- Eternity
- Turn 15
- Turn 14
- Turn 13
- Turn 12
- Turn 11
- Turn 10
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HORIZON IS OVER!
The webpage remains up as a permanent archive of game material, mainly for the benefit of nostalgic players - although if you'd like to run a Horizon-inspired game for your friends, that's wonderful too. Horizon will be succeeded by Legacyin Trinity term of 2006.If you like you can look at the (sketchy, incomplete) GM notes as well.
The News
Turn 7
This news covers events from the 1st of Autumn's Glory to the 25th of Autumn's Dusk - the day of the Riverview meeting. In each section, stories are sorted in roughly chronological order, although in the case of the Grapevine it's hard to tell precisely when rumours begin, and it's rare that anything appearing in the Pamphlet Gallery is dated.In the Papers
[OOC: All Liberator articles this turn are printed using the old-fashioned presses they were forced to use after their Greywriters broke down.]Grey Order Confesses to Enslaving Gods
(The Horizon Tribune, 2nd Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) The Horizon Tribune and several other newspapers - in Horizon and elsewhere - has received this press release from the Grey Order, which we print verbatim.
The Grey Order has long been the subject of fear and distrust. We wish to address some of these issues by letting everybody know one of our secrets. For hundreds of years, humans have taken power that was not theirs. Sorcerers would steal powers from the gods to serve humanity. The Grey Order does likewise. We have discovered a way to bind a God and to force it to do our will. As with all sorcerers, we were secretive about our achievements. Despite the Intercessor's warnings, there are still those who follow the evil Gods and we thought our secrecy would protect us from any harm from these people and ensure that they wouldn't be able to free the God we had imprisoned.Now, we have decided it is time for this information to be made public. Enemies of ours have weakened the defences around one of our Gods, proving that secrecy is no longer a protection for us. A team of experts from Horizon is working to deal with the situation of the weakened God, Arikel, and it is hoped that by the time many of you read this that, through the co-operation of the Grey Order, the Imperial University, the government of Horizon and Sternos, Headman of the ghouls, our world will be rid of one more God.
In some discussions the word cultist was used when people learnt of our trapped God. This word is not appropriate. A cultist follows, serves and worships his God. The Grey Order does none of these things. We have trapped a God and bent its power to our will. We fully expect that there are many questions regarding this, and you should direct these to your local Grey Salesmen.
We wish to reassure the people of the world, once again, that the Grey Order seeks to further humanity's power in the world. At the dawn of time mankind was created to provide slave labour for the malign Gods; thus, our capture of Gods is not only practical but just. Through our Grey technology and our Grey magic we seek to make the world a better place for those living in it.
PRIVATEER AIRSHIP SCOURGE OF THE IRGARIM SKIES
(The Horizon Post, 3rd Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) A POST EXCLUSIVE! Our Irgarim correspondants have reported that a DAREDEVIL CREW of INTERNATIONAL MISFITS has been hired as PRIVATEERS by King Olaf Wolfsom of Irgar, fighting on his side in the NATION-SHATTERING CIVIL WAR!The BLOODTHIRSTY BUCCANEERS have leased an entire airship from a grateful King Olaf, and are using it as a MOBILE BASE from which they mount DARING RAIDS on Broken Jaw supply lines using their FLYING TAXIS. Rumour has it that, despite officially DISAPPROVING of the use of STOLEN GREY TECHNOLOGY by PIRATES, the Grey Order has been FORCED TO CO-OPERATE with the privateers by King Olaf himself.
With the SKY PIRATES of the Revenge CRIPPLING Broken Jaw and Raging Sky supply lines, VICTORY for King Olaf can only be WEEKS AWAY.
Arikel the Toolmaker Slain In Grey Order Citadel of Steam
Combination of Ghoul Hunters and Sorcerers Defeats Vile God
(The Horizon Tribune, 5th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) For the fourth time now, humanity appears to have struck down a God. Reports have just reached Horizon that Arikel, the degenerate and crazed "Toolmaker", has been killed in his prison in the Citadel of Steam by a team composed of sorcerers from the Arcanum Guard and Ghoulish Hunters.It was revealed earlier this week that the Grey Order had long ago succeeded in trapping Arikel in the Treacherous Lands Citadel of Steam, and that he was now beginning to escape his prison due to sabotage from enemies of the Order. Since then, a squad of Ghoulish Hunters and human sorcerers, including among their ranks the Star-worshipping Headman Sternos, have been mobilised and headed to the Citadel of Steam with the intent of assisting the Order in containing and destroying Arikel.
