4/29/09 - Evening Edition

Tribune Readers, the last several days have seen momentous changes in Darkfall. The battles of 4/25 show a shift in how war is fought in our game--from the single armies clashing at single battle sites to large-scale, cross-map conflict involving most of the game world.

Since that day the great wars seem to have entered a holding position. It is doubtful that we'll see significant movements until the weekend. All the same, big doings are afoot in Agon.

Rubaiyat, the first sub-continent to reach substantive political unity, is in chaos. The DUSK alliance, which has ruled the region almost since release, is suffering the greatest challenge to its survival in Darkfall history. Clans throughout the DUSK heartland including Ilythiiri and Bad Boys For Life have severed ties with the greater DUSK community to form an alliance which, as of monday, has yet to have a name.

The Tribune spoke to a representative from Bad Boys For Life, who said the breakaway clans felt DUSK had grown too impersonal, with clans joined by "charter, not friendship." The rebels had also grown dissatisfied with DUSK's bureaucracy. These clans offered DUSK a period of peace--which was refused, sparking a conflict which saw the clan banks of Blackhand Order and Ilythiiri on the rebels' side, as well as those of House Shivering, Sturmgrenadier, Old Timers, Adeptus and Lost Minions on the the loyalists' side. House Shivering's city gates were also damaged. A state of war exists between the rebel clans and DUSK.

To make matters worse the war between the SB Alliance and DUSK continues--the Undead Lords have taken a city on Rubaiyat, the first loss of a settlement larger than a hamlet in their war.

Adeptus also appears to have broken away from DUSK, but their relationship to the rebels is unknown.

DUSK is not the only clan suffering internal struggles. In the Hyperion Kingdom, founding clan Society of the Anvil has dissolved. Surly, clan leader of SOTA, has stated that he had grown dissatisfied with Darkfall, citing the grind necessary to be competitive among other grievances. The leadership of SOTA has left the game and former members have joined other Hyperion clans with some forming a new group, Nacre Pleez. SOTA's former city off the coast of Yssam is now the site of skirmishing between groups from many factions, from Hyperion and allies to the Coalition of the Chillin' to Stasis.

This has been the Evening Edition for 4/29/09.

Good Luck,

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/25/09 - Special Edition, "WAR!"

This afternoon, by EST, the Cold War which has dominated the Darkfall world ended. The real war has begun.

Throughout the day, as siege challenges announced and armies clashed, the Agon Tribune has struggled to collect the facts on this conflict, and we present them for you here. This information will be updated as the day and night progress.

--Edit--
A server crash has ended the day's sieges, and the information below is updated to show that.

In total three settlements changed hands: Mahtisoturit's hamlet on Yssam (CotC) fell to the Hyperion Kingdom while Kvitstein city (Hyperion) fell to the Death Alliance. Bladethorpe and Spear Waters hamlets (Hyperion) both fell to the Coalition of the Chillin'. The server crash cancelled the remaining sieges.

The Combatants

Today's clash marks the single largest act of war in the history of Darkfall. So far, the sides are as follows:

• The Coalition of the Chillin'. Lead by Awful Company, the CotC initiated today's fighting with a declaration of war against no less than four Hyperion Kingdom settlements simultaneously. Their offensive was launched through landless members of the alliance issuing cash challenges against Hyperion cities, leaving Coalition settlements invulnerable to siege at the cost of a significant cash outlay and the vulnerability of individual shard-bearers.
• The Hyperion Kingdom. Led by the Duchy of Wessex, the Kingdom is under siege. Five clanstones are under attack across their frontier, with the remainder locked down in sieges declared by friendly clans, to lock down those clanstones and keep the cities safe. Today's fighting is the ultimate test of Hyperion's ability to defend itself. Joining Hyperion is a mercenary alliance including TheMercs and Rainbow Ninjas, among others.
• The Death Alliance. Led by the Lords of Death the Death Alliance is taking advantage of the Coalition offensive to take some territory of their own--when asked, LoD clanleader Obs stated that Death did not plan today's events in advance, they are just siezing the opportunity. Aiding Death are the SB Alliance of the Tribelands, including such clans as the Shipwrecked Pirates and Dreadnaughts, and the Cairn Alliance including Sun, Blood and others.
• Primal Alliance. Primal clan KarnAanug took advantage of the chaos as well to besiege Mortis Consortium at Issar Ruins.
  

Battlefronts

Eight sieges were declared today. They are as follows

-Coalition of the Chillin Attacks
All of Coalition of the Chillin's challengers are against Hyperion Kingdom settlements.

• Long March. Belligerents: Mahtisoturit v. Duchy of Wessex. Status: Successful Hyperion Defense. This was the second siege declared today, as well as the second siege resolved. Mahtisoturit's Yssam homestead was taken immediately by Hyperion forces, ending the threat to the Duchy itself, but it is believed this attack was a feint to draw Hyperion troops away from the real centers of combat.
• Alberworth. Belligerents: United Front v. Bewahrer der Welten. Status: Inconclusive. Bewahrer's island city lies close to the Hyperion frontier. Forces from the successful defense of Kill Cult's island moved to support the Coalition offensive. The siege of Alberworth was cancelled by server crash.
  
