The Westbrooke Express: July 14th, 189 F.T

## ARCHONS SPEECH

The following words were spoken by our Archon, Alheim Cornelius, on July 13th;

“My friends, men and women, citizens and non-citizens alike, I greet you with open arms on this beautiful day. It has been six months since the sovereignty and freedom of the Republic of Westbrooke was declared to the world. And what a beautiful six months this has been. We’ve given homes to thousands. We’ve given new, good lives to those in need. We’ve celebrated in life and in death, and we’ve grown. To both you, my people, and to the gods, I remain eternally thankful that I may act as your representative. Together, I know that we can forge a home for our children, and for their children too.

There is a dream in my heart. It is a dream of freedom. It is a dream called Westbrooke. And it is with great pride that I tell you now; that dream is becoming reality. When first I trekked across the great forest, the dream had only just blossomed. And now, I stand before you, that dream coming into fruition. I’ve seen more faces in a year than I have in my entire lifetime. I’ve seen cooperation, comradery, and love the likes of which has not been seen since the end of the Age of Strife. I’ve seen many say goodbye to the shackles of their pasts, and watched as they embraced new, hopeful futures, forging their own paths, together. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by friends, by family, and by you, the people of the Republic. Your heart gives life to this dream of mine, one which I share with you.

And that heart which we share has stood triumphant against all odds! We’ve carved a place to call home, with our heart, our hands, and our heads! And each day, I see that heart growing larger, pushing the boundaries of our walls faster than we can build them! And so, I pledge to you, people of Westbrooke, my friends, my heart, my dream; I will never rest, never tire, and never, ever, stop doing everything I can for you! Because there was, is, and will be a dream, called Westbrooke. A dream of freedom. And that dream will become true. I am grateful to you, always."

### RECENT EXPANSIONS GIVE CONCERN ON POWER SUPPLY ISSUES

With the increasing size of both the City of Westbrooke and the Republic at large, many wonder what the Council is doing to address the continuing need for electricity. Since the construction of the Inter-Continental Railway, the Republic has imported coal and other fuels to power it's once small amount of electrical lighting and other machinery, but the increasing size and expansion of industrialization in the city has made it clear that these imports will not be enough. We spoke to the Officer of Enterprise, Johannes vi Kaleva, on what the Council was planning to do about the increased need for fuel. He said the following;

“The Council has been working painstakingly to find a solution to our power supply problems. We’ve funded expeditions by the Westbrooke Mining Company and other resources to find a suitable deposit of coal or some other fuel source, and the Chief Magister has employed several Arcanists to produce electricity via magical means. Rest assured, it is among our chief priorities to keep the lights on for every citizen of the Republic.”

The aforementioned expeditions by the Westbrooke Mining Company met with ruin, as an abandoned precursor mine to the north was discovered to be infested with undead, and any attempts to take over the operation have long since been discontinued.

### LOCAL ADVENTURERS DISAPPEAR

It has been well known since the founding of Westbrooke that the so-called Dire Forest to the south-east is an extremely dangerous and foreboding locale. Even so, attempts to explore and map the region have continued over the years, most having been met with disaster. Recently, three adventurers have turned up missing, having told associates months ago that they would be travelling into the forest. They have not returned.

These adventurers, Juno Blackadder, a human man, Terrin Andrews, a halfling man, and Annie Spencer, a human woman have all gone missing without a trace. Any information regarding their current whereabouts should be reported to both Conrad at the Adventurers Guild and the Night Watch.

Many wonder if the black cloud which appeared over the forest several months ago has anything to do with the disappearance. Arcanists from the IMG and Adventurers Guild have been working together to understand the potential connections between the location and the cloud.

### MYTHRIL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE

The value of the rare substance known as mythril has continued to grow exponentially, with yet another increase in demand expected to come later in the year. Though the material is incredibly rare, the Westbrooke Mining Company continues to find deposits of it underground, and even still continues perfecting the refining process. Currently, a 10 pound ingot of Mythril is being sold at a price of 1250 Dollars.

Though the material is extremely tough and solid, it is surprisingly light, being just as durable as the highest quality steel, while weighing slightly more than aluminum. It's application in the creation of weapons, armor, and machinery pales in comparison to it's recently discovered magical properties. The Wildwood Company claims to have been able to use mythril dust to enchant an item within the time-frame of a couple of hours.

The uses for what many are calling a “super-metal” continues to grow in number, and more than likely, the price will continue to grow as well. The Westbrooke Mining Company typically earns a profit of around 10,000 Dollars a month, a number which continues to grow as it's manpower and motivation increases. Currently, no mythril deposits have been found in Leomoth, though if sources are to be believed, dozens of expeditions and surveyors have been seeking a source on the old continent.

### EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL DULORIS SUCCESSFUL

On may 14th, a joint task force between the Westbrooke Adventurers Guild and the Duloris Initiative set out to explore, study, and understand the dangerous central region of Duloris, from which few have returned. Reportedly, they’ve established a base of operations within a Precursor ruin, and are in the process of establishing a permanent teleportation circle.