The Frostmawian Short
Part of the Regional Newspapers
Area: Frostmaw
Distribution: Frostmaw Tavern
Ownership: None. Loose collaboration of non-giant contributors.
Language: Common or Elven as indicated.
OOC editor: Hmail News.
Note: The Frost Giants’ culture records history through the oral tradition. They do not keep written records of most things, and therefore have no interest in a written newspaper. However, Frostmaw has a growing minority, non-giant population composed of mostly Sage Elf refugees and humans, though other races are known to dwell within Frostmaw’s fortified walls as well. Those races do value written records and communication, and thus The Short Frostmawian was born. It’s an informal newsletter housed in The Frostmaw tavern that is written by several contributors who are loosely led by a sage elf. It lacks editorial vision and predominantly focuses on the difficulties of living in a giant word as a non-giant. Aside from this insular advice-giving, the newsletter also disseminates news information which affects the intended audience. The newsletter is little more than parchment with various scrawling which run the spectrum of legibility. Where other papers’ titles are painted in fancy calligraphy, the newsletter’s header is barely more than block print poorly fitted within the margins of the paper. The title is not centered properly and letter-spacing shrinks noticeably as the artist behind the paper runs into the margin and out of paper. Other papers use rulers to format articles, dedicate sections by theme, and appoint a single writer to keep penmanship uniform and artistic. The Frostmawian Short is a hodge-podge of handwritings with articles squeezed in haphazardly wherever they fit. While the paper’s appearance reflects the changes Frostmaw inspires even in its newest residents, its content captures just how the transformation from outsider to Frostmawian occurs.
- DSP = Delightedly Short People
- DGF = Dear Giant Friends
- SQS = Snow Queen Satoshi
- ADH = Aramoth’s Daughter Hildegarde
- SPM = Short people misinformation
- EGFW = Exile Giant Frost War
- WW = Western Wilds
Issues Archive
2016
March 2016
[in common]
Winter berry picking. Nimble fingers needed for the late harvest. Any elves unclaimed by native households are to register immediately at their nearest berry orchard.
[several stories written in common and elvish have been scratched out violently to the point of ripping the paper, but one story written in elvish survived the vandals]
ADH lives! My cousin in Xalious can confirm. I am fleeing this giant hell to find ADH! Rally around our savior! Rally around the chosen daughter!
[in common]
Aramoth smiles on the battle-wise, so enlist today! Join the city guard and prove your worth on the field of battle. Master the art of combat and lay low the enemies of Frostmaw. Live with honor and courage. Wages and citizenships to be claimed. All able-bodied applicants welcome. Standard arms provided. Direct inquiries to giants of the city guard.
Public executions are being moved from the prison to the city fort. Beheadings to be held every Wednesday at last light. Attendance is encouraged.
Giant slain! Supporters of the late Hildegarde, we spit at her name, have brutally and dishonorably murdered Mimsgor, son of Ramsgor. Mimsgor, who was sent to parley with the dissenters, first narrowly evaded being poisoned and then fought nobly to defend the city's honor. He was cut down in the streets of Larket, and the cowardly killer has yet to come forward.
Hail Balgruuf! With Frostmaw back in the rightful hands of the giants, any outlanders, southerners, scum-bloods, good-for-nothings, little folk, leaf lickers and tree dwellers can do what's best for them-- get out! All you letter lovers and pen scratchers can go ahead and scram too, so consider this the LAST edition of the Frostmawian Short. [blood splatter dots the parchment] (ooc: Balgruuf is the main antagonist in Thy Kingdom Come -- the arc that is shaking up Frostmaw politics. The arc is lead by Hildegarde, Orikahn, and Leone. Contact them to get involved.)
2015
October 2015
[in elvish]
THE FOREST IS OURS!! Laezila proved true and along with Emrith and other dear brothers and sisters successfully instigated a rebellion in the foul city of Trist’oth. The drow campaign on the surface has collapsed from the inside! Furthermore, Baraneth ruined their tunnel in Southern Sage, so we need not fear attacks coming from there. Hildegarde and Lyros distracted that villainous witch Gevurah just long enough for Laezila to succeed. Huzzah!
[in elvish]
I am moving back in a fortnight and taking my extended family with me. Anyone interested in joining our caravan, find me. ~ Violle
[in elvish]
The Elven Council is organizing a formal forest resettling program to be implemented throughout the month.
[in common written in the margins around the message above]
Good riddance, the lot of you! Ingrates! Leeches! Frostmaw is better off without you.
[in common in response to the detractor above]
Steady your quill, hooligan. The Steward has gifted to the elves a winter willow seed, a seed from one of our most prized and iconic trees, to symbolize the unbreakable bond between the elves and Frostmaw. You dishonor her and the city with your insults.