Though a great deal of secrecy surrounds the precise nature of the assault on Arikel, sources reveal that the sorcerers used their arts to draw a protective seal, extrapolated from the designs normally used to steal spells from gods, around the chamber where Arikel was kept prisoner. After this was completed, the chamber was opened for the first time since it was built.
As it was opened, Arikel burst out and attempted to strike down the sorcerers, Ghouls and Order members standing guard, but was thwarted by the runes. It is likely that the events here corresponded to the few chaotic minutes on the afternoon of the 1st of Autumn's Glory when mechanical goods across the city spontaneously malfunctioned, clockwork guns going off, steam factories throwing gears, and Grey Hounds assaulting their owners. Reports from the scene indicate that the Order guards attempted to fire upon Arikel with Grey Guns, but found them all to unexpectedly jam and explode. Then Sternos, the Headman himself, stepped forward and thrust a simple wooden spear, a weapon sufficiently simple that the God could not influence it, through Arikel's heart, killing him.
The squad of Ghoul Hunters and Arcanum Guard sorcers have remained in the Citadel of Steam until a decision can be made over what is to be done with Arikel's body. All sides are eager to prevent any repeat of the chaos following the death of Versinya in the winter of 4000HR, but no solution has yet been agreed upon.
Arikel's death has impacted the world much less than might be expected. Some had predicted that his execution would cause the failure of clockwork and steam; many speculated that it would cause the destruction of Grey Technology all over the world.
However, nothing of the sort has happened. Barring the incidents on the 1st of Autumn's Glory, clockwork weapons still function; the factories still chug away in the Steam, and even the city's Greywriters continue to function. The philosophical ramifications of this are, of course, better left to one of the University's journals, but the prominent question seems to be: Has humanity started to outstrip its Gods?
Heptarch Family Co-Operates With Mogul Investigation
(The Horizon Times, 6th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) Once again showing their sense of duty and dedication to the city, the von Jäger family have thrown their weight behind the investigation into the assassination of the Mogul. The von Jägers had been providing security for all three of the candidates in the DCH Primary, and several of their staff were killed in the blast that destroyed our ex-proprietor. They have sworn to bring his killers, and the killers of their people, to justice.Baron D'Avenant Killed By Mysterious Creature
(The Horizon Tribune, 8th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) Yesterday the d'Avenant family, one of the city's Heptarchic families, were struck with grief and fear after the death of Baron Christopher d'Avenant. The Baron's body was discovered in his study by his butler, who had brought up his morning tea. "His lordship often works late into the night", the butler told reporters, "so when the door was locked from the inside and no response was issued forthwith I simply assumed he had simply been working late; however, when no response could be gained when I brought up the mail at 11, I began to get concerned and forced the door, whereupon I found his lordship's... remains... clearly, something had leapt in through his open window sometime last night and clawed my poor lord to death."Ghouls onscene report that the Baron must have been killed and eaten by a large creature - a creature that picked the Baron's bones clean, thus preventing the Ghouls from declaring a cause of death for certain. The Imperial Park gamekeepers are currently on the lookout for any such creatures, but there is no evidence of any escapes from the Horizon Zoo; however, generally it is advised that those in the Noble District keep doors and windows locked at night until this matter is resolved.
High society in Horizon has been further shocked and surprised by Baron d'Avenant's last will and testament, in which he begins with a confession that he framed Michael D'Avenant with a cruel trick out of spite, which had caused Michael to be disinherited. He went on to describe how this had preyed on his conscience for the rest of his life, and how he would attempt to make amends by reinstating Michael as heir, leaving the d'Avenant title, house and property to him. Baron Christopher's considerable wealth, however, went to his widow and sons, who like the rest of the city are shocked by the revelations.
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE: IMELDA BLAISE IDENTIFIED AS MOGUL'S STREAKER!
