Portia Times

Portia Times
Exterior⁠ Interior⁠
General information
Location	Central Plaza
Establishment information
Hours	08:00 - 18:00
Owner	Mei
Employee(s)	Erwa
Map

“	This is the Portia Times. We are sponsored by the city government and the local Commerce Guild branch to bring you the latest news in our city for free! We are a monthly publication, so papers will be sent out on the first day of each month. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to visit our office on Main Street.	„
— Letter from Portia Times

The Portia Times is Portia's local newspaper, operated by Mei, the main reporter who is often spotted running all over town searching for the latest scoop, and Erwa, who helps Mei in the office and with reporting jobs. The newspaper's headquarters is the Atara Times, where Mei had previously worked. The Portia Times office is located in Central Plaza, between the Barber Shop and Martha's Bakery.

On the second day of the first month, the player receives a letter from the Portia Times introducing themselves. Throughout the year, Portia Times offers free news articles about Portia and other Free Cities, as well as allows the player to post ads about their Workshop on the billboard outside.

History

“	Erwa and I have been drawing all the illustrations by hand so far, but we're both terrible at art. I even received a letter from Gust telling us to “stop drawing.” That jerk.	„
— Mei in News Camera

During the time that the player still lived in Barnarock, Mei was sent to the Portia Times from the Atara Times after voicing her unhappiness with not being given any good reporting jobs, instead serving coffee to her seniors. She joined forces with Erwa, determined to make the Portia Times succeed despite their dire lack of funding. At the time of the player's arrival in Portia, the Portia Times operates with little other than painstakingly hand-copied articles and illustrations.

As part of Read All About It!, Mei tasks the player with crafting a Printing Press to help the Portia Times expedite the article-making process. After the Printing Press is presented to her, it is permanently placed on the raised wooden deck in the back of the office.

Later, in News Camera, she also asks the player to acquire a Camera to supplement their articles with more professional photos. The player keeps the camera obtained during the mission and can use it at any time, and is occasionally asked to take photos for new articles, starting with Photos of Portia. After finishing Photos of Portia, Mei publishes her first article with non-hand-drawn pictures, LOCAL BUILDER SAVES THE DAY!

Missions

All of the missions that can be done for the Portia Times are as follows:

1. Read All About It!
2. News Camera
3. Photos of Portia
4. An Interview of Gale
5. An Interview with the Research Center
6. An Interview with the Church of the Light
7. Letter to the Editor

Billboard

Located just outside the Portia Times, the billboard posts all the latest happenings in town, as well as post advertisements for the player's Workshop. The newspaper covers both local and world news.

Advertisement

Player posting an ad in Portia Times

“	The (workshop name), with Builder (player) at the helm, can fulfill all of your orders anyway you want them! Located just outside Peach Plaza!	„
— Example advertisement for player's workshop

For a fee of 100⁠⁠, the player can post one advertisement for the player's Workshop, which lasts a week and rewards 20 reputation points the morning after it is posted. Only one ad can run at a time.

Posting five ads earns the The Advertiser achievement.

Local news

Spoiler Alert: This page may contain spoilers. Proceed with caution!

Portia Times front page, showing local news headlines and a picture taken by the player

The following news articles are listed in chronological order based on main mission completion.

Amber Island Bridge Now Open!

After completing Bridge to Amber Island:

Amber Island Bridge Now Open!

Reported by Mei Amber Island used to be a favorite hiking spot for the residents of Portia, but it has been off limits since flood waters washed away the old Amber Island Bridge. After the Mayor and the city government put up the funding for a new bridge, it has been quickly constructed by our new Builder in town, Player. Mayor Gale said: 'I have already inspected the bridge. It's an excellent piece of work! We plan to further expand the cave on the island and turn it into an attraction! I hope everyone is looking forward to that.' Portians can once again enjoy a walk on the island.

The Prince of Thieves

After completing The Cave on Amber Island:

The Prince of Thieves

Reported by Erwa Portia has been hit by a crime spree recently, with many items stolen. The Civil Corps was having trouble figuring out the suspects, some even suspected the usual criminals Huss and Tuss. On a stroke of luck, Builder Player found and defeated a band of bandirats within the Amber Island cave, including their leader the Rat Prince. Most of the items have since been recovered. According to Civil Corps officer Arlo: 'I must commend Player for taking action, the Builder defeated all of the bandirats, we just scared off the rest.' With these actions, hopefully the bandirat gangs will never bother Portia again.

