The Trial

The Settlement

The year had turned cold, and Mistvale had settled into a fragile calm. The new Burgomaster and town officers had brought a semblance of order to the hamlet, though the shadow of the Annwyn still hung heavy. The Crows had remained a thorn in Mistvale’s side, emboldened enough to strike at the tavern during a market night. The Aurorym had grown in numbers at Dawnhaven, but their zeal had turned sour with frustration. Some, in their fervor, had branded themselves with the mark of Magnus—a symbol of devotion, or perhaps, desperation.

Rumors of wytches and the supernatural had trickled in, but the cold months had seen less of the cults' touch upon Mistvale than other towns. Carran and Arcton fared poorly, their winters haunted by whispers of witchcraft from the harvest’s end. House Laurent still held its power—barely. Silas, son of Ludmilla Laurent, had claimed the title of Lord Pro Tempore at Stag Hall. With the shifting tides of winter and war, it seemed only his emergence had kept Laurent standing.

In the Spring of 765, House Laurent’s grip on the region had slipped further. Silas Laurent’s efforts to stabilize Mistvale faltered as Carran and Arcton starved through the bitter months. Ironhaven’s doors had shut tight, and no mercy came from the Hardingers there. The winter’s cruelties had done what the Crows could not: misery, hunger, and illness spread like rot. The Crows needed only to wait for the cold to do its worst.

The Spring market brought bitter truths. A feast at the Laurent table had turned bloody when Lord Silas, the Sheriff Elias Cren, and even Ludmilla’s own son were poisoned—brought low, some said, by a betrayal born of the woodsfolk’s grudge. On the same night, House Oban struck Carran and Stag Hall, laying waste to the town and capturing Lady Ludmilla and her cousin Julia. What little remained of Laurent's power now lay in embers, as Carran burned and many were lost to fire and steel.

Meanwhile, the bandit Cale the Thorn had met his end at the Spring market—many were relieved, for his violence had served no master but chaos. And still, the darkness lingered, though Mistvale had been spared the full wrath of the creatures known as dark ones and wytches. Rumors persisted that some in town were in league with those foul beings. The Queen of Wytches herself, Scáthach, had risen—her wrath unleashed upon the Aurorym when Curate Selyne fell trying to stop her.

Yet, Mistvale prospered, even as chaos swirled beyond its borders. Burgomaster Domitille had kept the coffers flowing, and new structures rose in the town. Tensions simmered between the Cirque and Mistvale’s powers after Eldreth’s murder—an unresolved crime that Rook would not soon forget. His demands for justice had been met with silence, and the troupes circled one another, bristling, as Rook’s faction cemented itself in the region. The battle with the rival troupe, The 25 Graves, had left scars that would not easily heal.

In the Winter of 764, an unsettling visitor had arrived: Lady Jane Swallowsong, Captain of the Albatross Doom. Her presence marked the stirrings of something greater, though the Rourkes remained elusive. Whispers suggested they had carved out their own place in the Annwyn’s mists, but its location remained hidden.

The Aurorym had struggled, too. Dawnhaven, their settlement, had barely survived the winter. Gaunt and hungry, their faith had turned hard, and in desperation, they had branded themselves in devotion. Still, some within their ranks had begun to question the lengths their faith demanded. Despite this, more had flocked to their cause, seeking salvation or protection from the growing threats. Rumors that the immortal Living Saints of the Dawn walked the Annwyn spread like wildfire, confirmed when several Saints came searching for one of their own—Saint Decima. They left without answers, but their presence lingered, and many believed that forces far greater than they could comprehend had begun to move.

