Homins, Inspector Ulyros has asked Tidings to publish his notes on his recent investigations of the assassination of Governor Still Wyler and the disappearance of the Skippers ship, “The Ora”, with seven Homins on board.

My fellow Homins, many of you have asked for clarifications of recent events that I have been involved in investigating. First let’s look at the status of the Assassination of the Tryker Governor, Still Wyler.

As many of you know, last Sunday evening the Assassin was captured while attempting the assassination of Grand Sage Mabreka in Zora. She gave us a run for our dappers but she was tracked down and surrounded at the top of the ramp to the Great Outback by a determined group of Homins. She is now held at Pyr palace awaiting questioning by the Senate, the inquiry will be chaired by the newly elected Senator Dios.

We are examining the Launcher used in the crime and although it is merely a two handed medium quality Tryker launcher, the ammo used was most unusual. The assassin fired off her last rounds before we reached her at the ramp but we can detect traces of Goo still in the firing chamber. Where this ammo came from and who developed this new, deadly form of permanent death is of great interest and concern to us.

We do have some small details of the Assassin’s background from the initial questioning I did at the Outback and a short debriefing session I had with her, once we had placed her in a secure cell, high up in the palace.

I quote directly from my notes:

“The assassin was a member of The Black Circle. She serves their tribe with grim efficiency of purpose. The Assassin is not especially coherent or useful a witness, knowing little to nothing of the how and why they were chosen.

Born to an extremely noble Matis father, The Assassin was illegitimate, her low status Matis mother not surviving her birth. Although her father honoured his obligations and placed her with a suitable foster-family, she blames him, his family, the Matis nobility, and anyone else she can think of for her lack of inherited status. She has made her own way in the world and become a freelance for hire, with close associations with the Black Circle Tribe as she is interested in their Goo experiments.

She hates pretty well everyone, all four races are held in equal scorn. Her main aim is to acquire the means to ensure that she is totally financially independent, and never reliant on her family.

Which brings us to the current state of the investigation; as we are still concerned with the nature of the power behind the conspiracy to remove Still Wyler and apparently also Grand Sage Mabreka. It is even possible that King Yrkanis and Emperor Dexton were also included in The Assassins hit list.
I have been questioning a large number of Homins during the last week and also some of the prime suspects, I have a good idea of who the perpetrator is but have no hard evidence, until then I will watch and wait for the result of Senator Dios’ investigation.

And now for some late breaking information on the disappearance of the Skippers ship, The Ora, and the Seven Homins aboard her. Declared missing are The Skipper, inventor of the Ora, Nillo, a young Ranger trainee, who was the first mate on the Ora. Rhen and his wife Sara Shipsie, (a Harlequins of Atys star), Ginger D’Arppy, plus Wormbreath and Cyndi-Ann.

Let me say now that Ginger D’Arppy is really Sanantia, who was working undercover to keep an eye on Wormbreath, who I suspect still can shed some light on the assassination.

I have searched the Skipper’s workshop and like any good Captain, The Skipper kept very complete logs of all his dealings with Homins and his experiments. Here are a few pages from his log:

I’m happy to say that after touring the different lands of Atys and talking to many wise homins, I have finally been able to begin construction of my great experimental ship, The Ora. The following is a list of some of the knowledge that has come my way.

I met Zahan and Slythe in Pyr and we went to the Yubo’s Leg I asked if they had any ideas and it turned into drunken musings and pondering whilst on the ale. The ideas that they both had were very constructive and I have listed them below...

1. Bark because it is strong and floats.

2. A wooden framework to provide the structure.

3. Sap to clip the pieces together.

4. Wings or skins for the sails (we discussed Javing and commented that their wings are too "torn" to be of any use)

5. Crafted shields adorning the sides of the boat.

6. They pondered over stealing sails from the windmills because they seemed efficient.

As a further point, Zahan mentioned the Samsara were interested in investing time and resource into researching the sailing technology.

