If you like you can look at the (sketchy, incomplete) GM notes as well.

The News

Turn 4

In the Papers

Daddy's Girl a Star Shaman?

Illegal Organisations Squad Offers Reward For Information

[OOC: That's a Notable amount of money.]

Daddy's Girl Speaks Out Against Cultists, Pledges Watchdog Pay Rises

She went on to speak of the importance of protecting the people of Horizon in general and the vital role the Watchdogs played in this. She pledged that should she be elected as the next Mayor of Horizon she would ensure pay rises for those Watchdogs who distinguish themselves. She explained the need to encourage Watchdogs to work hard to ensure Horizon was kept safe, and to offer monetary reward to discourage members of the Watchdogs from turning to corruption as a means of making ends meet.

In addition, she made clear the importance of Horizon remaining self-reliant and not looking for aid from foreign lands. She suggested this be achieved by encouraging the growth of industry in Horizon and increasing its productivity. She added her concerns at the recent situation in the Steam district and pledged to aid its recovery.

YOUTHS LEAD PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSED TRADE DISTRICT POLL TAX

The UNJUST TAX, proposed as a means of paying for the high level of Watchdog intervention required in disputes in the district, would CRIPPLE local businesses and bring families to the BRINK OF STARVATION.

THE POST SAYS: WELL DONE lads! Where's PERVY MAHMOUD when the REAL ISSUES are at stake?

[OOC: If the district tax goes ahead this would cost Trade residents a Minor amount of money each turn.]

Hound to Investigate Shamanism Claims: Will Step Down If They Are Baseless

If the claims prove baseless, the Hound has said that she will withdraw her bid for Mayor and lend her full support to Daddy’s Girl, in the hope of leading the Watchdogs into a golden age of security in Horizon behind Miss Waite.

GHOULS FEAST UPON CULTIST VETERANS

DISGRACE TO THE CITY - FILTH AVAILABLE AT REASONABLE PRICES

(By Richard Renton.)

No paper takes a stronger moral stance than THE HORIZON POST! And today, we warn you the reader about the dangers of Virros' Place, an veritable DEN OF INIQUITY in the Docks. It's a disgrace that such a wide variety of recreational substances and 'nocturnal leisure' services should be available under one roof. And the very reasonable prices charged make this kind of degrading filth available to THE AVERAGE CITIZEN! Throughout the Docks, individuals can be found discussing this PALACE OF SIN! "Highest quality Vegdar-Dust in the Docks," said "M", "and I should know." "The girls are skilled. Highly skilled. But, for me, the boys win out." said "K". And with that kind of condemnation of Virros and his staff, who can doubt that action needs to be taken? The Post DEMANDS...

[OOC: The article rants on in a similar style for some time, making sure to point out that Virros's Happy Hour is every Thursday from 8pm.]

Central Steam Company Offices Burn Down

HORIZON TIMES BACK IN PRINT

DEL ORTO ORPHANAGE OPENS HOME FOR DISTURBED CHILDREN

For years now, the Orphanage has had trouble handling certain NEEDY CASES: TRAUMATISED LITTLE DEARS who have suffered through HARSH CIRCUMSTANCES that have left them ANGRY AND SCARED. Previously, the Orphanage has found that such children can tend to LASH OUT at their carers, BULLY OTHER CHILDREN, and get involved in CRIME. The new Rosie del Orto Home for Disturbed and Dangerous Children provides a secure environment - secure for BOTH the children and their neighbours - where the TROUBLED KIDS can be cared for and hopefully ABANDON their violent ways.

THE ILLUMINATOR SAYS: WELL DONE to all our Mayoral hopefuls and Sweet Mahmoud for all their help with the project - even ANARCHOLES THE LOSER helped out with a sponsered performance of his kids' classic puppet show "Why I Am Your Lord and Master Stop Laughing At Me You Horrid Little Brats Wait Don't Set Fire To the Puppets Ow Ow Ow My Hand" - and GOOD LUCK to all the new little RESIDENTS.

