The Flagship

[VonEbs 1224]

Ebs removes the final pages from the press, and surveys the stacks of paper he has created. Picking them up, about 40 sets of pages, each with "The Flagship" elegantly written at the top. He deposits them in his previously empty satchel, and carries them out of the Mali'Aheral district down the courtyard bellow Bravepaw's home. He sets them in a chest, where any can take them, and walks away, content that his work has just begun.

As Mali walk by, some pick up a copy of the publication, and begin to read it. It contains the following:

The Flagship

vol. I (1/12/13)

Editor’s Note:

Motion. All it takes is one step, a step forward into the unknown. Then, we boldly put one foot in front of the other, gathering speed, making progress. By founding The Flagship, I am taking a step forward. It may not be the first, and it certainly will not be the last. You and I step forward ignorant of what is to come, and yet, that is exactl why we must proceed. My task is to keep you informed along the way. I will tell you stories, reporting the progress being made in Malinor and around the world, stories that may shed a bit of light on the path ahead. No doubt, both you and I will stumble and fall, but we will get back up,

I am christening this publication The Flagship after the largest ship in the fleet, which heads the charge into battle. We will sail forward into uncharted waters, to confront unknown enemies and weather terrible storms. The journey might be tough, and we do not know where we are heading. The journey itself shall be our focus, not just the destination. Along the way, we will fight ignorance, the condition that causes so many of the problems that plague our society. So, step aboard, our journey begin.

~Ebs

Contents:

For Now, Peace.

New High Prince?

Make New Plans for your Spiritual Needs

Threatened by Fire

Interesting Signs

A Syndicated Attack

For Now, Peace

Just last seen, Godfrey. the Holy Oren Emperor, issued an ultimatum to the High Council of the Holy Princedom of Malinor which contained eight items that the Emperor mandated that the High Council pledge to uphold. Among them was to censor anyone speaking out against the Holy Oren Empire within Malinor, to cease all ties with the Kingdom of Evrevor, which the Emperor views as a rebellious faction, and the handing over of any fugitives within Malinor’s borders. A response was recently delivered by Kolyat, Oceas, and Khel. It is not clear what was within this document, but it has been handed off for Godfrey to view, and the Holy Oren Empire’s army is holding position, not advancing towards the border. Life in both Malinor and New Arethor has remains tense, but there was a collective sigh of relieve in Malinor when the news that the Council was in peace talks with the Emperor’s aides. A high level Malinorian official commented that a rebel may have come forward and confessed, that in fact, there are no rebels operating within Malinor. To be certain, all Mali await Godrey’s decision aware of how much is at risk for Malinor.

~Ebs

A New High Prince?

The Peace delegation to the Holy Oren Empire was headed by Prince Kolyat, who according to multiple sources, has been elected High Prince of Malinor by the High Council. The seat was previously held by High Prince Bravepaw, who has been absent as of late, having not been spotted on the mountain for several days.

Kolyat is the first Mali’Aheral to hold the revered position of High Prince. He lives in the Mali’Aheral district with his wife Larien, and among other things, was instrumental in the reuniting of Haelun’or with Malinor. Prince Kolyat has been a driving force on the Council as of later, and is well liked by many Mali. There is no confirmation as to whether Bravepaw will retain his spot on the Council, or why the change in leadership was necessary, but the first few seeds will be a strong indicator of what is to come in a Kolyat administration.

~Ebs

Make New Plans for Your Spiritual Needs

In a recent incident incolving the Lich Evark, Malinor’s chapel has been destroyed, and is not longer safe for any silent reflection or services. A Lich is a magical being, not quite alive, but definitely not dead. They thirst for power, and this is just the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving this lich. This one underlines deeper rooted problems with the security of Malinor and the way we deal with harmful magic users.

Evark is feared by many in Malinor and Oren, in the latter they simply crush his skull every time he sets foot in the city of New Arethor. He now chooses to plague Malinor, and though the High Council is exploring options for containing or destroying him, things remain bleak as it will require powerful magic, which is in short supply these days.

~Ebs

Threatened by Fire

In the valley below Malinor and Urguan, lava continues to slowly spread outward, consuming the farmland, homes, and forests that once stood in it current location, Most noticeable are the remnants of dwarven shops and homes which have been decimated by the volcano. Large amounts of ash coat parts of the valley, and travel to the Vale is becoming increasingly perilous due to lava flooding the primary path.

