Elanthian Journal/Edition 11
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The Elanthian Journal
Edition #11
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The following articles of interest are contained herein:
1 ........................ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
2 ........................ PERPLEXING POISONINGS PLAGUE PORT CITY
3 ........................ MILITIA FORMED ON TERAS ISLE!
4 ........................ SILVERWOOD MANOR'S ANNUAL SNOWFLAKE CARNIVAL
5 ........................ MOONSHINE MANOR'S BOTTOM OF THE BARREL!
6 ........................ MILITARIES REFRESH STRENGTH, RENEW RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES
7 ........................ END OF THE WORLD?
8 ........................ THE ELVEN TOYMAKERS ARRIVE
9 ........................ GHOSTS OF THE GUILD
10 ....................... CLASSIFIED ADS
11 ....................... SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 16 of Lormesta, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing It's been over a year since my father's body was discovered. And soon after, due to complications with his estate, the Elanthian Journal was forced to suspend publication. At his funeral, I vowed to continue his life's work by renewing the paper Elanthians from Teras Isle to Ta'Vaalor had come to rely on for their news. I little knew then what obstacles lay ahead! At that time, Wehnimer's Landing was only beginning to rebuild after the cowardly attack by Luukos' High Priest, Morvule. Solhaven had recently been liberated from the occupation by Draezir's forces. A paladin of Ronan (known only as the Dreamwalker), had started to recruit followers to fight the Dark Alliance in the Elven Nations. Rumors whispered that a Giantman priestess was foretelling the end of the world - or a new beginning. And the night skies were blazing with the presence of a strange blue comet. What a wealth of stories to report! But, alas, our staff had been decimated from "accidents" as they investigated a mysterious rash of murders and a raid upon a certain bathhouse. No less than three reporters died while taking notes on the Mayoral debate, due to an ill-timed explosion. Before new staff could be engaged, deliveries of paper stock were disrupted by Krolvin pirates, lead by the infamous renegade, Sankir. While most of his associates were dispatched by the half-Krolvins Colgan and Airn, Sankir disappeared without a trace and remains at large. And, just when it looked like things were getting back to normal, our ink supplier was stricken with Red Rot! It took us months to find another. But, we have finally made arrangements with some enterprising Gnomish vendors and our supply lines are clear. With the hiring of several new editors, the future looks rosy for the Elanthian Journal. We hope that you will find the new Elanthian Journal as informative and entertaining as the original. And, as always, we thank you for your patronage. Nellida Dashovath Pert Publisher
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ PERPLEXING POISONINGS PLAGUE PORT CITY ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 13 of Lormesta, 5104: Solhaven A rash of mysterious poisonings have recently been reported in Solhaven. At the time of this writing, none have claimed responsibility for the attacks, though a few theories have surfaced. I will summarize what I have learned, thus far, herein. According to Kilthal Dragonius, Captain of the local H.E.R.T. militia, all the attacks took place in South Haven. The attacks also seem to all occur after dark. Kilthal urged locals to not travel alone after the sun has set. As far as I know, seven victims, both male and female, have been claimed by the poisonings. All but one are reported to have recovered, with no lingering effects, once the poison had worn off. One woman, however, remains unaccounted for, and in the care of Milla, a local alchemist with a shop on Lornon Road. Sources say that this young girl was found on the streets of Solhaven, and quite ill. It was suggested that she be taken to Milla, who after some negotiation, agreed to care to the lass in return for favors from each of the ten that had gathered. To my knowledge, none of those favors have been fulfilled. Milla was not available for comment on either the favors or the condition of the lass. Several local townsfolk were confident in their assessment that Erithians were behind these heinous acts. My comments, that the Erithians are known mostly for the aid they gave the Dwarves of Zul Lugoth with a remedy for what many have called the return of the Red Rot, were met with a slack jawed silence, reminiscent to me of a doe by torchlight. Among the theories presented was the absurd idea that I was the mysterious poisoner - quite a feat that would have been from the streets of Ta'Illistim! My investigation continued and led me to a healer by the name of Morilinde - a blind girl who is also well-known locally for her gift of Sight. Morilinde was gracious enough to detail her recollections of her attack. Morilinde, the sixth victim, was assailed in the southeastern part of town, after dark. The area was east of the deserted Beacon Tower, in an area where the clanging of metalworkers would likely drown out any calls for help. The male assailant approached the victim quickly, commenting along the lines of brushing off a fly from her nape, and laying a gloved hand to her skin. The poisons came from a needle within the glove, and rendered the victim immediately unconscious. Gaining partial consciousness some time later, Morilinde found herself bound and covered and moving on top of wheels through the streets. She recalled a descent of some sort, and then smells soon thereafter which seem