• Bladethorpe. Belligerents: Divine Legion v. Hyperion Royal Court Lands. Status: Successful Coalition Siege. Bladethorpe is the only hamlet under attack, and is the third Hyperion holding to fall tonight.
• Spear Waters. Belligerents: RUS Corp v. Crusade. Status: Successful Coalition Siege. Spear Waters fell early in the day and was missed by the Tribune until after the servers crashed.
  

Death Alliance Attack
The Death Alliance made one assault, against the northern Hyperion city of Kvitstein.

• Kvitstein. Belligerents: Kill Cult v. Haven. Status: Successful Death Siege. Kvitstein was the only challenged city fall today, and did so under strange circumstances. It seems internecine warfare within the Hyperion Kingdom had the Society of the Anvil, which has apparently lost its core leadership, attacked the city and sacked its keep. When Death declared its challenge the Society of the Anvil then launched a counterattack, supported by mercenaries, against the Kill Cult city of Seelie off the western coast of Agon to end the siege. Kill Cult's defenders included troops from across the Death Alliance, as well as forces from SB. SOTA forces employed cannons and, briefly, a warhulk, but retreated without taking the city. Kvitstein soon fell to a mixed Death/Cairn force.

Primal Alliance Attack

• Issar Ruins. Belligerents: KarnAanug v. Mortis Consortium. Status: Inconclusive. Launched via a cash challenge, the KaarnAanug offensive stationed its shardbearer in the NPC city of Whiteclaw and barricaded it with naked characters against attack. The siege of Issar Ruins was cancelled by Server Crash.

Defensive Sieges
The Hyperion Kingdom launched two defensive sieges to lock down its cities from further attack. The Realm of Kirdain 'attacked' the Hundred while FreneZy 'attacked' the Silver Sun Republic. We assume these sieges will not result in territory actually changing hands, as they are meant to lock down the cities of all four participants.

This concludes the Special Edition for 4/25/09. The Agon Tribune encourages any readers with screenshots of or information on the day's events to send them to the Tribune's email address. This is a day of days, every piece of intelligence is welcome.

Good Luck,

Edmund Grain

Editory in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/25/09 - Afternoon Edition

The last few days have seen increasingly bold moves by the alliances, and escalating violence in the Mirendil/Tribelands region.

The war between DUSK and the SB Alliance took a new turn as SB, spearheaded by Dreadnaughts, launched another siege of Hombres de Tierfon's hamlet, after the previous siege was cut short by a disconnected shardbearer. Significant skirmishing took place in western Mirendil in the vicinity of DUSK/Dawn clan Oromea's stronghold, to be ended by a sudden storming of the Hombres de Tierfon hamlet when its clanstone became open. The hamlet was added to SB territory.

Meanwhile, to the north of these battles a second confrontation occured. The home of long-time independent clan The Seventh Circle was besieged by Sovereignty of the Cairn Alliance. TSC staffed its defense with several mercenary clans, including The Mercs, and managed a tenacious defense. CA, reinforced by the surprise arrival of Hyperion Kingdom troops, triumphed in the siege challenge and took TSC's clanstone.

But these confrontations were but preludes to the action Agon is seeing even as I type. Tonight the Tribune will publish a special report on today's events, which will shape the future of Agon. Be prepared, and watch yourselves. The Cold War has finally gone Hot.

Good Luck,

Edmund Grain

Editory in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/23/09 - Morning Edition

Fighting in Mirendil spilled into Nagast just after midnight today, as Winterblades of SB Alliance declared a challenge against the hamlet of Velmuna, owned by DUSK clan Les Hombres de Tierfon, which came to an abrupt end as the Winterblades shardbearer disconnected just a few minutes after declaring the challenge, netting 20,000 gold for the Hombres.

The Tribune interviewed Ssly, one of the three Supreme Generals of Winterblades, who confirmed that the challenge against Velmuna was part of the ongoing war between SB and DUSK. According to Ssly, the Velmuna offensive was launched in the hopes of provoking a response from DUSK. As he said,

"Our daily raids have shown a smaller and smaller DUSK force trying to defend against us. We're hoping this siege will bring us more of a fight than what we've gotten in the last few days."

The Velmuna challenge is one of the first actual territorial challenges issued in the DUSK/SB war, as both sides have focused destroying enemy facilities rather than taking and holding land. More on the war in Mirendil as it develops.

This concludes the Morning Edition of the Agon Tribune.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editory in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/21/09 - Evening Edition

Tribune readers, the last few days have seen some startling developments in Darkfall. Across the game world new wars have sprung up, old ones have intensified, and overall Darkfall has become a more chaotic place.

We begin with Yssam. Long the site of fighting between the Yssam Coalition and the Stasis alliance, with Hyperion Kingdom intervention on the side ofYC throughout, last week saw a significant shift in the jungle subcontinent's power dynamic as the last Stasis settlement was taken by YC forces and occupied by the Knights of the Blue Sky. Tribune sources within Stasis claim that their side of the siege was disrupted by in-game glitches, as theYC shard-bearer for the challenge did not appear as a ping on their maps as per game rules. Warfare on Yssam has been plagued by such technical difficulties since release.

