APRIL 2004 - Duchy of Iron
A local gathering of kithain resulted in the creation of some new adventurers, a fortunate event indeed, given what happened later...
The new residents are:

• Stumpy the Dwarf - Armed with a an axe in one hand and a tankard of ale in the other, this ferocious tunnel fighter keeps his other axe ready between his teeth.  After an unfortunate motor accident involving a combined harvester, a box of doughnuts and a truck load industrial strength knicker elastic, Stumpy lost a leg.  Undeterred. he became the cross-country-hopping champion for four years running before being disqualified because he had acquired a MK3 gyrophase prosthetic leg.
• Legofull the Elf - Armed with a cunningly crafted triple-sprung-half-reverser ratchet compound bow, Legofull is the smarmiest pointy eared git to be found in any freehold in the kingdom.  He enjoys shooting people, alot, in really difficult and showing-off ways. His hobbies include whittling, hunting and  psychoanalysis.
• Sir Opticious - A glorious shining figure in immaculately maintained plate mail, this noble knight cannot fight with a shit.  He is the singular most ineffectual fighter in the history of ever, since the first primordial cell, consumed by a fiery star-hot rage, gently buffeted its neighbour, there has never been a more useless or hopelessly inadequate combatant.  Though he does look very shiny.
• Darwin the Wizard - An imposing figure, swathed in the robes of the mystically educated, Darwin wields an ancient oaken staff, connected to the latest in alchemical portability.  Darwin wears on his back, a fully functional electro-dynamic materia-phasic infuser array, no witnesses have yet described the effects of this device, but we are assured they are most impressive.  Darwin collects ancient mystic lore, stamps and Yu Gi Oh cards.

These adventurers are all equipped with the latest in SteamPunkalicious (putting the oooh in H2O) acessories and OnFly-NeoGami Armour.

Due to the resourcefulness of residents and the fortunate arrival of these new adventurers The Duchy of Irons, was spared the after effects of a horrific disaster.  When our witnesses arrived on the scene (the Regents Rehab), the fracas inside was audible from quite some distance away.  Let us set the scene; the normally sedate setting of Bob's establishment was in chaos.  The air was full of the stench of blood, presumable caused by the clutch of blood golems charging around the room, at the behest of an insane bedlamite sidhe who had been apprehended weeks before for bathing in the blood of children to retain her youth.  In sharp contrast, a rather sinister individual, who obviously carried a strong taint of Winter in his soul.  What followed can only be described as a dogpile, with most of the kithain in the duchy fighting in one way or another, sword and fist, arts being cast all over the shop, a wyrd dragon breathing lightning through the doorway and co-ordinating the new heroes, was the destructive genius of the almost completely lucid Dr Quentin.  Whether by accident or design, the paths of the bedlamite and the now confirmed dauntain crossed, the melee pushing them into a fatal embrace, the resulting cataclysmic explosion was contained by the arts and devices of those present.  The Regents Rehab however, had not been spared the full force of the resulting shockwave - both the foundations and the ceiling were losing integrity when Dr Quentin and Julian set upon the building, their extraordinary efforts stopped the building from collapsing completely.  No trace of the sidhe or the dauntain was found.

MARCH 2004 - Radiation Warning: ZOMBITE (Grade Theta Mu 4)
On a recent excursion to a les than reputable market, some members of our kith came across a do called 'dirty bomb' using a 'badly' modified Copernicus-HG6@ chassis, with the now readily available ZOMBITE as the primary initiator core.  A total recall on this material has been issued, all samples are to be handled with extreme caution, treat as a grade 5~F radical, means of disposal are available from the Bes Din of the Duchy of Irons (NNet: 34253/24341<>8sd707g).

