People of Pavis report - Sor-Eel the short Last updated: 1997-08-11 A Week is a Long Time in Politics A Normal Week in the Life of Sor-Eel, Count of Prax and Governor of Pavis. Introduction I was charged with this important task by Argentius Moonson himself and I am honoured that he called me his friend. Thus I consider it my sacred responsibility to govern to the best of my ability. My duties as head of both the civil government and the occupation forces are so time-consuming that I have had to give up my position as a Scimitar of glorious Yanafal Tarnils. However, nothing could force me to abandon the steadfast ranks of his loyal followers. As an important member of a well-connected Imperial family I have always had to be wary of intrigue and political plotting. I had hoped that this would be minimized this far from Glamour, however events proved otherwise. I am blessed with one person I can really trust, my half-brother Bor-Eel (played by David Hall) who devotedly assists me. Naturally, he too is an important member of the steadfast ranks of the Ram's trusted warriors. It is a shame that since his head wound he has been less able to help me with the complex affairs of government, spending more time in the garden. Date ?????? I'll look this up. Einie has it somewhere. The week began normally with a staff briefing, I sat before the gathering with my hand resting on my Military Tactics Manual, which has been signed by Moonson himself. There were some problems, such as a papyrus shortage, but nothing that could not have been sorted out if I had had a competent staff. My major concern at this time was sorting out the food supplies for the Lunar marine force gathering in Corflu for an amphibious assault on Karse in Heortland. However, due to the importance of the mission and the untrustworthiness of my administrator Jotoran Longsword, (played by Jussi Hyvoenen) decided not to enlist aid in the project. With hindsight I feel that I should have made more use of my brother, however with his obsession with growing squash in the palace garden I thought he needed more time to recover from his injuries. I did however hint to him that I had seen a striking red-headed woman wearing tight leather armour (Claudia Loroff, as Griselda) from the balcony and I would be very interested in an introduction. In the absence of any candidate whoes election would be significantly advantageous and in order not to predudice my working relationship with any future mayor I decided to avoid any active involvement in the mayoral election. This also avoided wasting precious time on a fairly unproductive area, petty politics. One area I was able to assist in was the very amicable solution to the unrest amongst the River Folk being caused by careless actions of the troops being ferried down to Corflu. Given the nature of their mission and the very strong need for it to remain secret I thought it prudent to keep the River Folk sweet. When asked (by the Reverend Sa'ar, Newtling Priest of Zola Fel, played by Robert Haasdijk) whether the troops were intended for an attack on the Zola Fel or its occupants I was happily able to give my word as a Yanafali that this was not the case and know that my audience would believe me, such is the advantage of our truth. Other problems were also resolved with a quick enactment of a new law against river polution and a simple terse letter to the commander of the archaelogical investigations into ancient Feroda. Later I was delighted with the repercusions of my actions when the Zola Fel cult decided without pressure or prompting to join the Lunar pantheon and the Way of the Goddess. Karnickilas Brokath, (played by Nick Brooke) the man standing in for Porusa the Patient (who was afflicted by misteriously illness), tried to claim the credit for this, but I suspect that she will discover that their real loyalties lie with the Goddess, the Empire and myself. Of all my actions that week this one still fills me with the most satisfaction. Other things were less satisfying or simple. Security was of course a major issue, especially with large numbers of troops posted down the river to assist with the supply and transportation of the assualt force. Fortunately, I still had my senior commanders in the city and almost all of them were loyal Yanafali who I could rely on to act in the best interests of the Empire. Unfortunately, it was the single non-Yanafali commander who was to cause so much trouble and seriously hamper the invasion of Karse. Hucipites, commander of the Marble (MOBBLE) Phalanx, (played by Michael "MOB" O'Brien) from a distinguished and noble Dara-Happan family, should have known better than to put his personal gain above that of the Empire. The first I knew of his plotting was when I was on a late-night stroll while engaged in conversation with a charming red-head who I learned was from the Yelorna temple. (Susanne Ruehling, as Morganeth Runestar) Unfortunately, that news put a dampener on any possible amourous encounter. Shortly after learning this, news reached us that the Farmers' Quarter was on fire and that there was some kind of riot going on. Morganeth rushed off into the night while I directed the watch to the scene. Then I prudently retired to the Palace, thinking that too many unruly, extremist elements might take advantage of the fact that the Lunar Governor only had a token bodyguard of 4 men. Only later was I to learn that this incident had been instigated by one of my officers. After this event I caught Jotoran as he attempted to lie to me (Yanafal knows the Truth!). Slapping him in jail I detailed the judge, Hetaera Thessen of the Irrippi Ontor temple, (played by Tanja Woronowicz) to interogate him. Later I was informed of his escape. My private investigation revealed no sign of forced exit and only a small pool of blood in the corner of the cell. I worried about Krashti and Thanatari, but the answer was to prove even more insidious and closer to home. As an amusing distraction from this tedium I had made a hobby of collecting anti-Lunar grafitti