Monday, November the sixteenth, saw the following article on page six of the RhyDin Post.
The Price of Knowledge Senior Columnist: Darien Fenner
A Roman poet back on Earth once claimed, "all wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price." The accruement of information is a right of every species, and a sentient being will go to great lengths to further a conscious mind. But alternately, to what lengths will an unrighteous power go to prevent it"
Take Baron Xanth Van Bokkelen, for instance— the newest Baron of the Old Temple and noted academic. Baron Van Bokkelen has long been an active member of RhyDin society, most renowned for his dueling successes. His career includes— but is not limited to— the possession of the Tower of Earth and Tower of Fire in addition to his new Barony. And yet, despite his overwhelming achievements, Van Bokkelen still faces scathing public criticism on multiple levels. The failure to prescribe to mundane RhyDin stereotypes in form and behavior is by no means a reason to discriminate.
Noted academic that he is, Van Bokkelen recently took the legitimate initiative of securing himself a place in the RhyDin Public Library. No doubt the Southgate Manor is ill equipped to handle the passionate research of such an exceptional scholar. And yet, within days of his habitation, the Baron was caviled at and delivered threats that culminated in an autocratic message from the Governor himself. The Governor, who, in a 2008 edition of the Oracle, claimed that his new use of the 'security presence" in RhyDin is, by no means, "the beginnings of a military regime or anything similar." Why, then, were City Watch members to be unjustly appointed at the Library to oust the new Baron from his fervent academic study' What reason had a vigilante group that has no official association with that Watch to second that threat' Is there no boundary to this newfound political absolutism"
A public message by a concerned RhyDin citizen rightfully presented the following query:
?"Will you also deny the Good Baron a library card" Are you to state that his position incurs any less formal authority??"
If anything, the Baron of the Old Temple should be attributed greater authority. And while some claim that 'reigns can end in a heartbeat," the fact remains that those reigns are prevailing and infinitely deserved. After being forced to surrender his first Tower to an indifferent holder, and another to a markedly inadequate one, the Baron was only to be publicly humiliated and driven out of a public building. A public building that is just that— public; it is a building that receives its funding from multi-jurisdictional sources and private donations. Deprived, not only of public right, but public knowledge as well" Since when has an honored title wrought such obtuse aspersion'
With tireless humility— a tribute to his forthright candor—, the Baron relinquished his habitation in the Library, but not without issuing the following opinion:
"In the future, I believe that the rules and regulations should be spelled out clearly so that misunderstandings such as this will not happen in the future."
Well put, Baron. It is unfortunate that Van Bokkelen was forced to pay a humiliating price in his pursuit of knowledge, but perhaps this will teach the citizens of RhyDin a lesson: Knowledge is power; therefore, power will do almost anything to repress that knowledge.
For our part and from now on, we'll skirt the libraries and stick to the internet.
A black and white image of an historical book burning accompanied the article.
The Price of Knowledge Senior Columnist: Darien Fenner
A Roman poet back on Earth once claimed, "all wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price." The accruement of information is a right of every species, and a sentient being will go to great lengths to further a conscious mind. But alternately, to what lengths will an unrighteous power go to prevent it"
Take Baron Xanth Van Bokkelen, for instance— the newest Baron of the Old Temple and noted academic. Baron Van Bokkelen has long been an active member of RhyDin society, most renowned for his dueling successes. His career includes— but is not limited to— the possession of the Tower of Earth and Tower of Fire in addition to his new Barony. And yet, despite his overwhelming achievements, Van Bokkelen still faces scathing public criticism on multiple levels. The failure to prescribe to mundane RhyDin stereotypes in form and behavior is by no means a reason to discriminate.
Noted academic that he is, Van Bokkelen recently took the legitimate initiative of securing himself a place in the RhyDin Public Library. No doubt the Southgate Manor is ill equipped to handle the passionate research of such an exceptional scholar. And yet, within days of his habitation, the Baron was caviled at and delivered threats that culminated in an autocratic message from the Governor himself. The Governor, who, in a 2008 edition of the Oracle, claimed that his new use of the 'security presence" in RhyDin is, by no means, "the beginnings of a military regime or anything similar." Why, then, were City Watch members to be unjustly appointed at the Library to oust the new Baron from his fervent academic study' What reason had a vigilante group that has no official association with that Watch to second that threat' Is there no boundary to this newfound political absolutism"
A public message by a concerned RhyDin citizen rightfully presented the following query:
?"Will you also deny the Good Baron a library card" Are you to state that his position incurs any less formal authority??"
If anything, the Baron of the Old Temple should be attributed greater authority. And while some claim that 'reigns can end in a heartbeat," the fact remains that those reigns are prevailing and infinitely deserved. After being forced to surrender his first Tower to an indifferent holder, and another to a markedly inadequate one, the Baron was only to be publicly humiliated and driven out of a public building. A public building that is just that— public; it is a building that receives its funding from multi-jurisdictional sources and private donations. Deprived, not only of public right, but public knowledge as well" Since when has an honored title wrought such obtuse aspersion'
With tireless humility— a tribute to his forthright candor—, the Baron relinquished his habitation in the Library, but not without issuing the following opinion:
"In the future, I believe that the rules and regulations should be spelled out clearly so that misunderstandings such as this will not happen in the future."
Well put, Baron. It is unfortunate that Van Bokkelen was forced to pay a humiliating price in his pursuit of knowledge, but perhaps this will teach the citizens of RhyDin a lesson: Knowledge is power; therefore, power will do almost anything to repress that knowledge.
For our part and from now on, we'll skirt the libraries and stick to the internet.
A black and white image of an historical book burning accompanied the article.