Report 22:01:08
From The Royal Secretariat to the Council of
the Queen
[Spoiler: This document contains many revelations concerning Symbaroum's world
and is aimed exclusively towards game masters. If you intend to play and not run
Symbaroum, you are encouraged to stop reading here.]
Year 22 After Triumph, month of Ynedar
The Royal Secretariat's Report nr 22:01:08
Report to the Queen's Council regarding the situation of the surrounding lands;
dictated by Ralgai of Melion at the Royal Secretariat, transcribed by clerc under
supervision by colonel Revina of Kalfas.
The tidings which have arrived in the last month bring no surprises but confirms
the view of a world wherein faint but not insignificant threats against our shining
realm slowly grow more powerful. No-one shall suggest that the present state of the
surrounding world is such that it should steal attention or resources from the
necessary work ongoing within Ambria's borders (Davokar and the plains
included). Nonetheless we wish to remind the Queen that the Secretariat, despite
faithful and diligent work, is experiencing certain difficulties in performing its
tasks, given the means currently at disposal.
Mannahem and Landfall
Once again it must be noted that one of three expected communiques from
Mannahem have failed to arrive. What is preventing Lea of Garlaka and her
entourage from communicating their progress remains unknown, but it may be
time to task someone with investigating (pending assurance of resources).
Earlier accounts of resurgent life in the ash wastes have gained additional weight.
Near Mannahem's only valid source of clean water, the ground shows signs of
absorbing the moisture. The report is difficult to read, written by unsteady hand
and clouded thought (unclear why), but can be read as also indicating fresh sprouts
found by the well, and that specimens have been send by rider for Yndaros (in such
case expected to arrive in two to three months).
Our efforts to reach Landfall remain fruitless. Nothing has been heard of the three
agents who took to the sea. Most likely they have succumbed along the way, at least
judging by Lea's earlier account (For reference: "Judging by the behaviour of winds,
waves, fog, and streams - Landfall has no desire to be visited.").
The Queen is yet again urged to consider permitting our researchers to approach
the men who have been sighted along the coast of the mainland near the island.
Naturally this is a risky proposition, as demonstrated by the encounter with the
giant accounted in a previous monthly report - these large yellow-pale man-things
are evidently heavily armed and very talented both as warriors and mystics.
However, if we wish to know more of Landfall, the ice pillars, and the stranded
stone ships these man-things may be our only chance.
The Dark Land
Success has not been any more forthcoming in darkened Lyastra. Opal storms still
ravage pitch black surrounding several of its destroyed shrines, and the storm
wrapped around ancient Ljusna even appears to have gained in strength and
circumference.
However, our agent in the deepest south-east has finally been in touch; a success
even if her report is full of darkness. She has encountered life, or rather unfile three villages whose unliving population seems to be attempting to reproduce their
long-destroyed lives. They plow furrows in lifeless earth, herd invisible sheep in
plains full of desiccated cadavers, set traps and dig pits despite never catching
anything other than wandering undead. The Queen can thereby be assured that the
once so brilliant population of Lyastra, our enemies, have received their just
punishment.
By a recent conversation with Sister Losadra of the Whip of Prios, the Black Cloaks
have made some progress in the hunt for the three disciples assumed to be alive (or
undead). She refused to give a clear answer. Our interpretation of what was said is
that the Twilight Huntsmen who are on the trail of Disciple Joab have sighted their
quarry but that he fled straight into the opal storm raging around Black Haaras. The
Queen is encouraged to task the Grand Master a mission to redouble his efforts to
find a method to quiet the storms or at the vest least make them navigable. May the
Arch-witch be of assistance in this?
Alberetor
From the old country there are reports of fighting around Oracle Rock. All other
land of Archduchess Alevia of Brigo has finally been darkened and her sons now
demand that the followers of Oreago should leave the region. As previously
reported however the oracle cult continues to grow. Despite strict rites of initiation
which claim the lives of at least four in five hopefulls, Oreago is estimated to have
more than a thousand, possibly as many as two thousand disciples - consisting of
the most able among those who have opted to remain south of the Titans. If the
duchess remains steadfast in her refusal to leave Castle Brigo, the Queen should
consider appealing to her sons, or dispatching troops to the defense of the noble
blood.
The spread of the Gray Death shows no signs of slowing down, rather the contrary.
Aside what's been previously mentioned, the earth-sickness has spread all the way
up to the eastern mountain regions, where springs now flow with chilling
midnight-water and the ground seems completely drained of nourishment. More
and more evidence stands against the theories associating the movement of the
undead hordes and the extent of the plague; naturally there is a link between the
movements of the dragouls and the spread of the sickness, but as the Gray Death
also strikes hard against regions free of undead the correlation is likely the opposite
- that the hordes are constantly moving towards fresher lands where they may still
find prey.
Finally it must be said that developments remain as previously reported regarding
the diminishing influx to the camp sites south of the Mountains. The old country is
now almost empty of living blood and only a fraction of those who have opted to
stay will have a chance to regret their choices before meeting death. Those waiting
for safe passage across the mountains can be counted in the tens of thousands,
divided among a few dozen tent camps, and their health - mental and physical grows worse and worse.
The Sanctuary
The most alarming report of the month comes from our legate in the Sanctuary.
Master Deledo has not met Lord Galarman II or any of his Councilors for over half a
year but his agents have through blackmail managed to acquire a number of secret
documents.
Assuming the documents are genuine, all signs point to a disastrous situation in the
Sanctuary. Despite generous promises of monetary reward, not a single human
woman has reported any pregnancy over the last three months, and only two
deliveries have resulted in living spawn - in both cases grossly malformed little
boys.
Another document accounts for the movements and growth of the Mastodon.
