Across The Weald there continues a never-ending conflict: a fight to rule over the forest and the denizens that dwell within it; to topple others from positions of power into oblivion without losing one's own footing. Satisfied to stay hidden in the shadows of The Greenweald Baronies for a time, this conflict seems to be rising again, spreading beyond Resinderholz’s borders: in Wolstad and The Madre Campo, Concordian blades clash with the Weald’s denizens, spilling Boghoffen blood onto the forest floor, and in Everguarde threats of fae invasions strike at the hearts of Commonfolk and Nobles alike.
Though not their war to win, it is up to the Heroes of The Concord to decide their temporary victors.
Bring Down Your Blade Upon the Evergreen
Hermina could not help but stare out into the shaded darkness of twilight. Despite the summer warmth, she could not shake the chill felt in her spine. She had lived in Wolstad all her life, but never once had she thought such a vicious threat would willingly throw itself against her home. The Boghoffens were here, and the moment of truth for Wolstad was but a breath away.
Slowly shaking out her hands, there was but one thought on Hermina’s mind. There was but one feared outcome. She would not give it words, but she knew that the sentiment was familiar to many in The Weald. Still, it did not bring comfort nor ease to know that others would suffer as she was. Looking to her left and right she could see it in the eyes of others, that nervousness, that fright.
It was the sharp command of the one behind her that snapped her drifting attention to one of grim focus. It was simple few words, announcing both intent and expectation. It was words she knew in her core, and it was words that defined her. Nothing mattered, except the coming moments and the words ringing in her ears.
We will endure!
-=-=-=-
Erminio clutched his pitchfork in calloused and bleeding hands, gritting his teeth as he plunged it into the torso of a foul smelling Boghoffen. This was not the first he had killed this day, but he knew it would be the last. He was tired, having fought the things with his fellow farmhands all night and now half into the day. There was no strength left to muster, no anger left to fuel the fire of legends.
He was tired. And he knew that the next green bastard would be the last thing he ever saw. Cursed luck of mine, he would think to himself, as his legs gave way beneath the weight of fatigue. His trusty pitchfork, now bent after its sudden repurposing, next to fall as his arms followed suit to his legs. The almost childlike squeal of dozens of Boghoffens meeting the shouts and cries of vicious combat around him, Erminio knew the whole farm would be doomed this day.
No matter the preparation or the promises, perhaps his lot in life was cast from the start. He sighed as his kneeling form caught the attention of what must be his final forest-borne foe, the one who must end his hard earned life. This is it. Come and get me you— - - -
What makes the barley grow?! BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!
-=-=-=-
Over the summer season, the Boghoffen threat in The Madre Campo and Wolstad would turn from a loud constant viciousness to an overwhelmingly violent crescendo. The swarm in Lerona Mere would begin to move with glaring intent from farmstead to farmstead, slowly but bloodily aiming to return to the forests from whence they came. Meanwhile, those green foes of Wolstad would attack day and night in larger and larger numbers, turning simple yet dangerous harassment into a clear and impending threat.
The danger would rise to an all time high, and it would need to be met with blood. One way or another. And blood it would be.
Wolstad would feel the weight of near two thousand fighters come to its defence, with hundreds upon hundreds of Greenwealders and near fifteen of its Heroes answering the call to arms. And they would not fight alone, joined in their fight by both Lerona Mere and Valleyfolk who would not see them stand alone in their hardfought survival. Such overwhelming numbers would be as if a balm to the wounds of Wolstad, and a perfect vaccine to the plague that would be the Boghoffen swarm that threatened it.
The Madre Campo would not be flooded with the blood of its own people, but instead the marched boots of over one and half thousand Bordevarian and Lerona Mere mercenaries. The Boghoffens of The Campo would find themselves marched down and slain, step by relentless step, paid back with interest for the violence they brought to Lerona Mere.
The Concord would ensure Wolstad stood, and The Campo was freed at last from the Boghoffen threat.
Game Information
A total of 25 Military Investments would come together over the past season to collectively, and successfully, defend Wolstad and sweep The Madre Campo of its Boghoffen threat. The overwhelming Heroic and military presence would see minimal casualties suffered and a far quickened response time, aiding the civilian population of both territories with a far greater efficiency than would otherwise be possible.
Those who fought in Wolstad may elect to adopt the following roleplay prompt:
“Fighting arm in arm in the defence of our home has reminded me what it is that I fight for. In coming months I will make sure that those important to me know it.”
Those who fought in The Madre Campo may elect to adopt the following roleplay prompt:
“At some point it became a competition to keep up, and we still haven't determined who won. I will stand as my own champion and argue for my worth.”
Those Boghoffens that survived their encounters with Concordian forces, and those remaining swarms within Resinderholz, have all made their way to The Sableheart where they have remained to the end of the season.
Talk Sense to Fools
It is a unique circumstance when the Civil Service is presented with a document penned by children and argued by monsters with the requirement that it be made into something approaching legal profundity. But such was the task presented at the end of last year.
