Blackwood Gazette #118: Waystation Bravo Prepares for Relaunch Nearly One Year After The Disappearance of its Personnel

May 12, 2015 rybpierceBlackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, short fiction, steampunk, waystation bravoLeave a comment

By Chester Seaton, News

12/5- Nearly a year has passed since the mystery of what happened aboard Waystation Bravo gripped the Triumvirate. After months of debate concerning what should be done with the derelict station, the Triumvirate Authority has decreed that Waystation Bravo will return to active service at the beginning of next month.

“There were several reservations about re-launching the station after its denizens mysteriously disappeared,” said Admiral Percival Dunbarrow Pillsbury III. “But the extent of the damage, or lack thereof, simply did not mandate the construction of an entirely new station. Bravo has been repaired, and we have installed new fail safes and updated safety specifications to ensure this never happens again. It is, without a doubt, the safest of the four Waystations.”

Despite the assurances of the Imperial Authority, however, enrollment to serve aboard the repaired Station has been low.

“They’re afraid of ghosts,” an enrollment hopeful told us, one of only fifteen others we found in line at the Authority offices in Crowndon on Mursday. “They don’t like the idea of not knowing what happened. And then there was the bodies. People with revolvers. They’re all whisperin’ about Cartographers this and Scarlet Circle that and conspiracies all around. Me, I think it’s a bunch of nonsense. But some people, that’s enough to keep ‘em away from a sure thing.”

As for what really happened aboard the station, the Authority is remaining tight lipped.

“Everything we found is a matter of public record,” Admiral Pillsbury said. “As for those special investigators that showed up, anything they found is being kept under wraps. They only cleared the station for repairs at the beginning of the year, then took off. And our only other lead, that Klaudhopper fellow, well he’s off running around with Von Grimm and his gang in the colonies. The Marshals will probably send him swinging before we ever get ahold of him.”

***

Blackwood Gazette #117: Rinkenbach R&D Announces the Announcement for its Fourth Generation Clockwork Butler

May 11, 2015 rybpierceBlackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, Clockwork Butler, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Rigel Rinkenbach, satire, steampunk, writingLeave a comment

By Ada Herschel, Science and Technology

11/5- It’s been over three years since Rinkenbach R&D released the latest iteration of its popular Clockwork Butler line. The line, which put inventor and alchemist Rigel Rinkenbach on the map as the world’s premier manufacturer of luxury technology at the age of 15, has traditionally followed a two year release schedule, so the extra year has left consumers clamoring for information.

“I wish I could say the wait was a preplanned promotional strategy,” Rigel Rinkenbach told us. “But, alas, the feverish anticipation surrounding the announcement of a next-gen Clockwork Butler was a happy side effect.

“No, the real reason for the extra year was to give us more time to iterate. The Butler Mark III was our most successful product line, mainly due to improvements in manufacturing leading to lower cost, higher production volume, and more units in people’s homes. And it wasn’t just the upper crust using the Butler either, but those working directly under the upper crust. We hope that the Mark IV will be the Butler’s first foray into the lower upper class.”

What innovations can consumers expect when the Fourth Generation Butler is released?

“Oh, dear me, no,” Rinkenbach said. “Forgive me, but I wouldn’t want to spill the beans in a simple write up. This is just a teaser, my dear, to say it’s coming. A full reveal will come at this year’s Industry and Innovation Conference, next month. We’ll have more information at that time, and not a moment sooner!”

With Rinkenbach remaining tight-lipped on his new product, the Gazette turned to leading industry analyst Jerald Doramus what he thinks the new Butler will be like.

“I have no earthly idea,” Doramus said. “We’re talking about Rigel Rinkenbach, here. The man’s mind works on a level most can’t even begin to comprehend. For all I know, the next Butler could simply be capable of bringing your tea without dropping the cup three out of four times, or it could be capable of full autonomy leading to the complete subjugation of the human race. The man belongs in an asylum, if you ask me.”

Blackwood Gazette #116: Monteddorian Ruins Damaged While Rooting Out Bandits; New Discoveries Made in Aftermath

May 8, 2015 rybpiercealejandro julianos, Blackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, steampunk, Tarambor, writingLeave a comment

By Isairo Palantes, Monteddorian Correspondent

8/5-Julianos forces tracking a group of rebels recently attacked an encampment located in the ruins of Tarambor, an ancient Monteddorian burial vault. When the dust settled, it was discovered that the ruins had been heavily damaged. But while such damage would typically be considered an academic tragedy, it seems there is a bright spot to be found.

