East Continent Chronicler/Second Issue: (Special Edition: Avamar/Islands) December 2005

"The issues that surround us are as complex as the people who create them." ~Finius Killison

http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/ECCNews2.gif The East Continent Chronicler
Price: Free Circulation News for the Entire Continent	Editor in Chief: Ardor Dracorus, Knight of Sir Temple Reporter: Grego Nosferatus, Knight of Tokat	Issue No. 2 Special Edition: Avamar/Islands Edition, December 2005

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Under Construction!

This issue is still under construction. It should be finalized tomorrow (12/30).

Wrath of the Gods Felt Across Continent

Written by Ardor Dracorus, Knight of Sir Temple The topic of strange rumors and preachings came to fruition three days ago climaxing in an entire day and night with no light and the appearance of two new islands and the population of the long-barren volcanic island off the west coast of the East Continent. These rumors created a large amount of unrest both among peasants and nobles. Nobles who had experienced the undead invasion of Beluaterra recalled that the signs were similar to what had occurred across the ocean. Others assumed that the Gods were intervening to save Avamar or destroy Sirion. As things progressed, a cult leader appeared in Caligus calling people to repent of their sins. Those without sin were to sin so that they could repent and be saved. A prophet also appeared in Sirion Castle stating that an ancient temple had stood where the stronghold was, and that it needed to be restored to appease the Gods. As the sky began to darken, various numbers of both peasants and nobles began either embracing or rejecting the cultists’ and prophets’ teachings. Strange creatures began to appear in Evora and in the forests of Itorunt and Ibladesh. A dead cow was found on the steps of the royal palace in Perdan. And dead fish began turning up along the coasts of Old Rancagua. The sky continued to darken as a series of titanic tidal waves broke over the shores of Oligarch, Perdan, and Itorunt. Civil war broke out in Dayr ar Zawr, resulting in the split of the region into Dayr and Zawr. The prophet called upon the powers of his temple to destroy the stronghold at Sirion Castle and raise up the ancient Sir Temple in its place. Finally, the world stopped as the sky became so dark that no light could be had. The thick dust and soot prevented fires from being lit and a series of earthquakes rocked the western front of the continent. When the dust cleared, new islands were found on the western side of the of the continent as well as one to the north of Sirion. Land also rose up converting the Great Bay of Itorunt into a large inland lake. The lake is currently filled with seawater as it was previously part of the great ocean. The death toll due to these events is in the tens of thousands. Many peasants have moved to the new islands to form small colonies. Many have even moved to the formerly uninhabitable volcanic island to the west where the Chaos Temple was found. Some hypothesize that some force in the Chaos Temple was the cause of the destruction and the rise of Sir Temple was the only thing that countered it. Others add that a dark force dwells in Avamar being contained by a holy gateway that keeps it in check which triggered the disaster itself or used the powers within the Chaos Temple. While these accounts may or may not be true, the only clear thing about the temples is that no one completely understands what they stand for or what powers those who possess them will control.

Rulers Speak on Avamar's Fall

Sir Lalakis, final Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Avamar wrote the following to the East Continent Chronicler regarding the fall of Avamar: -->Placeholder for Lalakis' statement. Delayed due to Lalakis' imprisonment. Sir Doc, Prime Minister of Sirion wrote the following to the East Continent Chronicler regarding the fall of Avamar: The Reunification of the Ancient Sirion Republic...we are whole again, and the Civil War is over. Avamar will be rebuilt, and the 'smudge' in her history is already being razed and burned to the ground...nothing of the Drows will remain in Avamar...even their Graves and Corpses have been shipped out to sea, lit on fire, for Oceanus to do what he wishes with their souls. But in Sirion, not a single Drow will rest, lest our Land be corrupted.

