[DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]: Now, Mr. Carter, how long have you been an employee of KPA? [RANDALL CARTER]: Going on about four years now, and some change. [DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]: What has been your experience in that time? [RANDALL CARTER]: It's been mostly good, mostly. [DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]:  Mostly? [RANDALL CARTER]: Yeah, some of the hosts and guests could get kind of a big head on themselves, sometimes at least. [DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]: Was that-- [RANDALL CARTER]: You're not going to tell them I said that, right? [DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]:  Oh, no, no, of course not. [RANDALL CARTER]: Oh, thank god. [Both men laugh] [DETECTIVE WALLACE LARSON]: Was that the case with Mr. Wattson? [RANDALL CARTER]: Bob? No, not really. He was always a little reserved, but could be real funny when it suited him. His real problems were the guys coming around the station and waiting around to talk to him after the show, the ones that were from his bookie, I am pretty sure. [DETE...

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [UHLMEYER]: As I said, uh, commissioner, we had zero indication to believe that such an incident would occur with Bob or any other host or guest of our station. [COMMISSIONER BULLARD]: But one did, Mr. Uhlmeyer, and I do note that you've dodged the questions of this commission several times about who the actual guest was that seemingly appeared and prompted the incid-- [UHLMEYER]: Commissioner Bullard, I have no earthly idea who that was, a-- [COMMISSIONER BULLARD]: You had scheduled Port Astor City Health Commissioner, Eugene Kotz, for that broadcast, correct? [UHLMEYER]: Yes, that is correct. [COMMISSIONER BULLARD]: Was it not him? [UHLMEYER]: I do not believe so. [COMMISSIONER BULLARD]: Why is that? [UHLMEYER]: Because we found him still in the waiting area, and he told us that no one had ever come to retrieve him. Further, I do not believe that Bob would have acted su-- [COMMISSI...

      In the Autumn of 1930, when the nation was enduring the Great Depression, and the city of Port Astor was attempting to survive a severe plague, many tried to stay connected with the wider world through their radios, if not find some mild form of escape from the dread of their lives. In that time of isolation, radio broadcasts was a godsend, and listenership was at an all-time high locally. All of this, by way of the local station, KPA, and its cast and crew. KPA was famous for its wide assortment of programming, including among its offerings was the first of now-common genres; drama, comedy, and talk.     It was a late Fall broadcast of their evening talk show, "Watt in The World?" with host Robert "Dour Bob" Wattson that led the station into perilous grounds. The show started a few minutes late, and with the host delivering the shows introduction and initial read for sponsor, Astor Ginger Ale, through heavy breathing. When Robert went to introduce the gue...

 Hey Y'all, this is an edited and updated version of a story that I originally put up in April of 2025. There might be a few more of these as time goes on and I revisit some older material. I definitely won't do this to every piece; only ones I think I could have done a little better. I went through the old woods some time ago. After returning from my time abroad, I thought it a good idea to reacquaint myself with the lands of my birth. I had traveled as far as I could from my home for my education, to rid myself of the simpleness of my upbringing, and to bring myself closer to an enlightened civility. But, even with that said, I could not pull myself away from the feelings of relish I knew I would surely encounter by simply... escaping into the forest of my fathers. And surely these old trees agreed with me! I felt the warm welcome of their canopy o'er me as I cross over the threshold of the forests' edge. It felt strange in a pleasantly peculiar way, but I did not rej...

 "Hello caller, you're on the air..." "I'd originally moved to the area for work, and of course you can't beat that 'Port Astor Rent', but after seeing what 'PA Rent' gets you, I only paid for the rent once before breaking the lease, and looking... somewhere else." "I found a sublet in North Astor, a suburb off of one of the two bridges in-or-out of the city, and it felt fine for a little bit, if not a little bit sterile. It has a lot of new or recent buildings, with a lot of corporate outlets; no mom-and-pop anything. Everyone worked for one of the local business giants, like Magter or Stagg, or the Feds in one way or another. Nimitz Naval Station was right there. The sailors and airmen spent their leave in town, since Port Astor was still angry about the shelling incident way back in like 1930 or something." "The sublet was okay; a stale-if-clean apartment complete with stainless steel appliances, particle board with ston...

