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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:35 pm

From: iainmacknz@aol.com (IainMacKnz)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 18:16:06 EST

Duke Percival:

I thank your prompt response. It, however, brings further questions.

You accuse me of "attacks and slanders," and characterize them as "vile." I will confess to severe aggravation at Baron Stonecutter's public display. I did not antagonize him prior to his original posting; in fact, the sum total of my comment to that point was to admit that, yes, he was now a target.

Where you see straightforward honesty, I see whining. If stating that someone is whining is "vile slander," then I would truly love to hear your definition of calling someone a tyrant. Baron Stonecutter did not speak to me prior to his posting about my intentions. He did speak to me, on a general basis, twice before the challenge. At no point did he attempt to determine what my opinion would be of his actions, however. His comments to other
parties do make it clear, though, that he knew what would be forthcoming.

Let me again stress: the Baron did not speak to me. Therefore, what was his post meant to accomplish? Do you think it particularly mature to affix to this cork a message decrying someone for actions yet untaken, without even seeking to find some ground to mediate? No; I must assume the intent was solely to complain in the instance.

In regard to Jaycynda, I would ask you to inquire of her why it is she assumed well before yesterday's unfortunate events that the Amethyst Ring was seeking her demise. Frankly, I am at a loss as to why she would feel this way, unless she harbors some guilt for some issue which I have either forgotten or forgiven. The Baroness and I do, after all, have a past. But that is of no matter. Even the announcement of intent to assist an unworthy
candidate to a Barony, combined with the hypocrisy of then rooting against him, would not, itself, have been enough to sway me firmly against her; she, after all, did not herself act.

Casting shadows upon the Overlord simply for being part of a tragedy which was not his doing, nor his fault, however, was beyond the pale... and if you think my saying so is a "vile slander," again, we needs must discuss your definitions.

Lastly, I confess to a twisted amusement at you calling me a vile slanderer on the one hand, and calling me honorable on the other. Please, do choose an option.

Ian Rex.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:36 pm

From: morganfay@aol.com (MorganFay)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 18:17:59 EST

"As far as worthiness goes, Jaycynda Ashleana is probably the most worthy of our current crop of Barons in terms of both personal convictions and her loyalty to those convictions."

Cheating, lying, betraying, and casting about red herrings to detract from her own distasteful actions does not make her "the most worthy of our current crop of Barons."

It sure is nice of you to be loyal to your housemates, though.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:36 pm

From: lorduziel@aol.com (Lord Uziel)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 18:28:18 EST

To all,

My questions have been mild, my thoughts questioning but still respectful. My tone has been nothing but moderate and attempting to understand while voicing my own opinion.
Those that would call that childish are making assumptions on past predjudices that I would like to ask that they reexamine.
As far as Morgans problem is concerned. I have no earthly idea where I might have stepped on her toes to recieve the vicious attacks she levels at me. But since she refuses to enlighten me, and continues her attacks no matter my meaning or tone. I will simply assume that she is unmollifiable, and do what I can to treat her with the respect she refuses me.
What needs to be understood here is that I have no wish for pointless fights of ego and word. I have nothing left to prove. Like me or hate me, I am respected in most corners of the realm. And I have friends aplenty. I have no reason to run through life as a fire breathing hot head and have no intention to do so no matter the vile attacks and vicious words.
Adonai Uziel will no longer be a willing participant in the destruction of our community. And that is all I have to say on the matter.

~Respectfully,
~Adonai Uziel
~DragonLord of Rhydin
~Twice Baron of the Seventh
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:36 pm

From: quickvarmg@aol.com (QuickVarMG)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 19:16:57 EST

>You feel, then, that hidden conspiracy is more noble than open policy?

