REQUIEM WIKI

Article by Jahandar Hassanzadeh

To fully understand the cat, a brief history is necessary to appreciate the current predicament we face in Fort Praesidium. The domestic cat is native to all parts of Vitaveus, originally befriended and cultivated by the Collatian Empire as a method of solving the problem of food spoilage by pests such as rats as their empire began to span the continent in old times long forgotten.

There are two principal breeds of cat that remain today, with the most common being the Collatian Short-hair. Raised in immense Imperial Catteries in the steamy heart of the Collatian Empire, they were exported all across the continent wheresoever the Empire had large groups of people, food stores, or armies on the move. The Imperial state believed that rats, mice, and other pests whom make themselves the natural enemy of the cat provoked illness as well as consuming stored foods. This breed is the most commonly sighted across the continent today though mixing with various other breeds can make distinction difficult to all but the most trained eye.

The second most common breed which survives today is the Prodean Tabby, which today presents mostly as a hybrid of the original Prodean Tabbies, which were bred by the royalty of Prodai and revered in certain sects of their religion and of other miscellaneous breeds which are said to have self-domesticated to the Prodean natives as they naturally found themselves drawn to the same water sources. Known for their somewhat pompous attitudes and girthy stature, it is rare to find cats descendant from this bloodline outside of Prodai itself.

The cat’s relationship with man was suddenly and deliberately crippled, however. When Decus and his prelates came to liberate this continent from the darkness of false religion and rule by the few, a program was instituted whereby bounties were paid for the tails of cats. This was done because of the religious and cultural significance of cats within those lands which were so long enveloped in the rule of the Collatian Empire.

Unfortunately this initial campaign proved ineffective, as contrary to the belief of church officials at the time, the severing of the tail of a cat is generally not fatal. With the collapse of the Collatian Empire under the righteous footstep of the Venerated Legion &c, poverty and starvation was widespread. The native population of this continent was said to begin farming cat tails and exchanging them for compensation per this bounty program as a means of surviving the widespread famines that marked that time.

Thanks to insight derived from prayer and study, a new solution was made. The bounty was changed from tails to heads, and the influx of settlers from the eastern shores deeper into the continent combined with a large military apparatus which had fewer tasks assigned to it, the extermination of the cat was nearly brought to success in most areas of the Republic. To the settlers of that time, the cat was a strange and sometimes hostile creature that was revered by the native masses in their heresy.

The cat persevered in spite of this, however. Cats may be seen today all across the continent mostly descendant of the survivors who were secreted away in cellars or otherwise escaped the righteous purge by forces of our Venerated Republic. However, their population remains small and with the on-going continent-wide outbreak of torment, the import, passage, and breeding of cats has slowed to a trickle especially in the Eastern Baronies wherein they never saw widespread acceptance even after the purges died down and were forgotten by most.

Perhaps as a result of this or as a result of the torment outbreak, mouse and rat infestations in populated areas has grown immensely over the last 40 years. A known contributing factor to this was the large-scale import of dogs by the settlers of those times long since past: dogs were a rarity before Decus and his beloved Prelates set foot on this continent, with a few reports of domesticated wolves in the northwestern section of the continent. The dog, natural foe of the cat drove forth cats from their haunts and encouraged their owners to participate in the extirpation of the native and, to them, alien cat.

Pests have been left without natural foes for some time in large stretches of the continent, but not everywhere. The Hearth and Hale tavern has always been a known hang for strays, often let in by the careless act of leaving doors open and surviving on scraps. Today, the Hearth and Hale has at least one cat fully employed in its ancient craft of pest-hunting and it is, in these trying times, treasured as a refuge from the reviled scurrying and brush-bys of the endemic rat.

Reader mine, you need only look outside your window and see that the Rat has seized the day, and nigh’ on rules our streets. Though the import of any goods into the First Province is nearly impossible by private individuals, perhaps we would be well served to treasure, rather than scorn, the cat in these trying times when the pitter patter of little feet echo in every hall and alley in our fortress.

THE BEST METHOD OF THEFT PREVENTION IS A STURDY LOCK. Don't delay, get a new lock today from Barnabas Haim of KM&A!

Article by Francis Model

It is no secret that rats have been plaguing the streets of Fort Praesidium of late. A public meeting of the common folk was called for by local jester Gryhun Kren to discuss recent events including the disappearance of civilians.

The meeting was attended by a smorgasbord of local personalities, including the renowned healer, Theo Hanlon, several tradesmen, and officials from the Venerated Inquisition Corps and the Venerated Apothecary Corps.

