Microsoft Zone Archive/Asheron's Lore/A Brief History for Travelers/The First Strike
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Original Link (now dead) - http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall/ASHEhistory12-01.asp
The First Strike
by Allan Maki
Turbine Entertainment Software
Frostfell PY 12 / Earth: December 2001
Candeth Martine, once a hero to the people of Dereth, has made his first move. Beneath the cover of the winter sky, Martine and his troops laid waste to all but six of the arrival points on Dereth. None know what has happened to the souls that were being transported to Dereth through the former arrival points, but these attacks can only be seen as a declaration of war.
High Queen Elysa Strathelar, having been informed of these assaults, has dispatched her guard to reinforce the remaining six outposts in the towns of Shoushi, Yaraq and Holtburg. Her efforts have produced new training settlements equipped to better educate and train the new arrivals from Ispar. Yet within the walls of the Training Academies all is not well. Martine's forces continue their efforts at the outer edges of these schools and newcomers are called upon to assist the Guards in the defense.
To assist in the war effort, experts in the use of thrown weapons have developed a new device for launching uniquely crafted darts at enemies. These atlatls have been distributed to vendors across Dereth in hopes that they will be improved upon by savvy crafters and brought into wide use by other practitioners. During the creation of these weapons, experts learned also how to balance their throws while arming themselves with shields. However, the atlatl's length and the balance needed to maintain proper aim and strength prevent the use of shields with these new weapons.
In the halls of the Arcanum, Nuhmidira and her apprentices continue to provide "keepers" for carpenters to place before the new houses they build. Rumors spread that the Arcanum is also behind the "living" candy sticks left at the town centers bestowing beneficial spells to all who pass through. Their silence on the matter has not proven a deterrent in this belief.
A perfected art of cobbling has yielded the creation of slippers made from the carcasses of rabbits throughout Dereth. At home or on the streets, these slippers can be found on the feet of travelers, a welcome distraction from the threat that has so recently appeared.
Trees, lights, and logs for the fire can be purchased from lumberjacks outside of several towns. Even in this dark time the festival period will not be denied.
A new shadow grows over the land of Dereth. This enemy is the most frightening that the people have yet faced. He was once one of them, an Isparian, but the twisted machinations and magic of the Virindi have driven him to a breaking point. Now, filled with hatred and rage, he turns his sights on those he once considered kin. It is an uncertain future and fate that the people of Dereth now face.