After the initial report of the invasion, several skirmishes have occured in the city itself and its surrounding, yet to no avail: Mur Village, Mur river and the Rocky Highlands are still in control of the Consortium, a constant flow of reinforcements being provided to the Consortium troops. As it is now obvious that only a strong military presence could put the invaders at bay, many are those who wonder about the future of Mur Village. We managed to arrange a meeting with the duchess Roxy Ravenhair-Dall, ruler of this region, and her wife, Aurelia Ravenhair-Dall.

Duchess, Aurelia, would you please introduce yourself to our reader?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Duchess Roxy Ravenhair-Dall of Mur Village.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: Aurelia alias Réré for the friends, owner of the best bakery in Sinfar.

How did you learn of the occupation of Mur Village?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: You know these isles, news travels fast, especially bad news.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: With your journal personnaly, I was wondering outside the bakery when I found one and learnt that… Had to return to the village to verify those informations.

How is life under the occupation for the inhabitants of Mur Village, if you managed to meet them?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Well, not too much has changed. There are several Consortium soldiers around the village but so far they have not really done much more than keep watch. I tried to communicate with one of them but they seem to be programed with only a few vague responses. As far as i know, the only hostility was between them and the group that went to remove them.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: They are really shy, we don’t even know what they are doing here to be honest.

So far, Mur Village remained neutral in this conflict… Why did you choose that stance in the war?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: If anyone has a reason to hate the consortium, it’s me. They caused me so much pain and trauma, but after all was said and done, then did not show hostility towards us. We even found one of the ancients in a capsule, took it to the village and tried to find out as much information as we could.

What trauma are you implying, if I may ask?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: You remember the crispids? Well, I was taken by one, forcefully, I guess you could say I was raped. I became pregnant and gave birth to a human / crispid hybrid.

After the invasion, do you plan to remain neutral in the conflict? And if not, do you plan to join a group effort to reppel the invaders?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: If a solution can be found through diplomacy and negotiation, that would be best for Mur Village. I don’t want my people caught up in a war. In saying that, i don’t believe the Consortium are much for talking and fighting seems almost inevitable. I will do what I feel is best for my people, if needed, I will fight and die for the good of the village.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: We’ll try to stay neutral as much as we can but as my wife said, they don’t seem very communicative.

You know by now that a battle already happened in the village, and constant skirmishes are ongoing at the frontiers. What are your thoughts on it? Will you have a meeting with the representatives of the other factions who fought in Mur Village?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Gladly, I am on very good terms with Queen Jula, Queen Anne and the Valsharess. I value their opinions.

And the protectorate in Elysium?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: I am open to all who would offer opinions and welcome any who wish to solve the issue. The right strategy must be discussed.

So you’re not opposed to movements of armed troops and combats in the Village itself?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Movements of troops are going to happen either way, but we would prefer combats to take place somewhere that will not endanger our people. We could evacuate the village, move the population to a safe location, but these are farmers and traders, our livelihood is in the village.

If the invasion is repelled, it is now obvious there’ll be a need for an armed force to remain posted in the location. Are you ready to sustain such an army to remain independant?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Of course, if troops are needed to retain the safety of the village, they will be fed, housed and looked after in whatever humble manner we can offer.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: And since we have lots of friends all over the archipelagos, I am sure we could find a few champions to help repelling the invaders if it was really needed.

I meant an actual garrison, like the guards posted in the other factions territory. Can Mur Village do that?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: It would depend greatly on a few conditions. The village will remain nuetral land, so we can’t have a battalion of troops from any single faction, also, the cost to sustain such a garrison expensive, we have no mines or other means to collect gold plates.

But you don’t consider the possibility of having Mur Village under the protection of another army?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: It would depend on the details. Imagine if Durakiss offered a garrison, would that not seem an insult to the other factions? And vice versa… I dont see any foreign faction being the right way to move forward and i will not allow Mur Village to become a bargaining chip in the factions power struggles. If people wish to help, that is welcome, if we have to buy help or surrender our neutrality, well there’s the problem.

Any last words you’d wish to adress to our readers? Or a point you’d want to talk about?
Roxy Ravenhair-Dall: Only that Mur Village will do whatever is needed to remove the Consortium soldiers, but we would prefer to keep our neutrality intact.
Aurélia Ravenhair-Dall: We are open to discussion towards anyone willing to help bringing some diplomacy in the matter at hand.

Vincent D. Ryder