The New Stormwind Herald Issue 1

Note from the Editor
Greetings to all citizens of Stormwind City.

For those who don't know me, I am Arutha Sly, the grandson of the recently elevated Baron Jake Sly the First and son of the late Jake "Shadow" Sly the Second of the Cenarion Circle. I am a man of Gilneas City who over the last few years has resided, adapted and grown to the customs of what I consider to be the most diverse and multi-cultural city in all of Azeroth. Although I still miss Gilneas, I feel I can now count Stormwind City as my home and that I know the streets as if I grew up in them myself.

The Stormwind Herald, which published its final issue on August the 5th, was a creditable and very informing publication that many of Stormwind's residents, such as myself, contributed to. Sadly however the publication has ended but now I hope you all give me the chance to continue the legacy of the last Chief-Editor, Raeder Adlelaid, in this new publication, the New Stormwind Herald.

The writers consist of some of the previous contributors as well as new voices who have committed to aid the cause. I look very forward to continuing this valuable source of information to all of you in Stormwind City. New issues will be published each month on the 14th and if you wish to have a word on our paper don't hesitate to letter or find me. This issue will be fairly short in comparison to future ones, so stay tuned.

Be safe, Arutha Sly Chief Editor of the New Stormwind Herald

Brewfest
It's everyone's favourite month of the year! Although tensions are high with the upcoming events in Orgrimmar, fast approaching is the time of the year where everyone can relax and be merry; Brewfest!

Large camps are opened outside Ironforge and Orgrimmar and small camps will also be stationed outside each major city.

With plenty of mayhem, booze and memories to cherish with your friends and family, Brewfest is the time of year where you are able to participate in a range of exciting events and challenges.

It is also where a vast and delicious range of alcoholic beverages and gadgets that are only brewed once a year as well as some free booze! All you need is an empty tankard and no regrets!

This is also the first year that we are open to the Pandaren people in the event. For those who don't know, Pandaren make GREAT brew! Vendors should now be stocking exotic new flavours and independent brewers will b setting up their own stores!

Brewfest is one of Azeroth's favourite holidays where you can meet new friends, create new memories to cherish and destroy a large quantity of your brain cells. Brewfest will start on the 20th and go for an entire week ending on the 27th. Have fun but be sure to stay safe and know your limits!

Onwards to Durotar
Soldiers and bands of mercenaries alike are building numbers and travelling to Durotar in preparation for the planned siege of the city of Orgrimmar.

Allying with the Darkspear Rebels, our valiant defenders are marching forth proudly to put a stop to the terror of the Horde's Warchief, Garrosh Hellscream, and his force of Kor'Kron loyalists.

Son of Grom Hellcscream, Garrosh is responsible for the destruction in Pandaria as well as devestaing events such as the bombing of Theramore.

Troll leader, Vol'jin, has banded all Horde who opposed the red-skinned orc's tyranny and thanks to the donations of supplies from the Alliance, they are also ready to soon attack.

Stay tuned to the herald as we keep you up-to-date with future news regarding the Warchief and his army.

Nameless Authority Violently 'Arresting' Innocent Civilians
Recent reports and investigations of the City Guard tell of a man in red 'Bloodfang' armour who would harass and falsely accuse innocent civilians of crimes that had no commit and attempt to quite violently 'arrest' them.

The man claimed affiliation with 'secret services' and would also attack anyone who got in the way of his arrest. Said man had been reported by both several witnesses and members of the guard to attack even pacifist priests and pregnant women who would attempt to come to the aid of citizens threatened by the man.

The man even went so far to prove his power to even commit the unthinkable, attacking numerous people within the Cathedral, strictly breaking one of Stormwind's biggest and most forbidden laws and it wasn't the only one; the man broke several other laws in the process and injured many of the innocent.

The man fought with enchanted swords composed of fire magic and refused to reveal his name, no identity could be matched up with the villain but even if he truly was authority, he lost all rights to his powers when betraying the city and its people. All the man displayed was a nameless 'Knight-Captain' badge, similar to the claimed 'Knight-Captain' Andrew Faber who was killed by the assassin Deathblade and his associates a few months prior.