“An ammo cache ignited when a stray bullet hit it,” said Colonel Estevar Araines. “It was stacked against the wall in what I’m told is the ‘rear antechamber’ or some such. It blew a hole in the floor, revealing an undiscovered passage that led deeper into the ground.”

While archaeologists around the world are livid about the way the passage was discovered, their curiosity about what could be found within has somewhat quelled their anger.

“Tarambor, until this point, was considered to be of little significance,” said Professor Juan Nunez, of the University of Monteddor City. “Not that that excuses the damage, of course. In any case, the discovery of this new passage means we must re-evaluate our current understanding of the structure of Monteddor’s ancient burial vaults. I am petitioning to form a team to be the first inside.”

It appears that Professor Nunez will be waiting for a while, as five other Universities, two of them from Nor Easter, are also petitioning for excavation rights. At the moment, the ruins are under the guard of Julianos forces.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about that,” Professor Nunez went on to say. “Hopefully Alejandro Julianos is not too preoccupied with his little war to blind himself to the importance of this site, not only in Monteddorian history, but the history of the Triumvirate as well.”

Blackwood Gazette #115-Track Construction Begins for Air Races, Despite Setbacks

May 7, 2015 rybpierceair racing, Blackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Mathis Galland, short fiction, steampunkLeave a comment

By Huxley Pruitt, Sports

7/5-It seems that even the loss of several key members of his proposed air racing league cannot keep Mathis Galland down. Construction on the first course broke ground in the countryside outside of Walsh early this week.

“Many people are calling me crazy,” Galland said. “When Blunderberger [sic] and the others left, they took their sponsors with them. It also cost me a few investors. Luckily, I’m richer than sin and was able to cut costs a little bit by building on my own land.”

Rumors of an anonymous benefactor began swirling shortly after those investors mentioned above stepped away. Galland confirmed it.

“I did indeed receive a sizable donations from a third party. It’s not my place to name names. Just know that it’s all completely legal. The donor just wanted to do me a favor. If he wishes to step forward, he will.”

The Walsh course is said to be a straight forward race course, but Galland promises future courses will be much more complex.

“After we finish in Walsh, we’ll begin construction on a course outside of Des Anges in Nor Easter,” Galland said. “That one will make use of the natural environment for much of its length, with a portion weaving through the rocky spires of the Serpent’s Tongue canyon. After that we’ll build three more for this season, in locations that are tenuous at the moment. But the final course, oh, it’s a doozy, let me assure you. People will lose their minds when it’s announced at the end of the season.”

Preliminary races will be held at the beginning of seventh month, and the season will continue on through Tenth Month. Tickets are expected to go on sale soon in Walsh, Toring, Yves, and the Crowndon Capital.

***

BONUS: Here, have an updated map of the world of Blackwood Empire. Like any creative endeavor, its a work in progress, subject to change. It’s also not to scale, because I’m not a cartographer and also I’m bad with numbers. Still, it should give readers a basic idea of where everything is. It’s also gigantic, so if you’re having a hard time reading it, click on it to get a better view.

Blackwood Gazette #114: Famed Venue Promoter Announces Expo Based on Popular Novels

May 5, 2015 rybpierceBaron Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Blackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Henri Duhamel, Salvador Bidlittles, steampunk, writingLeave a comment

By Alex Grosset, Arts and Entertainment

5/5- Salvador Bidlittles, the famed promoter behind such attractions as the 279YT Industry and Innovation Conference and Martin Mosley’s Mechanical Menagerie, has announced a partnership with famous author Henri Duhamel to bring the world of his “Cerul pas Terra” stories to life. This endeavor promises to be more than just a play, or performance, however.

“The event I have planned will pull participants directly into the world of Duhamel’s imagination,” Bidlittles proclaimed. “Their active participation will help shape events as they partake in a series of events and stories that will play out, sometimes spontaneously, over the course of the Expo.”

While Bidlittles declined to comment further on what exactly this meant, he did go on to play up pageantry of the venue.

“We will turn De Peletes square in Val Coursai into a living scene strait from the stories,” he said. “It will be more than a set, or amphitheater, but a fully realized, 360 degree recreation that patrons can walk around and participate in. We are hiring actors to bring its characters to life, bakers and chefs to create its finest dishes, and the finest musicians to realize its music. We’ve even figured out how to recreate the famous ‘Cracked Sky’ described in the stories, but I won’t go into detail how, for fear of ruining the surprise.”

