The Vipress Exonerated, Chancellor Hawthorne Arrested in Citywide Scandal

In an explosive revelation shaking the streets of Gothika, Seraphina —better known to citizens as The Vipress—has been fully exonerated of all charges connecting her to the rise of the dangerous drug Rize and the chaos that has plagued the city in recent months.

The disgraced former Chancellor, Valeria Hawthorne, was taken into custody late last night following a unanimous vote by the city’s ruling Committee to strip her of power pending a formal trial. Hawthorne faces multiple counts of corruption, conspiracy, and abuse of authority after evidence surfaced linking her directly to the framing of The Vipress and the illicit spread of Rize throughout Gothika.

The arrest comes just days before The Flare, the city’s beloved celestial festival, and marks one of the most dramatic political upheavals in Gothika’s recent history. The Committee, now acting as an interim government, has pledged to restore order and public trust in the wake of Hawthorne’s betrayal.

“Let it be known that no one, no matter their rank, is above the law,” stated Dr. Richard Moore, one of the longest-serving members of the Committee. “The people deserve transparency and justice, and they will have it.”

Fellow Committee Member, Zemenar Stibbons, spoke to the larger significance of the moment:

“This is not just about one woman’s corruption. It’s about the heart of Gothika—what we stand for, and what we refuse to become. We will not allow darkness to rule this city unchecked.”

Many citizens have long viewed The Vipress with suspicion due to her underground dealings and shadowy empire of nightclubs and protection rings. However, the shocking revelations of Chancellor Hawthorne’s manipulations have led to an outpouring of public support for Seraphina, who was revealed to have been a scapegoat in a plot far more insidious than the city imagined.

Lyric Santos, representative of the Sorcerer Guild, was among those who publicly welcomed Seraphina’s release:

“Whatever her past may hold, The Vipress has been wronged by our own institutions. We owe her not just our apologies, but our respect for enduring what she did without breaking.”

Even Ganon Deepak, the gruff and famously blunt Barbarian Guild leader, offered rare words of support:

“She didn’t back down. Neither will we.”

The Committee has confirmed that a special election will be held after The Flare, and until then, leadership decisions will be made collectively to prevent any single voice from overpowering the will of the people.

In the shadows of this political earthquake, several members of a private detective agency—originally implicated alongside Seraphina—have also been quietly exonerated. These individuals, whose work helped bring the truth to light, have asked for privacy as they return to their lives.

As citizens prepare for the weeklong festivities of The Flare, the mood is one of cautious hope. For now, at least, the serpent has been freed, and the city breathes a little easier.