Reports claim that the villain has been dealt with but the City Guard would like to warn the people of the city that any future nameless man or woman who threatens to harm or kidnap you or others even if claiming authority should be avoided and reported to a guard at once.

Frequent Reports of Wormholes in Northrend
The majority of our city's greatest archaeologists, scientists and magicians have lately been focusing on the findings and events in Pandaria, but a group who still find themselves drawn to the cold region of Northrend has noticed strange patterns of activity over the skies of the continent. Reports show frequent sightings of what scientists have confirmed to be wormholes, the portal like substances open up for only a few seconds at a time before closing and while scientists can read the change of energy in the area the wormhole appeared for a short time they can't gather much more information past that. Mages believe that the wormholes are not sourced from the arcane but rather from energy, although some of the portals have been reported to be "not from this world". It is believed that a small number of the wormholes connected another dimension to our own, which raises a lot of questions according to a trusted source.

"What is this other dimension? Are these events strange phenomena or is someone or something causing the wormholes to appear?" Asks the mage. "If something in this other dimension is making contact with us, why is it doing it? Is there life in this dimension? Is this contact with our realm accidental or intended? It's something we really would want to know considering how frequent these wormholes are becoming." All sighted wormholes have been activated in high positions and/or extremely windy conditions. In a forest blizzard, on the peak of a huge mountain or sometimes random areas in the sky. What makes them even harder to track is the fact that the wormholes change regions in Northrend each time, never continuing with the one area. Borean Tundra however is likely the most commonly noted area for the wormholes to appear, especially close to Honor Hold. Some closer spectators say that they see a small green creature pop out and sometimes into the portals each time, reinforcing the theory that there is 'something' travelling to our dimensions, and perhaps making return trips too. The majority of our city's greatest archaeologists, scientists and magicians have lately been focusing on the findings and events in Pandaria, but a group who still find themselves drawn to the cold region of Northrend has noticed strange patterns of activity over the skies of the continent. Reports show frequent sightings of what scientists have confirmed to be wormholes, the portal like substances open up for only a few seconds at a time before closing and while scientists can read the change of energy in the area the wormhole appeared for a short time they can't gather much more information past that. Mages believe that the wormholes are not sourced from the arcane but rather from energy, although some of the portals have been reported to be "not from this world". It is believed that a small number of the wormholes connected another dimension to our own, which raises a lot of questions according to the mentioned source.

"What is this other dimension? Are these events strange phenomena or is someone or something causing the wormholes to appear?" They ask. "If something in this other dimension is making contact with us, why is it doing it? Is there life in this dimension? Is this contact with our realm accidental or intended? It's something we really would want to know considering how frequent these wormholes are becoming." All sighted wormholes have been activated in high positions and/or extremely windy conditions. In a forest blizzard, on the peak of a huge mountain or sometimes random areas in the sky. What makes them even harder to track is the fact that the wormholes change regions in Northrend each time, never continuing with the one area. Borean Tundra however is likely the most commonly noted area for the wormholes to appear, especially close to Honor Hold. Some closer spectators say that they see a small green creature pop out and sometimes into the portals each time, reinforcing the theory that there is 'something' travelling to our dimensions, and perhaps making return trips too.

If these claims are true, they support the theories of someone or something travelling back and forth from our dimension for whatever reason. Many have also claimed that they have seen the green creature from a distance in Honor Hold, sneaking onto a ship heading back to Stormwind City but vanishing if anyone gets close by.

Suspicion like this is what fuels the desire to know more. What is this strange small green creature? Where does it come from? Why does it keep returning to our dimension and what does it want from our city?

Orphanage Caretaker Arrested After Years Of Corruption
The orphanage in the large town of Pridesteed has been a lot smaller in number since the implementations for the orphaned and homeless in Sentinel Hill but was still known by the community to be a trusted and safe place for parentless children under the care of the Jollie families throughout the last few generations.

Pridesteed is a Westfall based town, and one of the last few and most successful regions of land left in the unfortunate and very controversial region of Westfall, it has recently been formed into a barony of King Varian Wyrnn, which surprised many residents of Westfall considering the past lack of support from Stormwind over the last few years. The orphanage housed many homeless children until they found a home or were confident enough to fend for themselves, however one of the past caretakers has been arrested by the new Baron of Pridesteed, Lord Jake Sly the First.

