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Observer:
The tranquil morning in Daugas was spoiled by an uneasy message. The guards from the towers of the main gate informed mayoress Lyra of praetorian troops arraying in front of the city. Peculiar behavior of the praetorians astonished the mayoress. Generally the praetorians keep guarding their domains in the North, they never move out so forth South. The preparations for the defence of the city were in progress, when another messenger reached the mayoress. Another troop of fighters joined the praetorians. Evidently the two armies were extrinsic, the praetorians, however, willingly obeyed the other army's biddings. The first wave of attacks was harmless, the city guards had no troubles fighting off. They even managed to make their way into the attacker's encampment. Suddenly, things started to change. More and more members of the other group started to appear among the praetorians. The city guards were either pushed back or slaughtered. With the diminished defence, the mayoress had but little to do. She let the gates close and began arranging barricades. She hoped to hold Daugas until help would come. She couldn't. The praetorians revitalised by the other army adn their insectual minions were oppressing the resistance barricade after barricade. The situation was havenless. At last, Lyra decided. She gathered the remaining guards and teared into the attacking regiment.
Gurdok's elite force:
Fools, I have never seen such pisspoor barricades, our cannons dispersed them to swarf. And that whore. Bah! She thought she could stand up to us. Shame our lord wanted her for the execution, I would have slit her throat right in the battlefield. Damn praetorians, if they weren't bribed, they wouldn't mind me undercutting that slut. O, why couldn't we at least slaughter the city lot. If they'll keep staring at me like that I'll hew them to pieces!
Gurdok's announcement:
By this day you, your possession and your lives are mine. Whoever attempts to stand up to me or my troops, will be crucified to death without mercy. I proclaim myself the tyrant of Daugas.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007)
"We can't just put up with this! He slaughtered the guards, executed Lyra and we're just sitting here! Come on, stand up, there's not enough of his men here to flog all of us!" the Banker howled, but only a few of passers-by payed attention to him. "Who's going with me to stand up to Gurdok? WHO?" The more people stood by his side, the more the Banker yawled encouraging the folk. "Come, grab your weapons and we'll assail..." The Banker's body fell down to the ground. The Gurdok's soldier raised his eyes of the dead body to the bewildered crowd. "You are all charged with plot against Gurdok. If you will not give me the names of others participating on the conspiracy of your own accord, I will have you locked up in our iron maiden. The guard gazed at the exit of the gate, where another one was just taking in the iron coffin with thorns inside. Speak then, at once!
Gurdok's announcement: I hereby close the First Daugas bank and forbid any gatherings around. May this be a warning. Your further eventual disloyalty will flow into much far-reaching consequences!
(author Mahdi, Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007)
Medea awakens to an early morning, when King's first man, general Dorien, is rushing forth the forests surrounding the city. Yes, this year's hunt will be succesful. The forest is full of animals. The hunters will surely be satisfied. He spinned round to return to the city at full tear. At the gates Erathea, a witch of Medea, already awaits him. "You look like a cheerful young boy, friend. It's just a stupid chase." Dorien overskipped Erathea's digging at him and calmly continued down town. Why does he have to work with such a nudnick, he thought. In the afternoon, everything was prepared. The hunters were just waiting for Dorien to call the tournament begun. "Our forests are full of deer, may the one bringing the best kill be rewarded. Let the hunt begin!" The hunters set off for the Medea forest and Erathea laughed at them secretly. "We shall see how you'll do at the King's ball dumbies." The hunt was succesful. None of the hunters returned without a quarry. But only a few brought the geniuine daisy.
The whole lot moved to the dining tables. The feast was immense. Meals and drinks of all kind. Only the King wouldn't show up. "So, gentlemen. You have proven your hunting skills, now the time has come to prove yourself at the dance-hall." Erathea uttered and she forced the hunters to the parquet. The feast was going well, when the King's brisked up shouting: "Sir, Sir! I bring bad news. Daugas was taken. It's citizens enslaved. Lyra, she's dead, Sir." "What? What happened? There, drink some water and speak." Dorien replied. The spy drinked and continued.
