News Around Mythrite, Autumn Edition

Latest happening around the town of Mythrite, as seen on the Mythrite Crier.

Prologue, i

Today is the 25th day of Eleint and Mythrite is a hive of activity as people prepare for the town's first annual Highharvestide Festival. The air is a thick confusion of sounds and smells in the market and entertainment district as performers rehearse and cooks and brewers and servants bustle to clear space for the coming crowds to gather to feast and drink. The stream of newcomers to town has slowed to a trickle and the festival's end marks the last day of safe passage back downriver to civilization. There will be tearful goodbyes for some, to be sure, but not before they make some final shared memories. The atmosphere is electric and, at least for a moment, the strains of the past year can be forgotten as you and the people of Mythrite look back on all that they have accomplished. What was recently the ruins of an abandoned mountain village is again teeming with life and opportunity. The explosion of construction and commercial activity is nothing less than remarkable as the town resurrected itself virtually overnight. To carve out a place for yourself, the pace of your days has been relentless. The pending festival marks a break in the nonstop toil. The caravans have returned earlier each afternoon so the miners can rest up for the long nights ahead, and business in the professional corridor has slowed as the drive for profits and pursuing personal ambitions--and grudges--are put on hold for the communal celebration, sponsored by those sudden millionaires who, like you, rolled the dice on this wilderness adventure and came up lucky. The pause in the daily grind has given you time for reflection, to think about the life choices you've made that brought you to this moment. You can smell the first hint of winter on the breeze blowing down from the snow-capped peaks and know that, for as difficult as this year has been, the coming months are sure to bring more challenges and hardships. You breathe deeply of the crisp morning air and feel the warm sun on your face. The anticipation and optimism are palpable, which you can't help but embrace. You didn't realize how badly you needed this and, alas, you approach the coming festival with the bittersweet knowledge that even the grandest parties end, and our daily routines must grudgingly resume. You resolve to enjoy these nights as much as you can because, with each passing day, daylight grows shorter, the nights grow colder and, as of the 1st of Marenpoth, the real work of survival begins.

Prologue, ii

Anticipation for the Highharvestide Festival ran high throughout the week-long buildup and, when the celebration finally arrived, it managed to exceed even the highest expectations. The weather was mild, the sky clear, and each dusk the orange and pink hues of sunset on the windswept snowy peaks were nothing less than magnificent. Even for the most jaded hearts, it was a blissful two days of camaraderie and cheer, of bonding with old friends and the making of new acquaintances. The expected bitterness of the coming months did nothing to darken the mood, the two-day party serving as the perfect reprieve from daily toils and stresses. Wine and ale flowed freely, and the bewildering array of spiced, or smoked, or cured, or grilled, or honeyed vegetables, fish, meats, and sweets would have even earned begrudging praise from the haughtiest aristocrats along the Sword Coast. The musicians played through the afternoon and into the evening, the movements of colorfully costumed dancers flowing along in perfect rhythm. On the streets and squares, theater troupes earned uproarious laughter at their ribald skits and elicited good-natured groans with the recitation of risque poems, which stood in sharp contrast to the stirring, melancholic singing of traditional ballads and the sobering tragic plays performed in the amphitheater. The only complaint? The time passed too quickly. /Character-Name = a non-player character Character-Name = one of the 20 player characters Despite the festival's overwhelming success, it was, alas, not without incident.

/Drarlun Muddigger, a coarse blowhard of a dwarf, drunkenly barged onto the stage at Tryssee's Place to announce that his plans to become Mythrite's first mayor arguing for an aggressive "Khazad først" or "Dwarf First" platform--a controversial goal as the debate as to whether Mythrite even needs a mayor has been bubbling all summer. Instead of being booed off the stage, surprisingly Dralun was met with applause, notably even from some humans in attendance.

After midnight on the last night of the festival, a large brawl broke out at The Stump due to allegations that the dice game run by /Rathat Guldurnye was crooked, an accusation which he fervently denies. No blades were drawn but noses were bloodied and a few bones were broken. Though the Town Guard suppressed the violence quickly, the sides shouted threats of vengeance at the other before being bundled home to lick their wounds and sleep off their drink.

Town guard captain /Merave Truevale fell violently ill the morning of the second day of the festival. At first, most assumed she was suffering from a wicked hangover and others suspected she must have eaten some dodgy meats, but her condition worsened badly as the day wore on, prompting immediate medical intervention. The favored explanation is that she was poisoned, but the evidence for this claim is flimsy and she has no known mortal enemies. Despite her brush with death, she is stable now at Westgate Barracks and rapidly regaining her strength.

ROUND 1

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 1 Marpenoth

Tobias Silverleaf is asking around town for healing potions and medicines
Ebrus Keghauler is promoting his new autumn mead
Kieran Khalid, a Caravan Guard, was publicly humiliated by the Town Guard but redeemed himself by savagely taking down a drunk and disorderly /Dalostod Battlemaul in the Entertainment District

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 2 Marpenoth

Lawyer Derrick Lawgrizzle was seen about town preaching the necessity of having a strong government, but few paid him much attention
Carefree general store owner Sprick Grimmer has enjoyed brisk business since the conclusion of the festival
Physician Cormac Eoin approached the Town Guard to offer his services to help with the recovery of /Merave Truevale but was rudely turned away, being told to mind his own business and not come back
Town Guard Captain Galdar Rougash spoke harshly to a gathered assembly about the lack of respect shown to the town guard in the poisoning of /Truevale and vowed they would not rest until they found the culprit. The crowd booed this, feeling attacked and insulted by his words. Sensing an opportunity, Caravan Guard Captain Ascella Sagittarii launched a verbal assault at Galdar, charging him with corruption and not being worthy of trust. The crowd cheered and pelted Galdar with rotten food and feces.
With Galdar's departure, Ascella took the stage and made the case that Galdar Rougash himself was likely behind the poisoning in order to justify future abuses against townspeople. Many in the crowd nodded at this reasoning, and up rose a chant of "Praise to our Caravan Guard! Hurrah! Hurrah!"
Later that night, Galdar Rougash was seen exchanging stern words with /Rathat Guldurnye.
Young Darovit Jone was seen scouring the seedier side of Mythrite looking for his degenerate father. He found him passed out cold in the Hall of the Mountain Kings! and, begging the pardon of the barkeeper and drunks, escorted his father home. People are now talking about what a good, reliable worker he was during the festival and how many fathers would be lucky to have such a responsible son, and lament his misfortune of winding up in Mythrite with such a deadbeat dad.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 3 Marpenoth

Musician Blaine Lohk was seen at Tryssee's Place playing some familiar, if uninspiring, tunes on his lute to mostly indifferent patrons. Ironically, he spent some time teaching himself piano at the half-empty Quivering Quaver looking to expand his repertoire and took to it like a duck to water, earning more applause and admiration from the sparse crowd there who thoroughly enjoyed watching him pick it up so fast, playing some bouncy tunes purely from memory.
Explorer Forest Rimor was seen receiving some basic instruction on swordplay from guard /Bizeid Mokheim and asked around for people who would be interested in departing Mythrite as soon as the spring snow melted, but most people are focused on buckling down for the winter.
Alora Cazana is planning a charity event. While initially the idea of another event so close to the festival didn't spark much excitement, she took to the streets and passionately preached about the power of community and working together for the social good. She also says that the god Zodal will forgive the transgressions of any sins committed during the festival--drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness--if people pledge themselves to the community. She gathered a large crowd with her speech, with many thanking her for her time.
Halmond Mire was forcibly ejected from Grimmer's General Store by town guard /Marachar Gardner on allegations of suspicious behavior relating to thievery.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 4 Marpenoth

Town guard captain Beau Kew, upset about the sudden spike in civil disobedience, visits /Merave Truevale to hear her perspective. He then orders his guards to put distractions aside, stand tall, and do their duty. His sharp orders brook no discussion and the guards noticeably show vigilance and pride in their jobs.
Solana Elara was seen asking around for both a physician and a blacksmith that people might recommend to her, both for reasons unknown
Performer Rigjig was seen arguing and shouting with the town guard near the The Emerald Amphitheater before storming off in a red-faced huff
Baker Elimita Armsglow concocted a brilliant new recipe for pumpkin bread that people raved about, but tragedy struck when town favorite /Bellisa Bithana had a violent reaction to it. The six-months pregnant Bethana was rushed to her house where her desperate wails could be heard late into the night.
Mythrite welcomed a newcomer, Ailee Fwanda, to the town, accompanied by her young daughter. The woman looked pale and haggard and has spent her time resting in her home.

