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apocalypsehowcomm2021-09-21 12:44 pm
apocalypsehowmods) wrote in apocalypsehowcomm2021-09-21 12:44 pm
Entry tags:
Headline News #1
Headlines
Like most cities of a certain size, Gloucester gets its daily news from its local paper. Stories concerning local matters are printed side by side with national and international stories aggregated from other sources. For the most part the news is what one would expect in a mundane modern world: business openings, politics, crime, and human interest stories. Every so often, though, something pops up that could be more significant...or might be nothing more than what it appears on the surface.
The following headlines are items of potential interest that appear in the paper throughout September. Summaries represent one or more articles, editorials, press releases, or letters to the editor on a particular subject. Players are encouraged to incorporate these items into their characters' understanding of current events as well as use them for plotting. If you would like your character to perform deeper research or investigations, please pose any questions to the designated mod comment. Players are welcome to use this post for IC discussion and threads related to these news items, or to create their own posts and messages for that purpose.
➥ The Rise of Fenix Down
(cw: reference to weight loss)
The Fenix Down Extravaganza has proven itself a hit among Bostonians, drawing big crowds and prompting an extension to the circus's Boston tour stop. Pyre is hailed as a new shining star of the circus; among the reviews is an interview with Pyre by a reporter who initially found his act grotesque but was won over by what he deemed Pyre's "gentle earnestness" during the interview itself. In the interview Pyre claims to be a small town boy and coyly declines to explain how he accomplishes his act. Close inspection of the accompanying photo reveals that Pyre appears to have lost weight, or at least that the baby fat is gone from his face.
➥ Laying His Snakeship to Rest
(cw: snakes)
A tongue-in-cheek editorial piece examines the history of the Gloucester Sea Serpent, an enormous ocean-dwelling snake first spotted off the coast of Cape Ann in the early 1800s. Though a large number of early accounts corroborated one another, the author quotes multiple biologists who deny that a sea snake of that size exists. Recent spottings of the fabled serpent have brought it back to public attention, and several locals to Gloucester are quoted with descriptions of the alleged creature. The author rejects these claims, concluding that the Gloucester Sea Serpent (affectionately known as His Snakeship) is nothing more than a pod of whales mistaken for a single creature.
➥ City Council Under Fire as Vehicular Collisions Pile up
(cw: vehicular collisions)
Gloucester has seen a record increase in car accidents in recent weeks. The chief of police blames the increase on recent changes in downtown traffic patterns and signage and blames the city council for implementing too many changes on short notice, not giving Gloucester drivers time to adapt to the new traffic rules. Councilmembers refute the charges, citing a concurrent increase in collisions in areas not affected by the new rules, but are unable to offer compelling alternate theories.
➥ It's the Ghost Wonderful Time of the Year!
It's that time again: Gloucester is entering peak tourism season as ghost and ghoulie enthusiasts make the circuit between here and Salem. Advertisements are out for haunted houses as well as ghost tours that will begin at the end of September and run the length of October, including graveyard tours. Local businesses are running a variety of specials in honor of the season. Cheerful news pieces about the influx of visitors are periodically countered by angry letters to the editor complaining about the annual impact of Tourismpocalypse on the lives of locals.
➥ Packer's Cut Sizzles onto the Scene
(cw: potential for implied murder and cannibalism)
A press release for a new steakhouse, Packer's Cut, is followed by glowing reviews. The owner, a first time restaurateur and former butcher, proudly proclaims that the secret of their success is the use of fresh, quality ingredients. Reservations highly recommended!
➥ Dogs to Blame in Dogtown Injuries
(cw: animal attacks, referenced animal euthanization)
Locals and visitors alike are advised to exercise caution when visiting Dogtown. Several animal attacks have been reported in the last weeks, and the official conclusion is that there are feral dogs in the area. Residents are advised that the animals may carry diseases and that work is underway to capture or kill the pack. Curiously, none of the articles about these incidents cite interviews with victims of the attacks, nor hospital workers who treated them.
The following headlines are items of potential interest that appear in the paper throughout September. Summaries represent one or more articles, editorials, press releases, or letters to the editor on a particular subject. Players are encouraged to incorporate these items into their characters' understanding of current events as well as use them for plotting. If you would like your character to perform deeper research or investigations, please pose any questions to the designated mod comment. Players are welcome to use this post for IC discussion and threads related to these news items, or to create their own posts and messages for that purpose.
➥ The Rise of Fenix Down
(cw: reference to weight loss)
The Fenix Down Extravaganza has proven itself a hit among Bostonians, drawing big crowds and prompting an extension to the circus's Boston tour stop. Pyre is hailed as a new shining star of the circus; among the reviews is an interview with Pyre by a reporter who initially found his act grotesque but was won over by what he deemed Pyre's "gentle earnestness" during the interview itself. In the interview Pyre claims to be a small town boy and coyly declines to explain how he accomplishes his act. Close inspection of the accompanying photo reveals that Pyre appears to have lost weight, or at least that the baby fat is gone from his face.
➥ Laying His Snakeship to Rest
(cw: snakes)
A tongue-in-cheek editorial piece examines the history of the Gloucester Sea Serpent, an enormous ocean-dwelling snake first spotted off the coast of Cape Ann in the early 1800s. Though a large number of early accounts corroborated one another, the author quotes multiple biologists who deny that a sea snake of that size exists. Recent spottings of the fabled serpent have brought it back to public attention, and several locals to Gloucester are quoted with descriptions of the alleged creature. The author rejects these claims, concluding that the Gloucester Sea Serpent (affectionately known as His Snakeship) is nothing more than a pod of whales mistaken for a single creature.
➥ City Council Under Fire as Vehicular Collisions Pile up
(cw: vehicular collisions)
Gloucester has seen a record increase in car accidents in recent weeks. The chief of police blames the increase on recent changes in downtown traffic patterns and signage and blames the city council for implementing too many changes on short notice, not giving Gloucester drivers time to adapt to the new traffic rules. Councilmembers refute the charges, citing a concurrent increase in collisions in areas not affected by the new rules, but are unable to offer compelling alternate theories.
➥ It's the Ghost Wonderful Time of the Year!
It's that time again: Gloucester is entering peak tourism season as ghost and ghoulie enthusiasts make the circuit between here and Salem. Advertisements are out for haunted houses as well as ghost tours that will begin at the end of September and run the length of October, including graveyard tours. Local businesses are running a variety of specials in honor of the season. Cheerful news pieces about the influx of visitors are periodically countered by angry letters to the editor complaining about the annual impact of Tourismpocalypse on the lives of locals.
➥ Packer's Cut Sizzles onto the Scene
(cw: potential for implied murder and cannibalism)
A press release for a new steakhouse, Packer's Cut, is followed by glowing reviews. The owner, a first time restaurateur and former butcher, proudly proclaims that the secret of their success is the use of fresh, quality ingredients. Reservations highly recommended!
➥ Dogs to Blame in Dogtown Injuries
(cw: animal attacks, referenced animal euthanization)
Locals and visitors alike are advised to exercise caution when visiting Dogtown. Several animal attacks have been reported in the last weeks, and the official conclusion is that there are feral dogs in the area. Residents are advised that the animals may carry diseases and that work is underway to capture or kill the pack. Curiously, none of the articles about these incidents cite interviews with victims of the attacks, nor hospital workers who treated them.
no subject
Are there any Legit tours that one might stumble across that happen to be actually haunted or dangerous? Maybe like The Houses October Built style?
no subject
no subject