Daugas was taken by Gurdok, the tyrant. His troops are supported by praetorians and the rumour is they are arming for another city. "Then we have nothing to wait for," Dorien made himself heard. "You, all of you, rejoicing with us today, I demand your help. We will send three of us to inform our allies. Berserks, air mages and Alcarinque must be embattled. The rest of you, come with me. We will have to lay out our borders. We will show Gurdok the royal city of Medea is not obtainable.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007)
Harbour City lives again, the brokers are rubbing their hands and Norick's got a full plate. A purchase order came from an innominate customer for weaponry and where else can one get the best goods if not from the Lios artisans. If only their guild wasn't so outdated, both sides could profit. But the proctor Cristian doesn't deliver his men's goods, unless he is certain of its final routing. Nowadays it's different. The order is grand and so is its value and so proctor Cristian acquiesces and prepares a great caravan on the way to Harbour City. It all gets abroad soon and thugs and muggers get wind of the heavy cargo - and offscourings know no bounds. They are sending over scouts on the way from Lios to Harbour City and they are planning an ambush. Meanwhile proctor Cristian invokes the villagers to help protecting the cargo. A lot of them came for the vision of the bountiful reward.
They set forth from the town gates, but only walked a few steps to hear the shouts of battle. Snow was covered by the blood of fallen guardians and the murderers harvested on the cargo and equipment. The esprit de corps went away quickly and only seven of them gathered at the town again, willing to get the cargo to Harbour City on a ship across the plains and eastern forests. When the cargo from not West, but East arrived, the night was getting closer. Norick bitched about the disability of the guards to bring the cargo, but payed them. Then he departed out of the city walls to buy the remaining part of the cargo from the murderers under price and sacked up. It turned out to be a very succesful evening for Norick and the murderers.
(Author Tanaros, Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007)
Gurdok's guards noticed a group of somewhat useful adventureres on their inspection round the city and they send them to find out what's happening in the West. Most of them arrived at Medea where they couldn't discover anything curious, only Harden managed to come upon a new structure in the forests, which would probably have to appear lately. A few medea soldiers stood around the guard tower and a borderline was layed out between Medea and Daugas.
(author Tanaros, Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007)
Yesterday a group of daugas citizens marched towards the city castle to make a plead to Gurdok to reopen the western bank. At first Gurdok rejected them baldly, but as more of adventurers gathered he asked them to prove their loyalty to him. The adventurers disposed of three leaders of the rebelion in bank that lead to its closing. Their second quest was to carry a cargo of poisoned meal to the guards of the Medea guard tower and to act as delegates of the Berserks guild.
Unfortunately the necromancer Alexia greedily accepted the package and, unwary as he was, he made his way to Medea and tried to deliver the meal there. Fortunately the guards considered him a fool and sent him away. After long bummels he and Maxell finally managed to find the tower, but they turned themselves in as Maxell brought the package from East, the berserks guild being in the south-west. Also a few of the adventurers warned the guards that the meal was poisoned.
They didn't manage to complete their task and gave Gurdok away. He disavowed the crime and flew into a rage. The expectations of reopening of the bank are thus for some time to remain buried.
(author Tanaros, Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007)
"The plague is spreading, sir. We have to leave Daugas. The city is lost!"
"Nonsense!" Gurdok replied and knocked the bold guard down. "Daugas is my city. Close the bridge so that it doesn't get here. Let the frog-eaters perish. I've got more important work to do than solving their problems." Gurdok turned away from the guard and marched towards his throne. "Call the forerunner!"
