Author: The Aurellis GM

Three announcements from Thelbane, early morning 14th July 2010 equivalent

From House Chanicut: Duchess Juno Chanicut formally confirms the expulsion of Duchess Callista and Lady Savannah from House Chanicut. With the newly returned Duchess Hera by her side, Juno stated that this was the beginning of a new age for House Chanicut, and there was no place for relics of past policy or past leadership within this vision.

From House Baines: Duke Edgar Baines announces the end of his marriage to Lady Savannah. By mutual agreement, Savannah will walk away from the marriage without compensation or obligation. As there are no issue from the marriage, there are no further matters to be considered.

From House Karm: Duchess Diana Karm extends a warm welcome to Countess Callista and Baroness Savannah as she invites them to join House Karm. Standing with them at the gates of the Karmways, Diana said “Their heritage within the House is without question, being as Callista is a grand daughter of Faella Karm, and their dedication to personal perfection has been admirably demonstrated in recent days, through their victory over those who had done them wrong.” She then led the two women within the gates, which slammed shut behind them.

At the Court of King Mandor (13th July 2010 equivalent)

Hera ChanicutIt is with uncountable joy that we announce the return of our long lost wife Hera of Chanicut, previously thought to have died. In anticipation of her eventual investiture as our Queen, we hereby and immediately confer up on her the full powers, priviliges and authorities appropriate to the Queen of Thelbane.

Signed and sealed this day, at His Majesty’s command, by Lord Harold Hendrake, Lord Privy Seal of Thelbane.

Rebma Revenge Rumble Update!

In addition to the main event…

By various means fair and foul, Blackhall has found participants for three more bouts to form an under card. There will be full gambling available on all these fights.

Aldreda Hogarth

Duchess Aldreda Hogarth

Aldreda is the head of a minor House of Thelbane, formerly allied to Chanicut, but seeking improved status and new allies, Aldreda’s consort was seen at the Randol wedding negotiating with Lydia of Discordia

VS


Lady Limanda Baines

A loyal member of House Baines, which is another Chanicut vassal House.

Limanda

To start the evening, Duchess Aldreda Hogarth will take on Lady Limanda Baines in a naked, no weapons, no magic fight, using the same rules as the main event.  The battle will be until submission or knock-out.

Damara

Princess Damara

Daughter of Bleys, at one time girlfriend to Duke Victor Victarion, defeated in the Thelbane Civil war.

VS


Mistress Fox

Famous Imperial professional Gladiator, rumoured to be the daughter of Julian of Amber and an Imperial goddess.

Fox

Then for the second bout, we have a clothed knife fight, no magic allowed, between Princess Damara, and Mistress Fox. In the tradition of the Imperial arena, this battle will continue until one of the participants is not able to continue.

Mistress Ebony

Mistress Ebony

The trainer of Team Discordia, and a daughter of Gérard of Amber

VS


Captain Duchess Corvinne

Notorious captain in the Amber Navy and also a daughter of Gérard of Amber

Corvinne

The final preview bout is a battle of the giants, as Mistress Ebony, goes head to head with Captain Duchess Corvinne, in a clothed, no weapons, no magic, no submissions, sister stomping that will last until one of them is unable to continue.

Target or Terrorist – the Supermodel Bombings

The writers here freely admit that much if this story involves speculation. But the subject bears thought, and in her own life there has been much speculation and fiction in the fame that is the Sapphire. But is this the one that is stranger than fiction.

The facts are uncontested – there has been a wave of bombings and terrorist attacks through the night and early morning of the 5th and 6th of July 2010. It all started in Geneva where at a classical music concert in the Geneva 5 Star Hotel, what started out as a disturbance in the corridor outside the auditorium suddenly turned deadly serious as high explosives cut through the floor of the corridor and dumped everyone in it onto the cellars below. Initially there were massive reports of casualties, but in fact those reports now seem to have somewhat overzealous, as nobody appears to have been killed, and despite significant blood being found by investigators at the scene, there appear to be no seriously persons injured being treated in the hospitals.

Then the scene moves to Antwerp, where at around midnight there was a bomb explosion at a warehouse in the commercial district that caused the entire building to collapse. Again, no reports of casualties, though once more there are signs that persons were present in the building, and investigators believe that at some point, up to four people were trapped beneath the rubble, even though rescue teams eventually found nobody there.

Finally we move to an upper class residential area of Antwerp, where a major attack occurred on a mansion in the early hours of the morning. There seems to have been a pitched battle with guns and small artillery, as bystanders reported both shots and explosions. Security services upon arriving at the scene found devastation, and the house appears to have been mostly demolished in the battle.

This is where the facts end and the speculation begins. In Geneva, the supermodel Sapphire, who had courted controversy earlier this year when her nude image was flashed across all the screen in Times Square for about 20 seconds in a cyber attack eventually blamed on Chinese crime lords, arrived unexpectedly at the concert, looking even more splendid than usual. The hosts of the concert were quick to take advantage of the additional publicity to be gained from Sapphire’s arrival, but this may in the end have been a short sighted gain, as she appears to have had little interest in the concert itself. Reports have emerged that she spent some time wandering aimlessly around the hotel, and eventually had to be escorted to her seat in time to allow the concert to start. Then, hardly had it commenced before she was heard having a heated exchange with a security guard at the doors of the auditorium right when the bomb attack outside the doors happened. In the subsequent confusion, she appears to have left the hotel, and indeed left Switzerland, where there is no record of her ever having arrived in the country that day.

Links between the second attack and Sapphire are less easy to find, so at that point we will have to settle on the fact that it took place in Antwerp, which is her home town as the only link.

However, the link between her and the third attack is the most significant, in that the house that was attacked and mostly destroyed was that of her father, the retired gemstone cutter, Nicholaas Dragan, who has prepared the jewels for several European Royal occasions over the last forty years.

Was she a victim of this wave of terror, or is she involved in a conspiracy that is worthy of the novels she writes under the pen name Fenna Tavernier, which often concern gemstones and international crime and terror? How did all these attacks take place and yet no casualties be found? Was Sapphire in fact one of the missing persons from the warehouse attack, where police found blood but no bodies? At this time, even if the authorities are not looking FOR Sapphire in connection with this wave of terror, we humbly suggest that perhaps they should look AT her at least.