Volume 3, Issue 5 Editor:
Leyara Rin I am pleased to announce another fine issue
of the Tribune is here. Thanks to all of our readers, both known and unknown for your continues
support. We all needed a vacation and now that my head publisher has been found things are finally
back where they need to be. __________ An Open Letter to Baron Symher, Guildmaster of Merchants. Baron, As a Merchant yourself, You no doubt have noticed the heart
and soul of any town is the town square. When you stand in Spur's town square however, what do you see? Gutwrenching
violence. By every one of every religion, not just the usual suspects. You see Odarian Pride Khats doing fullout
illegal battles in the square, not just the Taathian Painbringers. Just a few minutes before I started to write this,
There were two Knights in Town Square, who stood by as Thugs, and Sanene and Oogs battled each other. This kind of thing
is ridiculous. A merchant seeing or hearing of this kind of behavior has to be
worried. What happens if a merchant angers someone enough to cause that someone to attack? What if this someone is an
Oog, who could theoretically kill a merchant before guards arrived to stop the attack? While the Merchant is dead, his
cart could easily get picked clean by the rest of the so-called 'law abiding' populace. Said Merchant would be lucky to
even have a cart by the time their God or the House of Death saw fit to return them. What would happen to this town if Merchants decided to avoid here?
Sure, Adventurers spend lots of money, but there is only so much that is worth the personal risk Merchants risk by being
here. Already I'm seeing a decline in scheduled Merchant 'peddles' as they
are called. Surely the reason is because the sheer ugliness of this town's behavior. And the sad fact is, Spur is supposed
to be the center of civilization in this corner of the world. Yet it's justice system is something out of a barely settled
frontier town of an empire. No town can truly be considered civilized when murderers are allowed
to run around, killing whoever they wish. And if they are caught, they spend usually a day, if that! in jail. What kind of
punishment is that? The only true justice is vigilante justice. You have an Odarian priest declaring that he'll enforce
Spur's laws, yet by enforcing them he's breaking them. If someone is stolen from, they get revenge. If someone is killed,
their friends get revenge. And it escalates. Just a few minutes from when I wrote this, There were two Knights in
Town Square, who stood by as Thugs, and Sanene and Oogs battled each other. This kind of thing is ridiculous. As you can see, I'm asking for you to have the city start enforcing
it's murder laws, at least in Town Square, if not the rest of the city. If people want to kill each other so badly, have
them do it on the road. It is a lot less shocking for a traveler to see it there. Because the alternative to enforcing the
laws is almost unthinkable. As I said, Scheduled Peddles are already on the decline. how long before scheduled food or gem
or metal shipments stop coming? Before shops close up and move to another town? Think on this Baron. Top Fives
6th month in the year 312
Assistant Editor: Sarithiya
Darklure
Publisher: Stalton Darkclaw
Contents:
1.) A few words from the Editor
2.) Letters
3.) Top Fives
4.) Heart Clerics
5.) Shandora's Box
6.) The Advocates
7.) Honor Is
8.) News
9.) Ads
Cleric of Set
Leyara Rin
Deadliest place to hunt
1. The Siren While Town Square was still mentioned, it didn't
get enough votes to make it in the top five this go around. Pity indeed. But the ones that did make it
take fright to a whole new level. Anyone that has adventured to these areas certainly doesn't need me
to explain how wicked they really are. I would think entering the Rose Eternal Tavern without rubber
boots on when the floor has been turned into a literal swamp of vomit from all the Drag-al drinking
frenzy that just took place to be far more dangerous, but alas, I was wrong! Most favorite breed of pet 1. Black kittens What would our lives be like if we didn't have pets?
Boring, sad, even a bit mundane? Of course, not all the different ideas for pets made it this far. Some
aren't 'pet material' but that didn't stop a few individuals from naming them anyway. Someone thought Secians
make the best pets, another felt Flerians were. And yet another felt that Fir Elves were the best to have as
a pet, hands down..Odd yes, but we live in Spur, it is to be expected. Most predictable Spurian 1. Weimer Every one of these citizens have something they all share
in common with each other. They are all beyond annoying! If they aren't biting at your ankles, they are clawing
your armor up, using your backside for target practice, waking up crabby again and letting everyone know just
how crabby they can be, or worst case scenario: playing you like a harp to get whatever they want, whenever they
want...Predictable? Of course! I don't think any of them would have it any other way. Grumpiest Lizard 1. Jazbo A close friend told me that grumpiness is a trait all Monitanians
share. The grumpier they are they truer they are to their race. I don't know this to be an actual fact so if any of the
Monitanians listed above wish to clarify I would be more than willing to have the record set straight. Most kill happy Fighter 1. Aeroth Aeroth, may he never rest in peace. I think if he would have lived
he would have eventually got shipped away to Wrathmar for the rest of his life. The way things have gone lately though.
