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The News
Turn 4
This news covers the period from the first day of Summer's Dawn to the last day of Summer's Rise, 4000HR, and is presented in rough chronological order - the first stories in each section appear just after last session, the last stories appear just before this session.In the Papers
SICK FILTH STAINS HEART OF COLUMNA FAMILY
(The Horizon Illuminator.) In these days of DEVIANCY and HORROR, it is rare that this humble correspondant learns of any heinous crime sufficient to shock him, but this has alas come to pass! The ILLUMINATOR has been passed ABSOLUTE PROOF that Count ALRIC COLUMNA has been abusing his younger sister, CRACE COLUMNA, in the vilest ways throughout his adult life - although for her the horror began long before! If only his own family was the victim of this life of SIN, then I would be merely sickened, but others too have suffered from the Count's VILE LUSTS. Fortunately however, not all of this NOBLE FAMILY has been INFECTED with the disease of LECHERY in this way. I point of course to the noble and honest MOEBIUS COLUMNA, and call upon him to CUT OUT THE CANCER that is COUNT ALRIC COLUMNA!!!- Daniel Rakemore
TALES FROM THE UNDERWORLD - Corruption and Decadence
(The Horizon Illuminator.) Given the continued survival of our latest Walking Corpse, what I am about to reveal should come as no surprise. Probably nothing will be done about it of course, the Watchdogs of our city being as lazy and supine as a mastiff resting by a porch on a hot day, but RANDALL BRYANT IS CORRUPT. Investigations I've undertaken have revealed that Bryant is being paid by the Cartel to protect their drug-dealing interests on the very streets of Horizon! No doubt his increasing largesse and gut are founded on gold dragged from the hands of the starving poor, their only compensation for their squandered wealth being lethal and destructive drugs. I doubt the Watchdogs will take action on this issue, but they shouldn't need to - the other gangs of our city will quickly see why it is in their own interests to remove Bryant. I only hope the "removal" is swift, bloody, violent, and leaves Bryant's dangling corpse where it can be defiled by the masses.- Daniel Rakemore
On Esoteric Number Bases
(Occult Correspondences.) Number systems based on positive integers have been studied fairly extensively, and for most purposes are in fact the most convenient. However, systems based on less conventional numbers do have their uses, and are in any case quite interesting.Negative numbers are a very good place to start. Indeed, they are the simplest of those which I will consider. I will use base -10, as it sharing some familiar elements (such as number of digits) with the standard decimal system. The way to begin when studying a number base is to write down the magnitude of digits in each column: (-10)^4 (-10)^3 (-10)^2 (-10)^1 (-10)^0 [decimal point] (-10)^(-1) (-10^(-2) And so on in either direction. We can evaluate these as follows: 10000 -1000 100 -10 1 . -0.1 0.01 Now how does this work in practice? We can write all integers up to nine exactly as in the decimal system, but when we come to ten it at first looks like we have a problem, since there is no 10 column, only one for -10. What can we do? Very simple, we write 190. Moving into the 100s column, we take 1, then subtract 9 10s via the -10 column, leaving 10. So it continues: 0 1 2 3 … 9 190 191 192 … 199 180 … 170 … 160 … 109 290 291 … 390 … 490 … 909 19090 19091 It can be seen than we seem to skip over numbers with 2 and 4 digits at each point. Interestingly, many numbers (all those with 0s in every column representing an odd power of -10) are written in exactly the same way as their decimal counterpart - nine hundred and nine is 909 is both decimal and base -10. What do 2 and 4 digit numbers represent? Let's have a look at one. 76, say. This is minus sixty four (check this for yourself). In fact, in this base we can express negative numbers without need for any minus sign - all numbers with an even number of digits are in fact negative. We can count downwards as follows: 0 19 18 17 16 … 10 29 28 27 … 90 1909 1908 1907 … 1910. The usual arithmetic operations are quite simple to perform in this base, though they work slightly differently. Let's try an addition: 1545 +376 We add the digits 5 and 6 as usual. This gives us 191 (11 for decimal users), so we need to alter another column. The next one up will be fine, as usual, but this column is negative ten, so we need to subtract 1 from it (i.e. add 19) to indicate an additional ten in the answer. We just carry 19 (-1 in decimal) instead of 1, and continue, writing 1 in the first column of our answer. The next column is now 4 plus 7 plus 19 (i.e. - 1) which is 190 (that is, 10). We write down 0 and carry the 19 again. 5 plus 3 plus 19 is just 7, so no carrying is necessary, and the last column is just 1. We thus have 1701 as our answer. Simple! Subtraction is just as easy. Let's do: 9545 -776 In the first column, 5 minus 6 is 19, so we need to borrow 190 (i.e. ten) from somewhere. The next column will again be fine, but we need to add 1 to that column to reduce it by ten. That gives us 195 minus 6, which is easy - 9. We write that down, and find 4 plus 1 (carried) minus 7, which is 18. Again we borrow from the next column by adding 1 to it, and need then find only 195 minus 7, or 8. The third column is now 5 plus 1 (carried) minus 7 - yet again we must borrow from the next column by adding 1 to it, and we can then do 196 minus 7, which is 9 again. The last column now just contain 9 plus 1, which is 190, so we have 190989 as our answer. If this looks implausably large, remember that each step up in this base adds two digits, not one, since every other digit is reserved for numbers of the other sign. For one more example, look at: 195 - 7 which we had to do in the middle of the last problem. 5 minus 7 is 18, so we add 1 to the next column and write 195 minus 7 (yes, OK, this is a bit circular - I'm just illustrating something) or 8. In the next column we have 9 plus 1, which is 190, so we write 0, then carry 19 into the next column. 1 plus 19 is 0, so that column is a 0 as well, leaving 008, or just 8. Good, everything seems to work fine. Multiplication? 234 *19 Right. Given that you probably don't know your times tables in base -10, this may take some time. I've chosen a particularly simple example (multiplication by negative one) to assist. We begin with 4*9. This is 176. We write 6 and carry the 17. 3*9 is 187, but we need to add 17, giving 184. We write 4 and carry the 18. 2*9 is 198, plus 18 is 196. That leaves us with 19646 for 234*9. We now put in a filler 0 as usual and procede to multiply 234 by 1, a fairly straightforward process, which gives us 2340 as our final result. We now need to find 19646 plus 2340, which is 1986. You can check all these results by converting all the numbers involved into decimal and comparing answers.
Onwards, then. Imaginary numbers would seem to be a good place to go next (believe me, non-integers are trickier. For reasons that will becomes clear later, I'm going to use base 3i, instead of 10i. We write out the columns: 81 27i -9 3i 1 . -i/3 -1/9 i/27 1/81 We can begin writing 0 1 2 … and at this point hit a small problem. There is no way to create three using just three digits in this base. Indeed the lowest positive real number we can create by going to more than one digit is nine (10900). It would seem that to make this base work we require nine digits, the magnitude of the base squared. As it turns out, this isn't all that different from using a negative base. We simply interweave the real and imaginary parts of the number. For example, ten is expressed as 10800, which is 180 (base -9) plus 00i. The sole advantage of this method of writing numbers is that it isn't necessary to have a separate symbol for i - one can write any complex number using notation that we would associate with positive integers - no minus sign is required either. Mathematically the treatment is identical with negative base numbers. When working solely with positive integers, of course, such a base is extremely cumbersome, since one must use twice as many digits as one would expect. The important thing to remember when adding and subtracting, is that one should carry not into the next column, but the next column beyond that. This is because of the interweaving of real and imaginary numbers; one cannot borrow or give to the wrong sort of column. Other than that, imaginary bases present few difficulties.
