From The Desk of Erethas Greywing

It's happy hour, the alcohol is flowing. It's time to pull up a tankard of ale, bottle of wine for the ladies and regail tales of heroism and grandeur.

Topic/Postby Erethas » 30 May 2010, 12:57

From The Desk of Erethas Greywing

This is something I have been meaning to do for some time now. I love WoW, and I love roleplaying, but I rarely, if ever, roleplay these days. Random rp in the streets is just not fulfilling any more. But role playing does not have to be contained in-game, right? If anything, the various IC threads prove just this.

I always imagined Erethas as a very opinionated person, who is always eager to force his views on the unsuspected, in an effort to open their eyes and guide them to the correct path. Or so he thinks. But anyway, the thing is that if Stormwind had a newspaper, he would often write an opinion column on things he has on his mind about current events or society on general. This is what I'd love to role play. But since we don't have a newspaper, imagine that there is one, maybe “The Stormwind Inquirer” or something, and this thread is his column.

Now, in order to better understand this, let me put things in context: Erethas is an insanely patriotic Stormwindian, who often interprets things in ways that serve his views, distorts the truth, or even blatantly ignores it. So if you spot any lore inaccuracies in these articles, they are most probably intentional on my part.

And finally, yes, I know that nobody reads these things ( I have verified this scientifically), but it doesn't really matter as this is something I just personally wanted to do. In the small possibility of someone reading this and the subsequent high possibility of wanted to reply because he was terribly offended by Erethas' narrow minded views, please phrase your IC response as if you are sending a letter to the paper. However, expect an equally narrow minded reply.
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Topic/Postby Erethas » 30 May 2010, 12:58

That Meddling Wizard

That Meddling Wizard

I was recently at a friend's house, discussing current (and often past) events over a cup of tea, when I was given the, nowadays rare, opportunity to speak with one of the youth of Stormwind, his teenage daughter. She is a very promising lass, and she has just begun her wizard apprenticeship. When I asked her about why she chose such a difficult career, however, I was taken aback when she said that she wanted to be a mage like Jaina Proudmoore.

I personally find it very concerning when young people pick such role models. Even Serendipity Hoteshem would have been a better choice. But Proudmoore is not a mere drunken socialite. We are talking about a person who has openly advocated the cooperation between the Alliance and the Horde. Even though the disastrous results of such an absurd notion are worthy of their own article, I believe that any Stormwindian with a brain in his head will agree that such opinions should not come from people we look up to.

When I asked the girl what qualities of miss Jaina she admired, she cited her "independence and strength of spirit"?. Well, these are certainly very pretty words to basically describe a Kul'Tiran fishwife. Her "independence"? is actually her disobedience to the Alliance, and her "strength of spirit"? is the complete disregard to the will of it's people. I have read several reports on the Battle for Undercity, and while they are hazy on the details, they all make clear one particular point: That if it weren't for Jaina's "tactical withdrawal"? in order to "œsave the lives of King Varian and his soldiers"?, Lordaeron would have once again been a member of the Alliance.

And if her meddling on world affairs seems nearly traitorous, then looking into how she handles her family issues can be downright horrific. Patricide is a rather serious accusation to throw around lightly, but it's not far from the truth in this case.

We all know that Admiral Daelin Proudmoore died at the hands of that brute Rexxar. But who made it possible for a rag-tag group of savages to break through a well fortified position of Kul Tiras marines and murder their commander? It's something that the Theramore command officially denies and wants to keep secret, but if you speak with any marine that was there you will learn the truth: Jaina herself ordered her men not to aid her father's forces against the Horde attackers. If this is what counts as having "independence and strength of spirit"? these days my dear readers, then I have honestly lost all hope for the future of our Kingdom.

Bringing that felon to justice might be difficult, but there is one thing you can still do: Talk to your children. Let them know the truth, and guide them away from such horrible influences. For if we lose the battle in our children's hearts and minds, then what is the point of sending our men to die in the frontiers?
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Topic/Postby Lilandris » 30 May 2010, 17:26

Lil tossed the newspaper onto a table in the guild hall, obviously shook up by the article she had just read. Not only was the article questioning the actions of a declared hero of the Alliance, it was also questioning one of her own core values of free spiritedness. And what was worse is that it was written by someone she knew, someone of her own guild, and a fellow servant of the Light. She decided to write a letter in reply to the column and sat down with pen and paper.