Some of the others who did make it on this list just might be going there themselves. We have Ambrose, who makes it a
habit of assaulting others when it isn't his place to do so. Bags, who is often seen hunting and flirting with outcasts
of certain guilds or temples, is he using them or being used by them? The citizens of Spur say he is kill happy so I will
digress! Krraskna that wicked yet occasionally amusing Arachnian Fighter of Taath is never one to walk away from a battle,
whenever there is a fight going on, if he isn't directly involved in it, he is but a few feet away, most likely preparing
to jump into the fray with all four legs twitching anxiously. Laston has left Spur to do some traveling in other lands and
while he has been gone for quite some time, he hasn't left the minds of the ones who have crossed his path and surely come
out the worst for it. The Happy Go Lucky Hearts Sweet natured Guyver (or so my sources tell me) has
grabbed hold of the lead position and doesn't appear to be letting anything change that anytime soon. Good for him! Rytul, the
more intelligent Grey brother has a very strong holding in second place, I don't think he will ever let a Secian sweep past him.
But Secians are known to be relentless at times so Alwin someday might just flitter past the Elf anyway. Alynia, Stanrar's better
half is about to be overtook by a Leuian by the name of Bowdendire, or Bo for short. Marinda is next, and in seventh place we have
Cori, a very wise and level headed Usil. Malthus is next followed by Kyree and Tisha, who might not be in the top ten much longer. 1. Guyver Khinar the Leuian Shandora's Box Reyilion says, "Cynus is slightly corrupt" Vixen says in Sanene, "These fools think they can go around pawing me
whenever they like someone is going to die" Kagee says to Kyntavis, "You want me" Luck says in Secti, "OK, I may be a little weird but I'm not stupid" Daemon says to Stanrar, "Yep, the Taathians are very predictable, and the
Odarians, well, they're not" Warpanther says to Ambrose in Leuian, "Too many Taathians around for my
comfort... I'm leaving" Lore says, "Blood, death, gore.. does it ever get tiring." Anvil says, "The last time Arachnians invaded our temple we beat them back
ourselves." Zeaq asks Trinnity, "Why don't you go try skellies? I'm sure ya can hit them..." Mebok asks, "Who top food chain? noot, o gold fish?" Corrigian says to Rialla, "Don't pop your wings off there Little One." Litorth says, "Although Kirrra doesn't like it when I start talking about eating people..." Bags says, "She has the nicest beard in all of spur me thinks" Guaire pokes the dark robed Setite puppet and makes it say, "I'm Justice Rylek Grey!