- Professor Merriman Atten
LEANNE DAYNANN: WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE
(The Horizon Post.) Following the HORRIFIC MURDER of noted businessman Ray Daynann, three Members of the Family have emerged into the Public Eye as the possible Inheritors of the Daynann family business: Stuart, Joanna, and Leanne Daynann. Stuart seeks Peace, while Joanna has sworn to devote herself to Avenging Ray’s death, but both are, in their own ways, Traditionalists. Not so the third contender, Leanne Daynann, who in her recent EXCLUSIVE interview described her Commitment to the cause of Liberty in Horizon! Should she take over the Family Business, she has promised to direct the Considerable resources of the Daynann Family to Furthering the cause of FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY!!! While it is, of course, entirely up to the Daynann Family who they choose to replace the Late, Lamented Ray Daynann, Leanne’s Election would represent a TRIUMPH for the cause of Liberty so beloved by the Honest People of Horizon.- James Ridgway
Baron de Montague's Lectures Draw Crowds
(The Horizon Tribune.) Recently all of Horizon has been enthralled by Baron de Montague's series of lectures entitled "My Exciting and Totally True Exploits", which he is giving all this month at the Cartography lecture theatre in the University. Rarely have seats sold out so fast - excited staff tell us that there are people camping outside the department in order to get a ticket.A Break With Mob Tradition
(The Liberator.) To most of Horizon, the name "Daynann" means "gangster". Perhaps, after today, it will mean "freedom".Putative head of the Daynann family Leanne Daynann today gave a speech at the Democratic Congress of Horizon in which she emotionally encouraged the members to set aside their difference in favour of a common cause of liberty. She pledged to bring the members and business of ther Daynann family to bear in liberating the suffering and unrepresented peoples of Horizon, if only a few brave souls would stand with her.
This paper has frequently lambasted the timidity of the DCH, and indeed heckling suggested the presence of a few doubters on this occasion. But on the whole your correspondent is proud to report that that DCH was overwhelmingly supportive of Ms. Daynann's call to campaigning for the liberty of Horizon and her mobilisation of the DCH and other organisations behind the Daynann family in acting for freedom. We are happy to lend our support to her campaign for leadership of Daynann family businesses, and expect that the DCH will swiftly be adding their voice to ours on this issue.
Tragedy at the Orphanage
(The Horizon Tribune.) A teenage boy has committed suicide at the orphanage he had called home for the last 5 years.Gregory Philips, 14, who lived in an orphanage in the Slums, was found yesterday having hanged himself with his own belt in the bathroom.
It is not known why Gregory this he did not leave any note and had been very popular in the orphanage; he had many friends there and had been looking forward to his birthday in a couple of weeks.
Although he had had a troubled childhood prior to coming to the orphanage (after his mothers death and the regular beatings he had received from his farther) he had according to orphanage staff forgotten all that and was looking forward to the bright future he had ahead of him.
Gregory will be greatly missed but for these orphans life must go on.
THE DARK AVENGER TAKES TO THE SKIES!!!
(The Horizon Post.) Yesterday afternoon this reporter was greeted with a SPECTACULAR SIGHT, as the DARK AVENGER SWOOPED from the air to rescue Mrs Hobbins (43) from the window of a BURNING HOUSE. This reporter gasped in WONDERMENT as the SPECTACULAR black-clad figure was framed by the flames. Mrs Hobbins commented to the Post about her SAVIOUR:
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was done for. I could barely breathe. My heart almost stopped from the shock and excitement as this caped stranger appeared from nowhere and grabbed both my arms, lifting me right out the window.”
The DARK AVENGER appears to have taken his inspiration from the popular new sport of SKYLARKING and purchased himself a pair of the finest clockwork wings availiable. AWESTRUCK spectators gathered round to see their HERO at his finest moment. Those who wrote off the DARK AVENGER as a momentary fad are being forced to eat their words as it becomes apparent that he is to be part of Horizon for some time to come...
THE WHITE AVENGER TAKES TO THE SKIES!!!
(The Horizon Post.) Yesterday afternoon this reporter was greeted with a SPECTACULAR SIGHT, as the WHITE AVENGER SWOOPED from the air to rescue Mrs Dobbins (43) from the window of a BURNING HOUSE. This reporter gasped in WONDERMENT as the SPECTACULAR white-clad figure was framed by the flames. Mrs Dobbins commented to the Post about her SAVIOUR:
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was done for. I could barely breathe. My heart almost stopped from the shock and excitement as this caped stranger appeared from nowhere and grabbed both my arms, lifting me right out the window.”
The WHITE AVENGER appears to have taken her inspiration from the popular new sport of SKYLARKING and purchased herself a pair of the finest clockwork wings availiable. AWESTRUCK spectators gathered round to see their HEROINE at her finest moment. Those who wrote off the WHITE AVENGER as a momentary fad are being forced to eat their words as it becomes apparent that she is to be part of Horizon for some time to come...
GHOUL ESCAPES ASYLUM!
(The Horizon Illuminator.) SCANDAL rocked the Asylum last week when a DANGEROUS GHOUL PSYCHOPATH was released from the Ghoulish Wing by a party of ARMED MEN! Authorities have warned that the ghoul in question may be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and is OBSESSED WITH CROCODILES! One guard gave the Illuminator this EXCLUSIVE description of the suspect!
"Well, he's a ghoul, y'know? What else am I supposed to say? You know how they all look alike."
BARON MONTAGUE, I ASSUME?
(The Horizon Post.) These days, it seems that Treacherous Lands exploration is all the rage. No surprise, then, to find that the Post's old favorite BARON MONTAGUE has lauched an expedition to uncover the secrets that MAN was not MEANT TO KNOW! And more ASTOUNDINGLY, more BRAVELY, more DEATH-DEFYINGLY, Montague has launched his latest venture SOLO! THAT'S RIGHT! the Baron has taken a WALK beyond the WALL by himself! HOW is it possible? CAN the Treacherous Lands kill a man who KNOWS NO FEAR? Find out, exclusively, in THE HORIZON POST! For now, we can let our LOYAL READERS know that the Baron has checked in with the authorities safe and only slightly suffering from third-degree burns, having scouted out portions of some VAST and FALLEN CITY! The imagination REBELS at the task of imagining what force could have destroyed the cities of the old Enmpire - fortunate indeed that we have the WALL - and the BARON - to hold them back! The Baron has confronted, in the RUINS of the FALLEN CITY of old, a DRAGON!!!!! - and lived to TELL the TALE! The POST wishes the Baron every success in his ongoingImperialist Cell Raided - Duke Crowland Executed
(The Horizon Tribune.) A midnight raid on a long-abandoned office building in the Imperial Ruins by the Watchdogs' Republican Unit, backed up by the ever-capable Flying Squad led by Captain Animo, has exposed one of the largest and most powerful cells of the Emperor's Front uncovered to date.Acting on an anonymous tip-off that the cell would be meeting in that location, the elite Watchdog forces swung into action at the command of Commisioner for Illegal Organisations Randall Bryant, and the success of the operation is a timely boost for the controversial Watchdog who is facing accusations of corruption from several quarters. The cell included figures from every stratum of society, ranging from disgruntled veterans of the Last War to petty criminals from the Slums to respected craftsmen, but by far the most famous of the arrested Imperialists was Duke Crowland. A simultaneous raid by the Republican unit on Duke Crowland's mansion produced a number of private documents belonging to the Duke clearly establishing his pro-Empire sensibilities. This evidence, combined with the testimony of several terrorists obtained in lengthly, all-night interrogations at the Doghouse and a number of explosives discovered in the cellar of the Front meeting-place, were more than enough to secure a conviction in the swift pre-dawn hearing at the Horizon Courts of Justice.
