country of Bilgosh. These papers,
allegedly signed by Grand Duke Razvan in April 777, cede the properties if
the land's barons fail to protect their subjects against "substantial acts
of aggression by monstrous beasts" as stated in the Varslavl Accord.
Duke Nikolai points to the decimation of two villages which were said to
have been overrun by "rabid wolves and restless spirits". He submits that
this could constitute crimes against its subjects, and is moving for
"immediate release of these holdings into the protective custody" of
Zdunarova.
Castagna:
With the Allondine ship's reports of the dangers of oceanic
travel, and with no word whatsoever of any of the other ships, Allondell's
competitors have grown worried. At a banquet in early April, it was a
Castagnan noble who first slipped, publicly giving word to everyone's
unspoken belief that the Castagnan ship is long since lost. Over the next
few weeks, the courts of Hesket have filled with whispers, conversations
in corners, with Hesket admitting to itself that its ships failed.
In Vallino, the Yamamotoans bringing trade from Seiguntou say that
they have heard nothing of any encounters between Hesketine voyagers and
the Yamamotoan navy. "I do not believe we have sunk any of your ships,"
said one captain. "Your vessels are simply not as seaworthy as our
superior ships. You were foolish."