[Balanor]

Throughout Thay, rumors begin to increase of some type of shadow war that may be starting. While Red Wizards fall every tenday (or less) to assassinations coordinated by their rivals, it seems more than usual have recently been killed. In Bezantur, brazen attacks against the Red Wizards have left several dead and none alive that have seen exactly what occurred. In another occurrence, a pack of wolves ripped apart one Red Wizard and his entourage right next to the main thoroughfare.

Most recently, at a meeting of a dozen prominent Researcher Red Wizards, the cream filling of the dessert pastries transformed in poisonous scorpions and killed them all.

Not all who have fallen in recent weeks have been of the Researcher faction, and no known Imperialists among the Red Wizards seem to be behind the uptick in attacks. However several Researcher Red Wizards -especially in the port city of Bezantur- have taken to travelling and working together as a precaution.

Only time will tell if the pattern continues.

[Balanor]

The assassinations grow fierce and more predictable as the tendays and months pass by. It has now become apparent that Researcher Red Wizards are being targeted more often than their Imperialist counterparts. Sabass of Thay, the de facto ‘leader’ of the Researchers is said to have only barely escaped an attempt on his life in Nethwatch Keep.

He has now returned to his tower in Eltabbar, reinforcing the already powerful wards around it and has called all other Researcher Red Wizards and their minions to gather there for ‘plans to be made and a stand to be taken’. It would seem that Civil War could be on the horizon if the Researcher Red Wizards decide to act as one - something almost unheard of among Red Wizards since the founding of Thay itself!