    Even at the height of the Old Empire, the people that lived in the extreme northwest proved to be an impenetrable wall. When Tyrant Lycaon III sent a trade mission, his sailors found their remains returned, attached to ballista bolts fired at the ships sent to search for them in battle.     Today, relations remain much of what they were, except now the "Merifolc", as they have come to be called, have cannons instead of ballistae. Indeed, modern firearms where thought to have been invested by them, and only made their way to the wider world when an Azraqi ship found an abandoned Merifolc gunboat that could still move without sails.     Their hostility to Naxos is not unique to them, as the Merifolc will gladly open fire on any ship they can find. The reason for their aggression is not known, as to date, no Merifolc has ever been taken alive.

      As in the west, exploration and trade becomes difficult after a certain Instead of geographically, however, it is due to the enormity of the Azraqi Princedoms and general disdain for Naxians therein. That said, over centuries, travelers, rogue traders, and daring explorers have produced a slow trickle of rumors of what lies beyond Azraq.     Past the Eastern Desert, explorers tell of great pains devoid of anything but grass and stone. The Azraqi claim it was once the seat of a great ancient empire, so old that its name is forever gone. Legend says that they angered their god with impiety, and the god blew a wind so strong that the entire empire was blown from the earth and into the void, and that the ancient forgotten god will still not allow any settlement of its lands.     Even further, is said to lie the land of Haeia; a land of masterful warriors who endlessly fight a war for supremacy after an ancient king died with no heir. It is also said ...

      Perhaps no power has posed as much an existential threat since the Minotaur as the Azraqi Princedoms; ever since the Old Empire ruled Thrace, the Azraqi have engaged in war both hot and cold with Naxos. Most of those conflicts occurred in Northern Thrace, but several naval campaigns as well, but neither side has ever come too close to the homelands of either.     The crux of their mutual animosity is the dispute over Thrace, but for the last several centuries, there has been a religious component as well. When Ansharianism became the dominant faith in Azraq, clerics from that religion began evangelizing in Naxian territories across the seas. At first, their revulsion was out of concern of foreign influence, but after the Reclamation, it become ne of targeted xenophobia.     Today, relations between the Duchy and The Princes is frosty at best, with trade restricted to only those vessels and captains approved directly by The Despot Council. Inciden...

      The Lands beyond the Seawall Mountains have long captured the imaginations of Naxians; primeval forests, impossibly tall grey peaks permanently crowned in ice, and strange magical beasts and people. Naxos only knew these lands a brief time before The Collapse, even then, it never conquered them. The High King of Tir Teoroch chose vassalage instead of war, sending tributes to Naxos, and those assigned to their court reported stories of fantastical magic and impossible deeds that made their way back to the home islands growing even wilder in each retelling.     Beyond that, the various peoples beyond the mountains barely know the Duchy. After The Collapse, Tir Teoroch simply stopped paying tribute.     Naxos has had limited contact with the others; the gnomish kingdom of Gahgarin, the srcs of Great Gara Doga, and the dwarven Jarls of Stora Jarn, and the multitude of itinerant halfling clans. Most of twhat is known comes from their traders, or secon...

     Eabha trudged barefoot through the sodden moonlit forest of early Winter, with soot and ash in her dark hair, and a spike of iron hanging on from her waist. Inquisitor Molan of The Black Saint had come to her home after the ill-fated duel with the closet thing she ever had to a brother, Cillian. And Molan had come with torches, and force. The last memory Eabha would ever have of her home was its conflagration.      It had all started when famine came at the hands of rot that took the grain. The village blamed Draoi Righnach, Eabha’s mentor, and whose line had been there in the Ban Forest for longer than it knew that name. So the Tiarna, the lord, called for an Inquisitor of Saint Macsen. Righnach had then soon disappeared searching for the culprit she knew caused the rot and harvest failure.      The issue was, however, that Righnach had vanished the same day Inquisitor Molan had come to The Ban. When Cillian had realized this, he ...

