Gray Forest Shenanigans
Story Emits
Under the command of Prince Calarian and Princess Reese and with Marquis Rymarr and Duchess Margot standing as their seconds, a mission went into the Gray forest claiming to have the intention of making alliances with the Shavs so they might bend the knee. The mission is said to include; Inquisitor Alistair, Prince Luca. Princess Lou. Archlecter Aleksei, Lord Corban, Lord Killian, Master Raphael, Countess Mia, Dame Esoka, Princess Tikva, Master Sparte, Prince Aiden, Lady Arianna, Lady Regla, Mistress Shard, Dame Paloma, Lady Clara, Templar Preston, Seraph Ailith, Lady Aislin, Baron Silas, Sir Miles, Lady Monique, Dame Alexis, Lady Khanne, and Duke Harlan. It was also rumored that Inquisitor Halsim later mysteriously showed up after it began. It also rumored that the faith under the direction of Legate Orazio has been supporting and helping to fund this mission and that Marquesa Samantha despite recently giving birth has been supporting the mission from her home base. The mission includes Ashford Rangers, Valorous Few warriors, Grayson troops, Faith healers and Deepwood troops. The mission is still pending, but strange stories of the mission are starting to reach Compact.
Strange stories are being told of the Gray Forest Mission. One such rumor is that they ran into agents of the Horned God who were on a hunt. Another rumor suggests that Lord Killian was gravely injured while fighting against an agent of the horned god. Other reports say that the weather has been awful and many on the mission have suffered cold related injuries. "I really hope that Prince Luca comes back in one piece and without frostbite." A barmaid at the Murder of Crow was heard lamenting. "The Ashfords were zipping around on trees out in the forest like they are birds." Someone said at the Badger Inn. "No that was the Rivens!" another responded with.
A more specific story reported that under the command of Lord Corban a party that included Lady Monique, Lord Killian, Master Sparte, Dame Alexis, Lady Clara, Countess Mia and Inquisitor Alistair went deep into the forest and were gone twenty four hours. They returned with frost bite, claw injuries, tales of dire bears and about 30 Crownlands Shav under the command tribeswoman Brunhilda. "That group of Shavs was mostly kids, the elderly and the injured." the storyteller added.
It also said that Mistress Shard, Duchess Margot, Lady Khanne and Prince Calarian were quite charming some some Northern Shavs that for some reason they strangely ran into a non-northern part of the forest. "I believe that Lady Khanne will come back with some new vassals for her house." Someone murmured.
There are many groups traveling to the Gray Forest these days. A particular group whom volunteered to scout for the King's Sanctuary, have repeatedly returned to the Forest and to a specific area they are calling Oriel Woodlands. Such a place has no current relation that would make sense to the common maps known of the crownlands. The first time the group returned to Arx from their adventure saw them with bring a handful of prisoners with them; crownsworn who had apparently turned to banditry since the Siege. Also, Lord Blackram reportedly did something so questionable that many of his fealty admonished him. The observant would have noticed that the Lord Blackram had endured increased aggression from animals of all sorts, quite unlike him. Particularly, they would have noticed him getting dive bombed from ravens and crows - amusing to some, no doubt. The second time the group returned from the Gray Forest, they came back bloodied and injured. Dame Leola returned first among their number. The others, Lord Gaston Blackram, Lady Shae Keaton, Lady Eirlys Greenmarch, and the Valorous Few Vice-Captain Shard all came home, ragged, injured, but evidently successful in their mission.
Cyrto Arch Islands