FEBURARY 2004 - DREAMS OF THE CITY - DUCHY OF DEW
Duchy of Dew "Defenestrated"!
As most of the city may now be aware there was a... "unique" ...lightning display put on by the members of 'Team Defenestration' at the turn of midnight from Friday the 20th of February into Saturday the 21st, writes Pater Parker.  One witness, known only as Jeremiah Fortescue-Smythe III, observed "Well there was this giant frikkin' airship over the city centre, but I'd seen a lot of it before and didn't think nothing, then RIGHT on midnight ther was a flash and a loud screaming sound which became a roar, so i lookup and see a giant rocket fire off into the sky and explode with a HORRENDOUS BANG!  And in the sky was this stylized biohazard-come-radioactive symbol all on fire and crackling with electricity and  the words 'DEFENESTRATION 04' rotating below it all in spiky lettering.  It was crackling crackling and roaring like the energies were REAL!  I was awed at the sight of it... but THEN it got BETTER!".  Excited, he continued "Then it broke up into a fiery, loud explosion and two REALLY STYLISH looking anime Nockers appeared in the sky!  One was that Reformed Evil Genious, Flange, the other looked like his sidekick... er wassername?  Freaky Nocker chick... ANYWAY!  They were all robotic and cool and terminatory and they were busting up armies of Formians and Cupids and Nightmares and exploding stuff with their eyes and stuff!  It WAS AWSOME!  And it said something like "WE CRUSHED HIBERNIA, WE BLEW UP BERLIN, WE MASSACRED VALENTINES DAY. . . . NOW WE'RE DESTROYING FERUARY!".  "So, WOW IT WAS SO... [This message has been edited to exclude extreme incidence of exclamation marks, pooka, over-gesticulation, and the urge to track down and disembowel the reporter].  A sluagh complained about the noise, Boddington said "YAY", and questions were raised as to the esteemed Gentleman Flange  and his associates intentions in the Duchy.

Other News

• Princess Keelin ap Gwydion is pregnant.

• Dreams of the city's impartiality questioned.

• Sidhe waxing on about cooperation.

• Count Zubin allegedly allows balefire to be stolen from hi freehold.

• Serial killer strikes again - boy missing.

• Northern lights activity increase.

• London in flames.

FEBRUARY 2004 - GLASGOW DREAMING ALERT - Local Reports
Zombie Duke Destroyed
Valiant efforts on the part of some rather fool-hardy locals resulted in a favourable outcome to some un-scheduled peace talks.  After presenting their case to the undead Duke, he insisted that around 16 of his shambling minions join the talks, then all hell broke loose.  After terrible energies from beyond the grave were unleashed onto the Necropolis, the Duke departed this world in what one observer described as "an explosion of eldrich green flame", leaving only a few scraps of radioactive material and some despondent zombies.

JANUARY 2004 - Duchy of Dew - Dreams of the City
The Flange Before Christmas!
However throughout the house something was stiring, and it was'nt a mouse, writes Locke.  Gentles all, the Dreams can at last tell of the selfless heroism that was Flange, the Speaker for the Duchy, over the Festive Season.  In conflict with the newly agreed peace between the Nobles and Commoners, Baron Seth of the House Ailil perpetrated a dastardly deed to steal the Festive spirit from our fair city by stealing gifts from homes throughoutthe city, leaving only misery and emptiness in his wake.  Were it not for the vigilance and care taken by the elected Speaker, he may well have succeeded.  Whislthte exact details are currently not being disclosed, on Christmas Eve the flameing hair of Nocker provided a banner for pursuers to rally to as they chsed Baron Seth in a dramatic manhunt over the city, facing soldiers aking to wooden toys that fought in behalf of their disgraced master.  The Dreams was lucky enough to have a reported on hand for the dramatic showdown between nthe gloating sidhe and his wounded adversary, atop the cliffs of Arthurs Seat.  Gentle Readers , picture the world of mists, and echoes in darkness, with the Baron standing tall, rapier drawn, cloak billowing in an unseen wind.  Facing him Flange, wounded, bleeding, but resolute in his intent to see Justice done.  They engaged each other, and mighty blows were exchanged before the Baron was felled, and, on his knees, forced to reverse the enchantment that was concleaing the festive spirit.  Before he could be fully brought to justice however, he hurled himself from the cliffs into the mists below.  At this time no body has been recovered.  Fellow kithain i cann on you to raise your glasses in toast to the man who saved, at the risk of life and limb to himself, Christmas, to the hero of the hour.  Ladies and Gentles, I give you Flange, Bes Din of Edinburgh, Speaker in the Parliament of Dreams, the man who saved the smiles on childrens faces and preserved the hope of joy in our hearts.  He Dreams awaits confirmation of rumours that the Queens ishe to speak to the gallant hero.

