The Chronicle

of the month of Menderal in the year 152

The King of the Noordic Islands is dead. King Ketill vagn Korsbaek of Garth died two months ago, apparently of natural causes in his extreme old age. The news has taken some time to reach Linrodeth, and reports are still unclear as to his probable successor. Given that both his adult children Crown Prince Konrad and Princess Kattena were killed some years ago in Athion, it seems that the Noord will have to arrange a huge tribal gathering to elect a new ruling dynasty. This process could take many months and result in much bloodshed if the result is disputed. The Citadel has confirmed that Linrodeth will not be sending representatives to the funeral. King Kieran's reaction is unknown, but he may be too busy for such niceties. The southern advance of the Athionic armies has become bogged down as it approached Salvoyn. The lines have so far been unable to close within 40 miles of Salvoyn due to difficult ground, poor supply and active sabotage by the local population. Rumours of curses and extreme bad luck dogging the expedition are likely exaggerated.

The approval of the committee budgets proved to be as boring as the debate on the main budget split. The only excitement came when Alderman Jim Bottler pointed out that the Temple of Daleth was getting £300 less than the other temples and moved an amendment to correct the discrepancy. However Gemma Downe refused to rise to his pointed questions and quietly seconded his motion, mumbling something about "not having been fully briefed on all the back room deals". This amendment was then passed without debate and the full budget was approved unanimously, much to everyone's surprise.

Her Highness the Princess Selina is reported to be in a towering bad temper following the theft of many state jewels last week. The strongroom of the Treasury was broken into overnight and the thieves made off with a selection of the best gems, discarding many smaller pieces. By sheer luck, the Crown was absent from the collection, having been sent to the Goldsmiths Hall for repair after young Prince Sikander got hold of it. Servants are refusing to discuss the details of the daring raid, but there are rumours that it was "an inside job". The Household Guard has asked all citizens to be on the lookout for quality jewellery being resold, although the Chroniclers reckon that the loot is long out of the city by now, probably in pieces.

Cllr Phillip Candever of Avigon has launched an uncompromising attack on the proposals to provide sweetwater to Outer Bridge ward. Describing it as "one of the worst examples of pork barrel politics the city has ever seen", he went on to accuse Cllr Saunders of "betraying the work done by Richard Firethorn and the great vision which had been the Sweetwater Project". Pointing out that the small source of water which has been found is only capable of supporting North shore, he went on to demand "on what basis are vast funds being spent to provide fresh water to marginal land across the river, whilst many thousands of people in the city proper suffer from foul and polluted wells?"

There have been calls to expel all beggars from the city boundaries following the vicious mugging of Senaro Falconi, a popular silk merchant of Cadene. Citizen Falconi was attacked whilst returning home from work and relieved of several pounds. However the beggars were not content with this windfall and continued to beat their victim senseless, leaving him bleeding in the gutter. Questions have already been asked in the Witanmoot about the City Guard's failure to deal with the matter. There are also rumours that the Citadel has shown an interest and may take the matter into military hands.

Sheriff Bowden is preparing a Midsummer muster and has been much in evidence. Clearly working on the assumption he will be re-elected, Sheriff Bowden has been drilling wards of the city on how they should respond to a sudden attack from the south. All the preparations are expected to cumulate in a grand muster on Midsummer when the entire City and the forces of the Citadel will mobilise and deploy on the Tourneyfields. The Witanmoot is pleased to confirm that a Midsummer Fair will also be held, as was usual in more peaceful times.

Clearly concerned by the quiet and stable nature of recent debates in the Witanmoot, Alderman Trueman has made a strong attack on Cllr Marcus Lambourne. Although the speech had been widely expected to start rebuilding bridges between the two Faringdon representatives, it seems that either Alderman Trueman got carried away or that he is at last mastering the skill of the truly vicious speech. Certainly describing Cllr Lambourne's more recent speeches as "showing promising signs of a return to sanity" does not seem to the Chronicle particularly conciliatory. Nor does his expression of hope that Cllr Lambourne will "not talk himself into an early grave" seem particularly friendly.

The Admiralty is hosting a number of "open days" this summer, inviting numerous merchant families in the city to dine with officers, inspect the classrooms and perhaps join some Midshipmen on a tour of the estuary. A spokesmen confirmed that this initiative was an attempt to make citizens consider a Navy education for their children, rather than the more usual apprenticeships. The Chroniclers note that all invitations so far have been addressed to respectable merchants, and none have found their way down to the docks. Undoubtedly this reversal of secrecy is designed to attract officer material, and that the ranks of able seamen will continue to be filled out in the usual way.

LATE NEWS! LATE NEWS! LATE NEWS!

The Sheriffs elections proved to be as exciting as the committee elections. With Jenny Davy unassailably in the lead, the only question was whether Alan Monterey could mount an effective challenge to Nicholas Bowden. In the end the combined efforts of the once mighty Lambourne and Monterey factions could only muster the support of Aldermen Monterey, Hubold, Spich, Saunders, Shefford and Worton. Jenny Davy gained the full 24 votes and Nicholas Bowden 18. The incumbent Sheriffs were therefore re-elected. A clearly delighted Jim Bottler praised "the decision to assure continued stability".