Volume 2, Issue 7

Editor: Leyara Rin
Assistant Editor: Karma Freeze
Newshounds and Writers: Changeman, Flash, Greolin
The Advocates: Meqetlh, Foom

Contents:

1.) A few words from the Assistant Editor
2.) Rise of the Classes - Karma Freeze
3.) Top Fives - Karma Freeze
4.) Changeman's Vault
5.) The Advocates
6.) News


As you might have or might have not already heard, I am officially in charge of what you read until Leyara's return. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea when she's going to be back from her long-deserved vacation, so until she does, you're stuck with Karma-brand Spectators.


Rise of the Classes
Karma Freeze

This issue's Rise of the Classes features the Barbarian's guild, with the musical and sneaky Smakem as the Guild Master. The Taathian Barracuda is close behind, with the kitten-eating, ex head of the Knight's Council not far off at third.

  1. Smakem Buckhanna the Thugian
  2. Barracuda Krow the Human
  3. Jazbo Woondle the Monitanian
  4. Wing Capo the Thugian
  5. Tonton Granitefist the Oog-ra
  6. Morlandin Rokhart the Hithual
  7. Daphnia Arachnia the Arachnian
  8. Jaeger Trotsky the Oog-ra
  9. Mariss Leblank the Oog-ra
10. Dmajh Ironclan the San Elf
11. Sym Slader the Thugian
12. Bruto Thickhead the Thugian
13. Mildain Organgrinder the Hithual
14. Ogkay Clerio the Monitanian
15. Baalzbug Arachious the Arachnian
16. Frith Headbasher the Thugian
17. Vekkattraka Artakkatrrk the Arachnian
18. Stopper Pjj the Flerian
19. Cagliostro Diomedes the Usil Elf
20. Dror Soreff the Thugian
21. Jonas Scravy the Oog-ra
22. Moolaag Oonak the Oog-ra
23. Ingot Stonerender the Hithual
24. Ulgoth Dragonspear the Oog-ra
25. Rokk Crusha the Thugian
26. Vor Thunderbringer the Human
27. Dryax Vorkitras the Arachnian
28. Cutesy Fruffalump the Oog-ra
29. Tollkirsche Alterac the Monitanian
30. Angst Youngheal the Thugian
31. Dud Dampnas the Thugian
32. Fanglia Atackarraka the Arachnian
33. Pasquale Rockingham the Oog-ra
34. Nemprii Yickxer the Monitanian
35. Fisk Kabol the Thugian
36. Stout Tankard the Hithual
37. Xux Gilamonster the Monitanian
38. Igg Lig the Oog-ra
39. Magnuse Firepit the Hithual
40. Vaqrewn Deadsmash the Thugian
41. Skorpion Grimforge the Hithual
42. Ungers Obaj the Thugian
43. Squash Littlethings the Thugian
44. Tentaculate Drillbit the Go-blin-al
45. Smashface Bonechewer the Thugian
46. Gutlor Bagoonda the Thugian
47. Burden Scavenger the Oog-ra
48. Murmur Lunneia the Thugian
49. Hespar Tallus the Human
50. Balmoran Oaksmasher the Oog-ra

Top


The Top Fives
Karma Freeze

Most Childbearing Spurian

1. Purrkinn
2. Sweetie
3. September
4. Ambertiger
5. Tygerlili

Surprisingly, 4 out of the 5 most childbearing citizens of Spur are Leuians. Since they're all related, wouldn't that be inbreeding? Purrkinn, bearer of the many Offaces, tops off the list, Sweetie, with her huge hips to prove her proud childbearing days is second, with just about every cousin's cousin of a Leuian behind.

Most likely to have songs created in their honor

1. Meqetlh
2. Stanrar
3. Panick
4. Kraggon
5. Jedaka

Only the most valiant, noteworthy, or just extremely annoying Spurians were voted for in this category of people most likely to be sung about long after we're all dead. The former two most active Council Knights head the list, followed by everyone's favorite Drag-al Panick, wet tunic contest Kraggon, and the former extremely apathetic Pride Knight Jedaka.

Most Leuian-like Tarr Khat

1. Barra
2. Kitsa
3. Leyara
4. Rother
5. Lathan

Leading up the list of the most honorable and prissy Tarr'khats around is, of course, the outspoken ex-Khatyr of the Spurian Pride. I guess all the criticizing and insulting everyone else's honor, or lackthereof, makes him just as much Leuian, if not more, than he used to be. Following him are Leyara and myself, who are both equally insulted. Rother, the soulless, following, and "I was married to a Secian, and I'm not really a Tarr'khat" Lathan, close behind.