Stasis remained on Yssam, initiating a guerrilla war against the Yssam Coalition--but on Friday of last week, 4/18/09, the Yssam situation intensified. The Coalition of Character Killers, formerly of the Cairn Alliance and declared enemies of the Hyperion Kingdom, joined Stasis and aided their new alliance in a fresh offensive. Challenges were launched againstMehatil, city of YC clan Virakar, and Aputan , city of the Villagers of Eternity--the first by Coalition of Character Killers using their hamlet-island in the southern seas ascollateral , the second by Covenant of the Phoenix using a pure cash challenge. Warfare on Yssam was plagued by technical difficulties again: five minutes after theMehatil clanstone should have gone vulnerable the game servers shut down--the countdown to vulnerability had been stuck at 0:00:00 for those five minutes regardless. Hostilities continue on Yssam.

Meanwhile, the coast of Dvergheim has seen increased violence of late. Ongoing raiding between the hamlet Skogul, owned by former Dvergheim Compact and current Hyperion Kingdom member Agony and the island hamlet of Surstone, taken by Death Alliance forces from DC member Lys Noir, met a conclusive end this weekend with the capture of Skogul by Death forces, along with the hamlet of Mahirim alliance Cerberus to the west of Skogul. Tribune sources inside the Death Alliance confirm that Death forces were raiding Skogul regularly throughout last week after a joint operation by Agony and the Mercenaries du Nord against Surstone. No response from the Hyperion Kingdom on the fall of their border hamlet has been forthcoming.

Finally, the situation in Mirendil has intensified considerably. Last week saw a declaration of war between the SB Alliance and DUSK/Dawn, with warfare centered on the territories of Dawn memberOromea and SB member Dreadnaughts. Unlike the conflicts described above fighting in Mirendil has taken the form of raids rather than outright sieges, for the most part. Though Tribune sources indicate that SB forces were initially repulsed by DUSK/Dawn troops efficiently, the weekend saw SB raids cause significant damage to Dawn settlements. The Mercs are also taking part in the ongoing Mirendil war, attacking and damaging DUSK/Dawn cities. Sources within SB Alliance confirm that while The Mercs are focusing their attacks on DUSK/Dawn, they are not affiliated with SB and are acting independtly at present.

The Tribune spoke with Captain Arnie, clan leader of the Shipwrecked Pirates and member of SB, who confirms that no diplomatic process currently exists between the two alliances. Arnie states that SB does not intend a peace short of the destruction of the other side and, as he puts it, the "lamentation o' their wenches."

The Tribune has made several attempts to contact Dorundain Dunedhel, clan leader of Oromea, but has yet to meet with success. We welcome Dorundain and Oromea in general to make contact outside of the game to provide coverage for both sides of the conflict.

The Agon Tribune would like to take this space to thank our contributors, who make these updates possible. They know who they are, but in particular the paper would like to thank Calen Amlir of Virakar, whose contributions were invaluable for the Yssam piece above, and especially all those valuable contributors who request their anonymity. There would not be an Agon Tribune without you.

This concludes tonight's Evening Edition.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/16/09 - Evening Edition, "Tensions Escalate"

Across Agon this week the world has grown considerably hotter as portions of the Cold War which has reigned over the Darkfall world in recent weeks thaw out.

In eastern Agon the first new declaration of war between alliances hit the world stage as DUSK alliance, with auxilliary arm Dawn, went to war with the SB Alliance of the Tribelands and Northwest. Hostilities seem focused between the cities of Dawn guild Oromea (sic) and SB stalwart Dreadnaughts--more on this story as it develops.

Meanwhile, confusion reigned in western Agon last night as a planned territory shift between Coalition of the Chillin members turned into a serious diplomatic crisis. Territorial shifts are usually faux-sieges where shard-bearers perform all the stages of a normal Darkfall siege, but territory changes hands peacefully. Last night, an attended swap among CotC members went awry as shard-bearers suffered disruption, leaving CotC territories open for attack from other alliances. Hyperion forces made themselves felt, and the Tribune can confirm that at least Death Alliance troops were mustering to aid in the defense when the relevant CotC parties settled peace agreements and ended the siege window.

Finally, Yssam saw the end of an era. Starting at approximately 6:30 PM EST, 4/15/09, the Yssam Coalition initiated a new offensive. After fierce fighting and several hours of maneuvering and battle YC forces succeeded in taking the last hamlet of the Stasis alliance in central Yssam. With the fall of the last Stasis settlement only one clanstone remains on Yssam not controlled by either the YC or the Hyperion Kingdom: the hamlet of Mahtisoturit, clan of the Coalition of the Chillin. Tribune sources indicate that the Stasis alliance, though disheartened by this latest setback, remains committed to life on Yssam and will engage in a guerrilla war to remain there. Expect a special on Yssam in the near future, readers.

This concludes tonight's Evening Edition.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/13/09 - Evening Edition, "Consolidations and Reprisals"

A new week dawns in Agon and the Cold War between the great powers continues--though the last 48 hours have seen an uptick in skirmishing in northern and northwest Agon.

