Messages

Day - ?

I almost forgot about you. How could I forget about you? Months ago, you were the only friend I had. The only wisdom on the Disc. But your name, it left me for some time.

I don't know if you are dead, or in rest. I don't know if you ever existed, or just the sermons that I was taught about you did. I don't know if you grow from each word we write. I have gotten comfortable, and I have been numbed to the catastrophic loss that you represent.

Help me. I am in over my head.

[The ink on this is that of a pen that was pressed a little too hard. There is a faint smell of camel dung, unfortunately]

Dear friend,

I urge you to not panic, and not do anything rash. We will solve this. This is nothing more than fear-mongering from the Capital, trying to hook its claws into our citizens right of free worship against the non-profane.

You will be protected. I swear it.

Jordan

Riccario,

The Stadium plan is not tenable. I think I have an idea for solving this, but you're not going to love it. I will tell you of it in person tomorrow.

Jordan

And we finish day two, strong!


Candidates, you have one final question for this Debate. I will not be continuing it through the voting days, because I do not want to be the reason to hold up any votes. It has been a pleasure doing this with you.


Question Three:

One can not look at the current political climate, and not be drawn to conversation about the new district. There are differing opinions on where it should go, with some thinking that putting it outside the Rose Gate will provide more power to the Rose faction that would otherwise be the purview of the Janissary. Some question if it should be built at all. What are your true thoughts, regarding the mammoth effort that is the New District?

Luck is wished to all participants.


-Jordan Clearcreek,
Captain of the Heron Company,
Scholar, Philosopher, Moderator of this Debate.

[AFTER]

Thus ends question one.

Thank all three of you for your answers and participation. This was an enlightening read! As we move on to the next question, please remember to stay on topic and please do not continue the old topic.

Remember, you may write a rebuttal to your opponents AFTER all three candidates have given their primary stance.



Question Two:

War is on the breath of most residents of Ephia's Well. Depending on who you ask, we are in numerous different wars. Between Qa'im, The Thousand Clans and Nusrum, the Sibilant, Cultists, et al.. where do we put our priority, in order to ensure that Ephia's Well grows and the Heron soars?

Luck is wished to all participants.


-Jordan Clearcreek,
Captain of the Heron Company,
Scholar, Philosopher, Moderator of this Debate.

[Posted prominently in the Sandstone College, by a woman not in their tassels anymore...]

Due to scheduling conflicts, an in-person debate is not feasible. Thus, I will be holding a new format of debate. Welcome, reader, to the first Write-In Debate.

The format of this is simple. A question will be posed, and the three Candidates may respond to the original question with their own stance. After all three Candidates have posted their initial reply, then you may attack your opponent's arguments and standpoints in rebuttal.



Question One:


Citizenship is widely contested as ever. Between expectations of monetary deposit, cultural understanding, or other means to 'prove' that one is a citizen, where do you want the price to sit, in your most ideal situation?


Luck is wished to all participants.


-Jordan Clearcreek,
Captain of the Heron Company,
Scholar, Philosopher, Moderator of this Debate.

[Electoral Debate]

You are invited to Sandstone College on Nisah 13th for an Electoral Debate

The format will follow one I used previously, with the intent of rapid discussion. The questions will come from my own pool of questions, and the audience. Your stance is your own. I will have more details come the time and day.

If you would accept, or propose a new day and time, please write back.

Jordan Clearcreek
Captain of the Heron Company,
Scholar, Philosopher

//Saturday, 2PM EST is the intended time.

[Pragmatic Creation Theory]

Pragmatic Creation Theory

Throughout our home here in the sand and ash, there are hallmarks of other civilizations. We know of the old; the Formorian, the Ayybaysin, the Orentid, et al.. But if we look to the current denizens, we can also start to see emergent patterns. Things overlooked may help shape a clearer understanding of our own presence on this Disc.

I started to consider this theory of Pragmatic Creation, when I was investigating baublium. I posited that there were stores of the prismatic substance, unrefined in the ground near the Scorpiod lands. Further investigation lead me to the metallic pools near their spires, in which I was dismayed to find no correlation. However, I did make a new discovery of resonance near these pools. I could hear a distinctive hum at the largest concentration, and recalled something I had read in my refugee days, doing Gutters work.

"I also encountered another strange phenomenon. This humming seems to attract great waves of insects, animals and other inhabit(ant)s of the Gutters, seemingly at random."

-Astronomer's Notes

Applying this knowledge, we can start to speculate a little on what attracts these Scorpiods to those dunes. I believe they may be attracted toward the hum, which could be a specific frequency that causes them to swarm. But, to what end?

I considered this question. And then, looking upon their works in the massive underground structures, their tunnels, I came to a thought.

