The spreading of the knowledge of Mercurium Ore has been legalized within the borders of the Treaty. Previously considered forbidden lore, this incredibly rare mineral is said to be the needed for the use of special magics called Battlefield-scale Rituals (or BSRs) that can affect the scope of an entire battle. Such items are also said to be useful in making certain relics and artifacts, though the ciphers for such artifacts and rituals are a closely guarded secret by the Kingdoms that have such knowledge. Worse yet, Mercurium is said to be dangerous after even a short exposure – afflicting the unwary and unprotected with a soul-wasting curse.

In other matters, another Immortal has struck out at Freehold: an entity known as Tenebrous with the power to possess and control the bodies of others. This news, in addition to the knowledge that other immortals have been spotted in and around Freehold and Midworld, bodes ill for the town. Time and time again, Freehold has defeated and bested these Immortals but they are now alive and active in numbers yet unrecorded.

For the moment, Tenebrous has retreated into the Hinterlands. Lector is the suspected cause of the plague that destroyed Northwall. Fang-zhara is believed to be gathering power from her vaults. There was an attack by Portian insect-demons upon Port Dawson. If there are any good news in recent events, it is that (1) the immortals Primus and Vallah have been imprisoned by the Brotherhood and (2) that the immortals have a history of hostility amongst each other. Several years ago, Tenebrous and Lector fought each other in the wilds of the Hinterlands, allowing Freehold to defeat the distracted immortals one by one.

It can only be hoped that a similar strategy can be worked here.

 The retreat of the Callasine from the rest of Midworld continues, although with greater slowness. Embassies are being reduced to only the most basic of personnel requirements. There are some that claim that the release of yet another Immortal and news of the others have called for this re-centering of Callasine power, although it still remains part of the controversial Treaty of Freehold.

Stranger yet, the Arch-Matriarchal manor of the Choir Vallorien was a site of a bloodthirsty massacre. It is believed that purge of the undead that occurred decades ago was not complete enough and that some of the bloodsucking undead were able to veil themselves from detection. Choir Vallorien similarly began its collapse as its remaining members defect to other Choirs for refuge – many have fled to Choir Shaerach 

The Protector of Morread marches to war and his Kingdom marches with him. Rumors have been confirmed that Connail Cu Gohrrim and a massive force has crossed the northern borders of Fir’bolg into Jotunbrud lands.They have clashed with several border forces but have merely been delayed.

There are unsubstantiated reports that they have faced one of Ymir’s lesser known children, Hronggnar, and toppled him with powerful giant-killing weapons called the Grimteeth. Where these legendary weapons of dwarven make came from however, is yet to be known.

 There is a new King in Goterdammerung and his name is the Krieger-King Gregor von Eisenwulf III. Assisted by his ascent by Arbiter Ella von Brackengard and the Church of the Lord Reaper, this marks the departure of Gotterdammerung from being a theocracy, though the Church of the Lord Reaper still holds great sway and power. The coming months will see the Krieger-King consolidate his power, rewarding his allies and drawing military might from the other Kriegers. To that end, he has moved the capitol from the reclaimed Dammerlicht keep to the heart of his Krieger.

There are rumors that the previous King, Siegfried Gotthammer still lives and has been seen near Freehold. The official response to these rumors is that he is suspected of engineering and unleashing the Umbral Hysteria that devastated Krieger Dammerlicht, which resulted in its obliteration when he ordered a purge.

 A minor Clan, the Steel-Claws, have resurfaced from relative obscurity. Their leader, Rakeesh Steel-Claw, has thrown in with Fang-zhara several years ago and his greed has been rewarded by powerful and invasive Golemic augmentations to his body.

The mercenary clans of the Grellken have taken to hunting Steel-Claws wherever they can find them primarily because they have committed the grievous sin of Breaking Contract. Those that bring back proof of Rakeesh’s true demise and have taken part in it have been promised a bounty and honor by all the major clans of the Grellken.  

 Several months ago, the Kingdom of Ixia lost their King. The task of the Kingdom’s governance has thus far fallen to the Circle of Teachers. Amongst their duties however, is the determination of the new King of Ixia.

