#fictionaljournalism

by Alex Grosset, Arts and Entertainment

15/8- The theatrical world is abuzz today with the news that Delando's next play, the follow up to the controversial and critically acclaimed "Fires of D'Kalm D'korr", will be committed to film and shown on kinetic viewers every where.

"Delando is excited about the possibilities new technologies unlock in his ability to tell stories," said the reclusive playwright's representatives. "The flare guns used in 'Fires' demonstrated that, and the use of film to give audiences a more focused view framed by Delando himself reenforces it. Everyone who watches the show on kinetics will have the same viewing experience...no need to fight for good seats."

The play, which is as yet untitled, will be filmed over the course of its first year on stage. The performances will then be constructed into a single, cohesive whole.

Not everyone is excited about it, however.

"This is an aberration!" said one theater goer. "It is a contamination of the purity of the art form. Theater is meant to be enjoyed live, as though the audience is a part of the experience. This travesty, this...'film' as they call it...it's a separation of viewer and performance. It should not be allowed, and Delando should be expelled from the Academy of Theatrical Arts and blacklisted in the community for such insolence! How dare he think he can change hundreds of years of story telling tradition!"

Theater owners, as well, have their reservations. Namely Patrice Chadeau, the owner of the theater the filming is meant to take place in.

by Chester Seaton, News

13/8-Violence erupted on the streets of the Monteddorian capital today when Blackwood magnate Marco Desantana took to the stage to give a press conference concerning the situation with his daughter, Yolanda. One of our own correspondents found himself in the middle of the action, as after the opening statement was delivered, a gunman charged the stage with a blunderbuss and opened fire.

According to our reporter, most of the shot was blocked by the podium and the rest struck an armed guard. Before the assassin had time to reload, he was incapacitated by police and taken into custody. This was not the end of the attempt, however. While Desantana was being escorted off the stage to a secure location, several explosive devices where triggered.

Thankfully, these devices where not intended to kill or maim, but simply produce a cloud of smoke that dispersed the crowd and caused confusion. Members of Desantana's guard that were involved in the incident say that several figures armed with revolvers appeared within the smoke and tried to kill him. Two of the guards were killed and another injured before they managed to regroup and fight back. Once they did, the unidentified assailants retreated.

Monteddorian authorities refuse to speculate on the identities of the assassins, but they believe the man with the blunderbuss and the individuals with the revolvers were part of separate plots, brought together by a general contract on Desantana's life. Authorities believe the contract was placed by Yolanda Desantana.

Several other potential assailants were discovered in the immediate area. Two were killed, the rest were apprehended. None are believed to be affiliated with each other.

by Chester Seaton, News

5/8-Less than two weeks after Yolanda De Santana was seen attending a public family event, the heiress has renewed her hostilities against her father's business interests.

Reports from Monteddor and a statement from Miss De Santana indicate that she has raided and occupied the Salassan refinery, a key element in Marco De Santana's business ventures, as well as a major supplier of Blackwood throughout the Imperial Triumvirate. Furthermore, Miss De Santana's forces have begun haranguing Blackwood transports along the South-North Route into Crowndon.

"This is a dire circumstance, to be sure," said Bartolomeo Fross, General of Crowndon's infantry. "It goes beyond Monteddorian familial politics and business. Cutting off the supply of Blackwood to Crowndon, Nor Easter, and the northern regions of Monteddor is tantamount to declaring war on the Empires. If the situation is not resolved quickly, our existing reserves will run out within the year. We will have to intervene before that happens."

The Empress of Nor Easter herself, Marcellette Bastian, issued a statement concerning the situation.

"I'm less eager to mention the possibility of another war, and even less eager to agree with a Crowndonian General, but unfortunately we see eye to eye on this. Blackwood is the lifeblood of our Triumvirate; it is the major component holding us all together. Without it, I fear the delicate facade of our alliance will quickly crumble. Something must be done, though I must stress the importance of diplomacy before force."

And where do the rulers of Monteddor fall on this issue?

by Chester Seaton, News

4/8-The investigation and salvage operation aboard the remains of the derelict Waystation Bravo has come to a sudden halt today, as teams aboard the station were evacuated in the early morning hours. The evacuation was ordered after an inspection by Triumvirate Officials.

"It was really strange," said Captain Lester Krietch. "They showed up yesterday evening, these men from some government office I'd never heard of before. I was skeptical of their credentials, but my commanding officer told me they checked out."

The inspectors ordered the station's boiler rooms cleared, and a few hours later ordered the evacuation.

"They didn't state a specific reason," Krietch said. "And when I asked I was completely ignored. Those of us on the salvage team are as in the dark as everyone else at this point. I can't say much, but I will say this: we personally found nothing that would warrant such an evacuation, and everyone on my salvage team appears to be healthy."

We reached out to Captain Krietch's commanding Officer, Admiral Percival Dunbarrow Pillsbury III, for details concerning the inspection team, and received a brief reply.

"They represent the Triumvirate as a whole, and not a single particular member.  I have been around long enough to know when it comes to matters like this, it is best to simply look the other way and not ask too many questions. Trust me on that."

by Chester Seaton, News

24/7-With tensions high over the KI workers strike and Crowndon troops preparing to move in to force the remaining protestors back to work, the workers on strike decided to make their own move early this morning.

Officials say that the protestors, led by Upton Monroe, caught wind of the impending raid, and decided to act first. They threw down their signs and marched into the building, toward Ivan Klankenvroot's office. When they burst through the door, they found the office empty. The desk had been cleaned out, and all files had been removed. Investigators say that a metal bin was found in the center of the office, filled with smoking ashes.