What if they are here to dig?

We know that Scorpiods are sentient. We know that the way they communicate may be telepathy, pheromones, or other unspoken methods. My thought is that they communicate through these frequencies, and that this can be exploited to change the will of an entire subset of Scorpiods. Their tunneling could be repurposed from simple habitation, to cutting through sandstone and rock to form great roads underground, hollow out treasure chambers, or other labors.

When applying this consideration to other races of the disk, we can come to similar conclusions. Trolls are exceptional at hefting and moving rocks. Quicksand Men are mindless labor, and perhaps early iterations of the terracotta soldiery that we face often when going on archaeological digs. Which, themselves are potentially early iterations on those Stonefolk we now share our home with.

Giant Sandworms likewise are capable of clearing more stone for tunnels, than a large contingent of dwarven miners. Further, we know Sandworms to be a nutritious, if not the most favorable protein. The hums mentioned in the earlier citation could be intentional, to draw them to Ephia's Well to feed her people!

Turn our sights now, Southward to Nusrum, or toward any mountain range, and you will know the Orc threat of a thousand Clans.. Conveniently positioned all around our Great Ring, even more conveniently fighting a greater threat of the Sibilant Empire. I believe that this may be entirely intentional. A protective barrier formed of hundreds of clans, now that Ephia has wiped out a hundred or so...

In fact, the only denizens of the Disc that I can't ascribe a potential purpose to, are those of the Ninth Spoke. Lizards, Melek, Kobold, Wyrms... All evidence points to this Spoke being a forcefully grafted thing upon what was once a wheel of great stability.

Perhaps these are all coincidence, or perhaps our forebearers found ways to exploit what was already there, but there is some evidence at least, that the denizens of the Desert all serve a specific purpose, that could have been used to shape the world we see today.

[Jordan Clearcreek]

Pragmatic Creation Theory
Jordan Clearcreek

Topic:

Residency and Citizenship is a hot button topic for every league within Ephia's Well. While some believe that residents should go through stricter processes for Citizenship, others think that Citizenship should be based mainly on the conviction that one wishes to reside.

Stance A is to defend the idea of strict requirements for residency to be promoted into citizenship. Stance A should be prepared to offer suggestions as to what these requirements should be, and their benefit to the State as a whole.

Stance B is to defend the idea of loose requirements or none, for residency to be promoted into citizenship. Stance B should be prepared to explore what it means to be a citizen, when it is not limited in exclusivity.

Topic:

There are some with the belief that knowledge, in all its forms, should be open and available to any who seek it. On the other side of this coin, there are some who believe that knowledge should be shared, only when it is earned, or hoarded.

Stance A is to defend the notion of sharing knowledge freely. Stance A should be prepared to offer examples of what a free-knowledge state would look like, and what it could achieve.

Stance B is to defend the idea that knowledge is not meant to be shared ubiquitously, and must be safeguarded, hidden, and hoarded. Stance B should be prepared to explain how keeping knowledge has benefits.

Topic:

Some believe that there is no place for Faith when it comes to matters of governance or of jurisprudence.

Stance A is to support the idea that divine guidance is crucial in governance and advocate for a theocratic approach.  Stance A should be prepared to advocate the ways that a Godly tribunal has benefited society.

Stance B is to represent one who believes in separating religious beliefs from governance, promoting a secular state. Stance B should be prepared to defend how the separation of divine and state would change the perspective of law and civics.

Topic:

The desert has many oddities, macabre and innocuous alike. Among these things are ancient technologies that we have repurposed for our wants, but don't seem to really grasp their original purposes.

Stance A is to represent the idea that ancient technologies and artifice should be used to protect the Disc in all its forms. Stance A should also be prepared to explain how technology we have already adapted has influenced our current lives.

Stance B is of the mindset that if we don't know what something is, in its fullest form, we should simply not use it. Stance B should be prepared to advocate for deeper understanding over experimentation.

Topic:

The ramparts of Nusrum are constantly besieged by orcs of the different thousand clans. Many believe that they should be ruthlessly and endlessly culled, while a subset of others might claim that they are a barrier from the Sibilant to the South.

Stance A should defend the idea of wanton slaughter and purging of them from our Mountains. Stance A should also be ready to explain the positive effects that this would have on our caravans, and likewise.

Stance B is concerned that if we strike at the Orcs without any thought, and see them only as enemy combatants, we may shift the tug of war that is their fight against the Sibilants, and the Sibilant will replace them, and be a worse foe upon our doorstep.

Topic:

Bribery is a cultural tradition of the Sultan's people. Some believe that this practice should be abolished in place of other means of lobbying.