to indicate that she was taken underground. The poison had a strong effect, inducing a feeling as if her blood was on fire, and creating strange visions in her mind's eye. However, under that duress, she was able to recall four distinct presences when they arrived at their destination. She claims to have been placed upon a stone altar of some sort, and was mostly being spoke to by a female. Of the three other presences, two were more than likely male, and the last, according to Morilinde was a creature of some sort. This blends well with a hazy recollection, or vision, of a hand strewn of flesh and muscle touching her. I am reminded of the Undead that are known to inhabit several areas of Elanthia. The female voice spoke of testing, and said that it would all be over soon - which it was, as best as she could recall. I was left with the impression that the assailants were using the poisons to seek a suitable host. This would not be the first time this has happened in Solhaven, although this is notably different. Morilinde was released, and claims to not have suffered any lingering side effects of the poisoning. She did, however, receive a vision several days later. The vision was that of a young lass upon a table, being attended to by several hooded figures. Could this be the same lass supposed to be under Milla's care? I scoured the streets of South Haven for the answer. South of the Market, I came across a very seedy part of town. Figures in the shadows seemed to be watching me very closely. A bottle flew from the shadows and crashed against my helm, and a poisonous gas sped its way into my breath. Aha! I thought, before I was rendered weak and temporarily disabled. The poisons, though, were very weak and the only testing that took place was the capacity of my ribs against some rogue's boots and whether my gem pouch was full. Nonetheless, if back-alley scum have access to poisons as that, then surely stronger poisons are prevalent in Solhaven. My study shall continue. Turinrond Coyoterre Ta'kano'thegra
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ MILITIA FORMED ON TERAS ISLE! ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 3 of Ivastaen, 5103: Kharam Dzu "Welcome to the Home of the DDR" reads a banner that hangs above the entrance of the Hogs Pen Tavern located just outside of Kharam-Dzu. The colorful group of adventurers that call themselves "The Drunken Defenders of the Rock" have been instrumental in the defense of Teras Isle, as well as town improvements since its formation in Ivastaen of 5103. Under the leadership of their Captain, Tracker Murp, the DDR was founded as a result of Krolvin's arrival. "The Krolvin came to Teras Isle with one purpose in mind," says Comet-Rider Dzib, Rollmaster for the DDR. "This purpose was to take control of Kharam Dzu and destroy or enslave all non-Krolvin in the process." "We have a very strong love of the Island and we formed the DDR to defend the citizens of Teras Isle from any and all threat, to bring a greater sense of community to Kharam-Dzu and its citizens, and to improve the town of Kharam-Dzu and welcome visitors," says Gothique, the group's Historian. "We really believe in Kharam-Dzu and we want to make it a place that we can all be proud of." "There were desperate times when the Krolvin first invaded. Being as unorganized as we were, the militant Krolvin had little problem in taking control of the town away from us. But desperate times bring the best out of those that care, and the need we had gave birth to the DDR," says Bloodfist Clintmire, the DDR's treasurer. It was in fact Clintmire's idea that Kharam-Dzu needed its own militant group and the idea was taken seriously in light of the Krolvin attacks. The DDR hosts weekly Terasian Craps games in the Ghorsa Isle Tower, followed by brawling in the Hogs Pen "to involve the members of the town in something that we can all spend time together doing. It's brought alot of people closer together and winning all that silver isn't a bad bonus either! We've given away over 13 million silvers!" says Gothique. According to Ioeth, "Restday craps games are explosively entertaining... especially if you're playing!" They also have tours of the city that currently run every first and third Volnes of the month. "We also sponsor other events such as scavenger hunts, hide-and-seek games and we're currently planning a large three-day festival to promote travel to the isle as well as help the local economy," says Gothique. The festival is still in the works, but the DDR guarantee it will be a worthwhile event. "With all the ale that will be floating around there's no way anyone will walk away from the Isle unhappy," says Bloodfist Biggan, the group's Boozemaster. Membership is open to anyone but please remember that members are expected to do their best to uphold the community and the laws of Teras Isle. "The DDR welcomes any and all individuals regardless of race as long as their priority is to defend the Isle against all aggressors and tyrants, including, Murp," says Stormcrow Scheree, the dicemaster of the DDR. For more information regarding this group, please visit Teras Isle. Lady Gothique Susperia, historian of the DDR
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SILVERWOOD MANOR'S ANNUAL SNOWFLAKE CARNIVAL
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Dateline: Day 14 of Lormesta, 5104: Icemule Trace
The Lorekeepers of Silverwood Manor cordially invite you to attend the annual Snowflake Carnival, taking place from the 23rd to the 25th of Lormesta in Icemule Trace. This fun-filled weekend is packed with games and activities, all starting with the opening ceremonies scheduled to kick off the Festival at 9:00 PM Elven time on the 23rd.