In a way, yes. With the way House Rising and the Amethyst Ring presented their intentions, it sounds like they plan to invoke terror. Trying to inflict terror into a group of people is far from noble.
If I worded it, I would have simply said, "We will try to restore honor to the rings" and more or less leave it at that. When the warlord challenges, they can say in their letter of challenge, "I simply do not find you an honorable baron and, by my personal policy and the house's policy, I wish to restore honor to the ring by presenting challenge."
Those who act, in your opinion, dishonorably, realize they are a potentiality by that wording, and it doesn't seem so threatening to everyone that reads it.
That's how I would handle it if I wanted to promote an assertive but well meaning message with a policy. But you say tomato, I say tomahto.

Var Medici-Giovanni

±

|¯Proud father, proud husband¯|

|¯Warlord of Duel of Swords¯|

|¯Soul dedicated to Noelle¯|

|¯Devoted to his children¯|
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:36 pm

From: iainmacknz@aol.com (IainMacKnz)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 19:33:16 EST

Var:

Terror. That is such a... silly notion.

I would think that anyone who is stricken with terror at the thought of an old warhorse Baron and those who adhere to his thinking has deeper issues than the Amethyst Ring, wouldn't you?

Be that as it may... I hardly understand why anyone who is NOT a potentiality would feel threatened by anything connected to the Ring. I cannot fathom why Baroness Ashleana felt she was a target. I cannot fathom why Baron Stonecutter was so concerned about definitions and goals so soon before his actions. Before they chose their ground yesterday, they were under the Amethyst Ring's "protection," as it were.

Which leads me to the most laughable aspect of this entire controversy. If the Amethyst Ring is such a threat to the very existence of all that is noble and just in this community...

Why hasn't a single titleholder asked me what the Amethyst Ring's position is on their presence?

One assumed, falsely; none have asked.

I think that is quite a telling condemnation of the entire theory of tyranny here. If nobody cares to inquire, they can't very well be in terror, now can they?

Ian Rex.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:37 pm

From: rlupton@aol.com (RLupton)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 19:43:28 EST

"My questions have been mild, my thoughts questioning but still respectful. My tone has been nothing but moderate and attempting to understand while voicing my own opinion."

Those who declare themselves something are usually just the opposite.



~ Lupton
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:37 pm

From: ducpercy@aol.com (DucPercy)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 19:59:13 EST

>>Lastly, I confess to a twisted amusement at you calling me a vile slanderer on the one hand, and calling me honorable on the other. Please, do choose an option.<<

Honorable men can act less than honorably when driven by ideals they personally feel are just. My assumption is that you consider your statements justified because you believe your cause to be right. This could be a faulty assumption, but it is what comes to mind. Therefore, you can be an honorable man, and yet act in an inappropriate manner. I myself would call myself an honorable man, and yet I would also admit to having been similarly carried
away by zeal in the past. It happens very easily, especially when one believes their cause is true.
That does not make the behavior justifiable or acceptable, however. We are all guilty of this zealous bellicosity at times, and it is something for us to all work on. To restore honor to the rings, we must also restore honor to the boards.
As for the behavior of the Barons in question, the rhetoric of the Baron Stonecutter, which you chide, was no more or less acceptable or unacceptable than the rhetoric of the Lady Cornwall, which you laud. Both were equally bellicose and defensive. There was, however, one difference. The Baron Stonecutter made his post after being (according to the reports of my aide, who witnessed the challenge for me) verbally abused, threatened, and insulted for
his choice. He chose to speak in his own defense. Others chose to attack again.
Likewise, the Baroness Ashleana was attacked, even more aggressively, in the same locale at the same time. She believes Eros to be responsible for Dalamar's death. She feels that she cannot stand Loyal to him for that reason, though she knows he did not act out of malice. She and I talked at length about her choices some time ago. She believes, as sincerely as you do of your own motives, that she is doing the right thing.
Personally, I have only one interest anymore. I wish to see fairplay, even handedness, and sportsmanship in the sport I have come to love. Jaycynda always does what she sees to be the right thing, for what she feels to be the right reasons. She make wrong choices, but she makes honorable choices even when she is wrong. She refrains from personal attacks unless sorely provoked, and she always duels with the utmost sportsmanship.
Quite simply, rather than being a target for the Ring, she embodies the ideals you claim to support more than any of our other Barons. I do not always agree with her. She stood Loyal to an Overlord I frequently criticized, and she now opposes an Overlord I think represents a postive model of the behavior of a sportsman. She made these choices out of friendship for Dalamar, because her honor told her that this friendship was a thing to be honored.
As for definitions, here is one for the word 'slander': To defame, cast aspersions against, accuse, or insult another's reputation, conduct, or person in order to secure advantage or to achieve a goal.
By this definition your remarks about both Barons would constitute slander. As stated before, I believe that you are driven by your zeal. I believe your motives and goals are moral and correct in your eyes, and indeed they probably would be in my eyes too. The ends, however, do not justify the means.
Regarding your thanks in replying so quickly, you are welcome. I have little better to do than read or write at the moment, and therefore a friend is bringing me copies of missives placed on the boards.
I will also add one other item. It is something I told Jaycynda when I discussed her choice of alignment to Marzan, and I would like to share it with you, and indeed others, now. God, or the Gods (whichever you prefer), will see to justice in their own way. We must have faith in him/her/them (whichever you prefer) and learn to treat others as we wish to be treated. This is often a struggle for me, indeed for many. It is, however, and ideal that more
should struggle to reach than seem to be.




