The Frontier Gazette

[Jackie Cat]

STRANGERS TELEPORT INTO TOWN!
"Who Are They?"

In a staggering occurrence the likes of which have not been seen in our town's history, a group of Pokémon appeared from nowhere in various locations around town yesterday. Those present at the scene recount with astonishment the sudden materialisation of these foreign Pokémon. Locations ranged from the usually secure confines of the Bank's vault, to the locked cells of the Jailhouse, all the way to atop the water tower. Experts consulted on this baffling phenomenon suggest a possible link to the enigmatic happenings associated with Mystery Dungeons.

The Pokémon, numbering at least twelve but with rumours suggesting more to come, seem bewildered themselves at their sudden arrival. Their foreign modes of speech and unfamiliar species suggest they hail from lands far from Sohavenia. Although confused, they were prompt in issuing a statement, claiming they "are here to lend help and aid," and they are now reportedly seeking work.

Not all are willing to extend a hospitable welcome. Machoke Dayle, a concerned citizen, warns us: "They're the vanguard troops of the psychic war!" Whether this claim holds any water is yet to be seen. Other skeptics ask "Who are they?" and "When will they leave?" foremost of which is Mayor Ignatius, overheard holding forth on these newcomers at his home late last night. His son Lucien is said to have secured rooms for these Pokémon on his own initiative.

Adding to the intrigue, one of the Pokémon that appeared is unlike any species documented in the Commonwealth's annals. Named Nova, this peculiar, chimeric creature graces our lead photograph. With parts resembling various known Pokémon, Nova adds an extra layer of enigma to this already baffling incident.

These mysterious Pokémon will undoubtedly be the topic of conversation for weeks to come. While questions about their origins and intentions loom large, we at the Frontier Gazette hope the people of Frontier Town will extend a welcoming hand. Let us give these newcomers a chance to prove themselves right-minded sorts, and perhaps they can indeed live up to their claimed intentions.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Taking Tea with Treecko Mhynt
By Shiftry Nathaniel, Editor-in-Chief

In recent days, Frontier Town has been set astir by the inexplicable arrival of more than thirty bewildering strangers. As regular readers will know, newcomers claim to have arrived by way of a Mystery Dungeon anomaly, appearing in our midst with muddled memories and unclear intentions. One such enigmatic figure, Treecko Mhynt, made her first appearance in a local saloon—and has now offered this paper a glimpse into her peculiar life.

I met Ms. Mhynt at the Gazette offices, where she promptly astonished me by producing a cup of pens from the securely locked stationery closet. "A small talent of mine," she said with an unreadable smile, demonstrating her unaccountable ability to Teleport.

A reserved creature with an aura of antiquity, despite her youthful appearance, Ms Mhynt graciously accepted my offer of tea, and spoke softly and with precision during our conversation. Delving into her backstory, Mhynt stoically conveyed the grim news of her homeland, a far-off country presently marred by a dire civil war. She described her former life as one of indentured servitude—a life she has now thankfully left behind, though clearly not without scars of a spiritual nature.

This enigmatic 'mon has lost much of her original power since her arrival in Sojavena. "Only the empowered can effect change," she declared with a measured fervor, noting that she and her mysterious companions—each from disparate lands—are united by a common goal: to lend their abilities to the betterment of our region. While no official leader has emerged amongst them, Mhynt's virtuous intentions appear sincere to this author's experienced eyes.

What assistance will their actions afford the people of our frontier? Will they be a new corps of rangers, bringing outlaws to justice? Or shall they accomplish yet stranger and more unexpected feats? Time alone shall reveal their mission.

When queried about her experience of our fair Sojavena, Mhynt succinctly likened it to "A very big Teleport." A sentiment this writer, an overseas immigrant himself, can well comprehend!

With their hearts set on alleviating whatever ails plague our community, Mhynt and her compatriots are surely ones to watch. What they lack in regional understanding, they compensate for in earnest altruism. Let us wish them every success, for theirs may yet become our own.

---

Many thanks to @Inkedust for assisting with the visual.

 

[Jackie Cat]

​

A Night of Surprises at the Grand Gala​

Certainly nobody would have supposed only yesterday that Mayor Voclain would stand today a guest of the gaol, accused of fraud, blackmail, and further crimes. The story is an outlandish one, but it happened here in Frontier Town only last Sunday night. The talk of the town for the last week has concerned either the event of the Grand Frontier Gala at the mayoral residence, or the arrival in town of some thirty or more strangers from afar. These two matters each saw a startling development at last night's festivities, when local outlaw gang, Las Picaras, stormed into the ballroom under cover of smoke. Their elusive leader, the striking Floragato Sonora, boldly proclaimed Mayor Voclain as a fraudster and swindler, shocking the assembled guests.

A battle ensued between the mayor's private security – including some of the aforementioned mysterious newcomers – and Las Picaras, all the while with further accusations being levied at the mayor. At this same time, on standing orders to remove any unvetted persons in the civic courtyard, more security 'mon drove attendees of the concurrent outdoor party away from the mansion by use of force, but were wholly resisted by other strangers. At this time, it is believed that no guests were harmed during the incident. This journal is looking for eyewitness accounts from any 'mon attending the Gala who can verify either way.

