The Voice of Hope

Kit Cobratti (a.k.a. The Papergirl) recently struck a deal with a small printing business in Dango, Arizona to contribute material to and distribute a small irregularly published newsletter called "The Voice of Hope".  The idea behind the newsletter is to spread news across the Wasted West that there are people fighting the good fight against the Reckoners and that ultimately, "hope has a voice that can never be silenced".  This section of the Shelter is dedicated to the young postman/storyteller's journalistic endeavors.  As always, if you have any questions or comments, e-mail me here at the Shelter.

"The Voice of Hope"                    Issue 1, Volume 1                        Dango, Arizona

     Dango, Arizona recently came through some hard times thanks to the efforts of a valliant group of adventurers who came to the village's aid when she needed it the most.  A nearly successful raid was executed upon the town by minions of the creature known as Lifetaker, twin brother of the now thankfully deceased Plaguebearer.  Just as the band of scavengers were about to escape the village, their vehicles filled with ill-gotten gain and a hostage , the band of adventurers arrived on the scene. This group of brave souls were themselves returning to Dango after a month long mission to retrieve much needed medical supplies to combat the virulent plague creeping through the area since the Plaguebearer's demise (it should be noted that several members of this group were themselves responsible for bringing about the Plaguebearer's end).  A fierce firefight ensued as the escaping scavengers ran into the returning posse, who with fierce determination and bravery slew the evil-doers to a man with no casualties of their own.  The stolen property and hostage were returned to Dango safely and unharmed.
     After a brief rest, the adventuring band joined forces with the townspeople to fight another battle - one within their own community.  The Dango medical facility had been overcome with cancerous undead (the end result of untreated plague victims).  With skill and fortitude, these vile creatures were destroyed with only minor casualties and minimal damage to the village hospital.  While two members of the group of Dango's saviors fell, they passed bravely and will not be forgotten: Chiun, a priest and martial artist, and the Rastafarian Roach, a Veteran Syker from the Faraway Wars, will always be remembered as stalwart warriors in the fight against the evils that will one day be driven from our land. 
     The medical supplies brought back to Dango are of pre-war manufacture and have proven very effective against the ravages of the plague.  Efforts to duplicate the drugs are currently underway at Dango and are meeting with marked success.  Reported cases of plague have notably diminished in the area since innoculation treatments at Dango have begun.
     Always remember that you are not alone, and that good still exists in the hearts of men and women in this once great land of ours.  It is always darkest before the dawn...and the voice of hope can never be silenced.

"The Voice of Hope"                       Issue 2, Volume 1                         Dango, Arizona

    The same stallwart posse that recently protected Dango from certain disaster at the hands of plague, recently saved another small community to the north from an infestation of ancient evil.  While en route to Lake Meade via a harrowing trip down the wild and winding Colorado River, the brave band took a detour into Utah to help the small lakeside fishing community of Powellville.  The tiny town was under seige at night by the sounds of horrible fluttering wings, and livestock as well as a townsperson and a few children had disappeared mysteriously.  The entire community was afraid to venture out of doors and was on the brink of ruin.  After courageous investigation, the adverturous band determined that the cause of the problem was giant moths - a mutant strain, as big as a dog and black as night.  Lighting a huge bonfire at the edge of town, the posse bravely attracted and fought the swarm until the last insect had dropped.
     Ignoring the praise and adulations of the townsfolk, the posse knew that their work was yet undone - somewhere, a nest awaited discovery and destruction.  The popular living legend and wasteland hero known as The Guardian, de facto leader of the posse, vowed to the townsfolk that he would personally guarantee that the moth threat would be ended forever.  With the help of a local guide, the group set off across Lake Powell and into the badlands, a maze of gullys and box canyons, looking for clues as to the whereabouts of the nest.
     While on their search, they rescued a native woman from a muderous band of wasteland scavengers led by two rogue sykers.  The band of evil doers had slain her family and razed her village to the ground before help could arrive.  Once it did arrive, in the form of our courageous adventurers, revenge and justice were both quickly and efficiently dealt.  A confiscated map revealed to the band the location of an ancient Indian city - and a possible nesting place of the moths.
     Continuing their hazardous journey into the maze of the badlands eventually brought the group to the destination indicated by the old map.  The ancient city held more than moths however.  An evil older than time was awakening within the abandoned walls of the city, and the posse, led by the Guardian, stepped forward into the breach to stop it.  The battle was fierce and horrible, as the band of heros fought against moths, evil spirits, the animated skeletal bodies of the long dead, and finally the dark "Dancing God" of Indian lore itself.  Though three members of the posse will walk this earthly plane no more, the evil was stopped and a crisis to not just the small village of Powellville, but to our whole earth was averted. 
     Upon their triumphant return to Powellville, the group was praised as heros in a huge festive celebration, as the night skies above Lake Powell are now safe and clear.  Shortly thereafter, the group rafted on, back down the Colorado towards Lake Meade, where they hoped to investigate and put to rest rumors of activity by the Cult of Doom in the area.
     Always remember that you are not alone, and that good still exists in the hearts of men and women in this once great land of ours.  It is always darkest before the dawn...and the voice of hope can never be silenced.

