It's the Rumor, the Legend, the Mystery.....

[Izumi Takamine]

From the tabloids -

• When questioned about having knowledge of a plot to sabotage healing wards in the arena, Izumi Takamine violently accosted a legitimate member of the press in public in Kabuki Street.
• The Takamines personal assistant, Nako Iijima learned magic spells through a bargain with an extradimensional squid-cult.
• Izumi and Na-rae Takamine viciously attacked an employee at Kabuki Street's Pachinko Palace after hours. The victim may have been Izumi's accomplice in the sabotage plot.
• In spite of their claims to the contrary, both branches of the Rhydin Takamines are actually related and collectively control most of the city's Asian criminal underworld.

[Mallory]

Rumor has it:

• Several small shrines have appeared in the nooks and crannies of RhyDin, occult altars hidden in tiny bodegas and book stands and souvenir shops. It’s said that they are tied to the Blood Witch, and that if you tell it a secret, she will tell your fortune, grant you fortitude, steal your soul — or all three.
• Dozens have been seen in Dockside who match the same strange description: sickly complexion, strange markings, wearing hoods and sunglasses, feral behavior, and eating rare or raw meat. Bodysnatchers, blood dolls, and a cannibal plague have all been offered as theories.
• The Cadentia Villa was recently stormed by overzealous fans of Mallory Maeda, looking for buried treasure and Abyssal secrets. One lucky fan — who concealed her identity with a helmet — received a limited edition collectible item worth more than any treasure the desert holds.

[Guddesk]

THE MINDFLAYER INVASION!

A Mindflayer in our midst? People that frequent the Red Dragon Inn seem to think so! A tall dark man wearing a plague doctor mask (so 14th century, amirite?) Has been spotted coming in and out, and even rumored to have taken a lover! He was seen escorting a young woman about town before she disappeared under strange circumstances... This intrepid reporter is determined to find her, and get her story! Or maybe... he already ate her brain! Witnesses say the mindflayer is 8 feet tall, with tentacles that could snap a man's skull without even flinching, and takes off his mask to scare whoever catches his fancy! Stay tuned here for more Mindflayer Watch updates, and watch your noggins! Kiss your babies goodnight and tuck them in extra tight, lock your windows and doors, and be on the lookout for this mysterious man with the hunger for your brains!

[Isaac Wheeler]

Knife Thrower Ruins Christmas

Local Grinch (aka Isaac Wheeler) was rumored to be seen destroying his sister’s Secret Santa gifts before going on a rampage through Winter Wonderland. Reports from the scene said he was stomping on the toys of children, destroying snowmen and kicking through snow angels.

You’re a mean one, Mr. Wheeler. Bah Humbug!

[Mallory]

Rumor has it that Mallory Maeda was killed while protecting a temple in Old Market from Michelle Montoya and her cultists; the attack came while worshippers at the temple were making a large offering of canned soda.

[Static Rest]

Rumor has it that member of IFL champion team King’s Gambit (and hottest babe of the year) Olaf von Trunk bought the contents of an entire casino bar during last night’s afterparty. Allegedly every drop was consumed, and a number of the trunk’s interns, business associates, and fans were drunk in public and behaving very disruptively. While this gossip cannot be verified, these images of the alleged aftermath of their revelry were found on social media this morning:

[Bailey Raptis]

With Iron Fists completed, and Bailey apparently making more appearances in town lately, new rumors have started to spread about the former Archmage. Several instances of eccentric public behavior have been noted in recent weeks, including:

• Throwing a drink in Jewell's face for no apparent reason.
• Refusing to serve Eden a cherry cola while tending bar at the Outback.
• Picking a fight with Iron Fists League Number 1 Babe Olaf Von Trunk, insisting that he is the top babe in the duels.
• Haranguing the goblins of Twilight Isle, causing at least one of them to openly weep at his unkindness.
• Threatening Golden Perch bartenders, including current Baroness of Cadentia Mallory Maeda, with bodily harm after making him a mojito instead of a gin rickey.

Some have speculated that Bailey is having a mental breakdown, possibly related to the events of January 11th or the Diamond Quest on January 18. With the number of people that have gone missing since the DQ, others have suggested that Bailey has in fact disappeared, replaced with some sort of doppelgänger, clone, or fetch.

[Michelle Montoya]

• Disenchanted former-cultists (or family of former-cultists) have sent threats to Bak'd, targetting Michelle, the Bakery and her employees
• A group of unhappy merchants have held meetings in Bak'd's upper rooms
• The Montoya's are now broke from reparation payments for damages caused to the RhyDin Bridges and the businesses of Atrebla Valley
• Michelle has been stripped of her Lady at Arms title and is seeking mercenary work so her kids can go to school
• Michelle is still a secretly practicing Warlock of Cthulhu and practices midnight rituals at the ruins of Seaside Beach
• Gloria Blaze has been crowned Queen of Atrebla for her defenses against the Eldritch Monsters
• All the portals to and from Atrebla are going to be sealed the beginning of March as an extra layer of defense

[A Ripple in Time]

Rumor: In the early morning hours of March 6, moderate to severe injuries and deaths were reported in the West Side of Old Market near the Emergency Center. The Center and its underground shelter are now on lock down with no traffic in or out.

