The Luhond Gazette, May 11, 2535

Missing Man Returns

    James Queil, who was reported missing March 6, was returned home on May 9. In a brief statement to the Gazette his wife Francis said, "My husband has been gravely ill, so much so that he has not been himself. We thank Arn for his recovery and return to us, and we believe he will make a complete recover." When the Gazette asked about the nature of his illness, Mrs. Queil said, " I would prefer not to discuss it's nature, for this experience has been painful to us all. However, I assure the good people of Semoly that his illness is in no way contagious."
    Mr. Quell is the chairman of the Committee of Seventeen, a Liberationist organization. There has been much speculation that his disappearance was somehow related to his groups activities. This has never been confirmed. The Gazette has learned that since his return, Mr Quell has been visited by a senior cleric of Arn, as well as a mage from the Wizard's Hall. However the nature of his affliction remains a mystery, as does the cause of his disappearance.

Murder in Folvila

    A shopkeeper and his wife were murdered in Folvila the night of May 4, the victims were Hamilton Breen, 52, and his wife Cora, 26. Mr. Breen was a dealer in dry goods. The Sheriff's office in Folvila reports that an intruder broke into the Breen's shop sometime in the night. The intruder ransacked the shop before creeping upstairs to the family living area in his search for valuables. Noting that there was no sign of a struggle, the Deputies investigating this heinous crime believe the killer bludgeoned his victims before they had a chance to awake. 

    Mr. Breen's children were awakened by the blows. His oldest daughter Zinnia barricaded the door to their bedroom with a chair and scrambled out a window to summon the police. She was too late to save her father and stepmother, but her quick action was credited with keeping her brothers and sisters safe. 

    Sheriff Rojir Ferrante of Folvia said, "I swear by Arn and Azrath I'll see this wretch hanged!"

Trading Fleet Departs

    The fleet of the Far North-Western Mercantyle Company left Sembly May 4. The fleet will carry wine, brandy, glassware, paper, lumber, furs, tay, cheese, weapons, wine woolens, spices, silk, and gold and silver wire. It will consist of 18 northships, 3 large, 10 medium, and 5 small. The fleet will be escored by several war-ships. The total value of the fleet's cargo has been reported in excess of 1,000,000 marks. A public offering of 5,000 shares earlier this year sold out in less than 3 weeks.

       The fleet is expected to reach the NW coast in about a month. It will spend 3 months trading in Sorn, Bothas, and Soo-Land before returning to Corrasanti about October 1.

New Provocation by Raimorth!

    General Lurenna Talbot of the Royal Army revealed on May 5 that Raimorth has built a fortress in the disputed lands near the Corrasanti border. Yjis is a branch of the accord signed in 2530. That accord allows each nation to keep one garrison of up to 500 troops in the region, to protect it's border and prevent smuggling. General Talbot said the new fort is of timber and piled earth and can hold about 100 men. 

    Jean Valmont, the Raimorian ambassador, told the Gazette "If this fort is real, it is not the doing of my liege. I have sent full details of this affair to him, and I await his reply.