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Hi everyone!

I need some catching up on worldly events since...well, a long time ago. Looking for a RP event, ideally on a weekly basis (maybe more), to meet up IG to talk about past events and changes in the world.Any takers?

Dear Layonara Community,

To the people I have spent so much of my online time with for such a long time I have to announce that I am not only resigning from the Lead GM position but from being a GM completely. I must apologise for this, I had fully intended to continue my role and run the Rise of the Praefuries series which I was quietly excited about.

Things being as they are, work, family and some new writing opportunities have finally taken their toll on my online time and I cannot in good conscience maintain the sort of committment required to help make Layonara a great place to be from a GM perspective.

I realise many of you have relied heavily on me for your character development, your quest fixes, your cdq's, advice on progression, etc, etc and these are the sorts of things I love the most to do for this community and I feel it deeply that I cannot continue that for you.

I will still be around, but not in the capacity that I once was. For this, I apologise. I guess all things must come to an end eventually.

See you in game.

Dezza (Aka Canuslupis)

For many years now the realm of Belinara has been beset by enemies, an almost constant barrage of chaos and disharmony. But, as the dust settles from the latest engagements a relative calm appears. Perhaps it is more the case that the populations of those nations directly affected have had their full of uncertainty, of blood and of war, or perhaps its because there are few left willing to fight, or even simpler, the resources no longer remain and those nations need time to lick their wounds and recover.

Whatever the reason, once the dragon wars are declared over Hilm begins the long and arduous task of rebuilding their shattered nation. In the north the lands ruined by Molvarens vast horde from the Cult invasion are slowly but surely reclaimed and resown, vast sections of the city outside Castle Hilm are slowly rebuilt, new trade lines re-opened.

Around Briardusk Hilm establishes an active training camp, the goal to show Molvaren across the border in Kuhl that the hilmites have not forgotten their original mandate, to oust Molvaren completely and restore Queen Langovale to the throne, a goal however that seems more fleeting with each passing day as Molvaren shuts Kuhl down almost completely to any outside influences while he slowly and quietly regains his strength. So to the Raelites remain on land given to them outside Briardusk, by the Hilmite authorities for their service during the war and in protecting Briardusk from Molvaren during the Dragon War. They slowly build a settlement and keep to themselves mainly but their presence, over five thousand of them also gives cause for Hilm and Molvaren to consider them carefully.

In the south, for years to come the Hilmite forces based in Sundance will be flushing out remnants of the Orsgaunt Horde from the civilised centres of the landscape and driving them back to the mountains or hunting them down. Their predations will cause the south to rebuild slowly and often face difficuties but, pending any further incidents they will recover and begin to work towards their former levels of conditions before Molvaren tore the nation apart.

In the Siphe Principality, tensions between Lord Alexander and the fledgling nation will remain a primary source of concern that may in time be eased with the relationship that seems to have developed between the former Kuhl General and now Sovereign Lord of the Siphe Principality, Jaedon Siphe and the Commander of the Toranite armies of Belinara and Chamion of Toran's Divine Will, Daniella Stormhaven. Many hope there can be a reconciling so that all can work towards a common goal, time will tell. Certainly the actions of Sir Lance Stargazer, Commander of Hilms Armies and Second in command of Hilm behind Lord Alexander have shown that he is more moderate in his tolerance of Sovereign Lord Siphe and is trying to bring both parties to an agreement of mutual tolerance as well.

And as the dust settles over the Roughlands, all evidence of Shadrixkayl's forces fade away but there are times when travellers, adventurers or hardy merchants are crossing regions of the landscape and an odd mist will arise threateningly and forebodingly before once again dissipating as if in warning of a time to come.

Above the Orsgaunt mountains to the north east of the Principality, the lands now claimed by the Dread Red Dragon Ractrafiorez there is nothing heard of the great dragon. It was not present for the final battles against Shadrixkayl, nor seen any time thereafter. Rumours began that the dragon, severely wounded after the battle in the Cult war against the Drach Ori occupiers of Briardusk had finally succumbed to the injury and returned to his lair high and deep within the Orsgaunt mountains to rest and recuperate. Certainly any seeking the dragons treasure were met with fierce fire giants, far more powerful and deadly that any previously known to inhabit the dangerous peaks. These giants called themselves Ractrafiorens, servants of Ractrafiorez.

Slowly, surely those soldiers of other nations stationed in Hilm following the end of the war with the Cult returned to their lands around the world to welcomes of varying degrees. The famine that had hit the world following the Cult wars had faded to some degree but not entirely gone away, many did not know if it was truly gone or simply held at bay for the moment.


Many nations around the world still had their own domestic troubles to deal with;

Boyer on Dreger is struggling to recover after infiltration by Pyrtechonite cultists and a deadly plague that decimated whole villages.

