Atamara Times/6th Edition

By: Erasmus Episcopus	News from all of Atamara!	6th Edition

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Editorial: It has now been long since the last edition of Atamara Times. I am very sorry for this. I was hit by the malady, stress, and had to take some time of at a sunny beach in the company of young waitresses and cool drinks. Not that this is something I really enjoy but my physician had ordered it. Now I am fit for fight again and back at the office. I will briefly touch upon the things that have passed since the last edition but mainly I will take up on news and other interesting things from our lovely Atamara. We would have liked to bring you a piece about the pancake war but have not been able to get it ready in time. We will bring it next time. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. Yours, Erasmus Episcopus Tournament in Ser’quea The tournament in Ser’quea, held by the King of Ash Sea Islands, has just ended. It was a magnificent display or pomp, nobility and at the same time great barbarism. 213 nobles from all over Atamara had come to this feast of the year, many hoping for glory and to return home rich from the 800 gold first prices. More had come to see and be seen. All around you could see old and new friends and enemies drinking, training, arguing, fighting and talking. Many nobles choose to brag both of wealth and abilities, some with success others to the joy and laughter of the crowd. I myself came late so I missed a lot of the fun. The noise itself was unbelievable and while the nobles now are returning home, the carpenters are rushing in to fix the trashed bars and inns. The tournament grounds, where young boys run around with wooden swords and hobbyhorses hoping to find left artifacts, look like the battlefields of Fiddleford. There is certainly much to clean after 200 knights with horses and their entourage but the merchants and public of Ser’quea does not mind. They have gold spilling out of their pockets and could easily take the rest of the year off. Also the King of Ash Sea Islands has made an enormous profit of close to 3000 gold. Enough to fund a large war campaign against any realm or the equivalent of half their weekly tax income. Surely impressive! But this was not the aim of the tournament as King nautilus tells us: “Profit was not our target in this tourney. Celebrating was our goal and I think that we had lots of it. We would have given higher prizes but ASI is not that rich to find that easily 4.000 gold. To me it was a miracle to gather 3.000 in such a short notice.” All in all he is very pleased with the tournament and is “very proud that ASI won the war and also was able to host such a great tournament. All nobles that took part must be very happy and pleased with the atmosphere. Note that the wine served was from my cellar in Lerss. Our beloved women took care of all the nobles and so there where no problems. ASI’s hospitality is something more than perfect. I hope that you saw it first hand” But what was the actual competition like, you might ask. Marvelous! Simply brilliant! The shear amount of talents and veteran masters was impressive. The winners showed both great skills and enormous endurance over the eight brutal rounds of each competition. The level was high as all realms had send nobles and many in high numbers (see figure below). Almost 30% of all nobles on Atamara attended but many realm had almost half their nobles at the tournament. Only the five realms involved in the wars of the west and north had naturally few nobles present but Cagilan Empire choose only to send one ninth of their nobles. But this was expected by the organizers: “CE told me (King nautilus, red.) from the beginning that they would not be able to join so I wasn’t expecting them to come. The surprise for me was the participation from Tara. Almost 20 Nobles came.” Personally I did pour as expected in this tournament but it was a great experience to take part in the event. The first event was the sword fighting. A great event with a very surprising winner as Night Elf Chyeral of Carelia was the first woman to win a tournament. But this is nothing she thinks about. She told me that: “Before the game and after of it, I've been wondered that there are a lot of contestants care about the gender. For myself, I don't know why and I don't care about it. I've been fighting, killing and battling my enemies for long, most of my contacts are dead or alive. My sword is trained in such environment that I’ve been struggling at death’s door many times.” The looser of the final, Shaun McCree of Cagilan Empire, was very pleased with his achievements as he has never before gone past the preliminary rounds. “I believe 2nd or 3rd round is the farthest I've ever gone before, so I was quite pleased. I've been training sword fighting when I have a chance, in addition to what I've learned on the battlefield. I don't normally train jousting, nor are cavalry my preferred units, so any success at jousting is pure luck.” He told me after the tournament. The jousting was won by Gregor Manstone of Minas Ithil, with a convincing effort and show. He went strait through the competition seemingly unaffected