Duc Percival Marchand de Clermont
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:37 pm

From: ducpercy@aol.com (DucPercy)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 20:05:05 EST

>>Cheating, lying, betraying, and casting about red herrings to detract from her own distasteful actions does not make her "the most worthy of our current crop of Barons." <<

Jaycynda has not lied to me since I have known her. Nor has she made any public statements, that I have seen, which were in anyway dishonest or untruthful. Neither has she betrayed anyone she has given her loyalty to. She has stood by her friends staunchly and honorably. As for cheating, that matter has been argued interminably, and always her accusers fall back on the same insults and always fail to to appreciate the facts of the situation. If
there is still need to argue the matter in anyone's mind, let them all go off somewhere and have a party.
As for 'casting about red herrings', all the replies I could make to this would make me feel as if I was sinking to your level. I am trying not to be goaded into that anymore.



Duc Percival Marchand de Clermont
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:37 pm

From: iainmacknz@aol.com (IainMacKnz)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 20:16:49 EST

Duke Percival:

"As for the behavior of the Barons in question, the rhetoric of the Baron
Stonecutter, which you chide, was no more or less acceptable or unacceptable than the rhetoric of the Lady Cornwall, which you laud."

Please cite your cause for this inference. I have not stated that I approve of Lady Cornwall's rhetoric, and therefore using such an assumption here is inappropriate at best; intellectually dishonest at average; and at worst, one could say slanderous, couldn't one?

"The Baron Stonecutter made his post after being (according to the reports of my aide, who witnessed the challenge for me) verbally abused, threatened, and insulted for
his choice. He chose to speak in his own defense."

This would make a great deal more sense had he spoken against those who had verbally abused him. I did not address the Baron at all yesterday afternoon in the annex, in point of fact, which any number of witnesses will verify - as, I suspect, will the Baron himself.

"Likewise, the Baroness Ashleana was attacked, even more aggressively, in the same locale at the same time. She believes Eros to be responsible for Dalamar's death. She feels that she cannot stand Loyal to him for that reason, though she knows he did not act out of malice. She and I talked at length about her choices some time ago. She believes, as sincerely as you do of your own motives, that she is doing the right thing."

If doing the right thing means declaring herself renegade, that is her issue and no concern of mine. There will never, in general, be a time when the Amethyst Ring concerns itself with the alignment of Barons to the Overlord. I will always respect the decision of an individual to align themselves with the Overlord as they see fit. Any question I may raise regarding such an alignment will be for informational purposes only.

If doing the right thing means publicly declaiming the Overlord and blaming him for Dalamar's death, as she did, then I'm afraid I must wholly disagree with you. She did not offer this opinion of hers as a reasoning for her renegade alignment. She offered this as a petulant response to continued attacks regarding the issuance of her challenge - a matter I have, and remain, utterly silent on. She offered this as, "Why are you picking on me when
Marzan killed Dalamar?" Think about that, and perhaps you will see why I am so offended by the statement.

