TRU04: PROPHECIES

[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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CONCORD CULT'S ENDGAME
REPTILIAN RELIGION'S RAPTURE IS REALIZED



The signs can be ignored no longer: the reptilian pygmy cultists of Concord are bent on bringing about their own depraved prophecy of the end times. Our exclusive eyewitnesses have witnessed one reptile seemingly suffering from a festering plague, and another revealing itself to be an angelic harbinger of the apocalypse; investigation is ongoing as to whether or not any actual people will be harmed in the cult's self-made armageddon or whether the rest of us can simply leave them to their wretched devices and idolatry, as well as the true nature of the strange, demonic goat that appears to serve as the cult's supposed deity. One reporter has spied it within the Priory during a late-night investigative visit to a Warlock's private (Continued on page 3)

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A PRINCESS' PASSIONATE PLOY
The dread Princess Corrin's imperial aims for Concord have taken a strange turn: unwilling to risk a scrap of power falling to anyone outside the Cabal's inner circle, eyewitnesses have reported that Corrin has abandoned her habit of taking beastmen consorts and has instead begun courting one of her own lieutenants as a sultry royal bride-to-be. Our political analysts believe they plan for the institution of an oppressive matriarchy where men will be collared and (Continued on page 4)

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KEEPING WATCH
Whether a proactive measure of caution or an indicator of weakening faith in their own literal Starfallen dogs, the Concord so-called "Astronomical Society" has begun hiring private investigators to spy upon Starfallen activities outside of the city proper. Unsurprisingly the moral fiber of this Secret Police seems to be lacking, as an undercover journalist has witnessed one of them approaching a vulnerable newcomer and "...feeding her his pocket sausage". Despite the (Continued on page 6)

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PARDON MY CANDOR
Allow me to be the first to say what everyone with half a brain already knows: so-called 'drunken and disorderly conduct' isn't a real crime, and certainly not one that would call for a month and a half of 'community service'. Let's all just call it what it is: The Concord so-called "Astronomical Society" has moved straightaway into brazen totalitarianism and a transparent effort to oppress independent journalism in (Continued on page 8, "Letters from the editor")

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

Comments

[air_raider]

How'd'ya figure? I mean, sure, I can turn into an angel and I am an actual harbinger, but it's hardly apocalyptic.

[mech_and_mutt]

Wait

What do you mean that you're an actual harbinger

[air_raider]

I thought that was obvious. Haven't you seen me transform? I apparently signal the approaching cleansing. We That Know called me a beacon, a harbinger, an omen of things to come, to rise against the encroaching corruption and... Y'know, be the harbinger of the end of the corruption? The world's avatar? At least, that's what they called me.

[mech_and_mutt]

[After a long few seconds, there's a bit of a splot on the page where Red puts down his pen.

She can wait it out and hope for a reply if she wishes, but if not, he's in the next room over. Either way it's obvious this sort of silence isn't like him.]

[air_raider]

[Well he is just next door...]

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Adah pokes her head out into the other room. "You okay, Red? You spill your ink or something, or..?"

[mech_and_mutt]

And he's just sitting there, staring blankly at the book on the table.

"...yeah, m'fine. That just got a little too...

...familiar."

[air_raider]

"D'ya wanna talk about it?" She asked, slipping into the room. "Or do you want to... I dunno, talk about something not that?"

[mech_and_mutt]

"Not really," he replied, shifting over in his seat slightly to offer some room in case she wished to conduct their conversation a little more close-at-hand. "Not unless you'd really wanna hear it."

"S'just not a fun story to tell. Clearin' out a planet and... all that kinda thing."

[air_raider]

"I mean, you've listened to my drunken problems. Least I can do is listen to yours."

She crossed over to where he was sitting, and joined him, pulling her flask from her jacket and offering it to him.

"Y'know, if you want to share. I'm not gonna force you or anything."

[mech_and_mutt]

"Maybe not the whole thing. It's pretty long."

A hand was raised to politely refuse the drink. He'd smelled what kind of stuff Adah tended to drink, and it was a miracle it didn't peel the paint of the walls when she left the bottle open.

Still, he carried on with a quiet sigh blown out his nose.

"I guess I was supposed to be some kinda 'purifier' of my planet, 'cept that meant I'd be killin' everyone on it. And were it not for some friends of mine, I might've--

...well... either way, it was hard to find somethin' to say with all that suddenly buzzin' around inside my head again. Y'know?..."

[air_raider]

Aha, part of Red's elusive past. He was an angel of sorts too, but not in the same way she was. She put her flask back in her coat.

"That's... a way of interpreting it. To cleanse corruption by removing those who would do it. That's sort of the motto the Bureau has back home. I don't agree, and it sounds like you don't either. I'm a... different kind of angel. I wasn't chosen or born this way or... anything like that. It was sort of by accident. I wouldn't be the first choice. Or the last choice. But I'm what the world got. I am, or was, the world's hope to bounce back from the corruption, to be saved, if not returned to the way it was.

But... I don't think the distinction helps you at all. I do know, though. I know all too well getting reminded of those sorts of thing. But if you want to talk, I will do my best to understand. Everyone ought to have that much."

[mech_and_mutt]

A dry, chuckling grunt sounded out at the words what the world got, and Red reached down for a fond little rub of Adah's head between her horns.

"You don't have to be chosen or perfect to be a hero or save the world, y'know. Just look at me. I was a failure, but I made it work somehow."

It soon became a sputtering snicker. "Furballs, can you imagine if the Truthogram got a hold of this little talk?"

[air_raider]

"What would it even say? We're two ex-harbingers talking about how we tried to save our home worlds, dragged to this world to try to save it from a similar problems that our own home worlds faced. Realistically, we're good calls to drag in from beyond the stars." She shrugged, a cocky grin cutting across her face. "But they're gonna talk anyway, so let 'em talk. Just give 'em something to talk about."

[mech_and_mutt]

"You've already set the bar too high! What are they gonna call me that tops 'angelic harbinger of the apocalypse'?"

[air_raider]

"It's tough to beat, but just pointing out there are two means the cult's influence is spreading. They'll probably assume I converted you or something, since they know we're living together. I can almost see the headlines now."