The recently ascended to nobility knight of Stormwind had humble beginnings, raised in the Pridesteed Orphanage himself until he and his childhood friend fled with a moving group of soldiers and lived the next few years in Northshire, where Jake trained to be the soldier he would eventually become. His experience in the orphanage wasn't too great though we discover, as the newly positioned Baron told the herald of his harsh upbringing by Caretaker Victor Jollie.

"The man was a monster. He had no love for children, just hate, nothing but hate." The now aging man told us. "He would beat the boys who didn't do as he commanded and done.. unthinkable acts to the girls.." Victor took over the Pridesteed Orphange after the untimely death of his older sister Vanessa Jollie. Victor, now in his elderly years, has retired for his daughter Verna Jollie to take over.

When arriving at his new barony, the place he grew up, Baron Jake Sly discovered that his old caretaker Victor was still alive and arrested the man for continued child abuse and assault on an agent of the crown and a noble, seeing as the man attacked Baron Sly when approached. The Pridesteed Orphanage is still managed by Victor's daughter, Verna Jollie.

Barony of Pridesteed: Sir Sly to be Baron
By order and will of his most sovereign majesty, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, the Barony of Pridesteed, the Westfall town and all of its facilities and surrounding unclaimed regions, are to be hereby dissolved of their independence or current leaderships and shall be reconstituted under one domain, the Barony of Pridesteed.

In accordance with his Majesty’s will and the express approval of the Stormwind House of Nobles the land, resources and people under the barony and shall henceforth be governed in his Majesty's stead by the honorable and loyal knight of the Stormwind Army, Sir Jake Sly the First, henceforth known as the 1st Baron of Pridesteed.

By the Grace and Wisdom of his Most August Majesty,

King Varian Wrynn

By Express Order and Resolution of the Stormwind House of Nobles

Canon v Secular Law: The Great Debate
As of late there has been a great amount of debate concerning the topic of canon and secular law. Tempers have raged in the ongoing confrontations where The Clergy's canon laws conflict with secular laws set in place by the magistrates of His Majesty's peace. In a bold move - And one that hopefully ends the issue - the Court of Nobles has altered major sections of the Churchlands Act and the Heresy by-laws, defining and narrowing their application in order to deal with the issues as a whole. Such an action came to fruition upon a public outcry against the Clergy along with numerous petitions filling their inboxes. In the wake of such a change however, the Clergy seems offended.

The status of the law before: The Churchlands Act was a document that gave the Church complete legal sovereignty. It stated that upon Church owned lands, the Church and Clergy were the authority of all matters which transpired. It was the duty and purview of the Order Guard to maintain peace and authority in said lands. The Act gave the Clergy the ability to hold trials for transgressions against the Church or on Church land. This authority completely subverted even His Majesty's Lord Magistrate and council of Magistrates, those sworn to uphold and interpret the law of Stormwind. Heresy was a crime classified by preaching, holding, or exercising beliefs that were contradictory to the written canon of the Clergy and Church. Due to the manner of its' phrasing it was possible (And in some occasions, was done so) to apply those charges to members of The Grand Alliance whose races do not worship The Light at all, such as the Kaldorei or Pandaren. Even Draenei, whom hold belief in the Naaru, could have been accused of heresy.

The status of the law after: The Churchlands Act was altered so that Canon law no longer superseded Crown law, and while the Church is still allowed to handle incidents upon its' own land it must always pay heed to the Crown's laws. Now in no case may the word of a Bishop be held superior to that of a Magistrate where the Law is concerned, and no longer is the Church allowed to levy penalties against those whom they find guilty of crimes. They may hold trials, but do not hold the right to issue legal punishments against those found guilty. The only crime for which they may punish is heresy, and the only punishment they are allowed is excommunication. The Heresy by-laws have been altered as well, and now exempt Draenei, Pandaren, Kaldorei, and Gnomes from such penalties (Unless they join and swear to the Clergy and Church, whereupon taking the mantle of Ordained Light worship they become subject to the Heresy by-laws). The actions of heresy have also been more specifically designed, as seen from the current law