Sons of Richter Disband; Cell Leader Captured, Leading Members Named

Daring Attack In Butcher Street Triggers Riot

It began at dawn, when a large unmarked sky-taxi was sighted flying over the city. Flying low over Butcher Street, it ejected a stream of fire upon the roofs of a row of houses used by a well-known gang of orphans and street urchins and their guardian, the pseudonymous "Mrs. Hudson". Investigators are yet to discern the precise means by which the stream of fire was produced - no witnesses have reported smelling lamp oil or other flammable liquids, and the possibility of an unusual new weapon has not been discounted. Thankfully, none of the occupants of the houses were killed by the fire; since it blazed on the roof it did not fill the house with smoke, and the residences had plenty of exits through which the children were able to escape swiftly. What went wrong was the aftermath.

Nobody knows how the panic started, or the shouting, or the arguments, but soon there was a riot in Butcher Street - a riot of children against children, children against bystander, bystander against bystander. The Horse Guards and the Flying Squad were called out to pacify the riot, during the course of which "Mrs Hudson" was trampled to death and many children were seriously injured.

Meanwhile, local have-a-go heroes strapped on clockwork wings to face the aerial menace. Faster and more agile in the air than the sky taxi, they had little trouble catching up, and attempted to board the plane; they were immediately, however, thrown off by unknown assailants. They have not reported seeing anything inside the plane to the Watchdogs, stating that their main concern at the time was regaining control of their wings as they plummeted towards the ground.

With the Flying Squad distracted quelling the riot, the sky taxi was able to escape the city and flew out to sea. As yet, no suspects have been found for this audacious attack. It remains to be seen what the children will do.

"MOTHERS" ADOPT HOMELESS KIDS!

For a while, it appeared that the children would have to take up the offer made by the new Rosie del Orto Home for Disturbed and Dangerous Children, but BRAVE VOLUNTEERS, Mothers Against Drugs and Prostitution, stepped forward to SAVE THE DAY!

"What these each of these children needs is a mother, not an institution!" declared Edna Tibbs, 56. "And with my Billy all grown up, there's plenty of space at home. I'm happy to adopt a couple of these darling little tykes: it makes the house feel so alive and happy!"

THE POST SAYS: WELL DONE LADIES! Thanks to your charity, only a small number of boys ended up within the IMPOSING WALLS of "TEARAWAY TOWERS". At last they have a GOOD START IN LIFE!

Duke del Orto Sets Off On Vacation

WBI Grey Technology to Herald New Era of Oppression

The flying taxis, decked out in shining white and blue stripes, have been equipped with automatic bolas, fired from the rear, which entangle those which the drivers arbitrarily determine to be causing a disturbance. No expense has been spared in digging into the Watchdog's pockets to provide Columna with all the flashy gizmos he needs - including a private transport car for... well, we're sure that Ryan will come up with some justification for splashing out on a hundred-guilder steam-and-clockwork car quite soon.

Black Hat Warehouse Searched: No Resistance, No Arrests

The Watchdog forces, including some units from the newly formed WBI, seemed prepared for resistance but were met with none as workers for the Black Hats opened up their doors to the inspectors. Despite targeted raids on a number of locations in the colonies supposedly based on intelligence reports, no arrests were made and it is thought that an official complaint may be brought against the Horizon forces for exceeding their jurisdiction. However this is unlikely to hold as it is probable that it will be shown that there was due cause for the pursuit of a criminal trail beyond the Wall and the New Horizon forces were not able to adequately deal with the matter alone.

Circle Raids Ghoulish HPLF

Ships Burned In Docks By Mystery Arsonists

It is not known what caused the fire, in this heat wave it is entirely possible for ships to catch fire with ease once a blaze has been kindled. It is a subject of considerable worry for the many hands on the Docks, and the fire would have been put down to accident were it not for the fact that a couple of figure were seen by the ship just before the fire, though nobody could find them afterwards.

