January 1st, 1921

The mood in Novska should have been ecstatic. SOme had feared that the War had not truly ended, and in truth, rebellions and nationalistic movements had kept flaring up all over Europe. But things were settling down, international relations were once again opening, and business was booming.

Why, then, was everyone so tense? The weather had to be part of it, biting cold winds, even snow, that made one feel as if the entire city had been transported hundred of miles further north. Few left their houses if they could avoid it and in the streets, the predators were hungry, impatient.

But there was more. The war had scared more than just the mortals. Even in the supernatural community, people had kept their heads down, afraid that the war might come to them, that in the chaos of battle, they might be exposed. And so they had built their power, for years. Too many of them were too much predator for a long peace, of course. Tensions had built, and built, barely held in check by a council few of them really believed in. And, like a spring coiled up too long and too hard, eventually something had to break.

The Election
To a mortal, the temple would look a damp, earthen cave. Though studded with ancient stonework that must once have been significant, even starkly beautiful, few would mistake it for the meeting place of princes, kings, even gods. But then, among such disparate creatures, what could even count as decor for all of them?
Those here today know better. To the attuned senses, every rock vibrates with the power of the city, the gathered inhabitants and the attention of the genius loci.
The Mirror Queen, represented by one of her headless, mirror-crowned maidens, has passed on speaking after the opening ceremony, passing the post of chairman to the Quaestor as usual.
Baaliation has bedecked himself in Imperial purple robes and a golden diadem, the perfect image of a king from antiquity.
He had spoken for a while now, wordy as usual. Many of those gathered - whether they be princes, their avatars, representatives or merely visitors - simply tuned out his introductory speech, until he came to the important part.
“And so, I would like to conclude that we have admirably weathered the recent war. Where empires have fallen and crumbled around the world, Novska endures. Prosperous, rich, a home and a haven for all of us.
This, of course, is because we have formed a stable, ordered society amongst ourselves. We have a council, we have laws, we can make our grievances heard without resort, as so many others of our kind do, to war and murder as our first and only means of conflict resolution.
As there are no other issues to bring before the council, we come to the issue of the election. It is my position that is up for debate and a vote, that of Quaestor. THe one holding this position has the right to gather whatever taxes he deems necessary from amongst any of our kind without the rank of Prince, and use them as he sees fit.
I will not bore you with a long election speech. I have held this position for 240 years, and there never have been complains. I trust you will, once again, elect me.
As always, the deliberations will be open for one month, and then, the votes will be counted. ”

And then, with a smile, he sat down on the throne that twelve of his servants had laboriously carried in.

The Rally CONFIDENTIAL
MARJA DERESKI TELLS ALL
American Fashion Trends Crossing The Ocean? Will Denim Jeans And SHORT Dresses Be The NEW CRAZE?
Read on For Marja Dereski’s EXCLUSIVE travel log of the United States of America. (pg. 17)
[Contained within is an ‘interview’ with Marja Dereski, the oldest daughter of Count Vegar. The ‘interview’ is more of an overheard conversation at a cafe between Marja and a friend where in she recounts her tour through the American Northeast and rail trip to Texas. Interest in the flapper movement in particular seems to be the focus of the conversation, and more than a few harsh words are written about Marja’s opinions on the matter. The article goes on to say that this conversation makes it clear the rumours about Marja are true, that she does indeed intend to make a bid for inheritance-of-first-born, rather than the traditional eldest-male of the Dereski Family.

When asked for clarification of her statements in the conversation, Marja declined to comment.]

The Omens
The Lazy Caravan has cast the bones, letting the lifeblood of a mother cat flow over the bones of a fresh dead infant, his crying mother dressed in wolfsbane and heather. Whatever they saw there has shaken the Caravan to the core, and the elders have sent a message to the Senate asking for help. A new prince is fitfully stirring, so they say, and its birth will herald the doom of Novska.

“In a place of needing company and surest care,
Lies a hidden secret, of a hidden lair,
Subdue our body and leave our mind despair,
Should its birth complete to devour its pair”


The Adriatic Times
The Novska Police have put out a call for information regarding Lukas Steiner, a known member of The Growlers. In response, The Growlers have stated that Police overstepped their authority and searched two of their garages without a warrant, but found nothing to justify their search. Steiner himself has been slipping into bars here and their claiming that Commissioner Franjo is trying to push his authority and force the mayor to give police sweeping powers.