Tradition dictates that the new King of Ixia is chosen by the Circle’s vote. However, King Malleus had recommended several individuals unto the Circle before he passed. Much in the way of debate has concurred about these choices but there have been some progress – Sleeping Winter, the Order of Patience’s leader, withdrew from the proceedings as soon as she was told, claiming to find neither desire nor ability for the throne. Z’akil Runefang has also withdrawn, citing his old age.

This leaves the choices to one or two members of the Circle and Shisharak Sablemane, who herself is not without controversy – she was tormented and augmented by the immortal Fang-zhara, and some believe that she is still under the immortal’s control. 

 The Chained Kingdom remains in the throes of war. The monstrous children of Lucca are dead, ripped to shreds by the hands of Jotun giants. The Luccari have lost battle after battle to Ymir’s armies, but the Frozen King and his forces have yet to reach the gates of the Lukdrassil.

To buy more time, the Luccari have activated warping magical energies that poison the land, its elementals and everything within the spell’s grasp. Such energies have never before been recorded, except near Freehold last moon. The warped elementals within these poisoned lands attack both Luccari and Chainer, although certain golemic entities have been seen striking out at Ymir’s forces from within the poisoned domains. This has forced Ymir and his Chainers to slowly purify the land to progress.

Further delaying Ymir’s siege of Lukdrassil are reports of a massive Fir’bolg army that has crossed the border, with the Clan Patriarch of Clan Gohrrim at their head. Perched at the borders between Jotunbrud and Fir’bolg, the Gohrrim have warred with their northern enemies for centuries and are known to drag Jotunbrud back to their muddy hovels to be brutally sacrificed to their blood god. 

Of the wardens of their eastern border, there remains no word. This has spurred Ymir to increase the pace of his conquest, lest there be nothing left after the Lukdrassil and the Fir’bolg have been stomped into the ground.

 The Kingdom appears to gain their bearings against the various disasters that have beset it. Uprisings have been suppressed. The crop failure has been purified (though the crops were not saved). The damage from the explosion near Ashragrad has been mitigated. Investigation these problems point to the rise of the heretical Zahr-morosh.

The Ishtari siege of Ziy-Mitra however has been stalled by an order to draw troops from the siege to deal with a threat on the Ishtari western border: an army of the dead have crossed into the Sunless Kingdom. 

 The King-Slayer Crew, his Unshackled and much of his power base have moved into the watery ruins of Four Winds City, the southernmost city in what was once Kenrei. They have driven away elementals, monstrosities and Riverfolk in their re-location/conquest into the ruins. The King-Slayer himself has claimed the palatial manor of the City’s former owners, the Kaishu.

Although many claim that the Labyrinthium is there primarily to raid the ruins for Kenrei riches and relics, the King-Slayer Crew remains stalwart that they are there to establish a fortified foothold for an invasion into the domain of the immortal known as Portia and other threats to their Kingdom. This comes alongside news that the Labyrinthium stronghold of Vigil has been encountering elements of Portia’s forces – monstrous bug-like demons that can burrow through mud and stone with ease.

 With the assistance of multiple foreign organizations, such as House Lithvir and the Red Scales Guild, the excavation into Malak Travak has been completed. Refugees have been streaming out of the tunnel in droves as Travaki forces attempt to maintain order.

Rumors of the hellscape that is the city are numerous. While buried beneath the mountain by the arctic star, the city of Malak Travak descended into riots and unrest. The Major Guilds and the Throne barricaded their portions of the city with ruthless militancy as citizens fought for food and shelter. Worse yet, the buried city was assailed by hordes of vampiric undead and by augmented supporters of Fang-zhara, who also fought amongst themselves. With reinforcements from the surface, these monsters have been driven back into the darkest reaches of Malak Travak but the damage caused is both heartbreaking and immense. True recovery will take decades or perhaps centuries. Worse yet, many of the bodies of the dead are missing – likely taken by the undead to add to their numbers. 

 Recovery and reparations in Pendrakken continues apace alongside the various preparations for the change in governance. The Ministry has adjourned for a while, allowing the leaders of the major Houses to reconvene and to rest.

Yet, things are far from relaxed. Kingdom’s hunt continues for the instigators of the invasion of House Rayne, said to be individuals with powerful golemic augmentations. House Graellen has also sent the Kingdom’s military forces to reinforce the their coastal territories – this comes after news of insectoid monsters being sighted in Graellen lands, though how the Portia landed her fell minions in that area is currently unknown.