There is sure to be a bit of something for everyone! Each attendee will be given a small keepsake to remember the fun they had, as well as have a chance to win some fantastic prizes! There will be plenty of complimentary refreshments available to satisfy your taste buds. The following is a schedule of events taking place over the course of the weekend. Each time slot is listed in the Elven time standard. Please bear in mind the schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Day 23 of Lormesta: 9:00 PM Opening Ceremonies
9:30 PM Herb Roulette
11:00 PM Storytelling: "What Caused the First Snowfall in Icemule?"
Day 24 of Lormesta: 12:00 PM Snowball Throwing Contest
1:00 PM Scavenger Hunt Begins
2:00 PM Thieves Poker
4:00 PM Fletching Gathering
5:00 PM Scavenger Hunt Ends
6:00 PM Novice Gathering
9:00 PM Pipsqueak Says
10:00 PM Round Robin Storytelling
11:00 PM Themed Cooking Contest
Day 25 of Lormesta: 2:00 PM Ice Skating: Singles
3:00 PM Ice Skating: Pairs
4:00 PM Lockpicking Contest
7:00 PM Musical Arrow Grab
8:00 PM Seasonal Charades and Riddles
9:00 PM Fletching Gathering
10:00 PM Bardic Performance: "Winter at Sea"
11:00 PM Round Robin Storytelling
12:00 AM Snowman Building Contest
Once again, please remember the schedule is subject to change. We look forward to seeing all of you at the Silverwood Manor Snowflake Carnival in Icemule Trace. Bring your family! Tell your friends! Get ready to have some exciting snow-filled fun!
Brought to you by the Order of the Lorekeepers
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ MOONSHINE MANOR'S BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 9 of Lormesta, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing It's that time again! Moonshine Manor invites all members and non-members alike to hang up their manners and put on their party caps! On the Day of the Huntress, the 23rd of Lormesta, at roughly 8:30 pm elven time, Moonshine Manor will host the second game of its infamous Bottom of the Barrel. Be prepared to have fun trying to win prizes and money! Need more income before the Spitfire comes to town? Well, here's your last chance! The game begins in Helga's Tavern. All red-haired, green-eyed elven maidens are expected to attend! What'll be the most talked about event of the Elanthian Year of 5104? Six out of seven halflings agree, "It's the Bottom of the Barrel you've got to see! " - Moonshine Manor -
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ MILITARIES REFRESH STRENGTH, RENEW RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 13 of Lormesta, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing What began as a shining star from the heavens, a pretty blue dragon-tailed star, unleashed many moons of disorder, war and strange events in Elanthia. The peace was upon us for awhile, but recent whisperings indicate that the time of peace may indeed be over. I was curious to learn that I was not the only one who had these concerns. A bit of investigation and interviews uncovered several military groups that are actively refreshing their ranks. My journey began in Solhaven, where a group called the Fortuneers have just recently begun conscripting locals into a forthcoming task - my best guess is that the task involves an offensive upon a Krolvin named Sankir and his army, although I've been led to believe that this group is mostly treasure hunters. Perhaps they will reward their new recruits with the treasure they find, if any. By the looks of the lists, however, there is little love for Sankir in Solhaven. Kilthal Dradious is Captain of the Fighting Forces of H.E.R.T., also based out of Solhaven. According to Kilthal, "H.E.R.T. has been as active in recruiting as we have always been." Concentrating on the defense of the town of Solhaven and the neighboring Vornavis regions, Kilthal also noted, "We encourage those interested in H.E.R.T. tae speak with officers or members and attend meetings." Lastly, it was indicated that H.E.R.T. officers Charna, Revalos, Lhel, and Zoloren may be inquired upon for additional information. The Protectors of the Citadel, are led by General Guarrin, of the T'kirem Clan. At this time, and under current circumstances, the Protectors "'Ave everyon on break. So we ain' actively recruitin." However, according to Guarrin, "We always unofficially recruitin." Those interested in learning more of the Protectors should seek out General Guarrin, or one of the other officers, as noted: Majors Eahlstan or Shirkon, or Captains Kriztian and Yviara. "Em four be de best ta talks ta bout de Protectors aside from me," commented Guarrin. The most vocal recruitment drive comes from the Northern Fury, an Icemule based militia, led by General Valicar. General Valicar was kind enough to share his notes on what they have planned. On Restday, the 18th of Lormesta, there will be a tent set up in Icemule, west of the center of town. Refreshments will be served, and various officers and members of the militia will be manning the tent throughout the day, answering questions and recruiting