Many stepped forward offering a recap of recent events though few hard details were available with regards to recent disappearances. As evidence bubbling kettles of blood were available for viewing as evidence of recent torment outbreaks being false. The Venerated Apothecary Corps representative recommended at that time for all individuals to cover their coughs and to rinse their hands in fluids frequently. The Venerated Inquisition Corps member looked on in quiet observation during the proceedings, and not much else was said in regard to the missing civilians. The subject quickly moved on to the more pressing issue: rats.

Stories were related by those present, some with fantastical claims. Some stated that rats had been witnessed obtaining tools and even speaking in some cases. Others spoke of underground rat megalopolises and a potential uprising of rat-kind to lead the final deathblow to the rule of Man.  The Venerated Apothecary Corps had this to say: “Rat population levels are at their expected quota for the season” said the man, who never named himself. He went on to say; “It was probably sewer fumes”, going on in detail on suspected hallucinations and reported that all foundry laborers in the underground areas of Fort Praesidium were in “ acceptable health”. When questioned with regards to whether or not the Venerated Apothecary Corps had a rat division of study, the representative declined to comment. The Venerated Inquisition Corps left the meeting at or around this time.

The immediate problem was discussed: a lack of information with regards to these rats, the reason behind their appearance and their motives, as it was claimed by some that food stores had been unmolested and that only tools were being defiled by the ravenous rodents. All seemed lost at that point of the summit; confusion reigned.

However, one voice stood out offering to save the people from the swift undercurrents of confusion and despair. Local Business owner Jahandar Hassanzadeh rose to the challenges of the day and swiftly formulated a plan to solve local crises and mysteries. The cunning plan of J. Hassanzadeh was immediately put into place by locals including T. Hanlon, G. Kren, and several others.

He was met by derision at first, but through the logic of his words many were convinced of the value of the imprisonment of a rat or multiple rats and the thorough investigation, probing, and if need be torture of said rats. The plan was as simple as it was guileful: capturing a multitude of rodents from a variety of places including Imperial Field Mice, regular rats, large rats, and all rodent-kind found in Fort Praesidium or thereabouts. Once captured, these rats would be thoroughly examined, if found to be speaking; interrogated, and if not speaking, to be dissected by the skilled hands of local healer T. Hanlon and then examined for any differences as compared to field-born rats from across the First Province.

The results of these examinations are yet to come to light. So far, at least two men have been inadvertently injured by rat traps in the fort but no rodents have been captured. The Reeve, Amos Montgomery was sought for comment. He had this to say on the matter which has been plaguing the fort for the past few weeks: “We continue to defer to the Apothecary Corp on all matters public health.”

FREE MARTIAL TRAINING: In trying times one does not want to be without a way to defend themselves. Which is why Fort Praesidium's very own Champion and greatest warrior in the province is offering free training to those who desire it. Get better, stronger and faster under the deep but not profound tutelage of Gryhun Kren. Requests can be made in person or by leaving a note at the KM&A stall just south of the gate. When you want to be a hero, let a super hero show you how it's done.

Article by Jeane Harlow

Construction is underway in Old Town’s Ancestry Treasury Museum located on Memory Lane after having received an influx of funding from Redholme from their successful expedition into Old Monastery last year.

The blueprints have been approved by local Foundry administrators and Foundry laborers have been donated to shore up their efforts by Reeve Amos Montgomery himself.

I recently visited the construction zone to speak with Museum Director Padhraig Witherby, who took the time away from his daily fisticuffs match with the Foundry Laborers during their lunch break to show me around the new museum layout. The building plan includes the expansion of the Museum to include a reception, seating, more exhibits, as well as a newly constructed basemen to house a larger conservation workshop.

When inquiring on the Fort’s recent issues of theft, the Foundry laborers confirmed frequent need to replace basic building materials as well as tools. The Museum Team reports despite the aforementioned breaches in security, they conduct daily audits of the exhibits - all safely stored away from the general construction - and are happy to report that the artifacts and other displays have so far been undisturbed. Nonetheless the museum has used the experience to include additional improvements to the overall security in their designs in light of recent events.

This project is a large scale effort to shore up long term goals of Redholme to recover both heirlooms and artifacts of the Church as well as Torian Parish Families who have relocated to the capital city.

Following the Quarantine measures put in place four years ago, the mass exodus of people from the Province has left much of the territory abandoned, allowing for expeditions in places that would otherwise have interfered with local industry.

Construction is expected to take a few weeks to complete, and the museum team is hoping to introduce the new space with a grand reopening once it’s ready.

MISSING SPRING PASTELS? Rare, spring-inspired clothing dyes are now available for purchase for a LIMITED TIME by traveling vendor Elainee Craycraft located at the Bright Lantern’s Rushlight Emporium! Get these rare dyes before they’re gone!

REPORTERS WANTED! Interested in writing for the Frontier Herald? Leave word for Jeane Harlow at the Foundry’s General Store located southwest of Fort Praesidium to get involved in the upcoming issues!