With the changes to Gotterdammerung rulership, Pendrakken has also elected to keep a wary eye on their northeastern borders with House Arius. With their current weakened state and the reputation of the new Dammerung king, a swift grab for territory is too dangerous a threat to ignore. 

 A large armada of Riverfolk ships have set sail from the Pendrakken city of Stormhold, using it as one of two rallying points before they move to their next destination. This armada is said to include the different painted Fleets of the Riverfolk as well as mercenaries that they have hired. They have set sail to the south.

Similarly, another armada of Riverfolk ships have gathered in the Free Tribe town of Talsmouth near the Silent Forest. They make their way south and east, to join their kinsfolk.

Last moon, the dimensional prison known as the Nursery completed yet another journey through aether and void to return to Midworld’s proximity. It has begun to depart from the reach of mortals even now, taking away the demonic constructs imprisoned within its chambers.

Beneath this planar prison, the battles between the Freefolk and the murderous villains among the Court of Shadows continues to rage with mounting casualties. In a vicious counter-attack, Freehold has loosened the grip of the Court’s Mastermind from the town’s denizens. In desperation, this powerful Demonic Entity has taken the Nursery for himself, sealing it from further entry and subjugating the Warden who keeps it in order. His exact plans are unknown, but they likely involve unleashing hundreds of demonic constructs to ravage and infest mortals across the face of Midworld.

The Freefolk may hold the upper hand for the moment, but such advantages may count for little when demons rain from the very skies.

The Veiled Kingdom of Callas Selvarion has sent supplies and aid to send to nearby Fir’bolg, Jotunbrud and Labyrinthium. But even this assistance they grant is made with some reluctance, being left on shorelines rather than being brought to seats of power or to affected areas.

The Queen of Stars has let out a summons to many of her emissaries and envoys, with the exception being Freehold and a few other places of import. The Knights of the Gull have been sent to reclaim these personages to Vaelithia.

Add to this the sudden demise of many among Choir Shaerach wherein a dozen individuals dropped dead. The Kingdom has lost many daughters and sons to Midworld’s evils and it appears that they seek a smaller place than they have become.

A great host has left the lands of the Gohrimm to meet with a smaller gathering of Clan Nemain in their southern lands. Their numbers are said to surpass the able fighting forces of Drustan and the Dyed Men combined. Once joined, Nemain and Gohrimm are believed to march to Daggerhand Keep and Machta Lands to demand leadership of Morread. It is believed that the Cruacha and the Setanta walk alongside this force while Connail Cu Gohrimm strides at its head and behind him, his eldest son Mauric Cu Gohrimm.

A far smaller force of Dyed Men, Drustan and Grey Crows have set out to meet this force, though not necessarily to do battle. They mean to speak to them rather than battle, though the prospects of victory with the latter are far from viable. Maerla Grey Crow marches at the front of this army and behind her are those Dyed Men that have not been assigned elsewhere by their current earstwhile leader: Kestren Cu Machta.

Before she left Daggerhand Keep, Maerla Greycrow had taken over most of the administrative duties of the Kingdom. Such was her expertise that the Kingdom continues to function rather than fracture logistically, with only the recent disaster and impending civil war to disrupt matters. There are those that whisper that she was in charge of many administrative and logistical duties during the reign of King Baelor — he is remembered for his valor, his cunning, his fearsomeness and his strength not his powers of administration and delegation.

The refugees around Daggerhand Keep have received shelter and food aplenty, thanks primarily to foreign efforts, assistance from the other Clans and the gaining of a new mine from Freehold (reportedly the sale of this mineral allowed for the great purchase of food and ware). Both Drustan, led by their Clan Patriarch, and Dyed Men are tireless in their safeguarding efforts, though the former rather than the latter are better at attending to the needs of the displaced.

The governance of the Kingdom is now done from the Schwartzenburg Dammerlicht, formerly the seat of Krieger Dammerlicht near the Twilight Mountains. Great strides of recovery have been made to ensure the survival of refugees from Lichtenstein and the now frozen area around it. Foreign aid and the use of the mine near Freehold are attributed to their prosperity. Of the latter, it is presumed that sale of the precious ore is able to fund the purchase of foods and building materials — that the buildings are erected so swiftly is of some mystery, however.