In the early morning of 4/13/09, EST, the Death Alliance's easternmost hamlet, an island off the coast of Agon, was raided by forces from clan Agony of the Dvergheim Compact and the Mercenaries du Nord. The raiders were approximately a dozen strong, but their hardware was significant: the party came on two rafts, and once ashore deployed what Tribune sources confirm was a warhulk. The warhulk was armed with flame cannons, and kept the few Death personnel on the island effectively pinned while the raiders took what they could from the hamlet's grove and other resources. The raiding party withdrew, but a Death reprisal followed shortly: forces from Niflheim attacked the mainland and sacked Agony's hamlet, destroying every facility they found, though Death forces did not move to conquer or occupy the site. The status of the warhulk used in the initial raid remains unknown. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Agony is now fully allied with the Hyperion Kingdom.

Today saw a similar military excursion as, in response to a raid by forces of the Primal alliance on member clan Apollo's hamlet, Death forces invaded Primal territory in the Tribelands. The hamlet of Primal clan The Exodus Syndicate was sacked by Death forces with minimal losses.

To the south, the past week marked a series of victories for the DUSK Alliance. Dusk forces captured the former hamlet of the Generals of War off the east coast of Rubaiyat, establishing complete DUSK control over the territories of the southeastern continent. As mentioned in previous editions DUSK forces also took the hamlet of Death in Excess in Mirendil, in a joint operation with the Death Alliance. Vinco Vici Victum, the last territory-holding member of the Savage Alliance, has reportedly joined DUSK's subsidiary alliance, Dawn. Dawn is made up of those clans associated with DUSK that do not follow the DUSK rule of accepting only Alfar members. The Tribune would like to thank Vindicore of the Shulgan Knights Council and Yomm of the Sturmgrenadiers for clarifications on all things DUSK.

Finally, there was some confusion today as various member clans of the Hyperion Kingdom declared war upon each other, traded settlements, and promptly made peace. The Agon Tribune can confirm through Monte Anvil, one of the three seconds-in-command of the Society of the Anvil, that what occured was a shifting of territories between Hyperion member clans. The Society of the Anvil now holds Realm of Kirdain's former city on the southwestern coast of Yssam, Kirdain now holds Haven's hamlet on the northeastern coast of Agon, and Haven now holds Society of the Anvil's old city. Reports that the Hyperion Kingdom was temporarily in a state of civil war are a bit of light-hearted forum trolling on the part of Hyperion members and should not be believed.

That's tonight's Evening Edition.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editory in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/12/09 - Evening Edition, "Updates and Corrections"

The weekend has been quiet for Agon. An ongoing 'cold war' between the great powers of Agon reached a particularly chilly temperature as operations between them slowed to a crawl. The only event of note to which the Tribune is privy took place in Mirendil where DUSK and Death Alliance staged a joint operation. DUSK forces besieged Death in Excess's hamlet while Death troops provided a defensive line in the countryside east of the target, reportedly in anticipation of a Hyperion counterattack. No such Hyperion action materialized, and DUSK claimed a new hamlet at little cost.

Corrections
The Tribune sends its thanks to reader Balinor for correcting some erroneous details in our 4/10 Evening Edition. The alliance headed by the Lords of Death which controls Niflheim and surrounding territories is officially known as the Death Alliance--Deceit, as we called this alliance on 4/10, is only a name given by LoD veterans to their new home, which is reminiscent of the chilly land of Deceit where LoD staked its claim in the old game Shadowbane.

Additionally, while we claimed the Lords of Death and Coalition of Character Killers (Darkfall chapter of the Lords of the Dead) share a common ancestry, it appears the two clans in fact arose independently--they simply share a long, entangled history dating back to Ultima Online.


This concludes tonight's Evening Edition.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain,

agon.tribune@gmail.com

4/12/09 - Editorial, "Cold War and Thaw"

In what the Agon Tribune hopes will be a recurring feature, tonight we bring you an editorial direct from your humble Editor in Chief, Edmund Grain. The current cold war between the great powers of Agon is a surprisingly hot topic these days, the subject of much grumbling and speculation, and today the Tribune would like to take some time to address community concerns and provide the unique view of Darkfall's only impartial news source. So, without further ado, the Agon Tribune is proud to present, "Cold War and Thaw."

In running the Tribune I tend to get a bird's eye view of the Darkfall world. Trends become apparent to me that a viewpoint limited to a single clan or alliance might miss, and I can tell you: technologically and politically, we are about to reach a turning point. Agon's status quo exists on borrowed time.

Technologically, Agon has already advanced far since release: the days of mobs in banded mail swarming through permanently open gates are over. Superior equipment and significant new technologies, especially the increasing use of artillery by alliance militaries, are making their presence felt even in the current geo-political quiet. The one technology which has yet to be significantly harnessed, and which I think will bring huge changes to the politics and warfare of Darkfall, is shipbuilding. With the advent of large, armed ships, alliances will gain the ability to deploy their forces in combat zones across the world with a speed and cohesion the current 'mount up and haul for the target' paradigm cannot match. As we will see, this evolution forms the lynchpin of the changes soon to come in Darkfall.