ROUND 2

As the highs of the Highharvestide Festival came to a screeching halt and the crisp autumn frost crept into the impressionable young mining town, Mythrite seemed to be thrust into a state of rancor and instability. The weather kept itself temperate--the deep blue skies dotted with clouds and occasional rain--yet the town was anything but. The hot-headed and abrasive /Drarlun Muddigger faced no direct opposition for his petition for mayor, and so self-declared himself Mayor of Mythrite the eve of Marenpoth 7. This was not endorsed nor accepted by the de facto local government officials whatsoever, who put out a statement condemning the brazen attempt at an illegitimate power grab. Still, some of the dwarven population in Mythrilgrist seemed to revel in his self-declaration and accepted it as true among their own community. Quality of Life Scales

The GOVERNANCE of Mythrite slips, as the townsfolk becomes confused and disillusioned after the events of Muddigger's declaration. Confidence in the local government drops, as the government response to the whole farce is seen as too weak and easily ignored by the dwarves championing a polarizing position, creating a sense of confusion among the masses among who is really in charge.
The ECONOMY of the town also falls, as Muddigger openly declares his disdain over the Merchant-class and asks his dwarven people to boycott non-dwarvish businesses and cash in their mithril only with dealers of their own kind.

The SOCIAL RELATIONS of the town manage to keep stable throughout all this, as no fights of race or species relations seem to occur. Despite the actions of a minority of troublemakers, the majority of dwarves are level-headed and want no part of these divisive politics.
The town's SECURITY suffers greatly due to the major fight that broke between the Town Guard and Caravan Guard earlier in the week. Though their captains tried their best to keep their morale high, the town guards begin to miss their shifts and patrols, eventually leading some to desert altogether. It is an extremely dangerous time to be walking about in the town, even in daylight hours, and all citizens are encouraged to lock their doors and keep an eye over their shoulder.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 8 Marpenoth

Lawyer Ufrec Caskhide was spotted at the Emerald Amphitheater talking with /Ruz Hithrultohd about the possibility of bringing legal action against the town guard for not providing protection for audiences at shows
Forest Rimor was the victim of an attempted armed robbery in broad daylight. While he escaped, he suffered a nasty slash to his leg, underscoring the danger on the streets of Mythrite at the moment.
Captains Galdar Rougash and Ascella Sagittarii appeared on stage together to make a joint appeal to put last week's unpleasantness aside and come together for the safety. Despite this plea, people still seem disgruntled.
Alora Cazana and Cormac Eoin were seen tending /Bellisa Bithana back to stable condition.
By the looks of it, unlikable dwarven caravan guard /Strothumir Leatherspine was murdered, suffering a massive blunt force trauma head wound and dumped in an alley in the The Halberd. With no family or friends claiming the body, Cormac Eoin was seen transporting the body back to his laboratory.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 9 Marpenoth

Town guard captain Beau Kew visited Mythrilgrist to interrogate dwarves about the poisoning of a town guard captain. The dwarves took umbrage at what they perceived to be a racist accusation, and /Drarlun Muddigger emerged to ask what gave a human the right to talk to dwarves that way. Pushes came to shoves and Beau was driven from the square nursing a gashed and bleeding head as a near-riot erupted. Later, he gave an impassioned speech about the need for the town guard to restore order and dignity for the good people of Mythrite, to hearty cheers from the guard.
Musician Blaine Lohk was seen at Eastgate Watch performing jaunty military classics like "Shields Up High" and "Roll for Patrol" to bolster the guards' spirits, to great effect.
Concerned about looting or vandalization, Ebrus Keghauler took time to reinforce the doors and windows of his distillery using the metal from old stills. He did such a nice job, the neighbors are envious of his fort and are inquiring if he ever took on side jobs.
Tobias Silverleaf was spotted at sundown hurrying home, looking over his shoulder. Around the same time, a cross-looking Rigjig was seen heading out into the darkening night.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 10 Marpenoth

Caravan guard Kieran Khalid was rumored to be offering protection services to townsfolk, but /Vehvi Sonthad accused him of attempted extortion. Later, Khalid was seen being publicly dressed down by captain /Kordra Hillbelly, telling the young guard to focus on his job as the town is quite dangerous, as last night she needed to chase off some would-be thief.
Sprick Grimmer held a pair of sales at his general store targeting Miners and Town Guards, offering them special discounts. While the guards were too busy with policing the troubled town to take too much notice, the miners came in droves and Sprick treated them to a special fire sale on mining goods. He's gained a reputation for being a very astute businessperson in his short time in town.
Perhaps noticing the good work done by Ebrus Keghauler, blacksmith Rahg Nhaseeder followed suit by securing his home and workshop with metal bars blended with mithril for unparalleled strength, becoming the envy of his neighborhood.
Young craftsperson Solana Elara was seen donating sturdy boots and patched leather armor to the Town Guard in an effort to show her appreciation, gifts they gladly accepted. Later, she was seen hobbling in agony, claiming to have broken her foot in a smithing injury.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 11 Marpenoth

Taking a cue from his neighbors, Darovit Jone used a variety of materials to reinforce his home against attacks and robbery. He has garnered quite the reputation for being a focused, hardworking young man. Later in the week, he was seen with a bandaged arm in a sling.
Derrick Lawgrizzle gave a very popular talk on how Mythrite townsfolk should mark and inventory all of their belongings and then file it with a lawyer lawyer in order to protect themselves against thievery. He was also overheard preaching the values of a stronger government in upper-class drinking establishments but few seemed to embrace his views. He is now well-known around town for being well-spoken and well-connected.
Alora Cazana staked herself outside /Bellisa Bithana home as the woman rested. She was also asking around town about the situation of Belissa's sudden sickness and whether foul play was involved.
Tudhle’s Textiles, a ritzy clothing studio catering to the upper-classes, had its entire cash drawer stolen during daylight hours. The elderly owner, /Tudhle Huvrelbi, suffered a bad fall last week and hasn't been the same since. No trace of the burglar could be found.

ROUND 3

After two weeks of near-perfect weather, dense clouds rolled in on the morning of 14 Marpenoth, obscuring the Greypeak Mountains. The skies rumbled ominously but delivered no rain, not yet. The day progressed as any other, with the townspeople enjoying a much calmer atmosphere inside the town walls, with the Caravan Guard and Town Guard having called a truce and agreeing to work together. A pity that their reprieve would be so short-lived. At dusk, townspeople heard what they assumed to be yet another peal of thunder, but it continued far longer than natural. The lookout at the Eastgate Front spied them first: riders, as many as thirty, amassed on a ridge a quarter mile to the north. The figures were difficult to make out in the fading light as they moved in a mass, but it was their mounts that finally revealed their identity. It was when their wolves began to howl. Torches winked on in the forest beyond the ridge, a field of orange stars beneath the overcast sky. The guards set to watch shifted nervously as more and more pinpricks of light emerged in the deepening darkness. There must be over a hundred of them out there someone muttered and others cursed beneath their breath. A single, frantic word shot to every corner of town: goblins. Some townspeople shouted instructions, others wept, while others yet remained perfectly still, counting those far off torches in the trees and calculating. Two hundred would be a conservative estimate. With the night now come on, a pall was cast over the town as the lights began to spread, first to the west and then more rapidly to the east. Like spreading wildfire, more torches appeared from the south. This was no goblin clan. It was an army. Back to the north a pine tree suddenly ignited, roaring in flames, and a great guttural cheer erupted in celebration, the silhouettes of the little monsters waving weapons and shaking fists. A high-pitched war horn sounded from the south and was met with blasts from the west, east, and the north. You look at the tall stone walls that encircle most of the town, and the ancient impenetrable iron gates to the west and north. The portions of the wall had collapsed in the swampland to the southeast, but that would be a suicidal route for would-be attackers. Goblins were dull-witted, using crude weapons and lacking strategy or military tactics. But also they were cruel, and stubborn, and enjoyed preying on the weak. And there were so many. In a cacophonous shrieking war cry that echoed through the valley, the goblin army charged. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE has remained the same, with many people noting their inability to resolve the quibbling guard problem, but others argue that the government has been kept too weak to have any real authority.
ECONOMICS has also remained relatively steady despite the social upheaval of the previous weeks.
SOCIAL RELATIONS have improved, as the various people of Mythrite banded together in their time of crisis, facing their challenges by bonding together as communities.
SECURITY had rebounded back to almost pre-festival levels prior to the goblin siege.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 15 Marpenoth

Despite the driving rain, people still managed to go about their daily lives.

