The Chronicle

of the month of Kryll in the year 150

King Kieran's forces have withdrawn from Linrodeth's borders and given up the captured mine. The move comes after a meeting between King Kieran, his brother Edwin and Princess Selina. The meeting was organised by Alan Monterey and Jenny Davy and took almost a week to arrange, including the complex precautions against treachery. The Princess has praised Alderman Monterey and Sheriff Davy for their courage and the skill with which they negotiated the agenda. The Royal discussions, which lasted most of the day, were believed to be wide ranging but generally inconclusive. Prince Edwin has expressed pleasure at seeing his brother again and hopes that a peaceful resolution to the current conflict can yet be achieved. The Princess has emphasised that no deal has been struck and that King Kieran's withdrawal is temporary. However the mood of celebration in the Citadel and the visibly relaxed state of the army implies that if a threat does still exist it is unlikely to resurface until after the winter. But many people have noted that members of the Monterey faction have this month again been active in the new watch system. It would appear that, assuming Alderman Monterey has some inside information, this is indeed only a temporary respite.

The pirates which have been disrupting Linrodeth's trade have been identified as Orissian corsairs after the capture of one of their ships by the City navy. The Linrodeth warship Indomitable caught the pirates whilst they were raiding the small trading ship Sea Falcon. A pursuit and boarding action followed with a number of the pirates being captured alive. Interrogation of these prisoners confirmed that the pirates are an organised group of corsairs who have been operating with the secret supply from Orissian merchantmen, who were also claiming to be under attack, but who have in fact been exchanging provisions for stolen goods. Of more concern is the conformation that the sabotage of a number of ships, including the regrettable loss of the Lindis' Fair Fortune, was sponsored by the same corsairs in what appears to have been a planned attack of Linrodeth's trade. Whether the attack on trade is a direct Orissian action or if the Orissians have simply been hired by some other state is unclear. The Citadel has sent a strong protest to Orissa and all Orissian shipping passing through Linrodeth waters is now subject to boarding and search.

Alison Shefford's Oath of Fealty motion has been a source of contention in the Witanmoot this month, with attempts to move or not move amendments to the motion occurring, including some impressive attempts to avoid the whole thing. Numerous requests were made to postpone the debate for clarification, simplification and most honestly to enable a back room deal to be worked out. However, despite these requests, Alderman Monterey has put forward two motions to resolve the matter. Explaining that the Hahnite advice had identified two separate issues, the timing of the Oath and the reason for loss of Citizenship he proposed "The Oath of Loyalty must have been taken by a Citizen before they may cast a vote in the Midwinter Elections." and "Citizens who by Firstday 151 have not taken the Oath of Loyalty will lose their Citizenship". Alderman Monterey was at pains to point out that these were not necessarily his own views but that the passing or defeat of either or both of these motions the council would resolve the matter. Commenting that if this was clear she would hate to see a complicated Hahnite proposal, Maureen Quiller has come up with a much simpler motion which will be taken first "this Council no longer requires existing Citizens to take the Oath of Fealty".

Dozens of wounded soldiers have been arriving in the City indicating that a major battle has taken place. General Olvini has announced that the engagement was with renegade forces not under the control of King Kieran or King Edward. Sceptics have noted the strict secrecy with which the wounded are being treated and the lack of any visible prisoners. Rumours abound that either a large battle accidentally took place with King Kieran's army, or Princess Selina's forces have come off very badly in a bandit ambush, or even of a mutiny within the army. More generous speculators have suggested that the real reason King Kieran has withdrawn is that the City forcibly retook the mine, and has demonstrated that if he wishes to threaten the city he will have to fight and suffer losses he cannot afford.

The Temple of Brynette is currently considering what to do with the Great Altar Screen which arrived unexpectedly at their temple last week. The screen, which has previously resided at the Temple in Salvoyn, is a massive and ancient celebration of Brynette worship. However since the Temple already has a famous altar screen built by its founder, debate is now raging within the temple about which should take precedence.

Alison Shefford was once more the centre of controversy when the apparently minor matter of appointing an acting Sheriff whilst Jenny Davy was out of the City came before the Witanmoot. Lady Tasker quietly made her intention to make use of Alison's expertise for a temporary period and was obviously surprised when Marcus Lambourne stood up to object. Describing the appointment of someone who is not currently elected as "cronyism" Cllr Lambourne suggested one of the existing Aldermen such as Gilbert De Clare be appointed. He also questioned the conflict of interests that would arise given Alison Shefford's role in the Oath Motion. However this aggressive statement was as nothing compared to the blistering attack launched from directly behind Lambourne by Bartholomew Hyde; a normally quiet member of Lambourne's own faction. Describing Alison Shefford as "the obvious choice if what you want is someone who can help defend Linrodeth" he described the only conflict of interest as the one between "the need to fight to defend the city and Lambourne's own unquestioning support for King Kieran". If this wasn't enough he went on to cause further offence by describing all Kings as "murderers, gaining their position by killing everybody who opposes them" and called old King Edmund "the biggest murderer of them all, who had created Athion from a mountain of corpses, and whose children are about to do the same". Barely audible amid the howls of outrage he went on to accuse Lambourne of deliberately trying to hand the city over to one of these murderers and announced that he and several other faction members were looking forward to next year when, thanks to Alison Shefford, traitors like Lambourne would be removed from the Council and the faction could make a new start. At this point the Guard intervened to pull the rapidly forming lynch mob away from him and Lady Tasker suspended the session. When Lady Tasker reconvened she announced that she was decreeing the appointment of Alison Shefford to avoid further problems. Cllr Hyde was last seen trying to hire a bodyguard.

