VECNA'S SERVANTS RISE?
Eye and Hand in Valòmar's possession, claim Cantonovan assassins
Speculation has swirled around the motives and goals of the six adventurers known as the Dragonslayers of Cantonova, who arrived in Cape Hildegard earlier this month amidst accusations of murder, disorderly conduct, and desecration of the dead. The faction, also known as the Four Elements, has been seeking private meetings with the Council of Deans since their arrival two weeks ago. However, in an exclusive interview with the Hildegardian, the party finally broke their mysterious silence on their motives and accused Scaladosian religious leader Lona te-Morigana of possessing the Eye and Hand of Vecna. A dark cloud of scandal and accusations has followed these once-lauded heroes of late, who are best known for slaying a blue dragon who made its lair in Cantonova's troubled Cuarto Perso district. Party bard Tosca, once known for her high-flying operatic career, was seen sharing a glass of champagne with Count Almaviva at his March assassination, though she denies all connection to the incident and has not yet appeared before the Cantonovan justice system. Cleric Sen, once a clergyman of the Wild Dynasty religion of Scalados, fled the country after attacking Lona te-Morigana on the eve of her election, and is now aiding fellow cleric Charlotte Schutz in the establishment of an Order of the Righteous Death. And party spokesman Rusalka, a mage sworn to serve an unknown metallic dragon, killed Cantonovan socialite Maria Verdini earlier this month in front of dozens of eyewitnesses. Now, she claims, the Verdini family and the Valòmar have joined forces to retrieve and wield two ancient artifacts of mass destruction, the Eye and Hand of Vecna. "First Scalados, then Hildegard, then Cantonova are in great danger from Lona te-Morigana and Maria Verdini, two sisters-in-law who have located a great evil and sought to bind it to themselves," she said. "Tomorrow we will petition the council for their support in fighting this evil. We cannot do it alone, but the fate of all those who love knowledge and wisdom and freedom may ride upon whether or not it can be stopped." The Eye and Hand last threatened the Aquatic Kingdoms through much of the 1050s and 1060s, when they were in the possession of Malakarian lich queens the Sisters of Sorrow. A prophecy first reported by the Cape Hildegard Herald falsely claimed that the Scholar's Sword, forged by Lida Rose Hawthorne of Hawthorne Garage, would destroy the artifacts forever. The Dragonslayers' accusations further mar the already-rocky beginning of Valòmar Lona te-Morigana's reign. Though the election of this youngest-ever Valòmar was shrouded in scandal, with Alfonso Lebëmya voting a single day after his ascension to the position, it was decided in a single round of voting by the heads of the Wild Dynasty religion. Since then, the ports of Scalados have all but closed to outside traffic by order of King Supedo. At press time, neither the Council of Deans nor the Scaladosian ambassador could be reached for comment.Originally published in the Hildegardian, Cape Hildegard, 23 May Y1111.
Type
Text, Newspaper
Medium
Paper
Authoring Date
23 May Y1111
Myth
Location
Comments