A Royal Visit

21 September 2137
NeoLondon, planet NeoVictoria

The NeoLondon Times has learned that Captain Gwyddien ap Glyndwr of the Tuatha de Danaan will visit NeoLondon to honor the anniversary of his sister’s death in the Battle of Green Well, which occurred during the Strand Wars.  His sister was Arianrhod ap Glyndwr and wife to our own Lord Bowley.  Lady Bowley is interred in the crypt in the graveyard of the Cathedral of Air and Darkness.

Captain Glyndwr has a storied history in the royal court as a fierce warrior and a talented skinwalker. His most well-known victory was at the Battle of the Trees, one of the key conflicts of the Sidhe civil war.  There he fought against the sons of Don, enchanting the elementary trees and sedges to rise up as warriors against Don’s forces. The alder led the attack, while the aspen fell in battle, and heaven and earth trembled before the great oaks, who were memorialized as a valiant door keeper against the enemy. To this day, he wears their bones as his mantle.

Captain Glyndwr has not visited NeoVictoria for many years.  However, his retinue has already transformed Bowley castle to support his stay.  We expect the Captain to arrive, via airship, on Tuesday morning. His public schedule may be found below.

• Tuesday, 22 September: The Captain Arrives
  Start: 11 AM, SL-time
  Cathedral of Air and Darkness
• Wednesday, 23 September: Attending the Grave
  Start: 10 AM, SL-Time
  Cemetery, Cathedral of Air and Darkness
• Friday, 25 September: Party at the Castle
  Start: 4 PM, SL-time
  The Captain hosts a party at Bowley castle.
• Saturday, 26 September: The Charmed Hunt
  Start: Noon, SL-time
  The Captain organizes a hunt near the Solstice fairgrounds.

All citizens are invited to attend these public events!

The Decimation of Greenwell

[From the archives of the NeoLondon Times]
1 January 840 AD
Planet Greenwell, Strand Republic

Today, the Queen’s forces made great strides toward victory when they defeated all opposing forces on the planet Greenwell and rendered the planet uninhabitable. Now, void of life, it stands as a monument and warning to those who would oppose our beloved Empire.

One soldier (who wished to remain anonymous) provided us the details. “The battle was goin poorly …very poorly …we were bein pushed back by them bloody fuckin golems.  Then we got word that the Soul Casters from the Medical Corp was gonna take the field.  Well, you know things are rightly fucked when your bloody healers take the battlefield.  We were given these charms … talisman they were called … and told ta keep ‘em with us at all times!  The next thing we knew, the fucking grass shot up like iron spears, striking the golems straight up their arses to their noses!  The ground started shaking, fire and brimstone erupted …it was bloody chaos. Then the blasted sky turned black!  How the fuck does that happen!?  So many screams from the machines, but not one of us was touched!  Those talisman worked!  Remind me not to piss off those damn bloody soul casters …bloody hell!”

The success of the Talisman Project notwithstanding, there were still heavy casualties to our Majesty’s army. Nearly 500,000 soldiers lost their lives in a series of battles which lasted ten days.  The medical corps lost 75% of their soul casters, almost 10,000 dead.  Most lost their lives activating and controlling the rune-staves that brought such glorious destruction to the enemy.  At the writing of this article, many of the remaining soulcasters remain in critical condition, but are expected to survive.  We are pleased to report that Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Foxtrotter, who conceived and led the Talisman Project, has survived and received a field promotion to full Colonel for her part in the ritual.

Death of Lady Bowley

[From the archives of the NeoLondon Times]
15 January 840 AD
Planet Greenwell, Strand Republic

It is with great regret we report the death of Captain Arianrhod ap Glyndwr of the Tuatha de Danaan, wife to Lord Joseph Bowley, the Governor of planet NeoVictoria. Captain Glyndwr Bowley died as a result of wounds sustained during the Battle of Greenwell.

Captain Glyndwr Bowley was the only casualty of her sub-unit of 120 soldiers, which she led to victory through the ten-day siege of the planet.  The details of her death are somewhat obscured.  What we do know is she was without her talisman when the soul casters released the full-force of their rune-craft against The Strand golems.  Some have reported that she refused to wear the talisman, while others report that she gave hers to one of her human soldiers who had lost theirs in the battle.

Here is what we do know.  While she was attended by soul casters, they were unable to secure her spirit to a soul cage, so she is lost to us forever.  Lord Bowley has announced a crypt will be constructed in the graveyard of the Cathedral of Air and Darkness and his wife’s remains will be interred there.  We will announce that date, as soon as it is known.

Our sincerest sympathies go to the Bowley and Glyndwr families for this most grievous loss.