In accordance with the long-standing emergency measures concerning the Emperor's Front, the terrorists were executed by a firing squad in the Doghouse's exercise yard at dawn. The families of the convicts, including Thomas and Josephine Crowland (son and daughter of the Duke) were interviewed, but satisfied the Watchdogs that they were unaware of their family members' secret lives. Thomas Crowland is expected to inherit his father's title and seat in the Goodly Chamber in due course.
THE TANGLED TALE OF DANIEL RAKEMORE
(The Horizon Post.) Regular readers of the Post will recall that, after witnessing FIRST-HAND the Horror that was the SHARK-BOY MASSACRE, I vowed not to Rest until I had discovered the TRUTH behind the events of that terrible night. Now, at last, after a four-month search, I can reveal both the true Mastermind of the Massacre and his Sordid End.The Massacre was engineered by none other than DANIEL RAKEMORE of the Horizon Illuminator. It was HIM who told CAPTAIN ANIMO where to find Shark-Boy, knowing that Officer Perez would be there, too; and it was HE who, disguised as one of Perez’ Watchdogs, attempted to ASSASSINATE Animo, starting the fight between the Watchdogs and allowing Shark-Boy to carry out his RUTHLESS RAMPAGE. But he made One Mistake – he reckoned without the Eagle Eyes of JAMES RIDGWAY, for from my hidden vantage point I observed that Animo’s would-be assassin had the same height and build as Daniel Rakemore, who arrived mere Minutes later to begin writing his own, WILDLY INACCURATE version of events!! After interviewing Perez and Animo, I had all the information I needed to Discern his Guilt, which I passed on to the Loyal Order of Hounds. Only their Request for my Secrecy has prevented me from publishing this before today!
Soon, Rakemore was a WANTED MAN, whose last action before going on the Run was to Break into the Horizon Post and TRICK its editors to publish his VILE SLANDERS on the COLUMNA FAMILY. But, being a MASTER OF DISGUISE, he did not flee the City; he merely took on a NEW IDENTITY as a "Jurican" merchant named JAFFAR AL TARIB, and continued his DARK DEEDS, spreading RUMOURS that the noble Columnas were in fact CULTISTS OF EVIL GODS!!! However, I, JAMES RIDGWAY, penetrated his Veils of Deceit and tracked him to his HIDDEN LAIR, intent on seeing JUSTICE DONE. Had I arrived mere Moments earlier, I would have Confronted him Myself – but instead, I was greeted by the sight of a Dark Figure fleeing away from the HORRIBLY MANGLED BODY of DANIEL RAKEMORE!!! I could draw only One Conclusion: Rakemore was the latest victim of the DARK AVENGER!!!
Remember: believe NOTHING you have read by Daniel Rakemore, especially if it concerned the COLUMNAS! Given that he sometimes wrote Anonymously, and was in any case a MASTER OF DISGUISE, it would be Safest to assume that EVERYTHING EVER PUBLISHED by the Horizon Illuminator was probably Contaminated by his Vile Lies. Only the Horizon Post can bring you the TRUTH!!!
- James Ridgway
EDITORIAL: LOSS OF A LEGEND
(The Horizon Illuminator.) It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Daniel Rakemore, one of our most noted journalists at the Illuminator. On the night of the 10th of Summer's Dawn the body of Daniel Rakemore was found by rival journalist James Ridgway in the entrance to an ally in the Slums. He had been VICIOUSLY assaulted by at least two individuals who had both STABBED and GUTTED him, while making sure their treacherous deed was complete by setting a rare and deadly JURICAN COBRA on him which is now lose in the city!Is RIDGWAY involed? it seems a little too convenient that he should arrive just as our NOBLE JOURNALIST gasped his last breath. Passers-by said they saw a CLOAKED figure racing into the night. The Dark Avenger must truely have a heart as black as his cloak to kill Daniel not once, but twice! Both inside and outside the building Rakemore STAGGERED from; DESPERATE to find help but finding none, the DARK AVENGER left him to his fate. Was the snake a passing gift from his rival reporter? who knows how far the Post will go to get a good story? Dear readers, as you and I both know, Daniel Rakemore was a good man who sought TRUTH AND JUSTICE and FOUGHT against crime with EVERY BREATH in his body - let us never forget his legacy.
Rakemore Found Posthumously Guilty
(The Horizon Tribune.) Late this afternoon the Horizon Coroner's Court found that Daniel Rakemore was guilty of the assault upon Captain Animo of the Flying Squad which precipitated the highly embarrassing inter-Watchdog brawl this Spring.Presented with a compelling array of evidence - a Watchdog uniform found in Rakemore's hideaway, sworn testimony from an anonymous clockworker confessing to selling Rakemore the one-shot used in the crime, and a rough draft of Rakemore's Illuminator story on the fight dated two days prior to the fight itself, the coroner ruled that Rakemore bore sole responsibility for the dreadful occurrence that disrupted the arrest of the so-called Sharkboy murderer.
AERIAL THEATRE WARMS UP SKYLARKING RACES!
(Skylarker's Monthly.) It's been suggested in some quarters that Joakhim al-Bahrad has lost his touch for comedy - certainly, there was little sign of humour in the weighty Crown of Steel. Naysayers were proved wrong at the latest Skylarking meet, however, when Joakhim and several other actors provided pre-race entertainment in the form of experimental "aerial theatre".Joakhim led a diverse cast of novelty racers - including his own ally, Motley the Flying Dog - in a mock race designed less as a test of skill for the participants and more as a display of aerobatic stunts. As the mock race proceeds, Joakhim's cackling "Nick Nastily" - an obvious parody of the villainous roles al-Bahrad is accustomed to - hatches numerous devious ploys to catch the clockwork pigeon and win the race, only to be foiled at the last minute by the incompetance of his clique of ne'er-do-wells (which includes the aforementioned Motley). The aerial theatre was especially popular with children at the race meet, providing as it did an exciting diversion whilst their parents talked to the various betting agents, seeking a decent set of odds for the day's races.
STOP PRESS! LASINIAN REVOLUTION BEGINS AT LAST!!!