In the Spring of 765, the Obans had made their play, and though House Laurent faltered, the Aragons remained an enigma. The Silver Company had taken to patrolling the roads, reducing attacks, though bloodshed was still frequent. The roads beyond Mistvale remained perilous, with bandits and new horrors lurking in the night. At Spring market, Mistvale had faced a terror from legend. Undead creatures, driven by a nethermancer cloaked in shadows, descended on the town. The nethermancer’s foul ritual sought to bring forth some ancient horror, but the people of Mistvale stood against it. While battle raged above, brave souls ventured into forgotten tombs to clear the way. In the end, the ritual was stopped, but at great cost—many lives were lost, and the nethermancer escaped into the night. A fell tome was left behind, its malevolent presence a threat to Mistvale itself. Only the sacrifice of Auron Calico prevented far greater destruction.

As the smoke cleared, a veiled figure entered the tavern, flanked by dark-robed priests. Lirit, Lady of Death, had walked among the living, bearing the dead in her wake. Whispers spread that the grave itself had turned its face away from those who would serve in Lirit’s army. The rules of life and death, it seemed, no longer held sway in the Annwyn. Those who fought in her name would be denied the peace of the grave, to face the terrors yet to come.

The Current Events

The Mistguard has shattered. The Aurorym faith hangs by a thread. Ancient evils stir in the shadows. The battle against the nethermancer has left Mistvale broken. It was a victory, but at what cost? In the wake of the attack on Carran and the fall of House Laurent, the political landscape in the Annwyn is more dangerous and uncertain than ever. House Oban now lays claim to everything the Laurents once held—Carran, Dawnhaven, even Mistvale. Worse still, they now boast the strongest army in the region. The Mistguard, already weakened by relentless assaults, has all but collapsed, and the forces of Lord Hardinger and Lady Falconer have been eroded to the bone. Bannon’s troops in Carran, supported by the mercenaries of Lex Talionis, were once the only remaining strength, but with Laurent’s knights dead, even the King’s forces are a pale shadow of what they once were. Oban’s warg-mounted warriors would make short work of any who opposed them. The Crows, once bandits, have been pardoned by Lord Niall Oban and now serve in the Innis army. Some hope that this legitimacy might temper their cruelty, though many whisper that the Crows have been working with Oban all along. The Aurorym are crumbling. Dawnhaven’s struggles have broken the faith of even the most devout. Many wonder why House Blayne hasn’t sent aid, suspecting that Lord Paragon Blayne has abandoned them. Others think Blayne’s forces are entangled in the King’s war, too stretched to help. Worse, a seed of doubt has taken root. Rumors began in the Spring, and now they’ve spread like wildfire—whispers that Magnus Blayne is a fraud, that he was never real to begin with. Many still cling to their faith, but the doubt grows, day by day. Someone, or something, is fanning the flames, and the faith is faltering.

And now, in the midst of this, a new threat has arisen. They call themselves the Godslayers. Born from the ranks of House Hardinger at Ironhaven, their defiance is aimed squarely at the powers that be, divine or otherwise. Tired of being crushed beneath supernatural forces, the Godslayers now take aim at the Aurorym as well, accusing the faith of failing to protect the people. There are even whispers that the Aurorym are in league with those same powers. So far, this movement has been contained, but given Arnesse’s history, it seems only a matter of time before blood spills. Across the sea, whispers have begun to drift in from beyond the Annwyn.

A delegation from the Twilight Empire, a people from the distant lands to the West, has arrived. Their purpose is unknown, though it’s said King Giles II refused their audience, too consumed with his holy war. But House Aragon, ever the opportunists, have agreed to host the Tianese. What they seek in the Annwyn is a question that lingers in every corner, and more than a few wonder if their arrival is connected to the rising chaos.

Closer to home, a new mercenary company has risen: the Bright Company. Their renown grows with every passing moon, and they’ve been taking contracts left and right, offering their services at surprisingly fair rates. Word has spread quickly—if you need a job done and done well, the Bright Company is the name to call. Mistvale, for now, remains much the same. The Obans haven’t been seen since the attack on Carran, though rumors swirl of a trial looming at Court. The Falconers demand justice for what the Obans have done, but for now, Mistvale waits. The woods have been quiet, blessedly free of the undead and any sign of the nethermancer from the last market. Some take this as a good omen; others fear the darkness is simply biding its time, waiting for its next strike. Meanwhile, strange diseases have begun to spread across the Annwyn. None of them particularly deadly, but lives have been lost. The Magisters have been hard at work crafting curatives, though no one has been able to pinpoint the source. It’s rare for such maladies to spread in Summer, and many fear something far worse is coming.