Stance A should defend Bribery as a means of lobbying governmental powers. Stance A should be prepared to offer examples of how Bribery benefits our electoral and civic services.

Stance B should argue against Bribery as a means of lobbying governmental powers. Stance B should offer alternative methods that may work as well, or better, and explain how bribery has negatively impacted life in the Desert.

Topic:

When it comes to the Creep, there are two primary schools of thought. The first is that the Creep is a necessary part, and the other is that it is only a detriment.

Stance A is expected to side with the Creep in this argument. Stance A should be prepared to offer factual areas win which the continued operation of the Creep benefits the Well and society.

Stance B should be against the establishment as a whole. Stance B should be ready to offer examples of malign and detriment.

Topic:

For most of us, writing down our thoughts and findings on Historical matters, and lineages is a natural way of life. For Stonefolk, however, they believe only in orally transmitting history through song and verse.

Stance A is to explain why the passage of history would and should be done through Verse. Stance A should consider the longevity of a well-passed tale and the ease of which a listener can adopt new information.

Stance B should defend the written word. Stance B should be prepared to offer supporting arguments based on the fact that conceptually, the story is immutable through writing, only able to be destroyed.

Topic:

For most of us, the Well was not Home before Ringfall. We are a city of refugees, who, by and large, have adopted local customs and been asked to forget our own. This has been a struggle for some, who hold onto the belief that their way is the 'right' way.

Stance A should be for the adopting of a culture, over being set in ones ways. Stance A could make the argument of a life of more ease, not going against the grain.

Stance B believes that their culture from their home, wherever it may be, will follow them to death. Stance B should argue against the idea of abandoning ones rites, Gods, cuisine, and traditions for that of the foreign, and unknown.

Topic:

The topic of Faith is one that comes up often, no matter where you look in Ephia's Well. It is a cultural staple, and common to have practitioners who are not priests. Some could make the argument, that for these laymen, they put their faith in their Priesthood, more than the God they serve.

Stance A should make the argument that Faith for the common, non-clergy man, the faithful layman, lies more in the teachings and guidance of the Priesthood than direct connection with a higher power.

Stance B believes that true faith is a personal and direct connection with the divine, transcending the need for intermediaries like the Priesthood. Stance B could argue for the individual's ability to commune with their deity without reliance on religious institutions.

[Some leaflets find their way into the book, memories of a Debate]

Debate Format

Each Bout will consist of two phases. The first is the Initial Statement. The second is the Rebuttal Phase.

Initial Statement - 4 Minutes, til Yield

In the Initial Statement, you must state your base argument. In this phase, you should not attack what your opponent has said or may say, but instead focus on your main point. Once your main point is complete you may Yield.

Yielding in the Initial Statement will add your remaining time to your Rebuttal Phase.


Rebuttal Phase - 4 Minutes, til Yield

In the Rebuttal Phase, you may expand on your own topic or attack your opponents perspective and argument. Once you have made the points you wish to make, you may Yield.

Yielding in the Rebuttal Phase will stop your time, until the next volley. There can be as many rebuttals as the participants yield for.

The bout will begin when the question is read in its entirety. The second to go will go immediately after their opponent has yielded.

Participants will not be told to engage after a yield, this must be done automatically. If your opponent yields their time, it is then immediately the others turn, until time runs out.

A brief addendum is made.

1,000 dr Grant Prize Sponsored by:

Faisal Al-Karim of Sandstone College


Judges:

Seat 1: Legate Marcellus Saenus
Seat 2: Apothar Cosine Muvura
Seat 3: Academic Zol Nur

Fill 1: Sister-Priest Sofia

Moderator/Organizer: Jordan Clearcreek

[Adar 24, IY 7787]

Adar 24, IY 7787

You are invited

to Jordan Clearcreek's Capstone Project for her degree at Sandstone College.


A debate is to be had among any inquiring minds, wherein the topics for discussion and the stance on the topic will be randomly assigned to participants.

Debate rounds will be had as one-mind versus one-mind. "Winners" of their spar will move on to face other winners, and the ultimate winner of the Debate will be given a grant of 1000 dinar, and the title of Champion.

Join us, this weeks end, at midday.

A sample topic:

• Benefits to Sharing knowledge vs Retaining it

-Jordan Clearcreek,
Sandstone College

// OOC: Saturday, Dec 30 at 2:00 PM EST

I was really sad to see this post. I liked Eamon so much. I am looking forward to whatever drew your attention away, though.

DAY - 42

Some things that Sofia said resonated with me, as we talked about getting her to publish works on the Il-modan faith of the Dome.

1. Faith enables a second set of senses, allowing one to see, hear, feel, and taste the often imperceptible.

2. Knowlege can be harmful, treacherous, but wisdom is a friend one can always rely on.