Tiryns Times North, Sunday Edition, Jule 22, 1581

HUNDREDS DEAD IN BAYVIEW

FREELANDS, Jule 20 - After a period of quiet the sudden attack on Bayview (also known as Orthagundt), the only civilized portion of the Great Northern Waste, sees the town completely destroyed with hundreds dead.

For the past several weeks members of the Watch have been reporting little or no activity along the Orgoshi border, some have even commented on a certain tranquility to the Waste. Now that peace lies shattered and drowned in the blood of the hundreds of men and women who lost their lives in a ruthless sneak attack late Friday evening. Reports are still coming in, but the death toll is already over two-thirds the population of the entire town.

Eyewitness reports of the battle say the Orgoshi came upon unsuspecting sentries in the dead of night and managed to make it over the gate without an alarm being raised. After that it was simply a bloodbath. "The only good thing," states a shaken refugee, "Is that they didn't get around to blocking off the southern escape, so a few of us managed to make it." A member of the Watch who refused to be named also commented on that miraculous escape. "They must have been planning this for weeks, I can't imagine why they would let something like a southern escape slip their plans, but thank Heironeous that they did."

Watch officials have declined to comment about any planned counterattack, but anonymous sources reveal that reinforcements have been called for from The Capital, and a correspondent to the throne reports an emergency meeting between King and Council has been called for as early as next week.

"Whatever else happens, make no mistake, the empire is once again at war," says Bryce Evenhanded, Captain General of the Watchguard.

MASSIVE RECALL OF WATCH

EASTWATCH, Jule 21 - Watch officials report that all members of the Watch have been called to station, including anyone on leave, extended assignment and Cadets not yet reported in.

"In light of the recent tragedy," says a Watch spokesperson, "We can ill afford to have the Brothers and Sisters of the Long Watch away from home." Apparently only those Watch members on extended diplomatic or time-sensitive missions have been allowed to remain at their posts. Dispatches flew by pigeon as early as Saturday morning.