Most likely to be a Martyr

1. Sillo
2. Kyrinne
3. Rosalie
4. Alynia
5. Oake

With more than half of the votes for this category Secians, I'm not sure whether people voted for them because they're most likely to give their lives to save the rest of us, or because people just want them to die. In any case, the recent bad turned good Anthian Sillo won this title, followed by the slightly pompous High Priestess of Sa, Kyrinne, with Rosalie, the High Priestess of Unknown, and Oake trailing behind.

Most Antisocial Drag-al

1. Tony
2. Zabira
3. Jajang
4. Greolin
5. Cuervo

The most unfriendly mini-dragons in Spur, according to you all. Tony, the incredibly old Taathian fighter named appropriately as first, followed by Zabira, Jajang, one of the holders of the coveted seats at the Rose Eternal Tavern, everyone's favorite interviewer Greolin, and Cuervo, the not-so sneaky thief.

Top


Changeman's Vault
Changeman Shadowlurk

:::A Sanene burglar lurks at the edge of town square center, watching Taathians killing adventurers from a safe distance. The play of emotions on his face is strange and hard to read. You can't tell if he's greatly amused, greatly saddened, or both. He motions you to follow and leads you to a shack in the poor quarter that is overflowing with scrolls, then proudly shows you his favorite quotes.::

Hello! Thank you for visiting me at my treasure house of words, where nothing is sacred. Well, it was incredibly hard to let everyone do my work for me, but somehow I managed through another column. Keep sending em in people! If you hear a Spurian say anything interesting, poetic, funny, wise, memorable, or just plain stupid, please send it to me at Stlkerazzi in the poor quarter. It helps if it's written in standard black ink and if you include the race and profession of the people speaking. My deepest thanks and a big wet sloppy kiss from Sweetie to Rictor, Vesta, Rosalie, Oake, Karma, Leyara, and as always my runt sister Reason, who always saves my black butt at deadline time. Enjoy!

Anvil says, "Well, I'm off to drink myself into a stupor and fantasize about Kagee."
Anvil took a drink from his engraved ivory drinking horn.
Anvil then went southeast
Anvil yells, "Yeah baby!"
Kagee says, "Well, I can't wait to see the headlines now."
     -Anvil the Hithual sword of Sa
     -Madame Kagee the Sanene sword of Unknown.

'I am through with you Taathians.'
Panick then spit in disgust and walked out
     -Lady Panick the Drag-al empress and Sword of Sa, after the recent Taathian murder spree.

Oakleaf says to Reason, "I can't believe this is just an orphanage."
Talar grunted at Oakleaf.
Oakleaf says to Reason, "I'll find out whatever the purpose is here."
Reason says to Oakleaf, "These institutions were built to help children who otherwise would be stuck here all their lives, in poverty and illness."
Reason shook her head from side to side sadly.
Reason says to Oakleaf, "I'm sorry you can't see that."
Oakleaf says to Reason, "Help them become thieves?"
Talar says to Oakleaf, "Yer best tread lightly if you intend to speak about the Undermounts like that"
Oakleaf says to Talar, "They accepted stolen funds."
Reason sighed softly.
Talar grunted.

Reason says to Oakleaf, "Would you care to prove that?"
     -Oakleaf the Fir Elf Forester and nut case
     -Reason the Human Cousin of Set
     -Talar the Human Fighter.

Banath says, "I'm dead sexy."
Kithrael rolled on the floor laughing.
Vixen snickered

Vixen asks Banath, "Dead would be all right, but sexy?"
Everyone in the room nodded no
     -Banath the Hithual grinner
     -Kithrael the Fir Elf Guildmaster of Foresters
     -Vixen the Sanene Guildmistress of Locksmiths
     -the entire leather peddle population.

Valphein says to Thono, "You have no idea what it means to be khat'sara'd, yet you talk like you do"
Thono says to Valphein, "I've read on the subject"
Valphein says to Thono, "Ahh, well then you're an expert"
Thono says to Valphein, "I do not claim to be an expert, but if you think I am one then I shall take the title"
Valphein says to Thono, "As you wish. I actually feel sorry for you that you because your capacity for emotion is so limited"
Thono says to Valphein, "The reason that your opinion is so is that you have lived your whole life with emotions, and can't imagine how it would be to live a life without them"
Valphein says to Thono, "You have just given both sides of the argument with one statement. The reverse would apply to you."
     -Valphein the Leuian Fighter
     -Thono the Penthanian Mage.

