As reported by The Avalon Press
The new year brought interesting new challenges to Avalon. In the top story, all throughout the gathering, Avalon was besieged by guile demons and doppelgangers. Friday evening, many of the Heroes who normally attend the gatherings were either guile demons or doppelgangers in disguise. In one notable instance, a false Erlan was spotted amongst the Heroes. Erlan was kidnapped in December and has not been recovered. This false Erlan was swiftly dispatched. It is currently unclear as to why Ophidia is pushing for this massive display of her forces. The current theory is that it is related to the Veil, as Ophidia has been working to prevent the Druidsfrom thickening the Veil. However, guile demons and doppelgangers weren’t the only forces of Hell Avalon dealt with.
All throughout the gathering, demons appeared in greater numbers. Fighting those demons were solars and celestials. There was one instance of Ice Demons kidnapping a Saurian Avalonian Jiyel. A solar appeared in the Five Lions Inn, badeing the Heroes to help them. With the solar’s aid, Jiyel was saved and the demons destroyed. It was noted that these demons had curious triangle markings in the snow and on the trees in ice. Ice demons had previously been seen creating these triangles last year, when they attempted to freeze Midlantia in an eternal winter. The theory presented last year was that the ice demons were attempting a strange ritual to empower themselves: no new information on these rituals has been revealed as of yet. It was also noted that there was a sharp increase in Dark Elf activity. Dark Elves successfully managed to kidnap the Avalonian Harold, but, in a strange twist, the Dark Elves returned Harold back to the Host claiming “he was useless.” This was not the only instance of Dark Elf kidnappings. Newer Avalonians were also kidnapped, Barbaro, Arolyn, and Bodger, by a Dark Elven woman identifying herself as Lady Artimesia. According to reports, these Avalonians were returned with the phrase “where is she?” carved into their foreheads. On Saturday evening, Dark Elf activity increased to the point where they attacked the Five Lions Inn.
Shortly afterwards, reports reached the Heroes that the town of Selena was being attacked by Dark Elves and a Beholder under the command of the Demon Knight of Arachnia. They tracked the Dark Elves to a hole leading deep within the earth under a manor house. Fighting ensued, but one Avalonian, Jiyel, fell into the hole and was recovered. Just like it seemed the fighting would begin with a second wave, thanks to the efforts of several Avalonians who knew the mining profession, they were able to collapse the hole, effectively stopping the emerging Dark Elves. Moving on, strange phenomena continued to appear around the Five Lions Inn. There were rumors of a massive corpse defeated outside the Five Lions Inn before the gathering. Shortly after the event, there was also a humanoid body radiating Good found outside the Inn. During the gathering, there were reports of a bioluminescent ooze man, or a being of sentient ooze. While there were rumors at first of this creature, with many doubting its existence, the creature was confirmed as real and subsequently defeated.
As the March gathering draws closer, there are troubling rumors growing. Drowned Ones have been seen in increasing numbers all throughout Avalon. They appear to be heading towards the Great White Swamp, although to what end is unclear. The Mistwood also faces a new round of attacks. Based on reports, they are facing assaults from undead to the north and Darkwood to the south. Rumors however suggest that the Elves have found a solution: a barrier of magic meant to protect the Mistwood, suggested by Councilman Al’dien. We at the Avalon Press have been unable to confirm the details at this time, but we will be keeping an eye on this story as it develops.