Hungover in the Hyadesby Simon Cross and Adrianna Pińska
The year is 4309. The human sphere has fractured, and Imperial and Colonial forces are clashing in dozens of systems across the galaxy. Fortunately for you, the Hyades cluster is a neutral territory. Its alien cultures—which, although primitive, appear to be the remains of several ancient fallen civilisations—have been placed under the protection of the multi-species Galactic Parliament, a benevolent but mostly ineffectual overseer. Here the war is just an unpleasant echo. The cluster's inhabitants—assorted archaeologists, historians, adventurers, lowlifes, suspected spies, off-duty officers, as well as the collected native population (the last believed by most of the former not to really count)—are far more interested in the exciting discoveries to be made in the forbidding deserts, swamps and jungles of the four primary worlds. Did their empires flourish and fall independently, or were they uplifted and later abandoned by some conquering precursor race? What is the rightful place of the hundreds of fascinating artefacts recovered from the ruins—museums, private collections, or the hands of the makers' surviving descendants? Ordinarily you'd have a lot to say on the subject. Right now, however, you have other priorities. You would very much like to find your pants, and something to take care of that pounding headache. You're sure that the party you went to last night was fantastic—you can't believe you finally got to see the inside of Matthias Renault's luxury yacht! You only wish that you were able to remember more of it—and that you knew how to extricate yourself from your current predicament. To sign up, please email Milagre Lang: milagre . dontpanic8 @ gmail . com. |
The Nineteen Year Winterby Beth Dewar
When King Henry died in 1135 leaving his throne to his daughter, Empress Maud. Before his death, he made his barons, including his favourite nephew Stephen, swear their allegiance to her several times. However, no woman has ever ruled England in her own right. Not surprisingly it did not work out quite like King Henry had hoped. Stephan claimed the throne, stating King Henry had changed his mind on his deathbed and named him as his heir. Stephan entered London and was acclaimed king by the townspeople. Once crowned, Stephen gained the support of the majority of the barons and the Pope. The barons ratified the usurpation, with the opposition of Maud's illegitimate half-brother, Robert, the Earl of Gloucester. In 1139, the civil war had begun. The Earl's first moves were revealing. He commanded raids. Stephen faced the forces of Empress Maud at several places around the country. Bad omens haunted him before the Battle of Lincoln, at which Stephen faced Robert. Stephen fought bravely but was captured by a knight in Robert's army. Stephen was defeated and brought before his cousin Maud and was imprisoned at Bristol. The Empress's victory was imminent. Stephen's wife, Matilda of Boulogne, rallied support amongst the people of London and the barons. Maud was forced out of London. With the capture of her most able lieutenant, her half-brother, Robert, he was captured fighting a rearguard action which allowed his sister to escape. This was followed by losing of Arundel Castle in Arundel, which had been a stronghold for the Empress. The Empress was distraught. After two months of imprisonment for both Stephan and Robert a bargain was struck, a trade of Stephan for Robert. A sudden violent storm has driven the inhabitants of Arundel inside and those unluckily enough to be traveling in search of shelter. An inn, The Crown, on the edge of the town is suddenly full of people as many find shelter from the weather within its walls and wait for the storm to blow over. To sign up, please email Milagre Lang: milagre . dontpanic8 @ gmail . com. |