(The Horizon Post, 10th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) The mystery of the so-called "Mogul's Streaker", the woman who ran NAKED through the streets to PROTEST the BARBARIC ASSASSINATION of Ian Loveday, has been REVEALED - and the POST is the first to tell you who she is! IMELDA BLAISE, an actress with a varied and glamourous career onstage, came forward in response to our appeal for witnesses to TELL ALL. "YES!" she told us. "It was I! I was OVERCOME WITH GRIEF when the Mogul was killed and I knew that ALL OTHER HORIZONITES would be too; I had to do SOMETHING to cheer everyone up, and like the Mogul, I know how to use my ASSETS to my best advantage!"In today's special illustrated edition of the Post, Imelda re-enacts her famous protest for our team of TOP ARTISTS...
[OOC: Not only is the rest of the day's edition of the Post devoted to "artist's impressions" of Imelda's streak, but for the rest of the turn the Post editors do their damnedest to incorporate a picture of Imelda on the front page whenever they can.]
DADDY'S GIRL ASCENDS
(The Horizon Post, 13th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) SHOCK and HORROR in the Noble District today, as it was confirmed that one of the candidates for Mayor was indeed a servant of malign Powers. Although rumours had been spreading rapidly, all but destroying Waite's campaign, the evidence brought forward to the press had been predominantly circumstantial until now. Waite was seen taking off into the skies carrying what appeared to be a large parcel. She was pursued by members of the Flying Squad, who urged her to return to the ground, but were unable to keep up with the speed of her clockwork wings. Waite was last seen penetrating the layer of cloud above Horizon. The Hound, having already been humiliated by her recent acts in the Ghoul Quarter is now being criticised for not have brought sufficent evidence forward to convict Waite before it was too late; indeed, rumour has it that certain covert organisations within the government were frustrated by Waite's insistance that she be allowed to complete her investigation before any actiou could be taken against Waite.The incident has aroused further fears over the screening of candidates, as allowing a servant of the Stars to gain the position of Mayor would have spelt disaster for the city.
Merchant Holds Rallies
(The Horizon Tribune, 15th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) The Merchant, after the tragic murder of his brother has wasted no time in arranging his campaign, giving a series of speeches to packed audiences in the Lower City in rallies supported by the new Baron d'Avenant. He has quickly gained support and the signatures required for his Mayoral bid. This is a quick leap or the young Loveday, who after less than a month on the campaign trail is already being viewed as a serious contender.BREAKOUT AT HOME FOR DISTURBED CHILDREN!
(The Horizon Illuminator, 18th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) In a SHOCKING turn of events the residents of the Rosie del Orto Home for Disturbed and Dangerous Children have REBELLED against their carers and ESCAPED from the institution. The children are thought to have organised this in PROTEST to being kept in the orphanage against their will, for their own and for the city's WELL-BEING. Members of Mothers Against Drugs and Prostitution who had formally looked after many of these children have stated that they now FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES, dreading the repercussions of handing them into the care of those who were able to adequately look after them. Around 20 children have left the care of the institution and are believed to have had no place to go to. The head of the orphanage has said that the children will be welcomed back if they should so desire and all former misdomeaners will be forgotten if they would like a roof over their heads and a meal on the table in front of them again.UNIT 12 RAIDS DARK TOWER
(The Horizon Illuminator, 20th Autumn's Glory 4021 HR.) Yesterday, a group of Verachtlich cultists where seized by the Watchdog's Unit 12, led by Jack Howser. The force was tipped of to this cult meeting by concerned locals; the cultists where thus surrounded by Howser's forces. A shootout quickly began, in which four of the cultists where killed and the others wounded and handed over to the ghouls for examination and interrogation. "It is plain," Howser told reporters later on while wiping blood from a blow to the forehead, "that that the ghouls simply aren't doing their job properly if cults like this continue to disturb our fair city." The meeting place of this cult was, in fact, the back of "The Dark Tower" which is the property of joke Mayoral candidate Anarcholes the Black, aka "The Loser", who was disturbed by the fighting and dammed both Watchdogs and cultists with cries of "DOOM! DOOM TO YOU ALL! That's my good carpet you're spilling blood on!"Broken Jaw Surrenders, Irgar At Peace
(The Horizon Tribune, 3rd Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) Peace has finally come to Irgar, as the Deep Stone forces have finally rolled over the Broken Jaw capital, forcing a surrender from the Broken Jaw. Casualties from the Grey Gun squads have been terrible; the huge punch of the heavy weaponry has had great effect in the urban environment with the psychological impact of the nightmarish weapons causing many would-be guerilla fighters to turn tail and flee. While there still remain patches of sporadic skirmishing within the country, the majority of the Broken Jaw forces have now gone to ground; the Kha-Irgarim status of the tribes who stood against the Deep Stone has been revoked, though the generals and leaders are still being hunted down by royalist forces.Now that the fighting is mostly over, the long task of rebuilding Irgar can begin. The country is still ravaged by warring factions, and with winter beginning to set in famine is starting to loom. Nontheless, Irgar is, by and large, a country at peace.
