Thursday Morning Rewind Talk Show

 

Thursday Morning Rewind - June 12th, 2025: Summer's Eve and Shifting Shadows

(Sound of the signature "Thursday Morning Rewind" theme music, perhaps with a slightly ethereal or growing ominous undertone, fades in and then under.)

ANNOUNCER (Voice smooth but with a subtle edge): Live from Nocturnis Local 6, it's Thursday Morning Rewind. Beatrice Hemlock and Edgar Crowe are here to delve into the week's peculiar happenings as the Summer Solstice draws near.

(Camera focuses on Beatrice and Edgar at the news desk. Beatrice looks a touch more pensive than usual, while Edgar has a stack of unusual, gnarled branches beside his monitor.)

BEATRICE: Good morning, Nocturnis. The air is certainly growing warmer, but there's a distinct chill that has nothing to do with the temperature, wouldn't you say, Edgar? The Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, is just over a week away, and with it, the "Height of Unease" seems to be settling in.

EDGAR: (Nodding, picking up one of the gnarled branches) Indeed, Beatrice. We've been receiving an unusual number of reports this week, all revolving around what residents are calling "sun-drunk" vegetation. Trees growing far too quickly, blooming out of season with unnaturally vibrant colors, and in some cases, even shifting their positions overnight. Mrs. Gable from the Blossom district swore her prize-winning hydrangeas rearranged themselves into an unnerving spiral pattern.

BEATRICE: Yes, and the murmurs from the Haunted Wood are louder than usual, aren't they? Hikers, or rather, those brave enough to venture near its edges, have reported strange, luminous mosses appearing on ancient stones, seeming to pulse with a faint light, especially at dawn and dusk. Some even claim to have heard faint, discordant music emanating from deep within the forest, despite no known instruments being present.

EDGAR: And it's not just plant life, Beatrice. We've had several accounts of local fauna behaving erratically. The crows in the town square have been observed flying in perfectly synchronized, intricate patterns, then suddenly dispersing as if startled by an unseen force. And Mr. Henderson from the Old Mill district reported his usually docile farm cat, Whiskers, began staring intently at empty corners of his barn for hours on end, his fur bristling without cause.

BEATRICE: It seems the valley itself is preparing for the peak of the sun's power, Edgar, and perhaps awakening ancient forces that prefer to remain dormant. The folklore surrounding the Solstice in Nocturnis speaks of a thinning of the veil between our world and… others, when the sun stands still. Residents are advised to take extra precautions, especially during the longest days. Double-check your wards, and perhaps avoid prolonged gazing into stagnant pools of water near old ruins.

EDGAR: Good advice, Beatrice. We'll be bringing you more updates on these peculiar botanical and cryptozoological phenomena throughout the show, and we'll have Professor Armitage on next week to discuss the historical implications of the Solstice in Nocturnis lore. Perhaps he can shed some light on why our roses are suddenly singing.

(The segment continues with other local news, perhaps a brief mention of the upcoming Nocturnis Monday Night Gridiron season, or an update on the Book Wyrm situation from previous lore.)

BEATRICE: That's our initial look at the week's unfolding oddities here in Nocturnis as we edge closer to the summer's turning point.

EDGAR: Join us again next Thursday for more of Thursday Morning Rewind. Until then, keep an eye on your garden, and a closer eye on your shadows.

(The theme music swells, ending with a slightly lingering, mysterious note.)