AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic - Diplomacy's Game Continues: Blood and Rebirth

It was late morning by the time he awoke, legs hooked over the end of the bed, hunched forward with pounds of sleep yet on his shoulders. The cries of the gulls were audible through the open window that carried a zephyr of warm, salty sea to his nose, but the violet light from his eyes didn't waver from the ugly helm in his hands. Twisted fingers rubbed the pale, green leather, tarnishing what was left of the finish in slow strokes.

Mathus grunted slightly as he stood, rolling his shoulders and stretching out his hands to either side. The helm in his hand strained audibly as he squeezed it with fingers that could break steel, but he restrained enough to keep it functional. With rolling, serpentine undulations, the nimble athlete went through his morning exercises, holding awkward-looking positions for long stretches of time as he meditated upon what he now knew.

Cloth was donned.

The ground is steadier.

Leather and fabric wrapped about his fingertips and feet in practiced, balanced measure.

My stance is stronger.

Well-worn, heavy boots were drawn up over his leggings and secured tightly at his shins and thighs.

My heart is lighter.

The helm itself was stowed away in a satchel within easy reach.

My eyes open wider.

Mathus walked out into the balmy, sun-tanned grass, shutting and locking the door behind him, and then raced down the road, dust rising in his wake.

The time for waiting is over.

A letter is delivered to a family of vegetable traders in the southern district.
Quote:
To Mr. and Mss. Johnsson,

I regret to inform you that your son, Simon, on the morning of 4 Tarsakh has fallen in combat against the enemies of the Commonwealth. Though my words may offer you but scant comfort in this loss, I would have you take comfort and pride in the knowledge that Simon displayed exceptional valor and strength throughout the battle, and his courage and self-sacrifice serve as an example for all to follow.

Though faced with a foe of great number and fiendish origin, Simon volunteered to remain by my side. With his wilful sacrifice, he protected the Commonwealth and its citizens, and ensured that many husbands, wives, sons and daughters escaped certain and violent death. Though fighting far from home, his determination and dedication to Cordor and the Commonwealth ensured victory over this most terrible of our Commonwealth’s foes.

A resurrection has been attempted, yet Simon’s soul has chosen to embrace Amaunator’s light in the afterlife. His remains have been recovered and properly treated, and are currently held in the morgue on Moribund pending your approval of burial or cremation, as per your wishes.

With solemn condolences,

Lieutenant Marcus Sembianus Aurelius
Commander of Commonwealth Scouts - Alpha Division Vanguard

From a small flat in the southern district there goes out a cry of anger, a monstrous wail fit for any creature of nightmares which falters to desperate crying. A mother mourns the loss of her son and the extension of her heart. She will read the letter again and again as she sits in the kitchen, one lone candle lit to keep the darkness out.

At the end of the West Cordor Fundraiser, Samrael rings the cowbell one last time before scrubbing away the final staggering donations total off the wall:

2,000,000.

A small ceremony is held outside the barracks in the south district, a group of guardsman having gathered to stand in an armored, uniformed line. Towards the end of the line, but not the very end, stands a simple chair with a cloth uniform neatly folded on top. Though it seems to be an internal matter of the Vanguard, the event nonetheless takes places in public view. As if to inspire or make some sort of point.

After a moment, Marcus moves to stand in front of the line and calls the unit to attention. He then begins to read from a prepared page in his notebook.

"For its participation in the Battle of Ne'sek, leading to victory over the demonic horde that threatened the borders of the Commonwealth, the Alpha Division Vanguard has been awarded the Battle of Ne'sek Campaign Citation." He then moves past each of the guardsmen in line, pinning to their armor a red strip of leather with "NE'SEK" sown onto it in white leather.

Marcus then steps back and reads on.
"For having slain over ten of the fiendish enemy, Private Adoster Taelstarr is awarded the Gold Star. Furthermore, for his exemplary valor and steadfast resolve during the Battle of Ne'sek, Private Taelstarr is awarded the Meritorious Service Commendation." He then steps up to Adoster, and pins a gold star brooch as well as a white leather strip with a diagonal, blue stripe to his armor.

He then moves down the line to the chair with the training uniform on it.
"For giving his life in battle in service of the Commonwealth and for the protection of its citizens, Recruit Simon Johnsson is awarded the Gold Mark of Sacrifice. May he serve as an example of courage and sacrifice to all, and may the gods keep his soul." Marcus then pins a golden teardrop brooch to the uniform.

An Announcement from The Broken Arrow Tavern:

Dear Patrons And Businessmen,

Due to the recent disappearance of owner Kaytie Meliea,
Ownership is being reverted to manager and founder, Samrael Cymere
The Broken Arrow Tavern will be closed until further notice.
Thank you for your patience and understanding,
We shall be opening our doors again to you soon.

With permission from Father Redweth,

Dawbringer Lawrence hold would now be conducting sunrise services twice a week in the chapel of Lathander.

These services would be open to the general public and notices advertising them would be posted were postings are allowed in the city of Cordor.

The services begin 15 minutes before the sun rises, and continues 30 minutes after it has risen.

The services include a blessing over those gathered, a light breakfast for those present, and a message to the following tune:

"Friends, sisters, and brothers. Greet the Morning Light and know that this is a new day! Renewal is at hand. Allow the Lord of the Morning to fill your hearts and souls with the blessings of life. Begin anew in his ways and be blessed by his favor. Be not afraid of the rumors and troubles of our time, lay your fears and suspicions at his feet. We are united as one people, under Him who watches over us. Go now into the city... OUR city, and live the day with the passion our Lord embodies! Shine with HIS light so that others may see it and marvel!

Rare, but not unheard of, a statement is issued by House Caris. A single notice is posted in each of the settlements of the Treaty of Light.

Given much gossip and recent speculation I feel required to offer a few words in regard to a recent development. As of late Lieutenant Marcus Aurelius, commanding officer of the Alpha Division Vanguard of the Commonwealth of Cordor, has attempted to detain me for questioning on the lands of Bendir Dale and the outskirts of Cliffside after passing through the territory of the Shrine of Elistraee. Cliffside in addition being a protectorate territory of the Shrine of Elistraee, which in turn is a member of the Treaty of Light.

Furthermore the neutral and peaceful settlement of Bendir Dale was recently petioned by Lieutennant Marcus Aurelius to permit the arrest of not only my person but also that of Chancellor Ulrik Valis within it's sovereign territory. By his own admission the Commonwealth of Cordor holds no evidence that would justify such action.

I hereby make it unmistakable that I condemn these attempts harshly and reject this most recent example of commonwealth justice. In these times such blatantly hostile actions are far too dangerous to be tolerated in any manner. Without evidence these attempts appear less like a lawful decree of arrest, and more like the sanctioning of kidnapping issued against those of noble birth and high ranking officials of Kohlingen.

Ser Robert of Caris

"It seems more and more as though neither side truly wants to avert open war, merely that they want to break open on their own terms."
The remark came over the rim of a bottle, sloshing noisily as it returned to an upright position.
The listener remained silent.

"How many lives, do you think, will be ended needlessly and strewn from coast to coast to pay for a victory?"
The words filled the air as vapor that mingled with snow whipped up from the ground.
No answer came.

A child's voice fills a house on a warm night. The mother sat over a stack of parchments, her head sunk low on the table--looking sleep deprived and exhausted. "Mommy, can we go home now?" She asked, sulking still, at having to leave her friends and family behind. "Not yet, love," The mother replied back softly. "I want to see Mira. I want to see Uncle Andrew, and go to school, and play with Missu-" The girl went to continue on, but the mother silenced her daughter with a kiss to her small forehead. She picked the five-year-old girl up, and sat her in her lap--coddling her like an infant for a moment. "You remember when I told you how bad people are out there?" The girl bobbed her small head. "Yes, mommy." The mother nodded. "Do you remember what I said I'd do if a bad person ever tried to hurt you?" The daughter bobbed her small head again. "You said you'd protect me, mommy." The mother frowned, and nodded her head again. " I'll get you home, sweetheart, but first I need to protect you from a bad person. We have to stay here, to keep the bad people away, okay?" The little girl pouted out her bottom lip, but she nodded her head in understanding. All was quite a moment, until the little girl looked over the stack of parchments that her mother was working on. "Mommy, what is this?" She asked, quizzically. The mother was silent for a long period, her face blanched of color from her thoughts--her mind tuning out the emotions that arose from the question. She replied, numbly, to the curious child--void of any emotion. "This is how mommy is going to stop the bad people."

An Announcement From The Broken Arrow Tavern:

Patrons and Businessmen,
Broken Arrow Tavern is Now Re-Open for Business!

