September 22, 602 ER: Feathers to feathers, a
native son takes the helm:
With newlywed Baron
Winterthorne of Nordenn missing in action, Nordenn has been without an official
Baron in place. Word has reached this press that the 'Heir Designee' has been
asked to assume the title of "Baron of Nordenn", and continue the care and
guidance of his birthplace a month earlier than expected. Sir Hagen Merdick,
First Knight of Blythedale, has been asked to assume the position by Count
Malcolm Winterthorne, brother of the missing Jesmyer and current ranking Noble
in Asbury proper. While this currently is an interim position, as named heir to
the title, it is believed that Sir Hagen will be permanently named to the
position of Baron at such time as a decision can be made regarding Jesmyer J.
Winterthorne's status. There is no word yet on where the Barony's new capitol
city will be located. Insiders suggest however, that Thrommell may be a likely
candidate
July 602 ER: On July 20, 602, the Winterthornes
will be taking their Elvin wives in a double ceremony in the lands of Avendale. Congratulations to the Count and
Baron, may your (married) lives be peaceful.
July 602
ER: Word has reached this press that there is a price on the head of
both the Count and Baron Winterthorne, and that it is Evandarrian in origin.
Come now – isn’t it bad enough that we are fighting the Sessuar? Is it that
important to certain Evandarrians that the well being of their own lands are
endangered? After all, the Evendarrian King isn’t the only expansionist in this
region, how do you think Ashbury got into the pickle it’s in now?
July 602 ER: Head of Sessuar Military
Intelligence “Lord Fandrick” has been quite silent lately. Maybe someone has
done us a favor? Odds are he is currently without a reason to bluster, give him
time and it is certain that he will find something to say.
July 602ER: Rumors are circulating around Ashbury that Count Winterthorne Knighted an adventurer named Leeorick in the Lands of Avendale, just after his wedding. Also in attendance was Lord Justice McCoy, who advised the good Count of Leeorick's unlawful acts, ensuring that his title was summarily removed.
July 602 ER: Baron Kelial of Blythedale has requested that anyone with information on the whereabouts of Squire Kaylin and Elynn come forth. Formal charges are pending, for desertion of their posts in a time of war, pending for both, with added multiple charges of Assaulting a Noble for Elynn.
May 602 ER: Shalizar McCoy, former Guildmistress of the Ashbury Mages Guild, and wife of Sir Justice McCoy, arrived in the lands of Avendale, and recognized one of her dearest friends, Baroness Kittery Holindarn, when she entered the Mages Guild. Shalizar requested to become a Mages Guildmember, as she has spent far too much time away from a Mages Guild and that her celestial knowledge is suffering from it, especially her knowledge about the Formal Magic Spells available.
March 602 ER: Aurora McCoy, the daughter of former Mages Guildmistress Shalizar and Sir Justice McCoy is sent to the Royal Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences at Lake Hollym to continue in her Celestial Mage Studies.
April 602 ER: Nordenn Breaks Free From Sessai Oppression.
Great sighs of relief can be heard across the Barony of Nordenn, as it has
been freed from Sessuar control. With the naming of a new Baron, by powers
higher than him self, Jesmyer Winterthorne, leader of team Phoenix and a Mage of
great power from the town of Ravenholt comes to aid the resistance, already
waging their own silent war...
Phoenix are veterans in many wars with the Sessuar . While
rumors had been flurrying about the populace of a Wizard that over ride the
control of the Sessuar when it came to the hounds, truth was proven stranger
than fiction as Baron Jesmyer revealed his own magical device for controlling
the Hounds.
As ever, the people of Ravenholt are still willing to help
one of their own, as Baron Jesemyer discovered. The Ravenholt Ducal Household
and two of the Barons of Ravenholt have promised to send forces and relief
supplies through to Nordenn, in order to help fight the Sessuar.
In a public proclamation posted through out the Barony, the new Baron had this
to say:
To all the people of Nordenn and to all the people of the surrounding lands still under Sessuar control. There are still dark days ahead and war is never a pleasant thing to deal with. I promise all of you that there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and now with fresh troops and supplies coming, the Sessuar will be destroyed.
Baron Jesmyer Winterthorne
of Nordenn
Leader of team Phoenix
Arch Wizard of Fire and Destruction
October 599 ER: Rumors have surfaced that Sir Warlord Shatwaylu (Shay) of Westmarch, Ravenholt can speak to "His Warlock" via the skull necklace that he wears around his neck. Further reports indicate that in times of great stress or when action is needed, Sir Shay commonly refers to his ‘Skull Necklace” for advice, acting in due haste to the answer received.
May 599 ER: Sir Justice McCoy of Ashbury, Evendarr and Sir Orion Denmarsh of Brisbane, the Kingdom of Avendale have joined forces to combat the forces of Order Elementals. Both have requested Nobles and sages of lands near and far to support their endeavors that would defeat Order Elementals who would tamper with the children of our future. Those with information pertaining to the Lore of Elementals are encouraged to forward such writings to Sir Orion or Sir Justice or to travel in person to Sardon’s Post, 40 miles west of Niman. Sirs Orion and Justice shall arrive at Sardon’s Post eight bells after the noon hour on May 14, 599. Sardon’s Post is about 10 miles north of Lake Quentari, 40 miles west of Niman, 60 miles East of Myrr, 90 miles South West of the southern border of the Duchy of Elysia.