(The Horizon Post.) Today I, JAMES RIDGWAY, witnessed HISTORY IN THE MAKING! Here in PRENALIA, capital of LASANIA, the PEOPLE HAVE RISEN AGAINST THE SENATE!!! I was actually present when the REVOLUTIONARY ARMY struck the FIRST BLOW against their HATED OPPRESSORS, demolishing the City Guardhouse and storming the Senate!! Driven by Generations of BITTER REPRESSION and WANT, and pushed over the edge by the recent CRACKDOWN by the Authorities, the PEOPLE OF LASANIA have CAST DOWN THEIR MASTERS and PUT THE SENATE TO THE SWORD!!!With my own Eyes I have witnessed scenes of Terror and Glory like None I have ever Seen before! Lasinian Aristocrats hanging from lampposts! Jubilant Crowds ransacking the Wine Cellars of the Senate! Bare-breasted Women waving Flags on Barricades!! All Lasinia is AWASH WITH BLOOD, as in Prenalia the rebels EXECUTE the Aristocracy, while elsewhere in the Country the remaining Aristocrats SLAUGHTER anyone they suspect of Sympathising with the Revolution!! The Stage is Set for a BLOODY CIVIL WAR!!!
However, although both sides have carried out many DEEDS OF BLOOD, it is the Revolutionaries who have the support of the People ? and for that alone they deserve the support of Horizon. If they can Succeed in throwing off the Shackles of Autocracy, they will be the First Nation to complete the Glorious March towards Liberty that began when the HATED EMPEROR was Toppled from his Throne. For all its Excesses, the cause of the Lasinian Revolution is the Cause of Freedom, and we should all join in singing the Stirring Anthem of the Revolution:
I shall not Cease from Gory Fight,
VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE OF LASANIA!!!
Nor shall my Gun rest in my Hand,
Till we have won Democracy
In Lasania's Pleasant Land!
- James Ridgway
WHITE AVENGER RESCUES DOG FROM TREE!
(The Horizon Illuminator.) PANIC almost ensued at the latest skylarking race meet when kids' favourite Motley the Flying Dog became entangled in a TREE after attempting to catch the clockwork pigeon using a LUDICROUS CONTRAPTION. The children needn't have worried, though, since the WHITE AVENGER was soon on the scene, rescuing the stranded pooch from the boughs of the WOODEN PERIL. Before leaving, the WHITE AVENGER gave Motley a small medal, reading "THE AERIAL THEATRE IS SPONSORED BY THE WHITE AVENGER!"COUNT ALRIC ROOLS OK
(The Horizon Post.) we were rong THE LAST TIWE when we said Coun ALRICK was a bad persun.he is REALLY GR TE and can eat 10 STEAKS for BREKFUST. the arTICLE was a FITHY LIE!!! wrITTEN BY an Imposter. WE FOUND HIM IN THE CELLAR EATING SAWDUST but we delt with him so NO NEED TO GET THE WATCHDOGS INVOLVED!!!!!!
move that bit to the left before we pull the lever
oh but COUNT ALRIC is not Deed he is ALIVE and is GREAT and shed RULE THE 3 FAMILYS. also he is VERY GOOD PERSOn and has LEEDERSHIP QUALYTIEES like a LOUD VOICE and powrfl FIST the CoLUMNER are GRATE TOO. Sum of them work VERY HARD and shud be payed More. THEY like the BIG MONEYS and we ar e VERY cnnunnging 4 PUBLISHING ARTYClS in the NEWSPAPER owrselfs. Mowbeeus COLUMNER is ALZo GRATEbut likes TO sniff horSes HA HA ONLY JOKING from bill
HARRY is on tHe veg ddar DUST
COLUMNA THUGS STORM POST!
(The Horizon Illuminator.) The Horizon Illuminator would like to express its SINCERE and HEARTFELT condolences to its erstwhile competitor the Post, following the invasion of the Post offices by Alric Columna's jackbooted thugs and their insertion of a carefully-worded rebuttal of previous articles printed in the Post about the Columna family - allegedly by our own dear departed Daniel Rakemore.We must admit, we knew something was wrong when the article had better spelling, punctuation, and grammar than the average Post article, as well as a higher standard of intelligence and wit. The Illuminator is sure that things will return to the Post as soon as its editors leave hospital.
CORRECTION: COLUMNA FAMILY "NOT MONSTERS AFTER ALL"
(The Horizon Post.) Previous Reports in this Paper, published by known Criminal Lunatic Daniel Rakemore, claimed that the Columna Family are EVIL MONSTERS. This was ENTIRELY ERRONEOUS, and all Rakemore’s claims should be treated as the LIES they are. The fact is that the Columna Family, as well as being a Good and Noble part of Horizon’s High Society, are also Public-Minded Benefactors: a fact demonstrated by the intervention of many of Count Columna’s retainers in suppressing the VILE CULT that was Exterminated last Month in the Slums. These Brave Men risked their Lives to assist the Ghouls in their Duties. Did any of Horizon’s other Noble Houses make such a gesture???
In an EXCLUSIVE interview, Count Columna also explained that the reports that his men were responsible for Murdering a Ghoul and Stealing its Body during the fighting were THOROUGHLY INACCURATE. "It was a set-up", the Count explained. "After eating one of the men responsible for killing the Hunter, the ghouls thought they saw my brother, Moebius Columna, but in fact he was out of the city at the time. Someone is trying to frame us." The Post can confirm that Moebius was, indeed, out of the City at the time, and does appear to be ENTIRELY INNOCENT; indeed, he is a PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY, a Paragon of Honesty and Generosity who is often to be seen handing out Sweets to Orphans and helping Old Women across the Street. Such a man would NEVER order the death of a Ghoul. The only question is: WHO FRAMED MOEBIUS COLUMNA???
- James Ridgway
The Walking Corpse Decays (Reprise)
(The Liberator.) As our regular readers will be all too aware, the Watchdog Commissioner supposedly tasked with combatting "illegal organisations", the so-called "Walking Corpse", has the day-to-day job of stifling dissent against our hideously inequitable social order and repressing groups concerned with the legitimate expression of protest and opposition. Documents recently delivered to the Liberator officies, though, indicate that the current "Corpse", Randall Bryant, has gone some way beyond the his brief of common-or-garden political oppression and is openly taking regular (and sizable) sums of money to influence - and force rank and file Watchdogs to take part in - the conflicts between the gangs that he is supposed to combat. It seems beyond doubt that the Watchdogs were involved in a partisan manner on the side of the so-called "Cartel" in their recent troubles with the notorious "Three Families" slum mob - even (allegedly) to the point of assassination. The Liberator is happy to defend its claims in open court if necessary. Bryant has sent ordinary and (potentially) innocent citizens to defend his choice of criminal mob, in direct contravention of his duty to the city. Corruption and oppression riddle our city's government. But the Liberator demands of the entire city government - including Mayor Zero - whether it profits anybody to allow an open criminal, racketeer, and possible murderer to run important parts of our police force. Time, perhaps, that this Walking Corpse was laid to rest; whether through the current official enquiry into his conduct, or by more direct means.HPLF Aid Bloody Revolution
(The Horizon Tribune.) The latest events in the Lasinian revolution unfolded this afternoon with a terrible explosion in the Royal Hotel in Lasinian capital, Prenalia, claimed the lives of senator Matthias Alexi and his wife Lucilla. The couple were dining there along with representatives of Colonel Zero's government when the explosion occurred. Emergency services were called immediately to the scene of this horrific crime but both the senator and his wife were already too badly injured to be saved. The terrorist attack also injured a number of passers by, including a young boy (8) who was playing in the courtyard just outside the hotel and was rushed off to the nearest physician after having his right leg severely damaged by the ricocheting debris. The leg was later amputated by the skilled physicians on hand due to fears of possible infection. This tragic event comes only two days after the attack on Senatorial Plaza and is only one amongst many such attacks which have been carried out by violent revolutionaries.An investigation being headed by Captain Michael Orino of the legitimate government's police force managed to uncover a number of revolutionary strongholds, in which were stashed various explosives and alchemical supplies. Furthermore, papers were found along with the artillery indicating that aid had been provided to the revolutionaries by the so-called Horizon People's Liberation Front. Speaking with the Tribune the Captain voiced his concerns over the potential HPLF involvement.
