1st Edition – 1877
BRAIN EATERS AMONG US?
Gentle readers, are we not in a precarious enough position, surrounded as we are with nefarious monsters and ever-unfolding mysteries? Yet, a far more covert threat looms in the abyssal black shadows of The Ruin. You hear the grim rumors everywhere among the decent, hard-working folks of Omen, whose quivering lips speak in hushed tones about the mysterious secret society of Dwarven academics (are there any other kind?) who have bonded over their shared love of a peculiar sort of cannibalism. The populace quake with fear, but here at the headquarters of The Daily Harbinger, we shy from no truth, no matter how uncomfortable. While their aims are unknown, the name of THE MENTARIUM most certainly is not.
Every now and again a corpse with a hollowed-out skull will be found discarded somewhere in the Ruin, feeding panicked whispers about the motives and aims of this most hidden society. Here at the Harbinger, we shed the golden sunrays of truth upon all mysteries, and our investigations have unearthed a few sobering facts. The Mentarium are a group of morbid mighty mental mammoths who have unlocked the latent potential of the mortal mind. Each member is believed to have strange Mental Powers that are recharged only by consuming the brains of others. This ghastly group have settled their headquarters somewhere in Valgamma’s Ruin, and many disappearances that occur in town can indeed be theorized to be the result of Mentarium influence.
A more horrifying thought occurs to this reporter: What if these intellect-devouring horrors have infiltrated Omen and live not only beside us, but in our very midst? Sleep with one eye open and keep your wits about you (and comfortably tucked away where they belong—Inside your head)!
HOUSE OF THE HOLY
Matters of faith often times come secondary to matters of survival in the Ruin, but one staunch believer in Omen has made it her personal mission to see an honest-to-goodness church constructed within Omen’s rowdy borders.
Miss MAUREEN DOWLEY has never been shy about her devotion to Father Cactus, and she has spearheaded a movement to form an organized congregation to worship inside our lively town. “This foul place is stuffed solid with sinners and lost souls.” The talented seamstress told me in an exclusive interview. “It is up to the more pious among us to plant a seed of faith and decency that will grow into a mighty spruce that will cast its deep shadow of shame on the rampant lawlessness that plagues our home. There is no shortage of debauched temples to avarice and sexual perversion here in Omen, and it’s high time that a structure dedicated to the exact inverse sees construction.”
Until her devout dream sees fruition, Miss Dowling can be found running the local Outfitter’s shop BRITCHES GET STITCHES right here in Omen, where she does her ready best to modestly cover up every inch of exposed flesh that she possibly can.
BOTCHED ROBBERY STUNS TOWN
The dreaded DAGGERTY GANG attempted a bold armed robbery in the Bank of Omen earlier this week, but the trio of nefarious Brothers were thwarted by the talented security staff that valiantly protects the fiscal interests of all of Omen’s citizens. Brothers TRAVIS and JARVIS DAGGERTY were killed on the scene of the botched robbery, with the eldest brother (and gang leader) MURVIS escaping unharmed.
When reached for comment, the Bank Manager known as SILVERFEATHER remarked the following: “My heart swells with pride at the performance of my Braves, and the people of Omen can rest assured that the same fate will befall anyone who attempts to take what is not rightfully theirs from under my watchful eye. The protective Spirit of Capitalism is with us.”
I spoke with SHERIFF TOBIAS BALLARD briefly before he rode out to apprehend the last surviving member of the Daggerty Gang, with the steely lawman proclaiming, “Murvis Daggerty will hang, and I’ll see him buried in the same plot as his brothers in a most finite family reunion.” This reporter needs little more convincing after hearing the determination in our dedicated Sheriff’s voice. We all wish him safe travels.
MOONSHINE MISHAP
Several reports have reached this reporter’s desk about a most curious incident that transpired late last night at the famous GHOST ROSE SALOON. Patrons were blinded by a sudden flash of brilliant, shocking white light that robbed all onlookers of their sight for a solid five minutes.
“We was just in the middle of a card game when it happened.” a stunned patron recalled. “I was sitting on a pair of jacks when alluvasudden fireworks started shooting out from behind the bar. Then there was this big EXPLOSION, and a sky fulla smoke...”
The origin of this odd event was traced to behind the bar, where Saloon Bartender/volatile Chemist VILMER was attempting to mix a particularly potent concoction. “It seems that my dream of creating a 102% proof alcoholic beverage will remain unrealized.” The Dwarf said with tears in his eyes. “I am distraught yet not defeated. I vow to continue in my experimentation for the perfect mixture of spirits...as soon as I stop seeing double.” We at the Harbinger wish Vilmer the best of luck in this lofty ambition.
As matters of workplace safety have always been close to this reporter’s heart, I made certain to thoroughly check each and every saloon girl in the Ghost Rose for personal injury. Thankfully, no one was harmed.