Demeralda exclaims, "Eww, watch the vomit!"
Creazor mutters something beneath his breath.
Demeralda says, "Don't drag my nice dress through that"
Creazor says to Demeralda, "Then perhaps you should remove it"
Demeralda grins.
     -Lady Demeralda the Secian Mage of Air
     -Creazor the Hithual Fighter.

Salla readied a braided leather bone handled whip.
Vixen swooned.
Athern snickered.
Athern pulled Vixen closer to him.
Vixen glanced at Konichiwa.

Athern says to Vixen, "I've been a bad bird"
Vixen frowned.
     -Athern the Anthian
     -Vixen the Sanene Guildmistress of Locksmiths.

Mitka readied an emerald-hilted steel meat cleaver.
Zef says to Mitka, "I take it your not a veggieterian."
     -Zef the drunken Anthian
     -Mitka the Leuian.

Rotigus asks Stanrar, "Do you have any money you wish to give to the poor?"
Stanrar says to Rotigus, "I am the poor, I'm married"
     -Stanrar the Human Fighter
     -Rotigus the Sanene Cleric of Set.

Reason says to Headflinger, "You need a diet."
Reason mumbled something beneath her breath.
Headflinger shook his head back and forth to Reason.

Headflinger says, "I need to be taller"
Reason says to Headflinger, "I hear there's somebody in town with a rack... you could ask around."
Reason pondered.
Sweetie says, "Racks.."
Sweetie says, "Mwehehe.."
Pelian says, "There are a few near the demons."
Reason tickled Sweetie.
Reason says to Sweetie, "The wood kind."
Sweetie exclaims, "Oh!"
Sweetie mumbled something beneath her breath.
Reason snickered.
Sweetie kicked Reason.

     -Sweetie the Psycian Heart Cleric of Taath
     -Reason the Human Cousin of Set
     -Headflinger the Hithual Sword of Taath

Sweetie asks, "Can't a mother kill her daughter in peace?"
Nemiyah says, "You're not my mother."
Sweetie says, "I am too"
Sweetie slaps Nemiyah.
Sweetie says, "I disowned you first, anyway"
     -Sweetie the Psycian Heart Cleric of Taath
     -Nemiyah the Psycian Cleric of Taath, daughter of the notorious Sweet Tea.

Valphein asks Zuberi, "Could you imagine a life without Jazmyn?"
Alazam asks Valphein, "Of course he can't, who would chase him with soap?"
     -Valphein the Leuian Fighter
     -Alazam the Psycian Psion and Desert Prince.

Creazor accepted Nwfandi's offer.
Nwfandi says, "Remember.. I am not responsible.."
Creazor grinned at Nwfandi.
Demeralda says, "You're going to get me killed probably"
Demeralda asks, "giving him liquor?"
Creazor took a drink from his large pewter tankard of Hithual ale.
Demeralda says, "Uh huh, as I said"
Nwfandi asks, "Has he been traveling with you?"
Demeralda murmured something beneath her breath.
Demeralda asks, "Now what am I supposed to do with him?"
Nwfandi asks, "Don't sit down wind?"
Demeralda moaned
     -Demeralda the Secian Mage of Air
     -Nwfandi the Dragon
     -Creazor the Hithual Fighter.

Sweetie says to Headflinger, "Hush before I bloody tear off your reproducing organs."
Creazor winced.
Headflinger says to Sweetie, "Oh yeah?"
Headflinger went east.
Reason says to Sweetie, "Sure he has them?"
Headflinger entered from the East.
Headflinger cackled.

Sweetie says to Reason, "Small."
Headflinger removed his wool trousers.
Reason says, "Ah."
Reason nodded.
Demeralda whistled.

Sweetie screams, "EW"
Headflinger poked the large Hithual cheroot at Sweetie.
Reason shrieked.
Sweetie coughed and gagged.
Headflinger put on some wool trousers.

Reason says, "Dear gods.. I'm blind.."
Sweetie says, "The eye sight, is gone."
Sweetie sobbed.
Reason leaned her head on Sweetie's shoulder.
Reason sobbed uncontrollably.