Entertainer Blaine Lohk has quickly become a Mythrite sensation and its first true celebrity. Lohk was first seen entertaining children with rousing songs about defeating goblins in Ye Olde Goblin Warres and joined with guild workers in sharpening blades and honing swords while entertaining them with merry tunes. What a guy!
Alora Cazana was seen having what appeared to be a VERY friendly lunch meeting with the well-off /Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff. Her day was spoiled later, though, as she failed to return home before nightfall and was nearly trampled by a stampeding horse that had been shot by a stray goblin arrow through the gate.
Derrick Lawgrizzle was at the The Loon’s Lagoon deriding how the town's patchwork "government" had failed to provide a plan for enduring the siege. He also was seen having a quiet word with a pleased-looking /Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff).
Frustrated at being unable to book a venue, using the relative safety of daylight, Rigjig took to the streets to perform a delightful little routine with trained rats and crows. Rigjig stood atop a crate to address the sizable crowd on some topic when stones and flaming arrows arced over the wall into the throng of people, who fled in a panic, knocking Rigjig to the ground and trampling them, causing significant cuts and bruises.
Halmond Mire was reported to be having a delightful time at The Gentleman's Rest, the town's swankiest brothel.
Late in the day, news broke than the glassblower and elvish jewelry maker /Aravae Valsatra had been mauled by a pack of rogue goblins who had somehow breached the town walls. The town guard reacted quickly to dispatch the band of seven goblins, but Aravae suffered several gashes and deep bites. Her life hangs by a thread.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 16 Marpenoth

Despite hobbling on a bandaged foot, Solana Elara worked in the makeshift emergency medical center tents to care for the burned, wounded, and bleeding victims from goblin attacks. While mostly contained, small bands of goblins continue to appear out of nowhere to attack defense civilians. Exhausted from her volunteer work, Solana arrived just in time to see a trio of flaming arrows hit the roof of her dwelling, catching fire. While she and her neighbors doused the flame, repairing it will be costly.
Elimita Armsglow offered breads and sweets to the town guard to give them strength and energy but most were too busy dashing from place to place to pay much mind. After this, she was seen headed in the direction of /Bellisa Bithana's home. Some people are saying that town guard captain /Kordra Hillbelly is up to no good, shaking down professionals like /Lutegarde Whitfoot for protection money.
Ufrec Caskhide filed paperwork to start a new business. He also again visited the The Emerald Amphitheater talking with /Ruz Hithrultohd and asking after the performer Rigjig.
Caravan guard Kieran Khalid fought bravely, leading a squadron of guards to stave off daytime goblin attacks intended to harass the workers at the fishery and eelery docks. With little regard for his own safety, he cut into the goblin ranks and organized the route, guaranteeing another day's worth of fresh food for the hungry town. The dockworkers gave the crew a hearty three cheers upon their return.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 17 Marpenoth

In a show of tactical precision and brute strength, Captain Beau Kew and his legion of loyal guards crushed a nighttime goblin brigade attempting to storm the gate. The captain drove the goblins back so fast they collided with their own reinforcements rushing to their rescue, and Kew took advantage of the ensuing pandemonium to cut off and slaughter every goblin in the party. People rose from bed to see the captain giving an impassioned speech to the town guard and caravan guard, speaking to the strength they had when they fought together. The town's celebratory cheers ringing through the dark mountainside surely must have wounded the cold hearts of the goblins encamped outside the walls nursing their heavy losses.
Ebrus Keghauler lent his strong shoulders to the guard's task of reinforcing the gates and patching holes in the walls through which the goblins shot arrows, much to the exhausted guards' appreciation. Few took him up on his offer of his tasty new autumn, choosing instead to collapse into sleep the moment they were off duty, too tired for even a drink.
Glassblower /Oda Rirgelo is rumored to be moving in on the business of her competitor /Aravae Valsatra, whose life still hangs in the balance after the goblin ambush. The merchants and guilds workers are divided on whether this is poor taste or good business.
With the pubs and entertainment establishments closing early due to the nighttime attacks, Tobias Silverleaf took day-drinking to a whole new level at Tryssee's Place, leading the crowd in a cheerful day of drinking to forget. Fortified with liquid courage, at dusk Tobias volunteered to take an archery shift on the walls, proving to be more of a drunken distraction than a help and was promptly winged by a goblin arrow. The guards gratefully packed him off to the emergency medical tents.
Like so many others, Darovit Jone did his bit to help the guards in this crisis. Intending to help with any needed labor, he found the guards not on the battlefronts to be disjointed and confused as to what needed doing, limiting his impact. Later, he was seen collecting and exchanging small luxury items that have been scarce in this turbulent time, turning quite a profit by reselling them at a hefty markup for willing buyers.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 18 Marpenoth

[Rahg Nhaseeder] accompanied /Merave Truevale on her security rounds around town, the first step to her returning to her full time position as a town guard captain. Though she acted professionally while on duty, the moment she was released, the two embraced and Nhaseeder presented her with a gorgeous pendant with a polished mithril stone at the center. Truevale seemed quite smitten.
Forest Rimor was again seen training with /Bizeid Mokheim, learning a variety of defense poses and counter-attacks. He also picked up a new student himself, /Amanda Proudbody. The poor halfling certainly couldn't pay for her own education, but her sponsor has remained anonymous.
The sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued /Pasmul Dhemu has worked as a caravan guard on-and-off for months, but with the goblin siege, she resigned permanently and instead offered her services as a paid consultant. The caravan guard captain /Corinth Beiphrya decided Dhemu was worth her asking price and paid her a king's ransom for her expertise. While no one can argue with the excellent results, the fee seemed extraordinary, making townspeople question who authorized such an expenditure out of the public coffers and whether perhaps the two had a prior arrangement.
With coal in short supply and Sprick Grimmer sitting on a surplus of it, Grimmer's General Store has had another strong week of sales as people come in to buy coal to heat their homes and forges but pick up a few odds and ends as long as they're out. Lines form before opening and Grimmer's does brisk business most of the day. He also found time to volunteer at the local medical tents, comforting the wounded.
Caravan guard captain Ascella Sagittarii dipped into her own personal savings to better equip her squad for a carefully planned nighttime goblin ambush. Her ruse worked to perfection as the little devils walked straight into the trap, and she presided over their annihilation in a complete rout, killing most with a few mangled stragglers crawling back to the woods.
Much maligned town guard captain Galdar Rougash unleashed the fury of his pent up frustrations on an unlucky band of goblins reconnoitering the walls. Rougash and his crew crushed the goblins, making quite a show of the guards' dominance and fighting spirit. Afterward, he took a well-earned breather at The Gentlemen's Rest.
When he heard his dear friend /Aravae Valsatra had fallen victim to a vicious goblin ambush and may be dying, Cormac Eoin rushed to the medical tents to find her, pushing the nurses away to perform his own examination. Seeing that traditional methods had done little to arrest her downward spiral, on the spot he concocted a potion with medicinal herbs, cloves, honey, a touch of whiskey and a few other ingredients, grinding and stirring at a feverish pace. The unconscious Valsatra sputtered and gagged on the pungent medicine, but then her eyes flew open and asked Eoin what had happened. Her heart rate and breathing soon calmed and her raging fever fell to normal. The tent broke out in applause and cheers, with some whispering that this doctor "must know magic" to bring about the most dramatic reversal in a patient's condition that anyone had ever seen.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 19-21 Marpenoth

On the back of his successful routs of goblin bands, Beau Kew gives an impassioned speech about protecting Mythrite and, with a great roar of approval from the crowd, declares his intent to be the town's first mayor.
Ascella Sagittarii entered a sword fighting competition and was trounced, suffering some bumps and bruises but the biggest blow was to her ego.
Kew's speech inspired /Drarlun Muddigger to double-down on his plan to be the first mayor of Mythrite. He has appointed the unlikely and thoroughly unlikeable /Jaromvilm Sturyedudzu as his campaign manager.

