Where did all the people go?
Reporter Jots
Newland City -- (IRRK) -- July 30, 29478. It is hard to imagine the bustling community that once lived here, tucked in a small oasis of lush forests adjacent to a small lake in Newland Desert. Newland City now just is a stopping point for travelers on their way between other places.
Walking the streets of the city, an eerie quiet hangs. The Newland Militia guards silently stand their posts, as do the merchants longing for the heyday before the city went quiet. Nobody really knows when it happened, although some such as Rookie Fap "Autofap" Fap and Jun "Kajun" Kazama suggest it was the discovery of the Shadowlands that had lured the locals away with tales of adventure and riches.
The merchants such as the Bartender in Neuters ‘R’ Us just shrug and offer a refill when asked about the missing crowds. Others, such as local resident Felix Swicord just silently go back about their business without comment.
The Bronto Burger stand is also empty of revelers, as is the Bronto Burger outside the city. While groups still visit, it is not in the quantity before. A few stop by while shopping, like Adiema and Pearlie "Ennevine" Barnaby or while grabbing a mission like Dion "Davarian" Clancy and Kriti. A few, such as Mel "Pobeda" Rm and Cryorgen were just stopping for a rest before heading back to their business.
Talking with the travelers that could spare a moment, I heard tales of this Shadowlands, and its attraction, especially for those that live in the austere desert areas of Rubi-Ka. Autofap spoke of new challenges saying, "Seems to be a new hobby for people to go to Shadowlands and kill rocks. Very hard to kill. They drop carry things that sell for a lot of money."
He told of his favorite visiting place there, "I like Sheol. It is quiet there not so many people. There are many mountains there so it is not very easy to move around. The place is unusual and lovable at the same time; it is beautiful with some metaphysical kind of wild life. Wildlife you can bet is dangerous, at least when you are unprepared to them, later on you grow in skills, so, for us professional fighters, it's not much of a burden. But the almost complete absence of our usual technology makes other things in life very complicated out there, the place is huge, full of mountains, and lakes, and rivers."
Other comments pointed at a more political reason for the lack of people around the city. Autofap commented, "Well it started with neutrals deciding that guards in Newland would kill all clanners on sight." While the new Newland Militia guards no longer shoot on sight, their opinion toward the Clan is still less than friendly. One guard said, "And where were the Clans when we needed them? A bunch of greedy cowards, which should put their credits where their mouth is because when push came to shove, those dogs put their tails between their legs and ran for the hills." Still, the link to Omni-Tek is not entirely solid either. Another guard commented, "We can not trust the Clans or Omni-Tek to help without sacrificing part of our freedom."
Either way, something has caused a significant loss in travelers visiting Newland. Whether it is the lure of exotic places, the hostile attitude of past militia guards hired to protect the neutrality of the city, or more sinister causes is uncertain.
The effect is the same; the vendors suffer from the lack of trade. Even the availability of goods being cut off, at least for those such as Autofap and Kajun who were hunting new vehicles, but finding little from which to choose. Where once stood a proud and thriving city, now stands an echo of glories past.