Loss of Ships At Sea Leads to Coal Crisis

Food Crisis Deepens As Major Import Route Blocked By Terrorist Attack

This is a serious blow to production. Without the Western Pass route, nicknamed the "Bread Line" due to the high proportion of Horizon's food transported along it, meals in the city can be guaranteed to become much scarcer, with suppliers being obliged to make expensive alternate arrangements for food delivery from the agricultural regions beyond the Pass until the railway can be repaired. Economists predict that in the coming months the price of a loaf of bread can be expected to rise to as much as a shilling. Without intervention, mass starvation and, later, rioting is bound to ensue in Horizon's slums. Blame for the explosion has yet to be apportioned. While authorities have received letters purporting to be from the Sons of Richter claiming responsibility, these do not bear the mark of truth about them, given the Sons' recent disbanding. Given this, one can only look to the possibility of cultist or shamanic involvement, or the work of a lone madman.

[OOC: That means that buying food in the coming turn will rise from a Trivial purchase to a Minor one, unless one can find a cheap source.]

Aristocrat Rescued - Expedition Remains Shrouded In Mystery

The public wait with apprehension for Bernard von Jäger's accounts of his expedition.

BABY DOGS VANQUISH ANARCHOLES THE BLACK!

"DAMN YOU! YOUR DOGGY MORON IDIOCY HAS MADE ITS FINAL MISTAKE! YOU WILL TASTE THE BOOT-FILLED VIOLENCE OF MY WRATH! OUCH! OW! THERE SHALL BE NO MERCY! DOOM UPON YOU ALL! AAAARGH! BAD DOGS, NO BISCUIT! MY EAR! MY EAR IS COMING OFF! AAAAAAAAAARGH!"

Anarcholes was eventually rescued by passing Watchdogs, who were quoted as saying "We felt sorry for him, really. And he gave us free beer." Anarcholes himself told this correspondent: "Go away. I don't want to talk about it. Doom."

Abuse Alleged In Mass Adoption Case

A month ago, "Emily" found herself with a new family. A family which she hoped would give her the love, affection and company she has so desperately needed. What she received was alarming; she spoke to me on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals. "They burn me with cigarettes," she told me. "They hit me. They make me sleep in the downstairs cupboard. They call me horrible, horrible names. I wish I could just get away from them, run away somewhere. But there isn't anywhere for me to go."

"Emily", a 48 year old volunteer for Mothers Against Prostition and Drugs, took on three young boys from the Butcher Street house last month. Since then her life has become a living hell. Treating her house as a hotel - albeit a bizarre hotel where it's alright to set fire to the landlady's pet parrot - they are out late all night every night, and sleep all day. They only speak to "Emily" in order to dole out abuse.

Edna Tibbs, a leading light of MADP who adopted a brother and sister pair, was not afraid to speak out about her experience. "They're little sh**s," she told me. "F*****g little b******s the pair of them. All I wanted was someone to keep me company after my Billy moved out and my poor husband died and Bertie the cat went missing. My best friend's the bottle now." When I visited Mrs Tibbs, she was taking great swigs from a large bottle of gin, and empty bottles were strewn across her living room. Made of sterner stuff than other Mothers - some of whom have already been confined in the Asylum thanks to the strain placed upon them by their uncontrollable wards - Mrs Tibbs gets in frequent stand-up arguments with her wards. These arguments, as I witnessed, often descend into violence.

A returning Quickfingers Sally strode into the house as was interviewing Tibbs, and immediately demanded the money I was carrying upon my person, threatening me with a knife. "Sally, we don't do that to guests!" screamed Mrs Tibbs, brandishing her now-empty bottle. Sally's response is impossible to print in this paper, but I can assure readers that I know sailors who would blush at some of the language used. Sally snatched my money pouch and ran, narrowly dodging a bottle thrown at her by Mrs Tibbs; Tibbs, meanwhile, had to duck to avoid being hit Sally's thrown knife. "They're fairly well-behaved today," said Edna.

Everywhere I went it was the same story. Some of my readers may wonder whether the children of Butcher Street really should have gone to the Home for Disturbed and Dangerous Children. Others I am sure would prefer that they went to the Doghouse, or even the gallows. This reporter would gladly pull the lever himself.