Bidlittles said this last with a laugh, though reports that a glass dome was recently constructed over the square and is being painted would seem to undermine his showmanship.

The venue is planned to open this fall, and take place over the course of two weeks. Tickets have already gone on sale in Val Coursais and here in Oeil de Fleur, though we are told they are already sold out.

***

Hello! I’d figure I’d start sharing some of the real world historical contexts that help inspire certain stories featured in the Gazette. Today’s story is inspired by the “Coming Race Bazaar” of 1891, based on a series of early sci-fi novels by Baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton considered to be a sort of precursor to so many of the fan conventions we see today.

Blackwood Gazette #113: “She’s Alive, Dammit!”: Pixie Sinclaire Vows to Find Adella Chatelaine

May 4, 2015 rybpierceAdella Chatelaine, Blackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Pixie Sinclaire, steampunk, writingLeave a comment

By Basilio Mura, Nor Easter Correspondent

4/5- Family, friends, and co-workers gathered outside of the Gazette’s Nor Eastern offices today to pay their respects to Adella Chatelaine, who has been missing for nearly eight months. Those of us hoping for a quiet, somber gathering with which to say our goodbyes and close this chapter of our lives got something completely different.

Halfway through the eulogy, delivered by Maurice Merchant, owner and editor in chief of the Gazette, none other than proclaimed national heroine and subject of many a penny dreadful, Pixie Sinclaire, pushed her way through the crowd and nudged Mr. Merchant from the podium.

“Look at you all!” she cried at us. “Giving up on your best and brightest. We’ve seen no hide nor hair of Chatelaine, no further evidence of her demise other than that there is no evidence at all. I’ve known Adella for years, I know what she’s capable of. And let us not forget who she’s with—“

It was at this point that guards reached the stage and pulled Miss Sinclaire off the podium.

Her last words, as she was thrown into the back of an authority wagon:

“She’s alive, dammit! And if no one else will find her, I will!”

The local constable has yet to release a statement on any charges Sinclaire might face. Many of the mourners gathered were understandably upset, but a few others seemed oddly hopeful.

“They should let her go,” said a man who claimed to be Miss Chatelaine’s cousin. “If there’s any chance at all that Adella Chatelaine and the others can be found, then Pixie Sinclaire is the one to do it.”

Blackwood Empire: The Rogues Gallery, Vol. I

May 2, 2015 rybpiercearufina villanova, Blackwood Empire, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, klaus klaudhopper, Pixie Sinclaire, Rigel Rinkenbach, Roderick La Pierre, steampunkLeave a comment

Last week I did a Blackwood Gazette accompanied by a mock wanted poster. I had a lot of fun making that poster, so I decided to do a bunch more for some of the major players in these stories. Enjoy!

Keep away from cats! — copyright@BlackwoodEmpire.com

Steampunk Outlaw. Also, kind of a troll. — copyright@BlackwoodEmpire.com

That's quite the resume... — copyright@BlackwoodEmpire.com

Vintage Rinkenbach... — copyright@BlackwoodEmpire.com

He's his own worst enemy, really... — copyright@BlackwoodEmpire.com

Blackwood Gazette #112- Von Grimm Gang Decimates Colonial Militia with Stolen Dragonfly Aircraft Before Retreating Into Frontier

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 rybpierceBlackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Doctor Argyle Von Grimm, klaus klaudhopper, short fiction, steampunkLeave a comment

By Chester Seaton, News

1/5- The Colonial Militiamen camped outside of the captured Fort Winstone received a nasty surprise earlier this week, in a horrific turn of events that has militia forces gathering as though they are going to war.

The second colonial cavalry had been waiting for a shipment of Dragonfly aircraft for more than a week. The air craft were an integral part of the cavalry’s plan to retake Fort Winstone, which had been captured by Doctor Argyle Von Grimm last month.

The Dragonflies arrived, but not in a way they had expected or hoped. Militia officials tell us that the train transporting the aircraft to a nearby air field was attacked sixty miles east of its destination by men believed to be part of Von Grimm’s gang. All but two of the air craft were destroyed. The other two were taken, flown off by two bandits who apparently had flight training. One of these pilots matches the description of one Klaus Klaudhopper, who was last believed to be fleeing from Doctor Argyle Von Grimm, as reported by Adella Chatelaine before her disappearance.