Lil stared at the paper while holding the pen in her hand for several minutes, thinking of something to write, she suddenly found herself in a dilemma of values, as she was fond of being free spirited, but at the same time she valued honor... Not helping ones own father and his troops with your own is most surely dishonorable. Lil decided it wouldn't serve any purpose to throw more accusations out into the world and figured she'd find out the truth for herself before making a judgement, she put down the pen and stormed out of the hall.
Signatur defekt, techniker ist informiert
User avatar
Lilandris
Lightmancer
 
Posts: 4509
Location: Stormwind

Topic/Postby Cherwina » 01 Jun 2010, 14:24

As Lilandris leaves the hall a large cat in the corner stretches and yawns as it gets up for the day. As it moves towards the table it's form shift revealing the Night Elf Druid, Cherwina.

"Hmm, wonder what that was about?"

She picks up a tankard she had left on the table before taking a nap and pours some drink from a pouch attached to her robe. Looking up from the tankard she spots the newspaper and has a brief scan over the articles.

"Great, more pointless ramblings about the state of education in Stormwind, interviews with the finalists of Kalimdor's Got Talent and something about another plan to free Gnomeregan... Same old news, I see... hmm?"

Flicking through she stops on an opinion piece by Erethas. Taking a sip from her tankard, Cherwina decided to read the article, finishing with a somewhat puzzled expression. Taking another sip she puts the newspaper down on the table open at the article.

"Well... I guess that explains Lil's mood. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever understand humans. Mind you, I guess I can't expect them to have the faintest idea what was going on outside their own kingdom at the time. Personally, I'd rather them spend less time thinking of heroes such as Jaina or Uther as role models and more time as unfortunate necessities. So many have done their best to keep this world going without leaving a trace..."

Cherwina pauses fiddling with a crescent moon pendant before shifting back into cat form and walking back to her corner, head down and a slight shudder in her movement.
Image
Image
User avatar
Cherwina
Druidess of Eldre'thalas
 
Posts: 1727
WWW

Topic/Postby Erethas » 07 Jun 2010, 16:15

Is long-term cooperation with the Horde feasible?

This was something I was not planning on writing about this week, but last week's article inevitably brought the issue up again. Alliance-Horde relations is something that must not be taken lightly and should concern every citizen. Now, this is an issue whose detailed analysis would require a whole series of articles, but for now I will concentrate on a particular aspect: The possibility of the two sides setting away their differences and living in harmony.

I am not a warmonger. It is my dream as well that someday our children will live in a world where they won't have to give their lives on the battlefield. But will that happen by naively thinking that peace with the Horde races might work? The so called "Blood" Elves may come to their senses one day, the tauren are generally a peaceful and not territorial people, and the Darkspear trolls, while as savage and cannibalistic as any other tribe, are too few to pose a threat by themselves. If this was the Horde, then we wouldn't have even been at war in the first place. No, it is their other two members that we have to concern ourselves with.

Some people say that today's orcs are not the savage, bloodthirsty brutes who not long ago laid waste to our beautiful kingdom. That, back then, they were under a "demonic influence", and their new leader, Thrall, is testament to their change. I am willing to believe that the bloodlust was not their true nature, especially since this theory has been backed by respectful scholars. And I am willing to admit that if they decide to back down on their ridiculous claims on Alliance lands, we could develop peaceful relations. But could that situation last?

Their own leader Thrall doesn't think so. For all his "peaceful ways", he has chosen a warmonger for his second in command. The young Hellscream epitomizes everything an orc stands for, and that is fighting for battle's sake, until all other races are either subdued or destroyed. Thrall may seem to disagree with him during their public meetings with our leaders, but really, this is not unlike the owner of a large and vicious dog tugging the chain that holds it. He may seem to keep the beast in check, but the message is clear: Mess with me, and I will unleash him.