There Has Been An Update To Our Policy:
Given the recent high amount of adventurer-caused offenses, The Broken Arrow Tavern's services will now cater to Citizens Only.
Lack of Citizenship will result in the refusal to service. Only visitors in the company of citizens will be served.
Adventurers not in the company of citizens will be asked to leave. If refusing to leave, the local guards will be called under the offense of disturbing the peace.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, we hope to see you soon!
-Owner Samrael Cymere

The Broken Arrow Tavern, The Commonwealth's Finest Whiskey Bar.

It appears to be a play transcribed from an original dialog. The quality of production looks professional. As if used by a printing press. The play itself is distributed along most caravan routes. Arriving in Wiltun, Cordor, Bendir Dale, Wharftown, Uhm, Winya Ravana, Guldorand, The Lowland Delta, Kohlingen, Kampo's Storehouse. It is even said that copies made their way to Tarkuul as well as the Druid's Grove and of course, The Truimvir. It bares the mark of the once prominent Roukisnikov Production Company.

"For Aegan"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Sharrans In Love**
A Play of two heartstruck lovers torn apart by sea, plotting to abandon their nations to do havoc upon the Island of Amia, in the name of Love!
Starring: Emilie Everguard and Richard Johnson, with Special Guest: Lady Darby Mirth

ACT ONE: AT WILTUN COURTYARD

Richard Johnson: I'll stick around to keep an eye on things here, Too much investment.
Lady Darby Mirth: I'm sure you have better things to worry about.
Richard: You're worried what will happen to me with her, aren't you?
Darby: I don't trust her, and yes, I am.
Richard: There's a lot to put on faith with her, it's true, but the way I see it is, what could possibly be worse than anything I've been through already?
Darby: The thing is, we're a lot alike. But there's one big difference between her and I.
Richard: Oh?
Darby: When I knew I was going to leave Av, because if he kept it up... I knew I would end up stabbing him. Even though I did still love him. I didn't...couldn't act like it didn't matter. But it matters.
Richard: I know.
*Emilie Arrives*
Emilie Everguard: You're back! *She looks at Richard's armor* It's nice to see you, and I'm really glad you're back!

*Exit Scene*
------------------------

ACT TWO: EMILIE AND RICHARD IN PRIVACY BY A FIREPLACE IN WILTUN'S INN.

Richard: I just broke the bad news to Darby.
Emilie: What news?
Richard: I'm not returning to Wiltun's Services.
Emilie: No?
Richard:No. I get no respect around here. I think Avadon just likes to have me nice and contained. Damn Harperish if you ask me.
Emilie: Yes. And it's truly their loss. Other than Taelar, you're the only note-worthy presence around here.
Richard: Sir Taelar you mean, he got knighted while I was away.
Emilie: More tieflings in the noble caste says wonderful things about this place.
Richard: Agreed. Arsant must have lost his mind. The question of, what to do next comes up, and it remains unanswered.
Emilie: Do you have any ideas?
Richard: A few. I take the captaincy in Tarkuul isn't really on the table though. *He grins*
Emilie: It is, but that is a whole other mess.
Richard: I imagine so. Politics over there cannot be especially pleasant.
Emilie: It is nothing short of disastrous.
Richard: What happened?
Emilie: Are you done with your news? The situation may take awhile to sift through.
Richard: I saw what is left of my family, that's about it... Anyway, mess in Tarkuul?
Emilie: All right, this is cryptic even to me, so you'll have to forgive me if I sound ominous... So...
In Tarkuul there are two forces that are competing against one another right now. I guess you could say that the voice is conflicting with itself. Split magical personalities that are trying to get aid from the sentient beings. So we're being asked to pick a side.
Richard: Civil War within the Voice.
Emilie: Precisely. Which, within a magical city can be both deadly and disastrous.
Richard: I sort of gathered that, in what way are the two sides different?
Emilie: Well they're both obviously the product of high mages, and you know how archmages can be.
Richard: Right, so pile a whole mess of crazy on everything too.
Emilie: Indeed. One is much more passionate about history and learning, it seeks to mentor them. While the other is more like a construct than a sentient.
Richard: I already like the first one better.
Emilie: See? So do a lot of other council members. *She frowns* But I've been ignored. They've been given gifts of knowledge and power, handed a piece of Tarkuul, a purpose to fulfill.
Richard: You think it doesn't like you?
Emilie: I don't even know if that's an applicable term, but it feels like it. It really does. I had to beg for a niche, a job to do. And I hate my job.
Richard: I know how that feels as well. What is your plan here?
Emilie: That's actually why I wanted to speak with you.
Richard: Need to formulate one, eh?
Emilie: Because now I have been asked to support that side of the voice, but I don't feel -compelled- to bother, does that make sense?
Richard: It does.
Emilie: But because I am shut out of things, I am assumed to be neutral. So all of the sudden I am suddenly needed to run messages and make arrangements. I am needed because I was never needed before.
Richard: Not surprising, because you're a natural leader. But you don't feel you owe this Voice anything because it shut you out.
Emilie: Yes precisely! And when the Voice asked me where I see myself in five years...ten years... I couldn't think of anything! I don't even know if that's where I wish to be anymore.
Richard: I've always been bad at those questions myself.
Emilie: It's terrible.
Richard: It is. And it isn't.
Emilie: I don't fit there really. And it's hypocritical, because I try to make it a place for misfits can be accepted, but I'm not even truly accepted there. Not by the overseeing force, anyway.
*Richard scratches his chin*
Emilie: I'm this chaotic rebellious artist in a magical city built for magicians.
Richard: Wrong girl in the right place. I don't really know how to advice you on this one, having made a similar decision myself.
Emilie: It is difficult, because I literally helped build the place. I feel a great loyalty to the councilors and citizens.
Richard: And they'd likely face serious problems without you.
Emilie: Right now? Yes. This is the first time I've been truly needed. I've been expendable this whole time. But I don't like feeling as though I am being used like a tool. I just got over the habit of treating other people in such a way.
Richard: Nor do I. I caused myself a lot of problems avoiding it. What do you want for yourself Emilie?
Emilie: I don't know. I really don't know. It is the first time in my life I don't. But Tarkuul isn't working for me. I don't feel okay.
Richard: That's all right. It just shows you're thinking, really thinking about things. But the greater question still lingers: What do you do now, what do -we- do now for that matter?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT 3: WILTUN INN

Emilie: Well I have many things to fear if I leave, I have to take those into account. I will lose the protection of the City. I may lose one of my closest companions. And with the magical forces unbalanced, there is a chance I may lose my memories...
Richard: I won't be allowing the last part to happen.
Emilie: It is mostly the companion part I am worried about...
Richard: Luca, I assume?
Emilie: It is like your situation in Wiltun. He likes to keep me there, but...for different reasons.
Richard: You think he would abandon you if you left?
Emilie: No, I think I would abandon him. And I think I would be too ashamed to face him.
Richard: He does love you, I hear...
Emilie: Who told you that? *She blinks with fluster and surprise*
Richard: Plenty of people. Most recently, Darby, about an hour ago.
Emilie: I mean, I suppose...Sure. I am just surprised anyone picked up on it. He's just so... *Emilie makes a face that looks entirely bored*
Richard: True. But apparently, a little -too- talkative under the right circumstances.
Emilie: Well yes, there is certainly that to consider. *She sighs* Having to be so careful. I try so hard not to lose people...
Richard: That's good. Most people don't care. They get slighted and leave you to the wolves for it. For me, Kaytie comes to mind.
Emilie: Indeed. I suppose I've been lucky lately. *Rolls her eyes*
Richard: I believe i proved my point with her though. At least there's that.
Emilie: Did you?
Richard: Yes. I really railed into her during that truth spell ordeal.
Richard: *Mocks Kaytie* "Well I had every reason to suspect..." What a piece of work she is. Yeesh.
Emilie: No kidding. And I too shook her up a bit when Jane was taken. I am sure you heard about that.
Richard: Actually I did not. I mostly got the stern talking to about my sinister intentions with Jane. Apparently I wanted her soul, or something. *He sighs wistfully*
Emilie: Well, after I let Jane go from under my protection she almost got herself killed by coming to Tarkuul. I made sure to hold Jane accountable for the girl she wished to protect.
Richard: That I did hear about. Nice girl, a bit naive.
Emilie: Very Naive.
Richard: It is endearing honestly, the rest of us are so damn cynical, it reminds me how nice it is to be naive.
Emilie: Meh. I just find it annoying. Got to keep your wits about you, you know?
Richard: That you do. So if you left Tarkuul, where would you go?
Emilie: That is the difficult part. I had thought to do my Truimvir Takeover early. *She laughs* But perhaps I will just drift, like I usually do.
Richard: Very possible. Kurchin is easy to kick around.
Emilie: That is almost too mean!
Richard: Almost.
-----------------------
ACT 4: WILTUN INN

