This year, I'm going to try and bring you as much information about Abantey as I possibly can. If you have any questions or comments about what we do at the Role-play Workshop, please feel free to e-mail them (gregdachner@roleplay-workshop.com or becky@roleplay-workshop.com). I will try to answer them in the next newsletter.

Additionally, I will be interviewing Becky about several topics related to what we do. If you have a topic you'd like to hear about, or a specific question, send that in as well.

The transition from the summer to the fall program is going great. The last few months have been filled with intrigue and wonder in the game (see the Taburian Teller below). It is shaping up to be a good year for the Role-play Workshop.

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Contact Information: Becky
Contact Phone Number (654-3582) is my HOME office number.
(Please do not call before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m.)
Emergency Pager Number:
(510) 446-9448

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Reminders
We have had a wonderful, long time (10 years) relationship with Dr Comics & Mr Games and Michael Pandolfo, one of the owners of the store. He has provided us with much support and encouragement, and allows us to use the space upstairs for free. The growth of the program, and the influx of many new kids and parents is beginning to have a negative impact on the store.
We have been asked by Michael, to give you a few, gentle, reminders. Please help us keep the use of the space, by following these few, simple, rules.

1) DO NOT CALL THE STORE.
Dr Comics does not have information or access to the students or other program information. Please contact me directly with questions or emergency issues. You can call Becky’s home office number (510.654.3582), leave a message and then press ‘4’, a staff member will be immediately paged and return your call as soon as possible. Or, you can page the staff if it is an emergency (510.446.9448). Be sure to enter your complete number, including all area codes and extensions.

2) WAIT DOWNSTAIRS
For the safety and security of your students and the store, Dr Comics REQUIRES that parents wait downstairs when picking up their students. If you need to see the staff of the Roleplay Workshop, please check with the Store Staff at the front counter, they will either ask someone to come down to see you, or they will send you upstairs. DO NOT just go up the stairs.

3) DO NOT LEAVE ENROLLMENT FORMS OR PAYMENTS WITH THE STORE
The Roleplay Workshop and Dr Comics are separate business entities. The store is not responsible for anything you leave with them, nor are they responsible for your students if you give them permission to wait without being supervised by Roleplay Workshop staff.

4) BE RESPECTFUL OF DR COMICS’ BUSINESS
Do not block customer access to the store (the door, the cash register or merchandise). Do not sit on displays. Do not leave your younger children unsupervised (store merchandise has been damaged). Do not yell upstairs. If the store staff asks you or your student to do something, please do it.

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Announcements
If you hadn't heard, the programs are doing so well, that we are running out of space at Dr Comics. As a result, we are researching moving to a new location, and all that entails. While we are still in the preliminary stages, we are looking for some assistance. If you or someone you know is a business lawyer, accountant, copyright/trademarking specialist, commercial real estate specialist, and would be interested in helping us, please email Becky. As for details about the move, you can expect more information in newsletters to come. Don't worry though, we aren't going to change over night, these are changes we plan to make over the course of the next two years!

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School Year and Holiday Enrollment Information
Now, let's get back to this year. Already, we've had more signups for the fall program than any previous year! There's still space though, so if you are interested in the Fall Program after school or Saturday's, I'd recommend signing up as soon as possible! Please be sure to call first (before arriving) to check availability.

Also, please send in the enrollment form! You can print a form out from the web using this link: http://www.roleplay-workshop.com/graphics/webform2004ASRP.pdf.

Becky is using the paper forms as a back up to the computer records, so please make sure you send one in.

Day of the Week
Monday
Spaces Occupied: 7
Spaces Available: 5

Tuesday
Spaces Occupied: 9
Spaces Available: 3

Wednesday
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 12

Thursday
Spaces Occupied: 4
Spaces Available: 8

Friday
Spaces Occupied: 15
Spaces Available: 3

Saturday (1st & 3rd)
Spaces Occupied: 13
Spaces Available: 5

Saturday (2nd & 4th)
Spaces Occupied: 6
Spaces Available: 0 - FULL

Upcoming School Holiday Dates
*After School sessions WILL be held, unless otherwise noted.
11/1 (Monday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/11 (Thursday)
Spaces Occupied: 2
Spaces Available: 4

11/12 (Friday)
Spaces Occupied: 1
Spaces Available: 5

11/18 (Thursday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/19 (Friday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/22 (Monday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/23 (Tuesday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/24 (Wednesday)
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

11/26 (Friday)
NO AFTER SCHOOL SESSIONS
Spaces Occupied: 0
Spaces Available: 6

Remember! If your student has a holiday that is not listed, we may be able to run a special session on that day. You will need to contact Becky at least 2 weeks in advance, and we'll need at least 4 players to be able to have the session.