 “Hello caller, you’re on the air…”   "It was a weird time the other night, around Tuesday? I was taking a walk out near Mauricio and 9th, and it was real quiet. Sure, there were the usual tweakers and homeless, but it felt… I don’t know, just really quiet. In a way that it doesn’t really get in the middle of a big city." "I was out walking just because, you know, there’s a lot going on in the world right now and I think staying inside and doom-spiraling isn’t really helping. So, even though Port Astor is shit, I decided to go out. When I moved here from The Bay Area, I was told about ‘a sense of mystery’, and that this was a different hub to grow in—and cheaper than San Francisco to a frankly gross degree. And, sure, I had heard it had problems, but what major city doesn’t? I’m sure we are all aware of apps that track sighting of homeless people pooping back home, and Fox hammering home how it’s a gay den of sin. My point—I thought I was prepared." "Anyway, I ...

      To the west lay the green lands that hug the Seawall Mountains. After the Naxians withdrew, those living here quickly established feudal states and petty kingdoms. Unlike in Thrace, there was never any successful bid for political homogeneity.      These "small kingdoms" view Naxos as a valuable trading partner and most have strong formal ties and relations to the Duchy. Many which rely on sea trade have even allowed permanent garrisons of Naxian Marines to protect shipping.     Those who do not welcome Naxos, however, engage in subtle warfare via assassinations, sabotage, and proxies being weapons of choice. In the Northeast, the Bohun have expressed strong anti-Naxian sentiment in western matters, and have a sizable military of their heavily-armored knights to act on such wills.

      The northern lands of Thrace once made up a sizable portion of The Old Empire, Thrace has long been considered an integral part of the territory of Naxos.     After The Collapse, and subsequent Naxian withdrawal, the Thracians were left to their fate, and no one was left to keep Azraqi influence at bay. Many of the surviving major cities became sovereign city-states, and created a loose federation simply called The Thracian Republics.     After The Reclamation, Naxos returned in force to reclaim what it said was "ancestral territory". The Navy and Marines besieged the Southern Cities, taking some and turning much else to ruin.     Today, Thrace is a land divided by pro-Naxians in held territory, independent partisans, and the Azraqi-aligned states to the north, supported by the Eastern Princes as a buffer state between itself and their ancestral foes.

      Along with the Leoi, the Triton are traditional allies of the Naxians, going all the way back to the days of Poleon. There was a war when the two peoples initially made contact, but have since been bonded by blood when the Naxian founder took a Triton bride.     The Triton live in the seas north and east of the main islands, and claim the isolated isle of Ioh as their by ancient treaty, being purportedly the site of a religious complex. The Triton largely keep to their own affairs, but occasionally assist in pirate hunting or defense in trying times. The largest interaction is every two hundred years, when the Triton Sovereign comes ashore to Naxos to meet the Heir of Poleon, and reaffirm ties of cooperation and alliance.     To the common Naxian, most only know the rare Triton merchant that comes to trade bizarre and exotic treasures from the deep, or strange visitors who come ashore in remote places, leaving only children born with strange powe...

      Along with the Satyr, the Centaur are one of the native peoples of the islands. They arrived from the Fey with the Satyr, and often have a vaguely paternal relation to them, much to the irritation of the Satyr.     The Centaur joined the Tauromachy initially on the side of the Minotaur, but later allied with the Naxians when their former allies fell to dark gods. When the war ended, however, they were not given any rewards and only received a "pardon". In outrage, the Centaur refused and retreated into the jungles.     Today, Centaurs live in fugitive herds, and serve as the majority of Ta Ktini leadership; leading raids against those who violate natural lands and sacred ground. They are also frequent target Satyr for recruitment. Many Naxians fear Centaurs as rebels and bandits.     That said, some Centaur believe in avoiding conflict, and attempt to find the harmony they've lost. While no less fugitive than their militant kin in the e...