Rat Royalty's Refuge Repurposed

After completing The Haunted Cave:

Rat Royalty's Refuge Repurposed

Reported by Mei Lights! Balloons! Ghosts! Action! Find this and more at the grand opening of the "Haunted Cave" on Amber Island! Commissioned by none other than mayor of Portia and all around upstanding fellow, Mayor Gale, the Haunted Cave is sure to bring in tourists from all over the Free Cities, and delight locals alike. When questioned on his motivations for the renovations, Gale recounted, "Well, caves are spooky on their own. I thought, ‘why not make our cave really spooky.'" The Haunted Cave was formerly occupied by an organized group of bandit rats, known as the "Bandirats," who were responsible for the theft of numerous items around Portia; strangely enough, only items of sentimental value. While repairing a generator within the cave as preparations for the attractions to come, local builder, Player was caught in their lair and forced to melee their way out! Luckily, all that time digging in the ruins seems to have given Player Herculean strength, leaving them unscathed with a trail of defeated Bandirats in their wake. When approached for comment, Player was not at home for an interview. The Civil Corps has since congratulated Player on their bravery, also voicing concerns with the mayor that they were not sent into the cave first to check for potential threats. All's well that ends well, however, and now we have all aforementioned parties involved to thank for this fabulous addition to our town. With tours available for just 100 gols, there's no sense in passing up this opportunity! What's more, each visitor will be rewarded with Ghost Badges which can be redeemed for marvelous prizes on the next Day of Memories! Bring a friend! Or a date! Because let's face it, you're not interesting enough to entertain a date without ghosts.

Dee-Dees Come to Portia

After completing The Dee-Dee Stops Here:

Dee-Dees Come to Portia

Reported by Mei After years of preparation and fund raising, the Dee-Dee transportation system has finally made its way to Portia. So far there are five stops, with more expansions on the way. Mayor Gale said: 'We cannot have a successful city without a good transportation system, the Dee-Dee will make it much easier for people to get around.' The service runs from 7:00am in the morning until 1:30am at night.

Street Lights Installed

After completing Let There Be Light:

Street Lights Installed

Reported by Erwa Recently Builders have installed many street lights in Portia by the order of the city government. This new improvement has been welcomed by the citizens. Mars, a shop owner told me: 'With the new street lights, I can enjoy a[sic] evening walk with the Missus much later in the evening, it's great!'

Panbat Epidemic!

After completing Panbat Infestation:

Panbat Epidemic!

Reported by Mei Recently there has been a panbat epidemic at the Portia Tree Farm, infecting many of the trees within the farm. Manager Dawa said: 'I don't know where they came from, one day it was fine, and then the next day they came in force!' After exhausting different methods of scaring off the panbats, a Builder and the Research Center came up with a novel way of doing the trick. They built a sound device that played different sounds to get the panbats away from the trees. Tree farm worker Aadit stated: 'I've never seen anything like it, it was inspiring!'

Builder Defeats Rat King!

After completing The Poisoned Water:

Builder Defeats Rat King!

Reported by Mei Recently, it was found that the water of the Portia River has been polluted by a source above Bassanio Falls. The Mayor asked the Civil Corps to quickly find the source and neutralize it, as the Portia River is the main water source for Portia. When Civil Corps member Sam took a Builder with her to the WOW Industries ruins to fix the source of the pollution, they found that it was the Rat King behind it all. Sam told me: 'The Rat King wanted revenge for the defeat of his son, the Rat Prince. Anyway, that's not the main point, it was talking! A talking rat, can you believe it?' Sam said Builder Player defeated the Rat King and fixed the pipes leaking the pollutant. According to the Research Center, they can no longer find any traces of the pollution in the water as of this writing.