And speaking of the Hellscream bloodline, there is an incident that must be brought to your attention. Our Kaldorei allies have reported that during their first battles with the orcs, they displayed symptoms of the "demonic influence" again. So great was their bloodlust, that not even Cenarius, a being of supernatural power, could stop them. Which raises an interesting point: Are orcs, as a race, so susceptible to the influence of the Burning Legion, that they pose a constant threat? Personally, I feel this shouldn't even be a question. It might happen in ten, fifty, a hundred, or even next year, but an orc clan not held in an internment camp is the same as a psychotic individual not inside an asylum. It will explode one day, and I pray that your children are not near when that happens.

And as for the late citizens of Lordaeron, who have come to call themselves the "Forsaken", let me say this: It is them who forsook the Alliance. Maybe if they had given us a chance to help them, they wouldn't have turned into the depraved and malicious society that they are now. It saddens me to say this, but I fear that with their recent attack on the Wrath Gate and the assassination of Lord Fordragon, they have reached the point of no return. We have all heard the rumors of disappearing individuals ending up as test subjects to horrible experiments within the bowels of Lordaeron City (or what they call, "The Undercity"), but it wasn't until this event that became apparent how twisted the undead mind could be. It seems that even without being a servant of the Lich King that created them, the undead can be nothing but a force of evil and destruction. I used to look at them with the pity that those who have fallen ill to a plague deserve, but now I look at them with fear and caution. I am not saying that there aren't any peaceful or rational individuals among them, but can someone look at their society as a whole and honestly say that we can live peacefully with them?

In closing, let me repeat that I absolutely understand why there are so many people who desire peace with the Horde. But it is something that can never happen, not because of our war-like intentions, but because of the very nature of the people we try to reach to.
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Topic/Postby Erethas » 26 Jul 2010, 12:45

We Need No Heroes

Dear readers of this humble column, I should start this article by apologizing for my long absence from these pages, as I was recovering from a chronometry-realated accident. The time I spent staring at the hospital's ceiling, however, gave me time to think about a very serious, yet very, very subtle problem that plagues our society.

You see, on the bed next to me, there was a maimed soldier who had to return from Northrend on account of his injuries. Now let me tell you that I have the utmost respect for all members of the Stormwind Army, no matter the rank or duty. Of course, even a humble cobbler is a valuable member of the kingdom, and he ensures in his own way that our nation with stride forward, but members of the military are the ones who actually put their lives on the line in order to serve and protect the rest of us.

After I thanked the man for his service to the King, I asked him how he got his injuries. He said that a ghoul attacked him from behind and ruined his knee. I then asked him how could the ghoul had come behind their lines of defense, and he admitted that he broke rank to chase after a fleeing necromancer. And to my question as to why would he do that, there was no answer. But even in his silence, the answer was clear.

It has come to be that our society idolizes the so called “Heroes”. The word is as old as the first time man has raised sword against man, but in recent times it has acquired a very particular meaning. You can't set foot in a tavern (not that I would in most of them anyway) without hearing about how “So-and-So the Great and his companions killed the vile Such-and-Such”, and any variations thereof. The villain always changes, sometimes it is an old god, others an elemental lord or a demon, lately it's powerful members of the Scourge, but the pattern is always the same: A group of “heroes” storms the enemy's stronghold and defeat him, thus saving Azeroth and earning their due recognition, along with whatever shiny bits they manage to drag back to town from his treasure room.

Now I don't want to discredit all stories. In fact, our very own glorious leader King Varian Wrynn is a living testament to tales of heroism with his victory over the dragon Onyxia. However, most of the time these stories are merely exaggerated accounts of mercenaries just doing the work they were assigned.

You see, both in Northrend and in Draenor, due to the nature of the enemy our commanders had to eliminate targets of strategic importance so that our armies had the tactical advantage on the field. However, these targets not only were difficult to engage with the formal tactical approach of an infantry company, but it would also give the enemy distinct advantages. Due to this, the usual approach is to hire specialists who can engage these targets on more favorable conditions.

