Bracken Herald, Hammer 20th 1514

=== INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TRYING TO TEAR US APART, SAY EXPERTS ===
The disastrous Cross Island crash reported in this morning's pages was apparently a twisted framing job. A group of expert sources close to the King and Harpers say that the crash was fabricated by independent contractors working to cause chaos in the city. They apparently tried framing the Guardia by commandeering a Bruiser ship and aiming it for the Flock deliberately, seeking to upset all three factions. The people of Bracken are resilient, though, and this will only embolden the Harpers to find and put down these contractors. Anyone with information can find a poster anywhere around the city, or come to 1212 South Spine.
===WATERDEEP LEAVES - ANOTHER BLOW FOR LUSKEN===
In a landmark move that took many years, the city of Waterdeep has declared independence from the Lusken Empire. The great capital of the Western Danderillon is now known as the Independent State of Waterdeep. Waterdhavian Lord Amelio Cassalanter, in his final year of his seven-year term, says this move has been in preparations for nearly a decade, and that the city will no longer 'rest amongst the bloodshed and failures of its founders'.
What this means for the empire could be a disaster - the news comes nigh six months after the empire announced they would officially pull out of Lakay, which has declared itself a federation. With tensions between the Xantic Imperium over Rakkimar forcing Lusken's claw to retreat, one can only wonder - what next? Carmogan yet remains the only small foothold within the Danderillon for the Lusken empire. We are living through history right now.
===BREAKING - THE BRACKEN RIPPER STRIKES AGAIN?===
Seventeen years ago, the twenty-third victim of the Bracken Ripper was found dead in an alley. Teremir Roth, lieutenant of the Bruisers and the right-hand man of Kessar 'One-Ear' Truespear. The Ripper was never caught, but many theorised he had left, and had killed enough (thank the gods). But that may change. After nearly two decades, five Bruisers were found in an alley, shot full of crossbow bolts just like the Ripper's style. One was even pinned to a brick wall with gruesome flair. An eyewitness, a young man named Thin Mikey, says that he saw the Ripper up close in broad daylight. Wrapped head to toe in clothes and cloth, and wielding two crossbows. Then, down at the Whillenheath Drydock not a day later, many more were found floating in the water, according to the King's sources. He may have had something to do with the Cross Island crash, or just a coincidence. 
This is certainly unprecedented and terrifying news, and what the authorities do, remains to be seen...
Category:Documents