The Concord, notably the Barony of Resinderholz, and Lerona Mere, have continued their armed conflict against the Weald creature known as ‘The Fae Queen’. As Boghoffens and other Fae miscreants flood through the Sableheart and out into the rest of Resinderholz and Lerona Mere. Farm workers are slain by wicked blades, outlying villages are besieged, and havoc reigns.
In an attempt to see this off, the children of the Academy, sharing some unknown affinity for the Fae and their Queen, engaged in diplomacy throughout the year of 224. After making inroads with her sullied Boghoffens and then eventually obtaining an audience with the Queen herself. The document that followed was full of heart and hope, but also replete with unspecified grabs for power and sovereignty.
It has taken a season, but the magistrates and other civil service workers have taken this treaty and produced a workable document. While preserving the original intent of the document penned by The Concord’s youngest Heroes and the malign influence of the Fae Queen, its born fruit.
The Treaty is a unique one, with details as follows:
“The Concord and The Greenweald Baronies recognise the being known as The Fae Queen as the rightful and true Sovereign of The Sableheart, who rules The Sableheart. She permits The Concord and their citizens to dwell there at her leisure.
Within The Sableheart Concordian Laws and the Law of the Fae apply to Concordian citizens. Only the Fae Law applies to the Fae. It will be the duty of The Concord to enforce their laws. The agents of the Fae Queen will enforce her laws.
The Fae Queen and The Concord are bound to defend The Sableheart from interlopers, with both supplying forces for its defence.
The Concord and The Greenweald Baronies shall establish no new settlements within The Sableheart without the approval of The Fae Queen.
The Fae Queen may take a tithe from Concordian citizens within her borders. This tithe may not kill, maim, or curse those citizens.
The Fae Queen and her agents who bear her seal shall not be infringed upon while acting on her orders outside of The Sableheart.”
This past year, The Concord has pulled together powerful cohorts of mercenaries to battle against The Fae Queen and her forces, often successfully, but not always. This treaty promises to see an end to this conflict and to tie The Concord and this strange fae entity together for good or ill. The cost of sovereignty over The Sableheart and what this may mean for the people of this territory, which includes the township of Eisen and its essential Thunder Oak Orchard, remains to be seen. There will undoubtedly be a cost, but is that cost worth it for peace and the support of thousands of Fae when it comes time to defend The Sableheart again.
Or is this a painful splinter that needs to be burned free with steel and fire? There are plenty within Lerona Mere and the Greenweald that have no love for the Fae and cannot imagine a time where they stand side-by-side against any foe. The only good Fae is a slain one.
Regardless of your stance, the decision falls to the Concordian Senate. Peace or War?
Game Information
The treaty from the Summer Summit 224 has been edited and formalised by the Civil Service. It will be available for voting by the Senate this Summit.
Voting in favour of the treaty will see vast amounts of Concordian sovereignty in The Sableheart Territory ceded to The Fae Queen. In exchange there will be peace between The Concord and the Fae, as well as Fae guarantees of support for defence of the territory in the future.
While The Concord has been successful in defending its territories this past season, it is likely that a refusal of the treaty will see the conflict with the Fae come to a violent head in the latter parts of the year, likely with an invasion into The Sableheart to end the threat. While The Concord may well be in a position to fight this battle, it will pull forces away from other fronts and will put the people already living in The Sableheart in greater danger.
Given the fickle nature of The Fae Queen, it is unlikely that there is any allowance for a back and forth debating principles of the treaty. Such actions were already undertaken by The Concord’s youngest Heroes.
There will be additional information for certain Wealdsages and the Sage Superior of the Broken Vale.
All Around the Air Did Sway
Dear Lady Koré Vespera of House Vespera and House Bremmer, Duke of Heartsgrave, Holder of the Mandate of Everguarde,
I hope this letter finds you in fine spirits, and good health.
I am Lady Ginevra of Lake Ladure, formerly of The Wolfden Woods. Forgive my impertinence in writing to you so informally, and without a prior introduction, however I write with some degree of concern and urgency.
The foul creature, The Fae Queen, is seeking to spread her influence further into The Wolfden Woods, and I have been ousted from my home with fear of my safety, and the safety of the Knights in my service. I fear, given the reprehensible behaviour of her boghoffens, that she does not intend on growing without malice as she may claim.
Whilst I, admittedly, do not hold the influence that I once did, I believe that I may be able to offer some assistance in holding her at bay…
From her desk, the Duke of Heartsgrave continued to read. The letter went on, containing details on the known intentions of The Fae Queen, and what assistance Lady Ginevra may be able to offer, even in her weakened state. Not an odd letter for the Duke - those in positions of power receive such requests rather frequently.
