Editing Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta (section)

== July 1999 ==
=== Call to Arms Teaser ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link =
 |  Date = 7/4/99
 | Title = Call to Arms
 |  Text =

<i>"You can hear the murmurs in every tavern and around every lifestone. Tension is building all across the land.
<br><br>"As old age claims the last heroes who were enslaved to the Olthoi, we grow complacent. We've relaxed our vigilance against threats from afar. And as more people are called to Dereth, our settlements encroach on the territories of other races. How can we not expect the dark denizens to strike back?
<br><br>"Rumors from the frontiers suggest that more and more creatures are threatening human habitations. How long will it be before they strike here? How long before we must defend our homes?
<br><br>"And are we prepared?"
<br><br>--Scribe ibn Tur</i>
<br>All over Osteth, mages have read the signs, and found the following ill-starred towns under imminent threat:
<br>Holtburg
<br>Rithwic
<br>Samsur
<br>Shoushi
<br>Yanshi
<br>Yaraq
<br>We implore adventurers to begin gathering within distant sight of buildings on the evening of Wednesday, July 7th, and guard the countryside and inroads. Do not gather in the towns themselves -- we wish to intercept the foe before they get so far! For political advantage and a mention in the Annals, monarchs are advised to turn out with their allegiances. The hour of trial is at hand; organize now!
}}

=== Call to Arms Recap ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsarmscall.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date = By Auberon
 | Title = Call to Arms: An Overview of the Recent Defense on 7/7/99
 |  Text =

[[Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta#Call to Arms Recap - Screenshots|<font color=#FFFFCC><u>Screenshots of the Call to Arms</u></font>]]
<br><br>The advance scouts of the encroaching force appeared around 5:30 P.M. Pacific Time, comprising lesser monougas and banderlings, mixed with the occasional drudge pack. Holtburg was the first to encounter banderlings, who made their initial assault near the menhir just outside of town.
<br><br>Soon other towns were under assault. Shoushi and Yanshi witnessed several hard-fought early battles. Later in the day, Yaraq was attacked by a huge swarm of monougas, who nearly decimated the population. A nearby tumerok raiding band took the opportunity to attack, hoping to pillage and plunder amid the general confusion. Between them and the rampaging monougas, it looked as though monsters might overrun the town. Fortunately, the stalwart citizens managed to regroup and form a defensive line near the beach, thwarting the blitzkrieg invasion. The town of Rithwic seemed at first to have escaped the onslaught, but soon ravenous hordes of monsters descended on their homes as well. Holtburg and Samsur were also struck by the host of invaders.
<br><br>Citizen defenders gathered their allegiances to defend the towns. Pockets of resistance formed and encountered the enemy on all fronts. Mages and archers used the surrounding terrain, rampart walls, and building terraces to good effect, while stalwart warriors engaged the enemy hand-to-hand.
<br><br>In Rithwic, a Sho warrior, tired and wounded, spotted a slim figure cutting her way through the ranks of enemies. There was a familiar look to her fighting style. Elegant and precise, she reminded him of the hero of the sacred rock. Could it be? By the gods, it was Ben Ten! Once again, Ben Ten had appeared in Dereth's time of crisis to defend a town, just like she did in Yanshi so many years before. Ben Ten's arrival seemed to lift the spirits of the defenders, and the tide of battle turned in favor of the Derethians. Soon Ben Ten was spotted in other areas of the island. Through some mystical means, she seemed to gust in with the wind, and where her blade shone, it laid waste to her opponents.
<br><br>Just as the people of Dereth felt they could breathe a sigh of relief, a new and terrifying threat loomed. The tremendous monougas! Towering over 40 feet tall, these colossal behemoths left a swathe of death behind them. At first they appeared unstoppable, but the Derethians would not be easily defeated. As the battle for Dereth raged, some spotted the true source of the attack, the Virindi, who observed the battle with cold calculation. Shadow Lieutenants were also sighted. Could the presence of these minions of Bael'Zharon signify an unholy alliance between Virindi and Dark Lord? The possible ramifications of such a union are horrifying to say the least.
<br>The battle ended around 8:30 P.M. Pacific Time, with exhausted defenders counting the dead and healing the wounded. Although the toll was terrible, the day had been won, and Dereth was safe for the moment. As the citizenry return to their daily lives, they discuss the Call to Arms as a grim reminder of the dangers of complacency. May we heed this lesson well, for surely this will not be the last time we face the enemy.
}}

=== Call to Arms Recap - Screenshots ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ashenewsarmscallshot.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date = Asheron's Call Beta: July 7, 1999
 | Title = Screenshots of the Call to Arms Event
 |  Text =

''Click on thumbnails for full pictures.''