soldiers. Following the recruitment drive, two events have been planned as well. One is a Ball, where musicians will entertain guests, and dancing and festing will take place. The other event, is a "Belly-flop competition", with a large prize going to the winner. (As well it should, since the only pool in Icemule happens to be an ice pool.) The Northern Fury is largely devoted to the defense of Icemule Trace and areas north of the Human Empire, but have been a strongly influential militia in large scale conflicts throughout Elanthia. While I could likely have spent many days tracking down the various militias of Elanthia, I was drawn to the whisperings and rumors of less public organizations. Some less-than-traditional journalistic investigation uncovered the new formation of a group called "Dag Throki", led by someone named Luminasa, who I have not been able to track down, as of this writing. Unfortunately, as such, all that I could discover was that this group is dedicated to the recovery of a missing artifact or relic. More information will be provided as it is discovered. Equally as hidden as the aforementioned group, I also learned of the "Dae'Randir." Rumours persist that this is a sect of Onarians, but I could not figure out why they would gather now. My inquiries were only partially answered by Turinrond Coyoterre, who simply said, "People of the Light speak of Shadow, as if it is such a bad thing. Shadow is formed by Light, in the balance of things, and where there is an effort to destroy that balance, you can be sure that the shadows will grow." By the time I wrote all of that down, he had disappeared from sight, so I couldn't exactly ask him what that meant. What I have learned from all of this, gentle reader, is that if you are of the mind to help defend Elanthia alongside your comrades, now is as good a time as any to find your niche. Maybe even better. Kortirion Sil'draug, Scout
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ END OF THE WORLD? ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 8 of Lormesta, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing You know, I really need more reliable sources, and friends perhaps as well. First, the comet comes. She lights up the night with her bright cerulean tail - always following you, always watching. That's when the rumors began. They were all wild, elaborate tales. All centered around one thing: The End of the World. Then, the Queen of the Turamzzyrian Empire is assassinated. It all goes downhill from there. Oh, where do I go from here? Baron Hogface...I'm sorry, my hands shake when I write and I haven't the money to afford multiple parchment...I meant Baron Hochstib, he begins to rally his troops up after a very, very long absence and marches to Wehnimer's Landing. Krolvin pirates seem to infest River's Rest overnight, trying to take over the little town. Trolls, not known for their intelligence or their organization skills, all round up as a big army and began marching East, muttering some nonsense about G'Bruk - some great troll savior being resurrected from the ashes. Oh yes! Don't let me forget the V'reen! Those little morphing devils that sprang up from a botched wizard's experiment in River's Rest and soon covered the entire known world! Worst part of all, they could look like us! Children all over ran into the arms of a no good morph who looked just like their mother! Luckily, through the great sacrifice of heroes and a solitary sorcerer, those foul creatures disappeared from our world for good! I hope. Then of course, worst of all for the dwarves, the age old Red Rot resurfaced from the mines and once again plagued the entire continent! I'll never forget the initial panic for it was the first time I've ever seen a dwarf wracked with fear. Thank the stars that mess is done and over with! No, thank those odd strangers with the receding hairlines for their help and cure! Now you see, being a halfling scholar, and more trained in a quill than a sword, all of this Elanith-shattering news didn't go over well for me. Every city I'd go to, the streets were filled with chaos! Elves and humans screaming, "The end is coming!" Priests outside the Temples telling me they want to save my soul! Shops were boarded up while some merchants went off to spend their last days with their families or hide underground. So, with the help of a kind-hearted dwarven ranger, I find myself a nice cozy cave at the bottom of the Spines where I pray to any Arkati who's listening, that I can survive the doom that was sure to plaque our world. My tarts and pastries were stockpiled in the back of the cave; I had plenty of firewood, and even a little sword if I felt the need to use it. With my bedroll and journal and quill set, my only material possessions, I had planned to wait out the end of the world, and then in the aftermath, write the most acclaimed documentary for the new generation of Elanthians! I've come out of my cave now, and the birds are still chirping, the sky is still filled with clouds, and the world has far from ended. No, instead, it's been given a swift kick if you will, with people filled with a new love and a new appreciation for life. So while I'm good and glad the world hasn't ended, I must admit that I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get to write my greatest piece of history ever to be recorded. Quill in hand and my head to the sky, I carry on noticing things I never caught before. I keep going, with no end in sight. Grums Strumsbelly - Halfling Scholar of Biblia
