Niflheim Circus No More!
Heroes Defeat Ringmaster, Burn Stronghold

For some time, now, the fair city of Al De Baran has been plagued with the menace of the undead minions of the Niflheim Circus. No more! At the invitation of the Ringmaster, a group of heroes banded together under the banner of justice, united as a force against the terrible threat to our nation, and with their combined might and wit, the Circus has been defeated!

I am sure all saw the posters plastered about the city, the Ringmaster calling participants for his final show. In response to this threat, a band of adventurers, gathered from far and wide, ventured into the greatest heights of the city’s legendary Clock Tower. Fighting their way through the fiends and monsters that blocked their way, both of the Tower itself and the Circus’ conjured creations, they sealed the activation mechanism of the Ringmaster’s diabolical machine, keeping our waters free of the wicked poison he’d sought to spread into the waterways!

Seeing his defeat at hand, the Nightmare attempted to flee through a mystic portal into the underworld; however, he underestimated the grit and dedication of these valorous heroes, who ventured beyond the portal to seek him and put an end to his wicked ways. Though separated beyond it, the heroes faced off against DeArnet and his minions, beating them back and pressing the advantage, pushing the leaders back into a corner. With the Master of the Circus at the end of his tightrope, one courageous hero risked his life to put an end to the circus, once and for all - using the Circus’ own fireworks to send their tents up in a great conflagration, slaying the undead there and pressing the heroes’ advantage further.

With flames licking at their heels, the Ringmaster’s exotic compatriot, identified as one Zhu Li, took up DeArnet and his apparent favored undead minion, and with the pair in tow and an unfortunate priest taken hostage, fled into another portal. Their destination and current whereabouts remain unknown. The heroes themselves escaped the scene through a separate portal, returning to Al De Baran to savor their victory.

Phenomenon’s Third Act
This time, in Payon

The strange light display viewed both in Juno, and north of Al De Baran into Schwarzwald’s land- has once again reoccurred in the forests of Payon. As if the south-eastern city hadn’t seen enough oddities as of late.

“It was near early morning,” Mae Hwah recounted, a life-time resident of Payon “and I was having some morning tea, glancing out into the horizon. I thought dawn had broke suddenly until I realized I was facing the southern window. A pillar of light, and voices singing about ‘Order being the key to Reason’. I’m not sure what strange magic this is about.”

Several rangers went to investigate the proceedings - but were left with no evidence on the matter. At first, they were concerned with perhaps another act of arson, but there was nothing near the site where this strange happenings birthed to indicate such an intention.

Warning to All Libraries
Hugel Library Raided by Strange Children

Recently, it has been reported that a pair of strange children invaded the Hugel Library in search of something for their ‘Father Icky’, as claimed by several witnesses.

The library’s shelves had been undone in quite a mess, as several folks rushed in to investigate why the local establishment had been in such a fuss after hearing cries of distress. The two girls (it was assume they were female), were ‘licking’ and ‘chewing’ on the books, claiming to be searching for one bound in ‘human flesh’.

They referred to each other as ‘Clover’ and ‘Azzy’, and were plant-like in nature. The former was taller, with dark skin and a sprout much like a lotus on top her white mane of hair. The latter was small, toddler sized with pale skin, green hair and a large mushroom cap on top her head. Witnesses believe that their strange ‘headpieces’ were both quite real and part of the ‘children’.

Authorities believe the one called ‘Azzy’ is linked to the disappearance of the Bashan Priestess some time back, and is on the look out for the strange monster-children.

Fumble of the Angeluses

Manuel Ricard, age 11, died of natural causes a short while ago at the Angelus General Hospital. The Ricard family however, is suing the big name hospital for how their son was treated. The family claims Manuel Ricard went to the Lighthalzen branch of the hospital complaining of stomach pains, and the next day, he was missing. The hospital claims that the boy died in the night of a burst appendix, and that his body was handled incorrectly.

Matthias Angelus, lawyer for the hospital and brother of the Dean, Michael Angelus, had this to say of the horrific situation:

“It is a pity what happened here, but it was a completely honest mistake. When a patient passes while in our care, they are immediately moved down to the morgue we have at our facilities. The coroner inspects them for cause of death, before fitting everyone with a toe-tag for identification to make it easier to retrieve bodies for grieving families. Unfortunately, the young boy was outfitted with the toe tag of a man that requested cremation, and vise versa. We are greatly sorry for the terrible mistake that happened here and for the loss of the body, and will compensate his family in any way possible within reason.”

A funeral for Manuel Ricard was held last Thursday, with several of the hospital’s doctors in attendance to show their remorse.

Gunshot at Lighthalzen Train Platform East

A couple weeks back at roughly 3:30am, city guard said they heard a single shot fired from the empty train platform. Upon arrival to the scene, they found the unconscious bodies of Kiel Hyre and Grant Angelus, both in critical states. There were no eye witnesses, but the guards claim the body of the boy looked to have been severely beaten, resulting in broken bones and severe blood loss from the head and torso.

The shot was fired by the boy, it appears, as self defense against Mr. Hyre, who was shot in the chest. Grant Angelus was carted off the Angelus General Hospital, while Kiel Hyre requested the Lighthalzen Practitioner Clinic across town.

Kiel Hyre is well known for his technology-pushing weapon advancements, as well as Kiel Hyre Academy, his charitable academy for orphaned and poor children.

Both men are said to be in stable condition at their respective hospitals, and neither have any comments to say on the scuffle. Mr. Angelus is not pressing charges.