BRAIN EATERS AMONG US?
Gentle readers, are we not in a precarious enough position, surrounded as we are with nefarious monsters and ever-unfolding mysteries? Yet, a far more covert threat looms in the abyssal black shadows of The Ruin. You hear the grim rumors everywhere among the decent, hard-working folks of Omen, whose quivering lips speak in hushed tones about the mysterious secret society of Dwarven academics (are there any other kind?) who have bonded over their shared love of a peculiar sort of cannibalism. The populace quake with fear, but here at the headquarters of The Daily Harbinger, we shy from no truth, no matter how uncomfortable. While their aims are unknown, the name of THE MENTARIUM most certainly is not.
Every now and again a corpse with a hollowed-out skull will be found discarded somewhere in the Ruin, feeding panicked whispers about the motives and aims of this most hidden society. Here at the Harbinger, we shed the golden sunrays of truth upon all mysteries, and our investigations have unearthed a few sobering facts. The Mentarium are a group of morbid mighty mental mammoths who have unlocked the latent potential of the mortal mind. Each member is believed to have strange Mental Powers that are recharged only by consuming the brains of others. This ghastly group have settled their headquarters somewhere in Valgamma’s Ruin, and many disappearances that occur in town can indeed be theorized to be the result of Mentarium influence.
A more horrifying thought occurs to this reporter: What if these intellect-devouring horrors have infiltrated Omen and live not only beside us, but in our very midst? Sleep with one eye open and keep your wits about you (and comfortably tucked away where they belong—Inside your head)!
HOUSE OF THE HOLY
Matters of faith often times come secondary to matters of survival in the Ruin, but one staunch believer in Omen has made it her personal mission to see an honest-to-goodness church constructed within Omen’s rowdy borders.
Miss MAUREEN DOWLEY has never been shy about her devotion to Father Cactus, and she has spearheaded a movement to form an organized congregation to worship inside our lively town. “This foul place is stuffed solid with sinners and lost souls.” The talented seamstress told me in an exclusive interview. “It is up to the more pious among us to plant a seed of faith and decency that will grow into a mighty spruce that will cast its deep shadow of shame on the rampant lawlessness that plagues our home. There is no shortage of debauched temples to avarice and sexual perversion here in Omen, and it’s high time that a structure dedicated to the exact inverse sees construction.”
Until her devout dream sees fruition, Miss Dowling can be found running the local Outfitter’s shop BRITCHES GET STITCHES right here in Omen, where she does her ready best to modestly cover up every inch of exposed flesh that she possibly can.
BOTCHED ROBBERY STUNS TOWN
The dreaded DAGGERTY GANG attempted a bold armed robbery in the Bank of Omen earlier this week, but the trio of nefarious Brothers were thwarted by the talented security staff that valiantly protects the fiscal interests of all of Omen’s citizens. Brothers TRAVIS and JARVIS DAGGERTY were killed on the scene of the botched robbery, with the eldest brother (and gang leader) MURVIS escaping unharmed.
When reached for comment, the Bank Manager known as SILVERFEATHER remarked the following: “My heart swells with pride at the performance of my Braves, and the people of Omen can rest assured that the same fate will befall anyone who attempts to take what is not rightfully theirs from under my watchful eye. The protective Spirit of Capitalism is with us.”
I spoke with SHERIFF TOBIAS BALLARD briefly before he rode out to apprehend the last surviving member of the Daggerty Gang, with the steely lawman proclaiming, “Murvis Daggerty will hang, and I’ll see him buried in the same plot as his brothers in a most finite family reunion.” This reporter needs little more convincing after hearing the determination in our dedicated Sheriff’s voice. We all wish him safe travels.
MOONSHINE MISHAP
Several reports have reached this reporter’s desk about a most curious incident that transpired late last night at the famous GHOST ROSE SALOON. Patrons were blinded by a sudden flash of brilliant, shocking white light that robbed all onlookers of their sight for a solid five minutes.
“We was just in the middle of a card game when it happened.” a stunned patron recalled. “I was sitting on a pair of jacks when alluvasudden fireworks started shooting out from behind the bar. Then there was this big EXPLOSION, and a sky fulla smoke...”
The origin of this odd event was traced to behind the bar, where Saloon Bartender/volatile Chemist VILMER was attempting to mix a particularly potent concoction. “It seems that my dream of creating a 102% proof alcoholic beverage will remain unrealized.” The Dwarf said with tears in his eyes. “I am distraught yet not defeated. I vow to continue in my experimentation for the perfect mixture of spirits...as soon as I stop seeing double.” We at the Harbinger wish Vilmer the best of luck in this lofty ambition.
As matters of workplace safety have always been close to this reporter’s heart, I made certain to thoroughly check each and every saloon girl in the Ghost Rose for personal injury. Thankfully, no one was harmed.