Avamar Falls

Written by Ardor Dracorus, Knight of Sir Temple After 6 days of intense fighting throughout Avamar City, it has fallen to the forces of Sirion. The initial invasion force was made up of Fontanese, Sirionites, and Old Rancaguans. The strength of this combined army was estimated to be close to 60,000 combat strength, with over 35 siege engines—several of which were used to breach the walls of Kazakh, final stronghold of Rancagua, a few weeks before. The initial battle that ensued upon invasion took almost the entire day as the archers on both sides exchanged fire and the infantry of the invaders fought their way up the overcrowded siege engines to the defending army. Once on the walls, it became apparent that the Avamarian and Oligarcher defenders were outnumbered nearly 3 to 1. Over the next few days, the invaders fought to take sections of the wall or flush out Avamarians holed up in various strongholds inside the city. Finally, the battles began taking place through the city, giving neither army the advantage over the other beyond the overpowering numbers of invaders. In the end, the remaining Avamarian defenders became murderous when meeting Fontanese or Sirionite. This resulted in high casualties among Sirionite search parties unlucky enough to meet up with armed Avamarians. Inspection of their camp two days before the fall of the city demonstrated that the defenders had food, but little else in the way of resources. The recruitment centers had been depleted and several peasants had been drafted by the lords of Avamar in an attempt to defend what they had come to consider their home. The buildings that housed them ranged in disrepair from a wall leaning against another half standing building over an alleyway to basements and cellars of buildings that had once existed before the battles. Reasons for the invasion varied and were often countered by the Avamarian defenders. In an official statement by King Fuinir, the mission of the Old Rancaguan army in Avamar was to “end another bloody Civil War and bring peace to the people here.” He further stated that “Old Rancagua simply couldn’t agree to the same values of existence with Avamar.” Fontan appeared to be there to support allies and put down a long existing thorn in their side. Sirion’s stance was that Avamar had always been a part of Siron and that a gateway of evil was out of alignment, allowing evil to spread throughout the East Continent (see later story). Thus they were ending a Civil War and preventing the evil from getting worse. The defenders expressed outrage at having three realms appear to wipe them out and credited their adversaries either with being duped by Doc or by being imperialistic and greedy. Furthermore, they branded Doc as a propagandist and attempted to counter nearly every statement made by an enemy noble regarding Avamar. The repercussions of the fall of Avamar vary greatly. Avamar was considered by many to be a center of cultural and racial feats never seen before on the continent. Drows, elves, and men were said to live in peace. Ballads and poems were composed. According to the nobles of Avamar, an unequalled society that worked well together existed in the ancient city. Militarily, it occupied at least part of Sirion’s and Fontan’s resources. Both through costs of militia to keep Avamar firmly boxed in and to prevent looting of their lands, but also in tying up their military to throw the Avamarian’s back when they broke through. Since this is no longer a worry for the two giants of the north, it is generally believed that Oligarch and, to some extent, Perdan, will feel the feel these repercussions the most. It also provides Avamar City’s resources to Sirion. In the end, many consider Avamar’s fall a woeful loss. Others a rousing success. What you believe depends largely on which side you are on. In any case, truth of these matters is rarely clear.

A History of Avamar

Written by Ardor Dracorus, Knight of Sir Temple Like so many issues on the East Continent, there are two views on the origins of the People's Republic of Avamar. It's also apparent that while the views differ wildly, it is likely that the answer falls somewhere in the middle. How far to either side, no one knows. The Avamarian View: The view of the Avamarian begins with the realm of West Sirion, much like that of the Sirionite. However, this is where the similarity ends. According to the People's Republic of Avamar, West Sirion was a repressive place. Both gold and power were distributed primarily to the longtime members of the realm. Very little was given to the new members of the realm. Rumors even include a tax day where a new troopleader recieved only two gold. The new troopleaders, being excluded from actively participating in the realm formed a small group known as the Black Hand. Some sources claim that the Black Hand wasn't formed until later. Others claim that it was formed at this juncture and was responsible for what former Prime Minister coined a "soft coup"--meaning that the then current leadership was voted out that the Republic of West Sirion was reformed into the People's Republic of Avamar. Those that claim that the Brotherhood of the Black Hand was not formed until later usually state that the Black Hand never actually existed, but was a mechanism which was manipulated to gain credit for the overthrow of West Sirion. In the Avamarian view, the newly reformed realm began to prosper greatly. The oppression of the former regime was rearranged such that new and old nobles in the People's Republic of Avamar partook equally in the riches and power of the realm. Sirion, whose view will be explored momentarily, found the methods of th new regime to be reprehensible and, while Avamar sought peace with her neighbor, Sirion started a war that would ultimately end in the destruction of the People's Republic of Avamar. This war was aid the rebellion which endeavored to restore Evylears--former Prime Minister and traitor of West Sirion--to power and recover their puppet-state neighbor. Then Oligarch stepped in and proved to be enough to save Avamar from total destruction. In the time that followed, Avamar lost regions to looting by former West Sirionites and takeovers by Sirion, however a utopia ensued within their beseiged city. Plays, poem, epic tragedies were written that enlighted and broadened the mind. A new cultural center for the East Continent was born. All nobles, regardless of their time in the real enjoyed what wealth the realm had to offer and were free to speak their minds. Then the final hour came. Sirion, with the help of her newfound puppies, Fontan and Old Rancagua, attacked and took the last stronghold of the People's Republic of Avamar. Beautiful playhouses, cathedrals, and squares were torn down and ravaged as the embattled forces of five realms fought through the gem of the East Continent. The freedoms of the People's Republic of Avamar were lost forever. The Sirionite View: According to the Sirionite, the daughter realm of Sirion had worked together with her mother realm for many years in building peace and hope on the East Continent. A great dynasty had been set in place that would soon come to an end in a whirlwind of black magic and conspiracy. An anti-Sirionite terrorist group known as the Black Hand was formed among the ranks of the West Sirionites. As time passed, the Brotherhood of the Black Hand grew through power of propaganda and the dark arts. Finally, the power of the Black Hand reached a critical point. It was then ready to overthrow the Republic of West Sirion and create a realm unto itself. The new realm became the People's Republic of Avamar. This realm, carved from Sirion herself, had revolted against her mother and needed to be recovered. The wrongs of Sirionites and West Sirionites would be avenged. And the people would be freed from the grasp of the Drows--Dark Elves known for their use of the Black Arts. Regions freed from the Avamarian regime by Sirion and her allies hailed them for their new found freedoms, as well as for the prosperity that was found under the rule of Avamar's enemies. Thus Sirion swore in her wrath that one day, a wayward child would be brought home, and those who led her astray would be destroyed. The civil war has finally ended and the family of Sirion reunited. Peace has been brought to their part of the continent.

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