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Linaras, 23rd day of Darkember, 2008
First Watch falling 13
The Palanthas Herald

Ashaynnth Strikes, Lady Santhia Returned

by Darcwulf, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Palast, Holmswelth 30, 2008

Ambeon - The Ashaynnth has annihilated the small fortified coastal town of Freehold, freeing over a thousand elves and dealing a serious blow to the fledgling minotaur colony's reputation and economy.

This past week the elven pirate ship the Ashaynnth, infiltrated the small heavily fortified minotaur town of Freehold. On the coast of the minotaur colony of Ambeon, Freehold appeared to the world to be nothing more than a small trading port through which portions of minotaur forces often passed. However, through the interrogation of Lady Santhia de Droka the pirates had learnt the truth, that Freehold was a town through which the minotaur empire processed much of the goods they have gained from their newly conquered colony.

"It was about an hour after sunset when the dock warning bell was first sounded," said Foddohl Rochstelhn a Neidar smith and a survivor of the incident. "Most of the mino warrior's headed to the docks in response, but that was just a distraction. Somehow a small band had made it into the city and while that elf ship was lobbing balls of fire at the docks, these others were freeing the elven slaves. Normally there is a full legion in Freehold at all times, but there was some sort of mix up and the last lot left before the new ones arrived."

The pirates had created a false Imperial decree ordering the legion to march on Sargasanti to assist in putting down a fictitious rebellion by the elven people. The freed elven peoples of Freehold outnumbering the minotaurs quickly overwhelmed them and took control of the small town. The elves looted the town, loading all they found aboard the Ashaynnth and three minotaur ships that they had captured. The small fleet left Freehold with the morning tide, the town in flames. The minotaur empire has refused to release exact numbers on their loses and how many elves escaped, although eleven sources over a thousand elves were Freehold.

"They took everything, all the loot that the minos had brought here," said Foddohl Rochstelhn. "You see they had gathered all this glint from the conquest and had hired me and me clan to process and rework the damaged stuff and the stuff they considered to be too um er.... Well elven." While only a fraction of the wealth of Silvanesti, this selection would have been of more import to the crew of the Ashaynnth, as it contained many magical items and artifacts. "There was 'ole crates of things that absolutely stank of sorcery, the minos said they were might sell it to the dark knights."

The elven pirates left behind Lady Santhia de Droka, gagged and staked in the centre of the market place. Although her horns had been severed, the Herald was informed that Lady de Droka is alive and in reasonable health.