UFS Declares War On Adhania
(The Horizon Tribune, 5th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) The UFS has today declared war on the ghoulish community of Adhania. This move comes after a number of attacks on UFS villages by ghoulish cultists in recent months. Over the past few weeks the number of attacks have increased to the extent that several villages have been abandoned as the severity of the raids has increased. The dispossessed have relocated to more inland settlements; however, this sudden influx of refugees has put great strain on the UFS's food supplies. Although alternative supplies have been provided from the cities, the loss of farming land is a significant blow to the UFS, while the fracture of the communities that had grown since their founding around 15 years ago. This loss has been deemed unacceptable to the government of the UFS and they have issued a declaration of war upon Adhania. "This deliberate seizure of our lands and the brutal attacks on our people will not be tolerated. It should be known that the UFS will fight to regain it's lands and will not stand for further hostile activity on the part of the Ghouls."The armed forces of the UFS are reported to have been gathered and a recruitment drive has begun in the capital.
Taxation Working Group Introduces New Taxes
(The Horizon Tribune, 7th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) The Treasury has enacted a series of proposals from the taxation working group, including increased duties on foreign-registered ships and a tax on independently-operated flying machines. The latter duty is expected to mainly affect flying taxis; clockwork wings have not been classified as flying machines, since they are far too numerous to efficiently regulate, and steam airships are already forbidden from flying directly over the city by the Mayoral Legions.In a separate action, the Treasury's auditing bureau has seized many of the assets of Lawrence Marcus, the Merchant's Arm member whose illegal arms sales were recently exposed. The measure has been met with protests from the Merchant's Arm, whose members were keen to divide Marcus's spoils between them, but the Treasury insisted that, since Marcus had been withholding export duties from the government, they were entirely within their rights to seize his assets.
Whilst the Treasury's recent activities have seen the Merchant's Arm complain of the "politicisation" of the Treasury and of "Richterist economic principles creeping into government", the benefits of the new duties are already being seen. Many merchant ships are now registering in Horizon as opposed to their home countries in order to save money, providing a steady stream of income to the Mayoral customs agents. The customs office has moved to employ a new breed of inspector and harbourmaster: higher-paid professionals as opposed to highly-bribable pen-pushers, these individuals are already making progress in investigating Dockyard smuggling rings, although most Dockyard residents have proved unco-operative.
