TRU01: EXTRA, EXTRA

[dm_screen]

[Whether due to lazy staff, a clerical error, or an intent to send a message, each unit in Concord Crossing awakens to a bundled-up periodical on its doorstep in the morning...]

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THE CONCORD TRUTHOGRAM
"The most honest and trustworthy publication in Concord!"

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LIZARD PEOPLE INVADE!
Tiny reptilian residents spotted forming goat-deity worshipping cult; conclusive evidence of Featheraptors interbreeding with sewer pygmies (More on Page 2)

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HEAVENLY BODIES
Astronomers' new sick experiment: Adamantium breast implants? Exclusive candid photos of draconic test subject. Experts agree: They can't POSSIBLY be real. (More on Page 5, with fold-out spread)

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THE BLOOD OF ANGRY MEN
Eyewitness reports COMMUNIST SUBVERSIVES threatening values of Concord residents; in league with insidious council known as "The French" (More on Page 6, with speculated organizational chart)

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CANDY MAN
Unkempt-looking man spied in clandestine party near Concord Crossing, peddling strange, glowing chemicals as recreational drinks. Are YOUR children safe? (More on Page 8)

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[The Starfallen quickly all congregate on the same page in the Liber Nuntiorum to discuss it...]

Comments

[mech_and_mutt]

What would you write about?

And are these the customers you really want?

People who want to read about lizard sex cults and adamantium breast implants?

[lizardtits]

Nah.

We write scandals and intrigue about the paper itself. Maybe the editor has an illegitimate child? Maybe it could come to light that the writers are getting screwed over in a bad contract? Maybe the entire publication is handled by a shady secret cabal of eldrich abominations who seek to tear us apart because it knows they fear us all working together? We fight fire with fire. Create chaos, maybe poach a few of their writers... Then either we reach an agreement for them to stop or at least stop lying.

[mech_and_mutt]

That's not a topic you can make a newspaper out of

Not for more than one or two issues anyway

[lizardtits]

Even one could damage them if it was good enough. That might be all we need.

[mech_and_mutt]

Then here's one for you

they STIFF THEIR DELIVERY BOYS

[lizardtits]

Sounds like there's a testimonial behind that.

[mech_and_mutt]

[...oh. right.



furballs.]

They were looking for someone to do deliveries and I'd never heard of them before. It was my first day here.

Never again

[lizardtits]

Did they not pay you? If so, I have another idea... If they need a delivery person again, take the job, and keep the papers after they give them to you.

Wait, no. Even better. Edit them. Make them piss off the wrong person. We don't have to waste money on printing our own.

[mech_and_mutt]

Edit them how? They're already printed

Scissors and glue?

[lizardtits]

There's got to be a spell that will let us rearrange ink. There's an entire magic academy here. I can almost guarantee that at some point, one of them made a bad mistake writing a book and figured out a way to fix it.

[mech_and_mutt]

Oh.

Magic's never been my thing.

[lizardtits]

Then I'll add it to my list of projects.

[Which is starting to get quite long. Velo does not know how to take it easy.]

[bladeofconquest]

I'm not sure trying to fight at their level is a good idea, they're probably better at it than we are. And it doesn't paint us in the best light if this is the kind of squabbling we fall to when we were summoned here to mend the world.

But I do think there's something to the idea of getting a paper of our own out if we can. In all the hustle and bustle of us falling from the sky and getting set up here, can anyone in Concord say they really know us? Maybe that's what the paper could be about instead. We fight these accusations by telling the people of Concord more about us, where we come from, and what we're doing to help mend the world. Like those little notes about our homes we filled out after we first arrived. Did anyone else do those? I wrote up a small thing about where I come from for a local Scholar. Something like that, but larger, and more public. If people are willing to participate, of course!

I could put together a list of questions if anyone felt like being interviewed. I'm afraid I have little experience with actually putting out any sort of news ledger though, but I'm more than happy to serve to get material for it.

[mech_and_mutt]

What, like

"Confessions of the Starfallen" or something?

[bladeofconquest]

Hmmm, "Confessions" feels like the wrong word. It sounds a little too...guilty-sounding? Like we have things to hide.

[She is aware of the irony even if no one else is.]

Maybe something more like "Starfallen Who's Who" or "The Mending Report"? Something a bit more positive, or something more neighbourly. Something that says "we're all in this together" because we are.

[lizardtits]

[As much as Velo enjoys being a petty bitch when it comes to these things, Corrin has a point.]

That sounds like a much less dangerous solution. I could definitely contribute, and I'm sure there's someone here who can put it together to make it look neat.

[mech_and_mutt]

Wait

So you're talking about an entire magazine dedicated to all the great things we do?

[You're speaking his ego's language, Corrin.]

[bladeofconquest]

[Not...precisely what she meant, but he is engaging with the idea.]

Something along those lines. It's about building trust with the people here, letting them know they can rely on us. The more the people of Concord know about us, the harder I think it will be for the Truthogram to put out this kind of sensationalistic drivel about us.

And once we do start making progress about putting the world back together, we can talk about that too! That's sure to raise people's spirits if they actually have a good idea of the work we're doing. But right now they have no reason not to believe the Truthogram because they don't know the first thing about us. Combatting that has to be our first step, right?

[lizardtits]

Either way, we should expect resistance from the Truthogram. They'll do everything they can to twist our actions against us. It's still worth doing, but it will be an uphill battle.

[dm_screen]

Well, I think it's a splendid idea! Something to help the people of this city see the Starfallen as the hope we need in these all-too-uncertain times.

You're Corrin and Velofnir, right? The Concord Astronomical Society would be all too happy to commission a printing press for your use if you'd like to follow through on this idea! Oh, though you may need to lease some sort of office for yourselves. But if you're planning on selling it, then it probably won't be too much trouble to find a place to run it out of, right?

I still have those letters, too, so just let me know if you need them! -𝒜

[bladeofconquest]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear you think so. Yes, I'm Corrin, and I think this is something I do want to pursue. I'm working up a rough draft of questions to ask as we speak. I'll speak with the other Stewards at the Glistering Estate, they may have some ideas on where a space could be leased that's affordable.

I may yes, but only if the person who wrote the letter sees fit to authorize releasing it to me. But I appreciate the offer, thank you...Aurora, right? I'll get back to you.

[Corrin is starting to think she may need to write up a post of her own, now that this is starting to take shape. Get permissions, request interviews and set times and the like. It seems a daunting task to perform without her siblings or retainers to help, but a worthy one, and a task she's honestly feeling excited to start on.]

[lizardtits]

Just Velo is fine, and thank you. I'm glad to know that not every local is looking to exploit our presence. We'll have to iron out the details, but we'll get back to you as soon as we know how exactly this is going to happen.

Depending on who's interested, we might have a couple other ideas in the works, too.

[mech_and_mutt]

[He's only a little bit offended at not being mentioned by name there, but...]

I'll let you two take care of it then

I'd sooner be the one making headlines than writing them anyway

[bladeofconquest]

Good! We're going to need them. And I'm going to expect you in the first round of interviews too, mister. Don't think you're getting out of one!

[lizardtits]

I can see the article title now: "Concord Saved From Featherraptors by Good Boy"