Issue #1 - Spring 89 A.R.

The front cover of The Cordorian Chronicle is dominated with a print of a cartoon depicting a large set of scales on a precarious, delicate balance. On one side is sat a proud woman, though her eyes are blindfolded. A sash marks her as "CORDORIA". The other scale is occupied by an equally proud looking man in black, green and gold armour. A badge reads "WHARFTOWN". Each of them fire from children's pea-shooters and slingshots at the other with one hand, while the other half-heartedly flaps a white, dove-emblazoned flag of peace. Underneath, meanwhile, a nebulous tangle of arms reach out with far more vicious arms to try and strike at the tenuous balance with far worse weapons - swords, gonnes, battering rams. A series of question marks haunt the mass of arms, rather than a name.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: HELLO!

Welcome to THE CORDORIAN CHRONICLE, the new newspaper dedicated to uncovering and exposing the truth, and changing things for the better. Future issues will be better because you, dear readers, will participate - "Letters to the Editor" will be published, simply leave them at our offices.

Also, if you have articles, we want them! Advertisements can be bought at a thousand gold per page, too, you just supply the writing. Perhaps most importantly, we want tips. We want proof. We want news. If you have something that you think is newsworthy, we want to hear it.

I'll end this introductory note with a declaration of principles that THE CORDORIAN CHRONICLE will make every effort to adhere to; I will provide the people with a paper that will tell the news honestly. I will also provide them with a fighting and tireless champion of as citizens, denizens, and sentient beings.

Thank you;

- Editor & Proprietor of The Cordorian Chronicle:

Tristan Beauregard

PLANETARY ANNIHILATION IMMINENT; GOLEMS BLAMED

ARCANE TOWER, ARELITH - Chaos befell the Arcane Tower today as a Rift caused a number of extraplanar monsters to appear in the lobby.

"[...] the severity [of the Rift] was moderate, and the damage also [...] at least two different types of elemental, and obviously Slaadi," said Archmage Amelia Selana in the aftermath of the event. The bodies of the assorted entities were strewn all across the lobby.

A "Marut" golem from Mechanus arrived based on so-called detected variables, and examined the Rift-residue, resembling a sort of portal. The Marut said of that the Rift "serves as further evidence to Operation 9,390.23 [...] the destruction of Toril". The golem was unavailable for further comment.

A successful venture was made through the Rift to attain a "Token" of the Outer Plane of Limbo for the "Astrolabe", comprised of the Arcane Tower, the Brotherhood of Tempus, the Cordorian Ambassador and several adventurers.

COUNCILLOR VANYA ALLAYS CONCERNS; LOOKS TO FUTURE

TEMPLE DISTRICT, CORDOR - Member of Lord Vetinari's Advisory Council, Vanya Dae'ia, allayed the manifold concerns and rumours resulting from her declining to reveal her patron deity during a Council meeting. "I am most certainly not in violation. [...] My choice of patron does not violate our current laws," the Councillor said. She explained, "I don't discuss my private life with [...] the public".

Now entering a third term of office, Councillor Dae'ia said that "a Councillor's work [should] speak for itself". Said work can be viewed on the Council Minutes board, in the Meeting Hall. She went on to discuss her plans for Cordor's future.

"I think I've laid the necessary groundwork. [...] I noticed a steady decline in the quality of Cordor's commerce, as a whole, before I was elected to The Council. Now, I believe that it's time to start rebuilding."

She went on to discuss a commitment to "push forward a full treaty with Wharftown," as well as "working with our newly appointed Trade Commissar to improve the quality of Cordor's shops and merchants associations", going on to say that Commissar Moormeadow has, "a lot of work ahead of him. He's going to need as much support as we can provide."

NEW YEAR FOR CORDOR & COUNCIL TERMS; FACES OLD & NEW

MEETING HALL, CORDOR - Juniper Petaldancer, former City Works Administrator, Rin and Vanya Dae'ia form this year's citizen-elected Advisory Council to Lord Vetinari. The Cordorian Chronicle asked each of them for their thoughts on being elected, and re-elected for two of them. "Very nervaxcited [sic]! I can't wait to see how my natural charm can help things," said new Councillor Juniper.

"I think it was a good decision. Now, I have time to finish my work," said Councillor Dae'ia, the details of which can be found elsewhere in this Issue. "I'm glad the people of Cordor have so much faith in me that they want to have me for another year of service and protection of this city," said Councillor Rin. "It is an honor as always to do so and I plan to continue my work as a dedicated member of the city."

In an impromptu "Introductory Meeting" called by Councillor Juniper, Cordorian Guard Recruit Serafine brought up the problem of exiled criminals continually breaking exile, describing the current system as "pushing the problem of crime under the rug". She was invited to make a written proposal to try and deal with the problems - a "Criminal Rehabilitation program" was foremost on her mind. Meanwhile, Head Magistrate Roth was given the go-ahead to recruit for the Magistracy.

The Council were asked how it planned, if at all, to aid Benwick. "Unfortunately, killing devils for ten hours a day isn't going to fix the problem at all," said Councillor Rin. "Once we have a plan and somewhere to spread our resources [...] then Cordor will provide what it can to aid Benwick." She amended, however, saying "Meanwhile, we will continue to offer safety and resources within our walls to the refugees of Benwick".