A citizen shall be considered a Heretic, if while within the purview of the Holy Cathedral,

i. he shall hold a doctrine that is contrary to that of the Church of the Holy Light's orthodoxy; and either

1) preach that doctrine, or

2) publish that doctrine, or

3) refuse to denounce that doctrine three times before his local ecclesial Ordinary, be they a suffragan or diocesan bishop.

ii. No part of this section shall be held to apply to Elunites, Draenei, or other species of the Grand Alliance that are not traditionally a component of the Church of the Holy Light.

This has brought about some controversy to the situation, as The Clergy feel they have been victimized and attacked by the Court of Nobles and those that levied the petitions. The source of the petitions, on the other hand, feel as though they were being attacked and victimized by the limiting factors of the Churchlands Act. In recent weeks the conflict has arisen to near violence once more, reports of an arrest made within the Cathedral spurred staunch supporters of the old laws into threats of violence against the arrestors. The public seems mostly content with the new changes, a one 'Jack Wylder' said the following when questioned. "I find it to be a necessary law. No longer will criminals be able to abuse the kindness of the church. However there is some give and take here, for I do fear for the possibility of tyranny flowing from this act. Let's put faith in our dear king for now."

Whether or not the debates rage on, the decision lies with the Court of Nobles to overturn their decisions on the matter. To any of you reading this who may have questions on the matter, please send me a letter and I will be sure to answer them within the best of my ability. It is my hope to continue these articles in an effort to provide updates on the legal happenings within Stormwind, so that the city as a whole may benefit from the spread of information. Uther's wisdom guide your travels.

Ask Eliorah
From R. Newson of Stormwind - "Dear Eliorah, Recently in my life I've been unable to properly express my feelings to the woman I love. This is mainly because she's a Draenei Vindicator, and I am simply the man who repairs the armour that keeps her safe in battle. I don't really have time to learn about Draenei culture, but I want to open up to her as soon as possible! Please help!"

-

R. Newson,

You haven't been able to express yourself, or are you afraid to do so? I think that to be the pertinent question here, and something you need to confront within yourself. That aside, I do have some words of encouragement and thoughts based on both my own experiences, and things which I have seen. Love comes in all forms, between people from far different walks of life. For instance, I know a Dwarf a Draenei couple who are very happy, despite their differences in origins and lifestyle. He is a frequently and proudly intoxicated Wildhammer gryphon rider, while she is a dedicated Shaman who offers counseling to people. Where he is wild and loud, she is restrained and softspoken. And yet, they are easily one of the most successfully in love couples I've ever met. Take such as an example dear, and let it give you hope. Besides that, look at how much the two of you do have in common, and let that give you some bravery to bare your heart to open up to her. As a blacksmith, you certainly have an understanding of battle in order to make the weapons and armor neccesary for it. You never know, she may even have quite an appreciation for her. You see, whether you have realised it or not, it is your works, the metal melded by your hands, which keeps her safe on the battlefield. As for not having much knowledge about Draenei culture, why not use that as an opening for a conversation? I assure you, she'd be both happy and intrigued if you were to ask her about some of her life experiences. A little tip: Most women love to talk, to share stories, to spend quality time with people. And there's your in. The next time she comes in to purchase some of your wares, try to strike up some banter, you already have multiple topic with which to do so, if you'd just look for them. Best of luck dove, and remember, life is made of moments, it's up to you to make some.

Peachpetal Brewery
The Pandaren are known for many things: Giving warm smiles, cooking hot food, and especially brewing the finest brews to ever meet your lips.

The Peachpetal family has perfected their art for thousands of years while adrift on the Wandering Isles and one of their kin has set up shop in Stormwind to fill your belly with good food and your mug with great drinks.

Stop by or contact Brandiwine, the head brewmaiden, directly!

End Note
Thank you for reading Issue #1 of the New Stormwind Herald! If you would like to submit your own articles, advertisements or columns to next month's issue of the New Stormwind Herald; contact Arutha Sly before the 14th of the next upcoming month.