"The Voice of Hope"                         Issue 3, Volume I                         Dango, Arizona

The daring troop of heroes led by wasteland legend, the Guardian and his faithful companion, John Kelly, paragon of justice, ventured forth from the redeemed ville of Powellville in Utah to find more wrongs to right and to make the world a safer place to live. A treacherous journey back down the wild Colorado River brought trouble in the forms of rapids, leaking rafts and attacks from renegade Sky Pirates. The posse once again proved their mettle however, by coming through unscathed, even managing to heroically save an old salvage man along the river, who had been captured by said Sky Pirates for nefarious purposes. The day saved and the Pirates routed, the heroes continued on their journey westward toward the waiting waters of Lake Meade and the trade hub of Lake Town, following rumors of dire import.
 
The brave band had heard that representatives of Silas's Cult of Doom had seen in the area,  inexplicably searching for something beneath the dark waters of the placid lake. Whatever that "something" was, the Guardian and Ranger Kelly knew that it couldn't be good.  Our intrepid heroes allied themselves with the local law enforcement, Sheriff Miles Franklin's famous "Steelers",  as they tried to keep an eye on Silas's men. In the meantime, another problem arose in the town. Silas's representatives had several local fishermen in their employ, their task to assist in the search the lake bottom with the promise of great reward.  Two brothers diving in the lake to this end apparently ran into something better left alone.  The eldest brother by all outward signs died of fright, while the youngest passed out from shock. Luckily, with the posse's help, the surviving brother was given medical treatment in time to save his life.  The local doctor and Tanus, a  Lector from the mutant enclave of Armana and member of the group, performed an autopsy on the less fortunate brother.  The autopsy revealed a shocking surprise - a black eel-like creature was discovered inside of the dead brother's body, affixed tightly to his spine.

Rising to action, the group of heros canvassed the town for information, searching out rumors and tales over the course of several days as to what the eel thing could be.  Luckily, skillful interrogation of the locals brought a tale to light.  According to an old Indian legend of the area, evil spirits occupied a part of the lake.  Said evil spirits (described as sinewy, eel-like creatures)  reportedly had the power to take over the body of any man who entered the depths of that part of the lake.  With this new found information, the party went to search for the dead man's brother, who had since been reported as "acting violent and full of rage".  Worries of contagion and thoughts of an "eel infestation" came to mind, and the posse searched high and low for the young man.  This activity was suddenly forgotten about when news of a riot at one of the local establishments reached the posse - a house of ill repute located on the waterfront was apparently the focus of the brawl.

Our heroes rushed to the aid of the local law enforcement and helped to take care of the troublemakers inside the establishment.  The local doctor thought that the possibly "infected" man our heroes were searching for (a well known patron of the business) could have sexually transmitted the eel infestation; it could then spread to other regulars of  the establishment. The troublemakers were acting the same antisocial way as the man they were searching for. This could mean that an epidemic could break out - one in which people lost control of themselves,  giving themselves over to violence and hate. Even after the riot had been quelled and many of the culprits brought into custody rather than killed, the potential outlook was grim. Each violent individual arrested possessed a wriggling subdermal lump at the base of the spine. The group returned to the search for the young man with renewed desperation, realizing that a lot of damage had potentially already been done.  The search finally ended in a small hovel on the waterfront. Cornered, the man rabidly attacked our heroes and attempted to escape but was successfully subdued before he came to harm. An examination of the man back at the jail by the local doctor revealed a similar lump beneath his skin near the base of the spine, further supporting the theory of an infestation and possible epidemic.

The local law declared the section of the lake where the brothers had dove as "off limits" by local traffic.  This edict caused Silas' s men to finally take notice of the group.  Apparently the Green Robes were definitely interested in what the brothers had found. A further parley with the Cult members revealed another piece of the puzzle - the lake might conceal a lost shipment of irradiated ghost rock (hence Silas' interest).  Since Silas's men had monopolized the diving equipment available in town, an uneasy truce was made between the brave posse and the Cult of Doom representatives. 

The dive beneath the lake's surface revealed no missing shipment.  Instead, the group came face to face with an ancient evil from the pages of lost legend - a monstrous tentacled beast, apparently spawning the eel-like creatures which immediately attacked.  Overwhelming odds forced a temporary retreat and hasty swim for the surface.  Above the waves, trouble brewed back on shore as the epidemic had reared its ugly head.  Normally peaceful townsfolk were rioting.  Fires had erupted around the town, and the sounds of gunfire were heard.  In order to destroy the foul thing beneath the water, the posse had to return to shore for explosives, fighting through a mob of possessed townsfolk.  Through perseverance and faith, the heroes managed the impossible.  Keeping losses among the citizenry to a minimum, the explosives were obtained and a bomb was constructed.  Again cooperating with the leader of the Green Robes, the posse managed to sink the bomb in a steel drum at the location known to harbor the creature.  The massive explosion threw water into the air for miles, but ended the reign of terror as abruptly as it had begun.  With the death of the evil beneath the lake, the citizens of lake Town returned to their senses. 

The posse stayed on for several days following the explosion, helping the Steelers maintain order, assisting with the treatment of the wounded and aiding in the process of rebuilding and repair.  The rumors proven false, the Cult of Doom pulled out of Lake Town, and another possible crisis was averted.  After many thanks and farewells, the group of wasteland heros continued on their journey - a journey that will no doubt pit them again against the forces of evil.

Always remember that you are not alone, and that good still exists in the hearts of men and women in this once great land of ours.  It is always darkest before the dawn...and the voice of hope can never be silenced.

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