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Well, that's about it for this newsletter. I hope to hear from you if you have any questions or comments.
See you next month!
- Gregory C. Dachner
Game Master at The Roleplay Workshop
gregdachner@roleplay-workshop.com

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Recent Events In Abantey
as written in
The Taburian Teller

This summer, with all the important events happening in the game, we a released “news blurbs” for each event. Below, we've provided the complete set of those articles, so you can get a sense of how things have changed in the game over this summer. Enjoy!

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The Taburian Teller
--3rd Plajetsday of Reverence [8/15]--

Peace Talks Between Sakeet and Rogues to Begin Tonight
Ra Suri Shukla Singa, the controversial Marked Sakeet Priesten and Negotiator, well known for taking part in the negotiations with the Zamen and Runts, is hosting a dinner tonight in Tabur. The goal: to start official peace discussions between the Marked Sakeet and the Rogue Guilds. The peace ambassadors the Guilds have chosen as their representatives are hopeful that while Marked Sakeet hard liners are opposed to these talks, they will ultimately usher in a new age of peace on Abantey. The dinner will be held tonight at 9 o'clock at Toni's, the restaurant renowned for Marked Sakeet style cuisine. While unconfirmed, there are reports that Ra Suri will also be meeting with representatives from the Slaar and Blue Sakeet clans.

- BREAKING NEWS - Assassination Attempt at Peace Dinner
There has been a brazen assassination attempt on Ra Suri Shukla Singa's life! At the height of the peace dinner tonight at Toni's Restaurant, as the main course was to be served, attackers in the disguise of waiters used a large crossbow to attack the controversial Marked Sakeet. Many reports of the incident claim that it was the valiant effort of a party of adventurers dining at Toni's that saved her (although she was fatally wounded). The Sakeet Temple has refused to comment yet on the incident or Ra Suri's condition. Other unconfirmed reports are claiming that the Guards Guild itself was aware that the assassination attempt was going to occur and stood aside; or that possibly the Guard's themselves were the assassins. Analysts claim this could be the final nail in the coffin of there ever being a peaceful existence between the Marked Sakeet and the Rogues.

--3rd Sakeetsday of Reverence [8/16]--

Ra Suri Shukla Singa, Dead From Fatal Wounds
Ra Suri Shukla Singa has passed on to the Os'Sakeet Godstar. By the Sakeet Code of Honor, any who have suffered fatal wounds must be killed and returned to Os'Sakeet. Ra Suri could have been revived if her Matriarch or Os'Sakeet had intervened, but neither did. The Temple's only comment was that, “[I]t was her time to return to the Hall of Warriors”.

Head of Tabur Guard-Mage's Resigns
In related news, the head of the Tabur Guard-Mages, Peter Clain has resigned in the aftermath of the assassination, citing an enormous failure to maintain public order. Unnamed sources within the Guards Guild state that Clain, as well as his top officers have been accused of massive corruption. The Guilds are currently conducting a full investigation into the assassination, as well as reevaluating the command structure of the Tabur Guard's Guild.

--3rd Wa'lasday of Reverence [8/17] - DAY OF CHAOS!--

Massive Amethyst Disturbance
Just after 3 o'clock Wa'lasday Morning, a large disturbance occurred in the Amethyst space surrounding Abantey. The magnitude of the disturbance was the largest on record since the Second Shadow Attack. All persons in Amethyst at the time of the disturbance have been reported missing. In an early morning press conference the Mages Guild made the following statement, "While the disruption affected all of Abantey, the storm centered on Tabur. Despite this, we do not suspect Tabur is in any danger. At this time we advise all Amethyst Magic-users to use extreme caution when conducting any teleports or blinks until further notice. After we can be assured of the safety of Amethyst, we will search to the best of our abilities to find those lost in the disturbance."

Explosion Destroys Infamous Night Club
Less than an hour after the Tabur Amethyst Disturbance (see above article), the infamous Club Yokuboo No Oni, was leveled in a massive early morning explosion. The club, located in the slums along the Northeast wall of Tabur, was known for being one of the most dangerous (but also hippest) cubs in the Tabur night-scene. It is claimed that any desire could be filled at Yokuboo No Oni, including the bizarre and strange. The cub owners, as well as many of the night-patrons, are believed to have died in the explosion. With the leadership vacuum from the resignation of the head from the Guards Guild, it is unsure when an investigation will be conducted in order to discover the cause of the explosion. The Mages Guild has stated on record it does not believe the explosion at the club is related to the disturbance in Amethyst less than an hour before.

