[Discourse]

So there's been a small change of plans..

I know in the last edition I promised you a once-in-a-lifetime interview with the Radiant, Atrosus Vandigan, but as it turns out, both he and I are extraordinarily busy men. However, in place of him, I managed to snag an interview not only with the noble girl Sofia ven Pelleaux, but also with the Exarch, Elijah Soleis! Very exciting, I hope. I'm also very pleased with the sheer amount of feedback I've gotten from this newsprint. Indeed, many people are noticing who I am in the streets, and many benefactors are already offering their assistance to my goal. So long as I have food to eat, a place to sleep, and the truth to seek, I'll always be out there looking after you, Osrona.

Because I care about you, a lot. But don't take that the wrong way, now, you hear me?



But really, how much WAS Atrosus' hammer?

Discourse Headlines
Circa 1661, in the later half of the year - During the harvest.

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TONIGHT'S HEADLINES!
-Syndicate in Sudbury: A Festival of Chaos!
-Slumdog Slavery - Indentured Servitude, for life!
-The Pelleaux Estate versus The First Light!
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Syndicate in Sudbury: A Festival of Chaos!


The Festival that took place recently, offering fun and good times to anyone who did not consider themselves part of Osrona's nobility, was certainly a fun time for everyone. Many of the people there engaged in song and dance, ate strange and exotic foods, and conversed amidst themselves for quite some time. While obviously not anything overly fantastic, and despite many people saying that it seemed incomplete or unplanned, one could argue that a very large portion of Osrona's lower and middle class showed up to attend, even if only for a few moments. However, that also applies to a certain unwanted- or perhaps, now, WANTED? - group, the Syndicate. They arrived quickly and made their presence known nigh immediately, proselytizing their organization and offering to the downtrodden and weak that "they are there for them, and will welcome them with open arms." Despite the fact that combat broke out nearly immediately between off-duty Knights and Watchmen, desperate to remove the Syndicate presence, it appears quite a few commonfolk shared positive opinions, shouting out that they supported the terrorist group and even going as far as attempting to join them.

This reporter barely got out without his tail being singed completely off by a wayward fireball, but this only begs the question; Is the political climate within Sudbury and the lower class this poor, or was this an isolated incident? With the Syndicate constantly putting pressure on public events, one can only wonder how, when, and where their next assault will be.. And perhaps one should be advised to keep further gatherings privately advertised, just in case.

Slumdog Slavery - Indentured Servitude.. For Life!

Following up on a report from our last issue of the Discourse Headlines, this reporter has managed to get a few official statements about the Sudbury peasantry who were arrested, but shortly after were seen walking the streets once more. As it turns out, while originally slated for execution, several of the arrested parties instead opted to give themselves up for indentured servitude to the First Light... Permanently. Their lives are forfeit in the hands of the Order of the First Light, and as long as they serve the Knights, they keep themselves alive. This offers a few curious, and almost scary prospects to anyone arrested, or anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the First light, in the future.

Following this report, I, Discourse, managed to score an interview with the Exarch, Elijah Soleis. The following is the Exarch's response to the idea that the citizenry were being forced into slavery, just as many consider the Rhoynish to be forced into slavery. His opinion has been edited for easier viewing, but the integrity of the comment has been kept mostly in tact.

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"How do you feel about the fact that those arrested in the Sudbury riots are now being forced into labor and slavery, offering their lives in exchange to avoid death, just as the Rhoynish are forced into servitude for their entire lives, often in very poor living conditions?"

Elijah had this to say:

'It isn't slavery, as you can work your way out of being an indentured servant(though he also mentions not knowing whether or not, in other civilizations, if one can work themselves out of slavery). The Rhoynish are only one reason that Sudbury is in such dire straits. They provide cheap, free labor and those that don't serve their time as indentured servants often turn to crime, instead. He dislikes how people in Sudbury, and how Sudbury as a whole, is treated, especially when many of them have worked hard and have even joined the First Light. Not everyone in Sudbury is a thief or Rhoynish bandit. However, he also recognizes that at the end of the day, it's not his call to make. Whatever Queen Ariande Petrakis asks of him, it's what he will do, because he serves as her sword and doesn't pretend to be anything greater. If you'd ask him whether he'd put ten thousand people to the stake as opposed to forced, life-long service, he'd not have a true answer for you. "It's not my call to make."'

When asked if he had anything else to add onto his comment, he replied with this:

'Remember who the nobility truly are; People who performed deeds so great the crown itself saw to grant them the status. Before then, they were just like you and me. They come from commoners, and any noble who thinks they're a different class of person isn't noble to begin with. They're someone born into it, who doesn't deserve it. Respect the title, but judge the person as any other.'

