“I could have sworn I saw him running from the blaze, he always wore that ridiculous feathered hat so there was no mistaking him. He was some way ahead of me and I escaped unharmed,” one confused witness told the Herald, “I guess it wasn’t him after all.”

Several slaves have been overheard expressing their delight at the news. “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” one was heard to mutter darkly to a fellow slave at the docks this morning.

Whilst a thorough search has not yet been carried out at the slave market, authorities are expecting to find his body amongst the dead and the Merchant’s Guild has already made an official announcement of his death. As Warric Quinn leaves no heirs his estate will pass into the hands of the Merchant’s Guild, who will dispose of it as they see fit.

“Whilst we are deeply saddened by the news of our colleagues unfortunate demise, we would like to assure everyone that the Merchant’s Guild Ball will still go ahead as planned,” a spokesman for the Guild announced earlier, “It’s what Merchant Quinn would have wanted. May I remind everyone that tickets are still available for purchase to anyone who wants to attend. There is, of course, no charge to guild members.”

Some will mourn the passing of a key player in the Guild, but many more will no doubt quietly rejoice the demise of a man who was unpopular with both slaves and the common people alike.

“Gived me a reet scare, it did,” one woman claimed, “Shook me reet off t’bed.” Other residents claimed the woman was probably drunk at the time and reported, “T’was no more than a tremor really, we hardly felt it.”

The quake is said to have originated in the Thapelelian Wilds, where many strange happenings have been reported recently. Officials are reiterating that the jungles are no place for decent, city-dwelling folk, and are warning people to stay well away. “Once you go in, there’s no telling how many arms or heads you’ll come out with,” noted the Mayor of Sumbura. A stark warning indeed.

The fire started early this afternoon just as the day’s slave auctions were about to get underway and quickly devoured buildings and selling platforms alike.

So ferocious was the blaze that customers and merchants were forced to flee for their lives ahead of a wall of roaring flame. “The fire leapt from stand to stand so fast I could barely outrun it,” wailed one, slightly singed, witness. Others insist that it was not just one fire, but that several blazes started at various points around the market within seconds of each other, leading some to speculate that this was deliberate arson and not an accident at all.

Even as this is being reported officials and other volunteer fire-fighters are still working to extinguish the blaze entirely, although it is now said to be under control, with damage to other property in the city “unlikely”. Once all flames have been put out officials from the High Ward and other interested parties will no doubt be picking through the blackened ruins in order to find out exactly what happened.

 ”If it’s arson, someone will pay.” Merchant Taryn was heard saying, “I lost some good slaves in there.” Others were luckier, or perhaps just more concerned about their business interests. “I got all my slaves out, but it’s still a terrible loss,” Merchant Lys told The Herald, “With no slave market to do business in many merchants are going to be struggling. Fortunately I myself have other business ventures to direct my efforts towards.”

In a bizarre twist of events it seems it is actually illegal to sell slaves anywhere outside the confines of the market, a law enacted by the Merchant’s Guild many years ago to protect its members from black market slavery. Although no one from the Merchant’s Guild was available to comment at this time it seems likely that there will be no slave trade in Olosyc for a while.

Hot on the heels of news of a breakout from their renowned prison system, the Herald has been receiving reports that the Slums have seen record levels of devastation, due to a magickal explosion of unknown origins.

Possibly linked are the reports of an infestation of hideous monsters of all stripes originating from the Slums region spreading throughout the city, chased out of their homes by what appear to be fiends of demonic origin.  Beggars, prostitutes, and the poor are swarming the civilized regions of the city, much to the dismay of the more well-heeled citizenry.

“It’s a bloody crime,” said a local merchant who preferred to remain anonymous (we prefer he didn’t; his name is Eggleton Biscuitface).  ”There I was, trying to buy a slave for my butler to help him with his shoeshining duties, when some filthy tart comes screaming by weeping and wailing about the Hells opening up.  As if the Hells would open here, in Terajin.  Trinsic is more like it, with all those meddlesome Daelows chanters.”

Voletta Yawnstopper, a filthy tart, had this to say: “There be monsters in the Slums!  Big scary ones, with wicked teeth and pointy black bits!  It’s the end!  The end!  Run for yer lives!”

City officials said that while authorities are working hard to return the residents of the Slums to their homes by force, relief efforts to the Slums were ‘moving at their own pace.’

“They don’t really pay taxes,” said City Official and Terajin Wizard Jack Ash.  ”So we don’t really care.”

Zombies have also been spotted throughout the city.  Citizens and visitors alike are advised to stay indoors when possible, and to aim for the head if outdoor travel is necessary.

The Writ elevates the Baron Belrotte to the Noble Rank of Count and confers all the associated privileges and responsibilities on the House Belrotte. Though it does not explicitly state which lands are to become Lord Belrotte’s Countship, it is expected that the some or all of the holdings of the Deposed Marquess D’Ergland may be included in the formation of the Belrotte County. The Baron, himself, has familial claim to a small rural Barony on the outskirts of the kingdom, however the lands are currently administered by the Viscount Tremway in settlement for outstanding debts of the family Belrotte.

The Writ cites extraordinary braveness and loyal service to the Krown in the administration of justice and the quelling of lawless elements within the Capitol. Our readers will recall a series of articles detailing the Baron’s exploits during his push to restore order to Greater Daelows. During his service as Deputy Comissioner of the People’s Guard, the Baron oversaw a major reduction in crime and personally led several operations to eliminate the organized criminal elements which had been expanding within Daelows. During this time, the Baron survived several assassination attempts, and it is likely this willingness to risk life and limb which won the House Belrotte his newly exalted position within the Daelowsian Gentry.