"The attacks are not merely targeting the aristocracy and the government. We hear day to day accounts of innocent bystanders being caught up in these ill-planned and malicious attacks. The legitimate government of Lasinia is pulling together all its resources to quash these dangerous terrorists and return stability to the country. Governor Thaddeaus Avarius and the senate are appealing to Colonel Zero to provide what aid he can in this time of crisis. In particular, we wish to see those members of the HPLF who aided in bringing this about dealt with swiftly and brought to justice."
The ensuing violence in Lasinia has raised concerns amongst the inhabitants in Horizon that the HPLF may be planning similar attacks here, especially if they are being supported by the reputedly extremist group, the LPLF. As a result Colonel Zero has issued orders to the commanders of the Watchdogs to be extra-vigilant over the coming weeks and to encourage that action be taken against the HPLF threat. It is strongly suspected that amongst other weapons and explosives the HPLF may have access to various forms of alchemical weapons.
The Tribune urges its readers to do what they can, however little, to see stability restored as swiftly as possible and to ensure that the violence does not reach the gates of Horizon.
HORIZON HONOURS NEW HERO
(The Horizon Post.)
WHITE AVENGER PERFORMS YET ANOTHER SPECTACULAR FEAT!!!
SO WHO IS THIS DARK AVENGER PERSON ANYWAY?!?! Over the past few months the city has been BUZZING with news of the so-called DARK AVENGER. But it seems lately the DARK AVENGER has MET HIS MATCH. Any success he has seems to be immediately UPSTAGED by the EVER POPULAR new hero of the people, THE WHITE AVENGER!!! Only two days ago the DARK AVENGER was seen performing AMAZING STUNTS with his clockwork wings as he rescued Robert Black (10) from a POTENTIALLY FATAL FALL from the roof of his building complex. However, just yesterday he was once again OUTDONE by the WHITE AVENGER as she flew from the skies carrying two children that she had rescued from part of a collapsed building, performed what any SKYLARKING expert would describe as a FLAWLESS DOUBLE SOMERSAULT and landed gently with both children unharmed.
Inevitably this leads to the question, just why do we need this DARK AVENGER!?!? Is he prepared to sit and take it while he is proven LESS WORTHY by the WHITE AVENGER!?!? Is it true that he just isn’t capable of competing?!?! The Horizon Post asked you for your views on the two RIVAL HEROES.
“No-one's interested in the Dark Avenger anymore. I guess we just got bored with hearing about him all the time...”The Horizon Post waits eagerly to see what the DARK AVENGER plans to do to regain the favour of the people. What GREAT ACT will he attempt to prove himself once again the PEOPLE’S HERO?!?! Only in the Horizon Post will you read all the answers!!!
- Miss Black, Ruins.“I’ve always liked the Dark Avenger, but lately the White Avenger seems to have done so much more for the community.”
– Mr Smith, Trading District.“I don’t get all this rivalry. Why can’t the Dark and White Avengers just work together in helping people?”
– Mr Weatherby, Ruins.
Mob Scion Is Dangerous Terrorist
(The Horizon Tribune.) The reputation of the Daynann family of 'merchants' has generally been tainted by charges of mob tactics, violence, and illegal business practices. Such accuasations were dramatically trumped yesterday as Leanne Daynann, a frontrunner for the directorship of the family businesses, was publicly accused of involvement with violent revolutionary groups, and worse, with Sky shamanism. Following a charged speech of individual liberty to the DCH, Ms. Daynann was enjoying a spell of public approval, particularly within the city's progressive elements. Her supporters were therefore shocked when the Watchdogs revealed documents handed to them that indicated in no uncertain terms her collaboration with HPLF plans to attack civic targets, and her collaboration with supernatural servants of the Sky. The Church of the Intercessor has already condemned the activities alleged of Ms. Daynann, while the Watchdogs have issued a warrant for her arrest. She has since disappeared from the streets of Horizon, while the DCH has rushed out a statement distancing itself from her, her Sky shamanism, and her supposed violent plans.HORROR IN THE HEART OF HORIZON'S HIGH SOCIETY
(The Horizon Illuminator.) While our rivals at the Post prefer to offer the lukewarm and deceptive custard of vague rumour, we at the Illuminator provide the solid, if occassionally difficult to digest, pudding of COLD, HARD FACT. Pursuing this goal, we hereby set aside personal safety to bring you this COMPLETELY TRUE and GROTESQUELY BELEIVABLE account of brutality, lust, and even incest at the highest levels of our society, where the Post dare only report second-hand gossip.From sources INTIMATELY concerned with the relevant parties, the Illuminator hears CONCRETE proof that Horizon's poshest gangster ALRIC COLUMNA likes to indulge in more than just illegal behaviour with HIS OWN SISTER. Notoriously "sensitive" society beauty CRACE COLUMNA is regularly forced to undergo entirely nonconsensual "DISCIPLINE" lessons with her deeply attentive older brother - the hideous perversions that have taken place DEFY the IMAGINATION. Suffice to say that we are utterly SICKENED by the mere thought of the ORGIES of SADISTIC PEVERSION that servants, family friends and even closer acquaintances testify to. Now we have an explanation for the abscence of any heir to the Columna fortunes - as those who know them best will tell, the brightest and best of this noble family aren't interested in marriage - THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING THEY NEED AT HOME.
The Lasinian Revolution: Two Perspectives
(The People of Lasinia.) It is the editorial policy of this newspaper to provide a voice for any and all who would see the corrupt regime of Lasinia overthrown. In recent days the Revolution has come to Lasinia, and it is down to the people of Lasinia to decide which direction the Revolution will take. Controversy already surrounds this stage. Therefore, we have divided this issue's editorial page in half, so that representatives of both sides of the debate may make their voice heard.The Blood of the Rich Will Water the Fields of Lasinia!
(On behalf of the Lasinian People's Liberation Front.) Comrades, I write you this missive from the frontline of the battle for freedom and egalitarianism. I write to let you know about the new society we are forging, to dissuade you from listening to certain lies and disinformations circulated by enemies of the revolution, and to exhort you to join us in the struggle for liberty.It is a sad but undeniable fact that the rich, the wealthy, the powerful, the entrenched interests that have ruled Lasinia for so long, are capable of exerting a powerful corruptive force over the revolution if good comrades are not alert. The "democratic" ideals voiced by certain individuals may sound appealing, but are merely one means by which the powers that be hope to regain control of the nation. Elections, whilst a fine concept, are far too easily rigged.
No; if free society is to be secure, all power must be devolved to the rightful representatives of the people, the revolutionary cells which have liberated them from their oppressors. All cell members must prove themselves stalwart defenders of revolutionary principles; all cells must constantly guard against creeping reactionary influences.