Irgar Civil War Spreads to Immigrant Community In Horizon

Merchant's Arm In Downward Spiral

Gloom has set in at the exclusive clubs and establishment the Arm frequent. Forced to sell their stakes in Central Steam - the project which could have made them millions - at a fraction of the amount they have sunk into it, and faced with the prospect of their factories closing down one by one as coal becomes scarce, the members of the Arm must be wondering where it all went wrong. With at least one Arm member declaring bankruptcy in the past month, and more on the brink, the Arm number amongst the first victims of the economic crisis which they created through their policies. In a planned economy, in which vital industries are nationalised and co-ordinated by a government of the people, this crisis would have only affected these gentlemen. Sadly, it seems that the rest of Horizon is going to suffer. Already we are hungry. Soon, we will starve. When the means of production are in the hands of a few, they will cater to the needs of the few, and the rich elite do not plan for famines. They will always be able to afford to eat: at least now a few of them will not be able to afford to eat so well.

The Arm is clearly wounded; hopefully, it will become gangrenous. We anticipate that it will flail around desperately before it dies, and could well behave in a dangerously destructive manner. We ask our readers to be vigilant.

Raging Sky Tribe Joins Irgar Civil War On Side of Broken Jaw
Svensson Steps Down as Ambassador, Replaced By Klaus Brecht
Is Horizon a Military Target?

In an unorthodox retirement speech, Svensson said:

"In my time as ambassador I have done everything I can to keep relations hearty between Horizon and Irgar. In recent days, I have had to do this by placing myself, my tribe, and the city of Horizon between two opposing sides, both of equal blindness in their hunger for blood. I have taken measures that my countrymen have called extreme in order to prevent a thousand little wars breaking out on the streets of the city.

"Now, however, it seems that my own countrymen and even my own tribe feel I have done the wrong thing in trying to prevent them from throwing their lives away. Thus I abandon them. Go! Join in this war-without-honour. Forget our previous hopes of making our country industrious and instead concentrate only on turning its rivers red. Replace me with that frothing madman Brecht who will march the Irgarim of Horizon to their deaths. And brand me kha-Irgarim. Oh, I beg you, brand me kha-Irgarim. For you, King Wolfson, have stolen all meaning from what it is to be Irgar."

Klaus Brecht has yet to speak publicly on his appointment to the embassy. It is expected, however, that his position will place Horizon's Irgarim population firmly on the side of the Broken Jaw. Brecht is an outspoken critic of the Grey Order, having claimed amongst other things that the phenomenon of Grey Magic is no more than the work of cultism.

Sources from the Deep Stone capital of Uthelm report that measures are being taken towards the deportation of all native Horizoners. Jurican, Lasinian and Vegdarbarran officials have simultaneously spring to Horizon's defence, threatening a three-way invasion of Irgar should the city of Horizon become treated as a military target by the Deep Stone, but as yet taken no action to sanction King Wolfson of the Deep Stone regarding the imminent deportations.

Watchdog Informants In Family Denounced

BLACK HATS BRING FOOD! FOOD SINGS TO PEOPLE

Mayoral Legions to Conduct Exercises In Treacherous Lands

Public Servant Buys Controlling Interest In Central Steam Project

Meanwhile, several minor investors in the company have been toasting their good fortune. "Those shares were a stinking great stain on my financial portfolio," said Reginald Norton of Norton, Norton and Bruce, "and between you and me, if Mr Hayes-Morton hadn't made me a very generous offer I would have drifted into the red. As it is, I've finally been able to offload that worthless stock. Let's hope old Bernard knows what he's doing with that money pit."

FHSI DINNERS!

Not merely content to feed the BELLIES of these youths, the FHSI has also stepped up its efforts to feed their MINDS. A great many out-of-work steamworkers are now VOLUNTEERING to teach industrial history and basic principles of steamworking to the youngsters, and have offered apprenticeships to all graduates of the FHSI's Steam Union-sponsored steamworking course. REK, a STARVING URCHIN, told the Post: "The free grub's GREAT! And the lessons are teaching me ALL KINDS of stuff I didn't know about how the FACTORY OWNERS are exploiting the PROLETARIAT!"

