Timberholde

Year 10,014 Month of Stirps

After many weeks of rebuilding and burying the dead, Timberholde has been rebuilt by its own citizens. Though it is large and in charge as it was before, the population has steeply dropped. This does make the home prices low, in hopes that more populated areas and visitors from other lands will choose to make Timberholde their home.

Dissilio 5th, 10,1017

Taken from BREAKING NEWS:

It is my displeasure to bring the most current news to Simul. As much as I would love to not have to relay this information, it is my duty to keep you all informed and as safe as I can. With that, I must weave together the details of last night’s horrors. 

Before the sun began to descend, something else fell upon our great kingdom. From what we can gather, the first attack was in Korrig. Despite the docks already having taken a major hit, it appears the assailants decided they needed to come back to finish the job. Unfortunately, the structures are a complete loss. Even worse, it has been reported that more than 20 people are still missing while the casualties are nearing the same number and injuries have topped 33. 

From what we can tell, the next attack was shortly thereafter in Timberholde. Every city entrance was reportedly blown apart and virtually sealing the city inside of itself. This also included grave damage to the newest addition, the train. The station and surrounding area have been destroyed beyond repair. Casualties have reached 67, more than 40 have been injured and another 17 are still missing. 

Another attack mere hours after came in the form of another explosion. This one took out the entirety of the bridge from the mainland to Curet Insula. No fatalities have been reported, but it has only been a few hours since receiving the news and searches are still in effect. 

I wish I could say that I have reported everything. I wish I could tell you great people that we can recover from this. I wish I had the magic words…something to give you all hope. Unfortunately, with this last piece of information I have to bear, I cannot fathom how we are to unite.

At just past 8 last night, Eleutheria and our royal family was attacked. According to the guards and surviving staff, nothing was out of the ordinary until they heard Hilda scream and then what sounded like a man being tortured. This man is assumed to be King Alfred. Apparently, shortly after, a fire broke out, causing many of the people who also lived in the castle to flee with little to nothing to the second story of the city. Still, 13 are missing and feared dead. The royal family was never located, even after the fire was quelled. 

There was but a note left at the scene. This note had a confession and confessions to more crimes that were, unfortunately, confirmed this morning. The entire Fortescue bloodline has been murdered. Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers… all of the bloodline has been taken from Simul in the most horrid of ways. I cannot even begin to write what information I have been given. 

Simul…please. PLEASE be safe. I know we are now living in a very uncertain time. I have faith that we will be okay. Please, look after yourselves, your families, your neighbors and your cities. 

This is Flynn, signing off. 

Messis 2, 10,017

Read more in BREAKING NEWS

Laughter and merriment could be heard throughout the kingdom as the farmers were once again celebrating another good harvest. Food and drink flowed freely as the unsuspecting people of Simul were watched from the shadows. Hooded figures lurked just outside of anyone's sight, their eyes set on one target; the very food the farmers were celebrating. Not just what they had harvested already, but all of their fields. Every piece of wheat, bean, or ear of corn was doomed. 

The robed figures kept watch just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They waited until almost everyone had gone to sleep. Those that remained in the fields or the barns were too drunk to notice anything. Even if they had been sober, they would not be able to stop what was about to happen. Once the robed figures felt it was time to move, they did. Flames roared to life around them to burn every last plant to cinders.

Nothing was spared. Nothing.

Anything and everything that stood in their way burned with the precious crops. Enough food for dozens of families turned to ash before anyone realized what was going on. The smell of smoke and the sound of roaring flames pulled everyone from their beds. Horror and panic hit everyone who witnessed it. Men, women and children all did what they could to put out the flames...though, their efforts were in vain. The heat from the fires evaporated the water before it could even reach the flames. Screams for water...screams for help. Many could even be heard calling out to the mages they had shunned. Asking... no, begging for help. Those that could have helped cowered behind their locked doors, fearful of what could happen if they rendered aide. Great numbers of magical and non-human beings fled from their homes as registrations became more common, alongside the growing racism against them, leaving the human communities more vulnerable than they had ever dreamed. 