October 598 ER: Duchy of Ashbury Conquered by Sessuar Imperium
October 598 ER: Royal Knight Attacked by Dark, the Hobling Jester! Expansion Territory 13 has become a cesspool for lawbreakers. Until the official reports are heralded no one will know exactly what occurred but rumors around Evendarr indicate that one of his majesties finest Knights was attacked and nearly killed. It took the combined forces of former nobles of Trellheim, the Jester’s Guild, the Harvest Moon, the Black Unicorns, and Dark, a well known criminal of Ravenholt, to defeat the crown. His royal Knight, after being redirected to Ashbury by his Majesty, reportedly had more difficulty infiltrating though rumors abound that a local Ashbury Noble was to blame. The Knight also reported several days later to her highness, Princess Lillian Rotari that members of his detachment were missing, probably being chased by hounds. The Harvest moon have been Ashbury adversaries for several years now, causing havoc and mayhem where ever they go. The Jesters Guild, apparently a henchmen organization of the Harvest Moon, is an organization of very powerful individuals, former and existing nobles included, who have many magic items. There has been no comment on the names of the former nobles involved in the attack on his royal knight, but the King has demanded an audience with a representative from the Jesters guild. There is reportedly going to be a reward placed on the head of Dark, the Hobling Jester, Zanderith and a black panther Sarr.
May 596 ER: Tavish von Capulus reappears, as an undead, along with more than half a dozen of his family members, all also undead. Bretton Darkwood, once Baron of Trellheim, places himself in a circle of power, and quests Squire Justice McCoy to acquire the needed materials to create a Stake of Woe. Ashbury learns that it is a Stake of Woe that must be used to stake a Vampire. The Squire somehow managed to get all of the needed ingredients including unique and rare items such as a branch from the Spirit Tree of the Ash Forest. From within the circle of power, Bretton Darkwood, former Baron of Trellheim, accepted ingredient after ingredient from Squire Justice, until finally he declared that the item was created!. Half a dozen people had begun to crowd around the circle, adventurers that had gotten enthralled by the workings of Baron and Squire. Everyone watched as Bretton Darkwood thanked squire Justice McCoy for helping to end his misery of undeath, and he immediately stuck a death blow upon his chest, which caused his body to wrack in pain, him to scream, and then turn to dust. It was then that Ceric's eldest son, Tavish aka "Creepshow" Capulus - a Death Lord created by Locarnos de Morganna - appeared and struck the young squire to his death. Trellheim Court led by Baron Morgan Blackbourne, then hunted the Capulus undead to their deaths. With Tavis, an Earth Scholar, came Mandrake, the 3rd son of the former Baron Ceric Capulus and a well accomplished fighter. Tavish had a very bad attitude toward Bretton Darkwood, not to mention his father, for not being considered to succeed his father upon death. He had followed Bretton for years hoping to get a chance to kill him, but relished in the glory of his permanent banishment to the graveyards. There were two others as well, both Ceric Capulus's children, whom had been captured with the Ceric Baron and turned into undead by Locarnos de Morganna, a powerful magic user and necromancer. It took several hours for the Court to hunt the undead abominations down, but in the end, they killed all of them, though no one was sure if they died their permanent death, or regenerated at their bottle back Morganna's lair. Later that night, after the undead were vanquished, while the courts of Nordenn, Blythedale, and Ash Forest mingled aroiund the campfire while Squire Justice cooked food on the hot barbecue, it became quickly apparent that Morganna was back, just on the fringes of the city proper, and searching for Baron Morgan Blackbourne and Squire Hansen, to Obliterate them! None the less, at a mere 3 summers of experience in combat, none of the Ashbury Noble courts was prepared to battle a Dragon Mage, and tactfully retreated to safer parts, for about 30 minutes. likewise, several academics were seen around Ashbury, speaking with Kittery Ann, and others. They were interested in anyone who had ancestors who lived near the Estate of Capulus. They spoke of "Mandrake's Manor" - a tavern in Capulus where some of Mandrake's artifacts are displayed. Rumor was that if any of the items were stolen or removed, Bad Things would happen, and some Ashbury adventurers did exactly that - they took some items.
December 26, 593 ER: A Complete list of the Estates within the Duchy of Ashbury was compiled by the Royal Academy of Arcane Arts and Sciences Cartographers Guild.
Year 527 ER: The Official Reading of the Will of Ceric Capulus revealed that he named none of his children as his Heir. Instead, to the surprise of a few, Ceric granted his Barony to one of his most trusted Knights: Sir Bretton Darkwood. Tavish von Capulus, Ceric's son, vowed revenge and left for parts unknown.
Year 512 ER: Ceric Capulus, Conor's Seneschal, became the 2nd Baron upon the death of Conor in 512 ER. He died of old age in 527.
Year 496 ER:
Year 496 ER: Conor Arawyn was named the last military governor of Trellheim in 496, and was subsequently made the first Baron of Trellheim at the same time. "If you can conquer it, you get to be the Baron of it..."). Connor died in the year 512 of our realm.
Year 496 ER: Oliver Songbringer becomes the 1st Duke of Ashbury, upon its creation. The first Barony of Ashbury was Blythedale, originally a part of Rotaria.
Year 480 ER: Oliver Songbringer becomes the 1st Baron of Ashbury, upon its creation as a Barony, for his efforts in the Troll Wars. Trellheim was a military district until the founding of the Barony of Ashbury. With Trellheim are the Tower Hills. The initial settlers of Ashbury named these hills for the tall thin spires of rock that distinguish this area. Stone is quarried here for the construction of fortresses. These hills are also home to dwarves who mine it and trade its rarer minerals. The hills themselves peak at no more than two hundred feet, and seem insignificant next to the neighboring tall stone spires.