All-Ghoul HPLF Press Release

"To all citizens of Horizon, human and Ghoul, greetings.

"The Political Committee of the All-Ghoul HPLF have met to discuss the future direction of our struggle, following the loss of the Fire-affiliated contingent within our group.

"Whilst we do not concede defeat to the reactionary forces represented by Sternos, the fact of the matter is that we cannot currently oust the Ghoulish Circle on our own without taking drastic measures. While our Firey brethren were in full support of drastic measures, we cannot allow ourselves to forget that we are fighting for the freedom of the common Ghoul. The indiscriminate nature of the action proposed was, frankly, politically inappropriate and morally repugnant.

"We therefore announce that the All-Ghoul HPLF has been dissolved. All of our members will join mainstream HPLF cells. It is our hope that once we have overthrown the current system of government in the Hive we can turn our attention to the Circle once more. Freedom for the whole city must take priority over freedom for the Ghoul Quarter."

Journalists Prepare Final Reports

[OOC: The winner of the journalism contest will be announced in the next turn, either in the news or in the session. If past form is anything to go by, the interview is liable to happen at the Riverview - as the Inn is universally-recognised neutral ground on the night of the Twin Silvers, this is considered to be the best way to avoid assassination.]

Election '21

A regular column discussing the upcoming election.

The ARCHITECT, MOGUL and DEMAGOGUE are campaigning furiously for the votes of the common people as the three DCH Primary contenders. With the polls showing no clear favourite as yet, it looks like David Wright's Primary is going to be one of the most exciting events of the electoral year - a clear boost for the Democratic Congress's credibility if it goes off smoothly.

The PATRIOT Victor Lorcam, meanwhile, has failed to regain the momentum his campaign lost after the exposure of Colonel Bluster as an avatar of the Soldier. Lorcam's perhaps hasty endorsement of Bluster early on in his campaign is remembered by many, especially since all the other candidates are happy to remind everyone of it. Lorcam was obliged to cancel his latest public speaking engagement due to the hostility of the crowd; while Lorcam insists that he is not going to step down, we can't help but wonder why he's wasting his time.

Sons of Vegdarbarran Ambassador Found Dead

"Something... something terrible has happened. Someone has committed an awful deed in the heart of the Docks. I ask... Mahmoud asks that the people of the Docks stay inside at night, do not answer the door to strangers, and co-operate with the Dockyard community leaders and the Watchdogs until we have caught this beast.

"I... Mahmoud also wants to make a call to community leaders across the city - the Kellor in the Slums, the young men of the Craftsman's Quarter, the Guild leaders, the Mayor, the merchants, the workers, everyone. Please. Don't shelter whoever did this. Help the investigation. So long as someone capable of this is free in this city, none of us are safe. None of us. I... excuse me..."

I left the weeping Jurican in peace. No statement has yet been forthcoming from the Vegdarbarran ambassador on the issue, save to confirm that his sons have indeed been murdered, and that the Embassy "will solicit and accept help from all quarters".

An additional complication is the refusal of the ambassador to release the bodies to the Ghouls for examination. While the Last Treaty does include a clause stating that Embassy staff who die can be returned to their country of origin for burial if their next of kin wish it, the refusal has hampered the efforts of Ghoulish Hunters to find the murderer, and is also seen as a refusal to discount the Horizon authorities from the list of suspects.

STOP PRESS: We have just received word that a reporter from the Horizon Post has been arrested for entering the murder scene using false Watchdog credentials and attempting to sketch the scene of the crime. The reporter, Clyde Jones, has been fined and disqualified from the Ridgway Journalism Award contest.

On the Grapevine

Bilko Would Have Busted Bluster

D'Avenant Vessal Raided In Peninsula of Piracy

"Yeah?"

"When I saw old D'Avenants ship, you know the large well armed one, not the heap of junk he sails to and from the peninsula with..."

"Oooh yeah, that one."

