New story out the shoot. The Great Debate is in line with an earlier story, the The Possibility Engine. Please enjoy.
Almost missed my (internal) deadline. I started playing around in the X11 terminal on my macbook. Mac's are shiny, pretty things; but there's alot of power under the hood. I just have to figure out how to use that power.
The Great Debate
Brenda touched up her hair one last time and turned to face the cameras. Her partner Chet was already practicing his smile into the camera, as the studio director gave the countdown. Five, four, three, two...
"Good evening America," began Brenda cheerfully. "Chet and I would like to welcome you to the very first in a series of forty seven exciting debates to determine who you will choose as the next Steward of the United Species of America..."
"That's right Brenda," interrupted Chet. "Folks, as a series of constitutional reforms, for the first time we will hold direct elections to choose the next Steward. No more will candidates have to assemble mighty armies of heroes and fight it out on the Plains of Doom..."
"That's right, Chet," continued Brenda. "Tonight's exciting debate-- the first of forty seven, I might add-- features the two leading contenders for the position of Steward: Thag the Slayer and Eleon of the High Forest."
"Thag is a Troll from the Iron Mountains. He lists his likes as windsurfing, long walks on the beach and and finding that special country over which to be Steward. And Eleon is an Elf from the High Forest; he enjoys new spells, learning foreign languages and questing. Gentleman, let me welcome you to tonight's debate." said Chet.
"Thag," said Thag.
"Eleruma, chi asrue..." began Eleon.
"Wow, Eli, my man, not so heavy on the High Tongue. There are many halflings, trolls, humans, orcs, imps, and fairies who may misinterpret what you say. Let's keep to the Common Tongue," cautioned Chet.
"Of course," said Eleon. "I will use the Commoner's Tongue from here out."
"Thank you," said Brenda. "Now, for your opening statements. Thag?"
"Thag says many challenges face the USA. Thag says dependence on foreign sulfur; the challenges we face with the Sons of the Unblinking Eye and the increasing cost of everything, from questing, to mining for gold to farming, are all problems next Steward must face. Thag has experience from long time in Great Council. Thag says he will be proud to be next Steward of the United Species. Thag thanks you."
"Eleon?" asked Brenda.
"As the forest first wakes in the morning, so to does our opportunity to see a new morning light. As the trees soak with dew, so to do we drink in the challenges of the day. While my opponent sees only problems, I see solutions; that is our key difference."
"Uh, yeah." said Brenda. "Ok, first question for Eleon: sir, you've come under fire recently for some incendiary words spoken on the part of your Wizard, Easy Darklight the Grey..."
"Actually they were incendiary spells; burnt a couple people up and singed quite a few eyebrows," added Chet.
"Well yes. Eleon, how do you answer charges that your association with the Great Wizard Easy Darklight the Grey may damage your chances of becoming Steward?" asked Brenda.
"First, let me say that Easy Darklight cast spells on his own behalf; he alone is responsible for what ever devastation he brings down on the countryside. I have made it clear in the past that as part of my administration, dark magic and for that matter, raping and pillaging villages, will be strictly controlled as we work towards an outright ban."
"Thank you. Now Thag, let us turn to foreign policy. How would you handle the Sons of the Unblinking Eye and their war to convert all of central earth to mono-speciesism?" asked Chet.
"Thag crush them. Thag crush them good."
"Thank you. And Eleon?"
"See, that's the approach the United Species of America does not need. We all worship an awesome Publisher; and all though we may get to the Publisher through different Authors and Editors, we are all part of the beautiful tapestry that make up our Created World. My opponent would demonize all orcs in his..."
"Thag says Eleon lies. Thag hates Sons of Unblinking Eye. Thag has no problem with orcs; Thag will be Steward of all Americans be they orc, halfling, troll or even elf."
"Even elves?" sniffed Eleon," see it's that kind of speciesism that my opponent claims to oppose..."
"Thag says bah!! Everyone knows elves are always drifting off; to the Western Vale or now to the Mars Colony. Everyone knows when the going gets tough, the elves get going..."
"I resent that," resented Eleon.
"Thag says bah, it's true. During the War of the Shiny Ring, the elves..."
"Many elves lost their lives in the War of the Shiny Ring, and for you to..."
"Gentleman, gentleman. This is a debate. Please." said Brenda. "Next question for Eleon. How do you answer charges that the United Species of America is merely a new Kingdom of Gondor?"
"Brenda, it is simple." began Eleon. "Our dependence on foreign sulfur, our constant questing for new sources of gold and iron all combine to make our friends in the world nervous. We must look inside our selves, and question why we must..."
"Thag says we must look inside our country and dig our own sulfur, iron and gold..."
"I disagree." Eleon said. "My opponent is from the mountains. I am from the forests. Forests are delicate, living things. As elves, we learn to live in harmony with the forest..."
"You mean hide?" asked Thag.
"...and find our compromises there. Converting the USA to a stream-power based economy is one way we could compromise."
"Thag says bah!! Your puny streams could not power one Ironworks. We need to dig!! We need to use hot rocks!!" said Thag.
"Now hot rocks are dangerous; misuse of the hot rock can cost lives." warned Eleon.
"Thag says hot rocks have powered our fleets across the ocean; hot rocks now fuel our space rockets. Hot rocks are proven technology. Elvish ways are stupid ways. So says Thag," said Thag.
"It's obvious my opponent is in the pocket of Big Sulfur. Ask him where he gets his money from; ask him what Old Dragon is dipping into its Hoard to prop up his campaign!"
"You lie!!" roared Thag. He stepped forward, crushing his podium. Looking left and right, Thag spotted a right sized boulder, picked it up and threw it at Eleon. Eleon deftly sidestepped as the boulder crushed his podium. He unslung his bow, and hands moving faster than the eye could track, began shooting arrows at Thag.
The audience erupted into pandemonium.
"Gentlemen, gentleman," pleaded Brenda, as Chet grabbed her arm and pulled her under the table. The auditorium filled with the sounds of swords and shields clashing.
Brenda looked across at Chet, from the safety of cover.
"Damn," she swore softly.
Chet shrugged.
"It's the Narrative," he said. "What can you do?"
The End
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