But as to the issue at hand. At this point I am not particularly optimistic about this new council either. Mainly because the true nature of it and the goals it plans to pursue is not clear at this time. But also because of the selection and, more importantly, discrimination it employs in deciding who shall sit upon it. I see it as a very unbalanced and unequal representation of the populace in Spur. I have it on very good authority that the council has indeed refused to consider Odarians, Elindalians, Saians, and Rinannians for members that would have a say in the matters before it. That alone gives me cause to question the selection process and qualifications that it uses to determine who is fit to serve on it. Much as I would indeed desire to see the city more unified and a stronger presence of justice within its boundaries, I am hard pressed to believe that a predominantly Setite council would share those goals. I have known and had the highest respect for some members of the Setite temple. But I have also had enough experiences with having goods and coins lifted off my person at the hands of a Setite to think twice about how truly noble and honorable this new council's goals really are.

      I have been old that Set's temple has been viewed as something of a champion of the homeless and deprived people of Spur. Those who have no food or clothing or other necessities that are important to a person's survival. While personally I consider this to be a very noble ambition, I do find the methods some of them choose to employ to achieve that goal to be less than desirable.

      The old council of Spur fell victim to much criticism and rebuke by Spurian residents who felt that because it was composed of many Odarian members that it lacked the balance necessary to unite the city as a peaceful community. But what these same critics seem to forget is that during that time the city enjoyed many years of fairly stable comfort and security that enabled people to walk about within the city without having to constantly look over their shoulder to see if a dagger would be plunged into their back or that a shadowy hand would find its way into their coinpurse to relieve them of a few gold or silver coins.

      The old council of Spur may not have been perfect. But I believe it was able to meet out more than a fair share of justice and order to the overall community at large. Even though some of the "oppressed" people of Spur claimed it to be biased against their acts of liberation, the overall population of Spur knew that the council would act fairly and just in dealing with whatever problems presented itself to the city. Whether or not this current council will seek to follow the example set before them is yet to be determined. But I would be less than honest if I did not say that I have concerns that this new council has the structure, and I would dare say the desire, to truly protect and uphold the laws at statutes of this city when it is dominated by members of a temple who have no reservations about breaking those very laws when it suits their needs. That plus the exclusionary methods it has used to prevent worthy citizens of other temples from becoming members to it do indeed give cause for concern about how truly this council will seek to be in harmony with the needs and desires of the people of this city.

      Time has always been the truest test of any goal or method used to achieve a goal. As with other things, time will indeed tell if this new council truly exists to serve the people or seeks to make the people serve it.

I am, as always,

Rynock Gavinson

The 'TG' Files

Case # 0148
"The Disappearing Act"

The day started off quiet, a bit too quiet. My partner Sulky, a female Leuian Bard of little importance, and I, had just returned from a case with a howling monster! You know, some detectives get called on real cases. With real problems, so that their detective skills are put to the test! But no, of course not me.. I get the howling monster, which turned out to be some poor guy with a thorn in his foot! A thorn, can you believe that! Me, the Famous TG Detective!! Reduced to playing nurse to a cadet. So anyway, Sulky and I fixed the problem, well.. I did, Sulky just annoyed me as usual. Now that the fun of that case was over, I was able to get some sleep, a little too much sleep as it would turn out. Where is the annoying guy that runs past my window at the crack of dawn shouting "cock-a-do, cock-a-do," as if he was some sort of chicken! Not that I truly minded him being absent, for he was truly annoying. Still it was worth investigation, and so begins this case, the case of "The Disappearing Act.

Xtazir asks, "Sulky, did you happen to hear the chicken nut today, or did I just sleep through it for the first time?"

Sulky says, "Oh my gosh! That’s what I missed this morning! I washed, I ate, I was reading a book. But I knew there was something missing! I just couldn’t think what it was, thank you Xtazir!"
Sulky drops her bookmark from her book under her chair.
Sulky quickly gets down and climbs under the chair looking for her bookmark.
Xtazir murmurs sadly, "My apprentice, of all the ones the guild could have sent…"
(I mean honestly, she’s wanting to be a detective people, a detective! You know, detecting things, paying attention to detail!)

Sulky asks, "What did you say, sorry I couldn’t hear you, I got stuck in the chair."
Xtazir sighs.
Sulky says, "Found my bookmark."
Xtazir says, "Yes, so you did, look it’s in your hand, how lovely…"
Sulky smiles.
Xtazir exclaims, "Would you mind putting that up so we could get to this case!"
Sulky blinks.
Sulky asks, "What case? Were on a case? When did this happen? And.. umm oh, huh?
Xtazir asks, "Chicken boy, and now in case you missed it the Aradath delivery guy?"

Sulky exclaims, "My paper! I’ll ring that little Flerians neck when I see him!"

Xtazir rolls his eyes.

(So finally Sulky and I set out for the Town Square, to see what was happening)

Sulky asks, "Do you think maybe, that since we haven’t passed one person yet on the walk, that it could have something to do with the missing people?"

