Article submitted by Gerando Falbowson, Indep.
Last eve, much of Sigil looked ringwards to see the distant flickering of a ward ablaze. The inferno engulfed much of the already ruined streets, creating plumes of smoke that continue to linger and blow into the surrounding wards even at the time of this printing.
Reports from the scene tell of desperate efforts from common folk of the hive to combat the hungry flames as it threatened to spread into the Hive. Daisy-Chains lead from Old Lords' Lane to the Ditch that buckets, crates and barrels could be filled and passed to along to where they could be best deployed, while cutters with magical talent battered the inferno with spells and coerced elementals.
Eyewitness accounts tell of impediments by members of the Doomguard and Xaositect factions.
This writer was fortuidous enough to speak with several witnesses and record their statements with his Mimir. He would also like to state that all opinions put forward during these recordings are those of the individuals and may not officially represent the views of their respective factions or organisations.
The writer would like to thank the Lady Mosscloak for her understanding and commend her for her heroic efforts in coordinating the civilian efforts to quell the flames. He would also like to extend his gratitude for not arresting him.wrote:Pentaghaile Mosscloak, Harmonium.
GF: Miss! Excuse me, Miss! Do you have time for a few- Oh my! That's... A rather formidable sized elemen-
PM: Sir, please stand back, you're getting in the way! We've got a fire to snuff here if you ain't noticed.
GF: Why, yes, that's what I-
PM: Are you thick, friend? Help or beat feet!
GF: I'm trying to help! I'm serving the cause of history! I'm a writer! I'm here on behalf of SIGIS and I'd like to ask you a few quest-
PM: Sir, if you don't vacate the scene, You'll be answering questions in lockup. Jig?
The writer would like to again extend his thanks to the Lady Mosscloak for her understanding and commend her for her quick resolution of the aforementioned problem. The Writer would like to again extend his gratitude for not arresting him.wrote:Indalimar Goltarren, Doomguard.
GF: Ahem! Ah, Sir! Could I catch your ear a moment? I'm a writer for-
IG: Can't stop to talk, I need to stir up some more a' them Xaosfolk to help the flames!
GF: Don't you mean to fight the flames, sir?
IG: I most certainly do not! This could be it! This could be the single greatest entropic event the Cage has ever seen! Well, aside from the last time the Slags burned. But this time, we're here to ensure a careful tending of the... Hey! You! No, no! You're doing it wrong, carry more planks to the edge, prop them against the rooves of those two buildings, soak 'em in oil first! What're you? A namer?!
GF: Sir, if I could have your attention again for a moment. Aren't you afraid that innocent folk might be harmed?
IG: Entropy, berk. They're already slowly decaying, they're like the hive itself, slowly rotting away from the inside, perfect for a good blaze.
GF: I... think I'm going to go have a word with that lovely Lady Mosscloak again!
The writer would like to thank Belkas 'Corny' Cornwell for his participation.wrote: Belkas Cornwell, Unaffiliated.
GF: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Firstly, might I ask what you were doing at the scene of the blaze?
BC: Oh me? Makin' fun o' the cutta's an' their motivations. A couple sods ran back 'ere an' he Hive was ablaze, cannae miss tha' opportunity so went with 'em to solve the problem. Except it turned out tha' the sods jest wanted to go loot corpses an' fight the Kadyx ratha' than solve the problem o' the fire.
GF: I see, barmy indeed. And rather in depth. What can you say about the rumors that the Doomguard started the initial blaze?
BC: Eh, I can jest speculat o' what actually started the fire. But as far as I know it was already fine an' dandy ablaze when the Sinka's got there ta' keep it up.
GF: So you arrived on the scene rather quickly, sir?
BC: Bunch 'o fiends probably tha' were there first. Suppose some o 'em coulda been Sinka's, but I donnae know. Got there when it was already at its peak.
The Writer would like to thank Brogar Bellbreaker for his participation and wishes him well in his future among the Doomguard once their recruiters see this issue!wrote: Brogar Bellbreaker, Unaffiliated.
GF: Alright sir, you say you were present for some of the events of last eve, walk me through your night.
BB: I was not. But this is in regards to the rumors about the Doomguard. Off the record, of sorts, something to consider is all. The Doomguard spend all their day working forges, making masterworks of metal, then destroying them.
GF: And what do you say to-..
BB:If they were to perform something so blatantly public as a fire, do you not think they would use 'entropy' in a more grand scale?
GF: Perhaps, sir, but-...