Richard: What keeps you in Tarkuul, what do you like about it? I'd hate to see you drift my love, it is such a difficult place to be.
Emilie: The people keep me there. Honestly that is it. The history and intrigue and stigma is nice and all, but I feel I must shepherd that flock of never-do-wells.
Richard: Sad part is, you probably do.
Emilie: I wanted to prove a point. That you can be a pleasant person whilst living in a strange place.
Richard: I tried that, but everytime Sir Taelar would come and bash skulls. He ruined every good conversation.
Emilie: *Laughs* That is sad but true.
Richard: That and Avadon has problems with inspiring loyalty. Every Warden has their own plans, their own ambitions. It is just waiting to all break apart. Throw a good crisis at them and they'll all shatter.
Emilie: Well considering that loyalty does not come easy to them to begin with... Yes I know how that goes. A year ago when I arrived at Tarkuul, I just yearned for structure. Political power, do you know? Now I have it, and now I am bored with it. *Dreamy sigh*
Richard: Funny how that works, isn't it?
Emilie: It is not what I want. It is not the nobility I once had. And it has nothing to do with my life's work. *She sighs a dreamy sigh* It is terrible, Richard my love. And I would still probably miss it if I leave it behind. Life is a cruel mistress!
Richard: True but there are always upsides. You're bored with power because you're used to doing more with less. And you've got nothing to challenge you enough. You've got nothing to use your power on.
Emilie: I think you're precisely right. Stop knowing me so well! You're starting to creep me out.
Richard: It is what I do. People are my medium.
Emilie: It is supposed to be mine too. But you know, that's not working out so well. It takes a lot to invest in someone. And it is equally difficult when I find them staring at me with the same narrow lens. Expecting me to be something that I am not. Which was always beneficial when I was spying. But in trying to build something meaningful and true, that reflected part of me always seemed to get in the way.
Richard: It is hard to go back once you've played an act. A lot of times it is just easier to get things done with another act, which only compounds the problem.
Emilie: Indeed, and I am trying to resist the urge, despite my natural impulses. I am trying to be...you know, a better person. But then I think of an injustice and it makes me angry. Or some clueless man claims undying love but feels none, and then I feel like I may snap at any moment. *She flutters her eyelashes longingly*
Richard: There is a word for that.
Emilie: What word?
Richard: Growth.
Emilie: Eww!
Richard: It's not so bad.
Emilie: It is a known fact that I am an evil Sharran anarchist witch, and we do not grow, as a rule.
Richard: Nor do menacing murdering terrorists. Yet, here we are.
Emilie: Here we are... Fools, in love.
Richard: Idealistic fools, the worst kind.
------------------------------------
ACT 5: WILTUN INN

Emilie: Oh, I "Broke-up" With Raziel. Or more realistically, I let him go.
Richard: This shouldn't surprise me. Over what exactly?
Emilie: Not much. He didn't seem to think I cared.
Richard: Rightfully so, I suppose. Raz, now -that's- a real fool.
Emilie: So I told him that I didn't care really, but that we could talk about it, even though my heart was never in it. I just could not, you know...be that rude to let it go on. But then when we saw each other again, he would not speak to me!
Richard: Careful. You are being a good person again.
Emilie: I know. It is really annoying. What I wouldn't give to be as heartless as everyone assumed I was. And he left Tarkuul as well. So I would say that's a pretty clear sign that he didn't care to try for me.
Richard: *Mocks Raziel* "If only.. I won the war and stood on a pile of skulls instead." Yes. I'd say that's pretty clear.
Emilie: Suits me just fine. A man like him only wants to be constantly pursued and pestered and begged. *Wrinkles her nose distastefully.*
Richard: His loss I suppose, none of those women are interesting. *Richard bats his one good eye longingly*
Emilie: I think he's starting to realize that.
Richard: A bit late I'd say.
Emilie: Luca calls him a puppy that spends its days chasing mice, then doesn't know what to do once its caught them.
Richard: *Laughs* That's a pretty accurate description.
Emilie: If only I was as big of a tramp as everyone thought me to be. *She laughs* I'd have litters of children by now.
Richard: I'm pretty sure no one thinks you're a tramp Emilie, my dearest.
Emilie: That's where you're wrong! Kaytie made me sound like a horrific siren when speaking to my brother, Raz as well, Gerald too! I mean, they're all idiots. But it doesn't change the fact that's how they all see me. *She pouts and presses her forehead into Richard's shoulder*
Richard: Idiots that precisely -no one- listens to. Idiots think what idiots think, you worry too much about that. *He kisses her hair and holds her in his arms.*
Emilie: Nay. It is such a laughable lie. I must be the most frigid and lonely tramp that I know of, if it is that is the case. Oh, and Aiden thought so too. Cannot forget him!
Richard: I thought we agreed to stuff him in an iron box and chuck him into the sea. Never got around to that.
Emilie: He got away before that.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT 6: WILTUN INN

Richard: True. What shall we do?
Emilie: Oh! We could start up a newspaper that we were going to do awhile back! I can make an endless supply of Papyrus now!
Richard: That is incredibly tempting and better than what I had planned.
Emilie: What did you have plan, my love?
Richard: I was going to team up with Haan and cause random havok.
Emilie: I love it! Your mind went right where my mind did when I first contemplated leaving Tarkuul. But not Haan, Haan is an idiot.
Richard: Yes but he could be useful. When you have no power of your own, steal someone else's.
Emilie: Useful idiot is still an idiot. *She sage nods* Ooo, but overtaking him sounds fun!
Richard: Exactly. Honestly I'm more interested in Thurman.
Emilie: He's not been around for a long time. But that Hidden Circle ontop of the Skull Crags is pretty nice.
Richard: Good thing I still have the keys huh? The idiots let me join them when I off'd Haan.
Emilie: So dumb. But you don't even need keys to get inside. Half the island knows that already. That does sound fun though! Maybe we could set up camp there while the devil-lovers do whatever it is they do. Run our paper from there.
Richard: I actually have three sets of keys to that place. One from the Horsemen, one fro the Thayvians, and one from the current lot. Or we could just use my fort. Not that it sees a lot of action these days.
Emilie: Ooo, that too! *She gasps with excitement*
Richard: Plus, I have a cozy chair in there.
Emilie: But I need my own lair for all my gems, and art, and other lovely things.
Richard: You can have the bunk room? Make it into a giant studio! *His eyes gleam with joy*
Emilie: You vile tempter, you! But then no one would ever see it. Being you know, a hidden lair.
Richard: Bah. Half the island knows it is there at this point, I bet. Sometimes I walk back there and expect a Harper raid to have ruined it while I am gone or something. Or for all the souls that Quin kept in jars to be released.
Emilie: Whoa, what?
Richard: Yeah, the place was haunted. Had to secure them so the vengeful dead wouldn't bug us. If it is any consolation, I was in prison at the time.
Emilie: You did not mention that on the deed, sir. *She fake frowns*
Richard: Nor will I. Buyer's remorse.
----------------------------------
ACT 7: WILTUN INN

Emilie: So newspaper? Are you up for it? I cannot do it without you.
Richard: Sure thing. But we'd need a solid topic though.
Emilie: Oh I already have been working on one. Due to an annoyance with a certain Cordorian Guard. Here! *Hands Richard her article* It is pure slander, but it is true!
Richard: Oh! That's what I was going to do. Slaughter the Cordorian Scouts under Marcus! But they let Velden go. I guess you already knew that.
Emilie: Pfft. Even more reason for some.
Richard: True, true. *Richard skims the article* Nicely done with the Nobles, you put Netheril in a better light than I thought you would. But I guess that would go over well with the powers to be.
Emilie: Old Netheril was ambitious, but not terrible.
Richard: True enough I suppose. Some Vilhon customs are harder to break than others I suppose. I don't trust magic like most do. *Hands the article back*
Emilie: But I want to revise it, because the principles are the same. I grew up around magic so I do not share that view. But I have seen the horrendous parts of magic too.
Richard: *Nods approvingly* We should hammer away at Marcus' boys. Gods know we have enough ammunition to do it!
Emilie: Indeed! It is time we start holding the guards accountable!
Richard: I think I put up a poster to that effect once: When you can't trust the guard, bet on BLACK!
Emilie: That's adorable. *She bats her eyelashes*
Richard: Gods I was an idiot back then. If I met that version of myself now, I'd probably hit him.
Emilie: Be nice to him!
Richard: Why?
Emilie: Because that is how I found you? *Smooch*
Richard: *Retains Smooch* I guess that is true. But at that point, I was really depressing. Don't know how you managed to see anything of value through all that.
Emilie: People were my medium.
Richard: Touche'.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT 8: WILTUN INN

