Ash Sea Chronicle/Issue 14

http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/ASI_small.png The Ash Sea Chronicle
Price: Free	Editor: Landesred Stromsfiordspace	Issue: No. 14 - 4th August

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Printed in Ash'rily for the glory of the Islands

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Ash'rily Secured

ASI forces report that the city of Ash'rily is finally secure and peaceful making it safe for food supplies and rebuilding to commence.

Wayburg Takeover Halted After Amazing March

ASI forces conducted a double-pronged movement across Abington territory to reach the beleaguered Kybcyell garrison and lift the siege of Wayburg. Island forces abandoned the takeover in Ash'rily in order to make the move and fought several battles as they pushed across the length and breadth of Abington to reach the city. Joined by forces out of Sullenport, ASI's smaller exhausted force could not prevail against the more numerous Abingtonian army, but did succeed in opening a corridor and ending Abington's takeover attempt. Sadly, the hero Aethelmaer fell in the second of the two battles that took place.

Editor Escapes Abington Prison

Your editor apologizes for his absence, having only escaped this day from a cell beneath Riverholm. Guaihu, the Judge of Abington paid a second visit to my cell. Taking this opportunity I made a break for it and during the ensuing confusion managed to make good my exit. It is unfortunate as the conversation with Abington's judge had only just begun and I feel that, given time, I might have converted him to a more honorable course.

I will say, that despite the long march, lost gold, lost men, and lengthy prison stay...it was a great pleasure to assist the good nobles of Kybcyell and to meet them. I was amazed by their good cheer and spirit in the midst of such a challenging struggle for survival.

ASI Forces Move to Assist Kybcyell

ASI forces moved on multiple fronts to assist the struggling new realm of Kybcyell, a colony of Minas Ithil. Battles have been fought in Abington in either an effort to reach the colony, or to buy time for Kybcyell to defend itself. The whole of the matter is unclear at this point both militarily and diplomatically. Sentiments in ASI are mixed and much discussion has taken place about this chaotic time. In the end, the repayment of debts to dear friends and the duty to help the weak have taken priority over other matters. Sometimes debts of honor to friends must overrule our own internal priorities.

Sullenport and Byblack

Nobles sworn to fealty to Sullenport and Byblack have been informed that those regions are regions held in trust by ASI for the moment and that nobles should be prepared for change when this conflict is settled. Fealty to Sullenport and Byblack are temporary and that these regions will be transferred. Nobles should observe and consider where they will swear fealty when peace returns.

Wor'ight and Wor'av Under Control

The City of Wor'ight and the region of Wor'av are now under ASI control, leaving the city of Ash'rily itself the only island region still in an anarchic state. Efforts to re-establish security in Ash'rily have been postponed as ASI forces attempt to assist the Minas Ithilian colony of Kybcyell in its struggle to survive and to repay debts owed to Minas Ithil, a realm who has stood with us in our darkest hours.

Editorial The Abingtonian press recently reported the end of the takeover attempts in Ash'rily as a "liberation". This is curious, since Ash'rily has always been the center of culture of the Ash Sea Islands, not the center of culture of Abington. Ash Sea Islands is one of the original realms of this continent. Our realm's very name speaks to who we are and where we are from. A claim that Ash Sea Islands has no claim to the Ash Sea Islands is ludicrous on its face and by definition. This is understandable as rhetoric, or as propaganda, but not credible in any real historical sense. Ash Sea Islands and the Ash Sea Islands go hand in hand. I had always viewed this sort of talk as mere rhetoric, but after hearing from some Abington expatriates it appears that over time, the rhetorical device has come to be accepted as truth there, the inherent contradictions of it nothwithstanding. It goes along with the idea that "its honorable to steal because we are starving", "its honorable to loot because we need money", and "its honorable to tell neighbors what to do because we are richer and stronger than they are". One can convince one's self that this is honor, but it's not the honor that wins friends, trust, or respect. But, that is something people have to figure out on their own. Why am I spending gold and blood to help another realm's colony? It gains me nothing and I would rather be in the islands right now. But I have a personal debt of honor to Minas Ithil because of their selfless behavior on behalf of my realm, and its a duty to attempt to pay that back. '

King's Statement As is the Formal Stance of ASI on new Realms, we will protect the soveriegn nation in Wayburg until she is gone. King Hottori, Good luck...you have overwhelming odds against your people, and all mistakes made, can cost you the very soveriegnty ya'll fought so far to achieve. The Terms with Abington have been virtually finished. Lady Armitage simply needs to be a bit flexible with one particular section that allows for ASI's traditional role in the foriegn arena to remain--and be respected. More news to come on that treaty later. One thing I will say: ASI WILL NOT WAIT FOREVER. My people and I have offered generous terms to Abington, but they will be taken off the table if our respective nations refuse to agree on certain compromises and formalities. Time will tell what happens here. Cheers, DRP

DISCLAIMER: Ash Sea Chronicle is an independent journal. Opinions contained herein are not necessarily the opinion of the government of Ash Sea Islands and are strictly the responsibility of its editor.