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Blackwood Gazette #282- Leviathan Investors Claim Prison Conditions Will Be Rectified

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By Isairo Palantes, Monteddorian Correspondent

9/12/282-A spokesperson representing the board of investors for the prison ship Leviathan released a statement today concerning the recent developments of alleged abuse of prisoners and deplorable living conditions.

“The investors behind Leviathan are as troubled by these reports as anyone,” the spokesperson said. “Not only are the conditions described, if true, unacceptable, but they reflect poorly on those whose money made the prison possible.”

The spokesperson went on to say that the investors are in the process of negotiating a tour of the ship, accompanied by Triumvirate Authority officials. The announcement comes on the heels of a failed request by the Authority acting on its own, who claim to have no jurisdiction over the ship.

“If the allegations should prove to be true, the investors are willing to make it a priority to replace the current personnel of the ship with people who are more agreeable, following an overhaul of the ship’s structure to help curtail accounts of the ship already falling into disrepair.”

Blackwood Gazette #282- Leviathan Investors Claim Prison Conditions Will Be Rectified

Blackwood Gazette #281- Citizens across Empire Demand Explanation from Crowndon Government in Light of Controversial Pictographs

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

8/12/282- Tensions in Crowndon have reached a fever pitch, as the citizenry have begun taking to the streets in the wake of leaked pictographs depicting what really transpired on the Klankenvroot factory grounds last month.

Despite Crowndon officials’ best efforts, or perhaps because of them, to suppress the circulation of the graphs, the images have spread like wildfire through the lower boroughs of some of Crowndon’s largest cities, including Walsh, Toring, and even the capital itself.

Groups gathered outside of town halls and civic centers, demanding the heads of officials who ordered the flooding of the Klankenvroot dry dock. Even a few of the empire’s more prominent citizens took to these rallies, using their influence to gain audience with Imperial leadership.

What fruit these meetings will bear remains to be seen, but that members of the Oligarchy are willing to meet and discuss the events of the Klankenvroot Purge is a step in the right direction. We can only hope that the actions taken against the former workers living on the factory grounds were ordered by a small portion of corrupt elements, within the Crowndonian oligarchy, elements that can be weeded out in short order.

I wish that the Gazette Nor Easter could take some credit for helping these graphs circulate, but our intervention proved unnecessary, and the outrage expressed by the citizenry of Crowndon is a testament to their integrity and humanity. If Crowndon can fix itself, there might be hope for the Triumvirate as a whole.

Blackwood Gazette #281- Citizens across Empire Demand Explanation from Crowndon Government in Light of Controversial Pictographs

Blackwood Gazette #280- Pharassian Military Unveils New Motorized Vehicles in Blatant Display of Power

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

6/12/282-The average citizen couldn’t be blamed for thinking that the situation between the Nor Eastern and Sarnwainian Empires had cooled down in the wake of the destruction of the ancient fortress of Ma-Droit and the deaths of rogue agents Pixie Sinclaire and Sir Rigel Rinkenbach. Sarnwain had ceased it seemingly ceaseless chest beating and trade between the two Empires had resumed in recent months with little to no trouble.

That lack of chest beating should have been a warning, according to Nor Easter Admiral Alexia Tremonte, who told us that the Pharassian military recently conducted a test of new motorized vehicles in the Tarsian desert, right near the Sarnwain/Triumvirate border.

“That Pharassus would conduct such a test on the opposite end of the Sarnwainian Empire in a completely different province is something we’re taking as a direct threat to the safety of Nor Easter,” the Admiral said. “I implore that the Triumvirate Authority, as well as our Triumvirate sisters in Crowndon and Monteddor, take this threat with the utmost severity.”

The vehicles tested by the Pharassian army certainly sound terrifying, if the reports given by Society spies are to be believed. They describe high velocity armored vehicles, belching a noxious black smoke, armed with cannon and rapid fire weapons that put even the Crowndon army’s crank driven repeaters to shame.

“That they would so openly display such weapons is what worries me the most,” Admiral Tremonte went on to say. “The Triumvirate just launched the most advanced air ship the world has ever seen, and Pharassus didn’t flinch. They’re either fools, or completely confident in their new weapons.”

Crowndonian officials are betting on the former.

“I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” Admiral Henry McTolliver said. “Sarnwain has been trying to keep up with the Triumvirate for centuries, and so far their efforts have proven impotent. Their reluctance to embrace Blackwood and pursue oil based energy is a fool’s errand. Honestly, I’m more worried about what’s going on inside our own Empire than anything from without.”

Admiral Tremonte disagrees, vehemently. “That’s rich, coming from a Crowndonian Admiral. It wasn’t so long ago that another Crowndonian Admiral made the mistake of hubris, and was taken down by new technology he didn’t see coming. Nor Easter has proven its foresight in the past. If the Society are telling us we should be worried, then we need to listen. To do otherwise could prove disastrous.”