Famous Dojo Destroyed in Arson Blaze, Proprietor Missing
Ray King, a well known and respected Sensei, disappeared sometime last night from his apartment located above his martial art's studio, King's Dojo. Neighbors claim that at about two in the morning there was a loud argument and fight in the alley next-door. Hours later, the Dojo was burned to the ground in a massive blaze that is suspected to be arson. King's body was not discovered in the rubble, and he has yet to be found. Ray King was a world renowned Martial Artist who would teach any able-body any fighting style, ranging from Baluudian to Sakeet.

--4th Plajetsday of Reverence [8/21]--

Tabur City Block Collapses, Unknown Numbers Dead
At 7:30 Plajetsday Morning, the whole block directly to the north of Mage Lake suddenly collapsed fifty feet into the ground. The cause of the collapse is unknown, but it appears the whole area underneath the block was damaged in the Second Shadow Attack. As a main business district of Tabur, mostly centering on the nearby Mages Guild, a large population of people were in the area on their way to work at the time of the disaster. Currently it is unknown how many are dead and wounded. Damages are expected to be in the hundreds of platinum. Families of the wounded and deceased are claiming the Guilds knew all along of the damages underneath the block but never sought to fix it. They are seeking complete compensation for damages.

Second Amethyst Disturbance Less Than a Week
Moments before the city block in Tabur collapsed there were reports from the Mages Guild of another massive Amethyst disturbance. Yet again, all Amethyst travelers at the time of the disturbance have disappeared. In response, the Mages Guild has temporarily put a hold on all teleports until the safety of its employee's can be assured. No one yet knows what caused this disturbance or the proceeding one.

--4th Sakeetsday of Reverence [8/22]--

Two Dangerous Adventurer Criminals Escape Jail
In a press conference early this morning the Guards Guild identified two adventurers who escaped from a jail in Tabur late last night. The two are identified as Ferret, a female Rogue Feeshan/Wa'la who is an expert assassin, and Morgan, a male Rogue Plajet/Sakeet and former Guard-Mage. They escaped with the assistance of some (as of yet unidentified) adventurers and one of the Guards who worked at the jail facility. Harley Granz, a Guards Guild liaison had this to say, "Both Morgan and Ferret are highly dangerous fugitives. If you see them, report their whereabouts to the nearest Guard facility as soon as possible. Do not approach them, or try to apprehend them yourselves. They are considered armed and dangerous."
With the recent resignation of the head of the Guard-Mages amongst accusations of corruption, the fact that Morgan is an ex-guard and that it was another guard who was instrumental in their escape, is calling the ethics and morals of the Guards Guild into the spotlight and into question.

--5th Baluudsday of Reverence [8/25]--

Third Amethyst Disturbance of the Month
At approximately 5:55 pm Tabur time the Amethyst plane was yet again struck with massive disturbance. The Mages Guild has stated they believe the losses were minimal, after last week's stoppage of all teleports. What is still unknown are the causes of these disturbances, why all three are approximately four days apart, and why they seem to be localized on the Tabur area. Amethyst research mages are planning a summit in the next couple weeks to meet and discuss the recent events, to see if they can discover the source.

Crew of Trade Ship Found Slaughtered in Kiki Harbor
The Constellation, a small trade ship that transports goods in the Trade Triangle sailed into Kiki Harbor early this morning. Instead of docking however, it merely remained adrift a few hundred feet off shore. After the Guards investigated the derelict ship they made a startling discovery: all but one of the ship's crew were killed. One of the crew members is still missing at this hour, and is wanted for questioning. The lead investigator called this the worst murder case he's ever seen in his whole career, but stated the rumors that the murder was caused by monsters or Gnihtons is completely ludicrous. The ship left Tabur on the morning of 8/17, and the Guards believe the murderers might have boarded the ship then.

--5th Feeshasday of Reverence [8/26]--

Strange Infection Strikes Farms in Tabur Area, Causes Meat Shortage
The Guilds are reporting this morning that an infection has struck outlying farms belonging to the McDonnell's and Foster families, east of Tabur. The farmers were found dead after a group of adventurers were sent to investigate after deliveries had not arrived from the farms in some days. The infection also struck the animals of these farms, causing a huge shortage of beef, chicken, and egg products in the Tabur area. The Guilds are still unsure of the nature of the infection, but believe that it has been contained and other neighboring farms are not at risk.