Under the current practice of large mounted armies charging together across the continent, a current major troop deployment can face up to 2/3rds losses in attrition from lag and disconnects alone before even reaching their target--and unless Aventurine changes the server structure of Agon I expect a hard cap on feasible troop deployments will remain. As alliance officers come to grips with the true logistical challenges of Agon--not simply maintaining supplies, but keeping a force in balance with server limits--we will see a dramatic shift in how Darkfall militaries operate.

Once the alliances gain an understanding of the thresholds of force density by region we will see a transformation from the current system of set-piece battles around specific strongpoints into a more fluid, strategic style of warfare, which will see compact, distinct deployments of manpower across large combat zones, supporting but no longer centering exclusively upon settlements and fortifications. A DUSK/Death Alliance joint operation in Mirendil against the SB Alliance on 4/11/09 exhibited some of these characteristics: DUSK forces besieged the actual objective while LoD troops fanned out eastward into the countryside to defend against a possible Hyperion counteroffensive (which, incidentally, never materialized). The two alliances recognized both the need to achieve strategic objectives beyond merely assaulting their prize, as well as the liability of focusing all their combined forces into a single region. Their failures, however, were in fluent command of logistics: the LoD force suffered terrible attrition from lag-based disconnects before ever reaching the combat area due to over concentrating their forces in the long ride from LoD territory. The two alliances executed their objectives, but did so inefficiently--and efficiency is the true sign of excellence in war, not just victory.

I remain confident that at least some alliance commanders will gain this fluency and transition fully into a strategic paradigm of warfare. This shift, combined with the ability of navies to move precise quantities of manpower at high speed across vast distances, will make the high seas extremely important for transportation, especially in a war between powers where valuable objectives can be both multifarious and geographically distant from one another. Controlling travel through the seas, restricting the enemy's ability to deploy forces through their navy while retaining that capability for themselves, will constitute an essential concern for all major militaries.

I believe the great powers have already begun this transition. There are whispers of every major faction focusing their resources on shipyards and naval facilities, and as I said above certain groups are already transitioning into a true strategic mindset. As these capabilities evolve the ability of the major powers to utilize their large populations effectively in war (as opposed to the current, inefficient zerg,) as well as the need to acquire more resources to fuel the industries which make strategic warfare possible, will necessitate expansion. Economic and population pressure will lead to increaed political tension, and eventually strike the spark that ends the status quo. I anticipate that the current cold war, a natural outgrowth of the political structures that arose in the opening weeks of Darkfall's life, will thaw before the end of April. And I expect the military doctrines I outlined above to take hold in those conflicts--at least in the successful parties of those conflicts.

The community is now experiencing a calm between two eras: the heroic age, when the first clanstones were claimed and the first great alliances forged, and the high age, when technology and social sophistication will reach a pinnacle elevated by the combined resources of vast stretches of unified territory, allowing for large-scale warfare and industry across Agon. So don't worry! Everything will get much more exciting in the weeks to come.

What we really have to worry about is what comes after the high age. Either a single alliance or coalition will rise to dominance, establishing a true hegemony over Agon (with the rest of the world's political groups surviving in its shadow), or the world will go in the other direction. As we saw in the early weeks of Darkfall, seemingly steady alliances can collapse under pressure--note the disintegration of the North Agon Alliance when their bid for control of Niflheim failed. That alliance was reduced to a rump of hamlets along the border between Hyperion territory and the Tribelands as the Dvergheim Compact. There is a significant possibility that the large power blocs of today will dissolve under the pressure of a Great War between the powers, resulting in a fractured political landscape--a dark age, where no single body can gather the resources or support the numbers to match the power of the old alliances and technology, or at least its widespread availability, regresses.

While I can make educated guesses as to how the cold war will go hot, and even when, I cannot yet see how it will end. Too many factors remain unknown--too much of the current political structure has yet to face its trial by fire. I am sure of one thing, though--those who complain that Agon is stagnating need not be worried for long. Every winter ends, and with spring comes the thunderstorm.

Edmund Grain,

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

Special Edition 4/11/09 - "A Message from A.R.M."

Tonight, it is my pleasure to bring you an Agon Tribune Special Edition.

Cherusker Pithbrew, who revolted against the Hyperion Kingdom in the city of Aradoth around 4/7/09, contacted the paper recently. He wished to have a manifesto published through the Tribune, and I have consented. As an impartial media outlet, the Tribune intends to publish all sides of the Darkfall saga--this includes providing a voice for those who otherwise would not have one, such as dissenters like Cherusker. It must be stressed that the Agon Tribune takes no sides in any conflict, and certainly does not take one here: we welcome sources from the Hyperion Kingdom to give their own account of the Aradoth revolt and their views on Cherusker. Now, without further ado, Cherusker Pithbrew the Agon Resistance Movement:

"People of Agon. I am Cherusker Pithbrew. Some of you have heard of me. Some of you have not.