Our sources report that not all the Court is so taken with the Baron Belrotte as is the Royal House of Silverblade. Many allies of the House D’Ergland see the Belrotte Countship and assumption of the position of Comissioner of the People’s Guard as a outright usurpation of the proper position of the Marquess, however, the actions of the Marquess D’Ergland have made him a pariah within both the gentry and the common folk and there are few who will speak openly against the Baron Belrotte on the Marquess’ behalf.  Still, rumors about possible criminal activities of the Baron Belrotte himself are said to be flying at court, even as he is welcomed into the upper echelons of the Capitol’s ranks of nobles. Despite the hearsay, no solid evidence has surfaced to implicate the Baron in his rumored misdeeds. A shortage of ranking Nobles willing or able to assume the hazardous position of People’s Guard High Comissioner may have influenced the King’s decision to issue the Writ of Summons.

D’Ergland Within.

Or so goes the latest popular ditty in the capital of Daelows these days. Several days ago, the People’s Guard released a statement to the Herald that the Marquess had gone missing, disappeared while under the protection of the Daelows Army, the People’s Guard, and Baron Leon Belrotte’s personal guard. It was further revealed that the Marquess is considered a prime suspect in the investigation of a murder of a Daelowsian socialite during the Guardsman’s Ball last month.

The People’s Guard reports that it appears the Marquess escaped via a secret tunnel dug from the outside of his estate. The nobleman is suspected of having escaped from protective custody to avoid facing trial.
In a move customarily reserved for those already convicted of treason or other high crimes, the Marquess has been stripped of his title and lands, and a royal warrant has been issued for his arrest.

We must remind our readers that, though currently deposed, the Marquess D’Ergland is still considered nobility, and it is therefore prohibited for common folk to approach, detain, or otherwise interfere with the business of the deposed Marquess under penalty of death.

“Mindin’ my own business, I was,” said local prostitute “Loosey” Lina, in describing the event. “Forgot to pay me bribes, so’s I had to two, mebbe three my way out of this’n. Then boom, there’s a hole in the wall, and this lil’ slip of a girl’s tumblin’ out of it. Good thing, too – I’m down to me last toothbrush, and I’d like to save it for when it counts.”

“Me not see her around before,” said Loosey’s hired Denqi, Greta. “She might be new hooker to town. Good luck finding a corner,” she added, in reference to the recent overstaffing of prostitutes in Terajin. “Her pimp nice, though. One-eyed guy with white hair. Gave me new hat.”

This news comes on the heels of a garbage fire started in Merchant’s Lane, rumored to be a silent protest of the city’s repeal of the garbage removal policies, leaving local merchants to deal with their own waste. This apparent weakness in the ruling class, along with the Wizards’ implementations of many unpopular policies, might mean yet another political upheaval in Terajin. The Herald will report any breaking news on this matter as it happens.

Eyewitnesses report that the Deputy Commissioner of the Guard, Baron Leon V. Belrotte—at who’s estate the event was hosted—had just began to deliver a speech to the assembled gentry when a commotion broke out elsewhere in the estate.

“The Baron, ‘ee wasted no time gettin’ up them stairs an’ tae the source o’ tae commotion, lemme tell’s ya. Tha’ man’s got cat-like reflexes, and ‘ee’s cool as a cucumber, boi thunner’. …yew’d almost think ‘ee knew what was commin’, ‘ee’s so quick.” Said a source claiming to be close to the Baron, but who requested to remain unidentified.

“Next thing we knows, down comes tae Baron an’ ‘is bully-boys all huddlin’ aroun’ a man covered wi’ tae Baron’s jacket. Oi got a peep at ‘im though, an’ dem mai eyes if et weren’t tae Marquess ‘imself, white as a ghost an all covered in blood, ‘ee was!”

Herald sources report that the estate of the Marquess D’Ergland, Commissioner of the People’s Guard, has been under heavy guard since the occurrence. Guards at the gate were turning back all comers, though it is unknown if the Marquess, himself is under arrest or allowed freedom of movement.

The Offices of the Deputy Commissioner have released a statement to the Herald confirming that a crime took place during the Guardsmen’s Ball. The announcement also indicated that the victim has been identified while the perpetrators have not. It goes on to state that members of the Guard may be involved and that the Guard and Daelows Army will be conducting a joint investigation of the crime. No specific names or identifying information was contained in the statement.

Our readers may rest assured that the Herald will closely follow this story as it develops, bringing yew the latest information available in future issues.

Travelers on the Lorimar between Seven Oaks and Terajin are advised to use extreme caution or perhaps delay their plans until the rains extinguish the fires and bring relief from the deadly heat.

Although no physical harm has come to the crew, some of the locals in Tanyel’s Cause consider that they may have got a touch of the sun from living on the exposed tropical beaches for so long. Most of the men seem to believe they were rescued by some sort of friendly sea monster, which may or may not have later turned into a man. Recollections of the events also include the finding of a strange, half-delirious man from a second shipwreck which occurred some weeks prior. Since no record of such an event was made and no one has been reported missing, speculation is rife about whether it is in fact the sun, or inopportune sampling of the local mushrooms which are responsible for these wild tales.

Whatever the truth of that night may be it is known for certain that several paying passengers struck out into the jungle in hopes of finding rescue on the other side. No reports of their whereabouts have yet been heard, and the jungles of Thapelel are notoriously large and dangerous, creating growing fears for their safety. “I couldn’t stop them,” Captain Flinders insisted, when questioned on the matter, “That young girl, Rae her name was, she insisted on going in. She took the other passengers with her, all males. They should have been talking her out of it, not encouraging it. Those jungles are no place for a young woman to be tramping about in.” Indeed many a man, and woman, has gone into the Thapelelian Wilds and never returned.

The crew are currently recuperating in Tanyel’s Cause and are planning to return to Aniada on the next trading ship heading that way.