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Thrax · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 5:01 pm Post subject: Thrust and Parry

The courier stopped at the steps of the building and began fumbling with the letters he had in the oversized pack at his side. "Now which one is this? Ah yes, the Duke and Duchess," he muttered to himself, thumbing through them. He sighed. Sweat rolled off his forehead and dripped onto a few of the letters he held in his hands. The day had been very hot, and only now was the sun beginning to set. He was glad that he had only a few more letters to deliver today. Soon he would be home, eating his wife's supper, thence to recline in his chair on the porch and smoke his pipe. Those thoughts forced a smile from him.

Until he felt a sharp tug at the bottom of the pack. It ripped open and letters fell to the ground. He grabbed the top of the pack and pulled it toward him. A rat the size of a cat had ripped open its thick leather bottom with its teeth alone and had locked its jaws around half a dozen letters that had spilled out. It began scurrying away from him, running at such a speed that he marveled. "Give that back... thief!!" he cried, dropping the pack to chase after the rodent. It left him far behind and he stopped, completely out of breath. Spewing a mouthful of dark curses, he returned to gather up the letters and finish his duty...

Knowing that escape was assured, the rat stopped and dropped the letters on the ground. A mist swirled about the creature, and moments later, a man stood where the rat had been. Skurj smiled, stooping over to pick up the letters and place them in a pocked of his shirt. He cast a spell of recall to return home...

Lord Thrax was in the library of his manor, researching a topic of interest, when Skurj entered, approached, and greeted him. He placed several letters on the table where Thrax sat. "These are from Itannar to various leaders. Each has a copy of an affidavit signed by Saint Max. You should look at them at once, m'lord," he said in an urgent tone.

Thrax closed the book he was reading and picked up one of the opened letters. He read it aloud and the affidavit. A scowl crossed his face. "I was wondering how long it would take him to weigh in against us," he remarked, dropping the letter onto the table. "I was foolish to think he would not. I cannot let this go unanswered. We wil have to set the record straight," he stated.

(to be continued)

Thrax · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

*a message to all Heads of State from Lord Thrax*

Greetings,

It has come to my attention that a personal enemy of mine, Itannar Darkanor, and perhaps others, are spreading rumors and falsehoods seeking to discredit me among you. If this were someone else, someone whom I knew was merely trying to belittle me publicly to effect a laugh at my expense, or the ravings of some mindless wandering idiot, which seem to flow freely in and out of Jhelom (or as I hear it is now "Valoria") these days, I would enjoy the mirth of it all myself. But it is not. I know this man who seeks to demean me, and, for the record, give my own testimony and defense of my actions and character to you, freely.

What Lord Itannar failed to tell you is that the Saints of the True Covenant made themselves odious to me by successfully stealing my own homeland when they arrived in Sosaria. They found what is now Thraxstadt and proceeded to erect a large tower there. I, of course, had my own plans for the area, and when it was reported to me what they were doing, I immediately met with them to protest vehemently, showing them my own deed to the land. Felucca, in the early days, was a wild and savage realm, where numbers and strength of arms most often would win the day. My own forces were small. I admit I attacked them first, after they refused to hear my just claims (and since there was no real government in Yew at the time there was no court to decide the case). We failed to win back our land. I perished many times in battle, but finally was able to slay the Lord Preceptor of that time, Saint Max.

I do admit I captured his shade and upon its resurrection, imprisoned him for a while in a secret location. When the Saints decided to leave Felucca for Trammel, where they now own a fine castle and other holdings, I moved into the vacated tower. I brokered a deal with Itannar himself; I have his signature on the sale of the area if he is willing to admit it. He may claim it was done under duress, but I had no part in whatever compelled him to sell out and leave.

I brought Saint Max into the tower and kept him for many years. He was never put to death again for his crimes, and any bizarre idea that I am a demon that he vows I told him while in prison, could only have come from his own guilty conscience and bedeviled mind. He effected no escape from my dungeon; he was released after I had determined he had served time long enough for his crimes. Proof that I have no ill feelings toward him is that he now roams the land freely; I have not sent my agents or troops to recapture or harm him. If imprisoning a thief and murderer like him is a crime, then I confess to guilt, but so must all of you who have done likewise to defend your persons, loved ones, and property.

As for my philosophy and religion, I will gladly state that I do serve a god who seeks, and rewards, the worship of those who understand and appreciate the nature and power of what may be termed chaos, darkness, or evil. I choose methods and rituals commensurate with it, and though some detest such things, they do fill a valuable niche in the formation and maintenance of the necessary balance between light and darkness, something without which this material plane, Sosaria, cannot naturally and logically exist.

This campaign to discredit me is based upon old scores, long settled (by me) but is now revived for political effect by cagey opportunists who despise me and my religion. It is clear bias and hate, unworthy of the least of your attention, and I pray you will view it as such. At the very least, give me the benefit of any doubt.

I shall continue the renovation of Yew, Felucca. At this time, all goes well. The Orcs are already making preparations for expansion and settlement into the new territory.

