Republic Newsletter 17 - 04/28/08

From FiranMUX

REPUBLIC NEWS

Lord Adan wins 50-50 Pentathlon!

Just as rumours began to spread that the Ista Barun family was displeased with Lord Adan's apparent hesitation to actually marry Lady Yassamin, perhaps worrying that he had fallen in love with another young woman yet again, the Lastnamelessone managed to win this Spring Festival's first Pentathlon. What will he do with this prize? Claim Lady Yassamin in a grand gesture of love, romance, and divine approval? Or settle for land since he's going to marry the Lady after all. Or perhaps shock all and marry someone completely different, just because he can? The people whisper and wonder, and it's said that time is ripe for an enterprising businessman to start a betting pool. What are the odds that he'll take back Lady Arika before her courtship with Prince Lianos ends in marriage?

Pentathlon Controversy!

Prince [[Lucas|Lucas'] running of the Funeral Games Pentathlon was not without controversy. The Bear Clan's own Asalan Valerian did pretty well, but when it came to the final event (Brawling battle-royal) he couldn't surpass Dame Gemma in points even with a win. Gemma had assured her land. Or had she? During the battle royal Dame Gemma called for a yield while thug Yathel and Asalan were double-teaming her. Yathel and Asalan moved off, but Gemma took one last shot and knocked Yathel out! The Old City thug was calling for a disqualification from the event, repeatedly, no doubt much to the annoyance of Prince Lucas. Gladiator Asalan was left standing with the whore by the name of Alora, and the two went at it pretty hard. In a complete surprise, Asalan fell to a punch from Alora. Still, with the second place finish he was only two points away from catching up to Gemma overall for the land. Prince Lucas fined Gemma a point, and she maintained her lead. Had Asalan beaten up the whore, there would have been a tie for first! And wouldn't you know, who won this Spring Festival's Physical Pentathlon? None other than this very same Mer Asalan Valerian.

Missing IstaNydiam Nobleman!

People are beginning to whisper that while his brother Lord (not Prince) Banian Elianik is frequently seen at the Spring Festival and even one of the Food Coordinators, Lord Aeryk IstaNydiam hasn't been seen at all. Some worry that the young nobleman has had a setback in his recovery and is suffering from major health issues. Others smirk that he's hiding out somewhere to prevent his sister, Clan Leader Diamia, catching the Spring Festival bug and order him to get married. Yet a third party states that the valiant Cockatrice warrior is simply not in the festival mood following his father's sacrifice.

Monkey shines at Monkey House!

Rumor has it there are new children in the Temple of Kamnestra. Ulker and Willow have moved out to be with their new parents, but where did these babies come from? Who is this child Sunetra sleeping in the playground? And what child had to be dragged over, screaming and crying, after the kiddie pent?

Prospective parents are reminded that the Temple of Kamnestra is not repeat not a delicatessen for children. You don't get to point and say, "I want that one!" Prospective parents must be married, live inside the city walls, be employed and of good character. If that sounds like you, contact Dame Sister Cyrilla Daedalus. If that doesn't sound like you, that's why there are 10 (count 'em) guards outside the Orphans' Room!

Republic Military Awards!

Not only does the Republic Minister of Knowledge work to keep the library running but word has trickled through the Republic that Mes Timandra is responsible for handling the production of all of the military decorations earned during the triumphant freeing of Ellish. Thousands and thousands of man hours have gone into the production and the woman has been seen being carried to and from the forge on a litter she is so tired. The workers who have been sent to help her are keeping quiet about who is or isn't going to be decorated, but some have noted the vast amount of supplies that have been seen going in - gold, silver, pieces of silk...just what they are all being used for will be revealed at the much awaited Republic Military Awards Ceremon, first organized Lord Captain Zerasmus Didoron and now handled by Lord Aeryk IstaNydiam.

Dalumran Festival Pranks!