Taur'en on Alindor was struggling to come to terms with its own internal upheavals.

The Golden Alliance on Dreger was suffering badly from the predations of criminal elements undermining the safety and stability of the lose alliance of cities.

Sederra on Dreger continued to struggle to rebuild their shattered nation from the debris left over from the Cult wars.

Succession on Dreger has fallen into stagnation and the nations economy barely struggles to tick over. If not for the support from Rael there are fears the nation might dissolve into civil war in the not too distant future.

Rumours from the distant Elven nation of Voltrex indicate they are struggling with a dark elven incursion in their lands and the attacks of a heretofore unknown black dragon.



But it is not all doom and gloom, some nations have rebounded strongly after the Cult wars and while Belinara was still emrboiled in dragon trouble they had managed to slowly pull themselves together.

Erilyn continued to go from strength to strength, their power growing on Alindor.

The nations within Corsain and Tilmar have built in strength and power in their region.

The nations on Mistone have recovered well since the war and each nation is stable and growing again.

Liwich on Dreger, with the greatly diminished threat of the Silver Crescent has established strong trading ties to many nations and is once again becoming a hub of sea trade for the world.

And of course Rael continues to do what Rael does and slowly but surely tendrils of influence reach out touching other nations.




/// Please note this is not by any means a full and complete list of all goings on at present. But it is meant to give players an idea where varying places in the world are at currently.

[/B]


In Center, by the fire, stories will be recited and sung - the rise and fall of the great and the terrible; sieges and wars from eyewitnesses; tsunamis, gods, the deeds of the living and the dead. World-changers young and old are invited to speak or listen so we are not doomed to repeat.

Discussion of current events and involvement will inevitably come up.

*A note is posted around the various inns and crafting halls*

While out collecting some lichens on Krashin, Ygraine of the Ursus Clan came across a family of cats who were starving. She took them under her protection and led them to a safer place, but lost one of the cats along the way.

A reward is offered to anyone who can find and recover this lost cat.

[SIZE=10]// Since you can't interact with the npc cat, it has been given a name. Post the name here first to get a reward for finding the poor animal. [/SIZE]

Questions and Answers from the plot catch ups from Session 1:[LIST=1]

• Q: Was Molvaren last seen     retreating back to Kuhl?

A: He was last seen in Stormcry Hollows     by the group that went after the Broken One. There is no     intelligence to suggest he is anywhere else.

• Q: Siphe and his forces have cut a     new “kingdom” for himself in the ruins of Fort of Last Hope with     his Big Red Friend ([SIZE=13][SIZE=13]Ractrafieroz[/SIZE][/SIZE], and he's actually kind of rusty colored)?
       A: Siphe refers to it as a “sovereign     principality” and acknowledges it is still within Hilm. He a good     neighbor but does not necessarily follow Hilm Castle's orders.
  
• Q: Did the forces of the Corath     sink back into Nesar? (Are they still on the boarders?)

     A: These forces seem to have gone back     to doing whatever it is they were doing before.... Or something.     They are definitely not being seen on the boarders of Nesar.

• Q: Nesar's troops have returned to      barracks?

     A: Everyone has gone home, there are     no occupying forces. Regular stations manned as they would have     otherwise been throughout the country (so far as everyone knows).

• Q: Have Rael's forces left Sedara?

     A: The presence of Rael's forces are     less troops and more support personnel, given the drastic damages     done there. There are appropriate military guard for Rael's     continued people presence within the country.

• Q: Sedara is rebuilding Audria,     then?

     A:  Indeed. That is going to be a     long, long road for them.

• Q: Fisterion didn't actually     deploy any forces of the Destroyer during the Kuhl/Hilm conflict,     yes?

     A: Fisterion protected his interests,     but he didn't really do much to protect anyone else's. Since his     offer of aid was rejected, he really kept to his own business.

• Q: Whatever happened to Queen     Alise Langovale?

     A:  Queen Alise Langovale (the     desposed ruler of Kuhl) is alive and well and presently a guest of     Queen Mouring's  in Trelania.

• Q: Was the bloodpool that was used     to make the dragons-like people (special troops of Molvaren's Kuhl)     destroyed?

     A: That  is the word that came from     those that survived the expedition. There is a big caved in section     of ground where the Hollows used to be.

• Q: Is Hilm Castle recovering from     the attacks of the last battle?

A: Hilm is in the process of     repair and recovery.

• Q: Are most of the allied forces     withdrawn from Hilm Castle and in general?

A: In general, there     are strategic withdrawals happening throughout the allied forces.

• Q: Are the allied forces on call     'just  in case'?

A: Support is lent where support is needed, but     generally a  withdrawal and no apparent intentions for permanent     stationing.

