Darkness Descends | Archive | The Starset Bulletin
The Starset Bulletin is an in-game independent free press, bringing news, updates, and lore from the tabletop RPG world of Starset: The Great Dimming.
Darkness Descends
Just one week has passed since the official confirmation of the Great Dimming, and already it seems as though darkness has taken over our great solar system Widespread panic has led to chaos on every habitable planet, moon, asteroid, and ship alike. Jordix Alberta, star of the recent hit movie ‘Planetoid’ died two nights ago on February 19th. SRM officials are allegedly treating the case as a suicide for now; there no evidence of foul play yet. Alberta was found by her agent unconscious in bed, having apparently overdosed on Lark powder. While it’s too early to have clear data to prove it, it seems that the news of the Great Dimming has increased depression and suicide risk throughout the solar system exponentially. In Foundberg, North America alone, the total number of reported suicides has increased 300% over the last five days compared with numbers reported from last year at this time.
Other reactions to the news have gone in completely different directions from Alberta’s choice. Nikola Basimer, CEO of Gravitas, Inc., has seemingly chosen the exact opposite path. The 38-year-old multi-trillionaire has spent the last six days running from party to party and scandal to scandal as quickly as his fleet of transport ships and space yachts can carry him. Paparazzi have captured evidence of Basimer with at least a dozen different women in differing–but all compromising–levels of undress. He has hosted hundreds of people on his own vessels, showing off expensive cuisine and ultra-rare Revelers performers. Just last night, Basimer allegedly had a private show by Margites Ilithian, widely considered to be one of the Revelers best poets, with an elite guest list including names such as Guy Lorenzia, Markus Torpell, and even the reclusive Yeseru Parks aboard. With all this non-stop action, and no sign of slowing down, Basimer seems intent on running through as much of his money as he can before the darkness claims him.
A third extreme reaction to the Great Dimming comes to us from the steps of the grand Domus Colendorum. Pontiff John XVI released an official statement on behalf of the Pontificate at large–and ostensibly the deity they worship. The Pontiff said:
“It is with great concern and trembling that I do raise before the people of the world and beyond this call. It cannot be denied by those who would disavow us any longer. God is angry with us, and his judgment is before us. To the faithful, I entreat you, remain steadfast. Keep at your faithful attendance, your blessed giving, and your wholehearted loyalty to God and the leaders he has appointed over you. To the heretic, I say only this: Submit yourselves for penance, he who I would love to call brother, she who I would call sister. Turn yourselves over to those who can execute lesser judgement upon you, that you may be spared the greater judgment when our Lord returns.”
The Pontificate is not the only religious group in the solar system to have publicly reacted to the Great Dimming. Dozens of smaller religious groups have released their own statements, calling for repentance, tithes, attendance, sacrifices, and more. These statements have not been without purpose either, as religious attendance has swelled tremendously this last weekend. According to a report by 386Stats, six different religious groups in Foundberg saw more than double their regular attendance for every meeting they held. While no reports have been released yet, I am also certain these groups will see all-time records of tithes and donations this year, as people attempt to shore up their hopeful salvation from the encroaching darkness.
One week of fear, one week of chaos, one week of pain has passed. What comes next I do not know, but I am certain we have not seen the end of people’s reactions to The Great Dimming.
-Kayden Corvin, journalist of the Starset Bulletin
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