Emilie: Or perhaps I can just identify with a defeated attitude.
Richard: That is probably closer to the truth.
Emilie: Hey! You only get defeated if you try. And you tried.
*Richard Smirks*
Emilie: Don't you smirk at me.
Richard: I'm Richard god-damn Johnson, terror of the Commonwealth. I'll smirk at what I please!
Still, Darby acted like I betrayed her like the others did to her, when I told her my plans to leave Wiltun. That hurt.
Emilie: That's look of betrayal is what I fear from Luca when I decide to leave too.
Richard: At the same time, Darby never once stood up for me when it mattered most.
Emilie: No?
Richard: I know it is not in her nature, and she feels helpless or whatever, but it still stings. She was in the room when Gorthod captured me, and Torin broke my legs. *He scowls at the memory* She said nothing. I remember staring right at her when it happened, but the more frequent minor slights are worse! When she's in polite company and I'm being hammered verbally where they do not think I can hear them, she says nothing.
Emilie: That's very harsh, that inaction.
Richard: It is. Often it is what people do not do that is the worst. And yet she looked at me today, with total betrayal.
Emilie: I don't think she has much right, from where I'm standing. I've picked numerous fights on your behalf because I wouldn't tolerate anyone disrespecting you. In the middle of Cordor no less! *Lays her head on Richard's chest with a heavy sigh.*
Richard: She doesn't have the right, and she can't change how she feels and she knows she doesn't have the right.
Emilie: I think Vindel is still reeling from the verbal lashing I gave him! That arrogant prat.
Richard: And this is why you are special, Emilie. *Smooch* What did Vindel say, by the way?
Emilie: He says that you set children on fire for fun, re-starting the old rumor. And told all of Kohlingen as well as Andrew as well. I made Kaytie feel bad for believing those rumors, idiots.
Richard: Someone told him that rumor though. Someone who knew it. I'll have to find out who...
Emilie: And even after you were so accommodating to him. He smiled to your face, and did a wondrous job spreading rumors in the underground and made a mockery out of BLACK. Hrmph.
Richard: Then he has betrayed me. A poor choice on his part. I would have backed him as far as he went. *Scowls darkly*
Emilie: I exposed him as best as I could to everyone, to tarnish his reputation beyond repair. I flustered him quite a bit, he flew into a tirade, only worsening his case.
Richard: That's the problem with second-hand information. It's like a second-hand suit, doesn't always fit. But you'll still pay for it. We should really start spreading horrible rumors about people and see how they like it!
Emilie: It was when I just found out you were leaving. *She sighs wistfully* It wasn't a good day to bad mouth you.
Richard: But I am glad that someone cared I was gone. Most would have just considered it a convenience.
Emilie: They're all stupid. I'm sure Taelar could have thoroughly embarrassed me if he wanted to.
Richard: Oh? This sounds promising.
Emilie: Feh. It is not all that interesting.
Richard: What is it, my darling?
Emilie: I just ...moped around the cliffs watching the horizon for weeks, then it became days.. hoping you'd return. *She bats her eyelashes and sighs, unable to hide her sanguine blush!* Then only once in awhile... That is when.. Velden told me you'd returned! *They smooch*
Richard: I shouldn't have left. *He sighs into her mouth* It's not pity. But I had responsibilities here. Real ones. Not this Wiltun bullshit.
Emilie: *Smooching* We all do that occasionally, leave. We have to if we don't want to burn out. And besides, it helped me realize how much I value you, care about you.
And you found some answers and made changes and whatnot.
Richard: True.
Emilie: Of course it is, I am always right.
Richard: And when you are not, I usually am. It's a pretty great system.
Emilie: It does seem to work out pretty well, doesn't it?
Richard: It works out beautifully. I guess if I am going to be leaving Wiltun, I am going to need some new clothes. Green isn't my color anyway.
Emilie: You need more blue, or red!
Richard: I try to avoid blues unless in Kohlingen. Amazing how many more people will talk to you if you change your shirt color.
Emilie: I know. *Smirks* I need to start dancing again...
Richard: You do, you were the best at it, my dear. *Long passionate smooch!*

*Exit Scene, Fade to Black*

-FIN-

Any attempts to post in Wiltun would be removed, and attempts to distribute or post it would be met with arrest.

DolphinRacer wrote:

Any attempts to post in Tarkuul would be removed, and attempts to distribute or post it would be met with arrest.

While Tuomas read, he considered not just the contents of the play but.. he also seemed to ponder to himself about the quality of paper and ink for a time, seemingly curious about something.

Any copies that do, in fact, find their way into Kohlingen are collected by a young wizard. It is entirely possible that at least one is kept and some delivered to the Chancellor's office.

Copies go missing in the Lowland Delta as well.

A copy is picked up in Kohlingen by a very large, nearly seven-foot tall Tuigan woman in nondescript black leathers. She reads it over, and a faint smirk crosses her lips before she tucks it into one of the many traveller's bags she wears....right next to a very large golden longsword that she keeps at her hip, always.

She saunters out of Kohlingen, whistling a merry tune, and catches a boat to Wiltun.

A copy finds it's way into Emilie's hands, as she reads the pages her eyebrows creep up higher and higher on her face. At the end of it, she covers her mouth with her hand... and then bursts into a bout of very soft laughter, edged with a hard and dark humor. She tucks the papers away, and recovers her composure.

Her black-clad companion murmurs in the same bored tone he always carries, "What am I supposed to make of this?"

"Nothing. This is garbage, no better than half-copper romance papers. What you should be more concerned is this... Immediately after the, ah, horrifically embellished conversation took place she emerged from the shadows and put two arrows into my chest." She pauses for a moment, glancing to the entrance to Tarkuul. "Samrael."

A man in black clothing with an ornate leather vest comes across one such script..

"Mm." He quietly folds the script, tucking it away into a secure pouch. Thoughtfully, he brushes a finger along his lips. "I fear for this play, the price of attendance is blood."

The piece of paper was folded, and a small smile erupted from a figure sitting on a bench in Tarkuul.

"Reminds me of Earylduil."

A certain drow reads over the playbill, then shakes his head with a smirk.

Amusing, but the dialogue could be better.

Elsewhere, a skinny monk lets out an irritated grunt upon reading one of the posters.

*A bard, dressed in black spots the notice in Cordor and bursts out in laughter.*

We should definitely make this play happen in the theather...*grins and walks on*

A grey traveller collects one copy of the play.

*A copy is taken from any still floating around by a hooded man dressed in dark colors*

Hmm... I'm not usually one for the arts... but this... I can get behind...

The Sunite priestess would have obtained a copy of the play, reading it over with a neutral expression as she relaxed in the Mayfield over a cup of tea. Beside her sat a priest of Tempus, adorned in his priestly vestments, making his way through a pan of fried potatoes like a hog. The priestess shrugged her shoulders after she had finished reading, and looked aside at the Tempurian. "She broke up with you?" He smirked. "She never was around in the first place." She nodded. "I see. Do you plan to do anything about it?" He shrugged. "Do you?"

The priestess pondered the question after a moment, and then shook her head. "It's petty, really. I would be such a horrible person to jump to conclusions." She smiled a bit, and the priest raised his head to look on. "I mean, I'm such a nice and naïve person. Nobody would expect me to know anything, right? I sit in the corner and weep at things like this--should I be doing that?" The priest raised a brow in silent query, but remained just that, silent. He continued back into his plate of potatoes. The priestess just let a small smile fill her lips, as she threw the copy of the play into the fire.

Immediately following, the priest changed topics, his expression one of concern. "So, where is his body?" The priestess turned, a slight sigh evident. "I don't know. It went down at sea, I was told."

The play, or the conversation, it seemed was quickly forgotten. There were more important matters to discuss.

*cross-posted here for those that don't read Bendir's forum threads*

maglorine wrote:

Dear Lt Aurelius M.S.,
In response to your recent request, I’ve the following reply. The people have spoken. I must politely decline to grant the authority you seek within the sovereign lands of Bendir Dale. Allow me to explain a bit further, and also expand upon what you are allowed to do upon our lands so a full picture emerges.

Arrests upon Bendir Dale lands are contingent upon the accused committing offences within said lands against our people or property. None of these persons noted in your request are wanted here for reasons that will become apparent in a few more sentences. We do not exchange writs with other sovereign entities. I will inform you that we have a long list of criminals who have committed grievous, murderous, and even treasonous offenses on our lands. Punishments from simple fines, various terms of banishment including permanent banishment, and even Kill-on-Sight orders for repeat offenders are administered. What you have not seen (and never will) is a request from me or any other authority in Bendir Dale to have Cordor arrest such individuals or a request to allow us to pursue and detain them on Commonwealth lands. Our respect for your sovereignty and unquestioned authority on your lands is complete and without bound.