For those who have not heard of me, I staged a coup against Hyperion, by temporarily liberating Aradoth from the Imperial clutches of The Hyperion Alliance.
I am just 1 man....and I did this. I put them on their ear for over 2.5 hours, single handedly.
You Need not suffer these people any longer. They are weak, they have proven it. They are braggards, and they resort of baseless ad hominium attacks for sake of slander, and discredidation. They are cowards. They rely on sheer number and intimidation. They will also not rest till they control the map.While superior numbers are a tactic, why join these people? Why Pay their Tax? Why subject yourself, and lower your standards of game play.

I care little for who controls what, but what I refuse to say or do, is swear my allegiance or loyalty, or practice commerce under the crown of an Imperialistic Aristocracy. I will not be strong armed. Your clan should not be strong armed. Do not believe any peace they offer you. Its only temporary, till they can amass more...it means nothing more than a Tasos "soon" (in terms of time tables).

I am not going to sit idlely by while this happens. The worst thing that good people can do in the face of tyranny is nothing.

All I offer is a chance. Just a chance. What you do with it, is entirely up to you. Do you support this with only words and empty promises? Well then, you are no better than those wind bags from Hyperion, and infact you are actually helping them.
...Or do you stand with me, and fight. You fight them in their towns, you fight them with 5 guys, or you fight them with 500. It does not matter.

To those who would side with them, or fight with them...for the sake of appeasement, you make yourself a target. Be Neutral with them if you like. IF you think that siding with them, will save your towns, or protect your harvestors, you are sorely mistaken.

So Hyperion, I am coming. I am coming not for your towns, but for your pride. (your towns are for the clans which you have usurped) I took a few of your leaders pride so easily before. I can and will, do it again, and all they can do is toss pedantic insults.

Death To King Manus, Free Yssam!
UP DA RA! (Revolutionary Army)"

This has been an Agon Tribune Special Edition.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

agon.tribune@gmail.com

Evening Edition 4/10/09 - "Rumblings in the Distance"

It was a day of slow, small moves in Agon today. After yesterday's tumultuous events in the Tribelands and Mirendil, conflicts remain relatively small-scale.

In the far north, Lys Noir's island hamlet was conquered forces of Deceit, the new name for the Death Alliance headed by the Lords of Death. Lys Noir had held the island for some weeks, and its loss must be a significant blow to the clan, a member of the much-beset Dvergheim Compact. The Compat lost one of its hamlets to Sovereignty of the Cairn Alliance yesterday in a failed challenge for Sovereignty's city in the Tribelands.

At the opposite side of the world another island hamlet was conquered. The Coalition of Character Killers, Darkfall chapter of the Lords of the Dead (a clan with a long-standing rivalry with the Lords of Death) captured an island hamlet from the Cairn Alliance clan Outcasts. CoCK was forcibly expelled from the Cairn Alliance in a midnight coup just a few days ago. A reliable source informs the Tribune that a small band of CoCK members is harassing Deceit settlements on Niflheim, using the Launch spell to catapult over city walls. The Lords of Death and Lords of the Dead have historically displayed an abiding grudge whenever they meet in online games.

On the eastern coast of Agon yet another hamlet changed hands as independent clan Kompaniet, with reportedly heavy support from the Hyperion Kingdom, took a coastal hamlet from Coalition of the Chillin clan Inferno. This marks the second battle in as many days where CotC and Hyperion forces have met in the field, as troops from both alliances were present at the siege of Sovereignty's city in the Tribelands yesterday. More on this story as it develops.

This concludes the 4/10 Evening Edition of the Agon Tribune.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

Evening Edition 4/9/09 - "Blood in the Marches!"

The contested territories of Mirendil and the Tribelands were stained with blood today as two wars broke out between opposing alliances. The Agon Tribune brings you the latest from the battlefront.

In the morning of April 9th, EST, the Dvergheim Compact launched an offensive against the Cairn Alliance's one continental holding, the city of CA clan Sovereignty in the Tribelands. The bitter siege soon turned into a media frenzy as Coalition of the Chillin spokespeople claimed Hyperion involvement in the siege, while other sources claimed Coalition of the Chillin support for Sovereignty--the Tribune has yet to verify these allegations one way or the other, and investigations are ongoing. CA forces broke the Dvergheim siege and counterattacked, razing and conquering La Rosa Escarlata's hamlet in the border hills of the Tribelands/Dvergheim. The Tribune's condolences go out to those rendered homeless by continuing bloodshed in the Tribelands.

Later that day another conflict flared up, this time between the Shipwrecked Pirates of SB Alliance and Vinco Vici Victum of Savage Alliance. A bloody battle ended at approximately 11 o'clock EST, with SB forces storming Vinco Vici Victum's city in eastern Mirendil and taking it for their own. The Agon Tribune was able to make contact with Captain Arnie, leader of the Shipwrecked Pirates, who had this to say:

Agon Tribune: Captain Arnie, any comments on your victory tonight?
Captain Arnie: Hard fought on all sides, the defenders put up a valiant battle.
AT: What sparked the conflict with VVV and Savage Alliance?
CA: Their unprovoked siegin o'our peaceful hamlet (north of Marithain, the Dreadnaughts' continental city).
AT: Any last words for the Darkfall community?
CA: Yaaaarrrrrr

The leadership of Vinco Vici Victum was unavailable for comment, but the Tribune will make all efforts to find their side of this story. Again, the Tribune's best wishes go out to those left homeless by this conflict. All participants in the above conflicts are welcomed and encouraged to make contact with the Tribune to voice their sides of the story--here at AT you can be assured an impartial venue.

