The following is a copy of today’s Sliberberg Sentinel morning edition.

Select articles from the Paper

For the benefit of those using screen readers and those who could not get the download to load.

WYRD EXPLOSIONS ROCK HIGHLANDS

Incidents at Grand Undertaking sites contaminate the local area, and magic levels are through the roof throughout the western Cantons.

BREAKING NEWS Two days ago, three separate complexes located at Moss Run, Drachenfels Castle, and Paxton’s Crossing associated with The Fairy Godmother’s Grand Undertaking suffered severe accidents that resulted in multiple explosions at each site. Following the explosions, witnesses described towering pillars of rainbow light that stretched high into the sky Sources within the Royal Forestry Service and Ranger Corps of New Mountainheart and the Magsitarium have confirmed that there was a massive release of Wyrd Magic following the accidents, and efforts by the royal army to contain the leaks are ongoing. The Magsitarium has confirmed aether readings in the western Cantos are at a level not seen in the region before. Sentinel reporters have received reports of at least a dozen Faerie trees common to New Mountainheart growing from seed to 9 feet tall around Paxton’s Crossing in a single night, grain and vegetables growing to massive size in minutes

Figure 1: Sketch of the state of one of the sites. Innumerable reports of inanimate objects suddenly gaining life and dozens of other magical phenomena. Reaction in the capital. The recent uproar in the western cantos has soured the general mood regarding the Grand Undertaking. Citizens are understandably worried about the potential for wyrd contamination from other sites. Many demand that New Mountainheart withdraw from the Grand Undertaking before further accidents occur.

BATTLE FOR GOVERNOR OF UPPER TAY TURNING UGLY

The battle for the seat of Royal Governor of the Canton of Upper Tay turned dark yesterday Morning when a horde of zombies descended on the valley floor beneath Dun Rowan. As our reader must certainly know, Dun Rowan and the Mac Colla family have a dark reputation for villainy of all flavors, including, if rumors are to be believed, a former uncle of the current Castellan Ben Colla who was a necromancer. Lord Colla has denied that he or his family is responsible for the shambling dead, blaming the outbreak on the nearby wyrd contamination.

Political insiders, however, point to Arthur Paxton SR as a potential culprit for the zombie outbreak. Ezuqirax the Dark, a necromancer of little ability, was seen exiting the Paxton residents by nosy neighbors of Paxton’s Crossing. Said necromancer was last seen headed north out of town days before the outbreak. If true, this will be the last salvo in the feud between Lord Ben and Mr. Paxton that has left the Upper Tay Canton one of only two cantons in the kingdom without a Royal Governor.

EDITORIAL: Are the Fools Leading the Blind?

By Powell Tupeeple, owner and chief editor

This summer has been a whirlwind of changes for our fair city and the nation, but one has to wonder to what end all these changes brought us. Sure, I cheered when the railroad came to Sliberberg. The SSG has led to a 3 fold drop in flour prices and 6 fold drop in the price of Reve’s fish and wine, and I, for the first time, visited the Royaume des Rêves and drowned my bones in wine during a two-day stay at a vineyard. However, the construction of the elevated railroad line and Queen’s Heart Station resulted in the demolition of more than 240 homes and businesses. Then there is the near-constant rumbling as the locomotive dragons and their trains pass the Sentinel Offices.

Likewise, I poured praise into my editorial when the Fairy Godmother announced her grand undertaking with promises of saving the world. But with the recent disaster out in the western cantons, one has to wonder: what are they doing out in the countryside? Whom are they saving the world from? Is this a classic example of the fool leading the blind man over the cliff? It has been 4 months since work started on the undertaking’s massive machines in the countryside. Have there been any explanations as to what these “devices” do in this time? No, nada, forgetaboutit. Now, with wyrd spewing out from the earth and turning the soil pink, twisting the livestock in knots, and making the trees walk away, I think it is time to demand answers.

I have it on good authority that the royal family is heading to the Royaume des Rêves to stay with the Fairy Godmother this very week. I say we petition our king and queen to demand answers from the so-called Fairy Godmother, and if they find those answers lacking, send in the army to tear up the machines

An announcement from The Magistratium

Due to high wyrd levels in the Western Cantons, citizens are advised to inspect any food or drink from the region for wyrd contamination before consuming it.

Signs of Wyrd contamination include, but are not limited to:

• Talking/screaming
• Glowing
• Sprouting flowers
• Being of an unusual color
• Floating in the air
• Having sprouted eyes
• Having developed facial features
• Having grown fingers
• Running away
• Discharging electricity
• Being hot to the touch
• Being ice cold to the touch
• Being hard as a rock

Please bring contaminated food and beverages to a Magistratium-registered wizard for proper disposal.

Remember: If it’s Wyrd, do not go Near!