""Erik's summer grace be upon you, your highness.
I know you grow fond of my verse and prose, in nothing but the largest dose,
I have news which you crave, though you call me a knave,
For though low as I be, hero could you call me!
Ah yes, we did return from Oelftan high, with a pendant saved from the Gorgon. I won't say who has it, nor where it may be; that would give away some of our heroes' identity! And I hear the Gorgon is furious! Isn't that curious? Having written already to some he thinks had a hand, or perhaps have been part of our band. Old Raesene took no time in tracking his men through the Downs: His army took Bjorlangen, and met resistance in Lemnjohen where both the Watch's and the Witch's forces allied for a day, to resist Raesene. I wish I had seen the fight; for although the allies lost, news of their heroic resistance seemed to dwarf news of King Dherg's wedding in Anarire.
By the end of summer the only news anyone wanted to hear was of valiant Svinikers and Jankapans marching towards Lemnjohen. The final two weeks of Deismir they were joined by the Watch and the Witch's remnant forces to take the Fort back; under the scale of the riposte the Gorgon army retreated to Bjorlangen... And from there, where the Gorgon will go, I would not know.
... But here are some other interesting bits from the rest of the highlands:
The Siren made no waves
Halskapa's Dherg was married and proclaimed: "Halskapa I give you your new Queen. Let the month long festivities begin.", Queen Friela attended, as did King Hruthvar, Sir Thorgrim heir to Jankaping, and Storm Holtson.
Svinik's King Hruthvar moved amongst jarls and warriors and the skalds and the druids and spoke to them of the value of peace with Rjuvik, and a strong Alliance with Stjordvik. One was signed with Stjordvik; but Fulgar's emissary fell ill, and returned before signing the alliance. He managed to make his forces reach the Down; but was surprised so few others did...
Fulgar took took ill: some say Witch's had him poisoned: he was in bed for much of the summer;
The Blood Skull Barony was quiet this summer; but the Orogs were busy strengthening Thrakkazz's hold on the humanoid tribes
Hogunmark did so too focus on growth this summer
While Jankaping made good on its promise and sent a contingent to the Downs, strange news at court threatened to destabilize one of King Alnor's Jarls
The White Witch was caught into a surprising alliance with the Emerald Spiral; Summer is not her season, and the White Witch suffered in the humidity and mud with as much grace as she could. Rumors are that her Captain was caught red handed in an embarrassing affair.
The elves did not attack Ghuralli's forests, as assumed; they looked on and studied though; Time is not the same to them, and they have plenty of time to take Ruiddar and Caer Cwynar if they so wanted. I hear they heard news of Lemnjohen and had no reaction what so ever.
Khurin Azur's Dwarves however were stirred: Following the situation in the immediate vicinity, and the possible threat of hostilities from the Gorgon, King Tjorgrim stood down in favor of the more vigorous Hrothval while personally going to supervise the Southern border's new fortifications. Some tremors and a cave-in in Voldar also caused some damage.
King Dargal came back a hero from the quest at Silverheart; rumors are that he hired a wizard; that wizard has already started tapping into Draga-zai's mebhaighl.
No news from Kvigmar, but Hjolvar's King Ulgrim is said to have gone Anwshegh hunting with Khurin-Azur's new king... I hadn't heard if either of them made it back by summer's end!"
One little bit of news that I'm saving for last, a song actually!
And this song I've come to sing will interest you no doubt: I've heard that at Halskapa's wedding Jarl Laefr of Stjolvar finally got some word, that his father Stren might be alive. Laefr has always been of a proud with few lessons to take from anyone. Though not a strong warrior, he doesn't get pushed around; his blood is strong and powerful enough to persuade any to back down...
You can imagine how I was surprised when he offered that I join a quest to find Stren (and so too the "Blood of Stjolvar") - I knew his father well: I was younger, but he was a good friend and for a time a role-model of mine, but I warned it dangerous for he may have since changed. Do come with me and let's find this sword, for the man may be gone for all but his son.
We'll meet the 15th day of fall, at the source of the Hjarring river, in Hjorvaal"
The song of Stren of Stjolvar
"Ask the Jarl of Stjolvar where comes his bloodline
and if he'd rather explain of generations past
know that Stren his father was a good friend of mine
that I may tell you his bit of the truth at last.
Stren was a round warrior with a taint of Deismaar
But his sword was more ancient still
He fought under both the sun and the star
With a simple blade of the purest tighmaevril
Too many good he fought and too many he killed
That his blood did one day change swine him in ways
with a hunger for death forever was he filled
'till the very last day and the end of his days.
Laefr was a boy, when his father sought out
A monster of great might, the Man-Swine of Hjorvaal
He sailed up the Hjarring river up about,
Where the hills start and Stjordvik's oak wall
If the monster is dead, or Stren still alive
Laefr never got news, but many came thus far
In caverns honeycombed like a hive
For the tighmaevril sword known as "Blood of Stjolvar"
-- Sigrun Kjornaal, Skald of the Highlands
