Dissolution News - 21st of Growth, 721

Barbarian Horde Closes on Ptolus

Excerpt from The Courier, the largest and most reputable paper in Ptolus, albeit one with a slight pro-Empire slant.

by Ajoroff Reklen

An army of warriors from east of the Grey Mountains completely bypassed the Imperial Capital two days ago and now are "within weeks" of arriving in Ptolus, Commissar Igor Urnst announced yesterday afternoon in a rare, open address to the City Council. The Commissar urged all Ptolusites not to panic, but to "calmly prepare yourselves for what may be coming." In particular, the Commissar advised all residents to "keep containers of water on hand to control unexpected fires".

According to the Commissar, the army "numbers in the tens of thousands", but sources close to the Twelve Commanders claim that estimates provided to them have not yet been reliable. These same sources also claim that Commissar has already ordered his men to ready what are known as the "Commissar's Guns", a battery of two dozen highly mobile heavy cannon.

When asked why the horde marched passed Tarsis without firing a shot and now close on Ptolus, the Commissar muttered "because of the claims of grandiose fools" and closed the session by abruptly leaving. Many witnesses speculated that this was a reference to the unauthorized declaration made by Holy Emperor Rehoboth two months ago naming Ptolus as the new Imperial Capital. The Commissar's office made no direct comment on the meaning of yesterday's statement, but have issued several statements in the past reinforcing that Tarsis remains the Imperial Capital and renouncing the Holy Emperor Rehoboth's claim to the secular throne of the Empire, legally held by Addares XXXIV.

Bounty Offered for Return of Crime Lord's Son

Excerpt from The Undergrounder, a seedy rag that serves up rumors about the events and people of the criminal underworld.

by Watcher Night

Those who doubted the story of the disappearance of Menon Balacazar's grandson Dullin, an Undergrounder exclusive published last week, may have to bite their tongues. A little birdy has told me that Dullin's family is now offering a 5,000gp reward for his safe return, as well as the heads of those responsible. Eat that, doubters! Good hunting, readers, and don't forget to cut us on on a bit of the action.

Five Set Themselves Alight in Observatory Protest

Excerpt from The Midtown Partisan, a gossip sheet mostly focussed on the noble families.

In a protest bizarre even for the Temple District, five protesters set themselves on fire in front of the Temple Observatory of the Watcher of the Skies this morning. Though all five were dead before healing could arrive, they allegedly nailed a note to the door of the observatory after Helmut Itlestein, high priest of the temple, reportedly refused to see them.

The exact contents of the note are not known, but several eyewitnesses reported the protesters called out to the high priest, chastising for "concealing the truth about the event". The protesters were not affiliated with the Observatory, but may be from an small, radical cult also dedicated to Watcher of the Skies. All that is known of the cult comes from a pamphlet circulated several months ago espousing the cult's belief in "an ancient prophesy" regarding a "rapidly approaching celestial event" that would signal the "start of a new world".