Xtazir exclaims to Sulky, "Why yes!! You are very quick this morning aren’t you!"
Sulky beams proudly.
Xtazir mutters.

(Finally we arrive at the arch to find only a small handful of people, where normally there are many)
[Training Grounds]
You have arrived at the center of the basic training area. Go west to find practice targets and hone weapon skills. Basic information on Psionics can be found to the southwest. Northwest you’ll find the Supply Depot, where you can equip yourself. A bank lies to the northeast. You can learn about martial arts southeast of here, and directly to the east you can renew runes and learn about magick. The door to the Dean’s office is also here. An Arch, a crescent ivory door, and an open frozen blue crystalla door are here.
This room is illuminated.
In the room is Pesterall the novice Secian, Hhyss the novice Monitanian, Guzzler the novice Hithual (unconscious), Stanky the novice Go-blin-al, Sulky the Leuian bard, Xtazir the Noble Human Detective.
Obvious exits: northeast east southeast southwest west northwest
Pesterall exclaims, "XtazirthefamousTGDetective!Xtazir!Xtazir!Peoplearemissing!"
Xtazir sighs.
(She’s still here! I told her there was more sugar in Spur, I thought she had left!)

Hhyss hisses So Xtazir, is that what you’re here for? Going to find out why there is so many people apparently missing. It would be great if that is what you were here for, so is it? Why aren’t you saying anything?

Xtazir furrows his brow.
Xtazir says to Hhyss, "Wonderful! I’ve never head such eloquent hissing before! It was as if you were actually speaking words.

Hhyss blushes.
Hhyss hisses Thank you very much, I use it all the time, so I could get good at it, I think it works great.

Xtazir rolls his eyes.

Guzzler snores loudly

Sulky pokes Guzzler in his belly.
Guzzler moans as he turns over.
Sulky hops back.
Xtazir says to Sulky, "Leave him be, and try keeping your head on the case."
Sulky nods.

Xtazir exclaims, "Sorry, but WHAT is that smell!"
Xtazir blanches.

Stanky says, "Hi!"
Stanky scratches himself.
Xtazir says, "Oh yes, of course. You."
Guzzler mumbles in his sleep, no I don’t want to see a two-headed oliphant…
Sulky giggles.
Xtazir ponders the meaning of the universe.
Xtazir asks, "Right.. so anyway, no one has heard anything?"

Pesterall exclaims, "Nopehaven’theardanythingyet.ButifIdo,I’lltellyou!!!"

Xtazir glances at Pesterall.
Xtazir exclaims to Pesterall mockingly, "Thank you!!"
(After getting no where fast with the line of questioning, we decided to go search around a bit. We checked the practice room, then all the usual hunting grounds, then to the healers shack, and finally made our way to the trainers hall… and of course everyone had to follow us, save for the sleeping drunk)

[Academy Training Center.]
Symbols representing each of the standard guilds are spaced evenly around the sides of this enormous room. Instructors from each guild stand by their guild's symbol, ready to instruct members in the secrets of their arts. Only the priesthood's are not represented here. TRAIN gives you a list of available training options.
This room is illuminated.
In the room is Pesterall the novice Secian, Hhyss the novice Monitanian, Stanky the novice Go-blin-al, Sulky the Leuian bard, Xtazir the Noble Human Detective.
Obvious exits: east* west
Xtazir says, "Well nothing seems to be going on here either, I don’t understand it, we've searched nearly everywhere!"
Sulky pouts.
Pesterall flitters around the room happily.
Stanky asks, "Mabez dut guyz dere know sumtin?"
Xtazir asks, "What guy?"
Frod yells Come one, come all! And marvel at the amazing two-headed oliphant! Only 1 gold!
Stanky points to the east.
Xtazir blinks.
Pesterall exclaims, "ooooooIhaveonegold!Igottasee!!Gottasee!"
Sulky says, "No wait"
Pesterall, I love you, and you, and you, and you, and you too!, just went east.
Xtazir mumbles.
Xtazir says, "OK lets go check this out."
(The group quickly moves east to see what's going on.)
[Archway to Spur.]
The far side of this room is dominated by a huge, glowing archway which seems to tug at you with undefined yearning. Beside it is a small desk with an open scroll upon it. Through the arch you can make out the misty forms of buildings. A covered sign. And a flimsy wooden sign is here.
This room is illuminated.
In the room is Frod the novice Flerian, Pesterall the novice Secian, Hhyss the novice Monitanian, Stanky the novice Go-blin-al, Sulky the Leuian bard, Xtazir the Noble Human Detective.
Obvious exits: west*.
(Upon looking, the newly erected flimsy sign read: Two-Headed Oliphant! Only 1 gold! The other sign was covered.)
Frod says to Pesterall, "Thank you very much, just step through the arch."
Frod says to Pesterall, "Remember only 1 minute, then you come back out."
Pesterall beams.
Xtazir glances at the covered sign, then to the archway.
Xtazir says, "NO wait don’t go through that arch!"
Pesterall, I love you, and you, and you, and you, and you too!, just went through a glowing archway.
Sulky gasps.
Frod exclaims to Xtazir, "Hey you, what's your problem? Your messing up my business, take off!"
Xtazir glares at Frod.
Hhyss hisses I wanna see the Oliphant, I’ve never seen a two-headed one. I have seen a normal Oliphant before, but that was from far away. Is this one up close?
Frod says to Hhyss, "Of course, of course, only 1 gold!"
Xtazir pulls Hhyss closer to him.
Xtazir says, "I don’t think so."
Sulky says, "Ya! You can’t do this, it’s wrong!"
Frod says, "What’s wrong? I’m running a business here!"
Sulky frowns at Frod.
Xtazir pulls the blanket off the "covered, sign."
The covered sign is really the Exploding sign of WARNING!
Stanky gasps.
Frod whistles innocently.
Sulky shakes her head from side to side slowly.
Xtazir starts pulling on Frod’s hair.
Frod is really Horrible the Flerian!