You're under arrest!" Beshara yells, "We shall see how much you like yanking on faces when the Governor releases
you from his protection" Flora thinks to you, "Donchu jus hate its when somebodies in yer head an yous kint do nuffins
bout it" Phannah screams, "Mashema, don't let him get me!!!!" Alwin says to Kyrinne, "You'd look better without clothes" The
Advocates You Spurians, most of you, believe in laws. You trust in them
to defend you and to keep your city running. You obey them even when you need not. You furrow your brows or raise your fists to those who
do not obey them. Some of you, notably those who follow the lesser God Odarous, attach religious significance to them. All this is patently absurd. I doubt that one in a hundred of you
could say who wrote the laws; I know I could not. Time and again, those of you who profess yourself most devoted to these laws prove yourself
woefully ignorant of them--ignorant, at least, of those that do not suit your purposes, and ignorant of their consequences. In following these
laws, you stumble blindfolded down a trail that leads you know not whither. What then, you ask, am I to follow? For the heart craves guidance. My
answer is this: follow the commands of your God. Stand at the altar of your temple, and listen with your heart and your eternal soul. Though your
God speak not with words, you will feel what is required of you. Go forth then, and do as you are bidden. And if this be in conflict with the law
of Spur or of any other place, that is of no import. Words written on pages or carved in stone have no hold over you, and weigh not in the balance
against the command of your God. Strangely tolerant this may seem, a priestess of Taath urging folk to obey
their Gods, even though those Gods be not the One True Lord. But know this: all will come under Taath's Dominion in the end. All purposes are ultimately
one, and all follow the true path. If you are chosen to serve the Lord, rejoice and serve Him. If it is your lot to be among the cattle that follow the
lesser gods, do so, and serve Him by serving them. But in any case follow the sure path of faith, not the false and deceptive path of law. -Foom
__________ Biographical note: Cicero Justis is a young Human Fighter, recently arrived in
Spur from his hometown near Saldaea. He is not yet well known in Spur, but we found him so energetic and so articulate that we are delighted to make him
the Tribune's Advocate for Order. Our best wishes go to the former Advocate, Rynock Gavinson, now gone from Spur. To the other applicants for the position,
all of them talented and accomplished, our thanks and condolences. When I first arrived in the City of Spur, the first thing I did was to visit your
Law Museum and read the Mandates, both Criminal and Civil, which are displayed there on gloriously beautiful tapestries. Such august and elegantly worded
Statutes, so elegantly displayed. It is a magnificent sight. I must confess, it brought tears to my eyes. To any Spurian who has not been there, I
wholeheartedly recommend the trip. And yet, as I walked around the Museum, a sense of puzzlement grew within me. Had
I missed a hallway? There seemed to be so few Mandates. One room for Criminal, one for Civil. It seemed a very small body of Law for such a large and complex
City as Spur. In the village where I grew up, the Laws are not displayed with such style, but we have volume upon volume of leather-bound tomes, all crammed
with Laws. Every facet of life, from the hand-washing customs of midwives to the dimensions of graveyard plots, is determined by Statute. I inquired of a caretaker whether there might be more Laws recorded elsewhere. He
replied curtly that there were not. "We find these Laws are quite sufficient," he remarked. "Some even find them excessive." I went about my business, somewhat
reassured. Perhaps, I surmised, Spur was a City of such good will and reason that a few simple Laws sufficed. I must now state that this is not so. In my short stay in the City, I have witnessed
four Murders, twelve Assaults, three Pickpocketings, eight instances of Public Drunkenness, one instance of Lewd Activity, twenty-four instances of Spitting in
Public, one attempt at Extortion, four Acts of Vandalism, three Expressions of Obscenity and twenty-nine of Blasphemy, as well as ninety-six instances of Littering. In short, Spur is a City ridden with Crime and Misfeasance. It needs, first of all, to have
its existing Mandates enforced. I have witnessed no attempts by anyone to do so. But secondly, it needs more Laws. Much of the vile and reprehensible behavior I have
seen in Spur is actually legal by strict interpretation. It is my opinion that lesser misdeeds inevitably lead to greater ones. By adequately regulating the fine grain
of behavior, we ensure a higher quality overall. I will, in the coming weeks, be drawing up proposals for the enforcement of the Mandates, as
well as additional Laws for Spur. These will include a Curfew, bans on Public Drunkenness and Public Nudity, Regulations concerning the display of weapons, enlarged
definitions of Theft, and Guidelines regulating encounters between hostile races or religions. Any interested Citizens, particularly those with knowledge of the Law,
are invited to contact me through this newspaper. Working together through the Law, I believe we can make Spur into an adequately regulated and reliably policed City. -Cicero Honor Is
With a final mechanical thrust of my blade the howling spirit dissolves back into the abyss from which it spawned,
its possessions scattering on the wooden floor before me. Absently I reach down to pluck the gleaming coins from the spectral dust, placing them in my beltpouch and
moving on. The hunt has become redundant. Thrust, parry, slash, loot. Thrust, parry, slash, loot. Over and over my arms rise and fall, sending the souls of the damned
to their final resting place.
My mind is not in the hunt. My mind is far, far away.
Thrust. My honor is my life. My honor is my reason for continuing on, it is the essence of my race, it is that which
gives meaning to every word and every action.
Parry. My honor.. what is honor? Is it more honorable to attack a superior force with knowledge you will die, or to
stand before that superior force, look them in the eyes, and die with your head held high, without giving them the honor of facing you in combat when they show such cowardice?