Meeting Mr. Ack

After completing Fixing Ack: _[ verify ]

Meeting Mr. Ack

Reported by Erwa A piece of an old space station crashed into the Collapsed Wasteland recently. Miraculously, a computer AI named Mr. Ack survived the impact. The other human crew mates of Mr. Ack were not so lucky, their remains have been buried in the cemetery by the Civil Corps. According to Mr. Ack, he was in maintenance mode for the last 330 years, before the Age of Darkness started. He said: “I was a chef on a space station, so they didn't tell me much. But I remember my interfacing source being very sad the last time I interacted with her, she was like my commander of sorts. I remember our space station being rocked by explosions before the station put me in maintenance mode. Then I woke up here.” Mr. Ack has been welcomed by Mayor Gale into our city. He currently lives at the Civil Corps. When asked what he plans to do now, he said: “Doodledogs! I want to start cooking again, that's what I was designed to do, and I love it!”

Portia Museum Now Open to Public

After completing Construction Crane and waiting until the Portia Museum opens: _[ verify ]

Portia Museum Now Open to Public

Reported by Mei The construction of the new Portia Museum of Human History is now open to the public, free of charge! But it would be criminal to charge anyone as of now, being that there are no exhibits currently on display. When asked how that was expected to change, Mayor Gale commented, "Those builders are always digging stuff up, they'll find something to put in there." However, upon investigation, this reporter found that the desire among builders to contribute to the Portia Museum was less than teeming. One local builder who requested to remain anonymous had this to say, "Who has time to fiddle with a bunch of silly relics? I only care about one thing: and that's being number one on the builder charts!" In light of this lack of enthusiasm for adding to the museum, Merlin of the Portia Research Center has offered up rewards to anyone who can place a certain number of relics on display. "It's sad that we have to coax people to get them to help out their own community, but I suppose that's just the world we live in," she spoke of the development. In addition to Merlin's commitment, other locals have volunteered to trade pieces of relics they happen to have with anyone looking for a way to complete their own collection. The museum is gigantic, and it's projected to take years to fill, even with everyone doing their part. It's our hope here at the Portia Times that people will find it in their hearts to donate to the museum for our younger generation and for generations to come.

Road to Sandrock Announced

After the fireside meeting that introduces Mint and Gale's road to Sandrock project: _[ verify ]

Road to Sandrock Announced

Reported by Mei Portia's economy has been flourishing, and things are only projected to get better. Now with the announcement of a road through the Eufaula Desert to Sandrock, Portians can soon expect trade and business opportunities to thrive. Sandrock relies heavily on imports, due to the climate, and now getting what they need will be that much easier as goods from Vega 5 and Walnut Groove are planned to be moved through Portia en route to Sandrock. This leaves Portians in the enviable position of middlemen. At the same time, plans are being made for a small encampment over the bridge sources have said will be called "South Block," a transportation hub to keep traffic out of Portia's quiet city center, as well as a place to give travelers a nice view of the city. When reached for comment, genius engineer and head of the Sandrock Connection Project, Mint quipped, "Huh? Who are you? Why are you asking so many questions? I'm tired."

Portia Bridge Completed

After completing The Portia Bridge and waiting until the Portia Bridge opening ceremony: _[ verify ]

Portia Bridge Completed

Reported by Mei Today Mayor Gale cut a fine red ribbon declaring the new bridge to Sandrock officially open! Of course... the tunnel is still to be built, so the route can't be used yet, but symbolically, the mayor's gesture has meant a lot for plenty of people. "I'm so confident that this project will go well that I decided to celebrate less than one third of the way through it," Gale said of the matter. When this reporter asked local chicken expert, Emily, if she thought Mayor Gale was counting his chickens before they hatched, Emily had this to say: "An expert rancher like me can tell based on the weight of an egg whether it will hatch or not, so I do actually count my chickens before they hatch." Papa Bear, who happened to be around during the interview weighed in, "Aw aw aw!" An anonymous source from inside the A&G Construction company also expressed confidence: "The tunnel will be a walk in the park. All we have to do is drill through the mountain, as opposed to all the groundwork required for the bridge. It is easier to destroy than to create, after all."