BB: If it was the Doomguard, I do not think it was a sanctioned action.
GF: Thank you for your time, Mister Bellbreaker.
This writer would like to thank Madam Jall for her input in offering a look into the history of the Slags but reminds her that SIGIS is renowned across the Cage for its' presentation of facts, not tabloid tales.wrote: Jall, Unaffiliated.
GF: Well, Madam Jall, I will try not to take up too much of your time. I just had a few questions.
J: Go ahead
GF: What can you tell me of last nights' events? What did you see?
J: Yells and noises of fighting from the Slags.
GF: Curious, who was fighting? Did you happen to see?
J: Went to look and found that a small army of Baatezu was there. Trying to kill a creature. The Kadyx.
GF: That's a little farfetched, Madam, hellspawned armies on the hunt for a tavern tale.
J: Well, you know the slags had been the scene of a battle between the Baatezu and Tanar'ri long ago.
GF: Yes, many centuries ago. Up until the Lady grew weary of their war being waged in Her city. I'm not certain I see the relevance.
J: Sure, trash old rumors for new ones. Unfortunately I just told you what I witnessed. The Baatezu were trying to kill what was left behind in that battle, as in, the Kadyx. I barely got away.
GF: To get back on topic, did you have anything to say for the origins of the blaze, Miss?
J: The fighting. It was rather destructive in an already ruined place.
The Writer would like to thank the young Miss Licca Lyricia for her input, but would urge her towards SIGIS' rival paper, LSE (Lady's Sharper Eye), for further tabloid stories.wrote: Licca Lyricia, Unaffiliated.
GF: So lets start from the beginning What happened last night?
LL: Well, Jall and I were investigating in the Slags.
GF: I'm sorry, could you clarify? Investigating what?
LL: While we were there, demons of various kinds were being slaughtered around us. Ah, Pardon me, devils. I do occasionally get them mixed up.
GF: Again, Miss, Investigating....?
LL: We were investigating planar creatures. But devils were being slaughtered by the hundredfold! Their leader was a Pit Fiend and it was the last survivor!
GF: An exaggeration, Miss. Please try to remain factual. Furthermore, Pit Fiends cannot enter the domains of Her Serenity by her Edict.
LL: Of course, I get my devils and demons mixed up, but he was definitely one of the higher forms.
GF: Back to my original questions Miss. What do you believe started the fire?
LL: Hellfire was what started the blaze!
GF: Most folk are pointing the finger at the Doomguard and Xaositects, are you certain that you saw fiends?
LL: Neither faction is capable of starting a magical fire of that magnitude.
GF: Have you any comment on the presence of the Doomguard at the scene of the event, helping to spread the flames?
LL: I have no comment, as they are not really relevant to why the fire started.
GF: So you would have me write that an army of fiends, led by a pit fiend, started the fire? And for what purpose?
LL: Apparantly the demons were fighting a rogue devil in the area. And the devil was so elusive that the pit fiend resorted to that act.
GF: Those are... rather contradictory terms.
LL: Excuse my mixup. The demon in question tore the pit fiend to pieces.
GF: If you don't mind, I think we'll end the interview here.
The writer would like to thank Farantidius Val-Tyrek Enfallosym for his contributions and hopes the hefty garnish that was offered to acquire his commentary will lead to further, less expensive quotes as the story continues to unfold.wrote: Farantidius Val-Tyrek Enfallosym, The Fated.
GF: Now, given that the slags are for the most part, uninhabited, could you put a cost upon the property damage caused by this inferno?
FVE: Hmm. Well, I would imagine that the net worth of the Slags has increased as a whole. I jest. This is my jesting face. The damage to the slags amounts to literally tens of... Hmm.. Carry the... Ah yes, Tens of gold pieces. I would imagine the total to be about twenty five gold pieces worth of damage.
GF: Is that still your jesting f-
FVE: Of course it is. Unfortunately, the properties are not part of the estate of any known Sigillian families, conglomerates or entities and are as such, presently without value due to an inability to apply proper taxation. As for the damage to the surrounding areas of the hive, reparations will likely exceed one hundred and thirty thousand gold pieces. After proper inspections of the damaged properties can be undertaken, we will be able to provide a more accurate figure.
GF: What recommendations can you make for those who have suffered this damage?
FVE: Pay your taxes.
GF: Ah, Anything else?
FVE: If you elected not to opt for insurance against city-wide inferno, perhaps you will consider signing such a contract in the near future.