The work of purging Lasinia of reactionary influences is arduous. In my local area, Revolutionary Court #27 - headed by Comrade Lucius Hespercles - has been charged with passing sentence on accusations of collaboration levied against locals. The vast number of guilty sentences passed by the Revolutionary Courts is testimony to the all-pervading nature of the Lasinian state.
One tactic employed by the reactionary forces is convincing the proletariat of the viability of private property. There is no place for private property in an egalitarian, free society, and yet we meet constant resistance from reactionary landowners, farmers, craftsmen and other individuals. Confiscation of foodstuffs and materials occupies the time of many revolutionary cadres, and this time-consuming process is to the detriment of the revolution as a whole; by the time this article is published, the Revolutonary Councils will have passed a motion empowering the forces of freedom and liberation to liberate any and all resources they require by force.
The factories are being dismantled. The apprentices are being freed from the workshops in which they are enslaved. The sprawling farms of the aristocracy have been replaced with communal farms operated by and for the benefit of the local populace. The centres of learning, the fortresses of knowledge, have been emptied; now knowledge will be exchanged freely, in the street, in free lectures that may be attended by anyone and in which the student has as much right to be heard as the teacher, and in which no undue importance is attached to the teacher's "experience". The bright dawn of the revolution has come, and we are reengineering our society slowly but surely into a new model unprecedented in the history of mankind. I urge all right-thinking lovers of liberty to join us.
Lasinia Heeds Call of Equality
(On behalf of the Lasinian Democratic Assembly.) In accordance with the motion passed on the 13th day of Summer's Dawn, the Democratic Assembly has taken power in a third of Lasinia. The rest of the nation is split between the good-natured but misguided revolutionary factions of the LPLF, and the undeniably malign forces of the old regime.It has been the policy of the Democratic Assembly all along to hold free and fair elections as soon as it is viable to do so. Elections will therefore be held during Summer's Dusk in the region controlled by the Assembly. Individuals from all parties, including the newly-formed Lasinian Conservative Party (representing the old regime), will be permitted to stand for election in a first-past-the-post system. The Lasinian Worker's Revolutionary Party, a Richterist faction of the Lasinian People's Liberation Front, has refused to participate in the elections, stating that "the elections will almost certainly be rigged to allow the Conservatives in through the back door".
And that brings me to the main topic of my missive: the senseless paranoia and pessimism that plagues our land, at a time when what we should be focusing on is an all-pervading sense of hope. The democratic process has been hampered by the more excitable wing of the revolution becoming frightened and untrusting of even its own allies.
To give you an example: the LPLF would have us believe that democratic elections are functionally impossible, that people are simply far too corrupt to allow such elections to happen. They would have us believe that the old regime is preparing some sort of horrible, bloodthirsty revenge against the forces of liberation - as if any reasonable individual would participate in a military strike against the concepts of liberty and equality! We in the LDA prefer to believe in people. We believe that the people of Lasinia are grown-up enough for real democracy. We also believe that the old regime is wise enough not to use violence to fight what has been - in our region of Lasinia, at least - a relatively bloodless revolution.
I also have to say I am worried about the events transpiring in the regions under the control of the LPLF. Without democratic elections, they have taken certain concerning policy decisions - notably, the communalisation of resources - which are somewhat extreme, and their methods seem based on a grim, paranoid view of human nature. When will they open their hearts and let love in?
Confusion In the Noble District; Count Columna Arrested, Sentenced to Death
(The Horizon Tribune.) High drama in the noble district yesterday, as the estate of Count Columna, long suspected of running a highly successful crime empire, was surrounded by the Mayoral Legion.As regular readers will be aware, the assassination of ghoul Hunter Havarith during the recent cult clampdowns in the Slums had been loudly and publicly blamed by the Ghouls on the Columna family, following the apparent delivery of orders to family "retainers" by Moebius Columna, Count Columna's brother. It is well established that Moebius was in Lasinia on business at the time. However, Count Columna's refusal to discuss the situation with the Ghouls had led to tensions. Two days ago, sensational evidence emerged that Count Columna had ordered the assassination of the ghoul in order to "make an example", disguising himself as Moebius to establish plausible deniability - a move of petty bravado that clearly backfired. Testaments from several sources, including Moebius Columna, showed that the Count had given the orders in an attempt to show the Ghouls who was in charge. Moebius Columna himself resolved the potentially explosive situation by handing over the corpse to the Ghouls and issuing an apololgy; this was overshadowed by lurid but irrefutable accounts in the yellow press of Count Alric's sexual exploitation of his famously attractive sister Crace.
Responding swiftly to the serious charge of Ghoul slaughter, the city authorities had Columna's large estate surrounded by the Mayoral Legions. Swiftly giving himself up, Count Alric Columna was brought before a swiftly convened Court of Justice, and on testimony including that of his own brother was convicted of charges including murder of officers of justice and incestuous rape. Sentenced to death, Alric Columna was stripped of his title by a special session of the Goodly Chamber. The execution is expected to occur in a few days' time; Alric Columna currently awaits death in the Doghouse, equal with the meanest of commoners at last.
Baron de Montague's Claim of Legitimacy Stalls In Courts
(The Horizon Tribune.) The ongoing court case to prove Baron de Montague's identity, which would haven enabled him to claim the title and what little remains of his property, has hit a major stumbling block as one of his supporters (and a key motivator behind the court case), Count Alric Columna, was arrested the other day on charges of incest and ghoul-murder. Count Alric was scheduled to present an original portrait of Baron de Montague to the court on the 20th day of Summer's Rise, however for obvious reasons he was not able to present this portrait to the court. With the loss of such a key supporter to the baron's case the situation does not look good for Baron de Montague.A Letter of Rebuttal
(The Horizon Tribune.)Sirs,
It has not escaped my attention that in certain quarters allegations of corruption have been made against me. I would hope that most citizens of Horizon would consider the source of the allegations - Daniel Rakemore, a deranged outlaw journalist who conspired to assassinate Captain Animo of the Flying Squad and spark off a highly damaging clash between Watchdog units, and the Liberator, the journal of infamous terrorist organisation the HPLF - and immediately discount the allegations. Nonetheless, I feel that in the interests of transparency I give a statement to the people of Horizon along similar lines to the statement I have given the internal investigations team about these allegations.
It is true that I have provided certain Jurican business interests protection during the anti-Jurican riots of this Spring just past. It is also true that these business interests are allegedly connected to the so-called "Cartel" so beloved by conspiracy theorists and purveyors of racist demagoguery. It is further true that some of those interests gave me gifts in order to express their gratitude for this - any Jurican will tell you that culturally speaking, to refuse these gifts would have been a grave insult.
To suggest that I have behaved in an inappropriate manner by accepting these gifts, however, is to apply a rather naive perspective to the unique problems facing the Illegal Organisations office. One cannot simply wade into the cesspit of organised crime waving the statute book in one hand and a truncheon in the other, arresting all and sundry. That would create a status of pitched warfare in the streets between the various organised crime cliques and the Watchdogs, and it is precisely the duty of the Commissioner for Illegal Organisations to prevent that occurrence.
To arrest the criminals from the Slums who sought to oust the supposed "Cartel", whilst at the same time conducting police operations against any drug trafficking which may have been occurring in the trading district, would have been an untenable situation, and it is not difficult to see why:
- The drug smuggling rings, lacking any protection, would have seen no alternative but to attack the Slums with equal ferocity. This would have resulted in a state of martial law. Not only would this be incredibly bad for business and commerce within Horizon, and a great inconvenience to many within our fair city, but it would also be an international embarrassment. It would be cited by enemies of our metropolis that we are not capable of handling our own affairs; it would have weakened our stature in the world, and made annexation by one or all of the Four Nations all the more likely.
