Lurian Herald/Issue2

Issue 2

About the Lurian Herald

Day 28 of Spring The Lurian Herald is the successor to many of Dwilight's previous newspapers - the Poryatown Press and the Dwilight Daily to name a few. For a long time, Dwilight has been without reliable and widespread news and so the House of Medici has taken up this task to serve our great continent. We do seek writers of all walks of lives and of all biases to write for the Lurian Herald. The newspaper itself is not strictly loyal to Luria, but its name comes from being based at the heart of Lurian lands, Giask. If you hold any interest, write to Alessio de Medici, and we shall bring you into the fold. The Lurian Herald will be comprised of many forms of news - discussed in these pages will be philosophy, history, religion, politics, warfare, hobbies of the Highborn, anonymous advice, advertisements for taverns and academies and even those sent in by the readers of the Lurian Herald. Such advertisements are all free - the Lurian Herald is entirely funded by the House of Medici - we spare no expense.

Vices in Virtues

Philosophy - by Alessio de Medici A wise man once told me an important line. In consideration, perhaps he was not wise at all. The words he told me: “The road to doom is paved with good intentions.” In the moment, I thought he was a knave. But then I began to ponder, and I realised that there was some truth to what he said. Many truths, perhaps. Then I realised, it is not only paved, but there are great walls and an elaborate ceiling. Windows to pretend you are not delusional, and with more furniture than the greatest hoarder in all of Dwilight. First, we should establish what good intentions are and how important they are in the grand scheme of things. Do intentions matter more than the end result? This is perhaps the most important question. If we subscribe to the ideology that it is our actions and our intentions that define morality, it is far easier to know what is and isn’t moral. It is all orderly, everything is in a box. Whether you lead a massacre on your ally to make your kingdom the greatest of all, or leads to your death, it is equally as morally reprehensible. Or, is one such man killed destined to kill tens of thousands, and so while lives are taken, many are saved? Do we punish actions that are planned but not taken, suppress alternative thoughts? All these can be done with good intentions, but cause results so terribly negative. Democracy is dangerous and more tyrannical than if one man called the shots. People can easily stand against a lone man, overthrow him when he makes poor choices. But democracy? You can vote to murder a fellow noble to better your positions. There is peasant-like mob created. They are united not by ideology, but group conduct. It is dangerous and increases power for the lessers. Many realms reach such a system with intention for good, but is it? Would you rather be led by an aged war hero who has lived in your land for two score, or participate with a weak vote equal to him? Such is poor conduct beneath nobles. As soon as some rogues and thugs scheme against him, he will not be the rightful ruler that he should be, but a bloodied corpse born of opportunism. The intentions are so that the people continue ruling, but the outcome is that the greatest man alive is dead. I have even heard a duel to the death be called dishonourable, which is perhaps the most half-witted and vapid thing I have ever heard. That said, such a comment came from somebody very jejune, and so we shall take it with a pinch of salt. If duels are not always honourable and knights do not serve their oath, the most absurd situation. For such to be honourable or acceptable? I cannot say I know how. Alas, I am twice the scholar, half the knight. Each of us have vices and virtues both, and all serve us for who we are. I have been known to be hot-headed and speak in the wrong way - for it is not what one is saying, but how he says it. Such is the way in much of the known world, of course. To hold ourselves to these standards above peasants, where they at least serve loyally and do not backstab one another for a hobby. This I conclude this piece with a question. Are you honourable? I will answer it for you - of course you are. And your enemy? Perhaps not, though you certainly share an important trait.

Literature

Poetry - written by Karibash Ka Habb You will no doubt remember the name of King Karibash from last week's edition regarding Tor, the God of War. This is one of his poems. Valkyrjan walls stood vast Before warriors of western worlds So spoke the Saxon seereress Of her victory ordained Warborn Tórrarin with rage Wreckless abandon wrought through him Cried out courageously At the peasant queen afar My arm though broken was remade From Tor's wrath I am giv'n Unbreakable a guard arm made With which your world be rend'd Haruka' howled horrendous like Warborn didn't even flinch Forward her foul call Fool was he to make she The horns were heard all wide War to remake our world Two tribes together charged History was made this day The thousandslayer who built the walls So cruelly fated to tear them down The king crashed against their ranks Terror, fear, and pain abound The battle closed in sunlight Warborn cried out aloud The peasant queen fled with haste Against the rage of Tor made mortal So was Valkyrja broken By the builder of her walls The shieldarm sworn to protect By Tor's anger made to destroy

Giask Murder

News - by Alessio de Medici This issue comes out a day late than had planned, following the murder of my dear wife's father, Ottaviano della Pavune. With such, I will be adding a new section, In Memorium, to the end of every issue of the Lurian Herald beginning next week - we can record the news and always remember who has been lost. You must only write to me for such to be added. This elderly man was poisoned by hemlock.

Sanguis Astroism

Religion - by Alessio de Medici Rather than much commentary, I will be retelling the prophecy as described by Sir Turin of Sanguis Astroism: The Prince of Strife showed me... A crimson lord riding the earth, quakes Two brothers arm in arm a jewel, lost Three armies circling an eye a trap, sprung Four flags flying high one frayed, falls Five clouds concealing the Stars a realm, ravaged Six sheathed in shadows a darkened dagger, drawn Seven smiling rogues sit a Queen, slain Eight ships setting sail a broken kingdom, won Instead of explaining my thoughts, I ask you to ponder upon it yourself. What do you think?