Allow me to expound regarding the three individuals noted. I am knowledgeable of only two. The Robert of whom you speak is a complete unknown in our lands and no one I’ve spoken to has ever seen or heard of him. Of the other two, I can safely say I’ve never seen Ulrik outside his hometown of Kohlingen, though it is likely he travels abroad at times. Whether he ever visited Bendir in the long distant past is an unknown, but in my long years as a Citzen, Militia Member, and now Mayor I’ve never laid eyes on him here. The third, a former Guard Captain of Cordor, I’ve only seen once upon our lands and the purpose of that visit seemed to be to inform me that she’d never be seen in Bendir Dale ever again. The implication of that was unknown to me at the time.

Furthermore, allow me to assure you that none of these individuals shall be harbored here or granted asylum. That’s not a business model we are interested in. Nothing more than nightly overstays at the Hinn Inn are allowed travelers passing through on business.

Now, I’m certain you are interested in what you can do upon our lands. Here’s a list off the top of my head of actions that comply with our laws:

1) On your time off, you can visit in an unofficial capacity. If you want to spend your time looking for them here that’s entirely up to you, tourists can do whatever they please as long as it’s legal. I’d advise you to have some pie while you are here, it’s warm and tasty.

2) You can leave at any time and in any direction and for any reason. I’d advise you to take some pie with you when you go.

3) Prisoners captured on lands other than Bendir’s can be transported through our lands to their ultimate destination. Although we do not allow slavers or contraband smugglers through our lands, we don’t interfere with sovereign authorities exerting their rights to transport criminals from the wild lands of Amia to the cities for their just punishments. You can pickup pies on your way through.

Warmest Regards,
Mayor Missus
Bendir Dale
*a colored and illuminated wax imprint of a wagon wheel is affixed*

*A honey colored blonde woman wearing blaring white , gracefully takes a copy from a caravan.*

Sunkin Sheep wrote:

*After no response from the Amian Recorder, the following article is produced on high quality ink-pressed paper, it is better than newspaper quality, but distributed around Cordor in all districts with a circulation of 5,000 copies.*

THE CORDOR ARENA, A COMMONWEALTH BLIGHT?

At the Cordor Arena, an establishment that pre-dates the Commonwealth, citizens and travelers alike often come to cheer on the gladiators who fight here, often times, a battle to the death. But lately contestants have taken the fight to greater extremes, killing even bystanders who had just come to watch an event with their friends and family, such was the case with the three Blue Skies students who were killed last month by a stray Hellball. I returned to West Cordor to learn more about the real nature of the Arena and what function it had as a part of the Commonwealth. I sat down with Citizen Harry, the Announcer of Cordor's Arena and City Sponsored Fight Nights, to answer some of these questions. Harry says he never cared for the adventure fights himself, that there was never a good show there. "In the early days, it was timestop this, and timestop that. Darkness, Invisability… you just couldn’t see anything happening."

Q: What would you consider a good show?
Harry: "It depends on what the crowd is looking for: the underdog, the clear winner from the start, the show horse, the even-skilled match. If there is no intrigue, no one will come to see the fights," he says, "You always need to bring something fresh and new."

Q: Is it getting more difficult to please the audience?
Harry: "Business has spiked actually since the Commonwealth. More people are coming out to see the fights. Our highest demand show would be the gladiatorial fights, or the pit fights." The pit fights that Citizen Harry is referring to is a fight where several gladiators fight each other at once, it is the drama of quick alliances and watching these people turn against once allies, that audiences like the most, according to Harry.

Q: What do you think citizens are taking away from watching these kinds of fights that you host?
Harry: "Entertainment. Stress relief, idolatry toward their favorite gladiators, perhaps wanting to grow up and become one themselves."

Gladiators like Bes'uliik, a 7th generation human gladiator, born in the Underdark as a slave kept for fighting. In his escape from Underdark slavery, he had murdered a guard to flee for his freedom and fought several more guards as well as crawling monsters that he had never seen before, his freedom was not granted. When he arrived at the first surface town he had ever seen in his life in the Dalelands called Battledale. It was the first time Bes'uliik recalls, ever seeing the sun. "It was blinding, I thought I was dead." The arena that Bes'uliik fought in was two-hundred-and-seventy paces long by two-hundred paces wide. Ten stories of crowd space with gravel terrain and locking mithril gates. Five archery towers pointed inward toward the arena pit were positioned to shoot at the gladiators, should the nobles who came to watch the fights disapprove of the outcome. In this arena, Bes'uliik understood that only the nobles chose which fighters lived and which would die.

Q: How many battles did you fight in your time there?
Bes'uliik: "352 fights. A composite of executions, guard duty, fighting creatures, and other gladiators."

Q: In all those years of fighting, did you ever think: this is the one, today is the day I die?
Bes'uliik: "The only time I felt alive was when I was victorious. Victory is life."

In the slave quarters of the Underdark arena, both man and creature were kept in similar cages. The slaves would wait until morning to hear who would be fighting first that day. In the night before, they have no idea which gladiator they would be fighting next, Bes'uliik told me, even the man he had sat down to have his dinner with could be pitted against him the next day for the nobles' entertainment.

Q: You had no friends?
Bes'uliik: "Weakness and attachment meant hesitation. Those who hesitate, did not survive long."

Q: You said seventh generation gladiator, was any of your family still alive when you escaped?
Bes'ulik: "The announcer said seventh. I never knew if I did or did not have any family at all."

The announcer of Bes'uliik's battles announced Bes'uliik as a seventh generation gladiator, that is seven generations of slavery. A fact he did not know to be true about himself having been kept uneducated slave, it was not until the announcer exclaimed it one evening to the audience that he had heard. Having not known any of his family members, it was entirely possible and common, Bes'uliik suspects, that he was pitted against his own family inside the pit.

Q: Do you ever think about the other gladiators in the Underdark arena and wanted to help them?
Bes'uliik: "No, Never. I earned my freedom, so they must to."

Q: You say that victory meant everything, why did you choose to escape?
Bes'uliik: "It was the only time the guard displayed weakness. So I killed him. In the city there were more guards, so I fought with them too, and in the caves there were even more monsters that I fought and killed. I did such until I ended here [on the surface]."

Bes'uliik quite literally killed and fought his way to freedom. He now walks the surface of Amia as a free man, looking for work again as a gladiator, the only trade he knows how to do. Yet is these violent gladiators who Citizen Harry believes, capture and delight the Commonwealth citizens, despite what they are capable of. The Cordor Arena in our city is a four-gate circular building with consistently open doors to street level for any adventurer and citizen to enter and leave at any hour of the day. Anyone, at any time, can enter the arena unannounced. A dangerous place to work for citizens like Citizen Ginny, a Commonwealth waitress who has worked at the Arena for 14 years.

Q: Do you like watching the fights?
Ginny: "Oh gods no! They’re terrifying. I do like the animal fights put on by Lindu [the beastmaster] though."

Q: Are you ever afraid to come to work?
Ginny: "I was only afraid after the loon came in and took us hostage. I try not to think about it too much. It was an adventurer I had seen before, I guess he just snapped."

The incident that Ginny recalled was when a male adventurer entered the Arena and proceeded to bar all the gates. He then threatened to kill all of the staff, forcing them to sit in the pit that they had watched so many deaths in and threatened to kill himself along with them. Ginny says she felt in danger as soon as he entered the Arena. "I didn’t know what he wanted. He had this cold stride. The Adventuring Guard showed up and tried to negotiate with him for the citizens’ lives through the barred doors. One guard was scouting around through the skylight to try and sap him, but I guess that failed. What I remember was there was all this smoke and the next thing I knew, Law Knights and guards broke in and the man was dead." That event was nearly a year ago but the memory has not lifted from Citizen Ginny. Since then, there have been several incidents that have taken the lives of bystanders in the Arena stands.

Q: You thought you were going to die.
Ginny: "I did. I had already said my prayers to Selune."

Q: Has working here for you ever been the same since that day?
Ginny: "No. I am always frightened… frightened that it will happen again."

Harry: "Besides putting on a show, the fighters have murdered innocent bystanders during a fight…They just don’t give a shit. They don’t consider the audience...just want to win. They didn't even stop the fight when folks died, the gladiators just carried on. Even so, things have improved substantially since the Pre-Commonwealth arena days."

Q: What about the event where three commonwealth students of the Blue Skies Academy were killed by a hellball?
Harry: "It was a very grim event. I wish all the adventurers involved hang for it. I feel awful for the families. It is why I only attend the city-sponsored events now. If I had it my way, no adventurer would come near this place." An event that was in fact, a city sponsored Fight Night. Though most shocking, was Harry's unwillingness to answer the next question.

