Update 1
Carnivals, Crimes, and a New Religion
Its like a country club, except we can join
The inhabitants of the Nelph river valley have never had much entertainment available. The Balseraph carnivals draw a large crowd but eventually one even grows tired of their antics. So when agents begin to spread throughout Cesslen and Trez, looking for recruits to youre their organizations, many people are just bored enough to respond. Some recruits even bring their friends or family members to their new source of diversion.
All recruit missions last turn brought in twice as many recruits as usual.
Recruit missions this turn will also have an increased effect.
A new faith in Cesslen
As far as organized religion goes, the citizens of Cesslen have always had just two choices: to follow the Bannor Church of the Order, or to belong to no organized faith at all. Recently, the situation has changed. A group of preachers has taken to the streets, spreading their message of faith and justice, embodied in a new religion called The Two Hammer.
The preachers are few in number, and mostly artisans. However, there a few well known judges that preach with them, and many people are immediately impressed by the high class members of this new faith.
The power of these speeches has spread by word of mouth throughout the city. Those who have witnessed the speeches attest not only to the eloquence and truth of their words, but also to an inner feeling, like that of a divine presence, that the speeches inspire. They claim that there truly is a powerful god behind this faith, and they have felt her touch. Oddly enough they are adamant on this last point, that it was definitely a female presence that contacted them.
The authorities of Cesslen were immediately interested in meeting representatives of this new faith. Fortunately, they had to look no farther than their doorstep a pair of representatives had already travelled to the city hall to speak with them. Several of the authorities also confessed to feeling a divine spark when talking to the members of The Two Hammer, and a few have professed their interest in possibly joining the religion.
Over the past month, interest in the faith continues to grow and some even expect that the city council will declare it an official faith soon.
The Two Hammer faith is now a minor religion in Cesslen
An exceptionally large number of converts join the organization of The Two Hammer
Another Carnival
The Balseraph carnivals in Cesslen are well known, but their erratic schedules of coming and going leaves a gap when there is little entertainment to be found. A group of entrepreneurs seem to have found a profitable solution to this problem, and have formed their own carnival in the city. While it doesnt host the splendors, bizarre magic, or exotic oddities found in the Balseraph carnivals, it does provide a useful diversion when the Balseraph are not in town. Also, it is a much more feasible expenditure for the poorer classes. It may be dirty and run down but it sure is cheaper than the attractions the Balseraphs haul in. Many groups are looking to see if this venture will make a profit.
No effect
Home torched in Cesslen
A small home in one of the seedier sections of Cesslen was found torched to the ground. The remains of its inhabitants, a young man and woman, were found in the wreckage of their home. It was not clear how the accident had started, but the city guard stated that evidence did point to the home being deliberately set on fire from the outside. Various theories were composed as to who could have committed such an act, but none of them could describe why this particular couple was targeted.
The answer came from a exceptionally bright young guardsman who identified some objects in the debris as originating from the Balseraph carnival of Jejalok which was currently in town. Asking around he discovered that the man owed extensive debts due to money lost at the carnival, and had got into a fight with a Balseraph agent at the carnival only days before.
No effect
Balseraphs flee Cesslen
The Balseraph carnival Jejalok left Cesslen heading east only three days after the accident was reported. It was not until six days after the incident that the young guardsman came forth with his explanation that the man had been murdered for being unable to repay his debts. His discovery was only further vindicated by the lack of any valuable objects or coins left in the destroyed house. For his discovery, the guardsman was promoted. The Cesslen government is trying to regain contact with the travelling carnival of Jejalok to make the murder answer for his crime.
Reward posted by the Cessel City Council for information concerning the location of the Carnival of Jejalok