The Archimandrite has used an invitation to address the Council on the matter of the Oath of Fealty to further denounce the Reshite faith and King Edward. The Archimandrite described the Reshites as an evil cult similar to the worshippers of Azial. He described a number of events which he had become aware of and directly accused the Reshites of child sacrifice and of the murder of the previous Archimandrite. He warned against the dangers of permitting the Reshites to enter the City and called upon the Witanmoot to outlaw the worship of this evil heresy. In response Estelle Wynstanly has formally proposed "This City prohibits the worship of Resh and the promotion of his worship on pain of imprisonment". However this has not gone down well with a number of councillors. John Madigan described the whole session as a disgraceful attempt by the Hahnites to bring their schism into the council and called upon the Lord not to permit the motion time for debate. Others have described this as a cynical attack upon King Edward by an Archimandrite who is known to support King Kieran. His primary source of information also appears to be King Kieran's bodyguards; the same knights who killed Queen Kybele and who many people believe were responsible for the death of King Edmund. Reaction on the streets has not been as dramatic as the previous riots, however the Reshites are now noticeably cautious. Should the motion pass the most difficult problem facing the City Guard will be Lady Terri Wholeman, a leading Reshite and currently in residence at the Citadel as King Edward's ambassador.

The surprise arrival of the Noordic longboat last week has caused much speculation. The boat contained a number of senior Noord from both the Western Isles and Nyskilde, who spent several days in discussions at the Citadel before departing. As with the meeting with King Kieran, information about what happened is irritatingly unavailable, although the Citadel has confirmed that the "Ambassadors" arrived with a number of truce proposals which they wished to place before the Princess.

Followers of fashion will be delighted to hear that Lady Eshi Cyarçon has returned to the city following her visit to Salvoyn. However as most of Lady Cyarçon goods were lost in the sinking of the Fair Fortune, it may be some time before Linrodeth is one again treated to the display of her creations. The lady's trip does not seem to have enamoured her to the City authorities, as it is suspected that she has formed a strong link with the Salvoynian government. Indeed a number of her staff are believed to have resigned over Lady Cyarçon’s growing attachment to King Edward's court and the Reshites.

The Chronicle

of the month of Lorinfall in the year 150

Fighting has broken out between the city forces of Princess Selina and the army of King Kieran. In a speech to the Witanmoot the Chairman for Lands and Agriculture has confirmed that Kieran's forces are attempting to either disrupt or capture parts of the city's harvest. Alderman Capel described King Kieran's move as, "an outrageous and unprovoked act of aggression which threatens the life of every person in the City". She expressed satisfaction with the reaction from our army; the cavalry have inflicted several crushing defeats upon the raiders, although the number of wounded soldiers arriving at the Torian temple implies that as yet that no major engagement has taken place. Princess Selina still appears to be seeking to avoid a pitched battle and it is rumoured that a personal meeting is being arranged. The Princess expressed hope that the conflict was the result of "a misunderstanding or the actions of rogue, undisciplined units". However she announced her determination to defend the harvest. She told the Chronicle, "I have sent envoys to Prince Kieran making it absolutely clear that any encroachment by his troops into Linrodeth's lands is at best an act of banditry and at worst an act of war. The army stand ready to respond appropriately to either."

The first flourish of pre-election activity has taken place with most of the remaining independents joining factions in order to boost their chances of re-election. The Chronicle has also noted a dramatic increase in the desire of Councillors to be noticed. For once, this is welcome as our politicians have a good reason to expect that the city will be grateful for their recent actions in dealing with the plague. Justifiable praise has been heaped upon William Trueman and Richard Saunders for leading the efforts, however the mood of the city was best summed up by the words of Alderman Monterey who commented that everyone had worked together and "proved that Linrodeth can face any threat united and strong" and it made him "proud to be a citizen".

Confusion and perhaps a brewing crisis surrounds what will happen to those citizens who fail to vote in the forthcoming elections. The law states that "All current citizens must take this oath upon the occasion of their first voting in an election or will lose their citizenship." Current Hahnite opinion seems to be split on whether failing to vote will cause someone to lose their citizenship or whether a loss of citizenship will only occur if the person votes but then fails to take the oath. It seems likely that a debate in the Witanmoot will be required to resolve the issue, however as yet no-one has been brave enough to reopen the conflict caused by the original motion. How much the new Oath of Fealty requirement will affect the forthcoming election is unclear. some pundits are suggesting it will create an anti-Selina backlash whereas others believe that the act of oath taking will encourage people to think more about future of the city, thereby resulting an a more forward looking Witanmoot being elected. Either way the Chronicle suspects that the coming election will require most of the fence-sitters to take a position on the key issues facing the city.

General Olvini has now fully mobilised the city's professional forces and the Sheriffs have been advised of the likelihood that the Marching Watch will need to be called out. Both Sheriffs have expressed delight with the level of turn-out so far achieved during the practice sessions, with the wards of Levestone and Faringdon both producing noteworthy displays of organisation. The Chronicle notes with interest that members of the Monterey faction are in particular very active in ensuring that the new watch structure will work. No doubt they are aware of the consequences for them and others who have supported the new regime should Kieran take control of the city.

William Trueman has made a dramatic and highly public denunciation of the Reshites. Echoing the words of Linrodeth's Archimandrite, he described the Reshites as "poisonous murderers who had slaughtered the innocents of Cascorach and who were now bringing their foul heresy to our city". Alderman Trueman's words have been taken to imply that he believes the rumours circulating in the city that the Reshites are responsible for poisoning many of Linrodeth's wells.