• Q: The portal between Hilm Castle     and Blackford Castle is still working for diplomatic use?

A:     Yes.

• Q: What was the cause of the     plague in Hlint?

A: The Cult (further than that is not known).     The curing though, managed through the Aeridites and Elohanna's name     is typically spoken in the same breath. (As an aside, the serial     murderer is still at large).

• Q: The plague-affected and     controlled dragons. What is known of what has become of them, and     are they still "working" for Siphe's version of Kuhl?

A:     There was an active effort by certain allied forces to cure/dispose     of afflicted dragons. Not many were floating free of Kuhl's forces.     What success they are having is not common knowledge.

• Q: Is it known if Siphe is using     the affected dragons in his military?

A: Siphe's forces are     reportedly only what forces he had with him at the time, further     details are not commonly known though there are a few PCs with extra     details.

• Q: Is it known if Siphe is using     Myr'drachs in his military?

A: While it is known he arrived with     some of these in his forces, the current status is unknown.

• Q: Have there been any extended     effects from the big hole in the ground?

A: In the chaos that     immediately followed the Broken One's destruction, druidic forces     within Kuhl were able to examine it and determine it is, at least     near the surface, free of any dangerous taint or corruption. They     could get this word out through druidic channels.

• Q: Have there been any side     effects from those affected with the Cult poison-plague-disease, and     the subsequent cure?

A: With regards to Hlintites, there does not     seem to be an overt affect, though  every little thing that goes     badly for a person who was once affected-but-survived is blamed on     the fact that Those Cultists messed with Their Town.

• Q: What is the state of Nesar     post-war?

A: Nesar is -largely- business as usual, to the general     observer.

• Q: How much have dragon sightings     increased since the Cult has been contained? Is it still rare, or     are they being seen more increasingly?

A: There are the     sightings/attacks related to the on-hold quest thing of Rowana's and     there's those attacks more recent that were brought up (Dezza's     postings in the Rumors section) earlier and which are not really     related to the Dragon Storm plot. However, it stands to reason that     with the apparent removal of the threat of being tainted by the     Cult, dragons don't particularly have a reason to hide away at the     moment. Other than those two cases I mentioned, there really aren't     any more dragon sightings, dragon attacks or whatever. Maybe someone     sees one in the sky now and then. Maybe not. Maybe it's a drake or a     large bird or...too much to drink.

• Q: About the famines - are these     largely the result of allied troops pulling able bodies and fields     falling fallow, or are there other reasons that are known?

A:     Post-war famines are not a direct result of the war on the large     scale. That is a result of other happenings some months down the     line. There are PCs who have information about that IG, but that is     somewhat on hold. However,  Hilm (kingdom wide) and Sedara (in     certain localities) are facing food insecurities.

Information     and nods in general:

• Q: What is the 'faction system'?

A: The faction system basically means     we're dividing up the world into factions based on each GM's     interest and whatnot. Some of them are plot, some are not. They're     independent though, so we (the plot team) will be reacting to them     just as you, they will react to us and to your actions, etc. That's     not to say that every corner of the world will be divided up and     assigned at the get-go, but the idea is to have "someone"     taking ownership of locales or individuals or whatever. Further     information about this will be coming (soon but no exact date offered).

• Q: Will the faction system be     implemented for the next bit of plot?

A: The next phase of things are     definitely going to use the faction system and that is part of why     we're doing the Q&A for folks. Setup leading into that aspect.

• Description of Kuhl to the common     observer:

It's worth stating that what's happening within the     borders of Kuhl is currently an unknown.  As yet, no one has     infiltrated Kuhl since the end of the war... or at least... not done     so, lived and returned to tell his/her tale to every town crier on     the planet.
The borders are locked down tight. This was true     before the end of the war, but now it's even moreso. Nothing seems     to come in or out. The latter is accepted as a truth. The former is     assumed from the latter, though it's equally likely that what goes     in may simply not come out. This of course occurred once the Cult     forces retreated fully. ***IMPORTANT*** Do not enter the physical     area of Kuhl without the accompaniment of a GM. If you have done so     following the end of the war, treat it as an OOC experience and do     not speak of it as an actual IC Happening.

• This was stated elsewhere (we     think!), but time is a little wonky with this plot, so what     calculates out to years may not really be. There'll be some     accounting at work at some point, but when we start back up, it'll     be a matter of months rather than several years since the end of the     war.

Traveling out of town this year, will be back next Monday; to all who I will miss in game and out, Merry Christmas and may your holidays be full of friends, family, laughter, fruitcake, and rum-besotted eggnog.

Happy holidays all!

...and not just because I kind of have to say that...happy bday man!

Hi all,

in case not yet heard through the proverbial grapevine, I've become a dad of a beautiful little girl!

Posters appear about Fort Vehl: