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.
Letter from the Editor
Dear Readers,
For 52 weeks we at the Herald have brought you the news you needed to know. For a year you have invited the Herald into your lives every week. Today should be an occasion worth celebrating. Unfortunately, one of our own reporters was murdered by a serial killer. Ela Q. Asken harmed nobody and had not incurred debt with bad men, she merely got too close to the Smoking Gun. I will use my considerable resources to find this man. He will be found and he will be brought to justice.
-William Warrington III
Herald writer Ela Q. Asken found dead in Annesburg, Smoking Gun likely killer
By Adam Parvey
As reporters, it is our job to remain detached from that which we report. Yet, I find that impossible at this moment. As reporters, we have a duty to report the facts as they are known and not become emotionally connected to what we report. Yet, my colleague could not avoid the draw. Long time reporter for the Five States Herald, Ela Q. Asken, was found dead in Annesburg this week. Last week she told everyone that she was close to confirming the Smoking Gun’s identity, and this week, she is dead. It is without a doubt that the Smoking Gun is the killer.
While Miss Asken did not inform anyone at the Herald of why she was in Annesburg, I confirmed she had arrived two days before she was found dead. Residents reported that Miss Asken had been talking to residents, asking if they had seen anybody who had been favoring their arm, as if shot or injured. One of those residents told me that they had seen a man with an injured arm, though he hid it well. That same resident also informed me that he told Miss Asken this same information. However, this man had left Annesburg recently, the day Miss Asken was found dead. As a result, I was unable to interview this man.
Miss Asken was found in one of the cabins sitting in a chair at a table. On the table was a pencil and an ashtray full of cigarette butts, the hand-rolled variety. The sheer amount of cigarette butts indicates that Miss Asken had a long conversation with the Smoking Gun. Several witnesses confirm this. One reporting that Miss Asken entered the cabin around 9PM and another witness reporting a man leaving that same cabin around 6AM, an hour after witnesses heard a single gunshot coming from the cabin. Also on the table was a note beside a pile of ashes, written in Miss Askin’s handwriting. It read:
I was right the entire time. I knew it was him. I cannot tell you his identity here because he will read this note and ensure you do not see it, this note he has “kindly” allowed me to write. He seems to have deemed me a worthy adversary, but that does not mean he will spare me. He is very calm for a man who is about to take another person’s life. I suppose that is to be expected of a hired gun. I regret not leaving my notes with someone else. Now they are a burning pile, soon to be ash. They will never be seen again. It turns out I have seen this man before Strawberry, I just didn’t realize it until now. The cigarette he offered me tonight was much better than the one he offered me in Saint Denis all of those months ago. These are my final words, dear readers. I’m sorry.
Thank you for reading and goodbye.
Miss Asken was likely killed soon after writing the note. Her handwriting grew more unsteady as she wrote. She died quickly with a single gunshot to the head. The room was cleaned up quickly but no personal effects appear to have been left behind. However, clutched in Miss Asken’s fist was a ripped piece of paper with the word “Amos” written on it. The Smoking Gun must not have noticed in their his haste to escape. It is likely that Amos is the name of the Smoking Gun, however whether it is his first or last name is unknown. Moreover, it is a fairly common name. If you have any information about a man called Amos, known to dress in a dapper manner, and smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, you are encouraged to contact the Herald directly.
Wrecked wagon and empty casket has many worried
By Wylie Frey
An abandoned wagon north of MacFarlane’s Ranch has created a bit of nervous excitement in Hennigan’s Stead. Wrecked wagons are not uncommon in the Five States, especially in New Austin. However, this wrecked wagon had an empty coffin alongside it, forcing many to ask: where is the body? The simplest explanation is that whoever survived the wreck abandoned the wagon, unable to repair it, and took the body with them. Though many point out that it would likely have been easier to drag the coffin than transport a stiff corpse. Moreover, nobody at nearby MacFarlane’s Ranch noticed someone traveling with a dead body. “Seems to me most folk would have come by the ranch for help,” said a ranch hand, “that they didn’t makes me think whoever was driving that wagon has something to hide.”
“Maybe the body was stolen,” suggested another ranch hand, however authorities investigating the wagon say that is unlikely. “The coffin didn’t look to have been buried at any point, so we are ruling out grave-robbery,” said a New Austin Ranger. Another theory put forward is that the body in the coffin was never quite dead to begin with. “Have you heard of vampires?” asked a resident of Thieves Landing. He went on to explain that a vampire is a creature that has transcended death but is still bound by their mortal coil. Such a creature was covered in this very paper, regarding a rumored monster to live in Saint Denis. The vampire theory is that the wagon driver was attacked and ran off the road, likely killed. The attackers robbed everything of value but had no reason to take what they saw as a corpse. “Vampires can’t live in the sun, you see,” the gentleman explained, “so they travel in the coffin. I reckon long after the attackers left, night fell and the vampire fled.”
The story seems fanciful and unlikely to some. However, when asked about it, many ranch hands at MacFarlane’s Ranch mentioned seeing an odd man come through the ranch. “I’m quite sure he was alive, but he dressed all in black, with a shotgun over his back and a single revolver on his belt,” the ranch hand reported, “but what I found odd was that in his off-hand holster, he had a wooden stake.” The man was said to be quiet, asking only if a strange, pale man had been seen in the area. Whether this man was connected to the empty coffin or not could not be determined.
Are you awakened by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience dread when criminals hide in your basement or attic? Have you or your family ever seen a criminal or crime? If the answer is yes, don’t wait another minute. Get to your nearest telegraph to contact the professionals at the Herald today! Our courteous and efficient staff is ready receive your telegram 24 hours a day! No matter how unbelievable the story, we’re ready to believe you!
Many head to Lake Isabella in search of white bison
By Caylen V. Hornby
Naturalists from all over the Five States have made Lake Isabella their primary research area. While the region boasts healthy populations of rabbits, deer, elk, and rams, what most naturalists are look for is a white bison. According to legend, this elusive creature roams the snowy banks around the frozen lake. However, very few naturalists have reported being able to find it. The dozens of naturalists occupying the area have mostly remained peaceful with each other, with only one altercation being reported. One cowpoke sitting at a campfire expressed frustration with the increased foot traffic around the lake. “This used to be a quiet area where I could relax, maybe hunt when necessary,” the man said, “but now all these green adventurers calling themselves naturalists running here and there scaring all the animals.”
Indeed, the naturalists seemed to mostly run around frantically. The man at the campfire even pointed out that the white bison was standing very still with several naturalists running back and forth in front of it. He left me with these this closing remark, “these amateurs really should go back to the city.”
Elk freed by naturalists working together
By Daisy Fairman
Poachers were spotted at Bear Claw Camp with a rare elk in a cage. A few cowpokes banded together and assaulted the poacher’s camp and then fought off other poachers before freeing the elk. “I think it was a bit stunned, ’cause it just stood there for several minutes when it really should have been running,” said one of the animal’s rescuers. For a while, poachers continued to attack the camp, where the naturalists went from attackers to defenders until eventually the elk went on the move. The rescuers followed the animal to thwart attacks from poachers. The elk made a quick getaway until reaching Aurora Basin, where it paused for another several minutes. “It seemed to me like it was posing for pictures,” said one of the cowpokes. Several cowpokes reportedly did a picture of the elk before it moved on. Eventually the elk continued running free and the poachers stopped coming.
Blackwater tailor boasts record sales
By Nick McCrary
While many have been focused on the new services being provided across the Five States, a less frequently mentioned part of the Five States economy, tailors, are seeing increased sales. Blackwater tailor E.H. Kretzschmar reports selling more items in the last few weeks than he has sold in the previous months combined. “Folks were bored of existing options, even rotating items weren’t drawing many buyers,” Mr. Kretzschmar said. New options arrived in a time when many had plenty of money and nothing to buy. “Folks have been quite excited, buying multiples of many items,” Mr. Kretzschmar reported, “it’s an exciting time to be a tailor.”
Strange Bald Man Spotted Across Five States
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Across this week, many bizarre occurrences were reported across the Five States. But none were as consistent as reports of an individual known only as the Strange Bald Man.
Cowpokes from New Austin to Lemoyne claimed to see a bald man all dressed in black. Sometimes he would stand and watch. Sometimes he would follow people before vanishing. He was even reporting looking into people’s houses. All reports end the same way, with the man disappearing not long after being seen, with one cowpoke even saying he vanished before his very eyes.
Information is scarce to say the least; nothing is known about this man. We don’t know if he is even human or of this Earth. All we know is that too many people have reported seeing this man for it to be a hoax. One cowpoke was smart enough to even snap a photo with his new high-quality camera.
One cowpoke claimed he looked like Daniel Houser, the former representative who is both still alive, and not currently in the United States. If anyone knows anything about this man, please do not hesitate to contact us. Whether he is a man, monster, or myth, we suspect this individual will not soon be forgotten.
Traders attacked near Emerald Ranch
By Emery Cosberry
A group of traders found themselves fighting for their lives and their livelihood when they were attacked by outlaws. The traders were headed to Emerald Station, passing through Emerald Ranch, when the outlaws attacked. Witnesses suggested it could have been a mix up. “Well, the attackers had been at the ranch for awhile and had gotten into an altercation with another cowboy just before the traders arrived,” a witness claimed. However, the surviving traders disagree with this theory.
“I doubt it was some kind of mistake, they targeted us and our wagon” one of the traders said, “they threw dynamite at the wagon and wanted to disrupt our ability to make money.” One of the traders following the wagon on horseback managed to kill two of the outlaws before jumping on the wagon. Unfortunately for them, he was killed before he could get the wagon to Emerald Station. The attackers then tossed dynamite at the wagon until it was destroyed and then pushed the traders back. As they retreated into the Grizzlies, one of the traders put down the horse of one of the outlaws. “I didn’t like it, but I had to slow them down,” he said. The outlaws were apprehended later, when they walked into the Annesburg police station holding their own wanted posters. “Them fellers were so illiterate they had no idea what the posters said! They just recognized the drawings,” said Sheriff Jones. “We arrested them on the spot and gave ourselves the reward money.”
Cougar “packs” spotted in New Hanover
By Donna Deschner
Odd animal behavior is being reported in the Roanoke Ridge area. Hunter Beans McGee was the first to report that cougars in the region are working in packs. Being an experienced hunter and also familiar with the region, McGee quickly noticed that something was amiss when several cougars, “attacked using wolf-like pack strategies.” Alarmed at first, McGee took it upon himself to hunt the pack of cougars before they hunted him. In a single night, McGee was able to kill 13 of the pack cougars. Cougar expert Turner Corbin is skeptical of the claim, “cougars are solitary creatures, though it is common to mistake a mother and her kittens as a pack.” McGee, however, does not disagree with Corbin. “Of course they don’t travel in packs, that’s what made this odd.
For evidence, Mr. McGee offers 13 pelts of adult cougars, caught in the same night. “What cougar has 12 cubs?” McGee understands the skepticism, but warns travelers in the area to, “be wary and ever on the lookout for these savage catamounts.” Indeed, a solo cougar is dangerous enough, a pack could spell doom for even larger groups of travelers. To those brave souls prepared to hunt down cougar packs, Mr. McGee says, “happy hunting.”
Report of Outlaws in Saint Denis Leads to the Death of Two Lawmen
By Emeline Vickeroy
It was late in the day last Thursday when a man reported seeing notorious outlaws and suspected gang members Khali Rosehall and William Caine at Doyle’s Tavern. Khali Rosehall has been wanted since shortly after the assassination of Governor Murphy James, a tragedy believed to be the work of the infamous Myra Rose Heart of whom the authorities believe the young Mr Rosehall was an associate of and had a part in the planning and execution of the murder. William Caine is a former confederate sniper who went rogue during the war. Since then, he has had a more complicated relationship with the law, often doing work as a bounty hunter under various aliases. Despite his old age, he is believed to still be incredibly dangerous due to his skill as a marksman. Both are believed to be members of the Morlee Marauders, a gang led by Alexander “Red” Morlee, a savage-raised outlaw who, despite seemingly disappearing in the past several years, is still considered at large by law enforcement within the Five States.
The two men entered the tavern in the late afternoon of Thursday, witnesses claim their clothes were covered in dried mud, and that the two reeked of swamp water. Caine was said to be walking with a noticeable limp, and the bartender claimed Mr Rosehall’s left arm had clean bandages covering it. The local doctor was questioned, and he confirmed that the two had received treatment from him, though he did not recognise them at the time. The two allegedly entered his office around an hour before they were reported to have entered the tavern, each of them having been attacked by alligators, though neither of them received more than superficial damage to the flesh.
It is worth noting that this will result in the two of them having distinct scarring, likely being most visible on Mr Rosehall. If anyone is seen anywhere in the Five States with scarring around the mouth and on his left forearm, contact your nearest lawman.
They did not stay long at the tavern and only ordered a single drink, Caine having strong whiskey and Rosehall having absinthe. The two then reportedly mounted their horses and headed north, at which point the man who recognised them rushed to the nearest police officer he could find. The Saint Denis Police Department hastily organised a search of the area directly north of the city and into the swamps. A group of officers reportedly heard gunshots and a pair of officers, Constable Reginald Hedley and Lieutenant Daniel Broker, were sent out from the rest of the group to investigate. Shortly after this, two more gunshots were heard and the rest of the group rushed over to assist the two officers, though upon arrival they found the two men dead, each from a single shot to the head. The attack was so swift that one of the officers didn’t even have the time to draw his weapon. By the side of the road was a small camp pitched by three Lemoyne Raiders, each of whom were dead at the time of the police officer’s arrival, along with one of their horses and, oddly enough, a shaken-up witness.
The man was taken in to questioning by the officers and, after given some time to calm down from witnessing the ordeal, identified himself as local cobbler Robert Smithson and gave a surprising retelling of his encounter with the two outlaws. Apparently, one day before the shootout with the law, the two outlaws had saved his life. According to his account, he was taking a walk Wednesday afternoon when a group of Lemoyne Raiders ambushed and captured him before taking him to a small camp where they left him hogtied while discussing what they intended to do with him. He alleged that they didn’t seem to know the man all too well, but they did know he often took walks along the roads outside of Saint Denis and that he did so unarmed, making him an easy target. Their discussion was interrupted when the two outlaws, Khali Rosehall and William Caine, wandered out of the nearby swampland.
“It was like something out of a campfire story” Mr Smithson claimed, “they didn’t ride up on horses, they didn’t rush towards the Raiders or nothin’, they just emerged from the swamp, silent and slow, as if they were gators in the shape of men”. The two Outlaws proceeded to attack the Raiders, though the details were difficult for the distressed man to recount, he did confirm Khali or “the kid”, as he said it, rushed over to him and quickly cut him loose. Surprisingly, the outlaw seemed to be genuinely concerned about the stranger, assessing him for wounds before advising him to hurry back to the city. Khali Rosehall and William Caine then took two of the Raider’s horses and rode north into the swampland.
Mr Smithson was then ambushed the next day by another group of Raiders, seemingly intent on avenging their fallen comrades, and taken prisoner once more. “They were mad this time, they wanted me dead, was taunting me and all. I was terrified, thought I was gonna be fed to the gators or drowned in the mud!” He proclaimed, it was then that, by seemingly sheer coincidence, the two outlaws came across him again. This time they allegedly rushed to help him, though in the firefight with the Raiders it was reported that Khali shot dead one of the Raider’s horses. “Was certainly odd.” Smithson said. “This kid had no problem killing the raiders, but when he saw that horse fall, was like he had just shot his own mother. Rushed over there to try to save it, was on the verge of crying, I reckon.” This time, Mr Smithson recounted that while Khali Rosehall was looking over the horse, William Caine untied the man and told him rather sternly to try his best to keep out of trouble. It was then that the first officers arrived. “Was like a surprised cat, he was, old feller looked immediately towards the lawmen and then, well, it was over in half a second, I would reckon. It was odd, feller looked just about old enough to be on death’s door, but when using that rifle he was as swift and agile as a young gunslinger. Could damn near match Landon Ricketts, I’d say.”
