June 2023 Recap
A Natural One, Monongahela, from the Blue Ridge Tribe, made tenuous contact with the people of Jericho Junction to warn them of a Diamondback force mobilizing towards the rail hub, where the town's ever-dependable train, the Timber Phoenix, makes its rest. Monongahela urged the people of Jericho to get ready to go out and meet them to defend their train; telling them his scouts would keep a watchful eye and help as they could.
The blight affecting the soil in and around Jericho worsened in a peculiar way as farmers found they couldn't get any Dill to grow. Further confusing the issue was a ranch hand from Declan's Exotic Ranch who came into town to give a report on Lilah, the bear the town helped subdue and capture last month. It would seem the blight on the land is not only affecting flora, but fauna as well. Declan posited that whatever is happening, it might have some connection to the Gravemind.
The Diamondbacks attempted to hinder passage into Jericho by setting up checkpoints on the major routes into town. They said they were posted to look for contraband and suspicious individuals, but it was a thinly veiled excuse to rough up travelers coming to trade. They poured out brews, harassed Lascarians, and even attacked some people.
A woman by the name of Diane, who had been rescued by the town some months ago and taken into the care of Department M-12, had reportedly left the safety of M-12's care and was sighted returning to Morningside, a Nuclear Family monastery run by the Seed Family. Upon hearing this, the town raised a new rescue party and headed back to the idyllic neighborhood to find Father Seed himself presiding over a ceremony for his Children. A fight broke out in the attempt to rescue Diane, despite her protestations that she wanted to stay. The rescue party narrowly escaped death with an unconscious Diane in tow and brought her back to M-12's custody to monitor. Father Seed swore there would be recompense for how the town brazen hurt his Family.
Grand Father Aloysius Rosenberg arrived in town to sit down with those would speak for the town to extend and offer to Jericho. The deal was simple: Jericho could join the Rosenberg Community and be provided for with resources, protection, and infrastructure as long as the townsfolk agreed to follow their Community Standards. Those who met with him seemed apprehensive to the offer and were left to consider the deal as Grand Father took his leave, though not before being assaulted by one of the locals on his way out.
On the last night of the trade, two Citgo Neighborhood Watch members came in to alert the town that the 106th Division of the Diamondbacks had occupied the rail hub and they needed to rally and take it back. A large fight ensued at the hub as Jerichonians and Diamondbacks clashed. When they had pushed in, they discovered the Diamondbacks had planted demolition charges aboard the Timber Phoenix. As they worked to disarm the explosives, Rockbass Proshop, leader of the 106th, took to the field and pushed the town hard. His brutality even extended to his own soldiers, as he executed one of them who tried to retreat when things looked bad. But when the Timber Phoenix pulled out of the station and out of harm's way, Rockbass himself left and Jericho celebrated a hard won victory.
