Fantasy Faire 2014 - The confluence is upon us....

High up in the forward lookout pod, the on-duty 'glasser strained his eyes against the glare of the incessant sun. Peering straight ahead, the young man squinted at the shapes forming on the horizon. Lifting his head for a moment, he blinked, rubbing his eyes, before placing an eye to the spyglass once more and to look again at the dark mass. "By the gears!" He cried, beckoning urgently to the older man, "quick Fred, I need yer to four eyes that storm, I don't think it's normal". Frederick Lee, the most experienced lookout in the fleet, looked out across the cloudscape, hardly needing the glass now, as great purple clouds swirled ever larger, looming ever closer.
"Aye lad, that's them all right. That's the confluence storm, we've found it." Turning to the brass speaking tube to his right, Lee sounded a klaxon to attract attention on the bridge far below them. The klaxon call was acknowledged with an anxious voice.
"What did you see?"
"Fairelands, Right ahead!"

---

Asperatus - An airborne community living high above the clouds which hide their broken homeland far below, is just one of the treats in store for visitors to this year's Fantasy Faire. The Faire which opens to the public tomorrow (1st May) and will run until the 11th promises to be every bit as fun, exciting and full of tinies, as previous years.
Always my favourite RFL event, perhaps my favourite event of any kind, the faire is a wonderful mixture of fantasy styles and themes. 2014 is different for this seasoned Faire reporter, having journalled, filmed  and photographed previous conjunctions of Fairelands, this year I have had the honour of bringing you a Faireland from within my own head, Asperatus.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Asperatus/135/127/62
Come visit the faire and enjoy all the creations we have for you. Anything you could wish to buy in a fantasy related theme is available some where and there are many new treats to be found this year too.

Mysteries of the Vernian Deep

There have been an increasing number of reports of strange sightings in the Vernian Sea around Babbage in recent weeks. Unusual beings, things going missing. In a particularly intersting occurence it seems that one of the metallic guards that stood over Babbage during the occupancy has been found by Miss Wolf Copperfield, on the ocean floor. No one seems to be able to account for its presence, nor the increasing pile of detritus that is gathering about it.

In the public interest I have decided to undertake a detailed investigation of this area. Over the coming days, I will report back on the exciting mysteries of the Vernian Deep

your faithful correspondent

Beq Janus

(( Link to Wolf's discovery))

Life in Obolenskidonia

This correspondent has spent some time assessing the impact upon the lives of the residents. Many of the social leaders have been removed or have gone into hiding, there are no official numbers being given for civilian/militia casualties with the regime showing scant regard for those who rebel against them.

"We didn't count anything... just dumped what we could in the canal... and yes Obolenskidonia is holding strong.", claimed General Kuroe when questioned about the attack on the HQ of the militia.

Yet in many quarters life is carrying on, the urchins are still at large, they are a constant thorn in the side of any authority democratically elected or otherwise so for them it is business as usual, however, this correspondent fears that the cost to those who push their luck too far may be somewhat higher than a spell in the school house and a clip round the ear.

There are still social gatherings, and the bars and coffee shops are still busy though suspicions are rife and the hushed tone of whispers is more common now than the raucous laughter familiar to those who have lived here for some time. The regular popular balls held by Miss Breezy Carver are still taking place despite the occupation and the difficulties that that imposes, some guests it is said were deliberately becostumed in order to conceal their true identity.

Industry however has been diverted. A look out upon the docks sees a fleet not of mercantile clippers and trading ships but of threatening ironclad war vessels. Indeed the port, in the past a ribald and lively part of the city, is all but deserted. In a recent open letter to the citizens of Obolenskidonia, The overlord announced that productivity in the factories was up by 7%. No information as to what was being produced and how this increase was achieved is available. The Primgraph can reveal however that the new regime has plans however with an ambitious scheme to create a pioneering new factory producing scones, on the site of the old town hall. A more ominous prospect, the Primgraph can exclusively reveal is the secretive "Aether" project,
which will apparently expand the borders of Obolenskidonia.