Q: Over the course of your career, how many innocent citizens would you say have been lost at this Arena?
Harry: "It is hard to say. I could not give you a number worth reporting. No accurate number or even estimate. I would not guess with such a volatile number."

Q: More than we can count on our fingers?
Harry: "I won’t say." Citizen Harry refused to answer the question in regards to citizen lives that have been lost at Arena events. The latest event claimed three citizen lives, they were children. There are other lives too are effected by the Arena events that often go unreported. I sat with other staff members to talk about their experiences working in the Cordor Arena. Lindu the beastmaster has worked here for nearly a decade. I found him training with Teddy the Boar inside the pit.

Q: Tell me about your job as the animal tamer?
Lindu: "Well, the misconception is that the animals are all wild. Sometimes they are caught from the Skull Crags, but that’s very expensive."

Q: You train them to appear as though wild?
Lindu: "Yes."

Lindu showed me where the animals were kept by removing what was a false wall in the Arena, where the animals are kept hidden below the pit, an area kept concealed from the audience, much as Bes’elik was kept below the pit of his Arena. The animals are kept in few cages. Lindu led a large bear out into the center of the pit with his tamer’s whip, who I had the chance to meet. This bear’s name is Tiny.

Q: Are you close with your animals?
Lindu: "Oh yes, most of the time."

Q: Does it bother you when they are killed in the Arena?
Lindu: "It does, it is very expensive. The animals, are trained for a minimum of two or more years (depending on the creature) for what is expected to be a one-time fight.

Q: Does anyone ever expect the animal to win the fight?
Lindu: "No never. They like the drama of a man versus a beast though. Even if it’s actually a trained one."

Q: How do you feel about your job at the end of the day?
Lindu: "I’m usually very upset. I mean, you spend all this time with the animals… training them, mending them, raising them... I don’t know what I would do if I lost Teddy, he was my first training partner. I raised him since he was a piglet." Teddy the boar was scheduled to fight the very next night, he was the star attraction.

Citizen Samrael Cymere,
Freelance Journalist

Pages of parchment precisely the size required to hold the amount of writing found on each, begin to appear in various places of public congregation around the Amia isle, in pubs, temples, city centers and generally anywhere that doesn't boast magical protection from teleportation. Oddly enough, a small pile of ash or perhaps dust would accompany each set of parchments wherever they appear. Picking up any of the notices would reveal them to all read as follows:

*-*-*-*-*

City-States and Citizenry of Amia,

You are greeted by the Enclave of Tarkuul and its Council with knowledge of the past and foresight into the future.

Two thousand years ago our Enclave's namesake, the Ar-Magus Tark, raised this once-great city of the Netherese with one clear vision before him; the longevity of the human race and the world which supports it. Among even the long-lived Tel'Quessir, precious little is known of the races which preceded those now teeming across and within Toril. Having succumbed to the wasting of time despite their level of advancement, Tark foresaw that the same fate awaits each of the races of our era and that it would take concerted effort to avert, not by a single city, empire or even people but by all peoples.

Founding his Enclave on the principle of the free pursuit of knowledge it was Tark's hope that an atmosphere of scholarly co-operation, devoted study and inspired experimentation would produce a solution to the eventual end. His life ended prematurely by an act of betrayal, his work decayed by the onset of war and his Enclave nearly destroyed by the Folly of Karsus, Tark's vision for the future remains incomplete. For this reason do we toil through sweat and spell to restore life within our Enclave; the legacy and duty that its founder has left to us. While devotion and sacrifice by the Enclave's residents, past and present, have carried us far towards a physical restoration of what fell to the waters a millennia ago, it is only within each of you that the past might be restored and the future secured.

For in those many years past, it was not Karsus and his hubris alone that committed the great Folly which threatened to destroy - and irrevocably reshaped - our world; it was the straying of all human-kind from the truth. With wisdom not oft found in an age of unparalleled and expeditious progress, Tark saw that for each step gained in understanding of the Ars Magica, we as a species grew ever more distracted from the far more pressing concerns of our own longevity and the continuance of the Prime itself. Pivotal to our growth and survival as the pursuit of knowledge is, attaining that knowledge and using it to grasp at more is not in itself enough. Karsus proved this to all peoples when he failed to consider that tampering with the very fabric of our worlds' creation would threaten not only human-kind but the very foundation of the Planes themselves. To prevent that act, Tark himself would have given his own life and so too would I, and so shall I if such a threat should ever rise again. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that we never again stray down such a dangerous path and so I call upon all who would strive to galvanize and protect our world to find security and kindred intellect within the Enclave of Tarkuul. Arcanist or acolyte, warrior or widow, young, old, human or otherwise; all are welcomed, all are valued and all have a part to play in the work to come.

Decried by those who hold hatred in their hearts and ignorance in their minds we remain steadfast in our dream of seeing a better future for all who seek peaceful co-existence. Though our would-be aggressors seek to harm and even destroy us, Tark's vision is nothing if it does not apply to all peoples and so we remain welcoming of all who would enter our Enclave peacefully and guarantee their safety while within. As the benevolent presence of the spirit of Imperator once guarded the Holy City of Kohlingen from beyond the veil of death, so too does the Voice of the Living City and the Sentinels of the old era, guard over visitors to Tark's Enclave. Our hand shan't be raised to any city-state or organization which does not first bring hostility against us; we shall remain apart as we once did, separated from the Netherese Empire. We will continue to gather and trade for what materials are required to restore the physical form of our Enclave to the splendor it once held and invite all who desire peaceful and honest trade to open a dialog.

There will be much change in the days to come, but change is not a thing to be feared; it is a requisite of adaptation and evolution, of survival. And to begin the first of these changes, the true history of the Arcanum and its skewed goals which date back hundreds of years will be presented to the citizenry of Amia, that you might see through their fear-mongering and false whispers of power. Armed with knowledge, each of you will be empowered to enact this change, and you will have the support of this Enclave should you choose to.

An invitation is tendered to all who read this, to seek me out within the Enclave of Tarkuul, if ever you seek knowledge that I might provide.

Written this day, 30th Flamerule 1382,
Archmage Mherun Xilphas
Council of Tarkuul

*-*-*-*-*

Anyone comparing a few of the letters to each other would notice that they appear to all be written in exactly the same hand, precise duplicates of each other, however they radiate no magical signature. The dust piles, for those familiar with the substance, would prove to be bone dust upon closer examination.

A sour-looking drowess clad in black and violet picks up one of the missives and tucks it away. More pondering can be done on it later. In private.

The sunmaster collects his own copy after reading trough it.
"Curious..."

Kurchin takes one of the notices in the Triumvir. After a lot of time gone through trying to make certain that the notices are safe, he reads one. He seems particularly tense as he reads it.

Sometime later, the book 'The Rise and Fall of Netheril' is donated to the Triumvir's library.

As promised in the previous letters which had been circulated throughout the more populated regions of Amia nearly a week prior, new pages begin to appear. These too are written on precisely and painstakingly sized pieces of plain parchment and the text appears again to be identical in all respects from one copy to the next. The same faint piles of dust or ash are found at each location where stacks of these pages appear. For any who decide to read these newest missives, they would view the following:

*-*-*-*-*

Understanding the intentions and inner workings of any present-day order must begin with knowledge of its history; the foundations upon which it was built. Steeped in many centuries of tradition, the Arcanum's own history dates back to the time of the Netherese Empire itself and though their order has adapted to survive in these present days, the core of its being remains unchanged.

The Circles of Mystery were a tradition once widely held within the Empire of Netheril, a tradition built around the arcanists who routinely surrounded a very powerful individual, seeking to learn from him and attain some measure of that same power. Largest of these groups was the Cabal of Karsus; those drawn to the charismatic force that was the Archmage of Folly himself, a cult of personality. Their number were many, greatest in the history of Netheril some claim, and many skilled arcanists comprised this group. One such was named Johann Kurtzweil.

Found throughout several historical texts, Johann Kurtzweil was a great proponent of Netherese imperialism. Among the first to begin referring to those Netherese not gifted with the Ars Magica, those living on the ground, as "earthbound", his disdain for those of Low Netheril only grew with time. Authoring a thesis that the ignorance of these "earthbound" and their lack of access to magic chained them to the earth, he supported the notion that the Ars Magica is the deciding difference between those who have a right to rule and those who live only to serve the more worthy. After spending the following years traversing the Realms, he returned only to amend his theory with the notion that, "Magic does not merely grant one the right to rule; it grants him apotheosis, the divine image of Qadmon. To me, it is rebirth. We are born in blood, and we shall be reborn in blood." It was during this time away from the Empire that Johann began practices of blood rites and other dark magic which the Goddess Mystra and the Binder Oghma themselves deemed too corrupt to remain known in the centuries since.