Most Republic citizens still refer to Sarkaran by its original name this Spring Festival, but not so for the Gold Dragons, or some Gold Dragons at least. It is said that Sir Alessandro Keniwik has been playing pranks on Lord Banian Elianik by spreading Dalumran-themed items around the festival, though both of them seem to be in good humor about it, all done in the spirit of festival fun and most importantly: Festival Peace.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Social Penthathlon!

The last chance to win one of the Festival's most popular prizes - your pick of Land, Iron Armour with Permit, or Marriage to any Unwed Adult - will be the Social Pentathlon, hosted by Prince Lucas Elianik and Lord Viceroy Taleo Teranzik. The event will take place at the Track on Festival Grounds at 8 PM EST, Wedneday April 30.

Letters to the Editor

Dear editor,

I feel it must be noted that The Oshta is a terrifying figure to many. Here we are, Spring Festival upon us, and yet I do believe that even if someone were to win the marriage prize, not a single woman would consider Clan Leader Torianos because they believe his former mother-in-law would make their lives utter misery. Here is a hale and handsome man of great power, charm, and faith...being passed by for even light flirtation from noblewomen giddy with the spring air. It's a crying shame, it is, to lose his wife and then have his chances for another so sorely impacted by one who doesn't even want him for herself or have an unmarried daughter of an age to marry to him. Oshta, we beg you: stop scaring the girls from our Clan Leader. We want him to marry again someday before he's grey!

Dear Editor,

We watched with great interest as Lord Adan got himself stuck on Lady Yassamin Ista Barun, somehow got himself out of the Hydra Clan and his marriage to Lady Arika N'Gato, and won the Lord and Lady contest of this past Festival with her. Yet here it is, Eesha's time, and are they wed? No! He even participated in this spring's contest with a commoner. If he loves her so much, and her family wants to see them wed, and his Clan defended him so well they got him back, how and why is the man /still not married/? We want our fairy tale wedding full of teffies and Eesha's blessing! We want to see love and joy and happiness! We want him to stop talking and start going through on all those lovely words that hooked us. The story's no good if it ends 'well, he said he loved her, but it took them forever to get married so maybe he doesn't really and just wanted out of the Hydra Clan'. Find a priest or priestess, gather family and friends, say your vows and walk the maze already.

Classifieds

Poultry - What's happened to those Birds?

Sentry Nisa, Mes Oliana, Mes Uryella, and Dame Priestess Cyrilla strove to make sure this year's festival food is the best ever! And they accepted donations or offers to purchase ingredients from all who wanted to help. But what struck most was the fact that they kept begging for things that would normally be supplied by hunters, not farmers: namely bones and poultry. Have the hunters been slacking up this last winter and not made sure the market was well stocked with those vital ingredients? Poultry would definitely appear to be a sought after product these days however, though some might warn against big bird hunting during Festival lest one annoys Uf.

OOC TIPS

Festival Event Ideas!

Every noble adult PC has to (co-)host at least one event this Festival or suffer a huge social hit not just for themselves but for their entire family. With only one week of Spring Festival left, here are some ideas for fun festival events that shouldn't last more than 1 or 2 hours at the most:

Cooking Contest - Use @products to determine attributes, skills, and difficulty and @checks to judge the event.
Swimming Contest - There are two coded swimming pools in the Bath House.
Hammer Game, Race, Javelin Toss, Horse Race - all coded events easily found and used at the Track.
Republic History Contest - Dive through the news files, compile a few questions, and test people's knowledge of Republic History.
Talent Contest - Let everybody show off their own special talent in their own special way, and you be the judge of who's best.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

In all the years of Festival, has the Marriage Prize ever been used for a marriage between two commoners?

Thanks go to those who helped contribute to this newsletter: Nisa, Aeryk, Zetes, Alessandro, Tezzer, Timandra, Zerasmus, and Asalan. Please send me any news, suggestions, comments, criticisms, and letters to the editor before Sunday.