News for the New Year

After several days in which anticipation has been stirring and growing (though for reasons nobody can actually name) word suddenly comes -- that the foreign prince from the capital is going to be making some kind of announcement or pronouncement or address or other hifalutin' speechifying from the cathedral on New Year's Day! With furreners and locals both welcome, it seems. It's an auspicious day for news and new beginnings, and many people hold out hope that it's going to be good news about the voyage being planned to open the seas again for the survival of St. Loomis.