In the absence of further attacks on Horizon's infrastructure, and with these additional measures providing further revenue, it appears that Horizon may well be on the road to recovery.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT MT. KANIA
(The Horizon Post, 10th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) The earth-shattering eruption of Mt. Kania late last night has resulted in torrents of lave forming into a LAKE OF FIRE on the Vegdarbarran-Horizon border. Researchers from the Imperial University are urging citizens not to panic, as so long as there is no further interferance from outside stimuli, the lake itself does not pose a threat to the city. Natural Philosophers are baffled by recent events, as according to Profeseur Braxton of Horizon University, “even despite the recent resurgence of activity on Mt. Kania, a volcanic eruption of this magnitude was totally unprecedented. Members of the Faculty of Natural Philsophy have been called in to investigate the possibility of sorcerous or shamanic influences.”Horizon Ghouls Intervene With Adhanian Cults - Violence Breaks Out - Civil War Feared
(The Horizon Tribune, 13th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) In the past few months, this newspaper has voiced the opinions of those both within and outside the Ghoul community who have reservations about the policies of the Ghoulish Headman, Sternos, towards the Ghouls of Adhania, who are known to permit Cultist practices. Recently, those policies have undergone a dramatic change. Sternos has lead a group of Horizon-based Ghouls into Adhania, and encouraged Power-honouring individuals - primarily those honouring the Stars - to construct a strong central government for the Ghoulish nation, something it has hereforto lacked. Such a government has now been set up, and its apparent purpose is the elimination of the Adhanian cults, supported by Sternos and his group of Ghouls from Horizon. This newspaper supports Sternos' new, tougher stand against the cults.Its success, however, seems far from certain. Numerous warrants have been issued for the arrest of prominent cult leaders by the "legitimate" government, and a few have indeed been detained. Unfortunately, a number of townships - the basic government unit in Adhania - have refused to acknowledge the new government or its representatives, and in many more the government warrants have simply been ignored. Elsewhere, threatened cult leaders have gone to ground. At the same time, it is suspected that they have maintained much of their sway over the populace. This was bloodily demonstrated a week ago when at two prominent members of the "legitimate" government were cut down in the street along with their bodyguards by masked assassins who were not hindered by bystanders as they escaped. A previously unheard-of union of cult leaders have claimed responsibility. Representatives of Sternos' "legitimate" government have claimed that this cultist "insurrection" is the work of a small minority of guerillas who will soon be put out of action - cultist propaganda, meanwhile, has countered that the "legitimate" government itself represents only a small minority of townships.
Hound Finds Illegal Alchemical Equipment In Ghoul Quarter, Fire Started
(The Horizon Tribune, 15th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) In what has turned into a publicity disaster for the Hound, a Watchdog raid on a warehouse in the Ghoul quarter has backfired when a constable dropped a lit torch, which proceeded to ignite the building. Acting on an anonymous tip-off the Hound led a night patrol of guards to the location believing it to be a base of illegal alchemical operation working on the development of a poisonous gas. After cordoning off the area to the inconvenience of the local residents, the raid proceeded to locate only some abandoned alchemical equipment. It is believed that the accused alchemists escaped before the raid and left very little by way of evidence to lead back to them.The failed raid, however, turned from a mild humiliation into a disaster when one Private Monkton tripped over a crate and dropped his lit torch. The dry conditions within the building meant that this caused the building to catch fire which took the efforts of many of the Ghoulish residence and all the Watchdogs who could be brought in quickly enough to put out. The Ghoulish Headman, who lived in the area, arrived quickly on the scene - in shimmering, astral form - to direct the efforts to extinguish the blaze thus ensuring that no further damage was done and that the fire did not spread further.
Central Steam Service Nationalised
(The Town Crier, 18th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) PRESS RELEASE: The Treasury and the Central Steam Service wish to announce that the Mayoral government of Horizon have agreed to buy the CSS for the price of a hundred thousand Horizon guilders.Negotiator for the Treasury, Nicholas Halesham, told the Town Crier that "The intent of this purchase is to ensure that in the coming winter months all citizens of Horizon will have access to cheap and reliable heating and cooking arrangements. The Department of Public Works has already begun to lay the pipes for the new heat network, and we are confident that Central Steam will be ready to commence operation by Horizon's Day, in time to see the city's taxpayers through the bitter cold of Winter's Glory."
Negotiators from the Central Steam Service expressed their delight that the government saw their Service as a vital component of the city's infrastructure, and pledged to make every effort to ensure a warm home on Horizon's Day for all.
[OOC: That's two Staggering amounts the government paid for ownership of the Central Steam Service.]
Young Love Bridges Social Divide
(The Horizon Tribune, 20th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) There was celebration across Horizon society last night as Klaus von Jäger, son of Heptarch Grafin Marie von Jäger, and Jessica Kellor, daughter of Lower City businesswoman and community leader Emily Kellor, tied the knot at the Seven Bells Chapel. In spite of the apparently wide social divide between them and (allegedly) overcoming initial hostility from both sets of parents, Jessica and Klaus have succeeded in building a life together and were reported to be "blissfully happy" following the ceremony yesterday. Apart from the obvious delight of the young couple themselves, the marriage represents a welcome union between traditionally antipathetic groups in the Upper City and in the Lower City. Indeed, for the city of Horizon this is probably the most significant society wedding since that of Crace Columna and Philip Daynann twenty years ago.As readers will be aware, Klaus von Jäger had been something of a black sheep within his family, until he was rehabilitated in recent months following his rescue of his brother, the explorer Bernard von Jäger. Bernard has made the wedding the first public event he has attended since recovering from his injuries. So it came to pass that the wedding reception, a lavish affair organised and hosted by the famous Count Titiphus, was the first society event in years at which the five von Jäger siblings - in order of age, Imzelza, Hans, Bernard, Klaus and Josephine - have been seen together in years. Grafin Marie, the proud mother, told us that she was "immensely pleased" with the wedding and "looking forward to having Jessica, who is a delightful young lady, in the family". Also in attendance were registered spies from each of the Four True Nations, who blessed the wedding in the names of their governments. The Vegdarbarran spy told this correspondent that he "wishes the young couple every happiness, in what time they have left to spend with each other", before leaving early.