"Well, I saw some cloaked figures in hiding places around it, they looked very well organised, you know, two automatic pistols each, hand signals, the works. Well, you know what happens then?"

"What?"

"One of 'em kinda waves his hand and a load of 'em rush on while the others start covering fire, anyways they take down the ship's guard and a couple of 'em rush down into the hold then come out a couple a minutes later carrying this guy."

"Who was it, it wasn't D'avenant was it?"

"Nah, this guy was far too old, he was wearing some strange uniform as well, Looked like some sort of soldier, thought it looked nothing like Horizon uniforms... actually, yeah, it sorta looked like something one of 'em Irgar People would wear. Anyway, they took him up then jumped into a waiting boat an' disappeared, just as more of D'Avenant's forces showed up."

Sales Tax? What Sales Tax?

Under-Chamber Not to Crush HPLF

“You’ve got to be joking, those terrorists are a menace to society.”

“Nah, we couldn’t crush them... You know full well a lot of our people double up in the HPLF. We’d be fighting ‘gainst our own. Doesn’t matter though the motion was voted out... Heard it was a close call, though.”

Grey Order for the Goodfellows?

Oh, the poor Arm. Looks like they're losing their grip. And it looks like a certain Grey-tinged secret society are going to be invited to take their place in the Moot...

Jude's Concern Accuse the Rope-Bound Brotherhood

"It's not!"

"It's blatantly a setup!"

"Just look at the facts, dammit! These drugs disappear from Jude's Concern consignments! They then turn up in pirate ships run by the Rope-Bound Brotherhood! I even hear one of Lt. Robert's Boarding Crew was caught with them on his person. The pirates are stealing drugs from their smuggler allies! What does it take to make you see that?"

"They'd be insane to do that. Someone's trying to stir things up."

"Oh, come off it. You know what the Rats are like. All smiles to the outside world but at the end of the day they're three mobs forced to work together because they all need the Docks to survive. There's more going on than meets the eye."

"That's what I'm saying, there's more to this than meets the eye. Like, there's someone tryin' to frame the Brotherhood."

"Well, Mahmoud's called the leaders of the Concern and the Brotherhood to the Riverview and says he's going to settle the issue there."

"All three of the Rats' leaders? In the same room? Remind me to be on the other side of the city that evening."

Kraal Vanishes

Triumph of Titiphus

"Darling! Daaaaarling! Oh sweetie, you'll simply never belieeeeeve what I've got to tell you about old Titty's latest party!"

"Spiffing! Were you there?"

"No! Not at all! But I got it all from my scullery maid, whose cousin knows one of his scullery maids, don'tcha' know!"

"Super!"

"There was a fabulous underground theme to the evening, Titiphus found a gorgeous little grotto in the Imperial Parks and had the serving boys and girls dressed as nymphs and rock trolls. And so many dangerous criminals! And a punch-up between three horned Irgarim Barbarians!"

"Woof!"

"I'll say! Some lunatic came dressed as a filthy hermit, and went on quite a rampage! I hear some of the hired girls still need medical attention! It's too marvellous! And Count Lesuge was there!"

"The murderer! Did he kill anyone?"

"No, the rotter. But he made several girls quite faint... and one or two of the men..."

"He is very handsome, they say..."

"And that strange young gentleman, Christopher Anseer, actually proposed to Emily Kellor's daughter! It was the sweestest little episode ever, I declare!"

"Emily Kellor? Isn't she rather common?"

"The very definition, my dear! But regal, with it. And you see, they're both so very young and rich and good looking, it's almost as though they were real people, rather than dirty commoners!"

"Splendid! But I heard a couple of thieves got in?!?"

"Oh yes! But only because they were invited... no-one gets into a Titiphus party without an invitation! It was that little competion he held, to see if anyone could steal one of his invitations... and two girls called Joan Markan and Darla did, so along they went. Night of their lives, I shouldn't wonder."

"Oh yes. What a marvellous party! I say, do you fancy sharing one of those pretty ballet boys later?"

"You have the most divine ideas..."

The Pamphlet Gallery

Poster Found On Walls Across the City

News Sources