New Toulouse

On Monday the city of New Toulouse once again played host to an air race, this time dubbed the “Steamlands 500.” Doctor Avalon once again presided, but this year the city had new tricks, including a dance floor hovering over Spiegel Hall. The track was modified to show off the new surroundings, ensuring that the craft would have to travel around the whole city.

There were two categories. The “Anything Goes” category featured any craft except airships. The first heat had Aodhan, Kimika Ying, Garnet Psaltery, and Rachilde. Garnet’s craft was an unusual yellow balloon, but any doubts about its speed were banished by seeing it fly past the competition. The second heat saw Garnet facing off against Pazzo Pestana, Mari Moonbeam (whose craft looked oddly like a bacon sandwich), and Aodhan, who dropped out due to something called “lag.” Miss Psaltery won and took home the championship and the L$1,000 prize; Miss Moonbeam took home L$200 as the runner-up.

The second category, “Airships,” had a bit of controversy. Defending his championship title was the dreaded pirate admiral Callidus Waydelich. The local favorite, Komnene, our own native champion, also competed. In the first heat, Callidus and Komnene faced off against Pazzo, but the heat was overturned because of an issue at the race start. After a few technical adjustments, the heat was redone, with the same participants plus our own Mayor Godenot himself. It was a brutal heat, with Komnene chasing after the odd “chicken” ship of the Mondragon, but in the end, Waydelich won the race and the L$1,000 prize. New Toulouse’s own Komnene was the runner-up, winning L$200 in prize money and a matching L$200 from the mayor.

DJ Q provided the music, and a fun time was had by all. More photographs of the event can be seen in this album: Steamlands 500.

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Avis Picayune is a tough old bird who was watching from a high perch.

Photo credit: Nikita Weymann.

This old bird has seen many things, especially since that crazy Doctor Avalon came to town. People came from New Babbage and from all around New Toulouse to see her latest flight of fancy: the air festival. They danced on the roof of the hospital, with music from DJ Q. Airships, balloons, and even flying turtles and rocket suits took flight. Mayor Henri somehow hung four pylons in the sky and made the people race counter-clockwise around them. There were two categories: “Airship” and “Anything Goes.” The winners of the initial heats were as follows:

• Airship, first heat: Kimika Ying
• Airship, second heat: Komnene
• Anything Goes, first heat: Grendel
• Anything Goes, second heat: Callidus Waydelich

Miss Komnene (New Toulouse) and Miss Ying (New Babbage) faced off in the “Airship” championship round, and Miss Komnene won. The “Anything Goes” final round featured Callidus Waydelich (New Babbage) and Grendel (New Toulouse), with Mr. Waydelich somehow taking the prize despite (or because of) being drunk. Winners received L$1,000 each, and runners-up received L$200. Honorable mention goes to Lea, Arijah Ankh Khalid-Zyn, Karima Hoisan, RMarie Beedit, Cherry Larkspur, Pazzo Pestana, and Solace Fairlady.

All in all, this flight of fancy brought some life to New Toulouse.

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Avis Picayune is a tough old bird.

Photo credit: Maggie Hawksby.

Dr. Guenivere D’Avalon will host an air show in New Toulouse on Monday, June 2. Aviators and aviatrices are invited to try the treacherous course designed with the help of Mayor Henri Godenot. Racers will fly around pylons in the sky, which in initial tests proved to have deadly, difficult turns, according to Dr. Avalon.

There will be two categories of race: “Airship” and “Anything Goes.” Pilots will meet at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, and spectators can watch the races from Kari’s Bar and Dance, conveniently located at the third turn. The festivities will run from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. For more information, phone NT-290.

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Jack Mondieu is a figment of your imagination.

New Toulouse jockey Cavalco drove to third place in the Awesome Breed Creations “Crown Cup” for sulkies on April 27. Cavalco drove the American Standardbred “Gallant Gray” for Little Ascot Stables but wore the colors of New Toulouse from the Old Spanish Stable, and his steed emerged from a chaotic field to place third, by one ten-thousandth of a second. The owners (breeder Nikita Pantland and trainer Zacklol) had retained Cavalco at the beginning of the racing season, and he was able to post two of the fastest times, which allowed Gallant Gray to be included in the final field.  He also qualified the Little Ascot horse Toulouse Rendezvous—named for our fair city—for the Crown Cup final.

Cavalco is an employee of the Old Spanish Stable, providing farrier services along with whatever stable owner Pazzo Pestana needs to keep his enterprise afloat.  Horses may be available for sale, depending on the market. Pestana and Cavalco are proud to carry the colors of New Toulouse onto whatever field of competition may present itself.

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Jack Mondieu, Ace Reporter, is a figment of your imagination.

Photos courtesy of Pazzo Pestana.