And now I am sure you wonder, what is so bad about these people cherishing their victories, especially since they are so important to the war effort? The issue is that the public has come to view these “heroics” as the only important events in the war, and dismisses the service of the rank-and-file footman. But is in not this footman who has to stand resolute in the face of a swarm of undead charging his position? Sure, it might not sound so heroic when you claim that you were the one of hundreds who fought at a battle were no enemy had a particular evil sounding name, but these battles were the backbone of the campaign. It was due to these soldiers and their efforts that we are safe today, not just some fancy swashbuckler or haughty wizard who killed the right monster at the right time and came back with it's head on a pike to prove it.

And to make matters worse, young and impressionable people want to imitate these “heroes”. If it was just the occasional boy who though he was a great warrior and charged a bears cave I would not care much. The problem however is that, like I said at the start, this notion that you need to be a hero and ignore the traditional battle practice of holding your rank is slowly seeping into the minds of our soldiers. And that can be catastrophic. You never hear about the “heroes” who didn't make it back, do you? Believe me, there are a lot of those. But when a mercenary fails to dispatch a target deep within the enemy lines, we can always send another. If a soldier, however, breaks his formation and gives the enemy a weak point in his unit to exploit, then the results can be disastrous.

I understand the need of the people to look up to someone better. And we are lucky to have real heroes like King Varian Wrynn or the late Lord Bolvar Fordragon, and above all Sir Aduin Lothar, whose deeds can inspire us for generations to come. But not fakes who are merely after the rewards, or even that particular mage about whom I wrote a couple articles back, whose name I will avoid mentioning here lest I summon her hordes of rabid supporters.
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Topic/Postby Shevron » 26 Jul 2010, 14:36

Haha .. awesome read.

I'll be disappointed if there is no article backfire by Dips!
"Whomsoever takes up this blade shall wield power eternal. Just as the blade rends flesh, so must power scar the spirit."
User avatar
Shevron
Resident Grump
 
Posts: 8709
Location: A cave in Northrend

Topic/Postby Erethas » 26 Jul 2010, 14:48

If you are talking about the "particular mage" comment, I was referring to Jaina actually.
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Topic/Postby Shevron » 26 Jul 2010, 14:55

Oh hehehe ... I would have bet it was Dips.

Now that I reread the articles, I don't know where I got that idea from.
"Whomsoever takes up this blade shall wield power eternal. Just as the blade rends flesh, so must power scar the spirit."
User avatar
Shevron
Resident Grump
 
Posts: 8709
Location: A cave in Northrend

Topic/Postby Erethas » 05 Nov 2010, 20:33

Of Cults and Elementals
Hard times are upon us once again, dear readers. As if the incessant earthquakes weren't enough, nowadays you can't as much as take a stroll down the Park District without being assailed by elementals of water. What has this world came to, I hear you ask.

But I have no fear. The hardy and tried folk of Stormwind have weathered many a crisis, and even the destruction of our Kingdom by the savage Horde didn't put us down. Instead, we fought back and rebuilt. Believe me when I say that in a few months, we will only remember the water elementals as just another trial we faced and put down.

No, my concerns are not about the elementals. My concerns are with the people of Stormwind. Maybe not you, dear reader, but your brother, your daughter, your betrothed.

Water elementals are not the only thing that emerged recently in the streets of our fair city. With them came prophesies of doom and gloom, poisoning the minds of our compatriots with promises of “rebirth” and “a new world”. Who are these people? What is their motive?

But yet again, these are not the questions that keep me up at nights. It is very well known to me that our enemies are many and their tricks endless. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that this is yet another ploy of the treacherous Horde in order to scare and confuse us before their strike, but making baseless accusations are not befitting a man of my standards, so I'll stop here.

What really bothers me, dear readers, is how easily our people give up their trust to our King and our country, just by hearing the fake promises of the so called “prophets”. Hasn't our king always served and protected Stormwind? Haven't our proud guards stood vigilant to any threat? Haven't our soldiers marched to the ends of the Azeroth to put out those who threatened us? Then why suddenly give up hope at the sight of a few elementals within our walls? Have we grown so accustomed to peace that we cower at the sight of an enemy? Is this really the spirit of a true Stormwindian?

Have faith, dear readers, and most importantly, try to instill faith to those close of you who might have theirs waned. This is our duty as citizens of the most glorious kingdom this world has ever seen.
You are now breathing manually.
Erethas
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1735

Next

Return to The Shady Rest Inn



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

cron