(author Mahdi, Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007)
"Call the forerunner!" Gurdok exclaimed and a few minutes later a young maid entered the throne hall. "Here, take this message and deliver it to Norick, quick! Time is pressing." The maid took over the message, mounted her horse and made a dash for Harbour City.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007)
"Hurry up, crew! We ain't got a whole day. It has to be in Daugas today." Norick roared as he bustled the hired forces. The chests were heavy and even the strongest of scrubs had troubles carrying one without getting out of breath. "Load it on the carriage! Go get another one!" It took a while, but at last the chests from Norick's cab in the casino were all gone. "Okay, here's the money. I'll take care about the rest myself." Norick uttered and set to herd the guards to accompany the cargo. Three Harbour guards came out of the city gates to take the road. They were ambushed by orcs at the first crossroad. Two of them payed their lives for the cargo. Fortunately errant mercenaries appeared out of nowhere and without a word joined the party. Captain could continue. He wasn't sure about his companions, and so he was glad that Gurdok sent one of his men to keep an eye on the transportation. The road went on faster with allies abeam. Soon they reached the Daugas city gates. Captain made sure the cargo would reach Gurdok and then returned to Harbour City. "Sir, the package from Harbour City arrived." One of the Gurdok's soldiers informed his master. "Good. Very good." Gurdok replied and seemed to be relaxed more then ever. "What about that gang behind you, soldier?" The soldier glanced back, stared at the mercenaries and just throwed in: "They joined me en route. They helped, but I didn't promise them anything." Gurdok frowned. "Then let them be gone!" The guards forced the mercenaries out of the castle and Gurdok went back to pleasuring his harlots.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007)
A heavy smoke was sweeping over the postmeridian Daugas city. "It's burning, sir, the city is on fire!" Gurdok's soldier brisked up to inform his master. "The townsfolk are burning down the dumps. Rats are dying wholesale."
Gurdok perused the city from one of the castle towers. There were clouds of smoke rising from the streets, binding to a large dark column above the city. "It seems I underestimated the frog-eaters. I'm beginning to like them. Open the western bank, so that they can see I appreciate initiative. And now hurry! We've ought to get ready!"
(author Mahdi, Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007)
The castle is alive once more. Warriors from all over the Daugas tyranny came together. Armours clanging, weapons jingling, the feel of fight in the air, but something is different. Men don't die, women don't cry. They are cheering and blustering. You see, all men came for one thing. To join the duties at Gurdok. The recruit officer was a muscular middle-aged man, somedeal snappy. The band of 'wanderers' as he called them was evidently annoying him. 'Another!' a shriek came from his table and the routine proceeded. Name?! Experiences?! Family?! Diseases?! At the first look the selection looked pretty simple, however only a few men got in the army. The recruit officer was far from a good mood that evening. He didn't even care to show the dormitories to the neophytes and he went away. We'll see what he can get from those snivellers.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007)
As every half a year general Dorien went to the open sea, to sail a long way to Shienar and collect the taxes from the colony of Medea. As he was expecting possible troubles in light of events in Daugas, he turned at medea venturers. Erathea didn't hide her critical view of such journeys that relied on wanderers and adventurers.
They set sail from Medea docks and debarked at Shienar sea-coast. General sent the venturers with a writing to the city and stayed at the ship. The gate, however, was closed. Guards were at the walls with mistress Josefine among them. When the venturers asked for admittance and taxes, she declined. Shienar had no longer any intentions of paying taxes to Medea. In reply, the venturers tried a couple of attacks at the gate, but all of them were vain.
What general feared has come true - Shienar took advantage of the enfeeblement of Medea and become independent. Only time will show were this will lead.
(author Tanaros, Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007)
The inn's doors spread wide open as an already jolly tradesman entered. "Inn! What's new inn Daugas?! Still ratz in their street? Beggars making their nests in the dumps? Come on, tell me!" The tradesman shut the door noisily and sat next to the first barfly he could see. "So, there, old-fellow, what will you tell me? I'll buy ye a brandy," he waved at the inn-keeper that was already making his way towards them with a cheap brandy in his hand. The old man drank and began to speak. "Well, everything is quite calm lately. No plague, no executions. Peace and love everywhere! Sometimes I wonder if Gurdok doesn't leave the city secretly. But unfortunately, he didn't. His soldiers are still occupying the castle. Well as long as he's hiding up in there, we're just okay, if you ask me!" The old man raised his voice so that the whole inn could hear him. "Golden age, I tell ye. Golden age." Endorsement spread throughout the inn.