Peace With Nobles
In a touching scene, writes Mary, the commoners and Nobles of Edinburgh appear to have reached some form of accord.  Following the renunciation of his title by Lucas, formerly Queens Champion (And rumours of Oathbreaking abound), and his attempts to incite rebellion in the commoners, the Count Zubin, recently arrived as he was, steped forwards, and quietly asked one question that seemed to bring the room to a silence.  He asked what the commoners did want from a sidhe.  The room buzzed briefly, and the reply, as voiced largely by Cassandra the Selkie was that the commoners wanted a noble that actually gave a damn, and one who would do what was right.  Someone, i fact, would actually be a leader.  The comment was heard to be voiced "We want a leader, and our loyalty won't be easy to earn, elf.  However nothing worthwhile is easy, is it?".  The counts reply, carefully thought through, was that he wanted a chance to prove himself and his kith.  That the previous sidhe might have been evil or incompetant, but they wanted a chance to prove themselves different.  So, the sidhe of the city: What do you intend to do to prove that you are not the parasitic waste of dreams that some people claim you to be?  What will you do to earn the titles you wear, to care for the people under your charge?

Drums in the City
We hear drums on the Street, and the drums are getting louder, writes a poor, desparate scribe, trying to translate Gramp's coughings.  "The Drums are a sign, thay're an old dream that some people thought was dead.  Fools.  They should know better than that by now.  The General is back kiddies.  That's right. Joe's back in town, and he's gonna be pissed off if we've let his town slide into ruin.  Yessir..  The General isn't going to be happy at all."  Initial suspicions regarding Badwinter appear to be incorrect, and now we are forced to urn our attentin to a local folkstory:  That of "General" Joe, a cobbler who, it is said, lead many riots against the rulers of the city n the times gone.  He, it appears, signalled that a injustice was being bone by beatin his drum, calling a riot frowards to correct whatever wrong was being done.  "Yessir, Jo's coming back, and ole Gramps will be wright with him, yes he will.  THen we'll see which shoe the foot is on.  Rule for the people."  We advise all Kithain to be on the alert, and to report all suspicious individuals to the Watch.

City Watch Reduced
We'd thought the world was getting noisier, but recent evidence indicateds that the city watch are being reduced in number and in duties, including releasing several freeholds that were being held "For the good of the city".  Citizens should be advised that no reason has been offered for this occourance, although it may well be part of the understood agreement from the Nobility in favour of commoner self-government.  We can only hope that the remaining guards are enough to perform their tasks.  The Dreams would call all kithain to remember that this is our city, and that we should all, watch or not, do our best to protect and care for it.

Editor: Calvin, Boggan Grump

OCTOBER 2003 LOCAL CHIMERICAL NEWSPAPER - The Iron Decree
Dreaming Shaken by Darwin's Fallout
The Early morning Glow of the Western Coast has been marred by a the appearance of a visible ick coming from the Hunterston B Power plant. A faint green glow can be seen as far as the Glasgow Suburbs and on closer inspection can be seen to display signs of a bubbling concoction of illuminous green sludge emanating from one of the prominent reactors.  When the local residents of the nearby dreaming were asked for their views the standard response involved glowing green, flesh dripping off and a low pitched monotonous moan. Currently specialists are attempting to determine if this is a positive or negative response.  Ominous green glowing material has been sighted with the city's limits and locals are urged to not to “mess around with it till we know what the fuck is going on” by local nocker specialists.  This is not the first occurrence of this style within the reactor when in a freakish accident in 1997, which is still ominously linked with the local nocker population, the reactors were attempted to be utilized for their carbon dioxide gas to be used in the production of soft drinks.  A statement was issued by the Glasgow Bes Din of the time Oswald ‘the furby’ Jones with regards to the situation: “This action was not a sanctioned contract and, despite a preference for devices such as soda streams, do not see the merit of utilizing a nuclear power plant as such”.