      The Satyr are one of the four indigenous peoples of the archipelago, along with the Leoi, Centaur, and the Minotaur. Their ancestors came from the Fey, and still carry on many of their pagan customs.     During the Tauromachy, they joined the side of the Minotaur to fight their ancient Leonin foes, but switched sides when the Minotaur fell to dark gods. The Naxians never forgot they were once enemies, however.     After the war, the Satyr were forgiven by Poleon, but were not rewarded with land or titles. Some attempted to mesh with the Naxians since they were there to stay, while many others retreated to remote places to try and live in separate peace.      Urban Satyrs tend to live in confined "neighborhoods" and often have unique designs to accommodate their history and physiology; platforms most Naxians couldn't reach, lots of plant growth. These Satyr often deal with discriminations and harassments, particularly from members o...

       When the Tauromachy was won, the Leoi were rewarded with their own island and home rule. Even after the Collapse the Leoi were respected with their own autonomy. When Basileus was crowned Duke, he honored them once again as their own Barony and a seat on the Despot Council. Today they continue their tradition of self-rule within the Duchy.     The Leoi largely live amongst themselves on the island of Mykonos, with most living as part of semi-nomadic bands roaming their respective territories. Many rely on herding, fishing, and hunting, having little interest or need of farming. Each band is led by a leaina , and matters that involve the whole island are decided in annual meetings of all the bands. The Baron of the Leoi is actually elected by the leaina, who choose one for life. The Baron's role is largely to convey the wishes of the leaina.     Outside of Mykonos, their warriors are seen roaming the islands hunting dangerous beasts as part ...

This is the third part and finale of this year's October series! Please go read part two if you have not already!       The golden light of morning shone through to paned window, and in front of you a fine breakfast. Your wife, a reporter for a local newspaper. You look upon your love, and she begins to speak, but her words are a mumble, almost underwater. You look into her eyes, the green eyes you loved so much, searching for her light, but... nothing. Then, like knives through a curtain, words.     " How long did you wait? "     " How long did you really feel that way about me? "     " How long did you pretend to miss me? "     " How long did you pretend to love me? "     You reel, your wife just sits there, beaming the same brilliant smile that she always had, looking up at you, eyes that devoured the light.     It comes back to you now. She disappeared last year, you remember the biting, haunting sorrow for h...

This is part two of the annual October series. Read part one if you haven't already! GHOST SHIP! By Valerie Kimpton     A long-missing vessel, THE EASTERN GLOAM , has resurfaced in Port Astor Harbor. While the city is under quarantine, few but the Coast Guard were able to try and dissuade this revenant from landing here in our plague-stricken city. Our official source, Lt. Boyle, said no one was left aboard after the boarding team explored the derelict from bow to stern. Out of abundant caution, Lt. Boyle said that the ship was to be towed out of the harbor, and eventually scuttled.     When we asked residents near the Astor Docks, however, we learned that there might be more to this story. One resident, under a condition of anonymity and speaking only through a closed window said that she spied a lone soul leaping from the drifting ship, then swimming to shore. Once upon land, our source continued, he simply vanished. Did our "valiant" serviceman lie to us when he c...

      During the lockdown, a ghost ship came into the harbor of Port Astor. With so much of the city in chaos or silence, few at the time even noticed its arrival. More did bother to pay attention, however, when word got out that an entire Coast Guard  boarding team vanished after boarding the vessel. When they sent the second team, no traces of the original crew of the ship, or the first boarding team were found.      The name of the ship was The Eastern Gloam, which was seen over a decade ago leaving for the Far East, with a crew of scholars and academics. And the only trace of anything they found aboard the ship was a carved phrase on a bulkhead: "LOAMY GLOAM".     Fearing another illness, the ship was towed out and eventually scuttled. Since then, however, a number of disappearances have been tied to the return of the ship, with the phrase "RETURN TO REST WITHIN  THE LOAMY GLOAM" showing up again and again over the years, and then us...