Alan Monterey has proposed that the bill for the wall repairs be paid promptly thereby digging into the city reserves. Alderman de Clare expressed surprise and gratitude, but also commented that it was a shame it required a motion to council in order to get paid on time.

The Chronicle

of the month of Arvinoth in the year 150

Although the City is now almost free from the thirsting plague, its effects still linger on. Most of the city is in mourning with almost no family left untouched by the tragedy. On the advice of the Torians mass funerals have been taking place in order to clear the backlog of corpses. Whilst some wells have been reopened many have been permanently sealed, however following a suggestion made by Marcus Lambourne the army has been actively digging new wells and many of these are now in service providing fresh and safe water to the city. The boiling tower has been dismantled as it was becoming dangerous. Most of the temples have now held services of thanksgiving and there has been angry reaction to the suggestion made by the newly arrived Reshite priests that the plague is a punishment visited upon the city for its failure to accept Resh.

King Kieran's army has taken control of a number of strategic locations upriver. A large force of infantry and rangers is reported to be encamped around the Cheddingham copper mine and to be digging in. The King's forces at Fenny Bridges are also reported to be on the move and a number of skirmishes with scouting units appear to have taken place. General Olvini has called for calm, and indeed the reaction from the city's forces has been surprising muted. The guards on the gates have been increased and all the cavalry have been deployed deeper into the countryside. However the bulk of the army still appears not to have mobilised. One exception to this is the company of pike men which arrived over the bridge and has deployed just beyond the Torian temple. This unit was thought to have departed back to the city states several months ago. In response to the many questions this raised General Olvini has announced that only a few mercenary units have in fact left and the majority of the army has been engaged in a secret operation to defeat the Noord. The General told the Chronicle "We have a significant reserve of battle hardened troops based to the North in an addition to the feudal levy available from the liberated lands." Princess Selina added, "It is my hope that Prince Kieran will join us in the fight against the Noordic barbarians rather than pressing a fruitless attack on the people of Linrodeth. However if he is in fact here to take advantage of the City's current problems, the General assures me that it is well within our capability to destroy his army". The Chronicle notes that this assertion seems optimistic given the size of Kieran's forces and their success at Cascorach. Certainly the Princess appears to be going out of her way not to force a battle.

The re-establishment of the marching watch this month has proved a particularly interesting activity. Plans for the controversial move have been under consideration for some time and an announcement has been expected about now. However, for the professional fence-sitters in the Witanmoot, its coincidence with the arrival of King Kieran's army could not have been worse timed. Lady Tasker announced the watch's re-establishment in a formal decree as follows:

"All able-bodies citizens are required to participate in the Linrodeth Marching watch. The Marching watch shall be organised on a ward-by-ward basis. Within each ward, the citizenry shall be divided into watches numbering 150 people. Each ward watch must practice drill for at least one hour per week. In addition each Tenthday the Sheriffs shall summon a number of full wards to perform further practice. Aldermen are responsible for the turnout of their own ward and will appoint a leader responsible for organising each of the wards watches. The penalty for citizens who fail to fulfil their watch responsibilities shall be a fine of 1s for each offence. The City Guard shall, in consultation with the Alderman and Sheriffs appoint a suitable person to commander each ward watch."

Lady Tasker defended her use of the decree on the basis that it had prevented a divisive debate which the city could ill afford under its current circumstances.

Alderman de Clare has proudly announced that the repairs to the wall will be complete by the end of the month and that he has managed to deliver the project dramatically below budget. He told the Chroniclers, "Re-establishing the wall is essential to the safety of all of our citizens and I am deeply proud of my workforce, who have continued tirelessly through the recent troubles with this great task. I am delighted that we have been able to complete the work at a cost of only £3,250."

The Chronicle

of the month of Setheran in the year 150

The thirsting sickness has taken a heavy toll on the city over the past month. Although the Citadel and most of the guildsmen classes managed to secure clean drinking water for themselves, the death toll amongst the common citizenry has been high. It seems to have struck the very young, the elderly, and the already sick most hard, and it is estimated that almost 5,000 bodies have now been taken to the mass graves outside the city walls. The Welfare & Education committee worked tirelessly through the summer heat, but found their efforts swamped by the scale of the crisis. Surprisingly, William Trueman and the Brynette Temple have become the heroes of the hour. Trueman's emergency commandeering of the Brewers facilities provided the first mass supply of clean water. The Brynettes' construction of an experimental boiling tower on the embankment, at great personal risk, has also supplied huge amounts of clean free water since it started working. The situation seems to be stabilising, although the Torians admit that they are still at a loss as to how to clean and reopen the hundreds of contaminated wells across the city. The most recent outbreaks of the disease appear to centre around attempts to reopen and use some of these wells.

Shipping has largely diverted to Kingsport in recent months, in order to reprovision in relative safety. The Dockmaster there has passed along several more reports of attempted piracy on the high seas, and commends the Esprayennan convoy scheme to all ships captains. Trade to the city states continues to be brisk, with several Salvoynian ships joining them during this temporary lull in the civil war. Rumours that the Noordic settlers wish to re-establish trading contacts have not been confirmed by the Citadel.