ROUND 4

For the most part, the weather has been overcast with bouts of rain that adds to the sense of doom and gloom. While the guards have had impressive forays to slaughter attacking goblin hoards at nighttime, it hasn't been enough to drive them away permanently. As the sun's weak rays found gaps in the clouds at dawn of Marenpoth 22, the guards sighed with exhaustion. The first week of fighting had concluded and the hillsides still crawled with the filthy, evil little creatures fleeing the coming daylight. Where were they all coming from? As fresh guards assumed their posts, the discharged ones wearily turned from the walls--which were beaten, scorched, and worn, but still stood--and returned to the town. Their exhaustion turned to dread with the sounds of terrible screams. A small band of goblins wielding torches had somehow gotten inside the defenses and began causing chaos. Tired guards attempted to flank the rogue goblins but the oily beasts evaded capture. They marauded through the heart of the town, spooking horses to bolt, and tossing torches atop anything that would burn. A trail of fire leads from the south of the entertainment district through the Services & Trades Corridor and they make one last attack at the western gates near Gardeners Row, where the guards finally caught up to them and cut them to ribbons. But the damage has been done. Much of the morning is spent putting out the fires, which thankfully the damp conditions helped from spreading. As it happens, the makeshift governmental buildings took the brunt of the damage and have all but been annihilated, with the highest-ranking bureaucratic officials perishing in the flames. Town guard captain Beau Kew has announced his intention to be the town's first mayor. /Drarlun Muddigger says it was his idea first and vows to defeat Kew or any other non-dwarf. It will take weeks before a voting procedure can be established and it seems likely that other candidates will emerge as well. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE has dropped with the attack and sudden power vacuum. While the loose band of bureaucrats held little power, they did help the town function. Their knowledge, experience, and a good part of their public records, have literally gone up in smoke.
ECONOMICS has increased with the aristocrats opening their purses to stock up on goods and to fund the forging of new weapons, armor, and other types of offensive and defensive implements. Amid the horror, business has been brisk.
SOCIAL RELATIONS have stayed level, with neighbors looking after neighbors and people generally wishing to put their differences aside during the crisis.
SECURITY has stayed level as well, with the town and caravan guards doing well to keep the goblin incursions to a minimum. While losses have been minimal and the number of guards remains strong, the issue is becoming fatigue. For every three goblins cut down, there seems to be another five behind them.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 22 Marpenoth

Sprick Grimmer is busy cutting deals and working hard to promote his general store, and whatever he's doing is working. It's become the go-to place in town for all manner of needs. He was also seen examining the damage done by the goblin rampage and doing what he could to help out.
Solana Elara has been relatively withdrawn from public activity, instead calling on her friends /Ruith Nornan and /Kali Kelphine for social visits.
Captain Beau Kew experienced a disappointing few days. The goblin raiding parties have seemingly wised up to some of the guards' tactics, limiting their losses before melting back into the shadows. He also held a rally to promote his cause to become the town's first mayor, but the drizzling rain and overall sense of exhaustion dampened the affair.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 23 Marpenoth

Forest Rimor left the offices of /Drudi Flintrock looking angry and frustrated but perhaps worked off some of his negative energy shooting a bow quite adeptly under the tutelage of with /Bizeid Mokheim.
Wealthy inventor Ailee Fwanda purchased a spool of mithril wire, looking distracted and deep in thought, but extremely excited. She and her daughter were accompanied by a well-armed /Dovon Mistshout, who appeared to be scanning the crowds in the streets.
Rahg Nhaseeder has developed a new fuel-efficient furnace that provides greater heat distributed more evenly across a wider area. He sold out of his demonstration models and is hurriedly producing a new batch in an effort to beat the winter chills.
Alora Cazana has continued to spend time with /"Boppa" /Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff and seems to hang on his every word and laughs at all of his jokes. For his part, he's playing it a bit more cool, perhaps to Alora's annoyance. She continues her public works and charitable causes.
Halmond Mire is spending a fair amount of time at the Gentlemen's Rest and was last seen walking out of /Kimdo Chestcaver private office, perturbed.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 24 Marpenoth

Derrick Lawgrizzle has started his personal "get out the vote!" drive, setting up stations for people to register to vote and to declare their candidacy, both most townspeople ignore his efforts.
Elimita Armsglow attempted to fortify her home and bakery but didn't have the same success as others. She also tried to share her experiences fighting goblins in the wild with the town guards, but they patronized her and didn't pay much attention to her advice.
Galdar Rougash has had a busy week meeting with different messengers, but unfortunately his early success with goblin attacks cannot be replicated as the goblins have been more cautious and less likely to stumble into their own slaughter.
Darovit Jone picked up the slack in getting jobs done that servants refused or were unable to do due to the goblin dangers. He made some new friends and contacts with the upper classes, including /Drudi Flintrock who seemed quite impressed by the young man.
It's official: Cormac Eoin has worked himself to exhaustion. With his friend /Aravae Valsatra out of immediate danger, Eoin was seen stumbling around the ER tents trying to treat the wounded with shaking hands. The other medics urged him to go home and rest.

Rigjig

Selussa Gilbella

Ufrec Caskhide

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 25 Marpenoth

Ebrus Keghauler was beaten within an inch of his life when he got jumped by a group of dwarves who had been seen with Jaromvilm Sturyedudzu, but who wasn't present for the attack. Even though a flyer with "Khazad først - True Dwarves vote Muddigger" was found on his chest, Jaromvilm says /Drarlun Muddigger condemns any attack and says this is why the town needs a no-nonsense mayor.
Crooner Blaine Lohk was the celebrity musician entertaining upper class guests at a lavish party thrown by socialite /Lutegarde Whitfoot.
A more subdued Tobias Silverleaf was spotted at the Uphill Lounge enjoying time with his (more than a?) friend /Selussa Gilbella who introduced him to her friend, the performer Rigjig. The three had a pleasant evening, imbibing in moderation and generally being unassuming.
Like other guards before her, Ascella Sagittarii could not replicate her triumphs against the goblins, who again proved to be too wily. She was also clearly out of sorts and still nursing her wounds from her sword fighting injury.
Ufrec Caskhide endured a trying week, facing complications in his business affairs due to the goblin siege and the destruction of the town hall. He also filed a lawsuit again /Drarlun Muddigger for trying to divide the town along species and racial lines, but most people regard this move as mere political theater.
Kieran Khalid succeeded in his quest to kick in more goblin heads. Where others attempted traps and ambushes, Khalid opted for straight-up confrontation with his band of caravan guards charged into the forest and opened up a can of whoop-ass on some unsuspecting goblins camping there. Less successful was the strange odor wafting off him, which he refers to as "perfume"--but no one else does.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 26 Marpenoth to Uktar 5

Galdar Rougash shared a drink and a chat with /Nai Puy.
/Merave Truevale had her date night with Rahg Nhaseeder](person:0dfea4a2-407d-40b0-816a-3f7054a3753b) ruined by the last major goblin attack, where she threw herself into combat to help out, lacking either weapon or armor. She was wounded and badly burned in the skirmish that drove off the goblins.
Sprick Grimmer looked after his friend /Marachar Gardner and other town guards, thanking them for their continued efforts
Beau Kew besaught his guards to remember their training and get back to the fundamentals in attacking the goblins, and coordinated another rousing defeat of the little gremlins, to the applause and admiration of his guards.
Derrick Lawgrizzle sponsored a luncheon for the caravan guard and town guard, to let the two mingle and form better relationships.
Halmond Mire suffered the indignity of having the wealthy /Lutegarde Whitfoot slam her door in his face at something he said.
/Zondar Nicklehide is gaining popularity for his hilarious songs at the expense of the upper-classes, including a song lampooning Blaine Lohk , with plenty of bawdy lines that rhymed "Lohk" with a vulgar word for the male anatomy. Zondar's show mixes in other songs that deal with dwarvish pride, like "Mithril's Master" and "The Offspring of the Mountain."

ROUND 5

Two weeks have passed. Weathered by a second, seemingly more brutal wave of goblin assaults, the town of Mythrite grows more anxious as the rowdy goblins continue their attacks on the mining town. The month of Uktar begins--and with it, so do the winds of change begin to stir. On crisp days, the breeze bites. The dreaded Mythrite winter begins to draw near. The beaten and battered guards have fought valiantly against the goblin menace, but their numbers draw smaller with each confrontation. The makeshift ER is overflowing with patients, and even the doctors grow exhausted by their work. However, the goblin forces seem to be suffering similar losses, as their numbers grow ever smaller with each passing day. By the dawn of Uktar 6, the goblin's aggressiveness has mostly subsided, though, though torchlight suggests they still lurk in the shadows, making passage to and from town decidedly unsafe. The nonstop low-level tension created by the goblins he town has prompted rumors and discussions of calling on the powers of the controversial Lords Alliance to help the town break the siege, but others believe it will only invite the group to settle in the town permanently, using their army first to evict the goblin hoard but then seize control of the town for their own purposes. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE has recovered drastically thanks in no small part to the efforts of wealthy donors of the town like the ever-fortunate Sprick Glimmer and the high-stakes race for mayor with Beau Kew and /Drarlun Muddigger as front runners. Arrangements are being made to begin registering townspeople for what seems like an inevitable election.
ECONOMICS ticks up as businesses make deals and set prices to allow for good profits while also pricing things low. In the short term it seems this relationship will work well, though, it's hard to tell how things will fare in the future. If supply lines are shut down, the economy might well collapse.
SOCIAL RELATIONS remain strong as the siege still keeps people's minds focused on unity rather than division--people are generally willing to put aside their differences to lend a helping hand to a neighbor or a friend in need.
Security is unchanged, as a majority of the guard force lies battered, injured, and exhausted--but the good news is that the goblin forces have decreased their attacks on the town overall and have failed to breach the walls for ten days running.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 6

Galdar Rougash delivered a speech about the strength of the guard that received some tepid response--people are growing weary of all the speeches lately--but was seen looking very pleased as he spoke with his scouts returned from surveilling the enemy.

