Aleph Zero Revelations
On the morning of Heaven, everyone rests except for the paperkids. In the Embassy Cities, children of all races earn money delivering the news to homes and public meeting houses. On their rounds, through unknown arcane means, some of the papers crackle with energy as they land on doorsteps, transmuting into something else. "The AZ" has arrived.
"Aleph Zero Revelations" is a parasitic newspaper that appears magically and unasked for. It magically distributes itself in taverns and bars, coffeehouses and doorways around the world. For most, it's garbage, worthy only to wrap up fish or use in the toilet. For others, it's the only source of truth in the world.
Also known as "AZ Revelations" or "The AZ", this weekly underground newspaper purports to reveal the "true" news of the world. The unknown publishers of this infamous paper promote an anti-Concordance/Sovranty ideology.
They rail against the "New Order" looking for a return to the days of absolute monarchs and the re-subjugation of the "mongrel" species. They seek control of the Orrery of Worlds so that they can control the schedule of The Kirinal Pit. They promote the "unsouling" of the warforged. They refuse to use the polite term, soulforged.
Past Headlines
"The Kirinal Concordance: A Puppet State of the Sovranty of Lozar?"
"Elves and Dwarves, the True Masters of Erathia: Reclaiming Our Birthright!"
"The Pit-Born Plague: Are Their Souls Tainted with Abomination?"
"Soulforged Abominations: Threat to the Natural Order of Erathia!"
"Concordance's Ploy for World Domination: The Real Agenda Behind the Peaceful Facade!"
"Orcs and Goblins: Unleashed Menaces Among Us! Beware Their Hidden Agenda!"
"Tieflings and Their Hidden Loyalties: Are They Working Against Us?"
"The True Kirinal Pit Masters: Unmasking the Puppeteers of Our Fates!"
"The Secret War for Control: Who Holds the Orrery of Worlds?"
"Revelations of Betrayal: Exposing the Sovranty's Sinister Plans!"
"Soulforged Souls: The Price of Sentient Constructs on Our World!"
"Ancient Bloodlines: Embracing Our Noble Past and Restoring Hierarchy!"
"The Muzzling of Free Speech: How the Concordance Suppresses Dissent!"
"Reclaiming the Homeland: Returning Non-Traditional Races to Their True Place!"
"Unmasking the Enforcers: The Bow, The Sword, and The Axe Behind The AZ!"
"Mongrels at the Gates: Halflings and Gnomes Pushing for False Equality!"
"The Secrets of Thirion Elf-King: Is He Leading the Zone Astray?"
"Forbidden Knowledge: What Lies Beneath Valentine's Statue?"
"The Road to Sovereignty: A Unified Erathia Under Aleph Zero's Banner!"
"The Treason of Soulforged: Why These Abominations Must Be Destroyed!"
Purpose
To promote the ideals of the Aleph Zero Syndicate.
- A return to the old ways.
- Gain control of The Kirinal Pit.
- Reduce the influence of the Sovranty of Lozar and the Concordance for Survival.
- Return the Greater Races to their rightful status.
- Remove equal status from the "mongrel" races (orcs and goblinoids) and the Pit-Born races.
- The destruction of all Soulforged/Warforged, sending the souls they contain to their final judgement.
Document Structure
Publication Status
This underground newspaper is secretly published by the Aleph Zero Syndicate in a secret location and distributed magically by inserting itself into, or totally transforming, other newspapers.
The other newspapers are interested in stopping the piracy of their product. They seek out the Syndicate to recover their lost profits. Some publishers want to figure out how to do it for themselves.
Legal status
Under the Concordant Mandate of Free Speech of the Kirinal Concordance Zone, the AZ Revelations are not strictly illegal. Some tax officials are investigating the revenues generated by The AZ, but most bureaucrats turn a blind eye to what they see as an annoyance.
Possession of The AZ is illegal in the rest of the world.
Historical Details
Public Reaction
Most educated sentients dismiss The AZ and ignore the rambling screeds in it as nonsense. They know that the conspiracies in it are disprovable with easily available facts. They believe that people are good and are confident that they're too smart to fall for the ramblings and ravings in The AZ.
In secret, growing numbers of the "Greater Races" (elves, dwarves and humans), find the message of a return to the old ways, and their place in it, appealing.
Who is Zero?
We demand to know, who is Zero? What horrific experiment came before this "One". What are they hiding? Where is it?
The Church of Anam presents the unnatural freak One as the first "soulforged". We know from other worlds that they are truly named- Warforged. For they are the bringers of war and forged from corruption.
Orcs = Monsters! Goblins = Savages! Tieflings = Traitors!
The traitor races have been unwisely elevated to "equality" with the greater mortal races and what have we gained?
These mongrels ravaged the countryside and pillaged our lands for millenia! Now, just because they dress up and act politely and bathe, we're supposed to treat them like equals?
THEY USED TO EAT OUR GRANDFATHERS!
Wake up! Send them back where they belong!
Remembrances of Yore
We elder members of the Greater Races remember the valiant times of old!
When dwarves dwelt in the mountains, elves in their forests, and men in their cities.
We knew what to do with an orc, you killed it! Nowadays we're expected to be polite and smile and bow.
I say, "NO MORE!"
The only good orc is a dead orc and that's how it will be again!
The Good Old Days
Remember when we were young and life was simple and easy? We believed in the gods, the great houses, and our kingdoms. We can have that again, but the Concordance and the Sovranty must be defeated!
Ug, magical propaganda spam. Truly a nightmare!
Thanks for reading this! I hate these guys!
For your consideration, my submissions for the WorldAnvil Worldbuilding Awards 2024. (I've also included some of my favorites other worldbuilders.)