News Broadcast

[travelagency]

News for M12 D12 Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. [Jeffers voice is measured and serious as he recites the newscast.] This our regular news report:   ➥Most of the town businesses are happy to report that after the impressive clean-up efforts, the village is up to full running capacity. Medical supplies have been replenished for the time being, but are only expected to last a few months. As a result of the successful swamp trips, Jeffers, that is to say I am about to implement the first universal freedom allowance. Those that assisted in efforts will have rights to the first part of the program. Through research it has been discovered that powers someone possesses from their native universe will not transfer to someone else's. Those that were capable of magic back home or flight in another will not be able to if they are invited as a guest. However, items that come from this universe, whether found or purchased, or skills that have been learned here are capable of being transferred. Visitors may feel free to stock up on items before they leave. Visitors will return to the point they left, but must be aware any significant changes they make will create an alternate timeline. This means anyone that comes later may not be the same person you know, or share experiences from what has been changed. Those allowed to go may bring someone that has didn't participate with them as their guest.   ➥Sandworm activity has increased in the northern desert, and one has been discovered that has reached full size. It is advised that no one go into that desert without specific clearance from the museum and security. Sandworms are difficult to manage, and by far have been the most destructive and dangerous of the invasive species. Their limitation to the desert has been an advantage to controlling them, but they thrive off eating not only other invasive species like geckos, but also creepers and skeletons. Sandworms have proven immune to most forms of firepower save for large quantities of water. As such quantities of water are difficult to transport, especially into a hot environment, killing more than one at a time has proven impossible. A temple has also been detected in this region. Currently any exploration and research of the area is prohibited, but if the temple and surrounding area becomes threatened by the sandworm, an emergency expedition will be launched to the temple to recover whatever is possible before the structures become unstable. There are also theories that sandworms have become the Orions favorite way of body disposal, and that Jabba the Hutt, the possible ringleader of the Orion Syndicate, keeps one as a pet and a protection system.   ➥Aoife, the owner and manager of the popular entertainment establishment Petal and Stamen has recently shocked the community by announcing her retirement from the business. The Petal and Stamen has long been a Blackway landmark under Aoife's savvy leadership and market acumen. The business will be up for sale and the local neighborhood has been speculating rampantly on whether it might be taken over by resident workers, passed on to someone in Aoife's social circle, or purchased and rebranded entirely, perhaps even by an Import. And now a word from one of our valued sponsors. And next, an exciting further installment in the Blackway documentary, courtesy of our resident journalists. When first the intrepid explores set forth to discover the source of the readings, no one knew what they might encounter. Mysteries lurked in every shadow. [The first clip shows Una and Kay searching one of the huts, leaving footprints in a trail of snow on the floor. It's not a snowy area, so it seems unusual. More unusual that it's obviously indoors. That is until a little snow golem toddles in front of the camera's view.] [Kay looks at it, before he picks up a bottle with a little bit of liquid in it. A potion bottle, like what was at the Market. Una is looking at a cauldron, and he comes over to join her.] K: Like a hell broth boil and bubble, huh? Solid. Heavy. Definitely the real deal. Too bad we don't have anyone magically sensitive around. [Una tries to move it. But it doesn't really work. She can only move it a short distance. It's heavy.] U: Magic's not my expertise either. I suppose we ought to take those back to the town for analysis. Perhaps a better-equipped party can bring back this thing. [Another clip begins. This one shows Emilia Westmarch and Jade, along with Emilia's flesh golem. Emilia is touching all of the potions, everything she can find. Jade is watching for a bit, before she follows suit in looking at the more mundane tools. Empty vials and such.] E: Think she had any next of kin? [The camera pans to the skeleton next to the cauldron. Different from a human's obviously. But much like those of the archers.] J: Don't know. If she did, they either don't care enough about her or they're not strong enough to come here. E: Or they don't know where she went. Maybe they don't even know she's a witch. The Imports bravely dared to trek through the dangerous swampland. Many times their lives were threatened by the land and the creatures in it, but every time their ingenuity, determination, courage, and teamwork saw them through. WANDER AND GRAINNE [It's the boggy swamp, with quicksand that seems to drag the more morose people under. Now that faces are visible, it's obvious why the museum is now forming a theory about how emotions became a sort of defense mechanism for the location, and the witches hut inside.] G: Wander, can you find a piece of wood or something? Something long and flat that I could rest on. It's an old trick I remember from the bogs in my homeland. W: Got it! [Wander leaves view, but returns to the frame with what was asked of him.] 'kay, wanna grab onto one ends while I pull? G: That should help. Lay it flat so I can spread my weight out when I grab it. [When her expression changes to one of more determination, pulling herself out is much easier.] G: It is very gloomy here. What do you think, Wander? Maybe this place is cursed. BOONE AND LINDA [It's the same swamp, but a different location. Boone and Linda are trudging through the muck, but Boone is sinking, and quickly at that. He's the only one who is.] B: Can't move. [Linda turns to see him, and looks startled.] L: Damnit! Hold on... [She leave frame as Wander did, finding a branch.] L: Grab this! I'll pull you out! [Boone grasps it, but he continues to sink. It's up to his waist, and he looks miserable. But the more determined he seems, the slower he sinks.] B: Okay, pull. L: Hold on tight! [He does, and the more determined they both look the easier it is to draw him out. As soon as he's free he takes refuge.] B: Thanks. JADE, NIKO, AND EMILIA [Jade can be seen watching for something, very wary. That group is following the abomination of Emila's, and in the vid shown earlier Niko wasn't a part of their party. He is here. Niko stalls and looks off in a direction.] N: Okay, I think I might need to cover you guys. You keep going. [The camera on the drone turns in the direction he has been looking, and a creeper toddles out from behind a tree. It swivels back to the group, and now Emilia is looking, too.] E: Are you sure? [When it comes at them, Jade looks ready to melee attack it, but Niko slams into her side. He pushes her out of the way.] N: Don't get near it! [The creeper blows up right next to him. He's thrown back out of frame, but he can be heard groaning. Then shouting again, a moment later, just as the camera pans to him getting up half scorched. Enough that his skin is half burnt but healing slowly because of his coat.] N: Get the -BEEP- out of here! Go! [The other two run and the camera follows them. When more shots are fired, the abomination tries to go back, but then continues following Emilia.] Once again, the Imports prove what a benefit they have been to our fair community. We have much still to learn from each other; we will grow and improve together. Will all our inhabitants joined in goodwill and harmony, Blackway's future looks bright indeed. Navigation