- All Watchdogs would have become targets to both the drug smuggling rings and the Slum denizens. Policing the city would have become impossible.
- Providing enough officers to police the Slum hoodlums was enough of a drain on the Department of Illegal Organisations' resources. To try to police both at once would have meant that no officers could be spared to investigate dangerous terrorist cells such as the Emperor's Front and the HPLF. The recent revelations about Leanne Daynann, and the exposure of the Crowland Cell of Imperialists, proves that diverting officers from the investigation of both those groups would have catastrophic consequences for this city.
Yours,
Randall Bryant
Commissioner for Illegal Organisations
Double Investure Marks New Era for Two Families
(The Horizon Tribune.) Today, two noble families of Horizon symbolically marked the beginning of new chapters in their previously troubled histories as new heads were sworn in at the Goodly Chamber.The Columna have long suffered from ill-repute as a result of alleged involvement with underworld groups; in recent days, though, strongly substantiated rumours of extortion, Ghoul murder and unspeakable incestuous behaviour on the part of the former Count Alric Columna have led to a storm of controversy and public anger around the family. The investiture of the new Count, Moebius Columna, have gone a long way to stilling such rumours and public outcry; the efforts of Moebius to resolve the issues of justice and murder in his own family have earned him widespread approbration.
By contrast, the Crowland family were thought of until recently as a respectable if reclusive family; the revelation of the former duke Benjamin as a high-ranking member of the Emperor's Front has sent shock waves through the society of Horizon. The investiture speech of the new Duke, Timothy Crowland, pleaded ignorance of such tendancies on the part of the rest of the family and assured the Goodly Chamber of a complete break with the past. This paper joins with the rest of the city in hoping that the change is genuine and complete.
Notable by their absence from the ceremony were the new Duke Crowland's reculsive (and reputedly disgraced) siblings, Samuel and Natasha Crowland...
DON'T WORRY: THEY'RE ON OUR SIDE NOW!
(The Horizon Post.) Today, Horizon saw a SPECTACLE the like of which has not been witnessed for over fourty years: a REGIMENT of IMPERIAL SOLDIERS marching through the STREETS OF HORIZON! But it's okay: our city hasn't been OVERRUN by maniacal TERRORISTS yet!! Because the regiment marching through our streets are DEFECTORS from a legion run by MAD VEGDARBARRAN IMPERIALIST ALEXANDER VASIVELICH!!! The regiment, lead by brave CORPORAL WEISS, has until now been living a LIE, perpetuated by VASIVELICH'S EVIL PROPAGANDA, convinced that the Emperor still lives and is in need of them. But thanks to the COURAGEOUS WORK of Horizon's diplomats, Weiss has come to understand recent history and has TURNED AWAY from the FOUL TYRANT, pledging his unit's service to Horizon in DEFENDING THE TRANS-WALL COLONIES in the TREACHEROUS LANDS!Journalism Contest Approaches Climax
(The Horizon Tribune.) Journalists all over the city are frantically trying to piece together a few final stories which might give them a crucial advantage in Colonel Zero's journalism competition - the prize of which is an exclusive interview with the Mayor himself - which is due to finish at the end of Summer's Dusk. Recently the Mayor's office confirmed reports that the stories written by the late Daniel Rakemore would not be considered for the competition, due to outstanding questions about the authorship of certain articles attributed to him and due to the reprehensible way in which he engineered his greatest scoop, the fight between Watchdog units sparked off by a disguised Rakemore shooting at the Flying Squad's Captain Animo.[OOC: The winner of the journalism contest will be announced in the 5th week session.]
DARK AVENGER ATTACKED BY WHITE AVENGER AND GHOULISH THUG!!!
(The Horizon Post.)
GHOUL AND WHITE AVENGER FIGHT EACH OTHER IN INCREDIBLE CLASH OF THE TITANS!!!!
The people of Horizon have been struck in a state of HORROR as it was revealed that the DARK AVENGER was HORRIBLY BEATEN due to a HIDEOUS BETRAYAL by the WHITE AVENGER. Witnesses of the events commented that the WHITE AND DARK AVENGERS seemed to be having a civilised coversation and bandying words when the MONSTROUS AND BLOODTHIRSTY GHOUL leapt from the shadows and started biting and clawing at the DARK AVENGER with what was described as a MURDEROUS LOOK on his face. The true HORROR came however, when rather than aiding her companion, the WHITE AVENGER turned and began aiding the GHOUL in his attack on the DARK AVENGER, who just managed to escape, albeit BLOODIED and BADLY BEATEN.This attack was SWIFTLY FOLLOWED by a BIZARRE and UNPRECEDENTED turn of events in which the GHOULISH MONSTER turned on his former ally and began attacking the WHITE AVENGER!!! The two powerful FOES were well matched. The GHOUL had the ADVANTAGE of surprise, fighting with an UNDISCIPLINED yet EFFECTIVE style he managed to cause some damage to his opponent. Those BRAVE ENOUGH to get close enough to the scene and observe as events unfolded, noticed the Ghoul PIN THE WHITE AVENGER to the ground and attempt to BITE OFF HER FACE!!! Fortunately the WHITE AVENGER’S quick reflexes allowed her to throw off the SAVAGE BEAST and FLEE the scene before any more collateral damage could occur.
But what could have driven these competitors to fight this bloody battle??? Why did the Ghoul turn upon his own ally??? Answers here exclusively in the Post!!!
Qveton Appeals for Aid Against "Rebel Province"
(The Horizon Tribune.) Earlier this week Captain Qveton, self-proclaimed sovereign of Vegdarbarra, sent letters to the Mayor's office requesting urgent military support against "a rebel uprising in the north". The leaked letter from Qveton then goes onto claim that the pompous so-called Baron Yuri von Litkinstein is using the imperialist attacks as an excuse to attack Qveton's lands while Qveton's men are gallantly trying to repel the evil Imperialists, leaving his borders with Litkinstein's territory undefended. Qventon's letter continues to describe how he scarified his forces to aid the city in its hour of need against the Emperor, and so should not the city in return help him in his hour of need?Lady Blaze Declared Governor of Trans-Wall Colonies
(The Horizon Tribune) Another great stride towards the colonisation of the Treacherous Lands was taken today as the explorer Lady Blaze, who has donated so much of her time and expertise towards the new Treacherous Lands settlement program, was declared the owner of the two Trans-Wall colonies in return for her hard work. In a ceremony today, the struggling new colonies were officially named "Leander" and "New Urtovsk" respectively."This is a great step for Horizon." said Lady Blaze. "Once we have tamed the perils of the Treacherous Lands, Leander and New Urtovsk will be in a perfect position to bring a new lease of life to Horizon's economy and ease the housing pressure from the already overcrowded slums. The future of the city lies across the Wall."