(author Mahdi, Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008)
"He's escaped?! How is that possible?! Close the city gates and kill him when captured. He cannot get out." Gurdok yelled at his soldiers. Meanwhile Singlespirit burst into a man in a shabby robe on the Daugas bridge. "Sorry," the man apologized and ran off. "Wait, are you alright? Can I help you?" Singlespirit replied. "I've no time. I've got to go. I must hide. Can you get me somewhere safe?" Singlespirit smiled at him and took him to his flat in Daugas hostel. "Speak then, what happened to you?" Singlespirit encouraged the man. "I am a spy for Medea. I've an important message for general Dorien. But as I can see my situation is hopeless. I've no chance of getting out of the city. Gurdok has closed the city gates and his mages are blocking the teleportation magic. You're my only hope. Can you help me?" Singlespirit gazed at the man and nodded. "Gurdok is about to attack Harbour City. Medea is supporting this town with its army. It is thus necessaryto inform them. If you can take this message to the guard tower next to the Berserks guild. Take this money. Hire a group of adventurers to help you get to the tower," the man unshrouded his robes and pulled out a bag full of gold. "Wait. How do I get out of the city with the gates closed?" Singlespirit asked. "They will open them as soon as I'm dead," explained the man as he was shutting the doors behind himself and running straight to the first soldier nearby. That ended his attempt by a single hit of his halapartna. Shocked Singlespirit couldn't bear the situation and started to shout the secret information out to the whole world. His dead body fell to the ground right after.
"We got him, sir. Him and the man he was talking to." the Soldier bowed and Gurdok nodded. "Very well, then. Gather your men and hire mercenaries. Their time has come. Attack Harbour City."
Gurdok's army has reached the city. Chaos gained control over the Harbour City guards. The soldiers were fussing around and it was obvious they weren't expecting the attack. "Huh. What a crew. Is there no leader?" one of the Gurdok's captains laughed. "CHARGE!" The army with a rig had no troubles breaking into the city through the closed gates. The fight took place in the main streets of the city. There was no sign of Norick. "To the ship!" shrieked one of the men. "He's aboard the ship!" The soldiers acknowledged the information and turned as one man towards the dockside. Gurdok himself showed up when they were about to break onto the deck of the ship. "Get out, Norrick, you slimy asshole!" he roared. "Gurdok, friend, we have deal!" replied Norrick from behind the railing. "The deal is over! I do not need you any longer. Kill him!"
(author Mahdi, Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008)
"Gurdok! He's making for Golden Mines Village!" a little boy screamed in the Daugas bank. "I've heard the captain telling his men to get ready, because the way to Golden is long. The war is here." The townsfolk gathered around the boy stood still as if they were unable to accept his words. They recovered their wits when they heard the clop of horses next to the bank. Tens of cavaliers were pushing on to the main Daugas gate. Many adventurers and mercenaries joined the troop. Perhaps they hoped to get some of Golden Mines riches. The road was long and they were ambushed by thieves a couple times, but they handled these easily. Finally, they saw the walls of Golden Mines Village. Suddenly, the whole party stopped. Mercenaries were confused and started to remonstrate about getting this far. Captain didn't take any notice of the protests and kept giving orders to his men. The mercenaries were just moving away when abruptly a group of praetorians attacked from the North. "Charge!" the captain yelled and his men whipped out as one man. The mercenaries quickly grabbed their weapons and tried to catch up with the soldiers. After a while the attack was fought off. "Sir, there's an abundant division of praetorians approaching from the nothern path. Our arrays are not plentiful enough. We won't be able to fight them off." Captain received the message from the scout and send his eagle back to Daugas. "Back off behind the city walls. We have to endure untill the reinforcement arrives!" Preparations for defence of the village were high when groups of praetorians started to march from the forest. "Hold the gates!" captain roared as he was praying for the early arrival of the reinforcement. The conflict at the walls took sime time after which a group of Gurdoks soldiers attacked from South. "They're encircled! Make sure you chase them all the way to snow plains!" the captain shrieked as the army began to move. The praetorians began to loose their minds as they were collectively fleeing. "Spare no pains!" The army was following the marauders all the way to the praetorian colony. "Destroy it, raze it to the ground." the captain ordered and the troops obeyed. The conquering was slow, but at last the colony fell. The captain ordered his troops to fallback. The mercenaries thieved the treasures of preatorians and silence and death occupied the colony. One of the mercenaries came to halt and gazed at the remains of the colony. "What did actually happen? How is it possible that Gurdok defended the Golden Mines? How is it, that he attacked the praetorians that used to support him? How is it that there were so many men in such a small village?"