--5th Plajetsday of Reverence [8/27]--

Constellation Murderers Found, Kill Eight Guards in Standoff
After finding the surviving crew member from last Baluudsday's mass murder aboard the trade ship Constellation, guards discovered the identity of three people they now suspect to be responsible for the Constellation murders. Tracking them with magic they found them in the apartment complex of some local adventurers. When they sought to arrest the suspects for questioning a bloody fight in sued, in which the guards state the other adventurers obstructed justice and assisted the suspects in killing eight high-level guards.

The three Constellation murderers have been identified as Sonya, a female Rogue Feeshan City Scout, her life-partner, a male Rogue Feeshan Assassin named Rajka, and their friend Tech, a male Rogue Baluud Breaking and Entering Thief who often disguises himself as an entertainer.

The Guards Guild has also identified the accomplices who helped them escape custody three other adventurers. They are Phoenix, a female Rogue Plajet/Wa'la, who was a former Guard-Mage (who has now been relieved of her post); Raush, a male Rogue Plajet/Baluud Assassin; and Moss, a male Rogue Plajet Closed Hand.

They are all wanted for questioning and murder charges by the Guards Guild and are considered highly armed and dangerous. Sonya and Rajka are also wanted with suspected connections with last week's explosion at the club Yokuboo No Oni.

--5th Wa’lasday of Reverence [8/29]

Pasha Jurat Headquarters Attacked
Early this morning, a group of adventurers is reported to have broken into the Pasha Jurat headquarters and stolen important materials. While the Pasha Jurat was able to apprehend a majority of the criminals. one individual escaped.

Nexus, a female Ta’as/Wa’la is wanted for questioning. She is considererd armed and dangerous.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Pasha Jurat, they are a group of individuals who hold themselves above the laws of Guild and Creator, instead calling themselves the ‘protectors of the innocent’. The group maintains that their actions serve to protect individuals from the uneven application of judgement by the Guilds and Creators.

Wanted Posters Removed
In, perhaps, related news, the wanted posters for Morgan and Ferret have been removed from the city. When asked if they had been captured, the Guard’s Guild replied, ‘No, they haven’t been caught - they have been cleared of all charges.

--5th Ta’asday of Reverence [8/30]

Pasha Jurat and Guard-Mages murdered!
Reports are coming in of the brutal murder of Pasha Jurat and Guard-Mage personnel who were tracking down the wanted criminal - Nexus. Apparently, Nexus had convinded a misguided group of adventurers to assist her in evading the Guard’s Guild. The Pasha Jurat and Guard-Mages tracked Nexus and her assistants to a boat in the Tabur Bay. Nexus, with the assistance of a man named Bolt, killed the Pasha Jurat and one Guard-Mage in combat, and then killed the other Guard-Mage in cold blood.

The Guards Guild has increased the wanted level for Nexus and added Bolt, a Wa’la/Baluud man to their list. If you see either of them, report to the nearest Guard Post, do not attempt to capture them yourself!

--1st Baluudsday of Observance [9/1]--

Another Amethyst Disturbance Strikes
For the forth time in less than a month a disturbance has rippled through Amethyst, located over Tabur. No official answers have come from either the Creators or the Guilds to exactly what is causing this. A prominent Marked Sakeet Battlemaster named Ra Nizara Jaya Shaad, who is currently in Tabur, had this to say, "This is obviously Os'Sakeet's punishment to the Rogues for the despicable murder of the glorious Ra Suri Shukla Singa. May Amethyst open wide and swallow their civilization whole for such injustice! If only Os'Sakeet would give us word to wipe you out ourselves’" The Marked Sakeet temple could not be reached to comment.

The aftermath of all these disturbances is having major complications on the Guild economy and infrastructure. While usually the Guilds are used to using Teleporters to transfer goods and messages over large distances nearly instantaneously, with the lockout of all Amethyst, they have to resort to slower methods of travel. The Messengers guild has been ill equipped to deal with such an influx of business and is causing slowdowns in all courier delivery services.

Letter from the Editor of the Taburian Teller
Regrettably, because of the inability to teleport the Taburian Teller across the globe, your edition could be arriving in your location many days or even months late. Before we have striven to have near instant news delivery service, but that is not longer an option. We apologize greatly for the inconvenience, and are trying our best to speed up our deliveries.

This won't stop your local branches of the Teller from successfully reporting news in your area though.

Thank you for remaining an avid reader of our publication.

--1st Feeshasday of Observance [9/2]--

Draajen Attacks Tabur Business District
At approximately 10 am, just as Market Street had settled in for another business day, a burst of flame erupted on the roof of a cafe´ named Johnny's Coffee. In the ensuing chaos, as more explosions shook the district right outside of the Marked Plajet section of town, the yells of "Draajen Attack" began to filter throughout the city. As a result, a two-block radius around the explosions was locked down for most of the day, as the Guards Guild and the Wa'la Temple worked in collaboration to secure the area.