South Block Open after AI Crisis in Eufala Tunnel

After completing Rescue in Ingall's Mine and South Block Development: _[ verify ]

South Block Open after AI Crisis in Eufala Tunnel

Reported by Mei The travel hub, South Block, is now finally operational and open for business, but not without trials and tribulations along the way. New builder turned local celebrity, Player, has once again found themselves directly in harm's way alongside Civil Corps. members after the tunneling crew encountered a mining AI gone berserk deep in the heart of the Eufala Range. "Of all the mountains, of course we had to drill through the one with the kill-bot inside," architect and engineer, Gust sarcastically remarked. Thankfully, Player and the Civil Corps. once again showed their strength and bravery, dispatching of the mad robot and making the way safe again for the tunneling to continue. With all the chaos behind us, folks from all across the Free Cities are flocking to the new hub of South Block, eager to trade goods from all over, and enjoy the delightful scenery. Local business owner Yeye of the South Block Trading Post remarked, "Before, only my grandsons would really buy or sell things around here. Now things are flying off the shelves! Someone even sold me a chainsaw!"

Fire Fiasco up in Flames, Fanatical Fishmonger at Fault

After completing The Burnt Warehouse: _[ verify ]

Fire Fiasco up in Flames, Fanatical Fishmonger at Fault

Reported by Mei Tragedy strikes Portia as business cooperations with esteemed billionaire, Musa, have quite literally gone up in smoke. Or at least, that's what we would've reported, if not for the agile footwork of expert builder, Player in conjunction with the A&G Construction Co. as they managed to undo the damage that was caused in a short period of time, all while remaining under budget. One of the key items that needed to be replaced was a large air conditioning unit in the warehouse, essential for working on hot days. Player and the Research Center were able to create a new one, despite the AC unit using previously undiscovered technology. "If this thing didn't work, we would've just had Player build a big fan instead, but this turned out quite nicely, I'd say," Petra remarked. The warehouse on the soon to be finished harbor was burned to the ground by former fisherman turned eco-extremist, Tody. Tody's manifesto was found on a wooden plank, written in crayon. Detailed within were his plans to destroy anything that threatened the safety of the ocean environment. His lawyers have since commented that he has "calmed down a lot." "Since being imprisoned, I've had a lot of time to reflect, and come to the realization that burning down buildings is not helpful to the environment," Tody confessed. Tody's final verdict is yet to be announced.

World of Wharf-craft

After completing the Portia Harbor questline: _[ verify ]

World of Wharf-craft

Reported by Mei Despite setbacks, Portia Harbor is now open for business, boasting a large crane system for shipping heavy goods and a lighthouse to help vessels navigate on those misty mornings. For those of us who don't have any stake in shipping companies or large boat related business, a new shop has opened up on the wharf boasting a fine collection of wallpapers and rugs, among other things. Fun for the whole family! While most citizens are quite pleased with this new development, there are still a few who side with eco-extremist and arsonist, Tody, and believe the pollution caused by the new harbor outweigh any benefits it may bring in. Still others lament the fact that the dock that many citizens took their first steps into Portia has now been demolished. When pressed for comment on critics of the new wharf, wealthy investor Musa snapped back with, "Haters will hate. Musa is going to keep getting that paper."

Locator Computer Location Located

After completing The Theft: _[ verify ]

Locator Computer Location Located

Reported by Mei After a rather serious feud between members of the Church of Light and members of the Research Center, the true culprits behind the disappearance of the Locator Computer have been apprehended, and all charges against the Church of Light have been dropped. "Even though we don't agree with the Research Center on this issue, Church of Light scripture forbids us from taking such dishonest measures to get what we want," minister Lee commented on the ordeal. The Church of Light has since demanded that the Research Center provide their next service with cupcakes in order to apologize for making false accusations. The cupcakes are projected to be delicious. "What a surprise, Huss and Tuss were behind everything!" said no one ever. Although, according to sources inside the Civil Corps. it is rather suspicious that Huss and Tuss are claiming innocence, something they have never done in the past. "We bought that computer fair and square! How were we supposed to know it was stolen? The masked man said we could play video games on it, but there were none! We're the real victims here!" cried Tuss. When reached for comment, Civil Corps. leader Arlo mentioned that he hoped to either imprison Huss and Tuss for eternity, or blast them into outer space somehow. In other news, what is the Locator Computer? Research Center scientists and Flying Pig, Mali, believe it is the key to finding something called the "All Source," a mysterious and surely powerful relic from the old world. Local legend, and former knight of aforementioned old world, Django, had this to suppose: "I assume it's some kind of all-knowing recipe book, the source of all dishes!" In response to his comment, Lead Researcher Merlin told this reporter that if Django was correct, it would be "a major letdown."