VOLUPTUOUS FREELANCE BEAUTY PUBLICLY EXPOSED!!! (as government stooge)
(The Horizon Illuminator) SENSATIONAL NEWS in Hackland as renowned beauty (and journalist) ELIZA BLAKE is unveiled in documents received by the Illuminator as an agent of SINISTER FORCES!!! Previously renowned for her DARING political POSTURES and her supposed LOVE for the COMMON MAN, Blake is now revealed as accepting MONEY for FAVOURS from men at the top of our city bureaucracy! Letters from noted bent bastard RANDALL BRYANT, the WALKING CORPSE, thank Eliza and promise her DUE PAYMENT for her SERVICES! Services such as ignoring Bryant's acceptance of copious bribes, and failing to report such CRIMES to the people of Horizon, via such organs of the truth as the ILLUMINATOR! Here at the Illuminator, we look forward to Blake's inevitable SEIZURE for corruption and PEVERSION of justice. We wish luck to whoever finally succeeds in capturing this DANGEROUS DECEIVER!Conflict In Vegdarbarra
(The Horizon Tribune.) Recent reports on the troop movements of the combined Horizon/Jurican force in the Vegdarbarran wastelands in pursuit of a rogue force apparently marching under an ancient imperial banner have reached the Tribune. The reports state that the combined force of Horizon and Jurica has engaged the enemy and is currently in the process of forcing a retreat from them after some heated battles. The commander of the force has called in the aid of noted military historian Desmond Riley after observations of the troops noted that they did indeed appear to be using ancient military tactics that the generals were only loosely familiar with. "Now that we can better interpret their moves we're able to counteract their actions with our superior equipment and updated tactics. It really is facinating to watch it in action," said Riley. It was also noted that the uniforms worn by the men and the equipment used were of a style dating back to hundreds of years ago, right down to the designs and methods of production - but their swords would surely have rusted and their rough, woolen tunics rotted if they were genuine antiques from the Second Age.The conflict is expected to come to some conclusion within the next couple of months all being well with the minimum of casulaties from this point onwards. The oposing forces are thought to be the last remaining oponents who have not already surrendered or deserted. From knowledge of past tactics it is believed that they are using full defensive strategies, indicating that they no longer wish to attack yet are not prepaired to surrender. "This is a classic style used by the old Imperial army when outclassed in battle and has often set them well to last out until reinforcements arrive," stated Riley. "In this case of course this is not possible and therefore we should be able to break their lines soon."
Liberator Journalist Assassinated
(The Liberator.) We regret to announce the death of Thomas Blint, a correspondant for the Liberator known to most readers as "Blind Tim", his preferred pseudonym.Blint leaves behind no family or dependents; his life was devoted to the pursuit of truth. He was found dead at his writing-desk in his garret room in the Steam, the iron pipe that his murderers had bashed his skull in with sitting next to him. No trace could be found of his last article for the Liberator, the followup to his earlier "Who Are the International Industrialists?" piece which came in the wake of the Loveday affair.
Blint had been promising to expose the names and details of a small clique of men who, according to him, controlled almost all the factories in the Steam, and who he alleged orchestrated the downfall of Lucas Loveday. That he was silenced before he could speak out speaks volumes as to the truth of his allegations; that we now cannot provide you with his expose of the conspiracy that had him killed is a source of great regret to us.
In his will Blint left all his finances and worldly goods to the HPLF, and encouraged any mourners to donate to that worthy cause.
DOGHOUSE RIOT!!!
(The Horizon Post.)
PRISONERS FREED!!!
NO SURVIVORS!
COUNT ALRIC MISSING, PRESUMED FLED!!!
Scenes of HORROR today as a MASS BREAKOUT from the Doghouse sent a WAVE OF CRIMINAL FILTH through the streets of Horizon!!! The BREAKOUT started when TWO ASSASSINS - one a WOMAN, the other a MIDGET - broke into the prison and began MASSACRING GUARDS left, right and CENTRE! When the MAYORAL LEGIONS arrived on the scene to QUELL THE RIOT they reported more than HALF THE PRISONERS missing, believed FLED! Amongst those missing are the nefarious "RIPPER" MCGEE, BENNY "TWO FINGERS" MALONE, and the MONSTROUS MOB-LORD, COUNT ALRIC "SISTERLOVER" COLUMNA!!! The Horizon Post urges all its readers to STAY INDOORS and ARM THEMSELVES with any weaponry to hand in case their HOME IS ATTACKED by a mob of RUTHLESS CRIMINAL LOOTERS!
On the Grapevine
Rosalind Joyce Displays Beautiful Machinery
"Have you seen Rosalind Joyce's new clock?""I really, really hope that you didn't just say what I thought you did."
"No, it's a new CLOCK. In the window of her shop. It's drawing massive crowds. There's just something about the design on the face. It's so... beautiful. Five minutes, five whole minutes it took to tear myself away."
"Right. You're sure she'd not forgotten to close the curtains upstairs again?"
"No, I swear, it was the clock. It's something else. You have to see it."
The Rats Have Got the Good Dust
Overheard in a Cartel-owned restaurant in the Trading district:"I don't know how they've done it, but they've taken it away from our people."
"It can't be spontaneous - those villagers in Urtovsk don't have the inclination to do it."
"Indeed, all they really care about is that *someone* buys the stuff from them. Our men have been sent packing. Even worse, the Dockyard Rats have started selling it."
"You reckon the Rats are behind it?"
"Probably, but it could be a third party selling it on to them."
"Can't we put a lid on it, convince people it's just a hiccup in our supplies, claim the Rats' stuff is bad?"
"Nah, you know what junkies are like - word's all over the city already that if you're in the market for good Vegdar-dust the Cartel can't help you any more, and you have to go to the Rats for your fix."
Stuart Daynann Takes Control of Family
"He's won.""Who?"
"Stuart - he's won. He's the new head of the Daynann."
"I heard there was some stiff competition"
"His cousin got discredited and his sister stood down for some reason."
"Well, he seems like a nice enough guy as heads of families go."
"Don't let anyone hear you say otherwise! He's still a mob boss after all - you don't get to that position just by being nice..."
Joyce's Machinery Grabbed
"Hey, there's no crowd around the storefront this morning! Cool! We can be at the front of the queue to stare at Rosalind's clock!""Wait a minute... the clock's... GONE!"
"Not just the clock either, but it looks like Joyce is missing from the shop too!"
"Oh no! What will we do without Rosalind Joyce's beautiful clock?"
In the Small Ads
Donkey Rides In the Imperial Parks!
(The Horizon Tribune.) Every day in the Summer months - donkey rides in the Imperial Parks, courtesy of Rosie's Orphanage. Rides begin at the South Pavillion. All donations welcome.A SHADOW UPON HORIZON - PRESS RELEASE
(The Horizon Illuminator.) They thought that they had defeated him, but it is NOT SO. Following the destruction of his previous DARK TOWER in Vegdarbarra, ANARCHOLES THE BLACK, WARLOCK OF PERPETUAL MIDNIGHT and HARBINGER of RUIN is gloatingly pleased to announce the opening of a new DARK TOWER in the heart of the Docks district of the soft and ultimately doomed city of HORIZON. From here, if his demands for the immediate surrender of the ones known as FROST and MIA DELAN are not met, he will rain BLOODY DOOM and of course PERPETUAL MIDNIGHT upon anyone who comes within range. THE DARK TOWER AWAITS.Anarcholes wishes to assure regulars of the former Rose and Crown that he will continue to serve the same range of beers, although quiz night has been tentatively moved to Wednesday.