SGT805-3

Editorial Room for the Winter 805 Edition

Quotable Quotes

• "Standing next to Engalton is the worst thing I ever did!" - Keesha
• "The only ligitimate use of the Calimar is for disposal of uncontrolled gods and Balrogs... that doesn't include me." - Engalton
• "Please tell the lady Isil Eth that Serendipity, the Burgrave of Burgalfen, is here on business." - Seren (to a palace flunky)
  "Namedropper." - Tussock (to no one in particular)

What's Hot, What's Not

Hot

• Balrogs & Titans

Not

• Undead Posessed Balrogs & Titans

Recent Adventures / News in Brief

Rashak's Herald of Doom

Rashak's posessed herald of our doom was no idle threat. It seems that the guild has annoyed her somewhat and she decided it was time for us to go. Through various Necromantic workings, she had organised an undead-posessed Titan to drop stars on us, an undead-posessed Balrog and an undead flayed Black Dragon to burn the remnants, and a massive an undead-posessed Kraken to send tidal waves to wash the land clear.

Her plans were foiled by Amber, Braegon, Engalton, Keesha, Morgan, TDP, and Vychan. The Balrog was freed from posession and convinced not to scour the earth with fire. The Dragon was resurrected and then laid to rest. The Kraken was driven into the deeps by a leviathan white whale. And the Titan was freed in time to help return the stars to the firmament.

Columns and Articles

Book of Records

After breaking his previous record of 1 1/2 miles, Braegon lays claim to a new distance record for the spell of Tunnelling - 14 Miles in 7 Hours. "I could have gone further claimed Braegon, but we needed to go straight down and the switchbacks slowed things down." stated Braegon during a brief break from therapy for his Restorative addiction.

Signs and Portents

Fire in the Sky

Those looking south from the Brastor region on the night of Duesday 8th Fruit who saw fire in the southern skies were not observing Dragons battling, but the birth of a new volcano at the northern end of the Filgiso forest.

After its initial spectacular birth, the volcano quickly settled to a dull glow but not before burning the surrounding area of the Filgiso.

The new mountain has been named Mt Aliliel in honour of the Fire Spirit that stood guard over the Shape of Fire these past millenia.

The Sky was Falling

Astrologers who rely on the night skies were found to have many inaccuracies in their readings for this season. Several even included references to the sky falling.

It has since been confirmed that part of the sky was falling, but it is all better now. Except for 3 stars which seem a little diminished by their excursion towards Seagate, Newhaven, and the Lunar Empire.

Eagle's Talons Destroyed

The private Aquilan adventure known as the Eagle's Talons has ceased to exist as a fighting force. Altgrav Lorencz of Ichztmi, Aquila had brought almost 500 Aquilan knights and men-at-arms to Seagate to join the fight against the Dark Circle "Before it was all over". Lorencz said they had all rebelled against their formal military training because it "was taking too long". The Talons arrived in Seagate just before Michealmass, only to ride out the next day on learning of the assassination of the Duke of Aquila - it took 2 more days for their 1000 servants and baggage train to finish leaving. Traveling up to 50 miles a day, they arrived in Brastor Holding so quickly that no one had any plans for their use.

The Talons journeyed east where they met with a troop of the 3rd (Algain) Heavy Cavalry Regiment of Eltrandor, who were systematically destroying some Orcs. Not to be outdone, the Talons joined in; shattering a small force of Ogres. The Talons rode further southeast to Chapel Crossing, where a Liaison Officer from the Regiment suggested they turn back for supplies. Instead they went south, hoping to find more Orcs. They destroyed or drove off four more groups of Orcs and three of Goblins over the next two days. The tempo was picking up, and so they continued towards the South Downs.

The Talons were down to perhaps three hundred unwounded when they entered the pass leading to Gryphon Valley. ore and more enemy were being sited: it would be an interesting afternoon. The troops had to crowd together as the valley narrowed, and the wings were attacked by missile fire from Orcs on either side. Cresting a small rise, the Talons saw an entire army of Dark Circle troops camped in the bowl-shaped valley below, with the battle banners of a senior General on a ridge just beyond. The Talons could have turned and fought their way back to Brastor, and some argued for that.

The Talons prayed for strength, lowered their pennoned lances, and charged.

The walls of the valley closed in, the enemies were now in front of them and on either side. The smallness of the Talon's force was all too obvious as the 8,000 Orcs, Ogres and Goblins formed up in a crescent and waited for dinner to ride up.

The sound of their meeting was excruciating: metal crashing onto metal, horses, men and goblins shrieking in agony. Amazingly the Talons smashed through the main opposition force, and charged the General's camp. Passing out the other side, the Talons formed up, turned around and charged back again!

And back through the disrupted Orcs, Ogres and Goblins.

But by now the missiles and darts, the spears and even spells cast at them, had taken tremendous toll and too few Talons were left to mount a decent charge. Altgraf Lorencz therefore led the remaining 96 Talons (56 riding wounded and 43 dead tied to their horses) back down the pass and so eventually to Brastor.

The court poet, Lord Ninyson, composed the following to commemorate the deeds of the Eagles Talons that autumnal day when a Dark Circle general and his mages were destroyed: no further enemy attacks occurred in this area for another two weeks.

The Charge of the Eagle's Talons

1.
Twice a mile, now a mile,
Half a mile onward,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the Three hundred.
"Forward, Eagles Talons!
"Charge for their banners!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the Three hundred.
2.
"Forward, Eagles Talons!"
Was there a Knight dismay'd?
Led by their Count so Brave?
Noble more than well behav'd!
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the Three hundred.
3.
Orcies to right of them,
Goblins to left of them,
Ogres in front of them
Thousands upon thousands:
Storm'd at with dart and spell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the mouth of Hell,
Into the valley of Death,
Rode the Three hundred.
4.
The three hundred looked so small,
Charging such a massive wall,
Of mighty legions held in thrall;
The noble avalanche was hurled,
At Enemy Banners all unfurled.
Crash, so loud a breeze awoke,
Right thro' the line they broke!
History made at a stroke.
The Generals tho' are
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the three hundred.
5.
Goblins to right of them,
Orcies to left of them,
Ogres behind them
Shaken to their core;
Storm'd at with shot and spell,
While horse and hero fell,
They who had fought so well
Came from the mouth of Hell,
Back from the valley of Death
Few tho' were left of them,
Left of three hundred.
6.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor all their blazons,
Honor the Eagles Talons,
Noble three hundred.