Be a Star at Starlight Island!

After completing A Boat to Starlight: _[ verify ]

Be a Star at Starlight Island!

Reported by Mei Catch some rays on Portia's very first ever natural reserve! The environment of the island will be preserved, and no buildings or instruments of pollution will ever be allowed on, near, or around the island. This doesn't mean one can't do a little fishing here, however! When asked if sanctioning Starlight Island as a protected environment was giving in to extremist demands, Mayor Gale responded, "Can you stop calling Tody an eco-extremist in the newspaper? Everyone is over that already." So what are you waiting for? Take one of the fabulous propellerless Paddle Boats (good for the environment) from the Portia Harbor to Starlight Island today and be a star!

The Game Center Games Once More

After completing Power On: _[ verify ]

The Game Center Games Once More

Reported by Mei Disaster struck not long ago when a power overload at esteemed local dining facility, The Round Table, spelled trouble for the gaming center beloved by all. When approached for comment, owner, Django claimed only, "A knight has no need for knowledge of circuit breakers!" before storming off. An inside source who wished to remain anonymous commented further: "I like, told him not to plug in so many appliances. It's like, basic science. Duh." With no game center to entertain the citizens, many Portians found themselves consigned to utter boredom, some even deciding to spend their evenings staring at the ceiling for hours on end, according to one source. The effects, however, have not been all negative. Local school teacher, Ms. Lucy has reported a significant increase in test scores and homework completion ever since the power outage; one schoolboy Toby, however, denies the correlation of these events, attributing them instead to pure coincidence. Nevertheless, this crisis came to an end when local builder, Player, stepped up, bringing not only the proper materials, but also the proper skills and wit to the table, the round table, that is, and fixed the power box. Player's hammer struck swiftly and with precision, bringing back joy into the hearts of many. First on the scene, following the repair was Toby who chimed, "What? I don't play these games. I've never seen them before in my life!"

LOCAL BUILDER SAVES THE DAY!

After completing News Camera:

LOCAL BUILDER SAVES THE DAY!

Written by Mei Exciting news! Thanks to our local Builder-Welder Player, the Portia Times now has a brand new printing press and access to a very rare camera! No more hand-written articles and hand-drawn pictures, we've had a massive upgrade! Now the Portia Times will always be ready to bring exciting, local news right to your doorstep. Things were looking bad when other Builders refused to help, and we had our hand-drawn pictures criticized, but Player stepped in and saved us! Got any tips or rumors? Come down to the Portia Times office, and speak to either Erwa or Mei! We can't wait to see what the future has in store!

Study Shows: Balloon Usage Linked to Happiness

After completing Balloon Bonanza:

Study Shows: Balloon Usage Linked to Happiness

Reported by Mei After weeks of exhaustive research, local scientists Petra and Merlin of the Portia Research Center have published a study concluding that riding the new hot air balloons near the duck pond shows a very strong correlation (P<0.0001) with overall reported happiness. Furthermore, that relationship intensified when bringing a partner or loved one along on the balloon ride. These effects were however found to be null when subjects tested positive for "fear of heights." "We noticed that people getting off the hot-air balloons seemed to show visible signs of happiness: exposed teeth, giddiness, high-fiving, etc. So we theorized that there might be some connection with this behavior and the balloons," Merlin reported. As more Portians and tourists ride the hot-air balloons, Petra and Merlin's studies will indeed be put to the test.

Buses to Sandrock Now Road-worthy

After completing Long-Haul Bus: _[ verify ]

Buses to Sandrock Now Road-worthy

Reported by Mei Information supplied by Mayor Trudy of Sandrock Travelers rejoice! Tourists, gamers, and people who just love sand for some reason, your time has come! With affordable round-trips available every day of the week, traveling to Sandrock has never been easier. Try your luck at the fabulous Sandrock Gaming Center! Or have a glass of milk at the famous Sandrock Saloon! Ride one of the curious fuzzy creatures of the desert, a Yakmel! The possibilities are endless! Or, well, maybe not endless, but there are a lot of things to do. "Y'all can come down and have yerself a lark just so longs as ye stay off my property!" - Local disgruntled rancher, Cooper The Sandrock Board of Tourism has stated that reports of attacks by rampant bandit gangs have been greatly exaggerated, so bring the kids along, and enjoy fabulous, sunny Sandrock!