Business in the Witanmoot has been very subdued with so many members severely ill this month. A barely quorate Court of Common Council managed to pass Bottler's motion for more money for the Portwall. and £200 of significant cuts were also made to the Welfare and Education budget in order to fund the Plague works. Alice Barbiter has been elected unopposed as the new Alderman of Cartage, further strengthening the position of William Trueman in the Witanmoot. The once powerful Monterey faction is now clearly weakening and may face major problems in the Midwinter elections.

Along with the merchants from Salvoyn comes news of a major breakout of political hostages held in the Royal Palace there. The rescued families, all apparently of southern nobility, have been successfully spirited away, but those responsible for plotting and aiding the escape have since been arrested and charged. Salvoynian authorities are apparently confident that full details of the incident will come to light during the trial, and may yet reveal the hiding place of the hostages. Of particular interest to the Citadel is news that the prime defendant is a Kerunian citizen based in Linrodeth, using Kerunian funds to arrange the escape. The Chroniclers also wonder whether it is entirely a coincidence that Kingsport has been opened to commercial shipping this month, which would allow any unusual visitors to disembark discreetly.

Rumours abound that the Cheddingham copper mine has been taken by a hostile incursion. The first news came when a lone miner who had escaped the attack arrived at the Witanmoot. He confirmed that a small force of well armed and "proper lookin' troops" attacked the mine at dawn on Seconday Firstweek. The miner who had fled the attack was not able to identify the attackers, however the speculation is that this was either a bold move by Aralan Derwent or a rebellion by a local Baron. The Citadel has refused to comment and concern about the scale of the situation has been raised by the sudden withdrawal of an infantry regiment from assistance with the plague and the re-deployment of a large cavalry force through the City last week. There has even been a suggestion that one of the royal armies may be planning to take advantage of the City's current inability to defend itself.

The Chronicle regrets to announce the death of Richard Firethorn. Councillor Firethorn will be remembered by many for his heroic efforts during the Great Fire and for the many important initiatives which he created and guided through the Witanmoot. He will be remembered for championing the much needed but, since his retirement, maliciously ignored sweetwater project. Despite continuing poor health Cllr Firethorn has been very active in the relief of the plague and is believed to have died from an infection gained during this work.

The Chronicle

of the month of Menderal in the year 150

People in Linrodeth are succumbing to a devastating illness which is spreading through the city like wildfire. The summer heat has dried out the Ishtan mud, but is adding to the problems of Torians, Dalethians and city authorities trying to tackle the thirsting sickness. Official advice is to drink 10 to 20 pints of water per day, but many wells across the city are sealed, and few sufferers have the ability to boil large quantities of river water. Attempts to drink ale instead have left some sufferers in a drunken stupor. Untreated, sudden collapse and death seems to be claiming about half of its victims. The Princess has ordered the Citadel gates closed and is sending military wagons out to bring in fresh water supplies from Botmoor for her troops.

Following last month's budget proposals things have still to be finally settled. As the month moved forward it looked increasingly likely that a budget would be set unanimously due to the strenuous efforts of all the councillors to reach a consensus. However this was put paid to by the following statement by Alderman Bottler. "The extreme weather has brought a good many unwelcome things: a bad smell over the Riverside wards, illness to many citizens and me, cap in hand looking for more money for the Portwall. While an annual maintenance budget for the Portwall was inevitable, just as there is for the Bridge and the dry land City walls, the dramatic flooding, unparalleled in living memory, has brought about serious subsidence in the foundations of part of the Portwall. This needs to be repaired. The cost of this operation will be between £4,000 and £5,000. I therefore request the Council to authorise payment of up to £5,000 for the repairs to the wall's foundations." An indication that bad news was on its way was given by the attention the Bottler faction has been taking in military matters and their constant desire to remind people just how much of a threat the city is under. The Witanmoot is now debating how this money is to be raised and which of the many options for unpopular tax rises they will plump for.

Merchant traders have confirmed a new hazard from City States privateers taking advantage of the absence of Athion's navy from international waters. With the Royal Fleet committed to defending Salvoyn and the southern coastline of Athion, a new opportunity has opened up for pirates and privateers in the unpatrolled high seas off the Gelt Mountains. Shippers allow that these pirates are still few and badly equipped, but may pose a threat if their numbers are allowed to increase. The Esprayennan Temple is organising lists of departing ships who may wish to travel in convoy for greater safety.

General Olvini has confirmed that the Midsummer Fair will not be held this year amid fears for the health of anyone attending such a large gathering. It seems that the event was already being boycotted by many provincial traders, who have chosen not to travel to Linrodeth this month. Rumours that caravans leaving the city were being barred from entering some local towns were quickly denied by the General, who assured the Guilds that his troops would keep the highways clear for all travellers until and unless an official quarantine was declared.

Recriminations over the budget and the failure to transfer the Portwall to General Olvini have soured relations within the Witanmoot. Both Alan Monterey and Marcus Lambourne have been making claims to have found inaccuracies in last year's budget. Whilst both have shied away from a direct accusation of corruption, it is clear that both factions are now out to show the other in the worst possible light. The first casualty in this exchange has been the truth, and the second any chance the council had of setting a unanimous budget. The Monterey faction has been making dark hints that any unacceptable budget will be vetoed. Further heat has been added by the accusation from the Bottler group that it was the bureaucratic meddling of the inefficient oversight committee which prevented the hand over of the wall. A delay which has cost the City dearly.

The Sheriffs' Elections were won by Jenny Davy and Miranda Andrews with 20 votes and 14 votes respectively, incumbent Alison Shefford only received an embarrassing 6 votes.