Blackwood Gazette #280- Pharassian Military Unveils New Motorized Vehicles in Blatant Display of Power

Blackwood Gazette# 279- Anonymous Source Leaks Pictorgraphs of Dead Following Klankenvroot Purge

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

4/12/282- Crowndon is in an uproar today, following the release of pictographs depicting the aftermath of the Klankenvroot Purge, as it’s come to be known in the rest of the Triumvirate.

I say the rest of the Triumvirate, because sources claim that nearly 85% of the Crowndon citizenry is under the belief that the Klankenvroot factory squatters were evicted peacefully, a story they were told either through sanitation of the story via the Ministry of Information Distribution, or outright lies. Any paper brave enough to tell the true story did so in the form of short blurbs buried on the inner pages.

Since the release of the photos in the ‘Ex-Humanor’, an underground publication popular throughout the Triumvirate, the Ministry is said to be working overtime to suppress the issue’s distribution. Release of the information has outpaced the propagandist’s arm, however, and people are starting to ask questions.

The biggest hurdle these pictographs face, however, is the question of their authenticity. The venue of their publication certainly doesn’t help matters, but many of the graphs are poorly shot and hard to discern.

As for the source of the graphs, Crowndon authorities are said to be rounding up and interrogating anyone known to be associated with Oculus, the mysterious figure who runs the infamous tabloid. So far, their efforts have turned up nothing but go-betweens or ‘friends of friends who know a guy’.

Meanwhile, we here at the Gazette Nor Easter have employed the services of pictographers and police forensics experts to help validate or debunk the pictographs. Should they prove to be authentic, we will promise to do anything in our power to inform the people of the Crowndon Empire, who seem to be living in the shadow of an increasingly draconian government.

Blackwood Gazette# 279- Anonymous Source Leaks Pictorgraphs of Dead Following Klankenvroot Purge

Blackwood Gazette #278-Actress Rochelle Walsh Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Oeil De Fleur University

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By Alex Grosset, Arts and Entertainment

1/12/282- Renowned actress and Crowndonian native Rochelle Walsh recently celebrated her 76th birthday. And while Walsh has not appeared on stage in nearly twenty five years, the University of Oeil De Fleur has bestowed upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award during a lavish ceremony earlier this week.

In attendance was the Empress Marcelette Bastian, who fellow attendees described to be in good humor despite recent turbulence within her court. The history between Walsh and the Empress is said to be a turbulent one; there were rumors of a romantic tryst between Her Grace’s father and Walsh in the years before his death nearly twelve years ago. Whatever the relationship between the Empress and the actress, it is said that her Imperial Majesty was the first to stand during the ovation as Walsh received her award.

Also in attendance was Delando, who has oft stated that he regrets never being afforded the opportunity to work with Walsh. His memory must be selective however, as it is well known that Walsh briefly intended to come out of retirement when Delando’s third play was in the process of casting. During that process, Delando infamously required Walsh to audition for the role, and then even more infamously denied her the part, stating that she was too old (despite his own script describing the character as being of equivalent age to the then 61 year old Walsh; Delando eventually gave the role to 20 year old starlet Alexa Motice, who never acted again).

In addition to her prolific acting career, Walsh is known for actively speaking out against her home nation of Crowndon during the Dividing War six years ago and attempting to use her wealth to help rehabilitate soldiers from both sides. Crowndon rejected her aid and exiled her for her condemnation of the war, a consequence she once called ‘cute’, as she had lived in Nor Easter for most of her life by that point. She was also instrumental in the 247 restoration of the original Empress Theatre, and in its reconstruction after a fire consumed the structure in 280.

Rochelle Walsh herself looked resplendent as she took the stage and accepted her well-deserved award. The star of over sixty plays and thousands of performances gave an impassioned speech thanking her fans and the Empire of Nor Easter. An after party was held, but Walsh did not attend.

Walsh is the first woman and non Nor Easter native to be given the award in its 43 year history.

Blackwood Gazette #278-Actress Rochelle Walsh Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Oeil De Fleur University

Blackwood Gazette #277-Triumvirate Authority Say they Have No Jurisdiction Over Leviathan Prison Ship

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

29/11/282-The Triumvirate Authority proved its impotence this week in regards to alleged injustices taking place aboard the prison ship ‘Leviathan’. After recalling the ship for an inspection, the prison ship’s Warden replied with a simple ‘No.’

What will the ‘Authority’s’ response be?

“Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do,” said Captain Thomas Billingsworth, a TA rep who was tasked with performing the inspection. “The prison is a private venture, with investors in high places. As much as I would like to search out the ship, board it, and see for myself what exactly is going on there, my hands are tied.”