In the months before what would be Karsus' Folly, Johann resumed his position within Karsus' Cabal. It is known that he was one of the arcanists who assisted Karsus in the fateful ritual which nearly destroyed the Weave itself, that destroyed a nation and the many thousands of lives there-in. Fleeing the devastation he had wrought, Johann traveled to Maztica where accounts and translations from the native population speak of an ancient God who descended from the "mountain of the sky". Continuing his dark practices he used his influence over the native people to enact brutal blood rites and ritual sacrifices to fuel his own power, undeterred and unconcerned with the devastation he had visited upon his own people. Though he has taken many names in the age since the Fall, one such identity is that of Tytalus, Minister of Magic for the Commonwealth of Cordor.

Steeped in the same traditions that Tytalus grew powerful under in the days of Karsus' Cabal, the Arcanum holds true to the same philosophies of magical superiority over the common man. Their membership takes an oath of secrecy which prevents them from speaking to anyone not of their order, never willing to share information freely. In this way do they place themselves in a position of information brokers and because they deal in knowledge of the arcane, power brokers by extension. To barter with the knowledge they possess, they fall back upon the Circles of Mystery, one Magister overseeing several apprentices, each apprentice performing duties for their Magister. By performing these duties, their goal is to learn the valuable lessons their Magister has to teach, in order to ascend towards a higher Circle, unlocking new secrets as they progress. In practice however the Circles of Mystery serves only to grant a powerful arcanist dominion over lesser arcanists to whatever ends he desires, creating a cult reliant on what little true power the Magister is willing to divest.

A Realms-wide cabal, the Arcanum attaches themselves to institutions of magical learning such as the Ministry of Magic and the Monolith of Mystra, and operates as a secret society within that greater whole. By this method do they indoctrinate the best and brightest into their number, accepting only human male arcanists, as superior to all others. No dwarf, elf, hin or gnome will ever enter their ranks, nor will any female; a truly elitist cabal holding to the belief that only human males who show talent with the Ars Magica are worthy to rule, are superior to all others. These ideals have found purchase in one nation in the Realms where the Arcanum operates not in secret, but as an independent magical institution. Thay has seen their methods as kindred to that of the Red Wizards, who work in co-operation with the Arcanum members there.

Under the guise of Tytalus, under the guise of working for a better Commonwealth, Johann Kurtzweil infiltrated the Ministry of Magic and populated it with members of his cult of personality to regain some of the power he held in the days of Netheril. The Enclave of Tarkuul places no blame on the people of the Commonwealth for the wolves within their midst and bears the Commonwealth no ill will. We seek to make the citizenry of Amia aware of this threat that has grown within their midst and empower you through that knowledge to affect change for yourselves; change that is necessary for the prosperity and well being of this region.

Documentation and historical references on the information presented above is available freely within the Library of Tarkuul. Copies will also be made available to any governmental body upon request.

Written this day, 4th Eleasias 1382,
Archmage Mherun Xilphas
Council of Tarkuul

After reading new letter from Speaker, grey traveler commented to certain Toel Renath: "Check."

*doublepost*

The black and purple clad drowess reads it over and tucks it away...

"I told them so..."

"What did you tell them?"

Liress glances over to the unknown speaker, and rolls up the paper and HITS THEM WITH IT.

"Please stop that before I am forced to fetch the guards" says the halfling.

A couple of fliers appear around Cordor. The appear to be printed.

Having trouble with new regulations in regards to boats? Need help getting your livelihood back?

Contact Andrew Fryar, Headmaster of the Blue Skies Academy

100% Free Assistance

*A copy of Tarkuul's findings is requested by Cordor's present Minister of Finance. Beyond that, he appears to work diligently to deliver on a campaign promise.

This newsletter is sent to parents who have children enrolled in the Academy. A handful of copies are left at the Nomad and the Long and Short.

MISSION STATEMENT

This newsletter is an attempt at further transparency in my own department as well as a few other interest pieces. Because of the multi-faceted nature of this publication, the cost of printing and materials was taken out of my personal funds and not the school's.

BUREAU OF EDUCATION

Schedule
Currently the Blue Skies Academy of Cordor is set to open for classes on the first of Elient. Class will be held on the first seven days of the tenday, with three offdays to round it out. The school year will run until the 17h of Kythorn. Holidays: High Harvestide, Feast of the Moon, Midwinter, Greengrass, the Autumn Equinox and Commonwealth Sovereignty Day.

Enrollment

Children 4-16 may enroll. Additionally, adults over 16 may request literacy or Citizenship exam tutoring. All of these services are free of charge or tuition. Students 12 and over must choose a vocation to study. All costs of apprenticeship/internship are covered by the Academy. They will only take classes in the morning so they may focus on their vocation or trade study in the afternoons and evenings.

Travel

Starting this year, in recognition that some of our students may be moving to Guldorand, we will begin offering daily escorts to the Academy and back. Like boarding and lunch, this is provided free, just mention your need when you register your child. We are seeking to buy an armored cart and a reasonably fast but sturdy beast of burden to drag it. This cart will be staffed with security to to be as safe as we possibly can be. We will begin price research within the tenday.

Employment

We're currently seeking a full-time teacher to teach literacy and literature. This pays a 12,000 stipend per a month. You must be a citizen or a citizen candidate to apply. Applications can be found in the Cordor Commonwealth building. If you'd like to negotiate an internship or apprenticeship with some of our students, please inquire.

Printing Press

Thanks to the generous donation by the smith Haur, the Academy has its own printing press! This school year, we will begin offering apprenticeships for older students seeking to become journalists by staffing them on a school paper, which will be completely run and planned by students (with advisory and supervision by staff, of course). In this program, they will learn how to operate a printing press, journalistic style, how to investigate and other skills and experience necessary.

In addition, we will also offer printing services to the public. For a negotiable rate for materials and equipment, we'll print your advertisements, announcement letters etc. All the money from this endeavor will go straight to the school's budget.

Current Teaching Staff (Blue Skies Academy of Cordor)

Headmaster Andrew Fryar: Government, Philosophy, Law
Astraea: Math, Science
Joon of the Binder: Geography, History, Religion
Castiel Fryar: Student counselor, Job/skill counselor

Currently, all teaching staff are taking on extra classes to cover Literacy/Literature.

Monthly Budget (Blue Skies Academy of Cordor)

Teaching Staff: 12,000 (Four teaching staff, three waiving their pay stipend)
Full Time Cook/Janitorial: 5,000
Security: 32,000 (multiple guards, twenty-four hour security)
Maintenance Budget: 18,000
School Supplies/Uniforms: 3,000
Apprenticeship/Internship Budget: 50,000

Expected Costs for Elient: 120,000

Fundraiser

We'll be holding a fund raising dinner in the near future. It's only through donations that we're able to keep the school afloat as we do not charge tuition and do not receive tax funding. We'll send out announcements soon.

BOATS

Any one who lives in Cordor has no doubt noticed a disturbing trend: boats being impounded by the Commonwealth for not paying special taxes for boats. I've had a few people tell me that they tried to inquire or square their issues away, only to meet with clerks who were unwilling to address them or would be out to lunch for many hours. This bureaucratic maze is highly inefficient, especially when its base contacts are unresponsive. Keep in mind, these clerks are paid with the same coins that the crazy tax law put out. A formal inquiry for explanation has been sent, as well as an updated copy of the tax code.

I have been working on a petition to send off through Minister Hodgewall and into the Commonwealth Center. The petition reads simply that the signers are complaining about the unprofessional demeanor of the clerks. If you would wish to sign, I'll be available at the Long and Short nightly, but I'll also be near the school. Only citizens may sign the petition.

A local from south, Parulg, sat down with me to speak on behalf of the southie's current plight. He gave me five key problems that law makers may not be aware of:

1) Bureaucracy: the unresponsive and evasive measures taken by the majority of clerks is insulting and frustrating. (It's worth noting I've never had a problem with Clerk Franton, who has been a polite and model clerk in my experiences with him.)
2) Lumber Prices: They skyrocketed to four times their initial price in a tenday, and only then leveled out.
3) Silence/Lack of Communication: Quite simply, the Commonwealth isn't talking, whether through the so-called Clarion of the Commonwealth, Press Conferences or any other means.
4) Taxes and housing prices: Residents must share their homes with other workers. This is also seen in west, where several families may live in the same old manor house.
5) Salaries: Through all of the price rising and higher taxes, salaries have remained the same. This wouldn't be as much of a problem if the above problems were ameliorated.

Currently, the petition sits at 16 signatures and counting! Please seek me out – I'll be at the school during that day and in the Long and Short for a few hours every evening.