[in common]
Druids, botanists and rangers needed to repair the forest. [ooc: Contact Josleen and I’ll point you in the right direction.]
[in common]
Remember to use caution when traveling in the WW. The beasts continue to attack without provocation, and the ruins are haunted by a new evil. [ooc: For more information, look up The White Hunt arc in the wiki.]
[in common]
Murder in the mountains! Two corpses were found shredded and strewn about the black dragon den with only their hearts missing! Masbane’s men claim a ghost is killed those men, though from the sound of it, good riddance, thieves and wife beaters the two of them. [ooc: For more information or to get involved, contact Emilia.]
[in elvish]
Did you hear the nurse Josleen was cursed? Evidently it was the witch Talyara. I wonder what happened there.
[in elvish]
I heard Talyara lifted the curse in exchange for ADH lifting the trial by combat from Laezila. This account seems dubious to me. It seems unlikely ADH was never going to go through with the trial after what Laezila did for our people.
[in elvish]
That is most strange. I heard it was because Josleen and Lanara fought and Josleen drew blood, though I am disinclined to believe this version as well, seeing as how that nurse couldn’t bruise a daisy. What a mystery. By the way, dear sister, I am leaving for Sage under the auspicious full moon. It will be a return journey for women only, guided by our celestial body. Join us.
September 2015
September:
[in common] The Warrior’s Guild tournament ended in a three-way tie between Emrith, Grailan, and Zendor. What an exciting tournament! This and the Titans of Winter Tournament are the finest entertainment Frostmaw has to offer. I bought tickets to every match in advance to support Kang. I bet an entire month’s earnings on him. Really thought he’d make it to the finals. Imagine my surprise when he was defeated in Round One. My jaw goes slack again just thinking about it. I hope he trains harder for next year. Put my money on him again. I know it sounds crazy, but next year is his year. You bet on that.
[in elvish in the margins of the above post] I bet they rigged it so Emrith didn’t win alone because he’s an elf. Typical.
[in elvish squeezed around the previous commentary] Who’s ‘they’? There’s no conspiracy, Tamuel.
[in common in response to the original post] Kang’s such a great warrior. I hear he’s competing at Alayna’s Name Day tournament in Gualon.
[in common]
Huzzah for Hildegarde! ADH has declared that Frostmaw is joining the war as our ally. The drow cannot resist us now! Hind smiles on us this day! [ooc: For more information, look up the Surface Tension arc in the wiki.]
[in common]
Be careful in the WW. The beasts attack without provocation, and the ruins are haunted by a new evil. I overheard at the clinic that the nurses Josleen and Ansel narrowly escaped the ghosts with their lives. A group of heroes led by High Priestess Leone set out to quiet those restless souls. I think Krice and Orikahn were in the group, but I heard all of this second-hand. [ooc: For more information, look up The White Hunt arc in the wiki.]
[in elvish] Oh is that Josleen and Ansel’s excuse? ‘Out being haunted by ghosts’? New one to me.
[in common]
Bless our brave soldiers, our allies, the Sage Forest, our people! Praise be to Hind and his daughter Lauria! The drow have been driven back underground! Soon we will resettle our homeland! Long live Steward Hildegarde! Long live Aeth, Gilwen, Meagus! Long Live Emrith and Baraneth!
[in elvish] The drow blight will soon be cured! The forest will flourish once more!
[in elvish, same handwriting as Tamuel above, an elf clearly in the Emrith fanclub] Looks like Emrith was telling the truth about Zendor. ADH caught him working for the drow. The traitor was executed, as well he should be. And will Emrith get an apology for being doubted? Of course not. He’s just an elf. He also saved Skylei and Maegus’s life. Where’s the feast in his honor? Don’t hold your breath.
May 2015
[in common language] Are you a warrior? Join the Warrior’s Guild! See ADH for details. Also, the Warrior’s Guild is holding a tournament. Apply to participate before the last day of this month. [ooc: ADH = Aramoth’s Daughter Hildegarde. To compete in the tournament, hmail Hildegarde before May 31st.]
[in elvish]
Friends, family, treefolk, I know many of you are licking your wounds still after the battle in Sage. We lost 77 brothers and sisters. An additional 15 were captured into slavery, including council elder Maegus and the son of council elder Aeth. This cannot stand under answered. We must rescue our kin in chains. Take heart in our small victories for we slaughtered several drow scum and felled their watchtower. We should strike now, before they regroup and rebuild. [ooc: Related rp is called Battle: Elf Counter Invasion of the Sage Drow.]
[in elvish in response to the post above]
Maybe more of us should join ADH’s guild and get some training. I heard that a warrior’s guild member, a human named Baldor? Beldir? Bidlur? He was trained at the warrior’s guild and then almost single-handedly toppled the drow watchtower.