The Chronicle

of the month of Heliora in the year 150

The prolonged Spring flooding has finally subsided, leaving a thick black ooze covering the lower city and surrounding countryside. City scavengers are hard at work shovelling the malodorous muck off the streets, and the Dalethian Wellkeeper has rapidly ordered the sealing of many wells. Alas, the stink has already attracted plagues of flies to the area. The Torians are warning that various illnesses are on the increase this month; they advise drinking copious boiled water rather than the traditional beverage of good ale. The Citadel has decided to evacuate many of its troops at this point, and has dispersed much of its cavalry to the borderlands. This may be a prelude to renewed engagement with Aralan Derwent's troops, of which little has been heard since last autumn.

Following their criticism of last month's budget proposals, Marcus Lambourne and William Trueman have rejected the proposals brought forward by the Chairman of the Treasury and have set a budget based on last year's pre-wall proposals. The most noticeable change is in the Sheriffs Office; it would seem that the Commons is yet to be convinced on increasing the spending upon the City Guard. Whilst both faction leaders seem to keep the door open to this and other amendments, they made it clear that any changes would need to be justified to them. The defection of Graham Porter to Marcus Lambourne means that the alliance of Trueman and Lambourne hold a majority in both the Commons and the Aldermanic court, and that they intend to use this to determine the budget. Alderman Flambourd was barely able to contain his frustration at seeing his proposal overridden; a situation which was not helped by comments that this revised budget was a result of "Alderman Warin stepping in to sort out the mess". The budget split was set at:

Lords’ Household	£670
Sheriff’s Offices	£3.920
Treasury	£1.900
Law and Order	£2,640
Shipping	£1,150
Welfare and Education	£2,000
Lands and Agriculture	£4,060
Trade	£300

The Chairman of Shipping, Graham Porter, has announced that he is joining the Lambourne faction. The defection appears to have been triggered by tensions within the Monterey faction following the 'oath of fealty' motion. Alderman Porter made his announcement to the full Witanmoot and then dramatically crossed the floor. "Whilst I still respect Alderman Monterey and consider him my friend, I find myself unable to continue to support the course he has set. Linrodeth will need new leadership if it is to be restored to its rightful role as the capital city of Athion." Later in the meeting, nominations for Sheriff predictably produced Alison Shefford, Miranda Andrews and Jenny Davy as candidates for election next month.

The budget discussions and Sheriffs' elections have been thrown into further confusion by an announcement from General Olvini that the City contribution to Princess Selina will be raised from its current level of £45,000 to £47,500 and that the military will be taking permanent responsibility for the City Armoury and Guard. Announcing his proposals to the assembled Aldermen, the General was less than flattering about the Witanmoot's ability to organise the defences of the City. He went on the declare, "Many of you are aware that we have been debating how best to organise the defences of the City. Princess Selina has always been of the view that a force funded and run by the City would be best. However it has become blatantly apparent that the Witanmoot is incapable of doing either. Therefore, for the security of all citizens, all military authority, including the rights of the Sheriffs, will rest directly with the Princess and be exercised by myself as General of the Army. I will also be bringing forward laws regarding the obligations on all citizens to train and participate in the defence of the City."

Merchant traders are reporting an increase in attacks around the shipping lanes to the south. A number of privateers appear to be operating freely in the high seas between Athion and the City States.

The Chronicle

of the month of Jasmarill in the year 150

Torrential storms and record high tides over the Spring festival have flooded many parts of the city. The River Ishtan has reclaimed miles of marshland and continues to flow very fast. Within the city many low lying wards have become waterlogged and the streets are thick with the sticky black silt which is finding its way even into the households on top of the two hills. The bridge and northern causeway remain dangerous and are closed to all but military traffic. Most worryingly, a large crack has appeared in the newly built Portwall section between the bridge and the fishmarket. Elsewhere the Foam Dancer from Zedigal broke loose from its moorings and was swept against the Esprayennan Temple where it remains lodged. Rising tidewaters also found their way into the Snapdragon workshops on north shore, resulting in several colourful explosions. The oldest citizens say they have never seen such a disastrous Springtide, and are muttering dire, dark predictions for the year ahead.

The Witanmoot has come close to crisis twice this month as the various factions have debated and argued about the City finances. The debate over the Portwall cost overrun turned into a highly heated affair which may sour relations in the Witanmoot for some time. Alderman Bottler introduced his motion by once again praising all those who had made the wall project such a success. Alderman Gilbert de Clare then explained the difficulties of cheap labour hire during wartime, which resulted in the increased costs. However Marcus Lambourne in his role as chairman of the Oversight Committee declared himself unconvinced by such "Bottler-babble" and declared his intent to vote against the motion. Alderman Monterey questioned this approach given the lack of any evidence of fraud or illegality. However Cllr Nicholas Bowden responded most vehemently by commending the incredible achievement of Alderman de Claire in creating the wall so quickly and within such a tight budget. He went on to denounce Cllr Lambourne as "a traitor who had always been against the wall and who was now willing to bankrupt an honest man for political gain". In a highly charged vote the Trueman faction and the Independents chose to sit on their hands and the motion scraped through by the 87 votes of Bottler and Monterey to the 82 of the Lambourne faction.