To do your sword duty without agreeing with the circumstances, or to stop said circumstances and fail in your duty? To leap to the attack to destroy those without honor, or
to remain behind to protect those who cannot protect themselves?
Slash. My race claims that single combat is the only honorable way of combat. I fight these pathetic shades alone, knowing
I will prevail. Is that honorable? Many of my... kyn... hunt similar foes in groups, for fun and companionship. Is that honorable? Invading forces plague the decadent city in
which so many of my kyn live, and often a pack of my race will attack the commanding officer together instead of challenging the wretch to single combat. Again... is that
honorable? It seems that honor is dependent on circumstances and perspective, and yet so many of my kind claim to be honorable, going so far as to insult the honor of another
when they do not agree with the reasoning behind one's actions.
The coins fall to the floor, again. I absently scoop them up, again. I move on, again.
Is it more honorable for a mother to steal food she cannot afford with her meager earning so she may feed her children, or
to allow her children to die from malnutrition while keeping her morals intact? Another spirit dies.
How may I strive for honor when I do not know what honor is? How can so many claim to know honor? Are they more intelligent?
Are they stronger willed? Another spirit dies.
Another ghostly shape rises before me. Thrust, parry, slash, loot. I send another dead soul to eternal slumber, while my still
living soul tosses and turns with indecision. The ache of my muscles finally begins to register through the thoughts swirling through my mind, and yet I still continue... Thrust,
parry... pause.
The spirit lies on the floor before me, a thick pale ichor spilling from its wounds. A translucent claw rises, feebly attempting
to fend off the blow it believes is soon to fall. The final assault never comes. Instead, I turn and walk away. It is no longer worth it.
A Leuian of great wisdom once said two words in regard to honor, that have meant so much to so many. He said... "Honor is." I do
not claim to have nearly his wisdom... but I believe I truly do understand now. However... I shall keep it to myself for a time until perhaps I find one of like mind. Until that time
comes... Honor is, and I simply am. Khargel
News The 30th Day of the 12th Month of the Year
312 Shayra Magicka, a Human, is a very powerful non-elemental runemage. Few do not fear her womanly wrath! She has
become well-known as a studious and knowledgeable runemage. However, Shayra may gave gone a step too far in her studies in the dark art of necromancy recently. Shayra captured Flower
Firslayer in the pyramids and forced her into a dark ritual that ended with Flower's soul being taken for Shayra's own power! Flower stared blankly into the darkness. Runes had evidently
been carved into her arm. Taath suddenly smited Shayra and her companion down, and Flower's soul was taken by Him. She remained like this
for days, and every effort was made to restore her soul to her body. Flower was seen leaping out of the shadows fearfully and quickly glancing around for the necromancer before fleeing
Town Square. Finally, Foom led a ritual in the Taathian temple that included intense prayer, a special tincture, and burning Flower's skin until the runes were no more. Finally, after
much agony before the altar of Taath, including those conducting the ritual, Flower was given back her soul. She remembered nothing of the incident. Shayra later apologized to Flower,
and continued working on her deep and mysterious studies. Sir Rylek Grey has been seen flashing a two-handed diamond hilted bluesteel claymore. It is said that the claymore
was given to him by Lord Maloveous Tazanda'ar of Saldaea as a gift. It was reported that Sir Rylek claims that the diamond within the hilt in enchanted. A Taathian relic is said to have been found in the Dark Forest after some Taathian priests were heard moaning about
the object and its whereabouts. Jurix, Lazrus and a group of other Hithuals are said to have found the relic after a hunt, beating a group of Taathians to the chase that included Foom Thurunder
and Lii Dvo. A makeshift altar covered with fading red runes and a broken winged stag statue were found at the site after the relic had been removed. The runes faded and disappeared. On a the
stag statue a plaque read : "What is my name? Come high, come low To a place oft' overstepped Where above the plants grow For air the annelids swept. My name? Here you will find the object same."
Some people believe that this is a sign of an approaching Odarian and Taathian entanglement. Last but not least Ragarn the Frontacian and Allandra the Psycian were recently seen hunting and spending some quality
time together in Spur, was she giving him a tour of all the new buildings or looking for a more private place where they could be alone? Ads
Attention to all those who seek a worthy cause to serve!
