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.
Buried Treasure out West?
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
The promise of lost treasure burns bright, brighter than the night sky. Even when reality returns to us, we still believe it. Most of us move on in time, but a few continue to look long after the sun has set. Legends of the past continue to echo in the present, stories of generals who buried gold or silver in the lands of New Austin. It is doubtful that such tales are true, yet many people still search for them anyway.
The only one getting rich out in the deserts is a man originally from Armadillo called Andrew Brasch, for he has sold numerous shovels to those wanting to strike it rich. For years, he has sold shovels and other such tools to wanderers and dreamers, never lying and claiming to know where the treasure is, but also more confident than anyone ought to be. Some of the people who have bought Brasch’s shovels have been injured or killed by the wildlife of New Austin, looking for something that might be fictional. He doesn’t focus on such tragedy, only highlighting that he gave them the tools and nothing more.
So much life spilled for legends, fathers lost, hoping to strike it rich. To dig yourself out of poverty, or to sit quietly and proudly in wealth and success. To many, it’s worth dying for, even if the chance of success is slim.
Tumbleweed visits up, but only for a day
By Jose Chavez
Tumbleweed saw an unexpected rise in visitors this week as riders from across New Austin made their way into town. The roads, usually quiet and half-empty, bustled with activity as travelers stopped by the general store, gunsmith, and saloon. Many simply stepped inside to browse, curious about the old mining town’s offerings, but plenty left with goods in hand. The gunsmith reported selling more firearms in a single day than he had in the last three weeks combined, and the general store came close to running out of canned food and tobacco.
By the following morning, the rush was over. The last of the riders had moved on, leaving behind little more than boot tracks and a few empty bottles by the hitching posts. The wind carried dust through the town once more, whistling between the abandoned buildings and sun-worn signs. For a brief moment, Tumbleweed had felt alive again. But as quickly as it came, the noise faded, and the town returned to its usual stillness under the desert sun.
Hunter finds out blending tonic works almost too well
By Jane Duran
A hunter in the northern reaches of the Five States shared a chilling tale this week after a close encounter with a grizzly bear. The man had been using a blending tonic to mask his scent while stalking deer near the edge of the forest. Hidden deep in the brush and lining up a perfect shot, he suddenly heard heavy breathing behind him—low, deep, and close enough to stir the leaves at his feet. When he turned his head ever so slightly, he saw the hulking shape of a grizzly standing just a few feet away.
Frozen in place, the hunter didn’t dare move or breathe too loudly. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as the bear circled once, sniffed the air, and then, miraculously, laid down and fell asleep beside the brush. The man waited until he was sure the beast was snoring before slipping away on trembling legs. He later said the only thing that saved him was the blending tonic, which must have hidden his scent completely. “I’m just glad the tonic worked,” he added, “just never imagined it would work so good!”
Horse racing gains a boost in popularity
By Odell Clifton
A horse race held this week in Blackwater drew an unusually large crowd of participants and onlookers. Normally, only a handful of local riders take part in the town’s modest races, but this time more than a dozen horses lined up at the starting post. Some said the sudden surge of interest came from travelers passing through, while others claimed a few ranch hands from out east decided to test their steeds for pride and coin. Whatever the reason, the dusty track outside town saw more hooves pounding the ground than it had in months.
Those who gathered to watch said the competition was far livelier than usual. Riders jostled for position, kicking up dust and cheers alike as they rounded the final bend. Even the most casual onlookers found themselves shouting and betting on favorites before the race was over. Though no official prizes were announced beyond small wagers, many in Blackwater said they hoped this marked the beginning of a proper racing season, one with more riders, more excitement, and maybe a bit more money changing hands.
Valentine resident arrested for abduction, claims he brought home a opossum, not a man
By Emery Cosberry
A bizarre incident in Valentine left both lawmen and townsfolk scratching their heads this week. A local resident reported capturing a opossum south of town and bringing it home in a small cage, intending to keep it as a pet. But sometime after midnight, the man was jolted awake by a scream and the sound of the cage bursting apart. When he rushed to investigate, he found not a opossum, but a naked, bruised man standing there, dazed and terrified. The stranger claimed to have no memory of the previous night or how he had ended up in the man’s home.
The bewildered homeowner called for help, but when deputies arrived, they arrested him on suspicion of abduction. The man swore his story was true, insisting he had genuinely caught a opossum, not a person. Several townsfolk even backed him up, saying they saw him earlier that day carrying a cage and gently stroking what appeared to be a small animal. “I saw him coming home petting that opossum,” one witness said. “Seemed quite happy about it.” Lawmen are still investigating the incident, though many in Valentine whisper that the story sounds more like witchcraft, or whiskey, than reality.
Assault on Sisika repelled by guards and four fishermen
By Emeline Vickroy
A strange and violent assault took place this week at Sisika Penitentiary in Lemoyne. Guards reported that the prison came under heavy attack from an unknown group, who arrived in multiple waves by small boats during the night. The assailants fought with a mindless determination, pushing through gunfire and even bayonets without hesitation. Despite being outnumbered, the guards held their ground, using floodlights and rifle fire to drive back each wave. The fighting lasted nearly an hour before the attackers finally broke off.
By sheer chance, four cowpokes fishing nearby witnessed the assault and landed their boat on the island to assist. The fishermen, armed only with revolvers and a hunting rifle and fishing poles, joined the defenders and helped push back the last of the attackers. When daylight came, the full horror of the scene became clear: the bodies left behind were in varying states of decay, some seemingly weeks old, others little more than bones still clutching weapons.
The prisoners whispered that the dead had risen from the swamps to exact vengeance for some long-forgotten wrong. Officials from Saint Denis dismissed such talk as “nonsense and fever-dreams,” claiming it was simply a case of grave robbers gone mad. Nonetheless, the guards gathered the corpses, stacked them in a pit, and burned them until nothing remained but ash, just in case the rumors were true.
Can residents of the Five States no longer afford to feed themselves?
By Ivy Seager
Leaders across the Five States have begun investigating growing economic concerns after reports of unusual behavior in towns and cities. Saloon operators from Saint Denis to Tumbleweed have noted a sharp increase in visitors who come in only for the complimentary snacks and then leave without ordering a single drink. Some establishments have even stopped offering free food altogether after realizing their barrels were being emptied by folks who clearly had no intention of buying anything.
Local shopkeepers and lawmen have also reported seeing more people looking underfed and worn down. Combined with rising complaints about prices and the scarcity of work, many officials now suspect the region may be slipping into an economic slump. Leaders in the Five States have ordered a review to determine why so many residents are struggling to afford basic meals, and whether poor harvests, trade disruptions, or bandit activity may be to blame.
Despite the formal investigation, few locals believe it will lead to much. Longtime residents say the government has held similar inquiries before, with little to show for it. “They’ll talk and write their reports,” one rancher from New Hanover said, “but while they’re doing that, we’ll still be living off peanuts and hope.”
The Five States Herald 