The Dangers of Publishing
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Heather, Sia
Date Posted: 25th October 2024
Characters: Aleriand, Bozram,
Description: Aleriand has to deal with the consequences of publishing Master Unknown.
Location: Printer Hall
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 12
"Aleriand!" Bozram roared as he burst through the workshop doors of the Printer Hall. The hulking figure of the Teredam Caravan Leader cut a quick path around apprentices and journeymen. Interestingly enough, none of them even looked up at the noise as the man huffed by, a small paper leaflet clenched in his enormous hand.
Apprentices were quick to scatter these days. Aleriand, however, barely looked up from the press he was fixing. "Bozram." He called back, "To what do I owe pleasure this time?"
"I demand to know, Aleriand, who is printing this absolute drivel!" He slapped down the latest gossip pamphlet written by the mysterious 'Master Unknown.'
"Did you read what was written in here about my Baliera? Well? _Did you_?" The trader demanded hotly.
"I didn't. With any luck, I'll have a Master of Journalism here shortly, but until then I have enough Journeymen running the daily presses that I don't have to worry about the little details." Aleriand said. He did make a show of picking up the pamphlet and leafing through it. "Is she up to her old tricks again?"
“Do you not employ _editors_ in this sham of a crafthall?” Bozram spat. “‘Master Unknown’ wrote that my daughter was seen ‘slinking’ out of the guard quarters at Emerald Falls in the middle of the night. Do you understand the implications of that on her marriage prospects?!”
"Some fine editors. There's not a grammatical error in here." Aleriand said. "Do you have any witnesses that show her elsewhere? If Master Unknown didn't have a source or see it themselves, they wouldn't publish it."
Bozram’s face slowly changed colors, like a sunset, from bright red to orangish to deep purple. “That’s _besides_ the point! This is slanderous material that will absolutely _ruin_ my Baliera’s life!”
"It's not slanderous if it's _true_! Who cares! Find the future husband in the guard quarters or find her a better hobby. _Or_, Faranth forbid, teach her the art of subtlety!"
“_OR_,” Bozram challenged, “_you_ could refuse to print this.. this.._garbage_! Don’t you care that these things you’re allowing to be printed in your ‘Hall’ are possibly ruining people's lives?”
"Or, you could publish your own piece about how that's all lies." Aleriand suggested instead. "I'll even give you a discount for the first print. I'm not in the business of censoring information, Bozram. As long as it's well written and well edited. And I _highly_ doubt anyone's life is ruined."
Bozram released an exhale so long and forcefully that the room probably raised in temperature. He glanced around before lowering his voice to say: “Just give me a stack of the latest Master Unknown pamphlets. They sell like hotcakes when the wagon train is making its route.”
Aleriand tried to keep his expression neutral. "I'll have a stack sent along with your order of the Emerald Journal." He said. At least then it was a little more subtle. "And by the time you're back, there'll be another pamphlet with the latest scandal."
The caravan leader clapped Aleriand on the back. “You’re a good man, Aleriand. See you next month.” And with that, Bozram strode from the workshop as quickly as he had entered.
Last updated on the November 4th 2024