Forest Rimor got sniped in the calf by a goblin arrow as he went about town asking about people who would want to join him on an adventure and leave town come spring.

Cormac Eoin took some well-earned rest and could be seen taking the bodies of fallen guards into his workshop for study and autopsy.

There are rumors on the street about who the true powers are in Mythrite and it seems that Ufrec Caskhide is willing to pay for that information.

Elimita Armsglow debuted some delicious new baked items--soft pretzels and buttery scones--that sold out almost immediately.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 7

Blaine Lohk spends most of his time hobnobbing in Charlamaine Hill nowadays, last spied carrying his lute and lyre, being led into the estate known to be owned by /Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff.

Lohk isn't the only one traipsing around the swanky neighborhood. Tobias Silverleaf went on an impromptu one-man road show to display some of his newest cloak designs. While the dwellers of Charlamaine Hill tend to be suspicious of such tactics, Tobias turned heads and drew crowds with his bold and an innovative styles.

Ebrus Keghauler still looks like hell weeks after his beating. He spoke with a very animated /Corinth Beiphyra who seemed to get more upset as Ebrus continued to speak to him, but the conversation ended with a firm handshake and Corinth emphatically stating "I will help make this right."

/Ruz Hithrultohd gambled away all his savings in a vain attempt to make ends meet. He'd won enough on cards and dice to sustain him through this lean period for performers during the goblin siege, but he bet big on a hand that went bust. Now he's on the street, begging.

Beau Kew outlined his plans for being mayor to mostly empty seats but got a much more rousing reception from the guards under his command, who would charge into the mouth of hell for their captain. Guards snap to attention when he draws near, and some have even grown nervous to speak, afraid to sound stupid in front of their hero.

/Zondar Nicklehide added a new partner, the delightful Rigjig, to his routine. They work off each other well especially when lampooning the well-to-do and Nickelhide's favorite target, Blaine Lohk , who in a song he compared to the workers in the Gentleman's Rest, happy to bend over for whoever dropped a coin. Rigjig winced along most others in the audience when Nickelhide hit a few strident notes in his championing dwarvish pride.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 8

/Nezuphe Behpulold delivered a sermon about the beautiful harlot who attempted to seduce the smith-god Gond, by performing false acts of supposed charity only to increase her own social station. Anyone with half a brain and knowledge of the town knew they were making a public point to cut down Alora Cazana.

Rahg Nhaseeder](person:0dfea4a2-407d-40b0-816a-3f7054a3753b) poured his grief at /Merave Truevale's terrible injuries into his work, producing weapons for the town and caravan guard of stunning quality. Allegedly he even attempted to donate them at no cost, but the guards wouldn't hear of it--and are rumored to have paid him double.

Merchant Sprick Grimmer has had his reputation tarnished. While Grimmer's General Store has been doing booming business, Sprick attempted to donate a large sum to the ER tents but grew flustered at the sight of blood and the stench of sickness and quickly ducked away when questions started about how he had come into so much money to allow for such generous donations.

Kieran Khalid cashed in on his rising reputation as a brave fighter, exchanging his caravan guard colors for a town guard uniform, much to /Kordra Hillbelly's clear delight and, some say, Ascella Sagittarii's disappointment and dismay at losing one of her best and brightest to the town.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 9

Sprick Grimmer's stunt at the ER drummed up interest in his meteoric rise, with Halmond Mire asking pointed questions about where all the money came from, perhaps still perturbed at being thrown out of the shop for acting suspicious.

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Ascella Sagittarii saw her elaborate plans for ambushing goblins have a limited success as the little monsters tended to hang too far back in the woods but, as luck would have it, a foolish band of goblins blundered into the caravan and were completely surprised. Ascella drove them into the open field and town guards cheered from the ramparts as she and the caravan guard cut them all down.

Sagittari also dispatched /Corinth Beiphyra to arrest /Jaromvilm Sturyedudzu on charges of sedition and intent to start a riot. The confrontation between the elf and human happened in The Halberd and the dwarves that came to Jaro's defense tried to stoke up anger along species lines, but they were roundly shouted down by the multicultural people living in the Halberd who have no time for such talk. /Drarlun Muddigger appeared too late to intercede but he loudly questioned what gave the caravan guard the right to arrest anyone. No one knew the answer.

Darovit Jone 's experiments in alchemy blew up in his face--literally! He showed up at the ER tent with badly burned hands and a blackened face, telling the medical workers that he had been trying to make throwable bombs and one accidentally detonated. The young man was lucky it was only a quarter full of explosive or he'd be missing more than his eyebrows.

Derrick Lawgrizzle impressed upon people that an army representing the Lord's Alliance was on its way to Mythrite--though he said he needed to keep his sources for this information confidential. Negative rumors began immediately afterward about what that would mean for the town and questions of who had called for them.

ROUND 6

The month of Uktar opened with unseasonably pleasant weather, clear skies and lots of warming sunshine. With the goblins pushed back and their nighttime raids less frequent, people sleep easier and feel safer. Most townspeople go about their business and don't notice the additional new drilling training conducted by the town guards. The reason for the new training became clear on the night of 11 Uktar when the people of town awoke in fright to bloodcurdling screams echoing throughout the valley. Those who were most terrified bolted their doors and huddled with their families, whispering prayers. Those who were most brave reached for their armor and weapons and headed out into the night. The accounts of what they saw from the town's walls became the stuff of legend. The forest was lit by a flurry of torches, like great golden fireflies, illuminating the scene of the town guard hewing down goblins like so much wheat. It was the goblins' cry of surprise and dying shrieks that had shattered the sleep of so many. Then, in the bonfire near the center, a single human guard separated from the pack and surged forward with a mighty swing. In future days, many would claim to have been on the battlements that night to witness that glorious moment: the silhouette of the goblin chieftain's head flying into the bonfire. Bathed in pale moonlight, the forms of retreating goblins rolled over the like the receding tide. Their miserable little forms descended into the valley with whimpers, both soon swallowed by the inky blackness. For a moment, the world was perfectly silent. No one could believe it. The nightmare had ended. Then the frigid night air again was shattered by voices--human voices, elvish voices, dwarvish voices--as the silhouetted figure was lifted onto their shoulders and their victory chants carried back to the walls: CAPTAIN-BEAU-KEW! CAPTAIN-BEAU-KEW! CAPTAIN-BEAU-KEW! When dawn came, the only trace of the goblin army were the piles of mutilated bodies painted white with a layer of frost. Volunteers from the town bundled up and ventured out to built a pyre to cremate their fallen foes. In future days, many would claim to have been on the fields that morning to witness what came next: an army marching up the high road, their armor glinting in the sun, banners of red and green and blue and gold and black whipping on the morning breeze, and the one flag larger than all the rest with a symbol you all recognize. The Lord's Alliance has arrived. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE slips a little this week as the arrival of the Lord's Alliance suddenly makes people very wary of dirty politics and schemes to take over the town.
ECONOMICS has also slowed slightly as the threat of the goblin hoard has gone, and merchants need time to replenish their wares.
SOCIAL has spiked--this is most harmony between species and neighbors that anyone has ever experienced. It's practically utopian. The town feels an enormous amount of pride in having broken the goblin siege without the Lord's Alliance's help, and they are likewise unified that they will not allow any outsiders to determine the town's fate.
SECURITY has also climbed back to a sense of normalcy not felt since the relative peace of the Highharvestide Festival. While the town guard and caravan guard share a mutual admiration of the other, it's not like petty crime or external threats have vanished.

