The Yorkman/Issue 006
Welcome to the sixth issue of the Yorkman. As always, feel free to contact us via e-mail, especially if you have some news to share with the world. Also, feel free to discuss the articles on the talk page.
We'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this issue and answered our questions, especially James Barnes, Michael Edawrds, Patch, and several others who requested anonymity. We'd also like to welcome our two guest writers for this issue, Subcommandante Marco and Lady Imogen.
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Thanks - The Yorkman Team
This issue originally published on 31/10/06.
Contents
Invasion?
Native Attacks Yet To Materialise
Despite much hysteria last week, the promised raid on Derby by the militant indigenous nationalist known as 'Prophet' has failed to emerge. Although a few hostile natives have been slain by the Derbians, [[Derby Hospitallers] leader James Barnes assures us that no serious assualt has taken place, and it seems that Derby center is still one of the safest places to be on Shartak.
For many, the declaration of a raid brought back memories of the early colonisation, when native attacks in towns were common, instead of such incidents being restricted to the occasional dead hunter out in the wilds as they often are today.
With even militant groups such as the Native Resistance Front and the WickSick Headhunters failing to show, it seems that the Native Wars are all but over. many young natives are now members of reconciliation groups such as open Arms, or are collaborating as exorcists or members of outsider groups such as the South Shartak Trading Company.
Jolly Roger Gang member Patch believes that the natives are a "spent force", due to the relentless aggression of the settlers. Pirate raids have driven many from their villages and broken the community of those that remain. Militants are mercilessly hunted down by settler paramilitaries, leaving many with no choice but assimilation and cooperation.
With most groups now focussed on the internal politics of the outsider community, it seems that native raids are no longer considered a grave threat to our way of life, and the lack of a serious attack on Derby has done nothing to shake this conviction.
Barricades on the Last Chance HighwayComrades, Citizens, and Settlers; the world is about to end. Despite the glib reassurances of power-hungry develoers that the roads network would destroy "only one percent of Shartak's jungle", and that gouging great scars across this beautiful land would somehow not affect it's migrant animals, the destruction of our vital ecosystem continues apace in order to further line the pockets of a greedy, uncaring minority. What you must understand here is the interlinked nature of all life. As living beings, we consume resources to survive. Study the native creatures and peoples of Shartak - a small population grows quickly to reach an equilibrium with the resources upon which it depends, and stabilises at the level where they consume those resources at the same rate they naturally regenerate. Lemmings, on the other hand, consume all they come across without self control, until unsustainable population growth and unsustainable consumption drive them to desperate mass migrations where millions die. Which seems the most fitting metaphor for our society? Make no mistake - if things do not change, Shartak will be unable to support your children. And by then, there may be nowhere left to migrate to. Through a campaign of confrontation and direct action in the east, we have already managed to drive back the developers and saved many acres of irreplacable old-growth jungle. Nevertheless, if we do not act now, together, as a people, it may be too late. If not for love of the wild, biodiversity, or the beauty of nature, then for all our futures - join us. This may be the only chance left. -Subcommandante Marco, Shartak Preservation Front |
Jolly Roger Gang Declare Derby Truce
Following negotiations last week,the Jolly Roger Gang have announced that they have signed a non-agression pact with the Derby Hospitallers, who have also recently sought peace with the Scurvy Crew of The Hell-born Strumpet. Although Derby, being the furthest point from the shipwreck, seems an unlikely target for a pirate raid, the pact will allow trade to open between the two settlements. Jolly Roger Gang leader Michael Edwards, who seems recently to be more interested in trading than raiding, has already despatched traders to the eastern town.
Pacts like this have opened up vast areas of the southern coast to pirates, but southern visitors to the shipwreck are still often the prey of marauding 'independent' pirates, and the JRG remains unflinchingly anti-York, to the point of slaughtering several York-based traders near Dalpok during the Third Invasion.
With the route to Derby leading through either the Dalpok warzone to the north or York to the south, it seems that the chances of any JRG members surviving the trek are slim, and that this is primarilly a diplomatic manoeuvre to isolate the anti-pirate movement in York. The Order of Patriots, however, claims there is a more sinister motive.
"The Jolly Roger Gang is foundering as a real threat to freedom on Shartak due to increasingly inept and short-sighted leadership" claims a recent message. "This alleged alliance is merely a further desperate attempt by 'captain' Edwards to concentrate the island's medical supplies in his camp and support his secret laudenum habit. We are calling for all concerned parents to act immediately to prevent this corruptive behavior by accosting and neutralising any pirates they find in possesion of medical supplies with possible intent to abuse said supplies."