The Dragonflies are believed to have arrived at Fort Winstone two hours later, way before any message could hope to arrive. The bandits then proceeded to drop upon the men of the Second Cav the volatile fire jelly they themselves had planned to use on Von Grimm. There are no survivors.

A group of nearby frontier rangers witnessed the aftermath of the massacre, describing the site as a hell-scape of glassed earth and charred flesh, with the bones of men and their horses reaching blackened and smoking into the sky. The rangers then reconnoitered the fort, only to find that Von Grimm and his gang had vacated the structure and retreated into the deep ravines of Sattler Pass to the North West.

Field Marshal Ameron Lassiter claims that this atrocity will be answered in kind.

“The colonial militia is now mustering its full force and plans to march on the frontier,” Lassiter said. “We will flush the Mad Mechanist and his rabble from their holes, even if we have to flatten the northern ravines to do it.”

Blackwood Gazette #111- Mathis Galland Signs Colonial Woman to his Racing League; Four Others Back Out

April 30, 2015 rybpierceBlackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, Marcy Quail, Mathis Galland, retro-futurism, short fiction, steampunkLeave a comment

By Huxley Pruitt, Sports

30/4- Mathis Galland’s much anticipated air racing league has hit a snag this week. His decision to sign Marcy Quail, a woman bush pilot from the colonies’ northern territories, has sparked controversy amongst those racers already signed as well as the wider sports world.

“The idea of a woman competing with a man is patently ridiculous,” said Bart Blunderberg, a racer from Rommsbach who formerly served as an officer in the Crowndon Air Corps and announced his resignation from the league upon hearing the news. “It always has been. That’s why we have separate leagues in all other sports, if the women have leagues at all. It’s bad enough we have to race against these backwoods hicks from the Middle of Nowhere with their third rate scrap jobs, but women? From the colonies, on top of that? I’m done.”

Three other racers backed out at the news as well, all of them from the tentatively named Legacy League (a title self-proclaimed by those racers hailing from the military and private service amongst the Triumvirate aristocracy.) Mathis Galland does not seem worried, however.

“If they want to behave like children and stomp out of the room holding their toys, let them,” Galland said. “There is no room in my league for such behavior. And the nature of racing, one of mechanical, rather than physical, prowess and skill render the typical arguments against integrated sports leagues irrelevant in this matter. Not that that would matter, in Miss Quail’s case. She’s six foot four and two hundred pounds of pure muscle. When I went to recruit her, she’d just thrown some poor sod who’d gotten too fresh with her through a wall.

“If someone can maintain and fly their aircraft, I couldn’t give two wet [expletive removed] where they’re from or what their genitals are. It’s also noteworthy that those pilots who dropped out are from Crowndon, and the Crowndon military at that. It’s well known they don’t allow women in combat roles, while we here in Nor Easter do. Now, I don’t want to say that our fighting women are the sole reason we won the war, but…we have fighting women, and we won the war.”

Blackwood Gazette #110- No Further Evidence of Missing Expedition Found; Authorities Call Off Search After Several Parties Go Missing

April 29, 2015 rybpierceAdella Chatelaine, Blackwood Empire, blackwood gazette, copyright@blackwoodempire.com, short fiction, steampunkLeave a comment

By Hil Spencer, New Crowndon Correspondent

29/4- Sad news today for those of us at the Gazette and those closely following the disappearance of the Lelina expedition: the Colonial Marshals have called off their ongoing search for the missing townspeople and the academic team sent to investigate ruins in the area.

The news comes as an exceptionally hard blow after the recent ray of hope in finding Martine Babin, a member of the expedition. After the professor was recovered, search efforts in the area between Lelina and Point Hammond were doubled. However, a rash of disappearances amongst the search parties has caused the efforts to be ceased immediately.

“This decision is deeply regrettable,” said Chief Arnold Murray. “But the price of a continued search outweighs the benefit of finding the missing persons. Since we renewed the search, the number of missing has tripled.”

On top of the news that the search has ended in the wake of these new disappearances, Chief Murray has ordered a mandatory evacuation for the township of Point Hammond, as well as all townships south of the McHammet-Docker line.

“There’s something strange going on in the region,” Murray went on to say. “We have no idea what it is, and I’m not sure we can figure it out without losing a large number of people. Quite frankly, whatever is going on has me scared, and I don’t admit that lightly.”

The evacuation is already underway. Memorial services for the missing will be held early next week. A public ceremony for Gazette reporter Adella Chatelaine will be held at the paper’s Oeil de Fleur office in Nor Easter next Mursday morning.

Blackwood Empire

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