Interviews

LONG LIVE THE MAYOR

After completing An Interview of Gale:

LONG LIVE THE MAYOR

Written by Mei We all love the Mayor's speeches and events, but did you know he's also fought to fund some of the renovation projects around Portia? Mayor Gale wants Portia to become the central transportation hub of the Free Cities. To bring more people to our fair town, he's procured the Gols to pay for some of our new upgrades! The bridge to Amber Island was a clever idea of his to turn a dangerous location into a tourist hot spot! With the completion of the bridge, the cave on the island has become a tourist attraction, with rumors of ghosts and spirits! Streetlights! How did we live without them? Mayor Gale saw that our town was too dark at night, forcing citizens to stay indoors. By adding the streetlights, we're able to do more during the evening! Be it business or a date! And lastly, the Dee Dee Stops. The transport we now take for granted! Never again will our legs tire out on the way home from a long day. All thanks to Mayor Gale's bargaining. Thanks to our Mayor, Portia is working its way to the top. If you see him around town, give him a pat on the back, or buy him a drink! Our sleuths at Portia Times have reported that Red Tea is his favorite!

THE BRAINS OF PORTIA

After completing An Interview with the Research Center:

THE BRAINS OF PORTIA

Reported by Mei We've all heard the weird beeps and boops coming from that strange building near the schoolhouse, but who actually works there? And what do they do? Our superstar photographer Player braved the Portia Research Center to get you these exclusive pictures! Turns out our famous Portia Builders would be nothing without the two ladies running the Research Center. Their special equipment turns 'Data Discs' - found in those Hazardous Ruins around town - into diagrams! Most things you see around Portia, from the Dee-dee Stops to the Boomboxes were made from diagrams produced at the Research Center. The place itself is run by Merlin, a top researcher from Vega 5, and her assistant Petra! When she was asked for a statement for this article, Merlin said, "Hey, what are you doing in here! I'm busy!" So, if you ever find yourself with one of these strange Data Disc things, pop on over to the Research Center! Make sure to knock first, though.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

After completing An Interview with the Church of the Light:

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

Reported by Mei Scared of the Collapsed Wasteland? Nervous about the future? Don't trust your toaster? Well, worry no more! The Church of the Light, based right above the Abandoned Ruins #1, holds everything you need to settle your fears. Run by Minister Lee and Sister Nora, the Church of the Light is the place to be for those of you out there who feel lost or unsure about Portia's future. They're a strictly no dangerous technology group, believing that digging around for old advanced relics is the number one way to trigger another Age of Corruption! If you agree, but still want rid of those old Data Discs lying around, Minister Lee has you covered. Not only will the Church destroy them free of charge, but they'll even trade you gardening tools and seeds! You can find them on Peach or Central Plaza with their portable Church Store. "Our philosophy is to believe in the people," Lee told me, "in the end, it'll be the people that pull together and support each other in times of need. That's how we got through the Age of Darkness. We don't need the advanced relics the ancients used during the Age of Corruption, they will only drive people apart." The Portia Church of the Light is the local branch of the Church of the Light located in Meidi.

World news

Besides the local news reported by Mei and Erwa, the Portia Times publishes articles dispatched by other Free Cities.

Tensions Rise Between Duvos and Ethea

Tensions Rise Between Duvos and Ethea

Dispatch from Ethea Capital Grace, Reported by DuMont Tensions have risen to their highest in years between the Empire of Duvos and the Principality of Ethea over the Orzu Ruins. The ruins has been a site of contention between the two states for the last twenty years. Tensions started rising when Duvos placed troops at the entrance to the ruins, blocking anyone not from Duvos from entering. The High Princess of Ethea, Alessa, issued a statement saying: We are negotiating with the Empire of Duvos with hopes for a long term settlement over the Orzu issue. However, we will not accept the actions of the Empire against our citizens at the site. If these actions continue, we will have no choice but to fully defend our sovereignty. On the streets of Grace, people are gearing up for conflict, with many throwing support behind the government. Ugo, a shop owner said: We're all gearing up for this fight, if Duvos think they can just walk all over us, they're in for a beating!

