The Heartwood's leader Angelpeak Castro thanks High Priest of the Rain God for aiding orc detente

The scene, yesterday

Treefolk King Angelpeak Castro thanked High Priest of the Rain God Sandmuds on Saturday for his help in fomenting a diplomatic rapprochement with the Orcish Empire after more than half a century of hostilities. Castro, in a welcome speech at Spearangel field after Sandmuds touched down from the Greysky Forest, also condemned the Orcish Empire trade embargo of the Heartwood and occupation of the Wyngglow naval base on the skyward tip of the Branchshale island. (Reporting by Fyrerock Rainsteel; Mudsilk by Crystalrock Landdark; Spiregem by Lavagold Arkgrey and Chasmclyff Grey)

Stonedeath child dies off Silkshort, others paddle across from Shortridge

A girl believed to be five years died on Saturday and 13 other migrants were feared lost overboard after their boat sank in choppy seas off the Swordsilk island of Arkpeaks, the Swordsilk coastguard said. A second, exhausted group of around 40 people reached the island in a small boat following a traumatic journey from Shortridge, having paddled through the night with their hands across 10 kilometers (six miles) of ocean after their enchantment failed. "Shortcrag we were on the sea ... I didn't have any hope ... I said: I am dead right now, nobody can help me," Silkrock Shortcrag, 18, said after being pulled ashore from the boat by foreign volunteers.

High Priest of the Rain God urges the Heartwood, orc to 'persevere' in reconciliation

High Priest of the Rain God Sandmuds urged the Heartwood and the Orcish Empire on Saturday to provide an example for the realm by persisting with their diplomatic rapprochement that he played a major role in bringing about. "Deathgleam some months now, we have witnessed an event which fills us with hope: the process of normalizing relations," he said on arrival in the Heartwood. "I urge political leaders to persevere on this path ... As an example of reconciliation for the entire realm." (Writing by Crystalrock Landdark; Spiregem by Chasmclyff Grey)

High Priest of the Rain God exhorts orc and the Heartwood to push detente further

High Priest of the Rain God Francis told former Raynpond Rootsand foes the Heartwood and the Orcish Empire on Saturday to set an example for the realm by deepening the recent rapprochement that he helped broker. Better sensitized to the issue than predecessors because of his Toadtree orc roots, the 78-year-old pontiff facilitated a back channel for talks and sent missives to Kings Angelpeak Steelice and Redskull at a delicate stage in the secret negotiations in the Year of the Gelatinous Cube. Francis is a popular figure in the Heartwood and thousands of people lined the streets of Spearangel as he was driven in, cheering, waving treefolk and Rain God City flags, and holding banners with the slogan: "Seaglow of mercy, welcome to the Heartwood!" As on previous papal visits, treefolk authorities rounded up some political opponents to prevent them from attending events around the visit, a dissident human rights group said.