This reporter wonders if any of those investors are members of the Authority itself? Any wondering on such corruption is, of course, just speculation on my part.

Meanwhile, the reports of awful conditions and prisoners incarcerated for the smallest of crimes being transferred to such a high security facility with no notification being given to their families has reignited the mystery of several hundred prisoners that went missing around the Triumvirate earlier this year.

The families of said prisoners from all three members of the Triumvirate reportedly swarmed the offices of local lords and governors this weekend, demanding answers. According to sources in each area, the disruption actually impeded government function in several cities.

“They think they can take our boys and girls and shuffle them around and no one will miss them because they were in prison,” said Hattie Buckflower, the sister of the notorious Toring gang leader Howard “The Dogfeeder” Buckflower. “Well, they’re wrong. We’ll show them they’re wrong. We’ll burn this whole [expletive removed] place down to prove that point!”

Miss Buckflower was promptly arrested after her statement. No details were given on where she will end up.

***

Related posts:

Blackwood Gazette #213

Blackwood Gazette #231

Blackwood Gazette #277-Triumvirate Authority Say they Have No Jurisdiction Over Leviathan Prison Ship

Blackwood Gazette #276-Desantana Fleet Involved in Skirmish with Molten Crown Mercenaries

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By Isairo Palantes, Monteddorian Correspondent

22/11/282- Nearly six months ago, the Gazette reported that Yolanda Desantana’s ambitious ‘Triumvirate of the Skies’ (an alliance between Desantana, the Pirate Queen Seylene Plamondon, and the former pirate hunter Johanna McKilroy) was courting a fourth member, the former princess of Quin-Loh, Zan You-Delsha. It would appear, however, that those efforts have proven in vain.

Reports made by Sarnwainian forces patrolling the eastern waters of the Pyros Ocean indicate that a fleet of airships commanded by McKilroy were seen engaging with Molten Crown mercenary ships. It is unclear how the skirmish began, but it is said to have been brief as both forces retreated after sustaining light damage.

“From the sounds of things, both fleets were evenly matched,” said Dante Luna, a retired captain of Monteddor’s air navy and instructor at Monteddor City Military Academy. “It also sounds like there was never an intent at a full engagement. It was more like the two fleets were feeling each other out, trying to get a grasp on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This could either be the first stage of bringing You-Delsha into the fold, or the beginning of a bloody rivalry.”

Luna went on to say that any war between the factions would depend on Desantana and Plamondon’s willingness to back up their compatriot.

“There’s more than a little bad blood between the pirate queen and the huntress. Honestly, I’m surprised the alliance has lasted as long as it has. If Plamondon has Desantana’s favor, they may leave McKilroy to fight You-Delsha on her own, leaving both fleets weakened and ripe for the taking.”

If the alliance holds, however, and the Molten Crown mercenaries are brought into the fold, the captain says Desantana’s already immense fleet would become unstoppable.

“Between the four of them, they would have enough resources and martial experience to challenge the combined forces of the Triumvirate’s individual militaries, as well as the Authority. Add in Desantana’s ties to Alejandro Julianos, and the implications are downright apocalyptic.”

Blackwood Gazette #276-Desantana Fleet Involved in Skirmish with Molten Crown Mercenaries

Blackwood Gazette #275-Leviathan Escapee Tells Story of Horrific Conditions Aboard Prison Ship

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

18/11/282-Hjavern Newstead, the man recovered from a Monteddorian shipping lane late last month, has made a full recovery from his time at sea and released a statement about the conditions aboard the Leviathan prison ship. The picture he paints is a horrific one.

According to Mister Newstead, the ship is already in heavy disrepair, despite having only been in operation for a year.

“When I got there, there was already leaks in the hull,” Newstead said. “Never got many details, being a prisoner and all, but overheard some talk about the weight of the ship stressing the connection welds, or something.”

According to Newstead, guards on the ship were overworked trying to maintain the prison population while constantly making repairs to the ship.

“Despite all the work they did, things only ever got worse. Woke up one morning to find the cell I shared with three other people half flooded. The two cells next to us, they wasn’t so lucky. They had to move us. Another couple of hours and we woulda drowned next.”

In addition to the ship’s state of disrepair, Newstead said that the warden was a complete tyrant.

“We hated him, and the guards hate him, too. I remember plans for mutinies. They almost always involved the guards and us working together. They were always rooted out, though. And it made the warden paranoid. That’s what happened to me. Not sure what I did, but the warden and the small cadre of loyal guards under him took me up top, told me they would make me sorry for causing unrest, and they threw me overboard.”