Banality Forecast
Following the recent spat of f**king harshly cold weather we’re issuing banality forecasts for the city, The city has been looking rather screwed due to a recent wave of terror and panic sweeping in from a cold western front, generating a new horde of nightmarish creations. This is expected to slowly lift from the city leaving more widespread, paranoia and confusion over the next few weeks. The glamour will slowly begin to dry up as the streets empty and events are cancelled, All in all the west looks as though it can soak most of the damage due to its attempts at crafts and the arts along with a thriving drunken student population, while the East is still reeling from the banality storms of the past.

Expose: Griffin In Hiding
Following the difficulties in the disappearances of the duke and the ensuing rioting, the very symbol of the city has gone intro hiding. His involvement in this has not been ruled out and whether or not his is being targeted as a further victim or if this was more sinisterly linked to it is still not clear.  Through the many year of his ducal reign, duke Richard ap Gwydian had been seen in many different ways, he was first a struggling young noble looking for a way to develop and show his true feelings towards the dreaming. He took up a knighthood over three decades ago and, though it was never properly confirmed, it was at this time his lifelong friendship with the city guardian began.  The griffin is an age old symbol of heroic valor and has served this great city in these times. But now a new passage in the great beasts story is told, one with more sinister and unjust inclination. He has fled his post in a time when he could have been of the most use and the city itself has to ask why…  Is it a simple matter that it has gone, grieving for its close friend the duke since his mysterious death upon the storm of banality or does his involvement link more deep in his death...

OCTOBER 2003 LOCAL AUTUMN NEWS STORIES
9/10/2003 - Terror Alert: Nuclear Attack! Darwin Destroyed!
Reports are still sketchy, but it appears that a nuclear device has been detonated in Darwin. Reports are coming in from isolated settlements about a mushroom cloud and great light in the sky. No reports from Darwin itself are yet possible. Even if any of the town survived, experts say that the electromagnetic pulse would have destroyed any electronic devices within the city.  The Defence Department was unable to be contact to confirm or deny the use of any delivery system, and all defence early warning systems were apparently silent. Experts believe that this was a terrorist device - the much dreaded 'suitcase nuke'. Reports from the Amberlie Airbase indicate that a wing of F18-Stikefighters are taking off - either to reconnoiter the city or defend against possible attack.  Darwin, with a population of 100,000, has traditionally been the first point of contact for any attack on Australia. During the second world war the city was bombed by the Japanese, and more recently destroyed by Cyclone Tracey. The hardy territorians have rebuilt time and again, but it isn't likely that they will recover from this blow.  More news as it comes to hand.

6/10/2003 - Wemyss Bay Mystery Baffles Police
The body of an unidentified young girl was discovered washed up on the shore early Sunday morning, according to Chief Inspector Robert Page, who is heading up the investigation. “At present we are treating the incident as suspicious, though accidental death can not be ruled out. We would urge anyone who could assist our efforts to come forward.”

Reports of Wolf Attacks Trigger Investigation
There has been a recent rash of reports concerning packs of wolves roaming the countryside, some being so bold as to attack hikers and other tourists. Walter Simons of the RSPCA issued the following warning: “We are clearly dealing with a particularly dangerous group of animals here – it is highly unusual for wolves to attack people, and for such a large number of incidents to take place over such a short period of time is almost unheard of.  I would urge anyone seeing such an animal not to make any attempt to approach it, and instead report the matter to the local authorities.”  Wolf numbers have increased in Scotland over the last five years, since a conservation program was instituted to prevent the native population from becoming extinct.