In Sincerity,
Lord Thrax

William · Journeyman Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 180 Location: Vesper

William was eating dinner at the tavern near by in Jhelom. William got back to his office and sees a letter by Thrax, "Not this idiot again" William said.
Dear Thrax

Nothing can clean the acts you have done to the world. I was wrong about the bad I said about the orcs, the Lord has let me know about it for I am to ;et everyone know that the Lord excepts anyone that believes in him even you Thrax. How will anyone trust the orcs now that you are speaking for them. A man of evil is speaking for the orcs, how do we know if any of the orcs are involved I had not heard a word from them, only you. I want to hear from an orc himself not you and why are you concerned with the orcs, your not an orc but a deamon from hell. You will not hold Yew the Lords city of Justice, i'll see to it my damn self.

Sincerely
William[/i]

Thrax · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 8:46 am Post subject:

*a letter arrives from Lord Thrax to William*

Lord William,

I am pleased to finally get a bit of communication from you that actually raises legitimate concerns and that is not entirely filled with rant.

I will ignore the diatribe and respond to the questions.

How do we know if the Orcs were involved?

The land in question is theirs by heredity. I do not need an orc's permission to defend what is rightfullly theirs. This is an undertaking of my own, though I have spoken to some of them about it. One does not need to ask a friend if they need help to quench a fire that is destroying their home; one acts quickly, grabbing a bucket of water to douse the flames. One does not need the owner's permission and approval to return an item stolen from them. If roles were reversed, I would be thankful they cared enough to come to my aid. Besides, if people like you had bothered to have researched this yourselves, it would not have been needful for me to have taken the lead. Compassion would have motivated you already to do it. Do not confuse recitation of mantras at shrines as the substance for which they stand, or things such as this will happen, and you will be forced to look on, irritated that people like myself practice what you preach.

You wish to hear from an Orc himself?

Good sir, that can be arranged. I will happily provide a guide for you to visit their encampment and take you on a tour of their village. I am sure they will be just as eager to meet you and will offer you all the amenities they can, though they be crude by your lofty standard of living. Of course, this will require a measure of trust from you, but I will do everything within my means to make sure your visit and the discussions shall remain friendly and mutually edifying. Just speak the word and I will get to it.

Why am I concerned with Orcs?

You display your bigotry again sir. To you, orcs are beings unfit to live or prosper. They are monsters who live only to pillage and kill (a myth you believe, which humans have fostered over the years). Although your deity has rebuked you for dismissing their souls' worth, you still cling to false ideas, thinking it strange that a human could have any concern for, or friendship with, an orc, and are cynical when others claim to have it. You will simply have to accept my word that I have friends among the Orcs and I care what happens to them.

Finally, I am not "holding" anything. I am giving my support to others and they are not "holding" anything either. You can see from the map I posted that the major areas of Yew, the Inn, Bank, Winery, Mill, Court, and Moongate are what the Orcs have agreed to compromise on, even though those areas were once theirs also. You and others are quite free to visit and preach and do as you like. You will notice that little will change; there has been, and I am told, will be, no burning of buildings, rapine and plunder. Please visit often. I know in time you will realize you were mistaken to be so alarmed.

Yours in Sincerity,
Lord Thrax

William · Journeyman Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 180 Location: Vesper

William is sitting in an unknown place in Yew, the only people that know is the Valorain government and his messenger. As Williams messenger comes in, he gives him a letter from Thrax. William laughs at the letter as but is pleased he answered his questions, so decides to write a small reply.

Dear Thrax

I am glad you answered my questions but it doesn't change a thing.

But what I mean by how do we know if orcs are involved doesnt mean what use to be theirs I know what use to be theirs I am 43 and went to West Yew University, I already know that. I also know by how they used to tax me for just minding my own business walking down the street. Plus the attacks they did on ordinarry people, I saw this with my own eyes. So I do not need to research a thing I lived part of it. What I asked is how do we know if Orcs are part of this Yew Claim, and not you making a front to take it yourself. Do not question the word of Light for your downfall will happen, and you DO NOT practice what I teach for I teach the faith in the Lord and you clearly do not have that. You also have no Compassion, No honor, No Spirituality, No Justice, and No honesty. The other virtues you follow are for a dark cause so they do not count.

I do wish to speak with the orcs myself so I know that they want themselves part of Yew. If something should happen to me or my guards while this visit, not only will your Yew idea stop immediatly but so will your life and all your followers.

My last question was hatred but not to the orcs but to people of Dark like yourself that use other ideas and causes to fufill your own. I do not care if you are a human or not but your a evil plague on Sosaria therefore your words can not be trusted.

Sincerely
William

Thrax · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 12:39 pm Post subject:

*a message from Thrax arrives for William*

Good sir,

The invective that you cannot help but spew in profusion each time you communicate with me, and many others, is a reminder that I need to keep up practice if I wish to compete. I am getting jealous. It also tells me it is of no use trying to converse with you in a diplomatic, much less gentlemanly, manner. Forgive me if I mistook you for someone who actually believed that nobility and virtue naturally included tact and professional courtesy. You do not even know me well enough to speak of me as you do.

I, on the other hand, sincerely hope you are enjoying your stay in Yew, wherever in Yew that it is. You are certainly hidden well. My scouts cannot find you. Mayhaps the Duke and his men will not either. You are in Yew, aren't you?

I will not bring you further discomfort by corresponding with you, at least until your tone can approach some small measure of civility. Practice makes perfect, it is said.

In Sincerity,
Lord Thrax