Of great note is the expulsion of the Bearers of the Scythe from Schwartzenburg Dammerlicht. This comes shortly after the arrival of a small contingent of Krieger Eisenwulf and Krieger Nibelung to the castle. It is believed that Arbiter Ella von Brackengard and Gregor von Eisenwulf III are engineering an alliance to share rulership of Gotterdammerung. Whether the Kingdom will have a new King-Priest or a new King has yet to be determined..

Age and illness has taken the Ixia’s King away from it. Much beloved and much revered, many have traveled to the peak of Ekthalon to pay respects to the fallen regent. As it is with Troll tradition, his family and his close associates were allowed to partake in the feast of his remains — among them Shisharak Sablemane, Sleeping Winter, Z’akil Runefang and all of the Circle of Teachers. According to the final will of the King, Sablemane, Sleeping Winter and Runefang were tasked to the consumption of his brain and his heart. There were whispers of discontent when Sablemane took her place before the honored portions — the metallic parts of her body were shaped by none other than the deadly Immortal, Fang-Zhara after all. And they gave her vitality beyond what was natural and some believe that she may still be under the Immortal’s control. 

Taking over the duties of governance is the Circle of Teachers, who made it one of their primary goals to seek out a new King among their number or among those the King had honored. Many within the Circle also sought to continue to reach out and lend their assistance to other Kingdoms, to other peoples. Even Teacher Truthful (Avorah Caellinrah) once a staunch supporter of isolation, spoke highly of following the King’s lead — she even claims that she has sent some of her own people, such as Tythas Caellinrah, to assist the farmers within the Hinterlands.

Yet such measures would not bear fruit so easily — an Ixian diplomat was found murdered in distant Freehold, apparently by a Pendrakken emissary. An investigation is currently underway with members of the each Kingdom and the Brotherhood leading the search for answers. 

The Frost King has left his Throne in Ymirheim and strides north and east toward the Lukdrassil and beyond it, the eastern border. With him are at least three of his children and over a hundred warbands. Even his daughter, Hellas, Laughter beneath the Waves, marches with his Frozen Majesty. He has sent word to the temple of Lucca that he means to feast there on his way to aid Thrymdul, the Furnace that Walks, and to gather Luccari warbands to him.

The warden of the East has reported the advance of an innumerable amount of the living dead, even dead demons from the wastes of the Sunless Kingdom and Giant wraiths from the wars of old. The Burned Men and the Flame-Walker warbands have suffered greatly beneath an unending tide of the damned. Worse yet, every Jotunbrud that falls rises again to serve Sif the Fleshless in her crusade against those that wronged her goddess and her people. Burning the dead has no effect, claims the report, for the Kyras the Queen of Harpies is served in dead flesh or in cruel spirit. 

Ziy-Mitra, once taken by heretics, stands against three Ishtari armies. The Trinity Temple and Khasat Voloth and Khasat Zorya have surrounded the city and now besiege it with their magics. Its fall and subsequent return to the hands of the orthodoxy is inevitable.

However, the sudden surge of riots and deadly disasters occurring elsewhere in the Kingdom threatens to break the siege any more than the efforts of the besieged. Members of Koil Avesti and even Koil Ishtar are hard pressed to suppress the sudden outbreak, given their suddenness and their viciousness. The most they can do is execute the ring leaders and move on to the next case — such is the amount of overwork that they suffer beneath.

Add to this the failing of crops near the City of the Molten River and a massive magical explosion near Ashragrad — it appears that the Kingdom’s troubles do not end with Anubisath’s fall. 

The King-slayer has met Unshackled and his Crew among the ruins of Four Winds City where the latter groups have begun the construction of fortifications and the scouring of supplies. He has even ordered the League and the Qabbalim to the drowned city to aid in his efforts. Kritek, Witch-King of the North and the South, was seen in the area as well.

He proclaims that the goal of his Kingdom is to strike out at Portia, first and foremost before any of the other Kingdoms have. He also claims that the other Kingdoms are weak and mewling cowards before the threat of the Immortals — that his people will face their demise with bared knives and insults on their lips instead of meekly waiting for it to come to them.

