Historical Lexicon II

The Great Battle                              The Historical Lexicon
By Historian Anthesitiaga                              Third Edition
War. The great triumph and tragedy of sentient beings. It is
inevitable that we should wish the destruction of our enemies. Those
we deem different, unfit, ill-equipped. But we aren't content with
destruction. It isn't enough to win. Absolute dominance is the goal.
Obliteration. Here the mind of mortal beings shine, for in their
desire to dominate they create ever more powerful, ever more elegant
implements of death. It has been so since the dawn of existence. It
was recorded in the stories of Raght, Athaeketha and Palison. We see
it now as demons march, elementals rage, warriors fight, and knights
charge. Where there is conflict, violence lurks. Where there are
differences there is distrust in equal measure. Where there is life,
there is war. War has, is, and will be. And despite the great
victories, the crushing defeats... In defiance of the new and terrible
tools at the warrior's call, we remain. War never changes, even if it
wears a different face. Mortal nature, never changes. The great
triumph of war is not how good we are at it. It's how good we are at
living in spite of it. Though we conspire to bring an end to one
another, our greatest efforts will never succeed. Life, the desire for
life is too tenacious. It's an instinct too strong to destroy. But we
sure do like to try.
                                  ---
At Rest but not at Peace           | Obituary for Lillithiri
By Academician Aikkao              | By Academician Aikkao
Before its imprisonment in the     | Lillithiri Corimak, beloved wife
Forsaken Lands for the terrible    | of Ilthrias Corimak, has passed
rampage that destroyed countless   | away. Lillithiri, or Lilli to
homes: the Gor'Gorak was a noble   | anyone calling her friend, passed
creature. Due to the terror        | on from complications due to a
befallen us in the town of Val     | bite from the late rat king
Miran its easy to forget that the  | Garraci.
Gor'Gorak once was not an enemy    |
of the world but an ally. It was   | Lilli was known for her
hardly kind or gentle rather a     | generosity to all. As a follower
creation of Gaia, and a being of   | of the One God, she did her part
tremendous importance. Now the     | ten times over to make the world
land, towns and people are bear    | a better place. She is survived
the scars of its passing through,  | by her two children Valerion and
tainted by the powers of chaos     | Vagilion. She was a model wife
and mutated by nefarious wills.    | and would surely have been an
Perhaps it is a fluke, an ironic   | excellent mother for her two
humor, or maybe a bit of mercy,    | children.
that this creature now resides on  |               ---
the island that was created in     | Alphabet Soup
direct opposition to Gaia. The     | By Academician Dilorry
power of Gaia reclaimed the        | Why are some of the letters
island long ago so perhaps there   | before the dash and some of them
is a measure of comfort as the     | after?
Gor'Gorak rests. Even with this    |
solace, the creature is tormented  | AEFHIKLMNTVWXYZ - BCDGJOPQRSU
endlessly by what it has become.   |
Felling the beast seems to have    | Twenty five thousand gold coins
very little effect, for no matter  | to the first correct submission
how many times it is done, the     | received by our Halls.
beast resumes its torture once     |               ---
more when the sun next raises.     | Looking for news! Any persons
Many adventurers have found        | bringing attention to events that
tremendous wealth, glory and fame  | end up published in the Lexicon
undertaking this task but will     | will be rewarded greatly.
anyone ever actually grant the     | Individual submissions will also
beast peace?                       | be considered.
                                  ---
The End of the Guardian's War
By By Academician Aikkao
It has finally happened, the war of the Guardians has come to a close!
Nearly two centuries after the start, an accord was reached by King
Sylf of and Emperor Arexarlis. King Sylf still sits on the throne of
Val Miran along with his wife, Queen Dilorry. Yet as peace returns to
the west, a shadow is forming over the east. Tensions rise between the
Savant tower and the Nexus Fortress as name calling becomes grudges
and then violence. It seems the reprieve from war is to be a shot
lived blessing.