[in elvish in response to the post above]
No! It was an elf from the Nameless Desert! She destroyed the tower!
[in elvish in response to the post above]
Foolish, fire-tempered youth. Do not provoke the dark beast. Our numbers our small, and our lives peaceful.
[in elvish in response to the post above]
The council overruled your cowardice, brother. [ooc: Related RP is A Duplicitous Brother in Arms.]
[in common]
ADH is looking for sublime hunters to track some mystical, dangerous beast in the WW. [ooc WW = Western Wilds]
April 2015
[in common language]
The Titans of Winter Tournament was so thrilling this year! But I admit to being disturbed by that first place winner, the preklek? Kang? Yeesh, what a creep. But a strong creep. So happy for that Calen guy too — from Frostmaw! I feel oddly proud, even if he isn’t one of ours. Can’t wait to see who places third. I’m rooting for Naeaftas, just cause the other one, Donatien, looks like a drow. HISSSSSSSS.
[in elvish]
I CAN’T BELIEVE [someone furiously redacted the name and wrote a note in the margins in the elvish equivalent of all caps: NO NAMES!] PULLED OFF THE [that same person redacted the deed and wrote in the margins in caps: SHUT UP!]
[in common]
Did anyone else see the black dragon circling above the city? Are we in Gualon now?
[in elvish]
Shadow to light Shadow to light Too long have I seen shadow give flight
Light to shadow Light to shadow Fate favors light In Xalious’s barrows
A poem by Toe Mirror Cleave Snail Cloud
[ooc note: Clever elves will decipher this as a code to meet at the Hobbit barrows in preparation for a raid on the drows. The bizarre poet name is a code for a time and a place playing on elvish phonetics. The time and place will be announced oocly when we are ready to hold the first battle! Battle System for Surface Tension.] [Stories in elvish related to Surface Tension.]
2014
July 2014
[in common language] The following message has been cut out and reposted at the top of this sheet of the Frostmawian Short: I came across a tip for all you adventuring type. I heard a farmer named Emilia is looking to put a farm somewhere in Frostmaw. Another woman named Leone is going to help her build a greenhouse. I asked around and it turns out Emilia is a pretty big-name farmer on the central plateau and the western plains. Leone is a blacksmith and glassblower who gained some notoriety in Gualon. Emilia is surveying the immediate area for the perfect location for her new farm. You all know how dangerous the tundra here can be, especially for those who are not familiar with it. I heard she would be willing to hire a scout to guide her. (ooc: Contact Emilia to get involved.)
[in elven] Have you heard about how ADH killed drow in Kelay! A true friend to the wood elves, and ally to Sage! The Frostmawian Short erupts with opinions on this topic alone, permitting no space for any other subject. Not surprisingly, no one signs their name to their opinion.
- She killed in self-defense, not to avenge our people. Not that I am bothered by this. I do not nitpick the reason behind drow deaths. I welcome them all equally. I am, however, disturbed by the fact that Hildegarde took the bodies to the Tower in Xalious to be treated before being sent back to Trist’oth. I heard this first hand from a cousin in Xalious. It is a disgrace and a slap in the face to all we have lost.
- The Frostmaw-Trist’oth alliance is a slap in all of our faces.
- You would do well to remember Frostmaw took us in. Politics are complicated.
- I too am grateful to Frostmaw for taking us in, but let’s not forget that we were made to run when the drow invaded our sacred forest and drove us out. Frostmaw continues to turn their cheek to drow aggression as it conveniences them and we wood elves pay for this in our blood.
- Politics are less complicated when rulers rule with their morals and not their wallets. Any monarchy or republic which does not vehemently oppose Trist’oth is tacitly condoning its evil. Perhaps we should ask if those rulers are evil themselves?
June 2014
[in common language]
I came across a tip for all you adventuring type. I heard a farmer named Emilia is looking to put a farm somewhere in Frostmaw. Another woman named Leone is going to help her build a greenhouse. I asked around and it turns out Emilia is a pretty big-name farmer on the central plateau and the western plains. Leone is a blacksmith and glassblower who gained some notoriety in Gualon. Emilia is surveying the immediate area for the perfect location for her new farm. You all know how dangerous the tundra here can be, especially for those who are not familiar with it. I heard she would be willing to hire a scout to guide her. (ooc: Contact Emilia to get involved.)
[in elven]
Ever since the Frostmaw feast all of you have been judging me for what I confessed. I will not pretend that what I confessed was a minor offense against our lineage and race, but I resent being punished today for a victimless act that occurred over 200 years ago. I cannot live here any longer. The drow back in Sage will undoubtedly be kinder to me than you lot. May you all freeze to death, [The name Hamriel Saddin has been crossed out and the phrase ‘sister lover’ has been written in the common tongue above the signature].