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ THE ELVEN TOYMAKERS ARRIVE ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 20 of Eoragen, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing The sounds of merry laughter and jingling bells filled the air as the rolton-pulled rosewood sleighs carrying the tiny Elven Toymakers pulled into towns all across Elanthia. This lively bunch, led by Master Toymaker Oberly, resides in the high peaks of the Dragonspine Mountains, and they travel to each town once a year during the Feast of the Immortals to pass out toys from their never-ending satchels. Along with their treasured dolls and snowflake flurries, they bring many wishes for a "Blessed Aire'sora" to all. Citizens from all corners of the world flock to hear the tiny elves trill out blessings, and families line up in hopes of receiving one of the sought after toys. No matter how large the crowd, the toymakers were always in high spirits as they gladly passed a toy to each and every townsperson they came across. But watch out! They might make a lump of snow fall on your head if you're not careful! The toys came in a variety of shapes, colors, types, and sizes, like the tiny kittens with twitching whiskers, the "towering" warriors wielding miniature tower shields, and the dark cloaked rogue dolls holding lockpicks and bearing mischievous grins on their faces. There were wizard dolls that waved small golden wands, funny little aardvark toys and cross-eyed kobolds too, songsmith dolls that played little plush instruments, and grinning puppies that were cute and huggable. And for those townsfolk who misbehaved, there was a little something special: a small lump of coal! The time the Toymakers spent around each of the towns brought much merriment and laughter to the people they came across. Many townsfolk tried to sneak onto the sleighs in hopes of being stowaways, yet none seemed to have any luck. When the time finally did come for the tiny elves to return home, people gathered around the rosewood sleigh to say their final goodbyes for the year. With a loud *CRACK* of a whip, the sound of tromping hooves was carried on the wind, and the sleigh pushed its way through the newly-fallen snow. The jingle of bells finally grew so faint that the only sound remaining was the howling winter wind. Tempe Lillykin, Amateur Snow-Covered Journalist
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ GHOSTS OF THE GUILD ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 12 of Olaesta, 5103: Solhaven Cloaked in the shadows of every major town in Elanthia, invisible to the unpracticed eye of the general populace, are the hidden gathering places of those who befriend the hours between dusk and dawn, the prowlers and the pickpockets, the thieves and the locksmiths, the stalkers and the waylayers alike. No matter what their persuasion, be it lawful or scandalous, be they friends of the locals or hated enemies, they come together to practice their craft, to improve their skills, to compare notes on the intricacies of disarming difficult traps or to chuckle over the naivety of the latest mark. To me, the most fascinating of these meeting places is the abandoned mansion where we gather in Solhaven. I noticed odd happenings there right away. There were strange chills and inexplicable noises. The first time I saw one of the ghosts, I was rooted to the spot and unable to breathe for some time. After being visited by several apparitions and finding my initial apprehension replaced by curiosity, I began spending more and more of my free time wandering the house and paying close attention to the supernatural events I was witnessing. I have written in my journal in great detail about the many ghostly encounters that I have seen and heard. Perhaps I shall publish that at a later date, but here, the need for brevity shall prevail. This story focuses on the young woman whose ghost I first saw at the window of the sitting room. Bloody and distraught, the woman was cutting loose the cord that tied back the curtains when she faded away. I was soon to sense this woman everywhere I turned. I heard her weeping as I passed the billiard room. I smelled her perfume in the entry hall. I saw her tie the cord to the railing of the grand staircase, and I heard the brief but frantic kicking of her feet against the wall after she hung herself with that very cord. By this time I was driven by a need to learn who this woman was and what had happened to her. My inquisition devoured my every waking moment for days upon days. In my search