There are around 200 Lord's Alliance soldiers and a handful of representatives who have come, claiming that they received an anonymous message of desperation that their help was needed to free the town from the goblin siege. There is rumor of them wintering in Mythrite. There is also rumor of a larger army coming up behind. Two new townspeople announced their candidacy to be the first mayor. They are /Drudi Flintrock, a wealthy dwarvish merchant who promises to focus on improving the Economy and raising Security--he wants to cut taxes and eliminate social programs in order to fund professionalizing and equipping a unified guard. The other is /Aymer Eilgeiros, a well-know elvish educator and intellectual who promises to improve the transparency and equity of Governance and to maintain the harmonious Social atmosphere; he wants to raise taxes across the board to help pay for universal heathcare, education, and a stronger social safety net. This brings the total to four candidates, including the town guard human hero Captain Beau Kew and the one who started it all, /Drarlun Muddigger and his dwarf-first platform. The weather also turns the morning the Lord's Alliance arrives. A gentle, though persistent snowfall blankets the town.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 13

Fresh from the battlefield and his victory over the goblins. Beau Kew put his campaign for mayor into overdrive, distributing leaflets outlining his agenda and giving an impassioned speech from the Orator's Stage to thunderous applause. While it's clear Kew has the town guard's vote and likely the caravan guards too, it's harder to say how he's faring with the other populations of Mythrite as his critics still mutter that his plan lacks detail and he is politically inexperienced. Still, many find it hard to bet against a war hero.
Sprick Grimmer made an unexpected move, deciding that honesty is the best policy. He revealed that he had been working to lock up a monopoly on coal in town that, while not technically illegal, would have given him an unfair advantage. Most people are scratching their heads as to why he would disclose this, but appreciate it nonetheless. He also took the bold move of buying a controlling stake in the Emerald Amphitheater in hopes of giving the performing arts a shot to the arm.
Mayoral candidate /Drudi Flintrock wasted no time in damning Grimmer with faint praise, thanking him for his honesty but using him as an example for why we can't trust merchants to police themselves, and wondered aloud whether the people of Mythrite should continue to support a store owned person who has donated money to the inexperienced Beau Kew and the odious, divisive /Drarlun Muddigger. Some people, Flintlock says, seem to change their mind with the weather and simply can't be trusted.
Darovit Jone spent time knocking on doors to drum up support for his mentor /Aymer Eilgeiros and his bid to be the first Mythrite mayor. While young Jone suffered many doors shut in his face, he gave an impassioned speech about how Eilgeiros had found him destitute and living on the brink of disaster and raised him from the quagmire to instill him with self-respect and a strong work ethic. The men embraced both with tears in their eyes as the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
Tragic times for /Julia Longvine. Someone in the Lords Alliance party was familiar with her famous wine recipe and passed it on to /Tanner Charsage, who, within a matter of days, has already shifted to producing a similar wine in larger quantities, driving down the price per flagon. Julia's only hope in Mythrite was the uniqueness of her product, and now she spends her days and nights chugging her own product and sobbing on a barstool.
At his rally, /Aymer Eilgeiros wore a quill pen pendant on his chest that reminded the audience of his education and accomplishments. The pendant, however, glittered and sparkled in the sun, throwing hues of blue and purple, almost seeming to glow. He was only too happy to disclose that it had been made with mithril filaments by his friend, the talented Solana Elara.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 14

Forest Rimor got a dressing down from Aymer Eilgeiros campaigner /Corinth Beiphyra who went looking for support for his candidate. No one heard what Rimor said to him, but he had a wounded look as Beiphyra turned on his heel and coldly walked away.

Rahg Nhaseeder assisted the weakened /Merave Truevale in her efforts to campaign for Beau Kew. Truevale wants to ensure all humans that want law and order vote for the guard hero Kew. The two were seen speaking with Halmond Mire , who set out in blizzard conditions on an unknown errand.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 15

Derrick Lawgrizzle has arranged for a debate in one week's time where the four mayoral candidates are expected to outline their platforms for governing Mythrite. The townspeople in general don't seem very enthused about the prospect of sitting in the cold listening to politicians make promises, as many have either made up their minds or don't plan on voting. Alarmed by this, Lawgrizzle establishes procedures for voting registration and casting ballots, explaining the core concepts of representative government to the people, most of whom are uneducated. They genuinely thank him for the information and better understand their role in helping shape the laws of Mythrite.
Galdar Rougash beat the streets on the seedier sides of town in pubs and brothels, drumming up working class votes the war hero Beau Kew with great success. Beau is salt of the earth, just like them, he says. Though curiously, he was seen later on socializing with /Nai Puy who couldn't keep her hands off the town guard captain, holding his hand and peppering him with kisses. Neither she nor he seems to mind that she's a fervently campaigning for Kew's rival /Drudi Flintrock.
/Megan Norska gave an impassioned speech about the correlation between great wealth and great honor and dignity, saying that the golden lady spoke to her endorsing /Drudi Flintrock as the man who would lead Mythrite to prosperity. The nobles provided enthusiastic applause and Flintlock made a speech outlining his economic successes that brought him to Mythrite.
Ascella Sagittarii spoke scathingly from a soapbox about the evils of rich people like Flintlock who will only look after his own, but she failed to gather much of an audience, and later in the day Flintrock waved away her criticism as merely "the ravings of a poor person looking for a handout" noting her rough wardrobe.
A moment that will be long remembered, however, was the speech of highly regarded physician Cormac Eoin on behalf of his friend /Aymer Eilgeiros. Eoin had worked tirelessly in the medical tents during the goblin siege, and he spoke passionately about the way people worked side by side for the good of the town to overcome unbelievable odds and break the siege. He spoke of the health of society and reflected in the health of the individual, and made a compelling case for a strong public health system for all. His powerful words resonated with the crowd that had steadily grown to pack the square as he spoke, and who failed to disperse when he finished. Instead, people lit torches against the growing shadows and shared mulled mine and hot cider as Eoin and Eilgeiros stayed on stage for an impromptu town hall on public health. After hours of talk, the wealthy halfling /Lutegarde Whitfoot made her way to the stage to announce that she would immediately fund the building the Whitfoot Medical Center, to be run and managed by Cormac Eoin. The crowd exploded in joy at the unexpected news.
Elimita Armsglow visited the square to see what all the fuss was about and encountered a packed throng of townspeople sharing drinks and meats and sweets. Being too short to see the stage, Elimita spent her time getting to know the other little people in the back of the crowd with the dwarf /Yamroubela Onyxbringer, the gnome /Cankaap, and the halflings /Amanda Proudbody and /Marachar Gardner. They were having a riotous time until the conversation turned to politics and Elimita confessed that she could never vote for Beau Kew, remembering his unwise accusations of /Drarlun Muddigger that nearly sparked a riot and how the corruption of the town guard had never been addressed under his command. Instead, she's an enthusiastic supporter of /Aymer Eilgeiros. Her sudden speech definitely influenced her new group of friends, as well as a host of humans and elves standing nearby and hearing her thoughtful reasoning.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 16

As if it were possible not to notice, but politics have gripped the town. Ebrus Keghauler pulled up a stool and added his two cents supporting /Aymer Eilgeiros and vowed to make a new cyser mead in his honor. The plan backfired as he wound up in the ER tent double-over in pain, accidentally poisoning himself with apples unsuitable for the fermentation process. Aymer might want to distance himself from such endorsements!
After spending weeks playing gigs on Charlamaine Hill, Blaine Lohk returned to one of his old haunts where he played before he got big: Tryssee's Place. The crowd packed in tight making it unrecognizable and Lohk gave a decent if not too dynamic performance. They closed the doors early allowing him some room to breathe and converse with old friends, and later he emerged on the balcony and announced to the crowd hovering around the tavern that he would never forget where he came from, and he trusted Aymer Eilgeiros to help more people like him find their fortune in Mythrite.
After a brief brush with sobriety, Tobias Silverleaf fell off the wagon again. Stressed from trying to design a whole new look for Aymer Eilgeiros's campaign, he visited Tryssee's Place to grab a beer, not expecting to first encounter his grieving friend /Julia Longvine and then be present for an unexpected Blaine Lohk performance. Pints turned to flagons turned to shots and Silverleaf woke up in a gutter; he should be thankful he didn't freeze to death.
Ufrec Caskhide was spotted overseeing some renovations and clean-up at the Emerald Amphitheater on behalf of the anonymous minority shareholder. Rumor has it that the impounded /Jaromvilm Sturyedudzu's fate rests in the influential lawyer's hands, with a judge ready with open ears to receive Caskhide's suggested sentencing.
Rigjig waited a long time in the cold to speak with Aymer Eigeiros and some overheard them offering to write a campaign song for the politician, who politely declined saying for his official platform, entertainment and politics should be kept separate. He did smile and speak with them in a lower voice, and later Rigjig set up on a pedestal near a main thoroughfare and played a number of class tunes with extemporaneous lyrics like "The Man with the Plan," and "Mythrite All For One, One For All" in praise of Eilgeiros.