Seesai Warns Duvos

Seesai Warns Duvos

Dispatch from Seesai Capital Lunan, Reported by Jumon The Kingdom of Seesai warned the Empire of Duvos today against raising tensions in Ethea's Orzu Ruins region. First Minister Ma-lei said in a statement: "Seesai is fundamentally against any state that takes aggressive action against other states. In this case, it is clear for all to see that Duvos has once again blatantly disregarded interstate rules and violated the sovereignty of Ethea. We strongly denounce this action and demand that Duvos troops immediately withdraw to their own territory." Seesai has its own border disputes with Duvos, though both sides vowed to peacefully resolve the issues in recent years. Seesai is also a major economic partner of Ethea. When asked, the First Minister said there are no current plans to deploy the Seesain military against Duvos if the border situation at Orzu continues.

Conflict Imminent!

Conflict Imminent!

Dispatch from Ethea Capital Grace, Reported by DuMont A conflict between the Empire of Duvos and the Principality of Ethea is imminent as both states build up troops around the Orzu Ruins region on their border. Sightings by witnesses paint a picture of partial mobilization in Ethea, with almost all of their air assets moved to the border region. Prices for power stones have sky rocketed in the capital city of Grace, as the military have received most of the shipments in recent days. So far, there has been little word from the Alliance of Free Cities. Atara has stayed out of the conflict of words between Duvos and Ethea. Experts point to the recent thaw in relations between Duvos and the Alliance as the main reason.

Analysis of the Orzu Ruins Situation

Analysis of the Orzu Ruins Situation

Professor Longstone of the University of Atara Going by history, there is no question that the Orzu Ruins belongs to Ethea, one of the oldest existing states. In fact, Ethea existed as an entity very soon after people went underground after the Day of Calamity 330 years ago. While the extent of the borders of Ethea is debatable, since for so long it existed as a loose confederation instead of a political union, there's no debate when it comes to the Orzu region. Etheans have dived in these ruins for the last 250 years. Even Peach mentioned going there in his journals. Duvos does not have anything to stand on for their claim, other than they have an army stationed there. While people have different speculations as to why Duvos is interested in these ruins, I think they're after the large amount of power stones and industrial engines under the Orzu Ruins. One must remember that Duvos fought a war with the Alliance of Free Cities over the ruins of Lucien for these exact same resources. Even though that war technically ended as a draw, Lucien was almost wiped out while the Empire barely suffered any structural damage. In the bigger geopolitical picture, Duvos wants to gain a distinct advantage vis-a-vis Seesai. While it has less people and less resources overall, Seesai has good to great relations will almost every state on its border, except Duvos. I think the Emperor of Duvos wants to disturb or break this balance of power anyway he can to reach hegemony. That's why we have the current contentions at the Orzu Ruins. What is strange however is the deafening silence coming from Atara. Ethea is not a part of the alliance; they are, however, the cultural home of our ancestors. Even though we have just signed a treaty of peace with Duvos, it does not mean we can just stand by while our friends face an existential threat.

Skirmishes Reported on Border of Ethea

Skirmishes Reported on Border of Ethea

Dispatch from Ethea Capital Grace Reported by DuMont The threat of war has come to the Orzu region of Ethea once more. Earlier this morning, the Duvos troops at the Orzu ruins reported that they were fired upon by Ethean troops. Allegedly returning fire, they destroyed the base camp for the Ethean Second Regiment. The office for the High Princess Alessa released a statement denying the Duvos narrative: "Our troops did not make the first attack. We strongly demand that Duvos pull back their troops or we will have no choice but to drive them out by force." Duvos representatives have yet to release a statement in response; reporters attempting to enter Duvos camps were turned away. Not known for hollow remarks, Ethea has begun moving troops to the border while adjusting their supply lines to back them up, implying that they do indeed intend to act. Duvos troops have since left the Orzu region, only to set up camp along the border as well. At present, the situation on the border is unclear; shots have been fired, but no casualties have been reported on either side. "Duvos is always looking for new ways to increase their power in the region," said political science Professor Longstone of Atara University. "They want to get their hands on the rich resources of the Orzu ruins, and they'll play whatever political games they need to do so. I just hope the cost of war would be greater than the loss of Orzu resources to them."