Upon the discovery, Monroe and the others exited the building and surrendered peacefully to the incoming authorities. Military officials claim that they will not carry through with the threat to charge them with treason, but many believe that Monroe and other ringleaders will likely be blacklisted and put under surveillance for further signs of sedition.

by Chester Seaton, News

21/7-Thousands of people from around the Triumvirate have flocked to the southern reaches of Monteddor for the Festival of Ancestry, which occurs only every one hundred years.

The festival is a longstanding tradition in Monteddor, with origins in the region's most ancient pagan beliefs. Many feel, however, that the festival has been stripped of its spiritual meaning.

"It is less about the remembrance of one's ancestors, and more about selling crap to tourists and the royals marking their territory and reasserting their position in Monteddorian society," said one citizen.

Sometimes this reassertion involves blood shed. Two hundred years ago, one of the five royal families was completely wiped out in a massacre that took place during the fifth day parade. Officials warn of similar violence this year, due to the recent developments involving Marco Desantana and his daughter Yolanda.

The week long event begins with the Gathering of Families, during which the highest echelons of the Monteddorian royal houses, which pre-date the formation of the Imperial Triumvirate, come together for the recitation of Lineage. The recitation begins with the names of those Royal leaders who have come and gone in the past century, and is performed by the current family Patriarch.

The rest of the week consists of a wealth of festivities, including feasts, dances, and parades. The events come to a climax on the sixth day, during which the children of the Royal families use brightly colored paints to decorate their ancestral trees, five ancient Blackwoods that stand mysteriously separate from the rest of the grove, farther south.

This year marks the first time the fifth tree will be painted in two hundred years, as Alejandro Julianos officially cements his name amongst the five royal families. Since Julianos has no children, it is expected that he paint the tree himself.

The royals aren't the only ones who partake in these traditions, of course. Smaller festivals will take place throughout Monteddor and in Monteddorian communities across the Triumvirate. Most wealthy families own their own trees, while the ordinary citizen will take part in the painting of a community tree.

I feel I must take umbrage at the way you are reporting the Waystation Bravo Incident. A few days ago, you reported that a device had been discovered attached to the station's boiler. But you failed to report on the theories concerning what that device might be, including the fact that some believe it is responsible for the storm that caused the station to go missing in the first place. Call me crazy, but isn't that a huge part of this puzzle?

Vermina, in Walsh

Dear Crazy, We here at the Gazette are fully aware of the speculation surrounding the purpose of the device in question. We did not report on it at that time because the speculation did not exist. And even if it had, that speculation is not being put forth by the investigators involved. In fact, the only source I can find that is putting forth the notion that the device some how controlled the weather is Oculus, a man who puts forth no evidence for his 'theories'...he simply makes broad statements, and when something happens that even remotely resembles those statements, claims to have predicted the event. Don't believe everything you read in the paper, Vermina. Unless it's ours, of course.

****

Mister Merchant: I cannot believe that a paper as (formerly) prestigious as the Blackwood Gazette would hire a writer like that Eli Knickeannie Wilderspinner. He's such a HACK!!! How dare he suggest we give a medal to that TERRORIST and PIRATE Roderick La Pierre. It's because of HIM that the Crowndon military is about to be forced to MURDER a bunch workers at that factory. You should FIRE Wilder-Ninny immediately, because if you don't, I will UNSUBSCRIBE. That goes for your entire Nor Eastern office, too. FIRE THEM ALL!!!! Your FATHER would be ASHAMED, Mister Merchant. ASHAMED. And you should be ASHAMED. SHAME ON YOU, Mister Merchant. You HACK.

Charles, in Toring Dear CHARLES, No.

****

is it true that adella chatelaine is leaving the gazette i heard shes leaving the gazette is it true i don't want her to leave shes the best thing to happen to the gazette in forever and shes the reason i started reading you cant let her go her articles are the only thing that gets me through because shes just that good and if something happens to her in the colonies then im gonna hold you responsible mister merchant this is just your way of getting rid of the nor eastern branch isnt it you jingoistic bastard i know people in monteddor and i know people in sarnwain and in rommsbach so you better watch out how could you do this thank you for your time

adellafan, in sau anoit

Hunter O'Leary, Business

10/7- The Rinkenbach/Klankenvroot rivalry took a bizarre twist yesterday. In response to news that hearing Klankenvroot Industries was having a difficult time paying its employees, which have gone on strike, it seems that none other than Rigel Rinkenbach reached out to Klankenvroot with a proposal to help supplement the payroll, so that salaries could be met. Klankenvroot promptly refused.

"This isn't charity," said a spokesperson for Klankenvroot. "There is no altruistic motive here on the part of Rinkenbach. This was meant as an insult, pure and simple. I wouldn't be surprised if, had we reached out to take the extended hand, Rinkenbach would have pulled it back at the last second."

We asked Rinkenbach himself for comment.

"There's some truth to that, yes," he said. "It was such an open opportunity to give my rival a friendly ribbing, I couldn't help but take it. It isn't the complete truth, of course. I really do want Ivan to stay in the race...it isn't often someone gets it into their head to challenge me. I was quite enjoying myself before this happened. With his production at a stand-still, I've become bored. Also, employee well being and all that, of course."

As for the workers, they were understandably livid when they learned of Klankenvroot's refusal to accept help.