FAIRY KNIGHT ARRIVES IN HORIZON!
(The Horizon Post, 23rd Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) RUMOURS of a CHIVALROUS FAE on a NAMELESS QUEST arriving in Horizon have been flying, but the Post is the FIRST to get you the TRUTH! We landed an exclusive interview with the individual known as the KNIGHT OF THE BRIGHT OAK, a man with UNDENIABLY FAE-LIKE FEATURES, a mere HOUR after his arrival in Horizon last night. Staying, for the time being, at the picturesque Riverview Inn, the KNIGHT spoke to us plainly of his quest."I come to tell the World of the plight of my people," he told us. "This is my burden, the task set upon me in my exile; that I go forth into the world of men and tell you all of the blight that is Crace and the glory that is Frost."
What MYSTERIOUS CRIME did the Knight of the Bright Oak commit in the land of the Fae? Why does he come to our fair city bearing word of the vanished CRACE COLUMNA, incestuous criminal mastermind, and FROST, first governor of the trans-Wall colonies, rumoured instigator of the Prime Emergency, and one of many individuals theorised to be the true identity of the DARK AVENGER? WE DON'T KNOW! But as soon as the Knight speaks further on the matter, we'll bring you the details.
Election '21
A regular column discussing the upcoming election.
(The Horizon Tribune, 25th Autumn's Dusk 4021 HR.) With two months left to go before the Mayoral election, the big news event has been the Embassies' announcements of approval - or otherwise - of the candidates. According the Last Treaty, if any Mayoral candidate receives the disapproval of more than one of the embassies of the Four True Nations, they cannot go before the Moot of Years.Good news, then, for the remaining contenders - the ARCHITECT, the MERCHANT, the HOUND and the LOSER - because they have each met with the approval of at least three of the four embassies. The Architect, the Hound, and the Loser all won through with unanimous embassy support, whilst the Merchant met the disapproval of Lasinia - who cited his "utter disregard for the working classes" as a factor in their decision - but the approval of Jurica, Vegdarbarra and Irgar.
It is known that the embassies tend to be careful about their expressions of disapproval, not wishing to be seen to be dominating Horizon's internal affairs and reserving such expressions of doubt for situations where they feel completely unable to accept an individual as Mayor; the expression of concern by the Lasinian embassy is therefore seen as an indication that, should the Merchant be elected, relations between the Soviets and Horizon could deteroriate rapidly.
[OOC: The winner of the Mayoral election will be announced during next week's session.]
On the Grapevine
Peace Breaks Out Between Rats and Boys
Spread the word: the Boys and the Rats have shook hands and made up over the Trade District. The deal's like this: the Rats get to shake down all the district residents for protection money, run their smuggling rings and drug cartels from their crooked stalls, and keep their lowbrow entertainments going in the bars and pubs, and the Boys get to practice their theivin' and pickpocketin' so long as they don't target district residents. Bit of a major concession from the Boys, but there's enough people coming in and out of Trade that they'll be able to make rich pickings from them.So, yeah, turf war's over.
Papa Pellatus Killed!
Well, the feuding in the Family's started. Pellatus's been taken down. Yeah, the man himself. Papa Pellatus. You know, the Queen's number one fixer? He's been kicking around the Family for donkey's years now, loyal as hell to old Emily, and he was the first to come down on her side when Anseer started splitting off. He even Silvered Anseer, there and then. 'course, by then the Waitleys had done the same to him.So anyway, old man Pellatus has always bought big-time into the Family's schtick about respecting your family and your Family. The whole Pellatus clan were under Kellor, all 'cept for some bastard son called Pedro that the randy old goat had gotten some whore knocked up with and thrown out in the Slums to make his own way.