Sweetie exclaims to Benni, "Headflinger's pantless!"
Sweetie says, "Well, not anymore."
Creazor says to Headflinger, "Thought you were going to represent."
Sweetie says to Creazor, "You represent."
Reason says to Creazor, "I don't think you want him to."
Reason snickered.
Sweetie says to Creazor, "Remove those pants."
Demeralda says, "You can't handle the truth Sweetie."
     -Sweetie the Psycian Heart of Taath
     -Creazor the Hithual fighter
     -Headflinger the Hithual sword of Taath
     -Reason the Human Cousin of Set
     -Demeralda the Secian Mage of Air.

Silvery says to Stanrar, "Vilken says your a wimp"
Stanrar says to Silvery, "I can accept that, at least he didn't say I was a Drake"
     -Silvery the drake
     -Stanrar the Human Fighter.

[Shivaya (link)]: "May the Moo be with you"
[Calysta (link)]: "the Moo?"
[Domenick (link)]: "the Oink ?"
[Becks (link)]: "may my ego be with you"
     -The evil Secians on the link.

[Domenick (link)]: "OInk"
[Becks (link)]: "oink"
[Domenick (link)]: "oiNK?"
[Calysta (link)]: "Oink!"
[Becks (link)]: "baaah"
[Narina (link)]: "ribbit!"
[Domenick (link)]: "OINKK"
[Narina (link)]: "ribbit!"
[Domenick (link)]: "OIIIIIIIIINNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK"
[Becks (link)]: "baaah"
[Rosalie (link)]: "Moo."
[Aliyah (link)]: "please, remember your in other peoples brains"
[Domenick (link)]: "oink"
[Flernor (link)]: "stop you sound like a FARM!"
[Rosalie (link)]: "hypocrite."
[Domenick (link)]: "oink ?"
[Domenick (link)]: "Oi"
[Shivaya (link)]: "send ya off to the sheep farm and lose ya in the herd"
[Shivaya (link)]: "oh wait pig farm"
[Narina (link)]: "ribbit"
[Aliyah (link)]: "no more"
[Aliyah (link)]: "i beg of you"
[Shivaya (link)]: "the rabbit farm!"
[Shivaya (link)]: "at least you'll be in the adorable bunny barn"
[Becks (link)]: "moo"
[Flernor (link)]: "baah"
[Rosalie (link)]: "hey, my bunny gets a private barn."
[Shivaya (link)]: "that's cause it's THE bunny"
[Shivaya (link)]: "Rosalie, you're bunny gets a private suite"
[Rosalie (link)]: "is is THE bunny, darn straight"
     -More evil link Secians

[Flernor (link)]: "ahhh I'm bein torued trapped in a tiny room with 3 female Secian that poke me"
[Aliyah (link)]: "that's torture?"
[Audra (link)]: "There's only two of us"
[Calysta (link)]: "well poke him for me!"
[Rosalie (link)]: "I already poked him for all of spur"
[Becks (link)]: "some Secians get all the luck"
[Becks (link)]: "get 2 more female Secians to poke me with ya =)"
[Rosalie (link)]: "what, I'm not enough woman for you?"
[Becks (link)]: "heh your enough, just 2 more with ya would make it more interesting =)"
[Flernor (link)]: "my raven gets a hot frying pan"
[Rosalie (link)]: "and you get pokes in the head"
[Rosalie (link)]: "::pokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokes Flernor::"
[Audra (link)]: "Ack"
[Rosalie (link)]: "I warned him."
[Shivaya (link)]: "wait I think we all got poked"
[Calysta (link)]: "my brain hurts"
[Domenick (link)]: "aye to that"
[Rosalie (link)]: "sorry. 'Twas a Flernor poke intended"
[Domenick (link)]: "someone poked it"
[Calysta (link)]: "more than once"
[Shivaya (link)]: "that was the never-ending poke"
[Rosalie (link)]: "::cuddles all the brains but Flernor. Pokes his s'more::"
[Aliyah (link)]: "if you need me ill be in the buttafly inn, tell Rosalie"
[Rosalie (link)]: "if you dare. ::holds her poking fingers up:::"
     -Evil link Secians yet again.

Top


The Advocates

When the Taathian sorceress Aiena perished recently, Spur lost one of its most colorful and controversial personalities. Many hated the stout Sanene, some admired her, but almost everyone who witnessed one of her rare visits to town came away with vivid memories. This month our Advocates share their rather different interpretations of the would-be goddess.


Foom:

"The Spurian reaction to the death of Aiena serves as yet another example (not that any is needed!) of the shameless disregard that Spur's powerful have both for the truth and for the citizens of the City. Every truth is twisted, every event subtly recast, to serve the rich, the bullies, the dragons, the Lords and Ladies. And Aiena, who should be a heroine to this city, is depicted, even in her moment of triumph and noble self-sacrifice, as a villain and a traitor.

