š° THE EBON GAZETTE
Official Dispatch of the Society of the Ebon Compass
Vol. 1, No. 3 ā 3rd Sun, Month of Rain ā Price: 3 Silver Talents
š„ AIRSHIP ARRIVAL CAUSES UPROAR AT SKYDOCK
The Gilded Manticore returned today, its hull scorched and its crew grim-faced. Rumors swirl about what they found among the ash-covered isles.
Captain Valerius Everwatch was seen arguing with Cassiel Spiritbreaker before sealed crates marked with imperial glyphs were rushed to the vault.
āI smelled brimstone. Not jungle fireāsomethingā¦ worse.ā
ā Kazrik the Echo, street performer and airship lurker
šµļø SPELLVAULTS ROBBED ā āWHISPER FANGā BLAMED
A rash of magical burglaries has gripped the Alchemistās Crescent. Authorities suspect Vrixx the Whisper Fang, kobold wilder and rumored enforcer for a protection racket.
Joran the Black Dagger was seen near the scene of the latest theft, though his presence may have been āpurely professional.ā
āYou think I steal spells? I buy them. Usually.ā
ā Thurlim Runeskulk, rogue-researcher
š EBON VAULT BALL APPROACHES
The annual masquerade draws near. Confirmed attendees include:
- Orlani Duskwhisper, half-elf jester with suspect bloodlines
- Halric Gravewatch, monk of the Quiet Tomb
- Vrissk the Unfathomable, deep emissary from below the sea rift
šÆļø Theme: āSilk, Steel, and Secretsā
š Note: Masks are mandatory. Sorcery discouraged.
šŖ¦ Double Tap - The Graveyards Whisper
A sleepy village has been thrown into a state of terror as neighboring villages lie abandoned, their once-bustling streets now eerily empty. But the true horror lies in the graveyardsārecent reports claim that the dead are walking again! Halric Gravewatch, ever the vigilant guardian of the graveyardās secrets, insists thereās more to this than simple necromancy. āSomething in the soilā¦ something old is stirring,ā he says, his eyes twitching with unease.
Local lore speaks of a cursed burial ground, but Kazrik Wyrmkeeper of the Jade Serpent school believes the roots of the problem run deeper, connected to ancient rituals long lost to time. Whatever it is, itās up to a brave band of adventurers to investigateāand stop the rising dead before the city becomes the next graveyard.
š® The Inside Job - The Tower That Feelsā¦ Wrong
Explorers returning from the jungle spoke of a tower that haunted their dreamsāa strange alabaster monolith rising from the dense canopy, unnervingly similar to the one rumored to stand in the Lost City. But what is this tower? And why does it feel soā¦ off?
Uzzar Doomfang of the River Tyrant school has already taken an interest in the structure, with plans to venture inside. āThe outside might be deceptive,ā he muttered to me after his reconnaissance. āBut the magic insideāitās ancient, twisted. It calls to us.ā
However, not everyone is eager to explore this mystery. Edran Oakwarden is urging caution, stating that the towerās connection to an unknown source of power could awaken something far worse than anyone can handle. Zarrik of the Murk, known for his eye for danger, has advised a careful, coordinated approach to uncover the towerās secrets.
š¦ Cowards, Us All - The Village of Hamletās Deadly Secret
When a raven bearing a single cryptic message arrived from the Village of Hamlet, the message could barely be decipheredāāNeed help. Something terrible.ā Thatās all the message said, and the villagers have been suspiciously silent ever since.
Edran Oakwarden, normally level-headed, had this to say: āIāve seen it before. Silence speaks volumes. Something is wrong, but not a soul is willing to speak openly about it.ā But why? What dark secrets does the village hold? Why the sudden silence? And why hasnāt Valerius Everwatch been able to communicate with them?
An expedition is said to be underwayāprepared to uncover the mystery, but will it come too late? Local gossip suggests something unspeakable happened in the villageā¦ could the locals be hiding more than they let on?
š¾ Animal Control - Missing Adventurer and a Fearsome Beast
The Lost City is no stranger to danger, but when an adventurer was reported missing while investigating a rogue wolverine sighting, questions began to arise. Was the wolverine really the cause of the adventurerās disappearance, or is there something darker lurking in the shadows?
Edran Oakwarden has personally taken the case, but local rangers whisper that the wolverine may be guarding something far worse than an ancient beastācould it be a portal to the otherworld? Joran the Black Dagger, known for his ruthless tactics, is preparing for an expedition with Dulgrin Stonewrit to investigate.
All eyes are on them as they venture into the wilds of the Lost City, but locals wonder: Will the wolverine prove to be a mere distraction, or will it be the least of their worries?
š Lost Gods - The Ancient Secrets Beneath the Jungle
A team of explorers recently uncovered an ancient site in the heart of the jungle, one that seems to indicate the worship of gods long forgotten by time. The evidence is compelling, with artifacts and symbols unlike anything seen before. Could these ālost godsā be the key to unlocking more power in the city?
Orsin the Prophetās Blade is excited to uncover the religious significance of this discovery, stating that the gods may not be lost at allāthey might just be waiting to be found. āThe gods donāt die,ā Orsin said cryptically. āThey slumber, waiting for those worthy enough to awaken them.ā
But not everyone agrees. Eldrion Runeblade warns that the knowledge these gods might offer is dangerous, too powerful for any mortal to wield without consequences. āSome things should stay buried,ā he cautioned in a hushed tone.
The question remains: who will get there first, and who will unlock the ancient knowledgeāonly to become its next victim?
āØ Power Overwhelming - Secrets of Esoteric Arcane Knowledge
Many locals are intrigued by the strange and powerful arcane knowledge buried deep within the Lost City. Some seek it for personal gain, while others see it as a tool for changing the course of history itself. But what happens when the knowledge proves too much for even the most seasoned spellcaster to control?
Vrissk the Unfathomable himself has been said to be preparing an expedition, but the danger is palpableāmany fear that even he might not be able to withstand the power contained in the ruins. āItās not the magic that calls us,ā Vrissk said during an interview. āItās the knowledge, the truth of the world. And once we know it, weāll never be the same.ā
In addition to Thurlim Runeskulk, a known academic of esoteric magic, Eldrin Moonwand has made it clear that he will also be pursuing these lost arts. But just how far are they willing to go? What if the magic they find is too dangerous to ever be used?
š So Long, and Whereās All the Fish? - Fishermanās Lost Expedition
A local fisherman recently came forward with a troubling story: a group of missionaries he ferried to an isolated isle never returned. The fisherman was promised payment in return for his services, but now, with no sign of the missionaries, heās asking for help to find themāand get his due.
Zarrik of the Murk, well known for his knowledge of local waters, has agreed to assist with the investigation. But rumors have begun to spread about the missionariesā disappearanceāsome say they were part of a cult, others believe they were searching for treasure. Whatever the case, the mystery remains unsolved.
āWe Seek What Was LostāSo You Donāt Have To.ā
ā The Society of the Ebon Compass