Also I received many good ideas in the daily post, some of them were:

Snake sent a childhood memory of carving a piece of wood with a hollow in it and then soaking a skin in oil and wrapping the wood in it, when dry it would apparently float.

Scarazi sent the idea about stretching out Bodokin hide on a canvas that would make a excellent colorful sail.

Lyrthis sent me an interesting story of his grandfather who was quite adventurous in his youth, wandering the lands of the Tryker in his past, and remembered the large basket-like structures.

Iwojimmy suggested, Bolobi or Wombaï skins, dipped in resin and filled with foraging gas, bound together with bark and fiber, may help to keep your 'stones' nearer the top of the water than the bottom, while being a bit more durable than untreated Yubos. The husk of an Arana (preferably slain using Poison - most other techniques causing too much structural damage) has possibilities, but several may be needed for a reasonable capacity. While the Matis have had little cause to consider this matter, our allies amongst the Trykers will surely benefit from us turning our intellects in this direction.

These all seemed to be excellent ideas and I have used a little bit of them all in my construction.

With this much interest in my project, I think I’ll run for the Governorship on a technological platform, there are a lot of things we can invent with the funding. My grandfather claimed to be the leader of the old Council of Lakeland pirates, so I may have some small claim to leadership to use in my election speeches. I'll make a note to contact my old buddy Tappy O'Rly and see if he wants to be my running mate in the elections.

New Log entry:

The following is a conversation I had just the other day with Han and his trainee Ranger, Nillo, who is now my first mate for the first trial sailing of the Ora. It should give a small idea of what I am building.

Skipper: Greetings Han, not seen you for sometime and who is this young Matis you are towing around?

Han: Skipper! Great to see you again, this is Nillo, my Ranger trainee, say hello to the Skipper, Nillo.

Nillo: Gosh, the Skipper? Hi Ya, I have heard Master Han talk about you. Are you still trying to make… Erm, what was that, Oh, a ship, a thing that floats on the water and carries Homins on it. Have you discovered how to do that yet?


Skipper: Well young Ranger, as a matter of fact I have, I can demonstrate it for you right after I empty this barrel of Fire Wine, could I offer you two fine Rangers some?

Han: Of course, I’ll have some but Nillo here is too young yet and I fear what trouble he may get into if he had any, Skipper.

Nillo: Awwwww, gee wiz.

Skipper: Your mentor is correct young Nillo, and that leaves more for me, hehehe. Hummm, seems to be about enough for one more each Han, then I can show you my great discovery.

Han: I don’t know, Skipper, one drink is normally my limit.

Skipper: One more won’t hurt you Han and after all it’s for the good of science ya know! *Winks*. Ahhhh, that hits the spot, inventing is really thirsty work ya know Han, Well, the barrel is empty now, let me show you both just what I have invented!
Nillo, Little Buddy, if you would be so good as to roll that empty barrel into the water and push it out a little way into the current for me.

Nillo: Sure Skipper, I can do that.

Skipper: Now, observe the actions of the barrel, tell me what you both see?

Han: Hummmmm.

Nillo: Well Skipper, I see a barrel floating down the waterway, what about it, just a barrel.

Skipper: No Little buddy, you said the magic word……. Floating, do you see?

Nillo: Well, no, so what, just an old barrel floating.

Skipper: Now, just imagine, what if you made a very large barrel but cut it lengthwise? Attached the two ends together. then attached two long thin barrels to poles attached to the sides of the barrel halves?

Han: I see what you mean Skipper, you would have a large platform that floated and was very stable on water.
Skipper: Platform! Bah! A SHIP Han, A SHIP! Is what you would have!

Nillo: OHOOOOOOOO.

Skipper: I have a prototype almost finished, just a few more days and it should be done, I’m calling her, “The Ora” she should hold at least seven passengers and a lot of cargo. If I had some help, I could finish it even faster.

