Turn 9

All over the archipelago, people have been coming back from the City Fragment with exciting stories of flying the racing fragments created by Navigator Chtoth of the Crystal Collective. After several months of training people from many clans, Chtoth held a series of qualifying races for everyone who trained or practised with his racing fragments. If these races are a taste of next seasons planned racing circuit, the stadiums of the Glorious Peoples Republic, which will be hosting the races, will be overflowing with spectators, as will the decks of Oleg Slavo's ships which will allegedly be providing 'premium seating'.

The qualifying races started on one of the upper platforms of the City fragment, raced over and under the satellite fragments of the city, comprising the Empire of Tortuga, the course then skirted around the platforms on the edge of the City Fragment, passed beneath the newly renovated 'Top hat of truth' carving and ended with a dash to the finish line over the highest point of the City fragment.

The races were a knock-out competition with trainees Bergholt Stuttley, amongst others, going out in the first round, and Ella May Dixie going out in the second. The final was fought between, Segue Amalfi, Bezeth, Craddock, Valk Tillerman and Alric Earthborne.

Bezeth had the lead for much of first two thirds of the race, but skirting the new City Fragment walkways, Alric made a daringly close pass and swung into the lead. Meanwhile the battle for 3rd place took an unexpected turn as Segue threw one of his/her control rocks at Craddock, causing him/her to veer off course. Unfortunately this left Segue unable to fully control his/her craft, resulting in him/her being thrown onto one of the walkways and the fragment having to be retrieved by Chtoth from the mists. This did allow Valk into third place however. As the final climb approached, a group of Tillermen held up a large banner encouraging Valk, but an improbably gust of wind hoist it aloft, right into the path of Alric and Valk, allowing Bezeth to slip into the lead and make a beeline for the finish line. Alric recovers quickly though and uses the extra momentum of the widershins course he/she's been sent on to power into the lead, passing the flag mere moments before his/her rivals.

This message appears on notice boards throughout the broken worlds. No one seems to know where they came from, though it obviously talks about the recent Death of Pineapple

As the Ox is slow to anger so are we. Yet we will not stand aloof as you leaders in your ivory towers lead the world to death and destruction. Pineapple was the first, but all who drive their people under the yoke of war shall follow. Your chance for forgiveness has past. You cannot stop us now.

All hail the Sky Ox!

Three cheers go up around the city as its slow decent towards the mist is stopped and it begins to stabilise itself again. This is largly down to the efforts of Sarrenn, Chtoth, Roderick and Rosalind of the Red Rose.

Sarrenn and Chtoth were resposnible for working on the permanent repair of the devices which kept it afloat in the time of the 2 kings of Bone and Copper. Rosalind of the Red Rose was responsible for supplying a vital component to the process. With thier tireless efforts the city is now stable. The details are unclear, but the results apparrent.

Roderick has proposed an alternative means of propulsion - piers on the city fragments where devices could be placed to keep it afloat. These could be particually useful if the problem occurs again, as well as acting as a platform if other device for manouvering the city are acquired.

Did you hear? Another expidition has been sent to Neverdark.

Again? But theres nothing there left to steal!

Aha! You're not thinking big enough see? Whats left in Neverdark?

Uhh, walking dead?

Try again

The overpowerring scent of evil?

Nope. Think simpler.

…Rock?

Yes! And what happens if you put lots of rock on top of each other?

You, get a pile of rocks.

Also known as a House! They're rebuilding Neverdark.

…Rebuilding it. Rebuilding the tomb of the greatest army of undead the Broken World has ever known.

They're going to pave it over and make it a retreat for the rich, or an amusement park or a Gogol Shopping Complex or something

… Lets go back to my first two guesses and see if we can't come up with a reason why this is a bad idea…

The Antso Superior College of Engineering, is a new project being developed by Roderick for those with an academic interest in Engineering. As well as a teaching institute for those with a growing interest. The development is in the planning stage, and is planning to be constructed on the same fragment as the temple to make it a nuteral location, accessable to those from any colony.

A message circulated around the various Barkeeps in the Union.

On the 3rd Day of RedStorm, the following individuals were responsible for the destruction of the Happy Horse, and other Barkeeps are advised to bar them entry. It appears they were participating in some sort of “Reunion Party.”

V. Tiller, K. Deepcut, D. Crusius, S. Tyr, Sarr, Chtoth, C. Maxim, C. Ivan, El Presidente, Catequil, Benjamin, E. Minver, Bezeth, Imogene, A. Sedlak.

Similar messages have circulated the other colonies.

After a fortnight of fierce fighting between the troops of the Unsullied and the Union, and the Crusaders led by Pope Pinapple, the battle seems to be over. All across the Fallen fragment there is great destruction; the spire constructed by Takhai of the Machinists lies in ruins, surrounded by the burning husks of Union airships. The Orrery building is completely devastated, although Fallen citizens are assured that the Orrery itself is still operational. As for the two major sides, the Crusaders seem to have dispersed throughout the Fallen fragment, trying to drum up support for another crusade, while the Unsullied seem to have retreated to their strongholds within the fragment; in their absence, the Tirthankar clan have been trying to maintain and repair what they can of the Orrery. A Union peacekeeping force remains, although they too have suffered heavy losses.

It would appear that the Spirit of Red Roses has significantly increased in power and has become the leader of the Knights of the Rose, thus antagonising those who remained loyal to the old leader, the Spirit of White Roses. This Spirit was last seen entering the City. Its whereabouts are currently unknown, but it is rumoured to be under the protection of the Spirit of Diamond.

With the Spirit of Red Roses leading the Knights, and the Spirit of Diamond in charge of the City, it begs the question of whether the welfare of humanity is best left in the hands of these powerful Spirits. Are they as benign as they appear, or does their appearance belie a darker nature?

Its not often a fragment is seen to rise into the storms and then descend out intact, but when it does the land tends to be rich in storm ore. Such an event was just witnessed in the void, and, sure enough, was confirmed as an extremely rich vein of storm ore.

Located in neutral space, this treasure is as yet unclaimed.

• The Fallen Grant Mercy to the Deserving.
• El Presidente doesn't follow fashion trends, they follow him.
• People are looking into communicating long distance through the storms.
• Bezeth and Anja Sedlak are a couple of filthy alcoholics.
• The King of Quartz' brown-clad minions only listen to his orders. So much for being a nice guy!”.
• It looks as though the Rollers clan were telling a lie after all. They're going to be sticking around.