SPECIAL ELECTION BULLETIN

Derrick Lawgrizzle's debate event at the The Emerald Amphitheater draws a disappointingly small but engaged crowd. It seems most people in Mythrite still don't understand the mechanisms of democracy and fail to grasp the long-term ramifications of choosing a leader. Most are used to oligarchical rule and having little say in the way society operates and thus are unconvinced that understanding the issues even matters. The audience in attendance is treated to a spirited exchange of ideas.

Drarlun Muddigger seemed the most out of his depth--and possibly drunk?--and had little to offer in terms of concrete changes beyond a vague "dwarf first" policy. He would prioritize economic expansion and greater security for the caravan, with little interest in social cohension. (If elected, town ECON and SECURITY each rise +2, SOCIAL falls -6)
/Drudi Flintrock cuts a much more composed and competent debater. He argues that it takes money to make money, and Mythrite's future requires rapid economic expansion. Everyone might need to tighten their belts for a few years while the merchants build their trade network but in the end, the wealth flowing back into Mythrite will float all boats. (If elected, any PC with a Wealth of 7 or higher gets a +1 rank; town ECON gets a +2 rise, SECURITY gets a +2, and SOCIAL falls -4; any PC with a Health of 5 or lower gets a -1 health rank)
/Aymer Eilgeiros does not seem like the natural that Drudi is on stage, but what he loses in poise he makes up for in personality. He projects a calming influence and refutes the two previous speakers, stating that the greatest wealth in Mythrite is its people. Instead of sinking money in trade by betting on merchant, he says that the town must invest in each other. With a solid social system, the town cannot lose. (If elected, any PCs with a Wealth of 5-to-7 lose -1 rank; Wealth of 8-10 lose -2 ranks; GOVERNANCE rises +4, SOCIAL stays at 10)
Beau Kew speaks last and, while not as polished or articulate as the previous two candidates, speaks with a forthrightness and simplicity that many find appealing. His is also the most moderate plan, suggesting that Mythrite needs more time to develop an identity, and the best thing now is slower, incremental changes that will set the town up to be safe for the future--more regular elections and combining the guards into a single entity. (If elected, town GOV: + 1, SECURITY: +2, SOCIAL -2; Any NPC with a Wealth of 7 or higher get -1 rank to pay for these improvements)

The exchanges between candidates is less useful. Drarlun responds to any criticism of his plan with ad hominem attacks, cheered by a small contingent of dwarves who stamp their feet and the butts of their hammers on the ground, drowning out other responses. Drudi Flintlock is criticized for his lack of compassion for the lower classes and that he's simply cutting taxes for the rich. Aymer Eilgeiros is called a lazy socialist who is stoking class warfare. Beau Kew is accused of being too inexperienced to rule effectively and money will continue to flow to the guards. As of this moment, informal polling and word on the street suggests Aymer Eigeiros has the most support, followed closely by Drudi Flintlock. Beau Kew isn't too far behind, but the majority of his followers are guards and the lower classes who seem most likely to skip voting. Drarlun Muddigger is clearly trailing the others, though isn't as far behind for anyone's comfort. His refusal to bend to political norms is inexplicably refreshing to many.

ROUND 7

The town has enjoyed several days of decent winter weather with sunshine and fat fluffy snowflakes. There have been many outdoor gatherings for the mayoral candidates to present their positions that gradually transform into social events with music and drinking and singing with good cheer leftover from the relief of the goblin siege. These are among the happiest of your days in town. Nothing good seems to last though. While the town enjoys very strong social relations, the intrusion of politics has disrupted it somewhat, as differing political views and people voting along species lines makes things a little less than perfect. Worse, though, is the sudden outbursts of violence and spikes in violent crime. Ever since the candidate debate, every political rally since has been disrupted by violent conflict. It's always confusing who started it and what caused it, but pushing and shoving and shouting quickly turns to fist fighting and flashing blades. No one has been killed... yet? The weather has also turned bitterly cold with whipping winds, ending the outdoor gathering and pushing them indoors. Some people blame overcrowding and short tempers in a tense time, while others claim these are coordinated efforts by the Lord's Alliance to affect the election. It's difficult for any candidate to reach any new voters. The suddenly uptick in violent crime is also confusing. There are rumors that /Drarlun Muddigger's followers, knowing that their candidate is trailing badly, are lashing out, beating up anyone they come across. Others again say that this is Lord's Alliance meddling, giving an advantage to the candidates who are promoting an increase in security. It also complicates the campaign of Beau Kew, who has to choose between campaigning and doing his day job. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE rises slightly, largely due to Derrick Lawgrizzle's efforts to explain the mechanics of democracy to people. Still, it's lower than anyone interested in having a fair, impartial, and transparent election process would like.
ECONOMY again rises as well, as people get back to mining and their normal work routines after the goblin siege has been lifted. Many people are buying gifts for friends and family for the coming holiday season.
SOCIAL falls from it's utopian levels of neighborly love and affection as the politics and dangers of the day drive wedges between people. Despite this, Mythrite still has an exceptionally strong sense of community and looking out for each other.
SECURITY has again dropped heavily and is bad as it has ever been with stories of random beatings, store break-ins, and other violent and illegal acts being carried out. The cold has driven people indoors, leaving the streets empty. The frostbitten town guard have a hard time being everywhere at once, and the advice to people is to stay at home as their safety cannot be guaranteed.

Town guard must use one Move this week patrolling against criminals. Social moves may get a bonus due to social haromny, but lack of Security also means it's dangerous to be out and about. The cold and snow has made reading the news posted on the Mythrite Crier more difficult, leading to several days of delayed news...

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 20

Ebrus Keghauler has launched a new cyser mead called Mythrite Proud that is delicious for all ages. It's got just right amount of bite but still goes down smooth. While handing out samples of his brew, he speaks glowingly of the social harmony the town will enjoy when /Aymer Eilgeiros is elected mayor, restating the candidate's platform for all who listen.
Tobias Silverleaf was back trying to make a respectable living for himself, showing off his new winter designs that, as usual, were a hit with his loyal followers. Later he was seen having a quiet drink with /Julia Longvine, who seems inconsolable.
Rahg Nhaseeder is only seen in the company of /Merave Truevale nowadays. She's campaigning for Beau with Rahg's help, but they are often seen holding hands and talking in low voices, looking into each other's eyes. Ascella Sagittarii is a woman on a mission. Any chance she gets, she talks about the dangers of the Lord's Alliance taking over Mythrite. It's almost become an obsession for her.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 21

/Yenelrath Gronulmavra has died. The ancient woman was a favorite of the young people in The Halberd for her excellent stories and straight talking ways, but she was a victim of a mugging during the recent crime wave and never recovered, passing in her sleep. Some say that it was her outspoken stance against the Lord's Alliance that did her in, but most think that's conspiracy theory talk.
Derrick Lawgrizzle held a banquet to hear more about /Drudi Flintrock's policies and it turned into a who's who of Mythrite, with many socialites and powerful people in attendance.

Sprick Grimmer

Qai Chia

Darovit Jone

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 22

/Phaerille Ilidi has been locked up! She's being held by the town guard under suspicion of treason to the town in favor of the Lord's Alliance.
Galdar Rougash and Beau Kew have had enough of lawlessness. Though it takes time away from campaigning for mayor, the duo put together squads to tighten up policing to great effect--the spike in random crimes drops through the coordinated patrols of guards in the town.
Blaine Lohk was seen house hunting in Eronia, upgrading his standard of living, accompanied by /Lutegarde Whitfoot.