Finally, there is word from the north. House Hale has made its presence known in the Annwyn. Lady Thora Coldhill has led her people to settle Valkyr’s Landing, north of what were once Laurent lands. Known for their ties to the Great Bears of the North, the Coldhills bring with them the fearsome berserkers known as the Get of Ursin. It’s unclear where House Hale stands in the growing conflict or whether they’ll remain neutral, but their presence is felt, and many wonder which way the Coldhills will turn.

Outside the Annwyn

Those who are arriving from outside the Annwyn may have heard some of the following rumors about the Kingdom of Arnesse:

1. Civil War has gripped the Sovereignlands and the Hearthlands. King Giles II’s army, bolstered by the loyal forces of House Bannon of Coventry, House Laurent, the Bannons of Dorston, and House Cornwall, along with elements of House Blayne, fights a desperate battle. On the other side, Charles Bannon’s forces, supported by the Bannons of Blackwood, Marston, Holt, and Hawthorne, alongside House Aragon, resist the King’s attempt to force his faith upon the Kingdom. With the end times looming large in Giles' mind, he believes this move is necessary to prepare the realm. The blood of brothers stains the fields, but no decisive blow has yet been struck. The war drags on, leaving the soil of the Sovereignlands to run red.
2. Lord Charles Bannon’s plans have faltered with the birth of Cyrus Bannon, the son of Giles II. Charles had hoped that Giles’ lack of an heir would legitimize his own claim, but the birth of Cyrus has strengthened the King’s position. However, Giles is vexed by the lack of support from House Richter, the Corveaux, and his ties with the Hales. Rumors suggest that House Hale has distanced itself due to the King’s unwavering devotion to the Aurorym. By aligning with the Blaynes, Giles may have alienated other powerful houses. It remains to be seen whether this gamble will help him in his struggle.
3. Alion Cornwall, the Castellan of Laton and a radical follower of the Aurorym, has seized control of Caer Weatherstone. Backed by Lord Paragon Frederick Blayne, Alion unseated his father, who had been ready to side with Charles Bannon. Now, Caer Weatherstone has become a staging ground for Blayne’s forces, who continue to gather in preparation for war in the Sovereignlands. As more Vellatora and faithful arrive to bolster their numbers, the fear of another front opening in the civil war grows, and with it, the potential for even greater bloodshed.
4. The Battle of the Vale has shaken the Annwyn. House Richter, dug in at Gateway, refused to yield control of the portal. House Corveaux, joined by Woodfolk and Hawthorne troops, saw the Richter presence in the Vale of Shadow as a threat to Lord Roderick’s authority. They met in battle, and the Dread Run was drenched in blood. Gunpowder smoke choked the air as the Knights of Corveaux clashed with Richter’s forces. Against all odds, Corveaux and their allies drove the Richters from Gateway, but at a steep cost. Their victory came at the expense of men and materials, and now both sides scramble to reinforce their positions. Many fear that with the end of the campaign season, this was only a temporary reprieve from the war to come.
5. A strange plague of illnesses has begun to spread across the realm. Though the weather is fair, diseases that should have been dormant have begun to appear. None are particularly deadly, but the presence of uncommon afflictions—such as Grave Rot fever, spread by contact with the dead—has caused great concern. Magisters and healers have been overwhelmed with the sick, and whispers grow louder that the coming Winter will be brutal if the illnesses continue to spread. There is also a mounting fear that these afflictions may be the harbinger of something far more dangerous lurking on the horizon.