by his opponents. He had perfect balance on the horse and handled the lance like it was a toothpick. In the final he defeated Hakki the Pain of Tara without showing any mercy. Hakki expected and had a good feeling about going far, as he said: “Jousting has always been my specialty and I have fought most of my battles on horseback. I could say that I wasn't very surprised that I did that well.” Next time he aims for the great price. Maybe he will meet Gregor there again and win. Sadly though we have not been able to get any comments from the winning horseman before he rode of to his homes. Nemethos di Saladi'ilm Taran Peace The war in Tara has ended as Tara has surrendered large parts of its lands to Ash Sea Islands and Falasan. At the same time they ware forced to move their capital from the cut-off stronghold of Aja to the forest city of Foda. By this move Tara secured external peace so they could resurrect themselves from the abyss of total internal chaos they had fallen into under the massive pressure of Falasan and Ash Sea Islands massive armies. After their allies started to leave them for their winning enemies Tara began to fall apart. First the executor, Ari, tried to gain control of the major part of Tara by tarring it with Foda away from the capital. After that internal dispute lead first the duke of Sullenport, Victor Pelevin, decided to abandon Tara for Ash Sea Islands and took his duchy with him. In the turmoil of this, many internal disputes and fighting lead to the ending peace with Ash Sea Islands and Falasan and the final moving to Foda. It is sure that one strong Tara will recover and once more venture out from their lands in the quest for glory. But it is doubtful they will grow as strong as they once where in the near future. EE Peace in the South The war between Carelia, Abington and Redspan ended in a 10 week ceasefire on the 15th of September. This ends a brutal war that was both a cast-off of the Taran war and old disputes over the southern regions between Abington and Carelia. The peace was signed under the normal conditions of closed borders ect. (see below) and it will be a good thing for the people in the south, that have suffered under the fierce battle and plundering. But it might also have great implications on other disputes in central Atamara, namely over the right to Tarasac. If Cagilan Empire decides they want it back after the rice and fall of Tuchanon IV it can mean yet another war between them and Falasan. It might also be that Tara has their eyes set on their birthplace and they might persuade Cagilan Empire to help them. Again it would mean a major war in the centre of Atamara as Falasan is unlikely to just give it up to them. The small mountain realm of Drachenwald has long been interested in Tarasac as they are a city short of a perfect realm. It will be interesting to see how things evolve after the tournament is over in Ash Sea Islands. At least it would be very dishonourable (and unthinkable) if any of the realm will brake the tournament peace and attack Tarasac before. Below we bring the full treaty of peace: The Southern Handshake Treaty After the outrageous diplomacy held by former Carelian King Paradigm, which reflected in the great growth of hostilities between Carelia and its neighbors; After the election of a new Carelian King, which was inclined to cease the hostilities with his neighbors; After a period of negotiation between Carelia, Abington and Redspan, whose desire is to end the war with the less damage to the relations in the south and threats to maintenance of the "status quo". In order to preserve Carelia and Carelian people from further harm due to the fault of their previous king; aiming to keep Carelia on its feet to ensure a lasting stability in the south with the preservation of a power balance; willing to ensure future friendly relations between the parties involved The Governments of Carelia, Redspan and Abington (parties involved) agreed in the following friendly terms of peace Art 1 - All hostilities will cease immediately after the ratification of this treaty, being the border configuration as follow: A - Abington will keep Tarkhog in its fold as reparation for Paradigm's actions. Redspan will keep Arblane in its fold as reparation for Paradigm's actions. B - The region of Kilbranba will be returned to Carelia as soon as they ask for it. C - The region of Cummaol will be returned to Redspan as soon as they ask for it. D - Abington will not interfere in Carelia's TO of Scarbran or attempt to TO it again during the war, as a gesture of friendship, allowing it to reincorporated into Carelia's territorial possession. Art 2 - For 10 weeks, counting from the ratification of this treaty, any kind of hostility between Carelia, Redspan and Abington will be forbidden. Under this term, armed forces from Carelia are forbidden to enter Redspan or Abington soil, as well as Redspan and Abington armed forces are forbidden to enter Carelia soil. Exception is made to Traders in good faith, who may require a small guarding unit. Art 3 -All infiltrator actions by the parties involved are forbidden, against the people or the land/structures/facilities of the parties involved. Infiltrators