The Situation in YorkA True Patriot Speaks Out We hear a lot about the Order of Patriots these days. They are, they tell us, our brave protectors. They claim this while blood runs in the streets. A carnage, I put to you brave people of York, they themselves have brought to us. They have provoked the pirates. They have provoked the Order of Mercenaries. In the past, they have even brought us near to going to war with Durham. And yet, when the attack comes, the Order of Patriots are nowhere to be seen. What kind of 'heroes' hide away from battles they choose to fight? They see us all as expendable pawns in their pompous quest for self importance. And the York Loyalists have had enough. We all know how the Order of Patriots have brought it on themselves to "drive the pirates out of York". Do they check the allegiance of these pirates? Do they check that some of the men they are murdering are not in fact privateers in the service of our king? No, they do NOT. They see themselves as above our glorious majesty. Such arrogance. Such blasphemy. This must stop. And yet we have all seen ghastly Johnny foreigner walking with impunity through the streets of York, seemingly unnoticed by the Order of Patriots. What kind of 'patriot' chooses to leave these 'native' animals in peace, in preference of attacking Englishmen? Although, maybe I am being unfair. It is quite possible that the Order of Patriots are indeed patriots of a different kind. Support of the savages. Attempts to drive a wedge between York and Durham. Attacks on English privateers. All I shall say is this. I see nothing in the actions of the Order of Patriots that would give the SPANISH king cause for concern. And now I turn, briefly, to the Colonial Police. Surely a representative of homeland civil authority should have something to say about this kind of group, a group known to see themselves as above the law. And yet the Colonial Police do nothing. Indeed, they have even allied with themselves in the past. Yes, the Colonial Police do a good job protecting us against your common and garden criminal. But this means nothing if they let fear keep them from dealing with organised groups of subversives like the Order of Patriots. It is not too late for them to rectify this. But I would remind them. You are the enforcers of the noble will. And if you are incapable of doing so, than it is entirely within the rights of the nobility to give the job to somebody who will. As for the Order of Patriots. What should you do if you bump into one of their members? Well, I wouldn't like to say. But these are dangerous times. And accidents will happen... -Lady Imogen
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Patriots Honour Defenders of York
The Order of Patriots, much like everyone else involved, has been quick to claim a great victory in the Third Invasion of York. Declaring the Mercenary's Guild to be "utterly defeated", they have issued medals to many of those who fought in the defense.
The recipients include several members of the Colonial Police, presumably reflecting the close alliance which seems to have developed between the two groups during the conflict. Other decorated members of the public include leaders and prominent members of several anti-pirate groups such as the Pirate Hunters and the Shartak Rebel Forces (now seemingly disbanded), as well as several known Order of patriots operatives.
Suprisingly, one of the more prestigious medals has been awarded to Colonial Police officer and pirate Zydd Soral. Zydd's presence in York has been a point of contention between the Order and the Police, but it seems his brave contribution to the defense of York and his public denunciation of the more violent pirates who visit our town has earned him 'reformed' status in the eyes of the Order. Perhaps this is a sign that, far from being the violent, blinkered purists their foes portray them as, the Patriots are truly concerned merely for the safety of york, despite their arguably heavy-handed methods.
It should of course be noted that these are by no means the first medals awarded on the island. The Jolly Roger Gang offer their members a variety of grisly trophies such as the 'Aye' (a severed eye on a peice of string) and a Yorkman's hand as rewards for participation in raids or 'enforcement' duties at the shipwreck.
Native Shamen May be to Blame for Wave of 'Unstoppable' Animals
Over the last day, reports have flooded in from all over the island of ferocious animals that have displayed an incredible resistance to injury and death. Despite inflicting horrific damage, hunters have been unable to bring the beats down and are often forced to flee as their intended prey closes the distance and begins to attck, their wounds healing at a visible rate.
There is no known cause yet for this phenomenum, although the Society for the Promotion of Independent Research on Interdimensional Translations on Shartak and the Shartak Cryptozoological Society are believed to be gathering as much information as possible - reports indicate that renowned zoologist and SCS chairman John Sevier is particularly interested in discovering a way to prevent the condition in monkeys.
Our own research leads us to believe that the condition was first encountered near Fort Creedy, the remains of an ancient military complex on the Durham peninsula, which is believed to occupy a site sacred to the natives of Dalpok. Several anti-native Durhamites, who requested anonymity to avoid the attentions of "leftinst elements", have claimed to have proof that the condition is due to a protection spell cast by isolationist shamen wishing to drive us from Shartak with a horde of undefeatable rogue fauna.
At this time there seems to be no sign of the attacks relenting, and we urge all citizens to stay inside and pray this blows over as quickly and mysteriously as it began.
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