I hope you are all enjoying this winter weather across the realm! I awoke yesterday to find the lands blanketed in snow, very unseasonable for Gyldenfeld. Soon, the rooftops and walks all around Gyldenfeld were also covered with snow as well. Despite the chill outside, I hope everyone is having warm, holiday cheer in their hearts and homes. The big holiday of the wintertime is almost upon us and soon it will be yet another new year in Sosaria.

With the new year fast approaching, have you taken a moment to consider what challenges and triumphs await you in the next 12 months? What is it that you wish to accomplish, and what will it take to achieve it? I would love to hear and share some of your goals for the new year in the next Gyldenfeld Chronicle. I will also be sharing some of my insights and hopes as well. By sharing these ideas, perhaps we can see some personal desires and aspirations we have in common and work together to make it happen in the new year.

Moving on to matters of the town, Santa Claus recently paid a visit to the Red Wolf Cafe. For those of you who were there, it was certainly a pleasant time for all. If you missed it, I recently last wrote an account of his visit in the various, usual places. He has indicated to me that he felt welcome and well-received in our neck of the woods and would endeavor to return again next year should his busy schedule allow, especially given the tenuous relations with his elf workforce.

For those of you wondering when the flower shop may be in stock for fine holiday decorating, I've received word that Flora Woodville has been a bit under the weather of late. Rest assured, however, that she will be fine and back to her happy trade of growing some of the more beautiful expressions of the good Earth. Let me take this opportunity to also say that when someone is a bit ill and they are a grower of such fine flowers, finding a substitute to send instead is an impossible task. Nonetheless, I'm sure she would be happy to hear kind words of encouragement for a speedy and welcome recovery.

In terms of administration, I would like to find a time that is mutually convenient, or at least as convenient for the most people, that we may gather on at least a bi-weekly if not weekly basis to discuss and pursue matters of the town. Most of what has transpired in terms of decision-making and such has been through informal neighborly-type chats as we go about our daily pursuits. I think an organized meeting would better lend itself to helping us plan various things together and provide clearer insight to upcoming events both within our town and our friends around the realm. Please take a moment to ponder what works best for your schedule and contribute your thoughts in the town's administration discussion area.

And speaking of upcoming events, I know there are many avid fishers among our residents. I think it's high time we had some good times on the high seas! I'll be organizing a cruise out of the bay at the southwest end of town early next week. Bring your fishing pole, lots of ale and a comfy seat and be prepared for an evening among the deep blue. There will be a formal annoucement shortly specifying the precise day and time, but also to let the fishers among our friends know as well if theyre interested in coming aboard for the trip.

In other town matters, Alton Cooke has recently completed his survey of the town and is compiling his results. By assaying the town and it's immediate environs, it can provide for better guidance towards future civic development and planning. I expect the final results will be handed to me shortly as he is also interested in getting paid for his efforts! It will be a comprehensive map and survey of our fair town so be sure to look toward it's publish soon.

Sinoval has recently reappeared after a long journey to the far off lands of Azeroth. I indicated to him that while the Red Wolf Cafe still serves beer, it still is not free, despite whatever rumors he may have heard that initially drew him to return. He can sometimes be seen wandering the town in the later hours, seemingly speaking to things not seen by others. Despite his worrisome demeanor, please do not hesitate to provide him a hearty welcome-home hello!

Lastly, I want to reiterate my intent to publish a new installment of this chronicle at least every week or two in the future. Rather than a continual "state of the town"-type message, I'm wondering if perhaps a set of features and articles written by citizens of our fair town would provide more varied and compelling insights into our town. If you have an article or topic idea you would like to contribute, please let me know so we can get together and discuss. Along those lines, I will be starting instigating a series of town resident biopics, featuring a different resident every few weeks for inclusion on our skypage.

In closing, there are many exciting things just around the corner for both Gyldenfeld and the realm in general. I've heard there are bound to be many adventurous evenings ahead fighting the encroaching slime plague, defeating the evil champions as they appear in the lands of Ilshenar as well opportunities for holiday fun and merriment. If you are interested in grouping together for any of these endeavors, please leave a note on the Gyldenfeld messageboard!

Til next time,

Tancred RedStar Mayor of Gyldenfeld

As the magical time of his visit neared, a line of good little boys and girls began to form in anxious anticipation of his arrival. With his sleigh resting on the roof of the Red Wolf Cafe and his reindeer taking a short break, Santa appeared with great fanfare and a big "Ho Ho Ho!" for all present. After a short greeting, he sat his enormity down and began visiting with boys and girls from across the realm who'd come to make sure he knew what they wanted in case their letters to the North Pole had been misdirected in the mail.

Each person had their turn on Santa's lap to tell him if they'd been good or bad all year and what they'd hoped to find in their stocking come Christmas morning. While some offered to ply Santa with cookies, others came up with clever indulgences of their own.

The sultry Phoenix certainly sat on his lap but in a way quite unlike all the other "good" boys and girls. Santa, indeed, found her a bad girl, rewarding her with a piece of coal, but also seemed to infer it was good as well!

The intinerant orc Gak'uct dispensed with the cookies and milk and instead offered something dear to his own heart, namely a pair severed human ears, a high and worthy gift in orcish circles. Santa laughed heartily and in turn had a special surprise for Gak of his own, namely a pair of severed elf ears.

Santa's chief elf and sidekick, Elfabeta, sneered in silence at the exchange and bellowed about working conditions for she and her kind at the North Pole before Santa abruptly reminded her the North Pole was a long way from Sosaria and that his sleigh was the only ride out.

