Mayors Gather to Pay Respect: What Future is There for Western Pennsylvania?

Nobody died. Nonetheless, Mayor Blunders of Oil City requested that all serving in the Battle of Oil City take part in a ceremony to honor the fallen soldiers who never actually fell. To add a flavor of authenticity, he pushed over one of the groundhogs during the ceremony next to the fountain on the edge of town.

Accompanying Blunders was Mayor Intelect of Clarion, dressed in his typical graduation gown, and Mayor Phil of Punxsutawney, both of which have no counties to return to after Elk overthrew their governments.

Venango barely survived, focusing all their resources on defending the capital of Venango County. Consequently, Elk, Warren, and East Crawford decided to stop attacking the city and just took the rest of the county instead. Now, Venango County is just Oil City.

West Crawford and Erie, you're next...

Worst of all, the Zugnar Alliance is not done expanding their empire. With Elk successfully overthrowing Clarion and Jefferson County, their ownership of the Groundhog Day Accords means they have the power to cause winter to take place anywhere they want.

The next logical targets for the Elk Empire are the nations of West Crawford and Mercer. Both are highly trained and weaponized with golf clubs and Meow Mix. Unfortunately, the only county which has stood strong against the Zugnar Alliance aside from Venango County is Mercer. This suggests that Elk will likely attack West Crawford. Should they find success, it will give them direct access to Erie. If Mayor Paranoia folds, then the lake. After that, nothing!

Mayor Bighorn of Elk County cannot be allowed to have nothing. He must be stopped if there is any hope of keeping him from achieving this ultimate prize.

As the militaries of PLATO pay honors in Oil City, a discussion must be had regarding whether it is appropriate to take back the lands. Given that places like Franklin no longer belong to Oil City, attempts to retrieve it might result in intercountial backlash and potentially war. This is not a light matter.