Now it is certainly true that Aiena was a complex personality, an ancient enigma that none fully understood. At times some of her actions have seemed self-serving or duplicitous, as when she inexplicably failed to defeat the army of the Lords of Chaos, thus bringing about the invasion and occupation of the city. But when one is 600 years old, it's only to be expected that one's actions should be subtle and circuitous. Always, in the end, Aiena's strategies have paid off for Taath, and this city has been the better for it.

In her final days, some allege, Aiena betrayed Taath, attempting to set herself up as a rival goddess. Completely untrue. Had she survived, Aiena would have continued in her role as Taath's disciple and protegee. Her ascension to divinity was a necessary step in order for her to wrest control of Magick from the incompetent God Sa, who for eons had refused to allow true power to his followers. Sadly, Aiena perished, but in so doing she was at least able to cleanse the Magick of the world, and in large part pull it free of the greedy clutches of dragonkind. We all have Aiena to thank for this greatly improved Magick. And yet the powers that be, for their own petty and selfish reasons, refuse to give credit to one who, if not a goddess, should at the very least be considered a Saint."


Meqetlh:

"Magick had been on the decline for quite some time, from at least the time of the forging of the Grey, if not since the release of the Unmagick itself. It is clear that some of Sa's power was trapped in the Grey.

Aiena was able to take advantage of this weakness. After ascending to godhood, she struck at Sa. The other gods did not get involved, although I understand Taath did block a move by the Grey to aid Sa during that first battle. Sa is magick, magick is Sa. As Sa weakened further from the strain of his battle, the power of runemagick also weakened, until folks could no longer cast even the simplest of spells. After a hard fought battle, Aiena won.

After several days, Kralen, finally accepts his destiny, puts aside his bitterness that Sa did not allow him to rule the temple 200 years ago, and draws out the grey pearl broadsword from the fountain. The Grey is finally once again complete. This of course gets Aiena's attention, and she appears in town square. Kralen breaks the grey pearl broadsword, releasing magicks within that have been trapped since its forging. Aiena aged at an incredibly fast rate right before our eyes, the goddess was slain! Kralen's task was finally done after 200 years, and he returned to Sa.

So what is the lasting impact of those fate-filled days? Taath's 'Black Queen,' his most powerful agent is no more. This can only leave Taath weakened, although he has recovered from worse setbacks than this. Sa's weakness is gone, if anything, magick continues to slowly grow stronger, although it still remains as unreliable as ever. Historically, Sa has been the most powerful of the gods. Will he regain that dominance of old? Only

Top


News

Well well, watchful eyes in the shadows have seen quite a few things that have shocked, but nothing like this! My sources tell me seems Sir Stanrar and Madam Kagee have been spending an awful lot of time together lately, and have even been spotted having secret trysts in various states of undress! My my, what has this world come to? And what of Sir Stanrar's wife? Why does she put up with this? Is she scared? Or merely tolerating it? And could this possibly be the cause of Sir Stanrar's attitude change over the last few months? He certainly has seemed to become less and less of the smilin Stanrar and more and more of the Snarlin Stanrar... Anyway, just an old snoops hunch, but with the clothes flyin and the temperatures risin, I think we can all see what's goin on here....


I bet all of you thought you're safe. Unfortunately, if you once were, you're no longer. With Balor appointed the new High Priest of temple Taath in place of Grachus, Spurians apparently have something new to fear going to bed everynight: an angry mob of Taathians storming TSC and killing people at random, which is just what happened a day or two ago. A large group of Taathians including Borus, Tony, Lathe, Balor and Vilken marched around town, killing Benni, Jinood, Rictor, Jalpae, and other unnamed Spurians in an attempt to "strike the fear of Taath into their hearts", as one Taathian claimed. A Justice was called, but to my understanding, no arrests have yet been made.


It's that time of year again! Essence hunters are running wild, and Dragons are staging left and right. The most notable staging was Depravato, who staged into a seventeen foot tall third stage Dragon with the assistance of his Secian, Kyrinne. Other reported recent stagings were Grayse and Syai. My sympathies to all the other Spurians for the extra ego and dragon about.

Top


As always, to advertise anything reasonable, send us a scroll.


Thanks for reading another mind-stimulating issue of the Spectator!

The Spectator Staff