As Santa took time to see each visitor, cookies or coal were given out depending on if he thought they'd been good or bad this year. This was then followed by a pre-Christmas treat, namely a choice of tightly wrapped gifts arranged around the roof. Included in some of the goodies were runic hammers, power scrolls, some rare items as well as some practical gifts such as stacks of enhanced bandages.

All in all, Santa visited with over 30 people by the time he worked his way through the line. After making his list and checking it twice, finding out who was naughty and nice, Santa bellowed one last "Ho Ho Ho!" before wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and taking to his sleigh to head back to the North Pole.

Unfortunately, there were some latecomers who arrived an hour and a half late and missed Santa, but he did assure everyone that he will return next year!

As mayor and on behalf of everyone in Gyldenfeld, a warm Happy Holidays to all and of course a special thanks to Santa and his helpers for paying us a visit!

To all the new players who came out to see Santa, I hope you found something nice in your gift bag and encourage you to stop by Gyldenfeld again soon! If the weather permits, we may have a group fishing trip next week, so please check the Gyldenfeld message board on UOForums.com or Gyldenfeld.com soon. Also, keep an eye out for the next issue of the Gyldenfeld Chronicles which contains Gyldenfeld town news and stories.

This will be my first report on the developments and news in and around Gyldenfeld since assuming the office from Lissa Eldi a few weeks ago.

The first order of business was to notify our friends and allies of the change in office, and so Lissa and I visited with them in their respective locales to make them aware as well give them a glimpse at some of the exciting upcoming developments for Gyldenfeld.

Next, a long-term civic development plan was drawn up, although of course still in draft form. Basically, the goals all lead to increasing the population, events and general well-being of the town. Already, we have been fortunate to welcome two new residents, Flora Woodville and Alton Cooke, and both have moved into town.

Flora Woodville has opened shop with The Teeny Tiny Greehouse which sells meticulously grown plants suitable for any home, be it hovel or palace, as well as related commodities such as orange petals, green thorns and the like. Additionally, she also features some of the more recently discovered plant species available to horticulture such as trees, water lilies, hops and other plant life. The Teeny Tiny Greenhouse is located just across the road from the Red Wolf Cafe. Flora is very friendly, although perhaps a bit shy at times. Her shop is bursting with color and is tastefully arranged to both exhibit her wares but also her fine sense of decor.

Alton Cooke, a relative newcomer to the realm, is an aspiring cook and seeks to make his fortune by way of our dinner plates and gastric satisfaction. His wares are in fair demand as all Sosarians should dine and dine well. Sensing his love of cooking and determination to succeed, I have gone ahead and sold him my plot near the front of town on a payment plan, the conditions being that he make timely payments commeasurate with his success and that he sells only fine foods within our town. To this end, he has assured me that he will not provision his pantry with the meat of rats, sea serpents, snakes, harpies or other less than desirable game that is all too often plated as edible in other parts of the realm. He embraces localization and only harvests his own wheat from the fields to the east of town and fishes in the lake immediately south of town near the border with Old Nidaros. He has also indicated to me that this is the time of year to enjoy pumpkin pie since pumpkins are currently in season aplenty. With Thanksgiving just around the corner and his habit of singularly monopolizing the conversation when it comes to food, I can only concur. Stop by the new Gyldenfeld Bakery and Market located along the main road next to the Red Wolf Cafe and please buy a pumpkin pie.

With regards to Thanksgiving, I have arranged with Alton(who is earnest and always available for hire for even the seemingly most mundane jobs) to prepare a token of Thanksgiving greetings and goodwill for our friends in the form of a sumptuous repast, complete with roasted birds, vegetables picked in their prime, fresh breads and some of that pumpkin pie he has been going on about. I also retained his services once again to serve as a courier and deliver the meals to our friends. If you have need to provide a feast in your home or to your friends, do not hesitate to contact him, or for any task really, as he is eager to earn some gold.

In terms of continuing civic development, I have decided as mayor that Gyldenfeld and it's surrounding environs should be assayed and measured with an eye towards formally delineating the town's borders. This will be done for both formally incorporated areas(mostly the area around the Red Wolf Cafe and the main road) as well as areas the town shall lay claim to depending on future growth. Once again, I have retained Alton for a small fee, this time to survey the Gyldenfeld area, draft a map and provide a report, hopefully within a week or so.

With regards to these payments I'm making to Alton in the course of town affairs, they are modest sums at this point, but taxation, donations or some other form of civic revenue generation should be discussed next time we're around together and feeling so inclined, or at least feeling the fourth round of ale. Upon assuming office again, I inquired with Lissa about the town's treasury and she indicated it was as empty as the orcish alphabet. I asked how it could be so mismanaged that the town is essentially bankrupt and she said it was the doing of her predecessor. So, at this point, invoking my mayoral discretion, let's just call it all even, not dwell on the past and instead just focus on the future.

Well that about wraps up my report on the town since assuming the office of mayor once again. If you would like to make cause on some topic, please contact me, I'm usually around evenings. If it's really important, please bring large sums of gold. Ok, perhaps I'm just joking on that last part... bring gold whether it's important or not.

Lastly, I'll try to make another report when some calamity or notable event befalls our fair town. The "skypage", as some like to call it, is in the works and is, strangely enough, the one thing Alton hasn't jumped up to undertake for a modest sum. Oh, and Alton has requested I plug his pumpkin pies or he'll cover my lawn with dead fish, so please eat the things til your stomach assumes the shape of a pumpkin itself. Strangely enough, Sweet Dreams is in need of some fish, so please leave as many whole fish as you can find on her lawn, she will appreciate it!

Til next time,

Tancred RedStar
Mayor of Gyldenfeld

Check back soon for updated info and future events!