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# THE AEGIS TIMES # Issue #4
Possut
A day after the attack against Alstion , me and my fellow staff member Darius,interview Oren Military Advisor Vardak Ciantar. We sit down and exchange some polite words , before the real interview. The Advisor is a good man it seems, with a very good manner, being an orc. ::When we get to business he early says that some guilds tried to defend Alstion, and attack the the undead . They were led and gathered around Vardak. But an Undead got to him very soon and he was not disposable for the upcoming battle. ::" "Was hurt by an undead, mangled my arm," he says. "I sent my men towards Alstion, with orders to listen to anyone taking the lead. Do not know who did though. I had seven guards of Oren with me." We ask him if King Edmund had talk to him anything, if he had given any orders to defend Alstion. ::"I was to await instructions from him. But I sent my men without word from him", he says. "I had to take the initiative!" ::"I do not know why no one else picked up the banner and gathered the soldiers. I thought if I did it, more would come to join us in future assaults. The guards stood tall and the morale was high." ::Where was the King? ::"I sent a scout who could not find him." We asked him why the King had not made any preparations for Alstions defences, with Snowy Fields defeated. The attack must have been expected. ::"He was not truly prepared for it. All he had was rumors", Vardak says. But why not expect the worst and prepare for it? ::Vardak tilts his head in obvious thought and says: "He was not prepared this time, to be honest." ::What is your comment on the guards not getting salaries but have to pay taxes? ::"Guards do get paid. If they have not get a payment, they need to speak with me. I pay them 85 minas, I do not have enough to give them higher. Not until Chase, the financial advisor says so. Im waing for his word." ::But the taxes the King collects would be more than enough to cover the Guard salaires, should it not?   ::"The guards should not be taxed in my opinion. Neither should residential buildings." ::But where does the tax money go? ::"Stocking up on iron, paying the guard, and the rest is held for supplies for Oren." ::How about the building of the keep in AlKhazar? ::"That is being covered. The King paid for all the materials himself." ::Anything else you would like to comment, while I am here? ::"To all readers who have heard the lies of me not paying the guard: I do pay the guard. I just have to wait for Chase to give me what I need. Its not a matter of not doing it, its a matter of not having the minas to do it. " ::With that, I thank Vardak. :: :: ::After the interview, I did some research. As a recruit you do not get paid. I do not know how many recruits there is. ::' Going to the bulletin boards I found a notice saying this: "You question where the guards are? They are on the streets of Al'Khazar, begging for food. They are in the forests of Oren, hunting pigs. They are abusing citizens lookig for money, as their own King will not pay them. ::You question where the guards are? They are not being trained, so having one nearby would only give you the advantage that a child with a wooden sword would. They are not learninbg how to fight, so they cannot help you to protect your tavern or shop. ::The King neglects to pay the guards, so the guards neglegt to guard the people. THis is the King's fault, not the guards. Question him! ::~ L ::' ;;' ::Going on, our reporter Kai, got a hold of Lord Tarus, Captain of the Oren Guard. Here is the interview. ::' ::We met each other outside of Kramoroe. Apparently he had come to see me and ask for an interview. I was very happy to oblige. ::I asked him how he became captain. ::"I became Captain a long time ago. I worked as a Templar and earned much respect." ::So why are you seeking me out? ::"I am dissatisfied with how King Edmund Sheffield is handling the guards. He is too peaceful and.. somewhat shadowy. He doesn't speak to or hear his people out. All he does is to build what he wants. There are problems that he seems to neglect. We are at war with a foe that'll end us all, and we can mostly see him in his "Under construction"- keep. He offers no solace to that in his negligence." ::What is the difference between the current and former king? ::"King Perea was a good king. We held our lands, had a functioning army and no taxes. Now we do have taxes, but where does those minas go towards?" ::You are implying that those money don't go where they should. Do you have proof for this " corruption"? ::"The guards are not tax free either. Why not take their pays in the taxes, eh? Maybe he's paying them all along by holing minas in his pocket? I 've heard many signs of corruption. Brett Perea was caught dealing with the Undead. The King's advisors had narry a job all their days in politics, but now their all heading branches. His (the kings) actions are generally suspicious." ::So what do you plan to do? ::"It's not what I plan, it's what the people of Oren plan. I can spout all my opinions all I want, but that doesn't mean things will change. People are the catalyst of newer things. Speaking out will fix things! If people want my help in change I'll be happy to be their voice." ::What would you say to the readers in Oren? ::"Don't be afraid to step out of the line, and speak your opinions, citizens of Oren and Aegis!" ::With that we thank Lord Tarus. ::' ::We are agreeing to the fullest with Lord Tarus. The Word is a powerful tool! Do not be afraid to use it! ::That wraps todays issue. We will seek out the King for comments. ::' ::' ::Published by: # THE AEGIS TIMES # ::Todays reporters: Kai and Glamdring ::' ::Terms & Agreement ::By purchasing this newspaper you accept our Terms & Conditions which are freely to read at any property of The Aegis Times Newspaper Company.