Nillo: Oh, Oh, Oh, Master Han could I help the Skipper, Please, that would help me with my woodworking section of Ranger training and I would be the first of the Rangers to become a mighty sailorman! Oh please say yes Han!

Han: I don’t know about that Nillo, you have been behaving yourself a little better lately, and learning this new technology the Skipper has invented…….. Well, it could be of benefit to the Rangers in the future. If the Skipper agrees to take you on, then it’s ok with me..

Skipper: Sure Nillo, little buddy, you can be First Mate on the Ora.

And now I see my brave passengers are arriving for our little three hour tour of Lakenisle, I will finish this entry later when I return.

This was the last entry in The Skippers logbook. Now for one last bit of information that may well be key to the assassination, if nothing else it leaves room for much speculation.

Last Sunday Sanantia and I were questioning The Worm at the Yubos Leg, we had been buying them both drinks to get them loosened up and a bit off guard, it worked like a charm. Wormbreath left for a few minutes and while he was gone his lady friend Cyn let slip a few very interesting things, here is a transcript of that conversation.

Ulyros: Well, that went down fast, just to show you I’m looking out for you Wormbreath, let me buy you another round and one for your *cough* lady friend.

Cyndi: Careful Wormy, they’re trying to pull a fast one on you.

Wormy: Bah, a free drink is a free drink Cyn. Ulyros and Sanantia buying us drinks is the stuff dreams are made of sweetheart!

Sanantia: Here Wormy, let me get you another one.

Wormy: Thanks, I guess, *gulp* What ya two tryin to do get me to tell you that Oba has a new name or something?

Ulyros: *Smiles*

Sanantia: *Smiles*

Cyndi: Wormy!

Wormy: Shazbot! Ok, that’s enough Ulyros, You can go a long way with a smile. I can go a lot farther with a smile and a Range Weapon! I’m going outside for a breath of fresh air, don’t worry your pretty little head Sanantia, I’ll be baaack.

Cyndi: Yous two got no reason to be pickin on my Wormy like that, he ain’t done nothing to get ya all riled up you know *Burp*

Sanantia: Assassination is a pretty serious thing Cyn honey and we both think Wormbreath knows more than he is letting on.

Ulyros: Now Cyndi, if you know anything, you could help Wormy by telling us, just let us know what you know and we will leave you both alone.

Cyndi: Honest, you would leave Wormy alone?

Ulyros: Of course, trust us, just let us know what is going on and we will leave.

Cyndi: Well… My Wormy did mention something about Xalis visiting both Oba and The black Circle Tribe, more than once. Wormy has done some.. well… Erm, collection work for Xalis a few times so he knows what that old senator wannabe is up to most times.

Sanantia: Anything else? Think real hard Cyndi, it could be important, even the slightest thing that you can remember.

Cyndi: Well… just the other night, real late, Maung… NO! I meant Oba, woke Wormy up and they had a whispered conversation, all I could make out was that something unfortunate will happen to Mabreka at a ceremony, tonight I think.

That is when I realized that Mabreka was in grave danger and rushed out to muster the help of the Karavan teleporters in denying the Assassin access to their machines, then promptly moved to Zora to attempt the apprehension of the Assassin, while Sanantia went to the Lakeland’s and discovered Wormbreath’s plan for escaping on the Ora and went to Lakenisle disguised as Ginger D’Arrpy.

The rest you know, the assassin was captured, and seven stranded castaways are missing on an uncharted Lakeland isle.

I will be making an announcement tomorrow about a mission to rescue them, I expect it to commence on Saturday evening, please try and keep your social calendar clear for the operation, code named Nillo’s Island.

Also, as much as I have misgivings about this, I have requested the help of The Blackwater Pirates in the rescue mission, they have the best knowledge of obscure islands in the Southern reaches of the Lakelands and a good reason for finding The Worm. If they were to help..... I have offered them a pardon for that pickpocket trick they pulled on Rehn. We will see what they decide.

Ulyros

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