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=== Wardiel's Deception ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewswardiel.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date =
 | Title = Wardiel's Deception
 |  Text =
''+Larn Margot''
<br><br>
I had only just received Sarneho's "Writ of Interdict" that condemned Wardiel the Mighty as a knave and a threat to all, when I heard reports of Wardiel attacking the good people of Dereth outside of Qalaba'r near the Lugian Tower. I traveled there swiftly, using portals to hasten my journey, and arrived to witness the aftermath of a great battle. People lay where they were slain and the smell of death was thick in the air. I asked a survivor to relate what had happened, and in a broken voice, he said that Wardiel and Bael'Zharon had raised altars to invoke chaos and strife. These altars allowed the people of Dereth to attack each other -- and gave Wardiel the opportunity to undertake a great slaughter. My informer told how Wardiel had initially been beaten back by a surprise attack of Derethians -- but had returned swiftly, stinking with Bael'Zharon's evil power. After killing the townsfolk en masse, he finally claimed the town as his own. I shivered, but, my curiosity overcoming my fear, I headed in the direction the citizen indicated Wardiel had gone.
<br><br>
As I went, I discovered that Wardiel had cut his way northwards, at first meeting little resistance. He overcame much if not all of the Sho and Gharu'ndim lands, and those lands that he could not conquer, he set his banderling thralls upon. Most disturbing, however, was the case of Samsur, where the citizens had the temerity to swear fealty to him, actually greeting the knave with open arms!
<br><br>
Despite Samur's treachery, Wardiel's reign of terror lost momentum. Again and again, at Shoushi, Yaraq, Eastham, and Cragstone, the folk of Dereth organized to repel his attacks. The defense suffered a setback at Eastham, when an epic battle between Fheer, a defender of good, and Kudce, a follower of Wardiel, ended in Fheer's momentary defeat. However, Fheer was destined to return . . .
<br><br>
In Holtburg, Wardiel's downfall began. Fheer, recovering from the wounds inflicted on him, led an army complete with healers and enchanters, who both aided him and weakened Wardiel with the spell Imperil VI. The people of Holtburg clashed directly with Wardiel. His train of evil followers, led by Blackthorn, Mortanius, and Kudce, sent many brave Derethians to the lifestones. However, Holtburg did not fall, and eventually Wardiel fled to Glenden Wood with delusions of making it his capital. Of his followers, only Kudce dared follow his failing dream.
<br><br>
It was at Glenden Wood that Wardiel lost his strength, Bael'Zharon's favor, and his life. Bael'Zharon, disgusted with his minion's failures, withdrew his blessing without warning as Wardiel began his assault. Stripped of his supernatural power, Wardiel was slain by the weapons and spells of Dereth's mightiest defenders. Even as Wardiel cast healing spell after healing spell upon himself, the crowd closed in, filled with a bloodlust of their own.
<br><br>
Following his death, adventurers discovered Wardiel's hideout at an old fortress southwest of Rithwic. A number of the defenders have remained, to found a village called Lytelthorpe in the keep's shadow. In the meantime, the towns Wardiel conquered have driven out his banderling troops and begun the slow, painful process of rebuilding. There are rumblings that, in the months to come, a successor will appear, seeking to triumph where Wardiel failed and -- with Bael'Zharon's help -- bring all of Dereth to its knees.
<br><br>
[[Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta#Revenge!|<font color=#FFFFCC><u>Revenge!: A Personal Drama</u></font>]]
<br>
[[Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta#Campaign Against Wardiel|<font color=#FFFFCC><u>Screenshots</u></font>]]
}}