Following on from such a major bust up it seamed unlikely that the factions would come to an amicable agreement over the budget, and indeed a number of varying proposals have been put forward for the amounts to be allocated to the various committees. The final budget proposal from the Treasury was:

Lords’ Household	£670
Sheriff’s Offices	£990
Treasury	£2,510
Law and Order	£2,290
Shipping	£1,140
Welfare and Education	£2,290
Lands and Agriculture	£4,060
Trade	£300

This included extra spending on the City Guard, Welfare & Education and Shipping. Alderman Trueman questioned the level of spend on the Treasury and Sheriffs Office and suggested, to much applause, that perhaps it was time for a tax cut. Cllr Lambourne has proposed that the budget be restored to the original proposal for 149 before it was "slashed" to free up money for the wall. This final suggestion prompted another outburst from Cllr Bowden who demanded that all the wall money be transferred to military funding to help defend the city against the evil of King Edward. The chamber once again descended into chaos and none of the proposed budgets were passed. The Chronicle is interested to see how quickly Princess Selina will unleash her Kerunian auditors if the budget is not sorted out next month. Against this backdrop of growing division one positive move is the announcement by the pro-Selina group that it is throwing its campaign behind Petro Cutario and joining the faction of Alderman Monterey. The announcement sparked rumours that Alderman Cutario would be running for Sheriff are squashed after he declared that he had been very impressed with Jenny Davy's performance as Sheriff and had no intention of standing against her.

Warin Shipping has taken advantage of the chaos caused by the Spring weather to buy out a number of smaller, less stable rivals. These include the Eye of Kith from the Secchi family, the Longmans' Storm Runner and the newly built Zinda's Tale. Funding for this aggressive expansion appears to have come from a number of wealthy Kerunian backers via Trueman's banking operations. Clearly for some, war is proving to be good for business.

Rumours are circulating around both the Citadel and the Witanmoot regarding the reinstatement of City-wide military training. Those citizens who remember Lord Dixon's valiant attempts to get the Linrodeth militia organised will no doubt greet this possibility with amusement. However it appears that the proposal is entirely serious and has the backing of "senior members of the Witanmoot". The Chronicle believes that most people in the city would welcome the city being better able to defend itself, but it remains to be seen if General Olvini will be willing to arm the potentially hostile citizenry.

The City Guard were summoned to the Bards College to take custody of a number of city children. The intrepid youngsters were apparently intent on "rescuing the Masters' treasure cellar" from the effects of the flooding Ishtan, but were quickly stopped by college porters who seemed to be well prepared for their intrusion. Rumour names the ringleader of this intrepid gang as one Peter Bottler. After a night in the cells the youngsters were released with the news that the college declined to press charges. A college spokeswoman noted with amusement that their cellars included "casks of considerable character which were best not manhandled by youngsters".

The Chronicle

of the month of Pipetal in the year 150

Ships arriving from Salvoyn and, more reliably, merchants arriving from Cascorach have provided details of a great battle fought last Autumn between Prince Kieran’s and Prince Edward's armies outside the gates of Cascorach. Prince Kieran marched his army south on the eve of Winter and seems to have managed to reach Cascorach without a major engagement. Outside the city walls the two great armies lined up and the largest battle of the civil war so far ensued. Prince Kieran’s smaller force appears to have fought valiantly and with more skill and, following the collapse of Prince Edward's right flank under an onslaught of heavy cavalry, his remaining army broke and only a desperate intervention by the Royal Guard prevented a crushing defeat. Princess Eleanor has been left in undisputed control of Cascorach, Prince Edward's forces having withdrawn in good order to Salvoyn. Prince Kieran’s army made a desperate and nearly disastrous dash back north, just reaching the Cantos Falls before the first heavy snows blocked them. There appear to have been heavy losses on both sides during the battle, particularly amongst the cavalry and professional troops, and Princess Eleanor's forces have suffered badly from the long siege. This leaves Princess Selina in the surprising position of possessing one of the stronger professional forces now active in Athion, although we note that Prince Edward has yet to call upon the significant strength of the Salvoynian Levy.

Citadel watchers have wondered, in light of the above news, whether recent celebrations at Princess Selina’s court have been entirely coincidental. The mainly Kerunian participants claim that this pre-Springtide “Feast of Fools” is a long standing tradition of the city states. Certainly the masked revels have included many libations to Miros, Baccelos, Hermos, Poseiros and many other strange Kerunian deities. The occasional local guests have returned quite bemused at the unexpected liberties permitted at the Princess’ court this week, and seem intimidated at the idea that this might prove an annual event. It remains to be seen whether this “carnevale” tradition will reoccur after another year of civil war.

By contrast business at the Witanmoot has been sedate this month. A proposal to postpone the budget another month has been passed without opposition, in order for councillors to consider the implications of the latest tax audit currently circulating. Lady Ann Tasker has been returned as overlord unopposed; apparently such a high profile post is far less appealing to our aldermen in the current political climate. Alderman Jim Bottler has proposed the following motion to the Witanmoot “The court of Common Council notes that the Portwall project is due to be completed ahead of schedule and congratulates the labours involved. Council also notes however that labour costs have increased by a factor of three due to current economic circumstances. Council therefore approves an extra £3,000 for the payment of the labour costs of the wall”. One for the oversight committee, it seems.

General Olvini's quartermasters have been forced to discard “significant weight of corn” which was found to have spoiled over the winter. The corn was reserved for the Kerunian cavalry and was not part of the city’s stocks. The new city guard is investigating possible sabotage after a drainage ditch was found to have been diverted into the tower where the corn was kept. General Olvini's comments on the situation are not publishable.

