AI-generated image of mister Scar G. Times, selling his magical wares outside of Oriole’s headquarters as he likes to do every morning :)

Article on the Forest of Whimsy, a place on the outskirts of Hermiton City

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Hot tips for sightseeing and noteworthy places all around Hermiton!

The Outskirts of Hermiton City

Hermiton may seem filled to the brim, with no other way to grow but towards the ocean, being surrounded by it from three sides. But plenty of beautiful sights can be found barely an hour from the city center. Take the now-enchanted Forest of Whimsy, for example. If you follow the road from the abandoned Vex Cathedral, you’ll quickly come to realize why this forest is called enchanted. No, it is not just because you risk being whisked away by fairies at any point, nor is it the uncanny creatures that inhabit every nook and cranny. What makes this forest so special is that it seems to operate on its own biological clock. The forest does not care if it is winter, its flowers will bloom like they would on a nice spring day. There is no way to predict what the forest will look like, it might change twice a day, even. One minute you’ll wade through a thick jungle-like web of vines and shrubs, and the next you’ll find yourself in a wasteland of dead trees. This is but one of the many magical changes that the opening of the Portal to the Beyond has brought us. If you’re lucky, you might even come across what is locally called the ‘Creature of the Forest’, a shape-changing being that often appears in vaguely animal-like form. It has made Whimsy its home. Weres speak of the Creature as a friend, but report that they rarely remember its voice.

Starting point:

Begin your descent into the whimsical at the old Vex Cathedral. Stop by for some aesthetically pleasing pictures!

Features:

Many ponds perfect for a swim or a picnic, gateways into the Fey Realm galore, fresh fruit on spring and summer days, distant musical instruments if you listen closely, and plenty of undocumented creatures for the daring

Top tip for your walk:

Don't forget to bring some water, bug spray, and fairy-repellant!

News post as seen in chapter 4 of Sugar Song to Bitter Step

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New cake shop opens, immediately swarmed by flying turtles

Who could have guessed that turtles like cake? Dozens of people waiting outside have to wait another day for the turtles to be chased out and cakes to be restocked.

The Hermiton Herald

How to bake a ‘Mandrake Apple Cake’ in five easy steps. Recipe found in the Hermiton Herald newspaper.

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Mandrake Apple Cake

20 min prep + 35 minute cook time

Ingredients:

    210 grams plain flour

    2 teaspoons baking powder

    1/2 teaspoon fairy dust

    150 grams caster sugar

    approximately 1 large poison apple, peeled and roughly chopped

    2 large eggs

    1 teaspoon mandrake extract

    120 ml vegetable slime

    120 ml Latvian yogurt

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease and line a 20 to 22 centimeter round cake tin with baking or parchment paper.

2) In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, fairy dust, and sugar. Add chopped apple and stir briefly to combine.

3) In a separate bowl, add eggs, mandrake, slime, and yoghurt. Whisk briefly just to break up the egg yolks.

4) Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix with a wooden spoon until combined – but be careful not to over mix. Spoon batter into prepared tin.

5) Bake cake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean and without any screaming. Transfer cake to a wire rack to cool completely.

Sugar Song to Bitter Step Chapter 5: They See Red

In which we see things from a different point of view.

Word count: 6035

AO3 link: here

Cover of ‘Digested Reader’ magazine

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DIGESTED READER

New were fashion

Foods for you

Discover the hottest new places that serve the food you know and love, just like mama used to make, from the ashes of the damned to the spicy new taste of burtn human flesh, this city has it all!

Mayoral elections coming up soon

Ancient vampire king returns

You may or may not have heard of him before, but rumour has it that he is back! Read all about his new host and find out how YOU can contribute to his plans!

Animated TV Show

NEWS FROM THE BEYOND

Article from the Hermiton Herald

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Dog bed or human bed?

Here’s how to make the right choice.

The Hermiton Herald

Ad for the mayoral elections

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Man with Mustache For Mayor

MUMBO FOR MAYOR

“How could you not vote for him? He has a mustache!”

Poster as can be found in the world of vaau

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Bitten by an animal on a FULL MOON?