=== Revenge! ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewswardiel2.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date =
 | Title = Revenge!
 |  Text =
Eldrin relates an interesting side drama to the struggle against Wardiel in which a traitor ultimately sabotages himself.
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''Revenge! (A True Story)'''</font><br>
''By Eldrin''
<br><br>
It was midday in Cragstone as Eldrin entered the town. He had just run from Rithwic after a rather exciting battle with Wardiel the Mighty, who had fled the field like a coward when he found that the resistance was too strong.
<br><br>
Eldrin had carefully noted Wardiel's path, and he was guessing that after Rithwic the evil sorcerer would attack either Eastham or Cragstone next. As it happened, Wardiel struck Eastham first, giving Eldrin and many others who had chosen the same path just enough time to reach Cragstone before his arrival.
<br><br>
The evil sorcerer appeared, and before long a substantial group of fighters and mages had gathered around, each hacking at the servant of Bael'Zharon and casting their most powerful spells. Eldrin quickly ran in and tried his blade. When his sword proved to be no match for Wardiel, he turned to his bow and shot a rain of arrows onto his adversary. However, this is where the story takes a dismal turn, for while heroism was in the hearts of many that night, so was treachery.
<br><br>
After loosing another frog crotch arrow, Eldrin paused to reload. It was at that point he was struck from behind, and wounded rather badly. Astounded and thinking some adventurer had misplaced a blow, Eldrin began to turn. He had only moved slightly when the second attack came, leaving him with barely half his health. He spun the rest of the way to find a man named Gal Etah grinning evilly at him. Fearing for his life, Eldrin withdrew hastily from the battle, Gal Etah in hot pursuit. He dodged between the houses, attempting to lose his assailant, but it was not to be. At last, Eldrin ducked into the local tavern and hid under the stairs, hoping to be safe just long enough to regain his health and be able to put up a fight. But as if from nowhere, Gal Etah appeared before him. Eldrin sprang to his feet and tried to escape, but Gal Etah blocked his one way out of the small space he had foolishly placed himself in. Gal Etah struck him once, twice -- and Eldrin crumpled into a heap on the ground, dead.
<br><br>
Fortunately for Eldrin, just minutes before he had bound himself to the local lifestone, where he now appeared. He had the traditional five minutes after death in which he was no longer a player killer, and he used them in the only way he could think of: finding Gal Etah. Before long he had located the murderous coward, who also appeared as a white dot on the compass -- he must have died as well, killed by someone else. "I still have a score to settle" Eldrin told himself, and quietly began to follow his killer around the map, ignoring the battle all around him. Before long he had changed back into a player killer, which meant Gal Etah wasn't far off himself. Eldrin noted the dot turning to red on his compass, and quietly waited for his opportunity. Gal paused and lay down to heal himself after a scrap with another player, at which point Eldrin struck. He had lost his leggings, gloves, sollerets, shield, and sword when he died, leaving him with only his bow and some arrows. He pulled free his bow and let fly an arrow, which struck Gal Etah, who now rose to defend himself. Before long, Eldrin was seriously wounded yet again, and took off at a run. "I'm going about this all wrong..." thought Eldrin. "I was killed through treachery; perhaps I should fight fire with fire." Eldrin quickly healed his wounds and set out to find his foe.
<br><br>
He quickly located Gal, who was wandering around town, no doubt looking for some other poor soul to murder. Eldrin resisted the urge to let fly a hail of arrows, and quietly stalked his opponent for a good five minutes. He waited cautiously for his opportunity, then spotted it. Gal had engaged another player, who seemed to be putting up a decent fight. Gal Etah was in trouble, and Eldrin vowed to make him pay. Seeing that Gal's health was very low, Eldrin quickly sprang from the bushes and leveled his bow at Gal. He loosed an arrow, which struck Gal square in the back. Gal began to turn to this new threat, but it was already too late. Eldrin quickly nocked another arrow and took aim. He let fly the deadly shaft and watched with grim satisfaction as it struck Gal Etah directly in the head, killing him instantly. Eldrin let out a cry of victory as the murderer fell limply to the ground.
<br>
He walked over to the body, which was already being looted by Mortanius, the fellow Gal had been assaulting when Eldrin made his shot. Fearing that Mortanius would be upset that Eldrin had stolen his kill, Eldrin was pleasantly surprised when he complimented him quite civilly on his shot. Eldrin asked if he had found a particularly nice lightning ken on the body, and perhaps a pair of sollerets, but Mort only answered, "No," before running off to join the battle. Eldrin checked the corpse to see what Mort had left, and was again surprised to find a very nice silver basinet, which he quickly donned. Still depressed at the loss of his items, Eldrin made his way back to the inn where he had been killed. He wove his way around the furniture to the small space behind the stairs and received his third shock as he found all his items still lying on the floor! And not only that, several there had belonged to Gal Etah, who must have been killed quite soon after killing Eldrin. He quickly gathered what he found, and then, a broad smile on his face, he ran back to join the fray.
}}

=== Campaign Against Wardiel ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewswardiel3.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date =
 | Title = Campaign Against Wardiel
 |  Text =
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''Asheron's Call Beta: July 24, 1999'''</font><br>
''Click on thumbnails for full pictures.''

{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=15
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel01.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>The diabolic Bael'Zharon materializes, and inducts a new member into the ranks of his faithful.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel02.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>Wardiel the Mighty, chief captain of Bael'Zharon and lord of strife, prepares to eclipse Dereth's sun.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel03.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>The noble Fheer exchanges taunts with Wardiel outside a Sho village.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel04.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>Wardiel begins to systematically destroy the gathering defenders.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel05.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>Having crushed all local opposition, Wardiel stations his banderling minions to hold the town until his return.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel06.jpg|100px]]<font color=#CC9900>Kudce, evil lieutenant of Bael'Zharon, wipes his boot on the stricken Fheer.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel07.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>Surrounded by minions both human and banderling, Wardiel strikes down Argath the Berserker as Bael'Zharon himself looks on.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel08.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>At Holtburg, a foggy aura surrounds Wardiel as a powerful enchantment cripples his power.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel09.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>Bereft of his dark lord's blessing, Wardiel meets his end at Glenden Wood.</font>
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{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:wardiel10.jpg|100px]]  <font color=#CC9900>The valiant Gyre claims Wardiel's mighty axe as her trophy.</font>
{{!}}}
}}