faderiftooc | MOD POST ↠ NEWS YOU MISSED IN THE JUNGLE

IC NEWS

Despite all appearances to the contrary, the world didn't stop turning while most of Riftwatch was stuck in the jungle. Now that everyone is back and catching up on their mail, reports, and local gossip, here is a collection of things they will learn have occurred at some point since they left. This is all fair game for public knowledge, and anyone who wants to incorporate it into their RP, do a crystal post, or propose a related plot is welcome to do so.

ORLAIS

The tide of the invasion began to turn while the team was in the jungle, with the city of Montfort (long evacuated of civilians but lightly occupied) retaken, though reportedly significant damage was inflicted by the retreating enemy forces. Just this week, news has reached Riftwatch that the allied forces of Orlais, the Inquisition, and the Exalted March (which the public more and more just refers to collectively as "the Exalted March") have succeeded in pushing the enemy to retreat all the way back to the city of Ghislain. The Exalted March has now encamped outside Ghislain to lay siege to the city.

This is the first significant victory for the allied forces in quite a while. In Val Royeaux, Empress Celene and the Divine have announced a public service of prayer and celebration in the plaza of the Grand Cathedral to be held in a week's time.

Some enemy troops in the east, engaged with Nevarran forces, received the call to retreat too late and were unable to make it to Ghislain before the Exalted March cut off access to the city. These forces are now marauding across the Fields of Ghislain, seeming intent on causing as much damage (and thus distracting as much attention from the siege) as possible on their way to Perendale or Val Chevin, pursued by Nevarran forces. That pursuit has been hampered by the divided leadership of the Nevarrans, who continue to operate as two separate armies led by rival claimants to the throne Queen Aurelia Pentaghast and King Gaelan Van Markham. Reports also note that King Gaelan leads in name only, preferring to observe battles from behind the lines under heavy guard and leave the real work to his generals, while Queen Aurelia, already a decorated military leader before her ascension, prefers to lead from the front.

An Inquisition agent who recently passed through the Fields of Ghislain reported that Dalish from Clan Varlahsan also clashed with a detachment of enemy forces outside the village of Lajoumard and may have taken several prisoners. The agent spoke briefly with a member of the clan and proposed the clan work with the Nevarrans against the invaders but was rebuffed.

The Orlesian navy has also taken a more aggressive posture over the last month, and there seems to be at least one new report each week of the Orlesians attacking a ship they claim is a Tevinter or Ander bound to or from enemy-occupied Val Chevin.

ENEMY KINGDOMS

A rare tidbit of news has filtered out of the Anderfels, reporting that Revered Mother Hildegard of Kassel was escorted away one evening by soldiers. The official statement is that she is in protective custody after threats from Orlesian spies, but rumors suggest she has been imprisoned.

Ambrose Valeriantus was rescued by Riftwatch and returned to his anti-slavery colleagues in Tevinter in Cloudreach. Justinian saw the first public announcement of his return, with graffiti appearing on or around slave markets in several cities depicting a phoenix wreathed in Felicidus Aria—a nearly-extinct plant commonly known as the Silent Plains Rose and famous as the key component of ambrosia, and as the symbol with which Valeriantus signed messages before his imprisonment.

ELSEWHERE

Ferelden continues to keep the conflict at an arm's length, more focused on internal issues. Of particular concern has been Queen Anora's lack of an heir or, since the disappearance and death of Prince-Consort Jonas Cousland two years ago, any prospect of gaining one. The queen has finally bowed to pressure from the nobility on this score: an announcement was quietly made at court several weeks ago that the queen has committed to marry by the end of the year. According to Denerim's bookmakers, the current front-runners are (in order of precedence): Duke João Khalid Bakkar of Aveiro, brother of Queen Yalena of Rivain; Duc Jean-Laurent Libert de Verchiel, a cousin of Empress Celene; Lord Aled Penvennan, nephew of the Teryn of Ostwick; and Marco Gonzaga, second son of an Antivan merchant prince.

A prominent merchant from Ostwick has been making a great deal of noise about a cargo he alleges was mistakenly destroyed in an Orlesian naval attack several weeks ago that sunk two ships. Orlais claims both ships were carrying matériel bound for the occupying force in Val Chevin, and has refused to reimburse any losses.

Rumors are that Orzammar is experiencing issues with some of its lyrium mines. The dwarves have been dealing with increased darkspawn activity in the Deep Roads since the invasion of Orlais began, but the continued long-term presence of darkspawn infused with red lyrium has also begun to have an impact on the normal lyrium supply. Several of the mines have reportedly turned red at their edges and stories differ about how fast the problem is spreading. It hasn't yet impacted Orzammar's ability to supply the Exalted March's Templars or the Inquisition's mages, but has begun to worry the Mining Caste.