After this, the two men mounted their horses and rode east where, unfortunately, they managed to escape the law once again. Robert Smithson was surprised to find out the identity of his two-time saviours and didn’t seem to have much of a clue as to why the men helped him. It is possible it was due to William Caine’s past in the confederacy and his betrayal towards them, which the police seem to be taking as the lead theory at this time.
The Saint Denis Police Department urges any and all residents of The Five States to be on the lookout for an elderly man with slicked back hair, a short beard, and an eyepatch over his left eye as well as a young man with light brown skin, possibly of Mexican or Indian heritage, with a scar on the left side of his mouth and scarring on his left forearm and a very slight overbite, possibly with some gold teeth. If seeing anyone fitting these descriptions do not approach them as they are considered highly dangerous, instead, contact your nearest lawman. Both men have a high bounty on their heads, and information leading to their arrest will be compensated handsomely.
Trade and Moonshine Flood Five States
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
With all the many strange occurrences this week, it’s easy to forget the more mundane yet common events happening every day. One of these events was a very notable uptick in the number of animal hides and moonshine being traded.
Despite certain conservationists being up in arms about poaching, the trading of killed animals has only skyrocketed. It reached its peak this week with locations like Valentine and Rhodes bearing witness to an almost literal invasion of wagons. Wait times for unloading rose sharply, much to many trades discontent. This wave of commerce has led to local stores across the Five States almost drowning in money and gold. Unfortunately, robbery of trader wagons has also gone up, with at least seven robberies reported just yesterday alone.
Another rising industry is moonshine. While still illegal, for the most part, the Revenue Agency has given up trying to stop the flow of the untaxed alcohol. Almost 50 wagons carrying the contraband were reported in Saint-Denis this week alone, with a few notable people perhaps being involved. One local bartender claims he spotted Myra Rose Hart driving one of the wagons, perhaps confirming long-running rumors that she is deeply involved in the moonshine business. Ironically despite so much moonshine being sold, society hasn’t collapsed, further proving that stopping this industry was a mistake.
How long this peak will last is anyone’s guess. It could end tomorrow or last for weeks. In the words of this humble writer, now is the best time to start trading animal hides. Just don’t tell local crackpot Harriet Davenport, she’ll likely be heartbroken that tiger bedspreads and moose rugs are in hot demand.
New food grows in popularity in Michigan
By Frederick Vannesse
Four years ago, John and Will Keith Kellogg created a new food by accident when they left cooked wheat to sit and grow stale to deal with an emergent matter. Being of modest means, the Kellogg brothers processed the stale wheat through the rollers anyway and were surprised to see the resulting “flakes.” After baking them, the Kellogg’s were also surprised by the pleasant taste of the “granose” and began serving it to patients at their sanitarium. The brothers had a falling out, however, when Will wanted to add sugar and John did not. Today, the snack continues to grow in popularity, with the sugar added version outpacing the “original” and a legal battle between the brothers growing more tense.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria assassinated in Geneva, Switzerland
By Ivy Seager
The Empress was traveling from her hotel to an undisclosed location when the assassin set upon her. Empress Elisabeth had chosen to walk with only her lady in waiting to avoid a procession of followers. A man appeared to have stumbled into her, however, the man stabbed the Empress with a sharpened needled jammed into a makeshift wooden handle. The Empress was taken to the hotel and tended to, where she is said to have gained consciousness once but could not recall what happened to her. She lost consciousness soon after and never reawakened. The assassin, an anarchist named Luigi Lucheni, was caught fleeing the seen and the weapon was recovered the next day. It is speculated that Lucheni was attempting to spark a revolution by killing the Empress.
The Five States Herald 