I will report more on the trials and tribulations of life in Obolenskidonia in coming days but for now this correspondent is gonig to return to a bar, for research purposes.

your faithful correspondent
Beq

New Babbage, New name, Welcome to Obolenskidonia

New Babbage, the independent city state, that has stood out for is brash rebuffal of past attempts at political and military interference has fallen under the control external forces.

The Primgraph, your ever diligent news journal has asked this correspondent to report from the city and relate events as they unfold. News has been slow to emerge, with fears of control measures to kerb the freedom of the press and yet, since my return to my home city, yesterday, I have not found evidence to support these claims, indeed a full interview with general Kuroe will follow in the comings days.

As this correspondent has herself been away from the events I shall first attempt to briefly capture the events that have brought us to the present situation.

What happened to this once proud City? Who is the new ruler?

The City Of New Babbage was last in the headlines earlier this year with the hotly contested election of a new Mayor. An election that was concluded with a democratic majority voting for Mossoveno Tenk. Mr Tenk assumed office In late February but in recent times rumours of weaknesses, an over indulgence in a certain alcoholic beverage, have persisted with alleged photographic evidence being published in the more popularist journals such as the Canal Street Snitch.

For a long time the mercantile strength of New Babbage has been an attraction to both Merchants and Brigands and it was not long before the apparent weakness of the new leadership saw in increase in the number of incursions into New Babbage Territory. These were rumoured, but never proven, to be linked to one Doctor Obolenski, an eccentric and fanciful character, with an inclination towards theatrics.

The local militia, an ill-prepared band of citizen soldiers, was assembled in April with no real expectation that they would be required to act. What else could be expected of a state whose unofficial motto is the ever optimistic "What could possibly go wrong"? Yet with typical Babbage pluck the militia has rebuffed many attacks, including bombs, gas mines and mortars. However, on no occasion was the leader, a pirate known locally as Ashiko Kuroe, successfully apprehended and detained.

Finally in early June, it seems, the odds tipped in the aggressors' favour. Mr Cleanslate, the mayor's deputy, left town around the 3rd of June, publicly stating that he was heading on diplomatic business to the steam lands and the neighbours of Babbage. The aggressors saw their opportunity with the sober deputy otherwise engaged a mechanical army was seen to descend upon New Babbage overnight on June the 9th. Supported by Captain Kuroe and a cohort, Capt. Lupindo, the army was triumphant. The very next day a new state of Obolenskidonia, ruled by the Overlord Doctor Obolenski was announced to the nation through aerial paper drops, martial law was imposed and the new regime took hold. Captain Kuroe, was hailed as General of the air corps, with Captain Cadmus Lupindo, put in charge of the naval blockade, both sharing the overall policing of the state. the metallic soldiers, known locally as "clanks" now patrol the streets.

The fate of the mayor had remained unknown but a few days later propaganda started to appear claiming that the Mayor's addiction had been his downfall. He was it is clear abducted and his fate is as yet unconfirmed, though the propaganda of the new state claims that he was seduced by his addiction, sealed in a bottle and set afloat on the currents of the Vernian sea.



In the days since the occupying forces made their presence known, there has been a growing underground movement, a resistance. Initially this was confined to misdemeanour and high profile protests, with the iron clanks being dressed in garlands of flowers and cuddly toys alongside other statements of a typically Babbagian nature, such as protest notices in the form of street graffiti.


In more recent days the protest has escalated, in one audacious assault Miss Mara Razor and an as yet unidentified white haired co-conspirator were seen to make an attempt to assassinate the overlord, but their bows and arrows proved powerless and they are now sought as enemies of the state.

The resistance is not limited to just these two, as an increasing number of assaults would seem to support. Indeed, General Kuroe admitted openly that this vexes him.

"I have people with guns shooting at my men. I would rather focus my attentions towards them."

I can, through my own observations confirm that gun fire can be heard ringing out from the streets at night, and many citizens are left stranded in their houses.

The apparent triumph of the new rulers is beginning to look somewhat tarnished.



Your faithful correspondent - Beq Janus