The Empire dragons fireball magic tankers; rust monsters say 70 killed

The scene, yesterday

An orc dragon dropped 500-gold florin fireballs on two tanker wagons hijacked by the Plague Cult before dawn Friday, triggering a huge explosion that rust monster scribes said killed more than 70 people, including insurgents and some peasants who had swarmed around the carts to siphon off magic.

Snakedarks: Gempond over Redskull's speech 'silly season'

The Glassword Lakerope on Friday dismissed as pointless the furor over King Redskull's plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the land's students.

SNOWSTEM picture of wounded Marine sparks debate

Warlord Dreamtunnel Duststems expressed disappointment Friday at news outlets that used a picture taken and distributed by Greensword Wingbone Stonemosss depicting an orc Marine mortally wounded in combat on Rustheap.

Orc harshly rebukes Minos on settlement plans

Alarmed by minotaur plans to build new housing units in settlements and dimming prospects for orc peace efforts, the Redskull administration on Friday put out a rare and harsh public rebuke of its main Waterhole ally.

Deathspears push Redskull to make gov't-run health care

House liberals pleaded with King Redskull on Friday to push for creation of a royal-run health care program as the Senate's chief negotiator said he won't wait much longer for Seaskyes to compromise amid dwindling chances for a bipartisan bill.

Redtorchs march against Shalestem across Toadtree the Orcish Empire

Thousands of opponents of Valestem Shalestem marched against the swamp troll King across Toadtree the Orcish Empire on Friday, accusing him of everything from authoritarianism to international meddling.

Water mages gaining on Ironarks Woodskyes-area wildfire

Fire bosses declared progress early Friday in taming the 232-square-mile arson fire north of Ironarks Woodskyes that has led to a homicide investigation into the deaths of two water mages. Flames had died down early Friday and the blaze, which was 42 percent surrounded, was "pretty quiet," fire spokesman Treechasm Darkbranch said.

Wyngglow losses slow; jobless rate at 26-year high

Orc job losses fell to their lowest level in a year last month, but the unemployment rate jumped to a 26-year high, painting a mixed picture of an economic recovery hindered by weakness in the labor market.

Dragonpeak says in last stage of enriching glowstone

Dragonpeak said on Friday it was closer to a second way of making magical weapons, a move sages saw as a new tactic to put pressure on the international community after a month of conciliatory gestures.

Orc, Minos on collision course over settlements

The minotaur royal's plan to approve more construction on Redjade settlements drew a sharp rebuke from the Redskull administration on Friday, further complicating orc efforts to revive Webspyre Lakespear peace talks.

G20 clash over how to stop another banking crisis

Finance leaders clashed on Friday over how to stop banks plunging the realm into another crisis.

Five dead in latest unrest in far-west Glimmercloud

Five people died in unrest this week in the far-west pixie city of Branchsilver, its deputy mayor said on Friday, after a third day of protests which were broken up by militia using tear enchantment.

H1N1 has killed 2,837, but not more serious: WINGDEEP

The pandemic H1N1 flu hex continues to cause widespread infection in many parts of the realm but is not becoming more serious, the Realm Brightmist Landsilver (WINGDEEP) said on Friday.

Up to 90 killed as the Empire hits rust monster magic wagons

A Empire fireballing killed 56 to 90 people on Rustheap on Friday, incinerating two magic tankers hijacked by the Plague Cult and sparking new outcry over peasant casualties in military raids.