By Rowan Hale, Investigative Correspondent, The Times-Observer
In the early hours of Fourthday morning, the Truthkeepers’ Guild conducted a coordinated raid on an illicit subterranean printshop beneath a cooper’s warehouse in Lower Inverness, uncovering what officials described as “the largest cache of seditious material since the Marelian War.”
The operation, carried out jointly with the Royal Constabulary, was the culmination of a three-month investigation into remnants of Rodger “The Liar” Bianchovi’s former propaganda network. Though Bianchovi met his deserved end on the gallows last month, fragments of his organization appear to have persisted like fungus sprouting from a rotted stump.
A Basement Full of Lies
Guild officials reported finding over 2,000 pamphlets, a dozen printing plates, and “enough ink to drown a mule,” all connected to a clandestine periodical titled “The Crimson Beacon.” Authorities say the publication’s content mimicked the prior lies of the notorious Red Banner, Bianchovi’s infamous rag that mixed slander, defeatism, and Marelian talking points into a toxic brew.
“These pamphlets were designed to destabilize trust in the Crown and to reopen wounds the Kingdom has already begun to heal,” stated Acting Truthkeeper Marshal Lysa Carden. “They whispered doubts about the war’s outcome, questioned the legitimacy of the monarchy, and spread outright falsehoods about troop movements and royal decrees.”
One confiscated pamphlet falsely claimed that Marelia had not sued for peace but had “cleverly infiltrated the borderlands,” an assertion thoroughly disproven by the peace accords signed at Hallowmead Crossing.
The Arrests
Four individuals were taken into custody, all charged with sedition, dissemination of falsehoods intended to weaken the Kingdom, and illegal possession of foreign-printed materials. One suspect attempted to flee through a delivery chute but became lodged halfway, allowing the constables to “remove him with minimal dignity.”
A fifth conspirator remains at large, believed to be the mastermind behind the revival of the propaganda effort.
The Guild Speaks
Truthkeeper Carden emphasized the importance of vigilance.
“We defeated Marelia on the field, but lies have a way of rising again,” she said. “This Kingdom stands because its people stand together. We cannot permit the poison of deceit to take root once more.”
Officials confirmed that additional raids may be forthcoming as the investigation traces the network’s spread.
A Return to Stability
The public reaction has been one of relief, mixed with a grim satisfaction. Many citizens still recall the damage done during the war when rumor and falsehood sowed confusion at critical moments. Now, with peace restored, the Kingdom appears determined not to allow darkness to reclaim even a corner of its public discourse.
As one constable on the scene remarked:
“Truth has survived a war. It won’t fall to a basement.”