Headache, nausea, itching, fever: You might have RABIES

Tired, growing fur/scales/feathers, different behaviour: You might be turning into a WERE-ANIMAL

Know the difference!

Ask your doctor/vet for more information

News post from the Hermiton Herald

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Man with flute leads army of entranced animals into retirement home ‘for laughs’

“I just thought it’d be funny. Look at all these ducks!”

THE HERMITON HERALD

News post from the Hermiton Herald, following the events of chapter 3 of Sugar Song to Bitter Step

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HERMITON HERALD

Beasts Attack City Center

By C. Fan. 

This morning a total of five supernatural beasts rampaged through the city center of Hermiton. Damage to public property can be observed in their paths. The beasts, theorized to have come from the Portal to the Beyond, look like a mix of rhinos and hippos, armed with sharp teeth and big horns. The beasts were all destroyed or captured within the hour, though their paths of destruction are not to be underestimated. 

We from the Hermiton Herald spoke with W. H. Knight, one of the people who managed to apprehend three of the five beasts. 

“Me and my team came rushing in as soon as we heard about what happened,” Knight said. “These ‘ravagers’ are not to be messed with, we’re glad we got to the scene as soon as we did.”

Knight continued, explaining that these beasts are not entirely real, but were created through malicious magic. “There’s a wizard in Hermiton, I won’t name any names, but we suspect that he’s the cause of these beasts escaping into reality.”

Mister Knight refused to answer any of our questions regarding the ‘ravager’ that was seen being taken in by his coworkers. The fifth beast is to be taken in “for further investigation,” according to Knight. 

The majority of the beasts were sighted around Poultry Plaza. One was seen near Aqua Town, where a caster named S. G. Times managed to chase it away, saving dozens of civilian lives. 

“All in a day’s work,” Times said. “Nothing will harm the beautiful and wonderful city of Hermiton as long as I live!”

We approached Times, who seemed happy to answer our questions. When asked about the origin of these beasts, Times said that “they must be from the Beyond, right? I’ve never seen anything like it. They’re like big cartoon animals, with the viciousness and ravaging hunger of the things from my nightmares.” 

“I don’t think the people should have anything to worry about, on top of all the other chaos that we see every single day,” Times stated. “Hermiton, with all its magic and glory should be a safe haven for humans and non-humans alike. I will not stand for anything that dares to interrupt this peace. Be it buses that are late, or beasts that want to eat people.”

Hermiton does not face any other extraordinary property damage outside of the nearly straight paths that the beasts caused. “They were chasing right after my friend!” a bystander commented. “Like tunnel-vision, they barreled straight through everything to get to him!”

The bystander’s friend is unharmed, outside of a few minor scratches.

News post from the Hermiton Herald

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“I don’t need sleep! I need to tell the world about the cult of the crows!”

Ambassador of local were-crow community denies any ties to supposed ‘cult’.

THE HERMITON HERALD

Breaking news from Hermiton

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Breaking news

Vampire running for mayor?

16:23 Could they be reasoned with after all? Herald reporter on the case

News post from the Hermiton Herald, following the events of chapter 2 of Sugar Song to Bitter Step

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Parkour Course Appears Like Magic

Dozens of people attempt the newly appeared parkour course near the ‘Big Eye’ bell tower. Impossible-looking jumps and feats that are surely not able to be accomplished by mere humans are presented by the City’s certified trickster, Etho. The man is on the scene, waiting at the end of the course to congratulate the winner, of which there is none yet at the time of writing. The promised prize includes “money, fame, riches, and honor,” in the words of Etho himself.

In-universe ad for the TV show Is That Multidimensional Ball of Fluff with Googly Eyes Looking at Me? as seen in chapter 1 of Sugar Song to Bitter Step

News post as seen in chapter 1 of Sugar Song to Bitter Step

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Interview with victim of a vampire

Thu, 08 Sep

Read more...

News post/ad from the Hermiton Herald

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will be planning a brand new game night at their local store, offering exclusive access to vintage board games like How To Kill a [...]. Decked Out, and Ravager Run.

“money, fame, riches, and honor,” in the words of Etho himself.

Moopop Cafe still open after changing ownership p. 12