This was not an isolated incident; farms across the kingdom were burned. Dry Gulch, SkyHaven, Subury, Wingston, Timberholde, Ferax Villum, and even Concordia were hit alongside multiple other villages and farming areas. It was almost the same story at every farm that was burning:

Those that could have helped refused.

A small few cities managed to save food. Their mages were quick to respond and quell as many of the fires as they could. However, even with their quick actions, much of their food was destroyed. What could be salvaged was inventoried and stored in the safest places people could find. 

Alongside the massive loss to the winter food supply, hundreds of people and livestock were also slain. The countless lives and resources that were lost in the night left all that witnessed the horrors of it choking on the smoke and ash of their dreams . What witnesses hoped was a sick nightmare was revealed to be anything but. The nightmare was real and no one knew what to do. Cries of sorrow and a strange letter filled the air. The letter was simply written on paper bearing the Guardian's seal;

“We of the CONGREGATION will not be silent. If the King won't hear our cries, we will make him. We will starve him out if we have to, along with anyone else who would follow his laws.”

The news of all the fires across the kingdom had the streets of Eleutheria humming with hectic whispers or outright blame against magic users. Conspiracy theories about what happened spread like wildfire; The letters from the “CONGREGATION”, and the Guardians had everyone terrified. They were all looking to Ferren for answers. No word came for hours, confirming for the people that what happened was far worse than before. 

Eventually, Ferren emerged from the castle to stand on the highest balcony of the capitol. His normally charismatic voice was filled with sadness as it echoed through the heart of Simul. Even his appearance suggested he had not slept. His clothes were a rumbled mess and his hair was far from tamed. Redness surrounded his eyes from intense crying.

“It is with a heavy heart that I address you all in such a manner. I am sure you have all heard the news by now. Our kingdom…has suffered a tremendous loss. The crops that normally sustain us through the long winter have been destroyed. Burned to a crisp alongside the brave men and women who tried to stop the inferno.  Their sacrifice ensured that everyone could gather and defeat our oldest of foes. The cause of the fires is still unknown but we believe it to be a series of horrible accidents. I would love nothing more than to believe that, but with witnesses coming forward, it has been apparent that the attacks were perpetrated by magic users. The best people we have are looking to find the cause of what caused this tragedy…” 

Ferren's voice cracked as more mist threatened to fall from his eyes, the acting king haphazardly wiped away the tears that never fell as he tried to compose himself. He kept his face hidden for a few minutes in silence before he moved his hands to speak again.

“We can move on from this tragedy as one but I need the help of every Simulian. We do not have enough food for the winter. As of today, all food is to be brought here to Eleutheria so it can be rationed out appropriately. All are welcome to come and get your daily meals. Those of you traveling great distances will be allowed to get enough for a few days. Every month, we will be shipping out ration bundles to each city and community to sustain. All magical beings wanting their rations are required to provide their registrations. This is to keep us all safe and uphold peace of mind. We have also decided to place a special barrier around the capitol to help further protect the food we will all need to survive. It kills me to have to do this to you all. Rationing will leave us all hungry as we try our best to make it through these trying times. I encourage everyone to do what they can to provide for their families. If you have extra, please give it to those that need it more than you. Hunters, share your bounties as you get them. Farmers that have lost their crops should reach out to us. We can provide seed to hopefully grow something before the cold seasons hit. We will make it through and come out better for it. May the Gods bless us and help usher us through the trials they felt, we as a people, needed to endure.” 

"If you have any questions relating to the recent events, any citizen of Simul is welcome to write to me directly. You may also tag Malum Distantia via Simul Social. Please Simul, love thy neighbor as they were your own family. We will succeed."

OOC Note: Timberholde, as a whole, was very obliged to follow these orders.