The Chronicle

of the month of Lorinfall in the year 154

Court and council decamped to Kingsport last week for the build up to the launch of this year's contingent of naval additions. Also present was an unexpected host of troops, both serving and summoned levy, which underlined how seriously Princess Selina is taking the latest threat from Salvoyn. Her Highness took advantage of this great gathering of her army at Kingsport to give a stirring and defining speech, which the Chronicle has transcribed opposite. After a full day reviewing the troops, the new ships of the line were launched on the evening tide. All were the largest vessels of the new design yet constructed, and the incredible size of the Kingsport build drew gasps of disbelief as it was finally unveiled. The 2,000 tun Leviathan and new flagship of the Linrodeth Navy was almost unable to turn into the main channel of the Ishtan, and manoeuvred slowly out to station on the ocean, along with the Cetus, the Yamma, and the Tiamat sister ships of 1500 tuns. The significance of raising the levy of the countryside controlled by the Principality was not lost on political onlookers, and stocks of luxury items in the market places fell significantly over the course of the week

Ahead of the marching levy, and presumably unrelated to it, comes news of unrest and rebellion across the northern reaches of the Weald. It is unclear whether the discontent on the northern borders is due to taxation or some more local difficulty. Fortunately, it does not appear to have effected corn supplies from the area or the redeployment of troops.

Several of the more elderly citizens of Linrodeth have been highly agitated by recent activities of Brynette surveyors along the Botmoor road and atop Botmoor hills to the south. Citing Lord Raphael's famous assurance that "no further incidents of necromancy will be allowed to occur", the silver brigade are lobbying for a curfew to be re-imposed throughout the month of Kryll and Ghostmoons. As near as the Chronicle could ascertain, the surveyors are merely checking water levels during the autumn flooding. Residents of the ward of Faringdon have lodged complaints recently about strange noises coming from the abandoned home of traitor Marcus Lambourne late at night. Local councillors consider the source of the nuisance most likely to be optimistic treasure hunters, trying to loot the place ahead of redevelopment of the site. A few more excitable rumourmongers in the local tavern claim to have seen hooded figures entering and exiting over the roof tiles, while their young offspring seem to be intent on making a lightning raid during the early hours of Ghostmoons.

The wardmoots of Dracas, Shambles and Levestone are all dealing with distraught parents and guildsmen after a number of youths went missing during errands in the early autumn twilight. The youngsters all appear to be fit, strong apprentices from comfortable households and thus do not fit the usual descriptions of lost street urchins. The City Guard has confirmed that these incidents do not appear to be related to the trio of "floaters" hauled out of the flooded River Ishta last ninthday. Scribes at the Witanmoot remain puzzled by a small number of mysterious citizens who send in taxes for properties which do not appear to exist.

All these "landlords" appear to reside outside of the city boundaries, but repeated replies to those addresses seem unable to stem the small and persistent trickle of funds into the Treasury.

In the aftermath of the great troop assembly at Kingsport, several ward moots have been debating their future role in any emergency. In the wake of other reforms to city governance, most are unclear as to whether they still retain the right to call out a Marching Watch of ward citizens under the command of the Alderman. It has generally been agreed that this is not a good area for experimentation due to the watchful eye of General Olvini, and that the Witanmoot should clarify the duties of the armed citizens and councillors.

Her Highness Princess Selina's Address to Troops at Kingsport:

"My loyal troops and sailors. We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under the deities, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects.

"Therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my city and for my lands and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a Prince, and of a Prince of Athion too, and think foul scorn that the Council of Regents, or any witch of Salvoyn, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to whit rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you.

"In the meantime, my Admiral Cornaro shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my Admiral, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my lands and of my people."