for answers, I happened upon very real physical evidence that helped me piece together the mystery. I discovered a handkerchief encrusted with dried blood in a vase in the upstairs hall. I took note of a bloodstain on the carpet at the end of the hall. I found a pawn ticket for a necklace that meant nothing to me at the time, but took on new meaning as more of this woman's story revealed itself. I saw her again as I revisited the sitting room where I first spotted her, but this time she was hastily writing a note on a piece of lavender paper that she angrily pinned to the desk with a knife. I eventually came across two portraits in the dining hall. One was of the woman I had seen, and she was wearing a stunning sapphire necklace. The other was of a man that I would soon know to be her husband. The knife on his belt was the one she had used to pin the note to the table. Thanks to the brass labels beneath the portraits, I now had names they were Elfra and Crayl Jobran. I heard them arguing days later just as I started to drift off to sleep in the ballroom. I saw her a third time in the sitting room, but this time she appeared to be in shock. She swept in, bloody, but not crying, and dropped the knife on the desk. She just stared at it for a moment, then collapsed into the chair, sobbing. As she faded away again, I felt the need to revisit the bloodstain upstairs. No sooner had I rounded the corner in the upstairs hallway, than I was enveloped in a sudden chill, and the ghosts were playing out their drama before my very eyes. The argument, Crayl's indifference, Elfra's flash of anger. He turned his back on her and she lunged at him, stabbing him at least twice with his own knife before fading away. Only moments later, I witnessed her death as she climbed over the railing with that cord around her neck. In an odd twist of fate, it was as I was staring blankly at the bookcase in the meeting room after this last onslaught of visions that I finally spotted the lavender note sticking out from between two books. It was a goodbye note to her parents, and revealed that the pawning of her family heirloom to pay gambling debts was merely the last straw for a wife whose husband had gone bad. Rest now in peace, Elfra. Your story is told. Lady Marica DeSolce
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ CLASSIFIED ADS ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Dateline: Day 17 of Lormesta, 5104: Wehnimer's Landing DIAMONDS AND SILKS - YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND Greetings to the avid readers hailing from Wehnimer's Landing. I've taken this opportunity to advertise a fresh new face to the diamond and silk business in your fair city! My boys and I have been bringing new shipments of fresh cut diamonds and and perfect silks all originating from the city of Lolle, at the bottom of the Dragonspine Mountains. So please, if you and yours have any interest in fine merchandise at a wonderfully low price, ask around for Farsin down at the middle docks in the Landing. It's bound to be bliss for everyone! (Note: The Elanthian Journal does not endorse any claims made in the classified ads and suggests you consult the merchant's guild to verify the membership of any "merchants" advertising herein.)
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ SUBMISSION GUIDELINES ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Submissions should be limited to 6 body paragraphs of no more than 100 words each. Each submission should start with a title, be followed with a dateline, and should end with the author's signature. Please check your submission for proper spelling and grammar before sending it. All submissions should involve factual events. We will accept no silly nursery stories, histories or educational articles about the weather. If you would like to submit an article along those lines, please do so to our sister publication, the Elanthian Times. All submissions should be received by Leyan in order to be published by Feastday. CLASSIFIEDS: Classifieds are free and a good way to advertise your auctions and events or to find something whether it be love, a lost dog or a servant. DISCLAIMER: While the staff of the Elanthian Journal make every effort to ensure that the events presented within are FACTUAL, there will always be some amount of speculation until all details of events are revealed with the passage of time. We will continue to make every effort to report ACTUAL happenings, however any theories or speculation on the details of these events may very well prove INACCURATE. The Elanthian Journal is edited by a very talented staff, including Augie, Cappurnicus, Kondalor, Mythala, and Turinrond. If you are interested in joining the editorial staff, please send a note to the address below. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions or comments, please send a note to the new editorial staff care of GS4-Roxia@play.net. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so using the form at https://www.play.net/gs3/journal_submission.asp