Newstead’s description of life aboard Leviathan has stirred interest in the matter by the Triumvirate Authority, who says they have begun the process of recalling the ship to investigate the matter. Hjavern Newstead will remain in the Monteddorian hospital until he recovers, at which point he will be turned over to Crowndonian authorities.

Blackwood Gazette #275-Leviathan Escapee Tells Story of Horrific Conditions Aboard Prison Ship

Blackwood Gazette #274-Crowndon Floods Klankenvroot Dry Dock, Killing Nearly 200

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By Jeanne Dupris, Nor Eastern EIC

15/11/282-Reports coming out of Crowndon seem to mark this as one of the darkest days in the Triumvirate’s history, as the Klankenvroot factory situation has been resolved in the most tragic way possible.

The City Watch, under the command of Crowndon Imperial military commanders, have reportedly flooded the dry docks where a large majority of the former factory workers lived. Nearly two hundred people, composed of workers and their families, are said to have lived in those dry docks. We are told that nearly all of them are dead.

There is no word on why the Crown abruptly decided to take such a drastic and tragic course of action, as the workers living in the factory had heretofore not displayed any sort of aggression to the battalion of City Watch and imperial soldiers camped outside the factory grounds.

The Crowndon military recently performed a test of a new aerial automaton equipped with a pictograph, and some have suggested that the images captured by the devices spurred this decision. However, the military has made no statements thus far about what the automatons saw inside the factory.

We have nothing but speculation at the moment as to why this event has occurred. There is this fact, though; Crowndon just murdered 200 of its own citizens, many of them children or infirm. Empress Marcelette Bastian has already condemned the decision, and the words ‘Imperial Duumvirate’ have reportedly been uttered more than once in her court. The Monteddorian High King Mario Adallantes issued a most diplomatic and ultimately toothless statement. The Crowndon Oligarchs have yet to say anything at all, though we believe the Imperial High Command will issue a no doubt polished report on the success of their ‘operation’ in the coming days.

The Triumvirate Authority, likewise, has said nothing, though we are told they are not pleased. Hopefully, they will push for a formal inquisition into the matter. In the meantime, the hopes and prayers of Nor Easter go out to those whose lives have been lost, and those few who survived. It is their tale that I would most like to tell as we proceed to make sense of what has occurred.

***

A bit of perspective from someone who lived in the shadow of the Klankenvroot factory:

Adella Chatelaine Reports #001-In the Shadow of Klankenvroot: A Tale from the Gutters of Crowndon
Blackwood Gazette #274-Crowndon Floods Klankenvroot Dry Dock, Killing Nearly 200

Blackwood Gazette #273- Flagship for Julianos’ First Armored Fleet Takes Flight

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By Chester Seaton, News

11/11/282- Military Elite from around the Empire gathered earlier this week at the same site as last year’s Summit Attack. The choice of venue was a symbolic one, as they had gathered to watch the unveiling of the First Armored Fleet’s Flagship, the Acrimonious Bulwark.

The new airship is unlike anything the Triumvirate, or the world, has ever seen. At nearly 183 meters long, it dwarfs anything in current use in either the Triumvirate or Sarnwain.  Instead of balloons, the massive structure is held aloft by eight rotors, four on each side. Six cannon line each side of the upper deck, and eight smaller cannon line each side of the lower deck. The structure is protected by armor anywhere from 15 to 27 centimeters thick.

“The thing is monstrous,” said Crowndonian Fleet Admiral Henry McTolliver. “I don’t even know how it gets off the ground. And it looks like it could level a city by itself. I’m all for strengthening the Triumvirate but this…I don’t know about this. The idea of a fleet of these things terrifies me.”

While the thought of anything terrifying a Crowndonian Admiral is cause for alarm, even more alarming is the praise it received from a Nor Eastern Engineer.

“It certainly cuts an intimidating profile,” said Lucianne Volpe, of Oeil de Fleur University. “But it’s also a testament to what the Triumvirate can do. We put this thing together, in the face of an unknown threat, in little more than a year. As much as it horrifies me the ‘why’ of it, the fact that it was even possible at all gives me hope.”

So there you have it; a Crowndon Admiral expressing doubt, and a Nor Eastern engineer expressing awe. I am not one to indulge my own opinion, readers, but what is even going on?

The Triumvirate Authority plans to push the Bulwark into service immediately, under the command of Admiral Alejandro Julianos. More ships are slated to join the fleet in the coming months, and plans for a second fleet are already underway.

***

What is even going on, indeed.

Fun Time! There’s an unintentional Batman easter egg in today’s Gazette. Can you spot it? Can an easter egg be unintentional? WHO CARES!?! You get a cookie (in spirit) if you find it.

I need sleep.

Blackwood Gazette #273- Flagship for Julianos’ First Armored Fleet Takes Flight