In a matter of minutes, this escalating chaos was interrupted by the arrival of yet more of the newcomers, purporting to have obtained evidence of Ignatius' Voclain's misdeeds from a concealed saferoom in his residence. Dear readers, though this development may seem fantastical, this writer was among this party and can attest to the truth of these claims. This journal has since obtained a private notebook in Ignatius Voclain's hand containing written records of extortion, embezzlement and criminal misappropriation of public resources. Mayor Voclain declined to comment as to the veracity of these documents, instead ordering the arrest of everyone involved.

Ultimately, however, the battle that ensued resulted in Voclain's defeat by the assembled 'mon, and he was arrested moments later by his own son, our town marshal, Lucien Voclain. When asked for comment, Lucien had this to say:

"Mayor Ignatius has used cruel means to serve selfish aims for too long. Public officials must serve the public interest over their own. This night's events leave our future uncertain, but I pray for a brighter one, safekept by wiser, gentler hands."

Dear readers, this journal could not agree more.

The morning brings little certainty about the fate of these several parties, but according to Frontier Hall, Empoleon Ignatius has already had his mayoral regalia revoked, pending trial, for which a date has not yet been set. This journal understands that Lucien Voclain, as marshal, is to be acting mayor until a snap election can be called. Floragato Sonora's status as a wanted outlaw is now in question, as her crimes are largely alleged by the now-discredited Voclain. Lastly, one other revelation came about from last night's events.

Our readers may already have heard rumours of the 'thirty strangers' and their remote homelands, and may even have heard that during the battle at the Gala, Floragato Sonora was heard to say that members of this group were humans, from other worlds, just as has long been claimed about another famous Stranger, our former town sheriff, Delphox Jesse.

Dear readers, I will not deceive you. As we live among you, we owe you the truth. We are indeed from other worlds than Forlas, although all that unifies us is that before our extraordinary arrival here, we each dreamed of a call for help, and wished to answer it. We off-world visitors to Forlas find ourselves in a new and unfamiliar place, drawn by a call for aid from a distant voice we cannot name. Though we are adrift, we are committed to leaving this world better than we found it, and I hope that by helping bring Ignatius Voclain to justice, we have proven our goodwill to the people of Sojavena.

— Laura Weir, Offworld Correspondent

 

[Jackie Cat]

Frontier Gazette​

Issue nr. 194

Monday 4th Gloom, 181​

ELECTION EVE
By Laura Weir, David Ambrose
& Nathaniel Naoki, Editor-in-Chief

Dear reader, tomorrow we shall come at last to the day of our mayoral-gubernatorial election. We at this paper have humbly and faithfully reported the true facts of the candidates' campaigns these past weeks, for your due edification. However, to fulfil our journalistic duty we must also offer a view-point alongside such matter-of-fact reporting. Imperfect as it may be, this Commonwealth is governed by that great experiment we call modern democracy, and enlightened self-governance cannot endure unless the voting public are offered informed perspectives – in good faith – towards their common interest.

With that in mind, the Gazette extends its endorsement of Calvin Greasewood, candidate of the Frontier Party.

The Frontier Party may be a new political faction, but it is a credible one – a true grassroots coalition, its platform a consensus between upstanding community leaders of this township, and a response to the needs of our times. They offer a new politics of the west, headed by civic-minded 'mon accountable to their peers, rather than by the political machines of Alexandria, Landsverd, and their neighbour states. The public may trust that Frontier candidates shall be known to the public, that they shall govern in the interests of the public, and that they shall be accountable to the public. This paper invites our readers to read the Frontier manifesto in full, but for the voter pressed for time, we stress most strongly the value of the commitment to anticorruption, to transparency, and to integrity.

Although we have always been governed in Sojavena by a Voclain – of the estimable Charter Party – that convention cannot continue. Ignatius is disgraced and survives in outlawry if he lives at all, and Lucien (while a commendable acting mayor) has chosen not to run for office, nor has any other Charterist. We cannot now turn to the other establishment party to govern us – least of all a candidate who has no familiarity with Sojavena and its particularities. While Senator Whetmore has served her state admirably, we are not electing the governor of Alexandria, and her stringent Concordant principles are safe and conventional only in the east, not here in the wild west. She speaks of compromise and pragmatism, but her idea of compromise is nothing more than the settled norms of the coastal states, and her pragmatism is meant only to 'pragmatically' push her party's agenda in our unique and independent region.

Above all, Calvin Greasewood is the only serious candidate who understands the importance and value of our specifically Sojavenan institutions – most of all the inter-national Ranger Union that represent our best chance for peace and safety alongside our regional neighbours. So too does he pledge to support the otherworldly Wayfarers who time and time again have put life and limb on the line to protect us in the face of supra-natural dangers. The honourable Senator from Alexandria has pledged to abolish all such extra-governmental organisations and services, in favour of an imprescient, rote dedication to 'law and order'. Candidate Greasewood will make the right choices to ensure a better future for all Sojavenans.

Tomorrow, we at the Gazette, and the many Wayfarers who wish us to include their names in this endorsement, will go to Frontier Hall to cast our ballots. We invite you to join us there to do the same, and to help elect Calvin Greasewood for Governor-General. In choosing him, we are choosing our own future, and our own way forward.

We the undersigned,

— Laura Weir
— David Ambrose
— Nathaniel Naoki
— Koamaru Averon
— Mhynt del Kilo
— Gladion Mohn
— Andre Duval
— Ghaspius del Sol
— Nova del Terra
— Steven Stein
— et al