The Daleland's Beholder

Is hope a Myth in Drannor?

Spencer Reporting

-Myth Drannor

Weeks have passed and the ever apathetic Hierarchy in Myth Drannor are scarely seen or available for comment on the erosion a civilized Dalelands. The location to the Zhentarim opposition acts as a refugee camp rather than a proud elven stronghold and many are beginning to wonder if it serves as a final retreat. As the war between good and evil drags on, it becomes clear to the inhabitants of the region that Myth Drannor cares little for the suffering of the common folk to the west. Adventurers who claim to act as an aligned force are frequently seen strutting through the refugee camp with their glowing weapons, armor and their riches (no doubt gained from the womb of Shadowdale). They strut and stride and even stop to talk to each other at times, but the conversation is rarely about taking action, instead it is filled with how bad things are for those poor people in Shadowdale or their own personal struggles.

It becomes clear that those "would be" heroes know of the strife that saturates the land, yet a choice is made every day, every moment not to act on it. Paladins, Rangers and Clerics alike all quest for personal gain or growth, while Shadowdale quickly becomes a haven for tyranny and evil. Day by day it becomes more difficult to discern which is worse, the Evil that plagues the land, or the Cowardice that stands by and watches it occur.

All interviewed dismiss the notion that anything can be done without certain death. Most agree that no apparent leadership exists to unite those who have the power to free the land. As the gorge between would be heroes grows wider, The Zhentarim gain new recruits daily and galvanize their cause.

The basis is that while the "Heroes" of the land get richer and more glorious individually, The citizens of Shadowdale dwell in continuous squalor. This is good news to the hard working Banite community, who should have a Church of Bane opened in Myth Drannor before the next decade closes.

Special thanks to the Citizens of Shadowdale, Myth Drannor and Freehaven for commenting to the viability of this article.

The Abbot of the temple of Lathander writes the following reply, in contribution to the ongoing commentary in The Daleland's Beholder:

~~~~~

The problem is not one of apathy or indifference as the author seemed to have implied. Neither is it a case of "would be heroes" choosing to amass personal glories and artifacts to the neglect of the squalor and strife festering in the dales with each passing week.

The problem is leadership, or the lack of it. To be fair, there are leaders aplenty here in Myth Drannor and each one, undoubtedly, a leader in their own right. But thus far, there has been no singular rallying cry, no galvanizing rouse to action, no resounding call to put petty differences aside to confront the tyrannous evil that mocks us all.

It is almost as if each faction is waiting for the other to lead the charge. When there are so many factions and no one to rally us all together in unity of purpose and action, each group will just do their own thing, which as the author has rightly pointed out, is nothing.

So do we just accept the current unfortunate state of affairs? Most certainly not. The recent cleansing of the vile undeath at Fox Ridge led by the Archdruid Ka is a sterling example of what we can achieve. We saw how a strong voice of leadership, married to a pressing purpose to eliminate an imminent threat, serve to bring a disparate group of adventurers together - humans and half-orcs, elves and hin, mages and monks alike. The threat was swiftly dealt with and the shroud of darkness gloriously pierced.

Surely the present Zhent oppression over our lands is a far bigger concern than the shadowy mists that envelops a gnoll enclave? The time is now for our leaders and allies of Myth Drannor to unite under a common banner. The time is now for us all, inhabitants and allies of Myth Drannor, to rise up and take action!

Reply submitted by Elijah,
Monastic Abbot of the Order of the Sun Soul at the Temple of Lathander,
in response to the original article by Spencer.

~~~~~

*reading article over she merely shakes her head* Yet again they focus only on one matter that is not even the closest to the threats out there. Perhaps it is just convenient to forget the dhaerow massing in the woods.

*Auryne as she reads "The Beholder" just slowly shakes her head sadly but keeps her thoughts to herself, instead she writes a reply*

"I would like invite the anonymous author, who for no apearant reason forgot to include his name in his article and of course honored abbot Elijah to have a talk with me..
I am always open for discussion and will not turn anyone away.

Keeper Auryne Linthariel."

*Karovir reads the article and rubs his beard skeptically* Sure fighting an army of Banites is of course an easy thing. Of course we can do that without harming any innocent citizen *sarcastically* without the drow taking advantage of it and attacking our city. Why should we think of preparing at all? We just take all soldiers, mercenaries, backstabbers and attack Shadowdale while the drow slaughter and raid Myth Drannor. If we are good we may just lose all we have and get betrayed by our own mercenaries *grumbles and just keeps ranting*. Zhentarim get new forces...all their old and experienced ones are gone...

The halfling berserker, Primra, reads the note and smirks at its accuracy. She then decides to go raid the bandit camp, perhaps solely because the paper suggested she should do something more constructive.

*A figure hooded and cloaked in black, face concealed, sits up in a tree somewhere in the nearby forest, invisible while sitting between the trunk of the tree and a thick tree limb. The figure has a copy of The Beholder in hand, slightly crumpled from being carried around and read over multiple times.*

*The figure snorts after one last read-through of the article, then rolls it up tightly. Lighting a match, the figure then lights that copy of the article on fire. Sitting up in the tree, the figure watches the paper quickly burn, holding it between two gloved fingers until its burned down to nothing but a stub. The figure drops the stub against the tree and rubs it out with a boot, as if it were an oddly-sized cigar.*

*With a short, sharp whistle, the figure summons a bird to its side - a large brown hawk. Pulling a tightly-rolled parchment tied with ribbon from its satchel, the figure offers the message to the hawk for delivery. The hawk grasps it with both taloned feet and immediately takes to the air. The parchment is easily carried as the message is not very long. When it reaches its destination - the original writer and reporter of the article - the recipient shall discover a very short and simple message, written in a shimmery blue ink:*

Quote :

Dearest Slackjawed Observer,

I don't see you doing anything about the situation.

Of course those you interviewed said nothing was being done to solve the crisis, said nobody cared, and spoke like the war was already over in favor of the trash that has sullied these beautiful lands.

You did not speak to those who are actually working to win the war.

For Freedom,
~Tel'Corleithian

*Under the shade of the deep cormanthor woods near the Velarswood Gul reads what writings are available to him*

I should find this filth with a poisoned hand, and employ him.

*Elric crumples the paper as he finishes reading*

Zhentilar or drow propaganda at work to demoralize no doubt he mutters under his breath.