And it turns out that Pedro's pretty damn good at clawing his way up from the bottom of the heap. The little runt's got a nasty knack for vengeance, too. When he heard the old man'd been Silvered, he snuck into his room at night and stabbed him nine times in his sleep. 'course, after he saved them all that work Anseer's lot snapped him up like a shot. The Pellatus are in chaos now, with half getting behind Pedro and half out for his blood, and Pedro's gone from rags to riches.
Ryan Columna's Will Contains Letter for Commissioners
...and they say after they recovered the safe from the wreckage they found a whole load of Columna's papers in there. Yeah, they survived the explosion – inch thick steel and from the best safe-makers in the city, 'course it survived... Anyway, they was rooting through it and sorting it out 'n' stuff and then they sent a courier straight off to the Watchdog Commission – Ryan obviously left 'em something in case of his death...Under-Chamber Called Off Due to Family Issues
Hey, man. You hear? No Under-Chamber meeting this twomonth - they were all set up, and then two delegations claiming to represent the Family turn up - one from the Kellor, one from the Columna. And neither of them were going to back down. So in the end, the cancelled the meeting. Until this Family mess gets sorted out, we can't expect the Under-Chamber to be getting anything done in a hurry.Avenant's Party
"Did you hear about the party Michael Avenant threw last night?""What, the big one for all of his crew? Yeah, it was amazing, you don't realise just how many men work for him until you see them all in one place."
"Nah, not that one, the other one! Bit more exclusive, bit classier, most of Avenant's allies and pals got invited - Quickpistol, Virros, Lt. Roberts, even the Merchant got an invite."
"Not mourning his brother, then?"
"Oh no..."
Anseer Unwell
Some are sayin' it's because of his bad blood, spawn of incest that he is, some are sayin' it's poison, some are sayin' it's a curse: whatever it is, something's up with Anseer. Columna. Anseer. Christopher Uncle's-Son. Whatever you want to call him. The word is, he's sick, sick bad enough that he might be dying.Oh, the Columna folk are putting a good spin on it, pretending he's just hiding away because of assassination threats, but that didn't stop him stridin' around the Slums like he owned the place earlier this twomonth. No, fact of the matter is it's bad for your health to mess with Emily Kellor, and Anseer's learning it right now.
Sternos Gets Stranger
...you hear stories from the Ghoul quarter about it, of course, but it still makes you shudder to see it. Sternos, going about his business but not in his body any more - he's spending more and more of his time as this creature of glowing starlight. Rarer and rarer for him to even be solid these days, never mind recognisably a ghoul - half the time you can almost see through him! I don't know how the Ghouls stand it, having a leader who's almost a ghost...Emily Kellor Going Loopy?
The Queen of the Slums is changing, and not for the better. That's what they're saying all through the district - she's become more vicious, faster to anger, more ready to dole out violence when people disappoint or annoy her. And her famous diplomacy has changed, too - now it's blunt threats and sudden outbursts of brutality from her minions. Her toungue was always sharp, but now it's rough, too - until a few weeks ago, she would never have used language like that. Worst, she uses the Voice all the time. The one that makes all the younger Kellor obey her. Once, she used it sparingly... now she never talks any other way. It could be the stress of the battle against Columna, I suppose... but it doesn't seem to be stopping now he's taken ill. People are getting scared.The Pamphlet Gallery
Any articles appearing in this section represent pamphlets circulated widely throughout the city of Horizon.Wanted: Carlos Hernandez and "Tommy"
(Pamphlets distributed throughout the city.)Wanted by the Arcanum guard for practice of Fire Shamanism, the government issues a 500 guilder reward for the capture of Carlos Hernandez, DEAD OR ALIVE. The Hernandez family wishes to announce that all ties to Carlos have been severed and they are lending their full support to the Watchdog investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of Carlos Hernandez should contact the Watchdogs immediately.
In addition the Watchdogs would wish to question a young man known as "Tommy", a known associate of Carlos. A warrant for Tommy has been issued on charges of supporting a known Fire Shaman.
[OOC: That's a Major reward for catching Hernandez.]