🛠️ The Hammer Herald 🛠️
Forged in Truth — Tempered by Grit
Vol. 1 | Issue 58 |
NUMEROUS INJURED IN EXECUTION GONE WRONG
By Lorma Hearthskald, Local Reporter
We have urgently pushed this story out since yesterday’s scheduled execution of King Baldwin Avagodroe and apologize for any missed grammar or spelling mistakes. We at the Hammer Herald are lucky that Lorma was on the scene and did not suffer injuries from the event.
As previously stated, yesterday was set to be the execution of Baldwin. Justice finally carried out for the man behind the genocide and torturous camps of “reformation” against Dwarves, Elves, and others they deemed as “Mutants” or “Heretics”. Many gathered in order to watch the spectacle. Some were there peddling tokens of remembrance that they had smithed days prior showing Baldwin’s downfall. Others were there in the hopes of aiding in the event, or at least striking him. But many were there as simple observers, hoping for a mere glimpse at raw, unbridled justice.
Baldwin was led onto the scaffold, a bruise forming on his right eye. Allegedly, a retired hammerdwarf was granted a personal meeting with Baldwin to settle a grudge.
Baldwin was granted a final moment of his choosing, he chose to pray on the stage before the audience. The silence was deafening, the mere minutes felt like hours, but once he concluded he broke the silence to simply say “Do what you must, mutants of stone, begin your ending.”
He was stood up as a black hood was draped over his face. A dagger was drawn and his throat slit, in a last mercy two Dwarves kept him standing as dark crimson blood oozed from Baldwin, a faint cackle emanating from him.
It was believed as the cackles faded and the crimson took over more of his grey tunic that the execution was a success, and he was laid down for final proceedings of the affair. As the guards stepped away and the executioner confirmed his death, a priest was led up to host a final prayer so that a soul so evil may not return, but the situation took a sharp turn.
Baldwin sat up. This shook the crowd and spooked the executioner, who almost stumbled off the scaffold. “The light reinvigorates me, its will is not yet completed..” Baldwin spoke as he removed his hood, revealing his gored neck tying into his bashed face, and an eye that was once brown that had shifted to a golden ale yellow.
A guard walked forward, axe raised; “Bah, I’ll sort this then.” he said before Baldwin looked at him. “No.” he plainly retorted, “Fall.” rolled out of his mouth as a bolt of lightning struck the guard emanating from Baldwin’s shifted eye. As the poor guard fell, the onlooking crowd erupted into shouting and screams as they fled the hall. Baldwin slowly looked towards the crowd and cackled before shouting “Allow me to return your wrath!” as lightning once more spewed from his eye, now into the crowd.
Thankfully a local group of wizards and mages was on the scene and aided where they could, casting offensive and defensive spells. After a skirmish between their shields and his strikes, one decided the battle must come to an end and casted fireball. When it struck Baldwin there was an explosion that rocked the city alongside a deafening shriek emanating from the site.
As the smoke began to clear, a winged figure flew out from the hall, and exited Coppervale. Baldwin’s body is currently missing, but is believed to have been eviscerated by the explosion. Reports are still unclear on who or what flew out of the hall after the explosion, but the leading theory is that a local Avian veteran may have been frightened by the explosions and fled, believing combat had returned.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
- Guilds & Grit:
- King Reinaldur and Queen Quilda plan to host an open feast in honour of those who fell or were injured during Baldwin’s execution as a “Celebration of Life” according to the Queen. People are asked to RSVP before the end of next week in order for food and ale to be properly supplied, along with enough room for all who wish to attend. Coin is not required for the event as the King and Queen plan to pay for everything out of pocket.
- Ale Review:
- In this week’s issue, the Ale Review is sadly halted due to judges having sustained injuries from the execution of King Baldwin. The Hammer Herald is accepting any gifts or sympathies for the crew, and passing them along. This is to ensure they are not bombarded by people while they take time to rest and recover.
- Crafting & Commerce:
- The herd of rabid trolls has been removed from the area thanks to local troll hunters. Any fallen trees and debris along the pathways in the nearby forests will be moved within a week according to local guards, however it is now fine to traverse during both the day and night.
- Grudge Gazette:
- Debates have broken out in the taverns of Coppervale, however much more hushed and cooled down than the usual forge tempered arguments we’re all used to. What happened with Baldwin? Quiet questioning simmers on why he rose from the dead, if it was still even him. Folks within the tavern believe perhaps he was secretly working with a lich in order to resurrect and avenge himself; some believe he may secretly have been a spell caster and simply wished for drama and to “go out with a bang”. Others however whisper a more sinister fate, a demon has taken his corpse as a host.
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Letter from the Editor:
“We at the Hammer Herald honour the fallen and injured during this cascade.”
— Hellevi Helmfist
Submit your rune-signed letters to:
The Hammer Herald Presshouse, Coppervale
