Hello, I’m Branwyn Two-Moon of Clan Lightridge, and these are the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Undine Rushing, 2019.

First and foremost, my apologies for the delayed broadcast. Minutes before the broadcast was to  begin, an urgent help signal was relayed to within sight of Eastfjord Harbor from the eastern rim of the valley. That signal came from the double-sized immigrant caravan scheduled to arrive next week and it was answered with incredible speed and force.

Thanks to the numerous guard messengers out and about, the crews actively deploying road signs, and the Anchorstone Walk going on, the urgent call for help reached Eastfjord Harbor in record time, as help the caravan.

The first guild on the scene was Ridgewatch, followed by the East Valley Trekkers and numerous small guard detachments. The arrival of Zyre Far-Seeker, a Vomba Scout of the Trekkers, enabled all more outlying groups to arrive quickly.  Zyre, like most scouts, is quick thinking, and is a strong Wisp and Shade caster to boot. As such, she created a temporary anchorpoint and pushed the resonance out to every Anchorstone she could.

One of those Anchorstones is here in Eastfjord Harbor, and I felt the pulse come in before I was aware of the signal.  As has been mentioned recently, I’m a rather strong Wisp-caster myself, and my Shade magic is just as powerful.

I teleported to the Pinecrest Valley Guard Headquarters, explained my plan to the most senior person I could find in sight, and immediately teleported to the Anchorstone where guilds, guards, and volunteers had already begun to assemble.  Wisp- and Shade-casters of enough power had already begun their preparations to teleport small groups when I encouraged them to wait for the arrival of the Valley Guard.

By the time the Guard arrived, I’d arranged a large enough space to open a gateway to Zyre’s anchorpoint, and had someone send a message through that such a thing was happening.

We are still not clear as to the nature of the force willing to assault a double-sized immigrant caravan and do so with enough force to warrant the call for help, save that those who did not flee are dead, and they were not prepared for the force of the response Pinecrest Valley supplied.

Before anyone asks, no, I did not keep the gateway open for the duration of the battle – I opened it again upon a pre-arranged signal. I don’t want to think about how tired I would still be had I tried and succeeded.

During the relatively brief battle, the Wisp- and Shade-casters who had the energy worked to teleport the wounded to medical assistance around the valley.  While lives were lost and people were wounded, it was nowhere near as many as could have been.

Given the forecast of rains and cooler temperatures next week, a contingent of guild agents has volunteered to stay on as escort for the remainder of the caravan in case the attackers were  thinking to take advantage of the situation.

To such attackers and those that would conspire with them, I offer these words:

Don’t. Pinecrest Valley was a community long before it was part of Gemrest, and its inclusion in the kingdom has only given its people greater resources to act on their growing connection to each other. Should you threaten those that are or would become part of our community, it will end poorly for you, even more so than this time.

The Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor are brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and otherworldly tea. Red Wombat: We Dig Tea.

Also brought to you by The Hidden Almanac, found online at hiddenalmanac.com.

Ok, all the Wisp and Shade magic today must have wreaked a bit of havoc on reality, because I have no idea what that means.  I’ll try to find the correct sponsor for next week. In the meantime, these have been the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Undine Rushing, 2019. Take care, and stay dry.