That's all for the Agon Tribune Evening Edition. See you in Agon.

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com

Morning Edition - 4/9/09

The Agon Tribune greets its first morning here on the east coast and finds Agon quiet, for now. In previous weeks the world of Darkfall was gripped by the paroxysms of war--struggles for control on Yssam, Niflheim and Cairn, raiding on Rubaiyat, conquest and consolidation on the mainland--but with much of the world settling into defined power blocs the rapid shifting of territories has slowed. To take advantage of the relative calm, this edition of the Agon Tribune will bring readers up to speed on Agon's recent history and political disposition. The Darkfall Political Map for 4/08/09 can be found at the right of your screen.

• Niflheim: The frozen subcontinent is one of the quietest these days in terms of territorial shifts. The Death Alliance, formed around the Lords of Death and associated guilds, contested with the Savage Alliance and now-defunct North Agon Alliance for control of Niflheim throughout late March, but has held control of the subcontinent for several days now. The only disputant to complete Death control of Niflheim, called Deciet by the LoD in rememberance of their territories in the Shadowbane online game, remains the SB Alliance. SB is a recently consolidated guild formed originally around the holdings of the Undead Lords, now centered in the western islands of Niflheim, but which now includes the Shipwrecked Pirates and Dreadnaughts and their Tribelands holdings. As we will see with the other powers of Agon, the Death Alliance is slowly expanding outward from its core territories.and now has land borders with Hyperion Kingdom, the Dvergheim Alliance, as well as settlements in close proximity to DUSK and Coalition of the Chillin's KGB.
  

• Rubaiyat: Far to the south of the growing Death empire, the desert subcontinent is currently ruled by DUSK Alliance. DUSK was one of the first subcontinental empires to emerge, as the guilds who first staked their claim in Rubaiyat banded together for mutual defense. Despite a rocky start, plagued by raids from small, fast-moving groups which the widly scattered DUSK forces were ill-equipped to defend against, DUSK has expanded to take territories far beyond their desert home, with new member clans scattered across Nagast. Though a compact held between DUSK and the Coalition of the Chillin until very recently, that diplomatic process appears to have broken down--an interesting development, as DUSK's continental holdings abut those of the CotC.

• Cairn: The smallest subcontinent was also the first to unify. Divided between two warring factions in the opening weeks of the game, the Northern and Southern Cairn Alliances, this first, bitter subcontinental conflict was resolved swiftly. The Southern Cairn Alliance took full control of the region, forcing survivors of the NCA out onto the southeastern shores of Agon, where a vestige of the alliance survives in the eXile clan under the Coalition of the Chillin. Since unification Cairn, both the subcontinent and the alliance which now claims that name, have gone quiet. Cairn leaders proclaim a neutral position in conflicts on the continent, but this has not stopped the alliance from broadening its territories. Sovereignty of the Tribelands recently converted to Cairn, and the alliance holds the four island hamlets off Agon's southern coast. Revently, internal events have reached the rest of the world from Cairn: the Coalition of Character Killers, Darkfall branch of online community Lords of the Dead and early member of the Southern Cairn Alliance, was ousted from its city in the early hours of 4/8/09, EST. Cairn and CoCK leaders cited disagreements on the alliance's neutrality policy as the root of this falling out. The Cairn Alliance deployed significant forces and sieged the CoCK from its clan city, forcing the clan north much like the NCA of old. CoCK leader CountValor has declared the clan's intentions to take up a nomadic, PKing life within Hyperion territory. A special report on developments on Cairn may be forthcoming.

• Yssam: The jungle subcontinent to Agon's northeast remains a troubled land, despite weeks of ongoing warfare. Initially Yssam was divided between the Stasis alliance and the Yssam Coalition, but history has not been kind to Stasis. Through weeks of fighting the Yssam Coalition, aided by forces from the Hyperion Kingdom, has forced Stasis from one clanstone after another. Today only one Stasis settlement survives, a hamlet in the center of Yssam's jungles, while the YC dominates the north and Hyperion holds cities across the south. Mahtisoturit, a clan which holds a hamlet on Yssam's southern coast, has joined the Coalition of the Chillin. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Stasis intends to continue fighting on Yssam even if their last hamlet is taken, a move which would begin an insurgent phase in the ongoing Yssam conflict. Leaders from both sides who wish to get their message out are welcomed to contact the Tribune.