"ASSISTING OF EXILES" LAWS OVERHAULED; HEAD MAGISTRATE EXPLAINS

MEETING HALL, CORDOR - The "Assisting of Exiles" law, which dealt with the crime of helping enemies of the State break exile, has been abolished in favour of "Assisting Enemies of the State", a felony defined as "to knowingly and willingly assist any person(s), held to be public enemies by The Council [...], in a manner that the reasonable person could foresee causing harm to [...] Cordor".

When the Cordorian Chronicle asked Head Magistrate Roth, who championed the change, why the change was necessary, he replied "This law was simply passed because the previous one was too narrow and limited action in a number of cases,"

"Any law can seem sinister if we assume universal idiocy, incompetence or ill intent", he explained, referencing a comment made earlier in the meeting about "legal philosophy", and how there is "inherent discretion in the application of the law".

The proposition was made law by a majority vote of two - the Councillors Dae'ia & Rin, Councillor Juniper absent. The full text of the new law has been made publically available in the Meeting Hall, Temple District, Cordor. The Cordorian Chronicle recommends taking the time to read it for yourself.

EDITORIAL: REMOVE POISONS FROM CORDOR'S ECONOMY

You can buy strychnine in Cordor. Properly applied - in a victim's food, not to a blade - it'll paralyse someone. A little over ten thousand gold, when I checked. Is that the value of a person's life, to the city's legal system? Possibly, and hopefully, not.

Councillor Rin's evasive manner when confronted with the fact that the poisons for sale could hardly be used in defense caused me to raise an eyebrow, though Councillor Dae'ia's response was more promising, if politically vague, saying "Mr. (Alair) Moormeadow (the Trade Commissar) brought this to my attention just before the end of the previous term. He'll be working on some proposals for potential trade restrictions".

Head Magistrate Armen Roth's answer was more positively direct, asking for the record to state that "the Magistracy would fully support regulation on the sale of poisons within the Pax". This writer wholeheartedly supports the Magistracy's take on things, and hopes that Commissar Moormeadow makes the right choice.

(Editor's Note: Editorials are opinion pieces and while they may contain quotes and facts, they are presented in an opinionated light, often in the hope of producing positive change in the author's opinion. We do not claim to portray this article as unbiased truth.)

DREADKNIGHT REQUESTS ELECTION OPPONENT BE EXTRADITED FROM CORDOR

WHARFTOWN - Currently in the throes of an "election", Dreadmonk Grendal Bloodwater has said of those who oppose the incumbent Mayor, Valorie Slades, "is gettin a death note from me", according to an informant. Wharftown considers one "Harley" to be their primary opponent in the election.

In a missive addressed to Cordorian Councillor, Vanya Dae'ia, and leaked to The Cordorian Chronicle, Dreadknight MacLeoud claims that one Harley is a Cyricist, apprentice to a "known Cyricist and Abyssal", Nin Malik, and "within your very streets, bribing and encouraging people to vote for herself in the Wharftown elections [...] (taking) refuge in Cordor." Running for Mayor is a crime against Wharftown laws. "(Harley) is considered the greatest of Wharftown's villains".

"I believe it to be in the interests of yourself, and others," the letter continues, "that Cyricists gain no settlement or power on this isle, for the betterment and safety of all. [...] I ask that Cordor take measures to discourage this bribery and incitement to cause treason elsewhere for the benefit of keeping Wharftown and Cordorian relations strong and on the way to peace.

[...] I trust you understand the seriousness of this, and the diplomatic issues it could bring in to play." He concluded with a clarification that the letter is "not a 'demand' on behalf of Wharftown, but a request from myself". The full text of the letter can be found on the Arelith Historical Society's research board, in the Cordor Library.

EDITORIAL: WHARFTOWN TRIES STRONG-ARMING CORDOR OVER PEACE TALKS

The Cordorian Chronicle has acquired a letter addressed to Councillor of Cordor, Vanya Dae'ia. This fact is documented in the previous article. The letter consists of Dreadknight Ramirez MacLeoud imploring Cordor to extradite Harley, whom Wharftown believes to be a Cyricist and apprentice to an Abyssal.

Being either of those is now no longer a crime in the Pax Cordoria, since the alleviating of the Dark Agencies Act, the very same act that allows Banites to walk the streets. The D.A.A goes two ways. You can't ask for a lack of discrimination on one hand while implying that same privilege (and it is a privilege) be removed from your opponents in another's city.

Moreover, the letter goes to great lengths to appear to be a simple request, but phrases such as "for the benefit of keeping Wharftown and Cordorian relations strong and on the way to peace" infer to me that the purpose of the letter is to politically hinge the peace on respecting and adhering to a theocracy's rule of law. Even if she is a Cyricist or an Abyssal, Cordor should not condone or even entertain the notion of extradition on the whim of another settlement's internal politics.

And if she has committed a crime on the Pax then by all means, condemn her and punish her, but for Cordorian crimes, not the "crime" of running for election in a dictatorship. (Editor's Note: Editorials are opinion pieces and while they may contain quotes and facts, they are presented in an opinionated light. We do not claim to portray this article as unbiased truth.)