Stanky claps.
Stanky says, "iz wuz gurd guize."
Xtazir says to Horrible, "I should have known it was you. I thought you were ordered out of the academy?"
Horrible says, "I.. Me what? My name is Frod! I’m just a business man here, trying to make a living. Come on, I mean hey, there actually could be a two-headed Oliphant through the arch, you don’t know… I…"
Xtazir exclaims to Horrible, "Enough! Who do you think your kidding? I know your name is Horrible, and we both know you were ordered out for stealing items off of sleeping cadets."
Horrible exclaims, "Ya, well OK, but that doesn't mean.. Hey look! What’s that!
Horrible points up into the air.
Sulky glances up.
Xtazir pushes Horrible down as he attempts to flee.
Horrible stumbles and falls down.
Horrible whines.
Xtazir glances at Sulky and sighs.
Sulky says, "What? I didn't see anything up there"
Xtazir rolls his eyes.
Xtazir says to Horrible, "Get up."
Sulky asks, "So what do we do with him?"
Horrible asks, "I know, you could let me go, cause I won't do it again?"
Xtazir laughs as he pushes Horrible back.
Horrible stumbles back and falls through the glowing archway.
Xtazir says, "You know, that was actually pretty fun."
Sulky snickers.
Xtazir picks up the blanket and tosses it through the glowing archway.
Xtazir picks up the flimsy wooden sign and breaks it, then tosses it into the glowing archway as well.
Xtazir says, "Well, that takes care of that."
Sulky asks, "What about all the people that he conned into going through the arch?
Xtazir says, "Sadly, they must live with their mistake, and learn to live in Spur.
Sulky sighs.
Hhyss hisses so let me get this straight, you telling me there is no two-headed Oliphant through that archway, or is there? Because I really wanted to see one!
Xtazir says, "I don’t know, why don’t you see for yourself."
Sulky blinks and pinches Xtazir.
Xtazir mumbles.
Xtazir says to Hhyss, "No, of course there is no two-headed Oliphants."
Hhyss pouts.
Sulky asks, "Wait! How are we going to get paid? No one hired us this time!?"
Xtazir chuckles.
Xtazir says to Sulky, "Why, we'll bill the academy of course, not to mention the council for doing the guards duty for them, by kicking that one out."

Sulky exclaims, "Oh! OH!"
Xtazir nods to Sulky with a wide grin.
(After returning everyone back to the Town Square and of course after Sulky took the time to say goodbye to each person there, we headed back towards our home)

Sulky asks, "Are we there yet?"

Xtazir sighs.
Thus brings us to the end of the case file 0148, "The Disappearing Act" Perhaps everyone learned something from this.. no not to ask your guild leader for an apprentice like Sulky, but to never blindly believe someone whom you don't know! So be careful out there cadets, and farewell for now, until the next, "TG" File!"
Detective Xtazir
Oh.. and Sulky.
Note: All names and events might be false, any names resembling these are horrible. You should slap your parents and pick new ones, and thanks for reading!

News
Sarithiya Darklure

The 29th Day of the 12th Month of the Year 311

As the year draws to a close, Spurians are putting recent events behind them and turning to face new problems that plague our city. Both hope and dismay are emotions that color the beginning of this new year for many Spurians, as many different people from varying backgrounds clash over who should be running the government. There is no more of Moloch or Malzor to threaten our existence, but now we are forced to deal with the everyday problems of Spurian politics. Many Spurians are uncertain of the integrity and stability of our city government. Has faith been renewed with Athyn's recent acquittal or are Spurians still seeking abrupt change, or at least some clear answers?

On the forefront of the political movement is the elusive and wily Changeman Shadowlurk, a San Elf of Set. For some time now, he has been one of the few courageous enough or insane enough to question the authority that casts a shadow over the city of Spur. As a result, a few sources have claimed he has been hunted relentlessly by a Fir Elf bounty hunter by the name of Kazil, who it is said is a very skilled archer. Changeman has once again found himself on the run, often escaping through the shadows. It is not clear who has hired the bounty hunter or why, or how many people have seen him.

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