• Agon, the Continental Powers: As indicated above, much of Agon proper has been colonized by alliance powers from the subcontinents. Each of the politically unified regions (Niflheim, Cairn, Rubaiyat) has continental holdings, and this week has seen hesitant expansion by the colonial powers throughout Agon. Two powers, however, call the continent their home: the Hyperion Kingdom, Darkfall's elephant in the room which dominates in an arc from dwarven territory to human lands, and the Coalition of the Chillin which stands in the crook between Nagast and Mercia. Hyperion, is Darkfall's largest alliance in both numbers and territory, and used its pre-release media campaign to drum up vast recruiting numbers before Darkfall even went live. Political unity and sheer force of population have allowed the Hyperion Kingdom to expand further and command more influence than any other single body on Agon--but initial skirmishes with other alliances have shown Hyperion to be mighty, but not truly invincible. The esistence of the Coalition of the Chillin, Hyperion's most direct competitor, testifies to this. Headed by Awful Company, Darkfall branch of the Something Awful forum goons, CotC has engaged in low level warfare with Hyperion across their shared border and lived to tell the tale. The goons, infamous for their community's showing in EVE Online, have a potential population pool to give even Hyperion pause, but to date the two alliances have yet to initiate a full-scale confrontation. Like the colonial powers, Agon's two continental empires appear to be biding their time.

• Elsewhere: Beyond the subcontinents and CotC/Hyperion territory, much of the main continent remains fairly disunified. The Forest Republic, which held territory throughout Mirendil, disintegrated recently and no new alliances have fully filled that void yet. Meanwhile, the Tribelands have been colonized by a smattering of Alliances and form the heartland of SB but are not yet fully claimed by any force. The Dvergheim Compact, formerly the Latin Alliance, borders most of the eastern Tribelands with hamlets scattered throughout the mountains and hills between dwarf and mahirim territory. Mirendil and the Tribelands, situated between DUSK, Death and Hyperion, remain wild and dangerous country where forces from each of those alliances are active, and remain home to some of the last independent clans of Agon. Travelers in the region are advised to be cautious, as one can never be too sure of the disposition of groups encountered in these border marches.

This concludes the Morning Edition. Clarifications and corrections from the community are accepted at agon.tribune@gmail.com.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain, Ed. in Chief

Inaugural

Welcome to the very first post of the Agon Tribune, the latest name in news for the world of Darkfall Online and the players that make it great. I'm Edmund Grain, your humble editor, here to deliver the very first announcement of this new project in the Darkfall community.

Ladies and gentlemen, this blog owes its existence to the Agon Report: a valiant, ill-fated attempt to provide a journalistic venue for current events in Agon. It was a bold move, and in its brief run I certainly feel it achieved much for the community, but like all good things it came to an end. As an avid follower of the Report, as well as a lover of journalism and politics in general, I have decided to fill the void left by the Agon Report and provide a new news outlet for the Darkfall community.

The Tribune is that outlet: your one-stop shop for news from across the width and breadth of Agon. We're not talking game specs or crafting recipes here--I leave that to other publications, or future columnists here. The Tribune is your source for up-to-the-minute coverage on the politics of Agon, the ebb and flow of life across our game world. The Agon Tribune is dedicated to documenting the unfolding life of the Darkfall world and bringing it to you, the players, with the polish and precision of a dedicated journalistic team.

The Tribune is an absolutely impartial, unbiased news source: all correspondents must be clanless, and the Tribune hopes to negotiate safe-passage for our intrepid reporters across continents, to be there first-hand for the news wherever it occurs. We do not gank, we do not farm clans' rightful resources--we are here to collect information, report the news, and promote a free flow of ideas within the Darkfall community. The Tribune is still taking its very earliest steps, but we have high hopes that it will grow into an invaluable resource for the community.

What We Offer
As stated above, the Agon Tribune exists to report the news. Future reports will offer information on current events, interviews with participants in Darkfall's political world, special reports on the stories and people that make Agon live, and editorials by the Tribune's knowledgeable staff on world events. As the Tribune's presence within the community expands we hope to implement a rumors column and allow space for community figures to voice their views. Additionally, the Tribune hosts a downloadable copy of Venatar's latest political map to go with your daily reading.

What We Need
Basically, the Tribune needs you. Whether you're a clan leader looking for publicity, a writer or artist who wants a venue, or even just a traveller who sees or hears something interesting, the Agon Tribune welcomes your support.

• Staff! Every paper needs people to make it, and the Agon Report is no exception. We need talented writers, editors, reporters and artists to cover the wide world of Agon. Must be clanless and competent--a writing or art sample is required, depending on specialty, and a background check will be applied. Graphic artists for maps and other media are especially needed!

• Official Correspondence. The Agon Tribune wants to be a part of the fabric of the Darkfall world, and that means involvement with the clan structure. So, leaders: want an unbiased, inflammable venue for your pronouncements? Want a space for editorials or interviews? Want advertising space? Contact the Agon Tribune to set up terms today!

• Rumors. You don't have to be the Duke of Wessex to get your moment in the spotlight with the Agon Tribune. We're always looking for new hints, tips and rumours to expand the world of Agon. These don't have to be big things--war declarations, siege outcomes, and similar minutiae that creep across your screen each day are invaluable to the work here at the Tribune. And while we can't promise we'll publish every lead we get, if you provide us with meaningful information I swear, as Editor in Chief, that I will make sure you get due credit.

So that's it. The Agon Tribune is officially in operation. If you made it all the way down this wall of text I salute you, and hope you'll follow us here as we try to bring you the best news possible.

See you in Agon,

Edmund Grain

Editor in Chief

agon.tribune@gmail.com