the famous Holdfast Four sacrificed their lives to save the Realm from an indescribable necromantic threat. In a magnanimous, arcane explosion the entire area was turned to rubble destroying a Death Knight, Liche, The Necromancer's Stone and four valiant heroes. This has led to the stories that the Holdfast is continually haunted by the dead and the arcane explosion has somehow permanently affected the local area. This led to the tavern being totally rebuilt closer to the Dellgate, and since then the Holdfast has been through a Drow attempt at infiltrating the Province, The Goblinoid Horde. It was also the place chosen by the King and Duke Nazgar to form a treaty of peace to end the civil war. The Holdfast has actually been rebuilt three times. Once after the events surrounding the Holdfast Four, secondly when the Drow burnt it down and finally when the goblinoid Horde razed and battered the foundations. Strangely enough the ruins of the old Holdfast have since been blown up in freakishly similar circumstances to it's original destruction, further fuelling the premise that it the area was horribly warped by the original explosion. With such an amazing history you would think the Holdfast would be packed with clientelle, which is partially true. Half the year round the Holfast's business is vastly reduced due to the young hero wannabe's who rarely get through more than two tankards before jumping up, calling people demons and challenging them to fights outside. This has been why the taverns been losing its local patronage over the last year and is exactly what happened to Jimmi and myself as we were enjoying the cosy and warm hearth of the Realms' most famous tavern. Sampling the Tavern's now somewhat depleted ale cellar, Jimmi who had demanded it was his round for the eighth time (and who am I to complain) was on his way back from the bar when some young snot ran in swinging his sword. Screaming something about demons he narrowly missed the barmaids head. A group of lads jumped up and followed his lead, causing Jimmi to make an uncharacteristic fumble of beer and resulted in the offender being the recipient of the most electrifying and painful move in Trollball history. This certainly convinced the young upstarts that they no longer wanted a profession in fighting demons. While acts of violence aren't generally encouraged by most taverns, Phatpants was exetremely grateful for Jimmi's behaviour and bought us drinks for the rest of the night. Without the presence of the rowdy townies the Holdfast becomes a brilliant venue for out of town drinking, improving with each drink and as its reputation demands you can't go to the Holdfast without incident! Thus this concludes the Gazette's Good Tavern Guide.

Foreign Body After the controversy surrounding the Mithril Dragon heightening racial tension the WRG thought it their utmost duty to educate its readers to the viewpoints and colourful character of the many races coexisting in our great society. We begin this insightful discourse with the views of Shanahan, a Water Elf Paladin. N ot being a native to these parts, I think it would be beneficial for all of you to hear some observations from a foreign body. Coming from a totally different culture from your own I have been known on occasion to have a different view on the situation. It appears to me that certain events are, as you say "coming to a head", what with the threat of invasion, death and overall domination coming in from all directions, the gith, the hoard, cultists and the deathbringer, Holosade with his troops. With all of these factors, and others pressing down upon all who resides within the Western Realms, I am curious to learn why it is that many of you seem to think, and even believe that these events will have no effect upon your lives. Going so far as to adopt an almost autistic approach to life. Take for example, Dwarves. These thick sculled, obnoxious drunkards would rather become oblivious to the plight of their lands through the overuse of their spirits, than tuck their matted beards into their belts, don armour and axe and actually face the threat like the warriors that they are reputed to be. This is alike to humans, and I may sound patronising but just because you are short lived it does not excuse the fact that many of you show no pride in the basic practices of your chosen profession. On more than one occasion, the so-called scout Julian has managed to get an entire adventuring party lost. I have witnessed a half-man, half-orc, best, on more than one occasion, many a human who by all rights should have the basic decency and pride to endeavour to improve their skills so as not to be out done by one of such unfortunate birth. As I see things, the wrong attitude has been adopted by too many of the natives who are unloading their burden onto those who are now portrayed as the hero's of your lands. As a result these individuals now face a harder task due to the totally irresponsible personalities of those among you who consider themselves exempt from the duty to your families, monarchy and most of all your respective Deities. Why is it that you can not forget your petty feuds and group together to battle and defeat the threat that we all face? Shanahan Protector of X'nedra. (The Western Realms Gazette would like to state that Shanahan's viewpoint is distinctly his own and in no way reflective of those held by the Gazette)

The Western Realms Gazette Guide to Blasphemous Heathen (part1) Let us not say we didn't tell you so. Despite what the authorities have told you these insidious groups of curs lurk among us, looking to perform despicable acts in order to appease their dark masters. With all the fervour surrounding the fears that these groups are already active in Dellgate, your faithful Western Realms Gazette provides you with a guide to these bunch of devil worshipping losers, so you can keenly identify and report any heretic scum to the law. Due the secretive and paranoid nature of these cults any actual information on these alternative religions is extremely scarce. Even the most highly regarded experts know little more than what we offer you in this guide. Despite the inferences made about these groups no one really knows what actually goes on except the black and tarnished filth themselves. The Western Realms Gazette hereby presents you with as much that is truly known about the cults believed to be active in the Dellgate Province. The Cult of Alryx This group of devil worshippers have been believed to been acting in the Dellgate area since 1095 when an unsavoury wretch known as Eclipse was arrested for demon worship. This band were responsible for the butchering of many small holdings and caravans in the Dellgate area for a period of over four years. More recently they have been believed responsible for the Red Death (issue 1) that killed in the region of 1000 during the Trollball final last year and believed to be associated with the murder of Merchant Baron Caspa Faragill and family in the theft of the Mithril Dragon. Even more poignant are the allegations of devil worship levied at the Marquis and the accusations that he was an active worshipper or this.... continued overleaf <---Pages 5 to 8 <---Pages 1 to 4 Pages 13 to 16---> Pages 17 to 19--->

Back up

The Black Feathers