As to your definition of the word "slander," you failed to include the part about falsehood. I seem to recall you having a similar difficulty in another argument in the past; I would, respectfully, advise against attempting to engage me similarly.

Ian Rex.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:37 pm

From: xvevan@aol.com (XvEvan)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 20:34:59 EST



Var:

House Rising was never meant to take a stand at the boards nor change people through violence, pressure, or any other form other than by example. I have also rebuilt the House upon its values which where honorable. Never once did I tell any one of the House to challenge this Baron or that. I simply asked that they did it respectfully. Now one of the three, went about wielding this power disrespectfully due to the House did have a number of Baron
rings or where aligned with the Baron's House at the time. During this time ... one of the three also went crazy on the boards and looked within himself, having still been wondering what side of the line to fight on. And so the House members went their own way. I, with my lovely wife's help, am once again restoring the House, allowing in members whom uphold a code of honor within themselves. The House as of yet has no political view upon the current
Overlord and hopefully, will not have to have one. Let that be all that I need to say ...

-Evan Rush Rynth
-House Rising

~A second note hangs below the first ...

House Rising:

If you are considering joining, send a letter to Evan Rush Rynth and state a reason why along with your name. Thanks.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm

From: rolandsal@aol.com (Roland Sal)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 20:43:16 EST

When the Amethyst Ring starts murdering those that stands against it, then I will have reason to think they should be feared.



Roland
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm

From: drakewyni@aol.com (Drakewyn I)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 21:13:29 EST

A simple notification.

I, Drakewyn Anastasia Alabaster Silvertree, have offered my aid and my blade to the stated goals of the Amethyst Ring.
I may not always agree with the statements of its founder, but the goals as originally stated mean much to me.


Lady Drake, aka the Gryphon.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm

From: morganfay@aol.com (MorganFay)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 22:21:37 EST

Percival, perhaps you and Jaycynda are unaware of what a red herring is. It is interesting that you consider it to be stooping to understanding such a simple concept.

Ian summed it up perfectly when he said, "She offered this as a petulant response to continued attacks regarding the issuance of her challenge - a matter I have, and remain, utterly silent on. She offered this as, "Why are you picking on me when Marzan killed Dalamar?"

Where is anyone's proof to the charge that Marzan killed Dalamar?

Percival, you should be ashamed for encouraging your friends to slander others. Those actions, sir, are telling of just how low you have stooped despite what you try to make others believe. If you think I shall stop calling you exactly what you are, think again.
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm

From: lorduziel@aol.com (Lord Uziel)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 22:37:13 EST

::grins a bit at the irony::

Lup,

That would in some instances seem the case wouldn't it?
Thanks for the observation.

~Adonai
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Post by DoS Archive » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm

From: cygnetsera@aol.com (CygnetSera)
Date: 15 Feb 1999 22:50:10 EST

The angel looks at Gnimish, then back to the board, reading softly aloud that which Morgan asks, "Where is anyone's proof to the charge that Marzan killed Dalamar?"

The past Overlord, Gnimish Gnimoi, quirks his brow, calling to mind the dozens of posts and announcements in regard to Dalamar's death, particularly the announcment from the new Overlord Eros himself, not to forget the recent note of Sidartha, Dalamar's love.

"Foo, Marzipan announced Dal's death, here, look",
the gnome points at an old missive still tacked to the board and reads,
"Ward of Gondor, which heals the wounds of all duelers in the rings, did not apply to the Twenty-eighth Overlord of Swords. Thus, it is with great sadness that I inform you that Lord Ar'Daumon did pass away last eve at the conclusion of our duel. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his Widow, and to all who called themselves his friend, of whom I considered myself one."

Cyggy leans her head upon Gnim's shoulder wondering what politics are forever brewing.

"Ya can never trust anyone to die around this joint", the gnome muttered under his breath.
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