The Chronicles of Kaladia

Volume 1: Dark Furies

Part One (posted 04-01-98)

"A power stirs in the dead plains of the land of the Black Sword. The priests of the Lord of Disease have violated the earth with the blood of the slaughtered. They have performed rites of high summoning, and the unliving bodies of souls lost in the Sword Wars have risen in answer to their call.

To the north of the dead plains lies the town of Gorthond, ruled by Rhadas Freen, the Warlord of Sullen March. He has been known to oppose the priests of the Lord of Disease. The Warlord has not been seen outside of Gorthond Keep for some while. In his absence, prices for slaves has risen. In response, Visira's slaving market has been unusually active, and the area of slavers' waters has increased in danger. The slaves are being purchased in large numbers in Gorthond, and are then taken west out of the township.

Orcanians from the White Skull Clans have crossed the Chafe River in great strength. Their army is camped in the Goruth Basin southwest of the capitol of Orec. The Orcanians have destroyed what they have encountered, but the town of South Cairn just to their west was not disturbed.

With the Orcanian incursion, Craghorn Castle, the major fortification for the city of Orec, has increased its troop compliment. The garrison is also being supplemented with militia and indentured troops. Of disturbing note is an unsubstantiated sighting account of a large, red, winged beast within the castle bailey.

East of Blacksword, across the Throndill River, is the Vicounty of Pejduhl. The Vicounty maintains a major fortification on the Throndill's eastern bank, guarding the bridge which leads across to Orec. Merchant traffic, scant though it may be, has always been allowed through the Vicounty into Blacksword. In recent weeks, the merchant activity across the Throndill has increased sufficiently that the Vicounty has doubled the river tariff. This has not noticably impacted the flow of merchants. Therefore, either the profit to them must be considerable, or some other motive warrants their passage.

It is probable that these events have some mutual connection. I leave now, to discover it. I will return in a fortnight. Be here..." As recorded from the Iron Mage by the novice Enbredir.

"The garrison of Craghorn Castle has easily doubled in number. In response, the Vicount of Pejduhl, or more probable, the Holy Matriarch of Motara, has reinforced the garrison of Sword Keep, at the eastern mouth of Pain Walk. Merchant traffic through Pejduhl into Blacksword has not ceased, though caravans containing weapons and armors have been refused travel across the bridge into Blacksword.

The dark hands of the Lord of Disease are in motion. The bodies of a century of deaths have risen from the ground outside Bloodfield, and joined with those raised from the Sword Wars. His priests have left their sanctuary within Bloodfield to lead these thousands of unliving warriors across the dead plains, into the Sullen March. Leading them, but to where. Their current path will lead them to Gorthond, or to Orec, or perhaps across Pain Walk into Pejduhl.

The Orcanians of the White Skull Clans are encamped in the Goruth Basin still, and continue to grow in number. The Warlord of South Cairn has dispatched scouts into the basin, while assembling his forces about the Tower of Anguish Pale. The Warlord of Raider's Horn is also massing troops. The distance between Raider's Horn and the Goruth Basin is great, but this may simply be a precautionary measure.

Barbarian tribes within the Raven Lands are massing near the western border of Blacksword, near the town of Bettinlae. The town has Kunkarrow Keep, which is garrisoned by an impressive military contingent. Bettinlae does not appear concerned about the presence of the barbarian hordes.

The Warlord of Gorthond still has not been seen outside of Gorthond Keep, and slave traffic through Gorthond continues to rise. Merchant ships upon the Tylyryn Sea have borne the brunt of this danger, and several are known to have fallen to the pirates and slavers of Visira. In light of this increased threat, Eirinland has contracted with the Duchy of Welgredd to commission the construction of three new sailing brigs.

There are three, perhaps four, armies in the rising within the lands of the Black Sword, and smaller factions are rearing their own viperous heads. A great many answers will be had when next I return. Be here..." As recorded from the Iron Mage by the novice Enbredir.

Look for the next Chronicle of Kaladia on May 1st.