The Carrion's Craft

Prologue

Haul Crio Gazette

The Soul Snatcher Strikes Again!

On the 30th of May, a young couple, Berrick Alan (23) and Sara Abornitch (25), were found dead in their apartment on Carnival Road. The Human pair were discovered by their landlord, who had intended on collecting their overdue rent when he stumbled onto the grizzly scene. The Wild Hunt were swift to surround the scene and begin their investigation before any further incident could erupt.

Like the murders of Bethan Grey, and Avery Hill (See our prior issues), the infamous Snatcher has shown to be calculated and remorseless, targeting humans from the foot of the hill. Chief  Predator, Gwion Hovis reported later on at a press conference, that multiple packets of Blight - one of the latest addictive substances to plague the city's streets - were found within the residence, along with the signs of a struggle. But of course, the most harrowing piece of evidence; Two pairs of eyes missing from the victim's sockets.

For months, the Snatcher has remained at large, much to the public scrutiny of Mayor Hart and the Wild Hunt's leadership. As commented by you from our previous addition, the tension has grown tenuous, as a lack of confidence and results has thrown our fair city into the throws of an infectious hysteria, as both human and folk alike fear that their rusty locks will fail to impede this serial threat.

As always, we recommend that you stay inside and keep your windows locked at night, especially our human readers who appear to densely populate the areas where the Snatcher commonly operates. From the Gazette to you, we pray for your safety, and the Snatcher's arrest.

The Clash of the Titans

With every day, the first step towards Haul Crio's 68th election marches closer. For three elections in a row, Quincy Hart's Constant party has guided the city's future with a steady hand. But will they remain for a fourth? For the first time since Palois'  Hammers back in 19, an emerging party stands as a worthy challenger to Hart's regime. Headed by the esteemed Stragard estate on Sun's Height, the progressive Far-Seers have received an overwhelming level of support from the lower quadrants of the hill. Their promises to crack down on prejudice and the city's drug epidemic have made them popular with both the humans and half-breeds alike. But will it be enough to topple Hart's hold, or have the conglomerate of politicians spread themselves too thin to acquire the majority vote?

The Economy

As the year continues more and more businesses have been forced to cut their employees' salaries...

Across the street to a luxury mansion resting in the gated community of Sun's Height. The copy of the Haul Crio newspaper fell into a puddle beneath a neon sign. Just then the distant entrance of the lavish home opened. A single woman dressed in a black suit slipped out. They hesitated a moment, gazing over the landscape before the mist fully set in. Satisfied, she stepped away from the door and onto the street. The rattling of the metal gate ceased, allowing the clacking of heels to drift further into the night.

It was only then that a heavy boot stomped over the paper. The sign glinted off of the observer's veil, illuminating the shapeless figure in a blazing red as they exited the alleyway. Somewhere ahead, two sets of footsteps bounded ahead of them. Loud and clumsy, unlike that of the woman's.

The pursuit was underway.