Rumors:
An End To The Violence - The Tessen Speaker - Special Edition
As the early dawn gave way to morning, a scene took place before a temple ripped straight out of a
Broken Blade novel. An edict of House Tessen deemed the actions of the Church of Eden in the last months and years as an unacceptable threat and danger to public order and stability within Tessen. Taking away the religions' right to own temple grounds, recognition as an official religion, and all associated rights therein. It seemed like a spell had been put on those believers still holding onto their faith, assembled before the last temple of Eden in Tessen, as one of House Tessen's personal House Guard regiments
marched towards them. The House Guard soon found themselves joined by seemingly every single Mutated Adventurer walking along, armed, ready, and eager for confrontation, yet silent. Towering above them all, a Hel of the Chapter of the Bronze Machine silently stood watch, waiting for any trouble. Stopping a mere dozen meters away from the assembled followers of Eden, a sergeant held a scroll aloft unrolled, bearing the sigil of House Tessen, with the signature of both Lady and Lord Tessen prominently visible. "By order of House Tessen, and with the power bestowed upon them by the grace of the Imperial Lineage and the Emperor, the Church Of Eden within Tessen is charged with
Treason. The accusations include but are not limited to: mass-acquisition, smuggling, and stockpiling of restricted military supplies and weaponry. Subversion of Local Nobility. Attempted Subversion of the Guard. Attempted Subversion of Knight-Pilots. Conspiracy to Mass Murder, Attempted Mass Murder, Carried Out Mass Murder. And 719 other crimes and accusations levied against the local Church Of Eden. Relinquish all weaponry, and you will be prosecuted with all due diligence of the law, resist, and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law." The sergeant proclaimed to the few hundred believers, with some priests standing in front. One of them stepped forwards, looking straight at the man before him, and, in one smooth motion, drew a compact crossbow from his robes, shooting the sergeant directly in the face.
Or would have, were it not for the crackling field of energy shattering the approaching bolt into a thousand pieces before it could ever come close. The priest who had drawn the weapon would not see what happened next, already peppered with three dozen bolts himself, but many watching citizens and adventurers were more than ready to talk once the dust had settled. Five great thunderclaps rang through the city, the sound of obliterated stone, bone, and flesh swiftly replaced by the screams and moans of the living and dead. The Bronze Machine Hel had unleashed a scattershot with their Forge-Clan weaponry, scything through the now arming and insane Eden Zealots. While some of the rebels paused at the casual slaughter of their numbers, most charged forwards without thinking, into the waiting arms of House Soldiers and Adventurers alike.
The resulting seven-minute fight can only be described as a bloodbath. Even armed with illegally acquired military surplus, their fanaticism proved no match for Knights, Soldiers, and Adventurer Might. And while the Mutated Adventurers may have taken their duty to defend Imperial citizens with a bit too much zeal, they have prevented an estimated 329 Crowns in expenses for the trials and executions which would have followed.
At the moment of the printing of this special issue, the temple grounds of the CoE are still being investigated.
(Read more on pages 2-41.)
Black Claws Almost Defeated - The Truthful Observers.
Eventually, even the most dangerous and crafty criminals will realize that there is no shelter from Imperial Justice. In a daring raid led by the Blue Lance's, a fortified stronghold built in the small Waste to our south was breached, stormed, destroyed, and reduced to rubble! Most criminals preferred to go down standing, an admirable decision if it had been done by soldiers or militia defending their homes or posts, resulting in almost no prisoners. Those who survived were swiftly tried for their crimes and, without exception, except one low-level member having been force-recruited after an abduction, being publicly hanged.
(Read more on page 24.)
***
Spy-Network:
The Military is returning to order after having destroyed the Black Claws entirely.
The Church Of Eden is no more. In Tessen.
The Criminal Organizations are making mad money with the vacuum of power left by the killed Black Claw Gang.
The Common People return once more to normality, or what passes for it in the cultural and threat melting pot of Tessen.
The Mutated gleefully celebrate those adventurers who helped put the CoE in their place.
[Achievements Unlocked:
Plausible Deniability
None Shall Stand Against Us...]