Confirmed: The portal located just outside the Center connecting to the Observatory in Dragon's Gate is still active for those needing to use it.

[Cristoval]

Rumor has it...

• A Blackguard patrol beat a local healer and left him in the street in Old Market
• They was provoked by a crowd throwing rocks, bottles, and explosives
• The soldiers smashed a local shrine and went on to raze an affiliated church
• The healer was ferrying messages to resistance agents from area hospitals
• The shrine was dedicated to J. R. Dobbs of the Church of the SubGenius

((Linked to this post.))

[Capistrano]

After Jay's surprise appearance at the Outback on the night of April 22, a handful of words overheard by some of the venue's patrons ("Good. Had a kid. Got a new job.") and a photo posted on his long dormant Tweeter account, rumors have been swirling about the long inactive duelist. Sports fans might remember the last time Jay was spotted in a dueling venue was over a year ago, March 31, 2019, when, after placing second in the Warlord Tournament, he suffered what appeared to be a severe injury that prevented him from accepting his prize on the night, a challenge grant for a Barony. Since then, he's stayed out of the public eye, only doing a few sports shop visits and autograph sessions, and none since the 2019 holiday season. So what's up with Jay?

• The injury Jay suffered in that tournament was a compound leg fracture, and the complications were severe enough that part of his leg was amputated and replaced with a prosthetic. Hence, the long recovery time period.
• He actually faked his injury in order to retire and get out of his contract with the Wrecking Crew.
• There's been little news about Jay's child, other than the accidental announcement last year on the Too Blue Madness radio show. Is that because Jay actually had the kid with another woman, and not Sami?
• Or is Jay half-human, half-seahorse and he actually literally did give birth to Jay and Sami's kid himself?
• Jay racked up some serious gambling debts betting on himself to win the 2019 Madness and the Warlord tournament in which he was injured, and in order to pay them off, he had to become a mob enforcer. He's only just now paid off his debt.
• He's been looking for investors in a new skateboard company, but hasn't had much luck raising capital, hence his return to the Crew to raise additional funds.

[Max Lager]

Rumors coming from Twilight Isle:

In Twilight Market, the place is constantly abuzz with different trinkets and artifacts, knowledge or mages fit to fulfill one's every need. Currently there are whispers regarding powerful healers that quietly lurk in the shadows who are strong enough to call back even the dead, one only has to seek them out on the Isle. One in particular is known only as "The Astrologian", and it is said they can pull upon the cards of Fate, realign the stars and heal the deepest of wounds. Do they invoke a god's power or are they one themselves?

The pixies are seeking out new playmates and have been out exploring the Isle! Most can be detoured with a sweet offering like honey cakes, but they have been caught giggling with mad delight at turning goblins and Isle visitors alike into fluffy kittens!

The gardens are flourishing on the Isle, particularly between the Towers of Fire and Earth to the central and northwest! This is wholly in thanks to the efforts put forth by the current Keepers of the Isle, and possibly one muddy, but playful (and exhausted) kitten. --- Which is believed to be an actual kitten, not a landscaper transformed into one by mischievous pixies!

[Corbin LaFey]

DOCKSIDE MURDERS MAY BE WORK OF SERIAL KILLER, WATCH SAY

This morning, Wednesday, June 3, another body was found in an alley in the Dockside district. Members of the Watch say they may be the work of an individual or individuals the press are calling Emoji Joe, for the smiley face emoji cut into their skin. The unknown male died last night, and witnesses say he was last seen rummaging through the trash of a nightclub with a young companion. The child has yet to be found and questioned.

This comes in a series of slayings lately, and a concerning amount of Joe and Jane Does found with the very same markings. Watch are still trying to connect the murderer to a grisly scene in Little Korea, though doubt the MO fits. If you have any information, please get in touch anonymously with a Guardsman to share your concerns.

[Jaycy Ashleana]

Word has it that today (July 13) is the first day that Old Market residents may apply to the Cardinal Inn for supplemental food relief following a week of discreet and delicate canvassing of the district.

People are saying that the Baroness is giving out coupons, once a week, for redemption at Matadero Carnicería (1 pound of beef and/or 1 pound of pork), as well as providing a small basket of fruits and vegetables to those who indicate need based on slow economic recovery. Allegedly, this supplement is available in quantities of 1 redemption for every 2 persons in a household (so a family of 4 would be eligible for redemption twice in the week).

People are saying the bean counters aren't checking very hard to verify that people "need" items, but they are writing down names as people redeem them.

(( Linked to this story. ))

[Jaycy Ashleana]

People are saying that homeless in Old Market are fighting each other over food given through the Old Market Recovery Assistance Program.