Alliance Pushing for Peace Talks

Alliance Pushing for Peace Talks

The Alliance of Free Cities has asked both Duvos and Ethea to pull back troops and ease tensions. Fire fights have been happening daily since Duvos claimed to have been attacked by Ethean soldiers, who following that claim, moved up to the border along Duvos in the Orzu region. Seesai has signaled that it's in the process of mobilizing in the case if the Duvos Empire has its sights on Ethea, and they encourage cities in the Alliance to do the same. "If all of this is anything other than an excuse to push into Ethean territory, why doesn't anyone from Duvos make any sort of public statement denying it?" asked the Prime Minister of Seesai. Ataran citizens are in outcry, questioning why the Alliance Council hasn't done more to help out Ethea and take a harsher stance against Duvos. Following the initial skirmishes in the Orzu region, a small group of protesters has been frequenting the front of the parliament building, carrying signs and chanting their support for Ethea. Their leader, Jordan Ackman, a student at Atara University, made themselves available for interview: "Duvos is no friend to the Alliance, we don't owe them a darn thing! Ethea is our ancestral home and deserves protection; Duvos does not need to be bargained with, nor should it be given the benefit of the doubt!" Despite criticism, the Alliance Council remains steadfast in their hopes for peaceful de-escalation of the conflict.

Duvos Debacle De-escalates

Duvos Debacle De-escalates

After weeks of skirmishing along the border of Ethea and Duvos in the Orzu region, Duvos has tentatively agreed to stand down and move out of the region. Finally issuing a public statement, the foreign minister of Duvos decreed that "if given access to the Orzu ruins, the Duvos Empire will forgive the impudence of Ethean aggression against their scouts weeks prior, and, following a formal apology from the High Princess, as well as a treaty protecting Duvosian rights, the army will return further inland." After pressures from the Alliance Council, High Princess Alessa begrudgingly ordered her troops to stand down first. An official treaty is in the works, but it is expected that in order to maintain peace in the region, Duvos's demands will be met. The High Princess said of the matter, "A fair trade agreement will be met, but the Kingdom of Ethea will not succumb to intimidation tactics, and the Orzu ruins will remain under Ethean sovereignty indefinitely." Etheans of the Orzu region are simply relieved to have both militaries out of their living space and be back to work.

Up From the Ashes: Humanities Subjects in Vega 5 Uncancelled

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Up From the Ashes: Humanities Subjects in Vega 5 Uncancelled

Reported by Mei Shocking news from Vega 5 has reached Portia today, as Dean Bitterman, President and Chairman of Vega 5 University, has resigned from his position after a crowd of hundreds appeared at the university this week, carrying a petition bearing the signatures of hundreds more. The petition was an outcry against Bitterman's plans to cut funding in the liberal arts colleges and subsequently spark massive layoffs in those departments including history, music, education, and others. The petition was started by none other than Portia's very own Ms. Lucy, school teacher and graduate from Vega 5 University. "When I heard what they were doing, I felt powerless; but then a conversation with a close friend inspired me to try to make a difference," she said of the ordeal. Vega 5 University is the largest and most prominent university in the south. Losing that beacon of culture would have been devastation for the younger generation and have echoing effects for generations to come. What's more, Dean Bitterman had no plans to redistribute the funding amongst other programs, instead it was revealed that he planned to use the money to give himself and other board members a raise in salary. When reached for comment, billionaire investor Musa had this to say, "Don't forget Musa is all about that paper, but fellow paper chasers, know this: you should make your money by helping people and bringing telesis to the community; anyone who plucks their money out of someone else's future is lower than dirt, as far as I'm concerned." Dean Bitterman was not available for comment, but shortly before leaving the university and returning to his mansion, corroborated sources confirm his last words to the crowd were,"And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids and your stupid petition!"