The Courtier

A servant and rumormonger in the royal courts of Erathia. He serves as the source for several legendary accounts of events around Antagarich during the events of Heroes of Might and Magic III.

Stories

• Rumors from the Court: Introductions
• Rumors from the Court: The Letter
• Rumors from the Court: Annihilation
• Rumors from the Court: Death
• Rumors from the Court: Battle Results

Rumors from the Court

It seems as though a new guest speaker will be appearing at the board now... He claims to be somewhat of a rumor man, and speaks of many things said in King Gryphonhearts's Court Room. He has already made refernces about Xanthor and Marcus Finch, I personally wonder if they will be returning... Anyway, he only posted the following below so far. Now being that he is a rumor man, the info he may refer to could be phony and/or real. This makes it all the more interesting really... But anyway, I will try to post my personal thoughts after each of his to express what exactly I make of it. But all you see in quotes are the exact words of the Courtier and not mine, my messages will appear in a different colored font. Here is what has been said so far, and if we do get important topics, we may develope a frame.

-- Narrator unknown

Introductions

Well, if you're here for rumors, you've certainly come to the right place. Half the things said here are made up anyway, usually by some local Baron attempting to gain King Gryphonheart's favor. It's nonsense, I tell you! Why just last week a letter arrived from some poor fool claiming to be a descendant of the family of Phynaxia, claiming that troops were needed in the east. He claimed that an army "greater in number than there are stars in the sky" was massing in Eeofol.

Sounds to me like some insane farmer saw an imp steal a chicken, but that wasn't the end of it. The very next day we received a letter from the [University, claiming that one of their professors had seen this army from a gremlin skyship. But wait, it gets better! According to the professor, he was travelling through some sort of dimensional gate when it happened! Baaahhhhahahahaha! Insanity, I tell you! I can't believe they allow people like that to actually teach others!

Baaahhhhahahahaha!

*cough!*

Hmm, please forgive my outburst, *snicker* but it really was quite amusing *chuckle* when that letter arrived. We read it aloud several times, and it just got funnier every time. I do wonder what the King's opinion of it was, though come to think of it, I don't think the letter ever made it TO the king. Ah well, he needn't be bothered by such lunacy.

Well, stick around, I'm sure we'll hear more soon.

The Letter

Bah! Another letter talking of armies. Not the Kreegans this time, though. No no, now it's the Dungeon Overlords. Will these people never cease? And this one… another professor at the University! Are they ALL mad!? What was this one's name… ah yes, Xanthor. Said he was on his way here with a first hand account of the story. Hah! We should all get a good laugh out of this one, mark my words!

Bah!

Yes, this is really something for me... I love when the guest speakers post and after waiting months to hear from a new one, we have Xanthor returning to tell another story!!! Remember Tales from the Swamps? It could be as highly anticipated as that... His story will appear on a new page entitled "Zoological Accounts."

Annihilation

Well, we've finally received word from one of our *official* outposts on the Eeofol/Nighon border. Apparently there *is* some truth to what the locals, and even the University Professors, have been saying. According to the report, two massive armies, one formed from the Infernos, the other from the Dungeons below Nighon, are moving toward each other. The King, it seems, has decided to hold off on sending troops to the region. If they wish to annihilate themselves they apparently can do it alone. It's a smart move, because having an Erathian army in the area might cause the Kreegans and the Dungeon Overlords to decide they'd rather kill *us* than each other.

I must admit this is not the first time these two nations have fought with each other, but if these numbers are to be trusted then this is something more than just the Dungeon Overlords attempting to put down another Kreegan rebellion.

Ah well, fear not, for we are safe here under the wise leadership of King Gryphonheart.

Death

A terrible thing has happened! The King! The Kiiiing! *SOB* He… He… *SOB* King Gryphonheart is dead! DEAD!

They say he died in his sleep… but… bwahhhhhhh! *SOB* How could he be… dead? I mean, he was no spring chicken, but 54 years isn't THAT old, even for a King. Ack! What am I saying!? Bwahhhhhhh!

It has just come to my attention that the King's personal food taster also died in his sleep! Since none of the other guests at last night's feast took ill, this can mean only one thing… POISON! Oh what has this world come to!?

The Dungeon Overlords and Kreegans rise to power and the king unfortunately died, how can Phynaxia possibly survive a time of war while missing their beloved King Gryphonheart... The story continues...

Battle Results

I was listening in at the door of… well, I can't say, really, but let me tell you what I've heard! The Dungeon Overlord and Kreegan armies met just south of Eeofol in what was sure to be a spectacular battle. Instead, they set up camp for two days, and according to the scout reports, the Dungeon Overlord army gradually vanished! Thousands of creatures just disappeared! After that, the Kreegan army split in two. One broke camp and headed north back toward Eeofol. The other, however, turned west. They overran the border into the Contested Lands, laying waste to everything in their path, including the Erathian Garrison forces stationed there! I did not hear an exact number of casualties, only that the Garrison was a total loss.

What will we do!? The Military Command already have their hands full keeping the peace throughout Erathia following the King's death, and it took the full might of the REMC to stop the Kreegans two years ago. How will they stop this attack!?