Those oddball kender are always up to something it seems. Today, the kender nations announced the first annual Act Like a Dwarf Day. The general population of diminutive rascals spent the day getting uproarously drunk, yelling loud obscenities at everyone else, picking fights, and complaining about anything and everything to anyone who was unfortunate to be around. Also, the kender nations of Kenderhome and Hylo have announced that they are no longer having anything to do with each other, since one group lives in the plains and the other on the side of a mountain. Finally, to make certain that they are as dwarvish as possible, both nations have closed their borders to outsiders, promising "very harsh treatment" of anyone who tries to enter. We here at the Palanthas Times really hate to speak for everybody, but I think it is safe to say that the closing of the borders of both kender nations is the best news Ansalon has heard in a good, long time.
Well, we knew if we left them alone long enough, it would happen. The Gully Dwarves of the world have congregated in the southern-most area of the New Swamp and have created- get this, their own nation. Dubbed "Owr Kuntree" by its inhabitants, the Gully nation marks a low point in our history. The country has yet to be officially recognized by any of the major political groups in Ansalon, although Hylo has officially adopted its own name for thr country- "Stinkyville". When questioned about what possible impact this development might have on the Gully Dwarf community abroad, one diminutive stinkball had this to say, "Me bulp gud frag n rat do bulp fud." Your guess is as good as ours. Unfortunately, Onysablet was unavailable for comment. There have been rumors though of the sound of sobbing echoing from the deep reaches of the swamp. There is quite a lot of speculation going around as to how long this supposed nation will survive. Our guess? Two days.
The Wizards Council has released the next step in their plan to make magic a more mainstream item. Released today in a majority of large cities, was a book entitled "Practical Magic". Inside the tome are many useful ways that magic can save time and help out in everyday life. Easy low level spells are included to encourage readers to try them out in hopes of hooking some of the more general population. Spokesman for the Orders, Dalin Persworth gave us the inside scoop on the plan. "Right now everyone still sees magic as a bunch of tricks or evil summons called upon by creepy guys who lurk in shadows and lay waste to countries with massive fireballs. What we are attempting to do with 'Practical Magic' is show the people a different side of magic. How Mend can help repair damage to a cart or a house. How Tensers Floating Disk can be used to carry groceries or large and heavy loads with ease. How Light can be used in emergencies, when a torch or candle can't be found. How Speak With Animals can help you housebreak your dog or cat. The list goes on and on. We believe that once we get people to understand that magic has uses OUTSIDE of laying waste to nations and mind controlling emperors, we'll see a great increase of interest in magic on a whole, and hopefully a good influx of new disciples from more diverse backgrounds than before. It's an exciting time for us to say the least."
We also obtained a copy of "Practical Magic", and we must confess, it certainly does deliver. The Chief Editor here at Planthas Times has already become quite proficient at the spell Bind, and I still haven't been able to completely pry my pencil off my desk.