As predicted the River Ishtan has flooded fast and early this year. Much of the valley around Linrodeth has been inundated, and boats are now the only way to reach the nearby villages. Port authorities are bracing themselves for record flooding during the high tides over the Springtide festival, which are also expected to provide an early test of the new Portwall foundations. Dalethian Earthwalkers have already departed into the countryside to advise farmers and monitor the flooding. News has not yet been received of the state of Aralan Derwent’s army, which remains camped at Fenny Bridges full in the path of flooding from the Great Fens.

Followers of fashion are distressed to learn of Lady Cyarçon's intention to depart for a season of commercial travel in the Spring. The lively couturier will be much missed, not least by Alan Griffiths whose on/off courtship of the eligible Eshi remains unsuccessful. Observers note that Lady Cyarçon’s business partner, Master Talus Snapdragon, remains in or near the city of Linrodeth.

The Chronicle

of the month of Galemir in the year 150

The Cornpox has disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared. The strict quarantine imposed by the Torian Temple appears to have been effective, although a number of people have suggested that the pox had little to do with illness and a lot to do with intrigue. Certainly the council has shown a lot of interest. Richard Saunders has been much in evidence trying to prove himself a good Chairman of Welfare and Education by “co-ordinating everyone” whilst Alderman Monterey has been asking questions which clearly show he suspects fowl play. There have even been rumours that necromancy is suspected.

Storms sweeping in from the coast have caused flooding and damage across the Ishtan valley. Many roofs and belltowers within the city suffered wind damage and one household in Bassishaw had a very lucky escape when the old moot-Oak fell through their roof. Out in the countryside the deluge has signalled an early end to the snows, but is also likely to delay the spring planting. Earthwalkers at the Dalethian Temple are concerned by the possibility of further rains, and are meeting with Wellkeeper Shinannon to assess temple advice for the coming season. Rumours via the Cornmongers Guild say that the limited stock of the new damp resistant seed has been recalled to the Gavelkinden. The Dalethians will most likely urge a cautious approach to the coming sowing, risking a delayed harvest later in the year.

Sheriff Alison Shefford’s “Oath of Fealty” motion has been passed unamended by the council by 148 votes to 67. Notable votes against were Kate Penipot, Irving Grendle, Phillip Candever, Maureen Quiller, Marie Cripstead, Bert Belcher, William Scrut, Estelle Wynstanly, Ralf Seagrim, Gillian Howe, Eliott Anderson, Graeme Porter and Nicholas Worton. With none of the major factions voting against the motion it fell to Bert Belcher to lead the opposition; a task which he fulfilled, for once, eloquently. Openly denouncing Sheriff Shefford as a traitor who had sold out the city and her king for the promise of power, he went on to describe the motion as an oath-breakers charter. ''Did we not all swear fealty to King Kieran, have we not all fought the invaders and had friends die for the sake of this City? How can anyone who takes this oath to serve under the rule of a foreign usurper ever be trusted again? I beg you, do not force those of us who have any decency out of the council chamber – for I will not take this oath and neither will anyone else with any honour”. After this onslaught the faction leaders were at pains to take a “reasonable view”, expressing concern and reluctance but also announcing that they would be supporting the motion. Only Alan Monterey spoke strongly in favour of the motion declaring that “I am loyal to Linrodeth” and announcing that at least he would “always do what was best for the City”. This was followed up by Cllr Bever Edge who reminded people that their oaths of fealty to Kieran were forced out of them under duress. “How many of you still remember being dragged from your homes on Lord Dixon’s orders?” An attempt by Gillian Howe to delete the reference to kingdoms was defeated by 154 votes to 112.

The Mercers Guild has taken the unusual step of issuing a tax warning to the Witanmoot. A recent audit, encouraged by the Citadel, has revealed a worrying rise in declared bankrupts. The ventures failing seem to be the smaller ones who have not been able to weather the changing patterns of trade and reduced income during the war. Failures have been particularly high over the past winter, with many merchants hoping that Springtime will see renewed trade from the sea routes. The Mercers’ concerns are certainly reflected in the composition of the Witanmoot, where their once proud domination of committees has become rarer in recent years. The Grossers guild has so far declined to comment.

Strong tides and unusual weather have provided an unexpected boon for traders and scavengers along the river banks. Last sixthday saw the unexpected deposit of a hoard of silver coin along the high tide mark of the muddy banks. The next few hours became an undignified scramble as locals attempted to win their loot from the ooze. Even today there are still a few hopeful urchins digging around for stray pieces. Observers note that the coins are of recent mint and seem to be mostly of Linrodeth origin, so it is likely that this was abandoned or lost by someone fleeing the city during the Kerunian invasion. The Citadel has declined to declare trove rights, commenting that this was “undoubtedly the bounty of Esprayenna”.

Results of the Committee Elections:

Trade:

Warin: Bernard Hubold, Bert Belcher, Duncan Barnett, Eva Capel, Godwin Green,

Jenny Davy, Judi Spich, Mary Hastings, Miranda Andrews, Nicholas Worton, Olivia Warin, Richard Saunders, William Trueman.

Romanie: Alan Monterey, Alison Shefford, Ann Tasker, Gilbert de Clare, Graeme Porter, Jim Bottler, Marc Bergeren, Melanie Romanie, Nicholas Bowden, Petro Cutario, Randolf Flambourd.

Lands and Agriculture:

Capel: Alan Monterey, Alison Shefford, Ann Tasker, Bernard Hubold, Bert Belcher, Duncan Barnett, Eva Capel, Godwin Green, Graeme Porter, Jenny Davy, Judi Spich, Marc Bergeren, Mary Hastings, Miranda Andrews, Nicholas Worton, Olivia Warin, Petro Cutario, Randolf Flambourd, Richard Saunders, William Trueman.

