Ongoing Chronicle: Calligraphy of the Sky
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Newspaper - The Peltarch Times
Eleint 03/11/25 (Three nights following impact event.)
By: Lorelai Phinkwell
In: The City of Peltarch
Headline: LONGCLOAK DEAD, LEGION MOBILIZED
Longtime Golden Goose and Defender Captain George Longcloak is dead.
He was abducted and killed, it seems -- for whatever insane reason -- by a mage that has been publicly identified as Adan Whisperwick, who apparently resides somewhere in the Province of Moonreach or beyond.
Dowager Queen Martha Fisher has offered a reward of 500,000 gold coins -- apparently the near entirety of her personal coffers -- and her royal favour to anyone who brings back Adan Whisperwick's head.
Former Defender Captain Renius Hrresh has apparently come out of retirement and rallied soldiers, mercenaries, adventurers, former or retired soldiers as well as mages -- indeed, anyone with a sword or spellbook -- who would join his cause to bring about the Queen's will and revenge for Longcloak's death. Roughly 100 men and women have flocked to his cause, forming a new legion that now prepares to hunt down the killer mage.
The Peltarch Times wishes them well, with high hopes of success, though cautions them to take care against the mage who it seems is no stranger to making enemies.
Godspeed then, in the name of the Jewel.
-- Lorelai Phinkwell / The Peltarch Times.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Public Circular - The Fabled Quill
Eleint 03/11/25 (Three nights following impact event.)
By: Lysander Pendrake
In: The City of Peltarch
It is now widely known that Peltarch Defender Captain George Longcloak was abducted from the Peltarch Commons yesterday through arcane means, namely a baleful teleportation spell. He was then killed at the destination. The Golden Geese have since recovered his body.
The Lighthouse Temple has confirmed it.
The body is not responding to resurrection.
Longcloak was a respected Captain, and indeed, for a long time, the most popular. Not among the current ranks -- that would be Captain Jorino -- but among independent military observers. Retired soldiers, attentive nobles, and diarizing Bards pointed to him as the most level-headed. One who, at least on the surface, did not play politics or seek to aggrandize himself. That is despite his affiliation with the Dowager Queen.
Yet there were also darker rumors. Those which stemmed from his association with the Golden Geese, that seemingly ageless band of adventurers of reputed arcane and esoteric power. There are unsettled whispers across the North of those who reported seeing Longcloak in flames. In their campfires, their hearths, and torches. Of those who say he made a bargain with a demon. That he may even be possessed or worse.
For my part, I doubt the veracity of such rumors. I judge George Longcloak not by such mere allegations but by his real actions. Longcloak was a tempering force behind the more hot-headed and impulsive members of the Golden Geese. He was - in this author's opinion - both just and pragmatic, reasonable and careful in his approach. Qualities which are sorely lacking among the more famous adventurers.
And now he is dead.
All you adventurers who do read my circular, take note. The important part now follows.
I have the identity of his killer on good authority. The one who balefully teleported George Longcloak -- indeed, the one who murdered him -- is none other than the mage Adan Whisperwick. A man devoid of conscience, whose actions are guided exclusively by self-interest and deception. A morally deprived mage who hides behind servants, agents, pocket planes, and magical veils. With any luck, none of these will be enough to hide him. Not from the Golden Geese, or any other who would avenge the death of one of Peltarch's most honest, earnest, and purposeful heroes.
Sincerely,
-- Lysander Pendrake.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Magic Message (Via Sending)
Eleint 02/11/25 (Two nights following impact event.)
From: Horgrim Blackweave
To: Members of the Golden Geese
Golden Geese,
It is I, Horgrim Blackweave.
You have failed to acquire the anomaly and subject it to arcane controls.
The anomaly is a critical threat to the realm's order.
Note that predictive divination magic on the subject is now impossible due to its effects.
If you cannot acquire and control it, I shall.
-- Horgrim Blackweave.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Personal Correspondence
Eleint 02/11/25 (Two nights following impact event.)
From: Astrologer Farian
To: Members of the Locus Operandi
Locus Operandi,
I can confirm Adan Whisperwick currently possesses the aetherite.
Unfortunately, the aetherite's presence has hushed all future murmurs and cast a veil over all premonition.
Its current possessor is no doubt equally blind.
I trust you will use this to your advantage in ridding him of the aetherite.
In the absence of either your confirmation or your success, I will address this matter myself.
-- Farian.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