No, the letter itself was perfectly normal, if unexpected: its content was interesting, but lacking in specifics. An entirely typical correspondence, if Lady Vespera ignored the moths fluttering in her peripheral vision. A completely ordinary form of communication, if it hadn’t been waiting outside of her window as she retired for the evening, carried by twenty or so of the winged insects, softly illuminated by the glow of the moon.
It seemed like the moths were waiting. Each time the Duke would turn her head to look at them, their minute, glassy eyes would stare back and she would have to return to the letter, slightly uncomfortable at their watching.
Lady Vespera reached the end:
My apologies for my vagueness, but I felt it better to warn you whilst I find out more. I shall write to you when you arrive in Passage, along with my dear Concordian Heroes, with further specific details.
Yours Sincerely,
Lady Ginevra
The Duke of Heartsgrave only had a moment to sigh in slight frustration - of course such an oddly-delivered letter would be shroud in more questions than answers - before her breath caught in her throat. The moths that had been hovering almost silently next to her, almost as if watching her read, moved as one, to land on the letter.
Enveloping the page, it was difficult to discern the difference between their white, speckled wings, and the white, speckled paper as they moved to and fro. At first, the Duke couldn’t quite understand what they were doing - there seemed no intent to move the paper, to carry it as they had before.
It was not until the ball of insects got smaller and smaller that Lady Vespera realised what they were doing, and by then it was far too late.
The moths flitted to the desk, seeming slightly off-kilter now, and landed, each one facing the Duke having eaten their part of letter. They looked up at Lady Vespera, eyes unblinking, as if memorising her face. Then, without pomp and circumstance, each of the insects went entirely still, leaving Lady Vespera, Duke of Heartsgrave, alone in the middle of the night, twenty dead moths on her desk.
Game Information
There will be an opportunity to protect The Wolfden Woods from The Fae Queen in a minor conflux at this Summit. Victory will mean that the area will be protected from her predation for the time being.
There will be decisions relating to Lady Ginevra’s offer for the Duke of Heartsgrave, and Heroes known to the Lady of the Lake.
Nights With the Haunted Stare
With deals afoot and hopes at Fae diplomacy held in many hearts, there are those Concordian Heroes dreaming of a future where they are not bothered by the whims of the whimsical Weald. But for the people of Carningsfield and wider Everguarde, this is unfortunately not the case.
Across the Duchy, but particularly around Carningsfield, the commonfolk are besieged by mischief and misfortune across the summer season. Not a single farm has found themselves free from this scourge. Granaries are split open and their harvests soiled, crude fae totems of wood and bone litter the scene. Even artisans find themselves targeted, with toolsmiths and bladeforges finding their stockpiles ransacked and their projects looted.
Most worrisome is the slaughtering of livestock. Pigs, sheep, and even large bulls found dead and mauled in the field, broad and strange arcane glyphs drawn in the blood of their gnawed corpses. While no people have fallen afoul of fae fighting in Everguarde yet, there are concerns that this is only a matter of time. After all, it’s a damn sight easier to kill a farmer than his prized bullock.
The people of Carningsfield and its outlying farmsteads meet up in taverns and town squares to strategise a response, which at this stage is largely complaining. Cries of:
“Whats the point of ‘avin’ all o’ these bloody knights if there’s none of ‘em around teh chop a faerie in ‘alf?” and similar tirades are heard after too few pints for such a rowdy opinion. The people of Carningsfield mald and seethe over the summer, but disgruntlement is becoming dangerously close to action.
Some are scheming to form an armed militia, to sweep the lake and its shores once and for all of these frenzied fae, perhaps even taking their righteous anti-mischief crusade into the Weald!
Others are talking of pooling funds to pay for “One of those Weald monster ‘unters” to come and solve the problem for them. Such plans seldom go far between a generalised distrust for Wealders in the Northern Duchy (only exceeded by all things non-human and Weald) and questions of coin.
Nobles in the region are calling for a tournament, hoping that by drawing questing knights to the area, these armed wayward warriors might get distracted and solve their problems for them.
Regardless of what method a resolution looks like, it appears that the people of Everguarde are going to stick their whole foot into this problem in order to kick it right out of their Duchy.
Game Information
Throughout the summer, the people of Everguarde have been plagued by strange lootings, attacks, and other misfortune. This has done damage to the economy of the region and riled up the Commonfolk of Carningsfield.
The following investments have been damaged and will find additional information in their character packs:
- Illia
- Brynn of Lackwood
- Brambull Fern
- Hector Bailey
- Paisley Lilland
Commonfolk characters from Everguarde may take the following roleplay prompt:
“These knightly types are a bunch of upjumped good for nothings. Unless I see one of them being useful or heroic right in front of my very eyes, I might give them a piece of my mind.”
There will be decisions relating to these attacks for the Duke of Heartsgrave, The Chapter-Kaptain of Chapter Kristov, The Sheriff of Weiland, and the Deedholder of the Lake Ladure Quarry.
Further reading at Winds of the World Autumn 225