Mission Statement:
To endeavor to bring to all residents of the Five States the most current and important news from across the entire Five States region. Never yellow, the Five States Herald vows to serve only the people of the Five States, from New Austin to Lemoyne, free of charge now and forever.
Samurai Armor Cursed?
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
The much-talked-about samurai warrior armor found in a warehouse raid has already been sold, but it’s back on the market. Some say this is not an accident, for the buyer suffered a terrible fate.
A well-to-do merchant named Luis had bought the armor, claiming that his ancestors had been Jesuit priests. He bought the armor on Sunday. By Tuesday, he was found dead, floating in the harbor. It’s unclear how he died; no wounds were found on the body. It’s assumed he had a heart attack while out walking; some are whispering other causes.
A few dockworkers of Japanese origin are saying the armor should not have been sold to a foreign-born man, and that doing so has summoned an oni. A Japanese demon, cruel and destructive.
The armor, for now, is in police storage. There are already rumors that boxes of evidence have mysteriously begun tipping over, and the air grows suddenly cold despite the summer heat. A few officers don’t want to enter the storage area. Of course, nobody says anything official, and another auction is scheduled for next Wednesday. We can only hope this buyer has a better fate.
Tragedy in Hennigan’s Stead as hired gunslinger found slain
By Jose Chavez
A grim discovery has cast a shadow over Hennigan’s Stead after a mercenary gunslinger hired by the MacFarlane family failed to return from a routine recovery job. According to those familiar with the arrangement, the rider had been contracted to track down a wagon recently stolen from the ranch. When neither the wagon nor the hired hand returned after several days, concern grew among the MacFarlanes and neighboring ranchers, prompting a wider search across the surrounding desert trails.
That search ended in sorrow. The missing wagon was eventually located abandoned, broken beyond immediate use and stripped of its contents. Not far from it, searchers discovered the gunslinger’s body, partially concealed beneath scattered desert shrubs and bearing numerous gunshot wounds. No suspects have been identified, and the stolen cargo remains missing. The desolate country surrounding Hennigan’s Stead has long been favored by road agents and rustlers, and this latest killing serves as another stark reminder that even seasoned professionals may find themselves outmatched beneath the unforgiving New Austin sun.
Treasure hunt ends in frozen tragedy
By Delphia Atwood
A seasoned hunter has recounted a grim discovery in the frozen wilderness of Ambarino after stumbling upon the bodies of two treasure hunters who never made it back from the mountains. According to the hunter, the pair appeared hopelessly unprepared for the unforgiving climate. “Their clothing was suited for much warmer weather,” he told The Five States Herald. “Likely they felt fine for awhile, and then when they felt the cold set in it was too late.” The men were found where they had fallen, preserved by the bitter cold, with little sign of violence beyond the harsh hand dealt by the mountains themselves.
The hunter noted that one of the deceased still clutched a weathered treasure map in his frozen fist. After prying it loose, he decided to follow its markings and eventually uncovered the cache the pair had apparently been seeking. “No reason to let it go to waste,” he explained without apology. The incident serves as another stark reminder that Ambarino rewards preparation as much as courage, and that its snow-covered peaks show little mercy to those who mistake determination for survival.
Strange bottle blamed for Blackwater saloon death
By Odell Clifton
A curious death has left Blackwater residents whispering after a man entered the Blackwater Saloon carrying his own bottle of liquor, proudly describing it as “vintage” and “ancient.” Patrons recalled that the dusty bottle appeared genuinely old and released an unsettling odor when uncorked, though the man paid no mind and emptied it in a single, determined swallow. Though he quickly became intoxicated, witnesses said he soon fell violently ill in a manner unlike ordinary drunkenness. He was taken to the doctor’s office, where he lingered through the night before dying by morning. Those familiar with the incident believe the aged spirits had long since spoiled, poisoning the unfortunate drinker instead of providing the rare indulgence he had sought.
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Violence on the Van Horn docks leaves two dead
By Odell Clifton
Van Horn residents were caught off guard this week, no small task in a settlement where suspicion often walks a step ahead of every stranger. Witnesses claimed two local men were described as “minding their own business” upon the docks when a masked cowpoke approached without warning. According to several accounts, the assailant cast a lasso around one man’s neck and yanked him violently forward before hurling a hand ax into him and finishing the assault with a close blast from a shotgun. The tremendous force reportedly threw the unfortunate victim clear from the dock and into the water. The second resident attempted to draw a pistol in defense, but before he could fire, an arrow bearing a stick of dynamite struck him, killing him in the ensuing explosion. Those nearby admitted the attack unfolded so quickly that few had time to react.
In perhaps the strangest detail of the affair, witnesses stated the masked killer calmly reeled one of the victims back from the water with the same lasso before turning away and riding out of Van Horn at an unhurried pace. By the time townsfolk understood the dreadful scene before them, the stranger had already disappeared beyond the settlement, leaving behind only frightened onlookers and two lifeless residents. With no sheriff to investigate crimes in Van Horn, locals have once again been left to trade descriptions, bury the dead, and wonder whether the masked killer intends to return.
Mystery swims on Flat Iron Lake end in tragedy
By Emeline Vickroy
An unusual spectacle upon the waters west of Rhodes ended in heartbreak this week after several cowpokes attempted lengthy swims among the islands scattered across Flat Iron Lake. Witnesses observed groups setting out from the shoreline toward the small islands, where some rested briefly before beginning the return journey. Others appeared determined to circle the islands without stopping, pushing themselves through the open water for extended periods. Onlookers admitted they could not explain what inspired so many to undertake the exhausting feat, though some wondered whether it began as a wager before others joined in.
By day’s end, not all of the swimmers returned to shore. Several participants disappeared from sight and are feared to have drowned in the deep waters of the lake. Searchers found no immediate trace of the missing, and recovery efforts have been hampered by the lake’s depth and shifting currents. Those familiar with the waters caution that Flat Iron Lake can appear calm from the banks while concealing dangerous conditions capable of overwhelming even strong swimmers. The strange gathering has left Rhodes residents with more questions than answers, and families now wait in hope that those still missing might somehow yet be found.
Wave of arrests targets alleged private bounty network
By Adam Parvey
Authorities carried out a sweeping series of arrests across the Five States this week as part of an expanding investigation into so-called private bounties, taking into custody a number of individuals whose names have long been familiar to lawmen and travelers alike. The operation stunned many observers because several of those arrested were themselves bounty hunters, men and women previously known for pursuing wanted criminals. Also among those detained were three train station clerks. Investigators allege that at least some unauthorized bounty contracts can be traced to a clandestine association of station clerks calling themselves the “Discouraged Men,” though officials have declined to elaborate on the group’s purpose or organization. Every clerk arrested has thus far refused to answer questions, maintaining complete silence despite repeated attempts at interrogation.
Court records reviewed by The Five States Herald further indicate that an arrest warrant has been issued for James Langton, a former bounty hunter whom some now claim has crossed into criminal enterprise. Authorities have not disclosed his whereabouts and have urged anyone with credible information to come forward. In total, approximately a dozen bounty hunters, three station clerks, and several other individuals whose connections remain uncertain have been arrested in connection with the alleged private bounty ring. Whether the investigation will uncover a far-reaching conspiracy or merely a loose collection of opportunists remains to be seen, but the arrests have already shaken public confidence in a profession long regarded as an uneasy partner to the law. One name not on any warrant was Tom Lockburn, though he had been linked to the private bounty ring in the past. It is unclear if he has been exonerated or authorities are leaving him be after the protests of his arrest in Saint Denis.
The Five States Herald 