ROUND 8

Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE rises sharply as Drudi Flintlock appoints Ufrec Caskhide and Derrick Lawgrizzle as co-chairs of a committee to draft a constitution declaring Mythrite to be its own autonomous city-state and independent new member of the Lord's Alliance.
ECONOMY slows with the brutal weather, settling in to a more regular, stable balance.
The SOCIAL harmony from a few weeks past seems a distant memory as there is plenty of fingerpointing between groups who failed to come through for Eilgeiros, and of course everyone claims that THEY voted. The reality that so few did drives wedges between the different classes and species.
SECURITY rebounds slightly as Flintlock appoints Galdar Rougash as the head of a strengthened Town Guard and appoints Beau Kew as the head of a weakened caravan guard. It becomes clear within days that the town guard are charged with maintaining a heavy presence within and on the borders of Charlamaine Hill and the Professional Services District with a still significant presence in the The Market during daylight hours. The rest of Mythrite is lightly patrolled, where petty crime is ignored and it gets downright dangerous after dark.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 27

Rumors have it that one-time superstar Blaine Lohk is now out of favor with the Mythrite elite, probably due to his speaking out on behalf of Aymer Eilgeiros days before the election opened. People say Lohk was turned away by several realtors and an old club he used to play at in Charlamaine Hill.
Halmond Mire spoke first with /Merave Truevale and then, looking determined, asked after the whereabouts of /Ruith Nornan, who appears to have skipped town.
Derrick Lawgrizzle accepted his position as one of the drafters of the Mythrite constitution along with making a formal bid to be welcomed as a new independent member of the Lord's Alliance. A fight broke out among the committee, with one committee member charging Lawgrizzle was trying to play both for and against the Alliance, of which there is no proof and Lawgrizzle denied.
IN THE BIGGEST NEWS, /Drudi Flintrock held a rally to celebrate his victory with a list of speakers singing his praises. One of them was a literal singer, the dwarf Rigjig, who had previously endorsed Aymer Eilgeiros in the most public of fashions. With their dancing bear Ghara, Rigjig gave a speech that began with light praise of Drudi but then savagely turned to be a damning indictment of corrupt politics. When guards came to drag Rigjig from the podium, the bear Ghara attacked Flintlock, savagely mauling him to the terror of all in the crowd. The guards fought off the enraged beast, allowing Rigjig and the bear to escape into the night with the guards in hot pursuit. Flintlock is reported to be in critical condition.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 28

Elimita Armsglow has resolved to see through the winter with compassion and determination. The steely old halfling called on her neighbors to help her reinforce her home and bakery, and offered the neighborhood deep discounts on her baked goods, making for an impromptu street-fest with people remembering what makes Mythrite great despite the challenges and setbacks.
Solana Elara has been working 'round the clock on an innovative new clothing design that incorporates thin, iridescent mythrite wire to give the garments a unique shape. She could hardly keep up with the demand and, to give her aching hands and back a break, she spent time promoting her wares and spreading the word of her one-of-a-kind fashion.
Kieran Khalid has joined the town guard and has been placed on security detail for committee members hashing out the Mythrite constitution, but he certainly doesn't look happy about his new appointment.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 29

By all accounts, Ufrec Caskhide has taken the leadership role in drafting the Mythrite constitution, with other members of the committee being passive and rarely making any challenges. He is also helping restore the Emerald Amphitheater to its pre-siege status as the popular venue in town for low-cost, high-quality entertainment for the town.
Ebrus Keghauler held a small but memorable block party for his neighbors, doing his part to try and heal the rifts between citizens in this bitter post-election moment.
Tobias Silverleaf is starting a new venture--a support clinic for people struggling with substance abuse to speak about their problems. Fittingly, he is renting out the space that used to house Julia Longvine's wine shop across the way from the Whitfoot Medical Center currently under construction.
Alas, Silverleaf's clinic was founded the same day that caravan guard /Veti Sudz drank herself to death, found frozen beneath some stairs in a back alley. Friends said she was struggling to cope with the disregard for the caravan guard and her own troubles.
Humbled by the election results and demoted by the new mayor, Beau Kew demonstrated his leadership qualities by building camaraderie among the caravan guards under his command and restoring their sense of pride. With the town guard seemingly more closed off and elitist than ever, Kew later gave a rousing recruitment speech and saw new guards sign up in drove.
With the mauling of Drudi Flintlock, who is still in critical condition, /Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff, better known as "Boppa," has been installed as acting mayor for the moment, holding all the powers of that office until Flintlock recovers or perishes.

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 30

Testing his ability to handle the dangers of the wilderness while keeping his family safe, Forest Rimor and his wife and daughter experienced a cold and tense, but relatively uneventful evening among the high peaks of the Greypeak Mountains.
Rahg Nhaseeder has a new employee--or partner--at his forge:/Merave Truevale. The two seems to be doing good business with Rahg focusing on the forge and Merave, who has resigned from the town guard in disgust of Beau Kew's treatment, handling business relations and sales. So far, so good for the happy couple.
Cormac Eoin has been working around the clock--again--to get the medical center up and running, work that was interrupted by the shocking news of the mauling of Drudi Flintlock. Eoin was rushed to the mayor's private quarters where he was laid out on a table on the precipice of death. Once again, the elvish doctor produced yet another medical miracle, staunching the flow of blood, conducting a risky and emergency blood transfusion, and then concocted a pungent and potent medicine to restart his regular breathing and heartbeat. Remarkable.
Sprick Grimmer gave one last shot to pitch the idea of "honesty is the best policy in business" to the coal miners, who appreciated the sentiment but shrugged him off. Several people pledged to use Grimmer's as their happy local neighborhood general store instead of Qai-Mart. Grimmer was able to procure a seat, front and center, at the Emerald Amphitheater to watch the post-election performances before an absolutely packed house.
Speaking of breakthroughs, let's talk about /Marachar Gardner and his post-election show. The standing-room-only performance began with a woman elf in a mask striding onto the stage to sings an old elvish song, "Flowers 'Neath Snow Await the Spring" that silenced the crowd with its beauty. This was followed by a baudy troupe of halflings lampooning half of Charlemaine Hill and ended--possibly distastefully--with an enormous man in a bear costume chasing them from stage. While some in the crowed hooted and hollered, others booed and cried "Too soon!" with the mauling of Drudi Flintlock still fresh in their minds. Then it was Marachar's turn to come on, playing the lead role of Sammaster in the ancient classic tragedy, The Chosen of Mystra. While all the actors outdid themselves, Marachar was nothing short of a revelation. In the finale, Sammaster sacrifices himself in the hopes of bringing ever-lasting life to his community, and the actor lay crumpled on the floor for half a minute before the stage lamps were snuffed, and the crowed roared into a standing ovation that grew louder and louder with each bow, ending with a crescendo for Marachar.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR...

Eight weeks of chaos followed the Highharvestide Festival, including a harrowing siege by a goblin army that could have spelled the end of Mythrite, and the arrival of the Lord's Alliance who have tipped the balance of power in the town toward the wealthy. The dwarf aristocrat Drudi Flintlock won the election for mayor but was mauled by a bear during his celebration party--though it is disputed as to whether this was a coordinated attack or a tragic accident. Physician Cormac Eoin amazingly saved the mayor's life, but he lies in stable but critical condition as "Boppa" Bahpa-Maf Nazdi Indiff has assumed the role of acting mayor until Flintlock recovers. The town settles in to celebrate the Feast of the Moon, a ceremony of feasting and remembrance for the departed. It is a time for people to ask and give forgiveness and hold close the ones they love. The coming months promise brutal cold and snow, which will limit the social and economic activity in the town, at least until after the new year. Quality of Life Scales

GOVERNANCE is stronger now than it was at the Highharvestide Festival, with the town holding its first democratic elections and appointing its first mayor. More regulation of the caravan guard and town guard will also add to a greater sense of stability. (Started at 3, raised to 5)
ECONOMY improved sharply over the weeks since the last festival but, due to the change in weather and political upheaval, cooled off before the end of the year (Started at 5, ended at 5)
SOCIAL harmony reached utopian levels during the goblin siege, where all the peoples of Mythrite came together as neighbors and trusted friends. Unfortunately, bitter campaigning and a sour election result shattered that sense of trust, meaning that people are a little less sympathetic than they once were. (Started at 5, ended at 4)
SECURITY has been the real issue for the past few months, beginning with the civil war between the caravan guard and town guard, which was no sooner resolved than the town was besieged by a goblin army. Though the two sets of guards both fought valiantly, only the town guard's status was elevated after the election. Now the town guard focuses on keeping Charlemaine Hill and the financial centers secure, leaving the rest of Mythrite more dangerous and crime-ridden than before. (Started at 5, ended at 4)

Little will change between now and spring, with the first arrival of newcomers to the town, who will once again try to shape the future of the town and their personal fortunes.

News Around Mythrite, Autumn Edition

Prologue, i

Prologue, ii

ROUND 1

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 1 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 2 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 3 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 4 Marpenoth

ROUND 2

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 8 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 9 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 10 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 11 Marpenoth

ROUND 3

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 15 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 16 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 17 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 18 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 19-21 Marpenoth

ROUND 4

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 22 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 23 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 24 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 25 Marpenoth

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from 26 Marpenoth to Uktar 5

ROUND 5

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 6

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 7

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 8

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 9

ROUND 6

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 13

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 14

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 15

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 16

SPECIAL ELECTION BULLETIN

ROUND 7

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 20

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 21

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 22

ROUND 8

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 27

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 28

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 29

AROUND MYTHRITE: News and notes from Uktar 30

AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR...

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