are also subject to the same border lock as the Armed Forces. Art 4 - For 10 weeks Carelia will not allow any hostile force to hit Redspan or Abington through their land. For 10 weeks Abington and Redspan will not allow any hostile force to hit Carelia through their land. Art 5 - Nothing in this treaty harms the right of the parties involved to assist their allies if needed be, being respected the terms exposed here. Art 6 - Any change on the terms will need the signature of all parties involved, being enforced after 5 days of the last signature. Art 7 - Carelia will do a retratation for Paradigm's actions and words, in form of a public letter, adressed to Abington and Redspan nobles. Art 8 - Abington and Redspan will not support any claim Ash Sea Island may have over Carelia on the basis of reparation for Paradigm's actions. Art 9 - This treaty is valid for 10 weeks, counting from the ratification day I, King Gabriel Bachelor of Abington, recognize this treaty and sign it, promising to abide by these terms. While Da Great Goat is watching i Manaydur Lamont, King of RedSpan sign this treaty promising to abide by these terms I, King Aramil Ialdabode, sign this treaty with the authority granted to me as the King of Carelia. Carelia will abide this rules for 10 weeks from now on and hopes for better relations in the future. EE

Quiz What do you call a goat in front of a chariot? See the answer at the bottom of the page. HA-Meet This was the opening line on the annual meeting of Humourists of Atamara, where the laughable chairman, Whitti Whitti Hoomoerson, dictated a new strategy for humouring the public of Atamara into joining the HA. “From this day forth we will advertise in Atamara Times!” he yelled to the peasants rolling over in the hay of laughter over his purple hair, pink beard and short stature. “We will march to their office and tickle them until they give us a page of our own!” As the editor had absolutely no humour we had to settle on a column after threatening him with a shrubbery and an eel. Therefore we can proudly bring you the Hairy Articles from Humourists of Atamara (HAHA). Minas Ithil’s Health Minister informs It is not just your weight that will tell you have grown too fat eating too many pancakes. You should immediately change your diet by taking a cold turkey, if: you when bathing still wobbles ten minutes after drying yourself. your enemy takes you for an infantry wall. all the bakers remember your name and remember you take your 30 pancakes with syrup and half a pint on the side. you sunbathe on the beach and passing, hungry Tarans call for help to skin the whale. the enemy tries to do a brutal takeover of you. Free Beer A pour tramp travelling round Atamara have found a great way of getting free bear at bars and inns. He starts by thinking which realms the public hates and then smears that realms ruler by name-calling and foul jokes. There is always some drunk that finds it amusing and offers a drink. One night he has gotten into a little village way up in the hills of Upperfell. He walks into the local bar wheat from the poring rain. He looks around and thinks ‘these hillbillies must really hate the fine folks from Cagilan Empire’ and shouts “Zadar Nargath looks like the arse of a goat!” Instantly four large farmers grab him by the neck, beat him up and throw him out in the mud. Stunned he tries the next night by shouting “Aramil looks like the arse of a goat!” resulting in the same treatment. The third night he carefully walks up to the bartender and ask him: “What is this for a village where you cannot muck the enemies of RedSpan?” “Oh, we don’t mind that. You can do it any day. We just don’t like you speaking badly about our goats.” Aswer A RedSpanner Advertisement: Reward! (received 2005-09-22) In the evening hours on the night before the Tournament in Ser'quea was to be held, in a local Tavern owned by the ASI Arch Preist himself, the revelers where having a grand time when all at once a fight broke out. It was a friendly fight because no one was killed or even stabbed, but the tavern itself was completely destroyed. Now the fire was not meant to burn the "Inn by the Bay" down, but it was meant to destroy the favorite Bar Stool of Sir Moses, the Proprietor of the Inn and the Arch Priest of Ash Sea Islands. There has been a reward offered of a 3 nights and 4 days all paid vacation in a luxurious suite that overlooks the beach in Lerss to anyone who gives the name of the one that started this fire. Send it to Sir Moses, Arch Priest of Ash Sea Islands The Inn can be rebuilt, but it may take a little longer due to the slowing of the war between ASI and CE, Sir Moses won’t have all of that gold that the CE nobles use to donate to him as they visited his Dungeons. But construction will go on. As for the Favorite Stool however, It can never be replaced, hence the reward for those that destroyed it. Sir Moses Arch Priest of Ash Sea Islands, Count of Lerss Writers The Atamara Times are still looking for journalists, correspondents and informers. Only requirements are a sound drive and a high standard of objectiveness. To apply to the position please require at the Atamara Times’ office or send a message to the editor.