Additionally, Pigmen have infested the valley, offering both opportunity and terror for travellers. Pigmen are the only known source of gold in Elysion, as the earth is too hard to mine for the valuable mineral. Pigmen are usually passive, but attack in vicious packs when provokes, proving quite deadly even to the most skilled warrior or hunter. Be advised, travel is extremely dangerous, and as conditions worsen, considerations are being made as to what action the High Council of Malinor and the High King of Urguan will take if the mountain became inhospitable. Much farmland has already been lost, and elves, normally preferring to live in harmony with nature, are crowded increasingly righter onto limited real estate in the mountain refuge of Malinor. The tunnel to the Kingdom of Evrevor has recently flooded with lava, so now, the only routes to the coast is to walk through the Mali’Ame district or to walk around the mountain. Ghasts have been spotted floating closer to Malinor, and there is no way to know if and when the lava will cease to flow, and how much additional destruction will cause. The increase volcanic activity has had no discernable effect on the cast amounts of snow falling on Malinor, providing no relief for Mali from the biting cold.

~Ebs

Interesting Signs

Written on signs, two messages were left near the stake where Oren had recently burnt a so called “heretic.” One of the notes said, “The Snake God says we should aid those who seek change and the other, “I second. The burned believe.” The former is attributed to someone going by the alias “M” and the latter was left by someone named Anakulos. Upon discovery, soldiers in Oren angrily tore them down, claiming that they were herecy in no uncertain terms.

The freedom of expression is nonexistent in the Holy Oren Empire, and anyone who speaks out against the Emperor, Nobility, or Clergy is summarily executed. Such policies exist to a lesser extent in Urguan, but in contrast, Malinor and the War Uzg are fairly open societies, where one does not fear reprisal for vocal dissent. It is for that reason this publication will not be distributed in Oren, for the fear of safety for formerly or currently involved in producing The Flagship.

On numerous occasions, the courts of Oren have proven to be quite direct and brutally effective as crushing dissent. Being hauled in front of Oren’s judges inspires fear, even if you have committed no crime and should have nothing to fear for. There have been numerous reports of innocent people being executed, being framed for crimes, and there are many who simply flee Oren when accused of a crime. As seen in this last seed, the Holy Oren Empire will do anything to ensure there is no dissent.

~Ebs

A Syndicated Attack

Very recently, the Syndicate, a shady criminal organization, launched an attack on Malinor, easily breaking into the city and threatening it’s citizens. There were no reported deaths, but mali continue to be on edge, as the constant cycle of attacks and the threat of invasion has taken its toll on the sanity of the mali.

The High Council seems wary of taking on yet another problem, with good reason. There seems to be no solution the the problem the Syndicate poses, as they reside outside of the the reach of the both the Sentinels and Legion, constantly changing positions and spreading chaos wherever they choose with relative ease. National security is constantly in the minds of all Mali, and things continue to look bleak,

Editor’s Note:

If you are interested in working for The Flagship or would like to report on a story in Malinor or abroad, please contact me, Ebs, via messenger bird. (Please pm on the forums, I do not bite... often.) Also, if you or your business is interested in advertising it’s products or services, please contact me via mesenger bird for more information and pricing.

Many thanks:

~Ebs

[Quavinir_Twiceborn 1050]

((could you possibly edit it and say it was my chapel? I worked realy hard for it, and I had ownership over it... It wasnt "Malinor's Chapel" it was "My chapel"...))

[DRAGON117op 34]

((Why did Bravepaw have to be on a cruise... lol))

[Stag 3230]

((could you possibly edit it and say it was my chapel? I worked realy hard for it, and I had ownership over it... It wasnt "Malinor's Chapel" it was "My chapel"...))

((It was the chapel of Malinor that you worked in.

A miner who works for the nation doesn't take ownership of that mine))

[Drelik 865]

(( dude, why do you assume that it was the syndicate that attacked, first of all, syndicate dosent exsist anymore, second, everyone in that raid, only one had a bandana, and he had a helmet on, please dont assume/meta.))

[Dr. Eggnog 74]

((I Propose we contain Evark like a Keter class SCP))

[Aelu / Rel (Combustionary) 1540]

Relgard takes a copy, nodding as he reads it.

"Interesting. Good to see at least somebody still logs these things..."

[VonEbs 1224]

(( rply, I will make assumptions any damn time I want to. I did not meta, more than 1 elven prince told me it was the syndicate, so, for me to say it was not the Syndicate would be meta. If he was wearing a red bandana, it would be visible, or else, why the hell would he be wearing a bandana? Bandanas are meant to cover your face, you do not wear one if you have a full helm on. Case dismissed.))

[emberhard 82]

Emberhard takes a copy, stroking his mustache as he reads on before slapping it lightly with the back of his hand "I like this!"

His eyes continue to scan the page as he wanders off....

[Mercury199 86]

Kolyat picks up a copy and begins to read, a faint smile plays across his lips as he replaces the document, finished his reading.

"Splendid work Ebs. I hope we shall continue to see updated volumes."

His soft words, are his parting from the chest as he strolls off.