According to the Sanctuary's own hunting patrols, the abomination moves further
and further south, as slowly and inevitably as it grows in circumference. By the
latest calculations it will be visible from the city's walls within four years, maybe
even sooner than then.
The third circle wall will be completed in a few months, and the life-preserving
hymnals echo day and night from those towers that already stand completed, a
(likely vain) attempt to cleanse the western wind of plagues. Despite the wall: the
only reasonable analysis the Queen can make is that Lord Galarman's city is
teetering at the brink of ruin. All things point to isolationism and protectionism
only worsening only worsening and that the previously prospering trade state
withering in pace with fear growing rampant.
The Order's Land
The rapid growth reported from the Order's Land after the establishment of the
Office of the Theologist continues at an astonishing pace. It may indeed seem as if
these refugees and deserters, who once abandoned the Queen's realm following the
righteous ascension of Prios, have reached unjust prosperity under the unifying
rule of the Theologist. But much indicates that this is a delusion; that they indeed
are digging their own grave.
By report from our researchers, The Great Cleansing has been completed - all will
nature in the region has been cultivated and all grounds blessed, purified from
darkness in the name of the Young Gods. However, the same reports say that the
realm remains under assault from abominations, manifestations of the darkness
that has been driven from the earth and the streams according to the local priests.
Whatever their nature, these blight beasts rarely have time to rampage far before
one of the Executioner's squadrons successfully slay them or manage to drive them
into the Mastodon's domain to the south.
The Theologist and his judges have still not completed the law-book The Dictates of
the Young Gods, but some of its contents have already been enforced and there is
no mistaking the supreme position of the Earthmother. Perversion and excess are
seen as the most heinous sins man can express - simply put to consciously deviate
from or exploit the Natural Order. In other words, from what we can tell so far the
Theologist raises nature over man and subjugates all ambition to fully utilise the
holy gifts from Prios. And they are surprised at the appearance of abominations!?
We must follow these developments closely. Our hopes that the Order's Land could
be developed into an ally against the clans and the Iron Pact are no longer as strong
as they once were.
The City-States
As we have now lost contact with our second established research cell, and as the
three new ones have not yet had the time to develop their contact nets, we have
little more than rumours regarding the situation among the City-States. Nothing
indicates that the front of the war has moved, neither north nor south, but it is said
that the hunt for changelings has intensified in the border-states Dern, Koral, and
Regol. The reports that a method has been found to identify changelings even in the
cradle have so far not been confirmed.
Another rumour, heard in the Sanctuary, says that yet another city-state has
withdrawn from the Union of Cities and that this would be the previously named
Koral - the state which so far has born the responsibility for the Union's central line
along the front. Should this prove to be true, and if Koral is also in negotiation (as
indicated by previous accounts) with princess Mon-Eo Ainon and several other
already-independent city-states this may have severe effects down the line.
Keep in mind that these reports remain unverified and highly doubtful, but should
the Union of Cities fall it will most certainly spell the end of the war. A new accord,
championed by Koral's power-hungry Chancellor Aldamal, gazing east instead of
west, is possibly one of the most threatening scenarios we can currently outline.
Plans for the removal of the chancellor should be readied with haste, perhaps even
executed shortly.
Another report heard with concern among the priests of the Order's Land, which
speaks against any end to the Eternal War, is that a new academy having been
established in Rofeld, the city-state south of Koral. This could of course be a lie
forged by the Theologist for propaganda. However, the claim that a new mystical
tradition has been developed based on the study of Alchemy must be taken
seriously - not only because it (as the priests say) is entirely devoted to "the
perversion of the Natural Order" but because our own use of fire-rods and rocket
batteries have proof of the devastation the alchemists of the city-states can
accomplish.
Conclusion
We can conclude that the information we have acquired over the past month is
both vague and in many regards concerning, bordering on alarming. The Queen
herself must stand as the light in our world, along with Prios who adores our
Nightbane as deeply as He Himself is adored.
Should the Secretariat be permitted to make an analysis, the external threat
towards the realm is low but rising along several fronts. The Queen should be
vigilant against travellers from distant lands, especially those residing in Yndaros:
those who move among the refugees to recruit labour for the Sanctuary; those
emissaries from the Order's Land who - invited or not - guest the Cathedral of the
Martyr and the monastery school; those ambassadors from the city-state sent to the
court and guilds of the capital. Yes, there are dangers in Davokar and the world
around us, but the Queen is urged to keep a watchful eye on events within Ambria's
borders, maybe even put aside resources for a new division of the Secretariat
dedicated to the finding and mapping of domestic threats. That is, unless the efforts
of the Twilight Friars are seen as entirely adequate.
Finally we wish to once again request increased resources for the purpose of an
expedition to the Archipelago. It is increasingly obvious that something must have
happened to the previously desolate craggy islands. The most recent string of
interesting rumours say that the Order's Land have staged a
not-entirely-unsuccessful expedition there and that the sole survivor confirmed
parts of previous accounts from sailors and explorers. Granted, he is said to have
been "beside himself" or even "seriously disturbed", but he claims to have
wandered through dense forests full of life, of kinds never seen before - creatures
he called "the bear spider", "flying fog-cat", "the lindwurm-woman", and "the
mire-lads". According to the report he is also to have said - in one and the same
sentence - that a) the islands are uninhabited, and b) there are bands of elven
hunters on the land.
The man screamed all of this outside the chapel of the Executioner in the
Temple-city and expressed the same strain of madness we have come to recognize
from everyone that has witnessed the Archipelago. But, again, the Secretariat
humbly asks if we may afford not to investigate this more closely. Especially
considering the contents of Report 22:06:12, titled "The Fluctuating Stability of
Existence In the Silt of Black Pitch Mire.".
Your humble servant,
Ralgai of Melion