There are those however, that wonder if his arrival in the ruins of the city, was merely the beginning of a new capitol. The waters that drowned Four Winds city have largely receded, after all. And those scavengers and rogues found working in the ruins have been killed, driven off or conscripted to the King-slayer’s cause. Incidentally, the Golden Fleet’s efforts nearby have also been routed and the Riverfolk have retreated from the area. 

With the assistance of foreign aid, such as from the Labyrinthium’s Red Scales Guild, from Pendrakken’s House Lithvir and other sources, much progress has been made in the excavation to Malak Travak. This is in addition to assistance garnered from the recalling of debts from other orders, Clans,  Kingdoms and Power Groups.

At this rate, Malak Travak may well be free within the next few months instead of being buried for an entire year or more.

Winter has passed in Pendrakken and spring has returned. House Rayne and its peoples have survived siege and starvation to return raggedly to its proper place of influence within the Kingdom.

The meetings among the Ministers continues, but several points have been raised and made — the primary point of this is that Pendrakken is to forsake the monarch and begin its transition to a new form of governance, called a republic. Among the changes coming to the Kingdom are the decentralization of power and land as well as the formation of semi-autonomous province-states with an elected leadership. Said leadership will guide and elect the governance of the central leadership, among them, a Prime Minister, within the new republic.

Naturally, the change is expected to take place over the next ten years as opposed to instantly. The arbiters and the progressors of this governmental change will be the Ministry, who are to abdicate their positions within it at the end of the transitional period.

Furthermore, reparations were made to those “Arcturians” who were displaced during the Arcturian Revolution in coin or in land. Of note is the acknowledgement of House Constantine as a true House in Pendrakken — they are only a few steps away from being a major House, provided that they are able to secure a greater amount of land and influence.

Of a more somber note, a Pendrakken diplomat in Freehold is being sought for questioning with regard to the murder of an ixian diplomat. Members of the Brotherhood, of Ixia and of Pendrakken are said to be at the forefront of the investigation process. 

After lending aid to the various Kingdoms, the Riverfolk appear to be preparing for war. The Azure Fleet continues to gather ships and strength for a major conflict. The Golden Fleet is doing much of the same, though they lean heavily on mercenaries rather than their own strength. The other Fleets are sending and building their own war vessels and warbands for an impending strike somewhere in the southern sea — whether it is against the Labyrinthium, each other or the Rainbow Isles, it is not certain.

Earstwhile, the scourge that has assaulted several Bat-Halai shrine ships has gone unanswered. One of the most notable disappearances is Leorio Waterwhisper, a high Priest of Bat-hala and a Master of a prominent Temple-Ship. He and his Temple-Ship was due to visit Port Dawson last month but never arrived from their previous port of stay.

 With the fading of Autumn comes the promise of a brutal winter season and a resurgence of he who would wield it as a weapon: Anubisath, Witch-King of the North. Yet, this wintry vengeance does not only come for Freehold and heroes and sellswords that dwell within. Thick, impenetrable storm clouds gather above the capitols of Midworld, portending a terrible magic soon unleashed — an attack on all fronts and on all peoples.

While the Kingdoms themselves have prepared wardings and spellcraft, the Witch-King has proved himself capable of schemes and plans that can foil even the strongest of barriers. 

Last November, the Freefolk delved into the depths of the Aether and encountered an “Arctic Nexus”, a natural phenomenon of elemental origin. The Nexus was being used by the Witch-King of the North, Anubisath, as a power source for a mighty spell called the Killing Wind, which he would then send into the northern areas of Midworld.

Through great effort and no small amount of heroism, the Freefolk disrupted the Arctic Nexus, thereby stopping the Killing Wind from ravaging the northern kingdoms. However, during the course of the battle, Ragna Blackstag, Witch-Queen of the West, was abducted by an Anubisath minion – Gletschenschreitener, the Glacier that Walks – and whisked away into the Aether.

For the moment, reports indicate that both Ragna and the Glacier have been destroyed — by the hands of the Freefolk.

As for the World-Lock of the West — an artifact that keeps the Aether and Midworld seperate —  it is currently in the hands of the Riverfolk’s King in Gold, who is also the Witch-Queen of the East.