Bowden: Gilbert de Clare, Jim Bottler, Melanie Romanie, Nicholas Bowden.

Eresan:

Falgar: Bernard Hubold, Bert Belcher, Duncan Barnett, Eva Capel, Godwin Green, Jenny Davy, Judi Spich, Mary Hastings, Miranda Andrews, Nicholas Worton, Olivia Warin, Richard Saunders, William Trueman.

Fitz-Abushon: Alan Monterey, Alison Shefford, Ann Tasker, Graeme Porter, Marc Bergeren, Petro Cutario, Randolf Flambourd.

Rucche: Gilbert de Clare, Jim Bottler, Melanie Romanie, Nicholas Bowden.

There have been no nominations received for Lord, other than that of the incumbent Lady Ann Tasker.

The Chronicle

of the month of Skelern in the year 150

The Torian Temple has issued a warning for everyone to be on their guard after several people died of a mysterious illness last week. All the deaths were from members of the Cornmongers Guild however the source of the pox has not yet been identified. Victims die quickly and are left covered in small red bumps. The initial symptoms are a cough and a desire to drink lots of liquids. Anyone with these symptoms is advised to stay indoors and send a message to the Temple immediately. The warning has already resulted in most Cornmongers being shunned by the populous in general. Of greatest concern is the fact that the Torians have declared the illness untreatable.

The City Guard has been criticised by a number of Salvoynian merchants for its failure to control the anti-Resh riots which were sparked by the speech of the Atharvan of Brynette last Firstday. The Atharvan's inflammatory speech called upon all worshippers to "root out this evil and to prevent the corruption of the innocent by cleansing with the holy fire of Brynette". It would seem that the congregation took her literally. Hoards of devout Brynettes waving burning torches swarmed through the streets to seek out people associated with Salvoyn and known supporters of King Edward. By contrast the Archimandrite of Linrodeth's strongly worded denunciation, which reminded devotees that Ingulfus was excommunicate and warning against the risk of listening to evil, seemed somewhat tame.

Sheriff Alison Shefford has caused consternation within the Witanmoot by proposing that a compulsory oath of allegiance to the City to be taken by all citizens. Sheriff Shefford told the Chronicle. "We live in difficult times and must be sure that people who wish to shelter under the protection of the City are loyal to it. We have to recognise that the Kingdom of Athion died with King Edmund. Everyone knows that I campaigned to keep the kingdom together, but that is now a lost cause. We have to look to the future. We also have to recognise that a lot of people from other cities have arrived recently and are seeking Citizenship. In my view anybody who is not prepared to take this oath has no place in this City, and certainly no place in its government." The full proposals are:

No person whom, by whatever right, is entitled to become a citizen of Linrodeth shall have Citizenship conferred upon them until they have sworn as follows "I declare my loyalty to the City of Linrodeth and place my fealty to it above all other Cities, States and Kingdoms". All current citizens must take this oath upon the occasion of their first voting in an election or will lose their citizenship. The oath must also be taken by all members of the City Guard and anyone seeking service with the Witanmoot. In recognition of their service those members of the City Guard above the rank of Sergeant shall become Citizens, and all members of the Guard shall obtain citizenship upon the completion of 15 years of service.

It appears that even Alan Monterey was unprepared for the announcement and amongst the debate on the motion, rumours are circulating that this is a bid by Sheriff Shepherd to position herself as the next Lord of the City. Certainly the skilful wording which would not require any Citizen to take the oath for another year will help with this. The motion would however require the Kerunian members of the City Guard to swear loyalty to the City immediately. A proposal which surprisingly has gained Alison Shefford a "productive, and positive discussion" with Princess Selina, rather than a beheading.

A major fire has completely destroyed the Phoenix Inn. The fire, which seems to have been started deliberately at a number of points around the building, claimed several lives including that of the owner Derrick Sanderson. The Phoenix, which has for some years held a position as one of the finest Inns in the City, has recently become a favourite drinking place and residence for rich Kerunian merchants. Whilst the motive for the attack is not clear it may be political and the City Guard are already aggressively seeking the perpetrators.

The nominations for the committee places looked set to be completely uncontested until a last minute intervention by Jim Bottler. During the day the nominations for each of the posts had arrived in a highly ordered way and with an unbelievable lack of any contention. First Marcus Lambourne's faction proposed Richard Saunders for Welfare and Education, Duncan Barnet for Law and Order and Tilly Falgar for emissary to Eresan. Next Alan Monterey proposed Flambourd for the Treasury, Graham Porter for shipping, Hugh Fitz-Abushon for Eresan and Maud Blessop for Kerun. William Trueman's nomination of Warin for Trade and Eva Capel for Lands and Agriculture were met by heckling from the back benches as councillors realised that a deal had obviously been struck in the back rooms. A number of councillors stood up to decry the lack of democracy and the bypassing of the elections. At the last minute perhaps spurred on by these speeches Jim Bottler stood up to propose Melanie Romanie for Trade, Nicholas Bowden for Land and Agriculture, Samuel Rucche for Eresan and Gillian Howe for Cascorach. The cheering subsided rapidly when people realised that he was only contesting the seats proposed by William Trueman. Cllr Martin Key denounced the entire process. "How can we possibly get the right person for the job when what obviously matters is the back room dealings of a few powerful members of the council". He proclaimed, adding much to the amusement of the rest of the council "Saunders for Welfare and Education, have they gone mad?"