While the Draajen was not taken down, the attacks seemed to have been localized to that small area and time of day and injuries were minimal. No other attacks have been reported. This is the first reported incident of a Draajen attacking Tabur in Rogue recorded history.

--2nd Sakeetsday of Observance [9/10]--

Amethyst Disturbance Localized on Bordertown
In the sixth such event to take place, another Amethyst Disturbance has struck Abantey. In a surprise announcement made by the Mages Guild though, it seems this disturbance was localized near or in Bordertown. Some experts are claiming this is fantastic news because if enough disturbances happened over Tabur itself, the ramifications would be unknown. This does not however change the fact that yet again Amethyst around Abantey has been greatly disturbed.

Without proper means for quick travel, the planned summit for Amethyst experts to discuss these occurrences in depth has reached a standstill. In trying to reach the Mages Guild for comment, they only have this to say, "We are currently trying understand the nature of these disturbances. Just because this one happened in Bordertown does not change that fact that this is a highly urgent issue on the Guild's Agenda. We still ask all magic users to not enter Amethyst."

--3rd Feeshasday of Observance [9/14]--

Storm Ali Settles Over Tabur, Causing Floods and Evacuations
Yet again disaster has struck the capital of the Rogue lands, Tabur. Appearing almost out of no where a massive storm nicknamed Ali has settled over Tabur unleashing huge amounts of rain, wind, and lighting. Flooding has been reported in some districts of the city and navigating has become a major problem for the worlds largest trade city.

With all the problems striking Tabur recently many are feeling this is the last straw. People are leaving in mass numbers for Kiki, Desolation, and neighboring villages. One person we talked to before she boarded a boat had this to say, "It may be hot and dry enough in Desolation to kill a Wa'la, but at least my cousin's house doesn't have a flooded basement."

Ali hasn't shown any sign yet of letting up yet. A storm this big hasn't struck Tabur since Hurricane Das Kind after the first Zamen Fight.

"Get out of town now, I say, this town is cursed! Due for ruin for sure." proclaimed one man as he rode his wagon out of the north gate of town. The Mages Guild assures us there is no such thing as curses and that this storm is a natural occurrence. They have their best available Mages on duty right now to try and move the storm past Tabur.

(As Posted in The Kiki Chronicle)
--3rd Wa'lasday of Observance [9/17]--

!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!
TABUR EVACUATED - Declared Under Martial Law
We've received late news tonight that a massive evacuation effort is currently underway in the Tabur area. The news came first from the Temples saying all their citizens were being transported out of Tabur until further notice. This was soon followed up by messages from all the Guilds claiming that they were pulling out of all of their organizations from Tabur as well.

It was not very clear at first what exactly is going on Tabur, but we have managed to get a hold of a press agent for the Guilds who had this to say, "Due to massive security issues in the Tabur area, the whole city has been put under lock down by a joint coalition between the Guilds, the Creators, and the ARA. The Creators have offered to transport any person wishing to leave Tabur, no questions asked, as well as transporting away of all their Marked people. At the same time we, the Guilds, are getting all the people we can on to as many boats out of Tabur, as well as evacuating them by foot to nearby villages.

Because of the Nature of this security issue, no people are allowed to approach within twenty miles of Tabur until further notice. There is currently a shoot-on-sight policy amongst the Guilds, Creators, and the ARA to enforce this barrier. The best warriors and mages of all of our organizations are working together to protect the safety of Abantey in the Tabur area. As well, because of this security issue, all Mages Guilds in every Rogue city on Abantey has been evacuated and has been sealed up by the Creators using very powerful magic. That is all I can tell you at this time."

While we do not know exactly what has happened to Tabur, a few things have become clear to us. First off, Marked People are reporting having trouble contacting their Creators, much more so than usual. As well, the Librarians Guild is currently having trouble with information not related to their own town. This is causing major communication problems between cities, as we rely on the Librarians Guild for such a service. There might be questions that other towns have been forced to evacuate as well, but because of the communications lockout, we don't know for sure. We will have more information as we get it.

We can expect it to take about three to four days for the first refugees from Tabur to arrive, and hopefully by that time we will be able to get some more questions answered. As for the state of other towns, runners have been sent to check their statuses, but this could take months for the information to return.

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As you can see, things have been pretty chaotic and crazy. As such, historians (in the game of course) are already beginning to call this the Dark Age of Abantey. It is in these ‘dark ages’ that the school year missions will take place. Who knows what will happen in the next few months?