The silver drake, Litorth, is currently looking for someone to be elevated to the esteemed position of Silver Dragon Knight.
There will be quests to fulfill and riddles to solve along the way. The rewards shall be as great as the challenges.
If you feel you have what it takes seek out Litorth and receive your first quest. There can be only one Silver Dragon Knight.
2. Demons
3. Dernath Woods
4. The Emjedah Mines
5. Maloveous' Keep
2. Big puppies
3. Battle cats
4. Blue Faery Wyvern
5. Ravens
2. Ambrose
3. Callik
4. Komatsu
5. Vixen
2. Aftertaste
3. Nemprii
4. Prosapia
5. Xirawyn
2. Ambrose
3. Bags
4. Krraskna
5. Laston
Leyara Rin
2. Rytul Grey the San Elf
3. Alwin Arlt the Secian
4. Alynia Mandor the Psycian
5. Bowdendire Trinity the Leuian
6. Marinda Martins the Secian
7. Cori Sylvermoon the Usil Elf
8. Malthus Kerensky the Psycian
9. Kyree Alavae the Usil Elf
10. Tisha Luckystarre the Secian
11. Ahndra Moonchaser the Secian
12. Starlyn Sylverkiss the Secian
13. Kissinda Clawheart the Leuian
14. Dugors Dragins the Leuian
15. Flower Firslayer the San Elf
16. Tempest Dramning the Leuian
17. Reyilion Dukhaat the Leuian
18. Midnight Raine the Secian
19. Kavita Silverstar the Secian
20. Tiffany Mcloud the Secian
21. Rialla Iridius the Secian
22. Tula Starhopper the Secian
23. Kailan Acerien the Secian
24. Zofi Avram the Secian
25. Kirrra Starmaid the Secian
26. Ahava Ayperi the Secian
27. Lerana Syrsan the San Elf
28. Pollii Vernstoode the Secian
29. Ranier Thrazzeltog the Usil Elf
30. Mala Tigerblood the Leuian
31. Berial Ambrosius the Secian
32. Sylk Truhart the Secian
33. Valoria Sworddancer the Human
34. Feste Oliviard the Secian
35. Phannah Stonehenge the Human
36. Oake Meadow the Secian
37. Goldenhands Wellwisher the Secian
38. Nicaro Tanakin the Drag-al
39. Kasuni Khamakhatza the Leuian
40. Aliyah Darcy the Secian
41. Darrow Tarosh the Secian
42. Guyon Bertran the Secian
43. Mimi Flutterwing the Secian
44. Sast Silverleaf the Secian
45. Altyerre Breeze the Leuian
46. Kyrinne Woodmist the Secian
47. Allandra Shadowfax the Psycian
48. Lainoir Isky the Psycian
49. Felissa Moondust the Secian
50. Thrawn Virgilio the Leuian
Maella Wolfrider
-Reyilion the Leuian.
-Vixen the San Elf.
Kyntavis says to Kagee, "Yes, gutted, dried, and stretched into canvas."
-Kagee and Kyntavis, Sanene.
-Luck the Human.
-Daemon and Stanrar, Human.
-Warpanther and Ambrose, Leuians.
-Lore the Penthanian.
-Anvil the Hithual.
-Zeaq the Secian and Trinnity the Arachnian.
Saberus says to Mebok, "Not sure depends on the newt"
Saberus says, "I'd say the newt under most circumstances though"
Saberus says, "Course if you chopped up the newt I'm sure the gold fish would eat it"
-Mebok the Newt and Saberus the Leuian.
Rialla asks, "They come off??!"
Corrigian says to Rialla, "Sneeze too hard and they might."
-Corrigian the Draco and Rialla the Secian.
Litorth says, "But we don't have to tell her."
-Litorth the Drake.
-Bags the Hithual.
-Guaire the Frontacian.
Desher yells, "After that you'll have to wait until Platinum, Axe, Gossamer, and Gaudior release me from their protections"
-Beshara the Leuian and Desher the Drag-al.
-Flora the Leuian.
-Phannah the Human.
-Alwin and Kyrinne, Secians.
Sarithiya Darklure
As always, if you want to compliment, confide in, threaten, or to advertise anything at all, send us a scroll. Thanks for reading another mind-boggling but stimulating issue of our paper!
The Tribune Staff