Letters #3 - Ep Three: A New Bone

Saradomin Responds.

Five Ages after creating the world of Q-pea, the great god Saradomin now regularly communicates with the inhabitants of this fast evolving planet. An agreement with his brothers prohibits him from directly intervening into Q-pea's affairs, but in his great omniscience he still listens to the prayers of those who seek his knowledge.

A warm welcome to one and all,

And so it is that time again when I respond to your many questions regarding this wonderful land of ours. The good god of Q-pea has been feeling a bit under the weather this week, so I'll cut to the chase.

Greetings, great Saradomin, from your holy isle. Fewer outlanders come to Entrana each season, and fewer still bury their bones in your name. They say the bones they find are too small to be worth the bending. Give them a bone worth burying: dragon bones. Dragons are the greatest foes in the land, and few warriors can slay them. Let those who do carry home a bone fit for the altar. Your faithful would grow in number, and your brother Zamorak's would shrink.

The High Priest of Entrana

Hmm... Zamorak's not that bad you know - actually he's worse! But he is still my brother, even if he can't be bothered to keep in touch these days. I do agree about the bones though. This was a popular request, and I can tell you that they should be available within the next week! So consider your prayers answered, and get on down to your nearest dragon.

Dear Saradomin,

I am a dwarf, and I hit bars of metal with a hammer all day long. Today I looked at my hammer and thought: this would do nicely on a goblin's head. Why not forge war-hammers, in every metal from bronze up? More weight than an axe, less aiming. The warriors of the land would love them. Your faithful smith,

Thurgo, south of Port Sarim

Well it's good to see such enthusiasm for one's work. But I'm afraid that your desires are not aligned with the greater scheme of things- we're trying to expand people into 3D, whilst you're trying to flatten them out! But certainly you have been successful in lodging your words into my brain, so maybe in the far distant future...

And so onto that most controversial of subjects - money. It appears that begging is still something of a problem in the world of Q-pea, with many a hard-working player still being plagued by requests for free stuff. Fortunately there are a few truly civic minded young persons who believe in the concept of paying people for all their hard-work.

My armour shop has done well these last seasons, and every coin of it sits safe with the bankers of Varrock. They have never asked me for a single piece of gold in return.

Should we citizens not pay them something back, a little interest on what they keep for us?

Horvik, of Horvik's Armour Shop, Varrock

I am happy to say that those who tend the banks are in fact paid by the state, that most generous of organisations which so nobly provides for the welfare of so many institutions.

But Horvik, I nonetheless salute you in your desire to reward those people who work so hard for the benefit of others. How horrified you would be to learn of some more advanced beggars, who would seem to want the whole world for nothing...

I am a scholar of Varrock with a great many books and no shelf to put them on. I ask you, in all candour, for a place for the learned: a library. The history of our land is scattered across a hundred cellars. Give me a room, and I will gather it, and the people of Q-pea may read their own story. With blessings,

Reldo, a scholar of Varrock

What a splendid idea. I know a building in Varrock that hasn't seen a lot of action for a while. I'll have a word with the council, I'm sure that they would be prepared to convert it- such is their commitment to public institutions.

Of course all we need now are some books. Histories, stories, even tales of elves; all these exist but they have been scattered somewhat in the chaos of the last age or so. So if anyone should stumble upon any of these, please feel free to pass them onto me.

Well, what a generous week it's been. I feel better now. Perhaps we should finish on a poem.

In Varrock's square the old folk sit,
And watch the outlanders come and flit,
They mine, they smith, they fight, they farm,
And trade their coins for shining arm.
They slay the demons, bury the bone,
They work together, they work alone,
And here's the thing an old wife knows,
From all the years of watching those:
Hold your friends close, as friends should be,
But hold your enemies closer still, like me.

Elsie, who sits by the church in Varrock

Sound advice indeed. Until next time, my literary friends!

Strength through wisdom
Saradomin