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While it's nice to have an opinion from someone directly involved in such a thing, it also is enough to make someone worry about exactly how much say in things the First Light has. At the end of the day, it is up to the people of Osrona to decide whether or not this is a fitting punishment, whether or not we want to subject our people to the same punishments that the Rhoynish have been given for the Conquests. Is this Slavery, Osrona, or is this justice?

It should also be noted that another Exarch, one 'Nemein Sparda', has been seen practically boasting about the fact that they now have an 'indentured servant', seeming very smug and happy to have someone toil to their will as opposed to only having Knights at their disposal..

And tonight's HIT STORY...

The Pelleaux Estate versus the Order of the First Light!

As we're all aware, duels between nobility are decided, always, between two champions. Such is the case, much to Lady Sofia ven Pelleaux's dismay, in an honor duel between the aforementioned Lady Pelleaux and Gerald d'Arnette. While Sofia seemed more than willing to step into the arena and settle things herself, d'Arnette immediately made his way to the Radiant Atrosus Vandigan and employed him as his champion in the duel. This raises some questions; Is this kind of behavior valid, or is it only smart thinking in finding the strongest person who will champion you? Should the Order of the First Light, especially a man such as Radiant Vandigan, willingly go up against a sixteen year old girl, or her champion, a felinae maid, in good conscious? Does this not go against what the Order is all about?

These questions were asked to a few people, and these are their responses.

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"How do you feel about the fact that Atrosus is accepting d'Arnette's request to champion him in a duel, given his rank, and the fact that his opponent is either a young noble girl or a felinae maid?"

Miss Teatime had this to say:

"I'm not scared, and I'm only doing what is required of me for my master. I think it's a bit strange that Atrosus would actively agree to a duel against a sixteen year old girl, especially given that she is a noble."

Exarch Elijah Soleis had this to say:

"It's beneath his rank. What kind of message does choosing to fight a young teenage girl on behalf of someone else, especially against House Pelleaux, send about the First Light? We stand with Grimmore, Pelleaux, and Astor as their sworn protectors. If Lady Pelleaux called on me to defend her instead of Teatime, I'd do so, not because I'm a follower of hers, but because I'd want to send a message that the First Light is not united in Vandigan's stance."

Sofia ven Pelleaux had this to say:

"I find it interesting how quickly he purchased that new hammer after he challenged Gerald D'Arnette. There's no ill will to the man himself, except disappointment that Vandigan would support the D'Arnette family in any capacity, but there's no real discourse with his choice to oppose me in the opposite side of the duel. The true fault of bringing Atrosus into this is with Gerald, bringing a wizened martial expert of a Knight against a sixteen year old girl."

When asked why ven Pelleaux chose Miss Teatime as her champion, Sofia had this to follow up with:


"The five feet surrounding Charlotte Teatime can be the safest, or most dangerous, places in all of Esshar depending on who you are. She wishes luck against Radiant Vandigan in this battle, regardless." She then followed up, finishing the interview by saying 'If you are doing wrong by this city, I will come for you.'

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At the end of the day, this is the kind of debate that many people will have many differing opinions on. Though the duel is already finished, with Miss Teatime losing, rather tragically, to the Radiant, it is important that the citizenry of Osrona look at this either as acceptable or as a blight. This reporter has many opinions, but as this is an article circulating the truth, and only the truth, I will leave you all with one final question on this issue!

Is the First Light truly in favor of protecting the noble, or are they primarily after their own goals, in the long run?

This Article has been sponsored by one Mathias Adimaros, operating out of Sudbury as host of the Steel Bank. Mathias, a blonde haired human, a business through and through, is offering cheap rentable property in the Sudbury district. Five hundred coins down payment, alongside of 300 coins yearly, will net you a decent sized home in Sudbury. Given how expensive much of the property can be, and with how little money seems to be flowing into that district, this could be your break to get off of the streets and into a warm home.

That's all we've got for today, friends.

Again, I must apologize for the lack of an interview with Radiant Vandigan; He and I are very busy, and our schedules merely did not mesh well, especially with the recent terrorist activity. But regardless of that, be sure to check back in every single day for a potential new edition of the Discourse Headlines. We aim to bring you the current ongoings of Osrona, straight from the word of the people and Osrona's citizenry. While we try to be unbiased, there is always room for improvement; And if you think something was reported inaccurately, find Discourse to get a small article printed with corrections in the next edition.

The Discourse Headlines once again thanks Miss Sofia ven Pelleaux, Exarch Elijah Soleis, Radiant Atrosus Vandigan, and the multitudes of readers who offered our reporter a cornicopeia of information about these events. We hope you've enjoyed reading, and remember- Advertisement slots are available in every edition, and if you want to advertise your business or simply post a personal advertisement, seek out the red haired ookami 'Discourse' in the city of Osrona, now operating out of Sudbury.

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Until next time, friends.