[in common tongue]
We all confessed some fairly appalling acts and beliefs during the EGFW victory feast. We have learned that the most innocent among us is ADH. She alone has the right to judge us, at the rest of us tremble on morally fluid ground, incapable of standing up and casting condemnations to one another. Let us begin with a clean slate. Let us forget the darkness we have learned of one another and move forward with our community intact. Except for you, Shelby, you cheating [scratched-out five-letter insult].
There are three responses to this ‘article’.
- I did not go to the feast and do not understand what happened.
- You are lucky. Some pathetic, angry, talentless, frustrated chicken-turd of a bard cursed everyone to sing out their deepest, darkest confessions. There was one DGF who was almost beaten to death on the spot for confessing to committing arson against a rival fur trader’s inventory. And the Gualon Governor Tristram started stripping down to his boxers. I heard from my wife’s sister’s father-in-law that he was getting naked so he wouldn’t ruin his clothes as he shifted to his dragon form because he wanted to kill ADH. One minute he is telling her that he would enjoy killing her, the next he is getting naked. I think it is pretty obvious what was going on there. And his partner (Tara? Terra? Torrah?) confessed she caught him in bed with a man - no surprise there.
- Remember that halfling nurse from the war? ADH’s friend, who is married to the engineer? She’s a liar about everything and is having an affair. (ooc: The feast is uploaded on the wiki under the title “A Feast with a Twist.”)
[in elven]
I came across an avian corpse at the bottom of the west cliff. I have never come across an avian corpse up in these parts before today. Does anyone know what happened?
[in common]
I did not attend the feast, but I did watch the tournament. A water mage named Obunaki, from Rynvale from the look of it, provided quite the majestic spectacle. The audience was entranced with what he could do, and no one was surprised when he took the first place prize: a frostmare and 15,000 gold. In the archery competition there was a tie between Vakko, a damned drow, and that dryad some of you have seen, the one who hides in the snow and follows adventurers through the woods. I did not catch her name. (ooc: The tournament is uploaded on the wiki under the title “Frostmaw’s Victory Tournament.)
[in common]
I too came across a separate avian corpse. Is the Fort alerted to this? (ooc: Contact Hildegarde to get involved in the avian death mystery.)
May 2014
I, and I suspect many of you too, struggle to find furniture which is comfortable for my stature. I have worn down two saws in the past 4 years just cutting off chair and table legs and shortening beds for my family of eight. When I moved into my first apartment I was impressed by the height of the ceiling. I admit I felt grand - as if I had moved into a castle or a temple. It made me feel important without the work of earning that title. But now, I realize my apartment looks foolish with its poorly altered furniture that’s too short and small to fill the excess space. I propose someone open a carpentry shop to design and sell furniture in Frostmaw for the DSP (common newsletter acronym for Delightedly Short People). My DGF (Dear Giant Friend) who is a carpenters tried to help me, but his fingers are too large and clumsy with the small screws and nails necessary in small furniture construction. As for the ceiling, I have hung an elegant tapestry like a ceiling-wide hammock to give the appearance of a lower ceiling; and it’s cozy too. -- The article then provides a how-to guide with terrible stick figure illustrations on how to erect a false tapestry ceiling yourself.
The next article is absolutely illegible. The handwriting is atrocious. Any effort to divine letters from these scratchings will result in a migraine.
SQS (Snow Queen Satoshi) has stepped down from everyday administration of Frostmaw ruling, but she is still the monarch in charge. She has appointed ADH (Aramoth’s Daughter Hildegarde) as steward of Frostmaw. If nothing else, this proves the ADH rumors are true. SQS wouldn’t likely appoint anyone less than at least a demi-god to Steward Frostmaw.
The rough fabrics sold at the Hunter’s market are great for keeping warm, but chafe my delicate elf buttocks. Giants are lucky their hides are so thick. Any suggestions for softening mammoth wool? --Immediately under there are two responders:
1. I line my mammoth wool pants with mammoth butter. It’s pricey, but worth it.
1a. Gross. That’s disgusting.
2. I line mammoth wool with imported rabbit hide. It was in short supply during the EGFW (exile giant frost war), but shipments are now back on schedule twice a month. I recommend buying it during the second delivery. Vizzle buys half the stock during the first shipment and then prices go up considerably. Prices are more reasonable during the second half of the month, but haggle, haggle, haggle. Remember, our DGFs believe Sage Elves are rich, thanks to SPM (short people misinformation, an acronym used as a catch-all phrase for all cultural misunderstandings and stereotypes which negatively affects the minority population of Frostmaw.)