(author Mahdi, Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008)
Whilst Gurdok was seemingly resting on his oars and enjoying easily gained riches, Erathea, the highest Medea mage, managed to approach the giants and acquire support of the pagan colony of the Ice Valley, and to get a few spies into Gurdok's troops. With Harbour City taken over by Gurdok, Medea has seeked and found support in the sand city of Alcarinque and in the Shienar dominium (which used to be a colony of Medea), assuring sufficiency of raw materials and funding for training new soldiers and obtaining new equipment. This, however, is very uneasy for Josefine of Shienar, and, according to some of the scouts, messengers were sent to the dominium by Gurdok and they were answered secretly. The King of Medea is an old, democratically thinking man and regardless, as a symbol of resistance against Gurdok, is a target of assassins. He is thus hardly seen or heard, however, the rumour in the streets of Medea says there is going to be reopening of the theater, with a play written by noone else but the King himself, where he could show up. The tenor of the city is lead by the highmage Erathea together with general Dorien.
(author Pelor, Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009)
A youngster in a red winter cloak was just carvign a corpse of a stinking troll when he noticed shadows of figures only a few steps ahead of him in the mist. He crawled behind a clump of pine trees covered in snow and peered cautiously. Indeed, just a few steps of him a couple of huge warriors stood in a circle, settling something. Perhaps a group of adventurers going for a troll hunt? Perhaps he could join them... However, why do they crawl behind these chests, looking towards the Marketplace and drawing something in the snow on the ground? It could be a plot, occured to him soon. He had to warn the guard at once. He crawled back untill he was sure they wouldn't see or hear him through the mist of fog and ran back to his ship at the seashore. In his hurry he managed to hurl down a few crates of unknown content as he wharfed with the ship in the ice-cold water. Confound it! He bailed out of the ship and rushed towards the first guard he could see and sent him the word. The guard only laughed and sent him to the party. The young fellow wasn't sure what this was supposed to mean, but he believed the guards wouldn't be involved in a plot. He set forth the gathering just in time to see the warriors passing axes to each other and making their way towards him. He stopped in disbelief, cleared the path and let the boiling crowd pass him by - oddly enough, none of the warriors touched him, one or two of them even winked at him. One of these was his friend. What the hell is this supposed to mean? He made his way across the bridge, to the place where he first spotted. They were here with no other but Seraph, the protector of Harbour City. What's he doing here, at the Marketplace? He explained it all in a while. According to Seraph, the Marketplace should be done away with, and the material used on constructing a new village called Hoggard. It's planned to simplification of the business journeys from and to Harbour City. The young man seized an axe and a saw and came onside.
The Marketplace was no longer able to gain its subsistence and was found unnecessary. The new village of Hoggard is focussed on fishing and the roumer is that an excellent blacksmith lives there. Unfortunately, the nearest mines are occupied by trolls and cyclops, however, the venturers and caravans will always find a bed to rest and have their carriages repaired. The Hoggard village is under the protection of Harbour City.
(author Yaluk, Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009)
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