containing puns on my name. One artist especially caught my imagination. Obviously, I didn't allow anyone to know that this amused me as this would be bad for discipline. However, when the talented young artist (Johan Lindholm, as Bolgar after his first character died) was finally caught I helped arrange a pleasant conversion for him and gainful employment by Teelo Norri. But not before I had tricked him into signing an example of his work under the guise of extracting a confession. Shortly after this my good brother Bor-Eel threw a surprise birthday party for me (I had completely forgotten, to tell the truth). He had even managed to find a magnificent pure white sable (Played by Daniel Fahey for it's brief time in the game) as a gift. Typically, Karnickilas Brokath hijacked the sable for an impromptue religious ceremony which involved hurling its entrails from the balcony. At least she had the decency to resurrect my present afterwards. After the guests had quickly dispersed, to wash the bloodstains off their best robes, I was treated to a brilliant musical recital again arranged by my brother. The minstral (Kenth Eriksson, as Teriliam the Loud) was truely gifted, both in music and lyrics which were highly appropriate. Despite this pleasant interlude I was feeling uneasy and my keen sense of rightness detected that something was not as it should be. Hucipites appeared to be plotting, a fact that was confirmed when Gim Gim (most evilly played by Rick "MIG" Meints) who had previously worn the guise of a caravan guard informed me that he was attempting to stage a coup. Other details were that he would attempt to plant untaxed (and hence illegal) hazia on both my brother and myself. Working swiftly to avoid him gaining any further support I enlisted the aid of the judge in order to quickly bring him to trial. The trial proved longwinded and only partially conclusive. I would have prefered a simple, tersely worded oath spell with its dramatic visible result. However, Hucipites (a man who's own god had struck with a Sun Spear) had a slick tongue and perpetually avoided the questions. The most telling evidence came from Sederic Eiskolli, a Yelmalion, (played by Christoph Kohring) who bravely fought for the Truth against this traitorous rogue. The trial wound on as Justice had to be seen to be done but eventually even the judge had had enough of Hucipites evasion and condemned him. Bearing in mind his family connections and after some trouble with his troops I decided that the best solution was to send him back to Glamour to have his sentence decided by the Emperor. Gim Gim volunteered to guard him on the journey. Unfortunately, before he arrived at the Imperial Palace he overpowered Gim Gim and beamed out of the moon boat. With the troublemaker removed Banaryos, the Pelorian commander of the Silver Shields peltasts, (played by Neil Robinson) Sitzmag Redmoon, of the Hungry Plateau Sable-Riders (played by Dan Barker) and Snorting Sable, of the Praxian Sable-Riders (played by Simon Bray) quickly formed ranks behind me as befits true Yanafali. Banaryos as senior military commander was promoted to command of the Marble Phalanx with my brother Bor-Eel stepping in to command his old regiment. Sitzmag and Snorting Sable kept themselves busy cleaning out vermin (Sebastian Peschties as Hargran the Dirty) from the Rubble and incidentally provided me with some very tasty gifts, or at least I hope the troops in Corflu found them so when I sent them down with the Zebra meat. Unfortunately, this upturn in fortunes was too late for Radak, commander of my bodyguard, (played by Kevin Jacklin) who had had hazia planted on him by the despicable Hucipites and fell on his scimitar to preserve his honour. His spirit continues to guard the governor's palace. Hucipites' damage still propagated as while I was distracted by being forced to deal with his traitorous actions, much of the food stuff on the market had been snapped up by voracious merchants. Despite my best efforts and the resourcefulness of the sable riders I was unable to fully supply the forces at Corflu. Pharnastes Rugbagian, an Etyries trader and supposedly "Chief Supporter of the Army" (played by Erik Sieurin) proved to be of no help here as he deliberately avoided me throughout the entire time. Naturally, his job is now available to suitably qualified, reliable candidates. After much tedious negotiation and some mention of the Crimson Bat Benderri, high priest of the Pavis cult (played by Axel Hasheider) persuaded his fellow priests that it was in the cult's best interest to marry the Red Goddess and join the Lunar way. Naturally, Karnickilas Brokath took all the credit for this (ignoring the amount of time I had spent helping convince Benderri) and secured her position as high priestess of the Seven Mothers in Pavis. Still, we work efficiently together and just as long as she restricts her overwhelming ambition to religious matters she should have a long and fulfilling life. Shortly after this, dressed in my best jewelled armour, my holy silver scimitar by my side and holding my Governor's Staff aloft I addressed the people and told them the glorious news. The much-heralded Orlanthi rebellion never did occur; by a sensible policy of support for the moderate elements the anti-Lunar faction was reduced to a few extremist hot-heads. The majority were quite happy with benevolent Lunar rule and refused to back any half-baked rebellion. The pitiful rabble could not have assaulted a single company as was amply demonstrated when I deliberately marched the first Cohort of the Marble Phalanx (with its new leader) past the tavern where they were skulking on my way to formally commend Sederic Eiskolli to them. The loyal city councillors later used a City Harmony spell to stop them clashing with my troops. In some ways it is a pity as it would have been nice for the men to get some exercise and rid the land of these nuisances. I never did get introduced to that striking red head, I wonder what she is like... Back! Send email to nilsw@ibm.net