CRIME

I sent off an inquiry to the Ministry of Law in regards to two different occurences: A pair of homicides in West Cordor and the cordon of a home in South Cordor, allegedly belonging to a dock worker named Cole. No reply to my inquiries has been issued.

This newsletter is sent to parents who have children enrolled in the Academy. A handful of copies are left at the Nomad and the Long and Short.

MISSION STATEMENT

This newsletter is an attempt at further transparency in my own department as well as a few other interest pieces. Because of the multi-faceted nature of this publication, the cost of printing and materials was taken out of my personal funds and not the school's.

BUREAU OF EDUCATION

Schedule
Currently the Blue Skies Academy of Cordor is set to open for classes on the first of Elient. Class will be held on the first seven days of the tenday, with three offdays to round it out. The school year will run until the 17h of Kythorn. Holidays: High Harvestide, Feast of the Moon, Midwinter, Greengrass, the Autumn Equinox and Commonwealth Sovereignty Day.

Enrollment

Children 4-16 may enroll. Additionally, adults over 16 may request literacy or Citizenship exam tutoring. All of these services are free of charge or tuition. Students 12 and over must choose a vocation to study. All costs of apprenticeship/internship are covered by the Academy. They will only take classes in the morning so they may focus on their vocation or trade study in the afternoons and evenings.

Armored Cart

Due to the recent events, the armored cart has been postponed for a month.

Employment

We're currently seeking a full-time teacher to teach literacy and literature. This pays a 8,000 stipend per a month. You must be a citizen or a citizen candidate to apply. Applications can be found in the Cordor Commonwealth building. If you'd like to negotiate an internship or apprenticeship with some of our students, please inquire.

Current Teaching Staff (Blue Skies Academy of Cordor)

Headmaster Andrew Fryar: Government, Philosophy, Law
Astraea: Math, Science
Joon of the Binder: Geography, History, Religion
Castiel Fryar: Student counselor, Job/skill counselor

Currently, all teaching staff are taking on extra classes to cover Literacy/Literature.

Fundraiser

We'll be holding a fund raising dinner in the near future. It's only through donations that we're able to keep the school afloat as we do not charge tuition and do not receive tax funding. We'll send out announcements soon.

Dinner

It doesn't take a lot of observation to see that the people of Cordor are feeling the bite of the new taxes. This has only been made more bitter by the recent rusting that hit Cordor, ruining vast amounts of property and trade ware. The Blue Skies Academy has budgeted to provide one free meal for citizens for a day. It's not much, but we hope it'll go to helping out our hurting brothers and sisters. Dinner consists of meat, fruits and vegetables, as well as clean water. Dinner will be held in the Blue Skies Academy's cafeteria at 19:00 in the evenings. Come get a warm meal, find comfort and solidarity with your fellow Cordorians, etc. The doors lock at 20:00. Wandering the school is forbidden.

RUSTING

A wave of rust overcame all the non-magical metal in the Commonwealth. The worst seems to be over, but massive damage has been done all over the city. The rusting is apparently linked to the ongoing kobold excursions against Cordor. The sewers are extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. The rust has halted, however, and metal is slowly being replaced across the city.

BOATS

An inquiry about the regulations has been answered. The records about the new regulations and taxes are not public record! At least, this is what must be assumed. I inquired about them to a clerk, who was more than helpful to my search. Unfortunately, said regulations were likely passed under Act 9, emergency powers. The Act reads:

"In the course of the Commonwealth's departmentalized government it inevitably becomes necessary for any given operational ministry to subsume, absorb, share, delegate, create, or eliminate the various duties and responsibilities of another ministry. These changes may be important responses to imminent threat of war or disaster in an effort to ensure the safety and stability of the Commonwealth, or these changes may occur in peacetime towards the purpose of improving efficiency, thereby ensuring a fully functional Commonwealth state from which all citizens may benefit equally and fairly.”

This means, in times of emergency or just whenever, the Speaker may draft up and take up the powers of other ministries. The government is not obligated to publish this or what ever other liberties it may take under the veil of the common good, and can justify not informing the public in the interest of security. While this measure is intended to be temporary, they can be voted to remain this way with a simple majority vote. Given that policy numbers were not provided, the crippling regulatory maze facing citizens is almost assuredly a measure enacted under these emergency expansions.

I will offer my petition for a few more days. In the evenings, I will be either at the Long and Short or at the Academy's free dinner. In the mornings, I will be in West Cordor near the hostel with my breakfast table, as usual. We currently sit at 61 signatures.

CRIME

No answer to my inquiry about the homicides in west or the cordon around the home of dockworker Cole.

Locals in West rioted and burnt down the stall of long-time merchant Boinar Borinsbane, due to a belief that dwarves and elves were responsible for the rusting sweeping though Cordor. This, of course, is false. Reliable guard sources point to kobolds as the cause of the corruption.

A kobold snuck into Cordor and attacked the Market Hall when he was confronted about the kobold ban, injuring one bystander before being brought down. Lt. Addams Hole called me 'noble' followed by a vulgarity (the one beginning with 'f') when he asked me if I had seen the kobold before, even though at that point I had not said a thing to him or any one else on scene. Classy. The kobold was disposed of, but later surfaced in Cordor again, where he slunk off without incident. Guards were alerted.

Murder struck in North Cordor. The killer was brought to justice and quickly disposed by guards on scene.

MHERUN XILPHAS

People have no doubt seen the article by a member of the Council of Tarkuul by the name of Mherun Xilphas. That last name is an anagram for Silphax. Who is Silphax? Jane Silphax was a resident of Waterdeep who came to Amia to find her sister, a resident of Kohlingen. Even so, she dedicated her time to various causes around the island, including helping former High Priestess of Sune Kaytie in regards to our own Temple of Love. It was soon discovered she was pregnant and that the child was magical and growing swiftly.

She was kidnapped in Tarkuul by a man known as Luca and one of his associates, and brought to the City of Shade. Yes, of ancient Netheril. I was among the people Jane requested visit her in the final days of her pregnancy. On the date of the birthing, I was brought there to the place where the remnants kept her prisoner, along with Kaytie, Corinn and Richard Johnson. I had snuck a portal wand into my boot with the intention of helping Jane escape since, as you can guess, she hated it there. We were told the child was the reborn Mherun, a great Netherese mage.

The birthing was horrific. When the child was born, Jane more or less exploded and was absorbed by the child. Soon, it began draining everyone else in the house, killing all of the guards, and nearly draining myself and the other visitors. I was just able to trigger my portal wand before I fell into unconsciousness. The rebirth and rapid regrowth of Mherun Xilphas, of the Council of Tarkuul, was powered in a blood ritual. A blood ritual fueled primarily by his innocent 'mother'.

This newsletter is left in fairly large quantities the Nomad. the Long and Short, The Theater and most other public gathering places in Cordor. None of them are at Andrew's relief breakfast table in West Cordor at the morning or at his free dinners in the Academy in the evening. Parents recieve an abbreviated version, containing only things under the 'Bureau of Education' header.

MISSION STATEMENT

This newsletter is an attempt at further transparency in my own department as well as a few other interest pieces. Because of the multi-faceted nature of this publication, the cost of printing and materials was taken out of my personal funds and not the school's.

BUREAU OF EDUCATION

Schedule
Currently the Blue Skies Academy of Cordor is set to open for classes on the first of Elient. Class will be held on the first seven days of the tenday, with three offdays to round it out. The school year will run until the 17h of Kythorn. Holidays: High Harvestide, Feast of the Moon, Midwinter, Greengrass, the Autumn Equinox and Commonwealth Sovereignty Day.

Enrollment

Children 4-16 may enroll. Additionally, adults over 16 may request literacy or Citizenship exam tutoring. All of these services are free of charge or tuition. Students 12 and over must choose a vocation to study. All costs of apprenticeship/internship are covered by the Academy. They will only take classes in the morning so they may focus on their vocation or trade study in the afternoons and evenings.

Armored Cart

Due to the recent events, the armored cart has been postponed for a month.

Employment

We're currently seeking a full-time teacher to teach literacy and literature. This pays a 8,000 stipend per a month. You must be a citizen or a citizen candidate to apply. Applications can be found in the Cordor Commonwealth building. If you'd like to negotiate an internship or apprenticeship with some of our students, please inquire.

Current Teaching Staff (Blue Skies Academy of Cordor)

Headmaster Andrew Fryar: Government, Philosophy, Law
Astraea: Math, Science
Joon of the Binder: Geography, History, Religion
Castiel Fryar: Student counselor, Job/skill counselor

Currently, all teaching staff are taking on extra classes to cover Literacy/Literature.

Fundraiser

We'll be holding a fund raising dinner in the near future. It's only through donations that we're able to keep the school afloat as we do not charge tuition and do not receive tax funding. We'll send out announcements soon.

Dinner

It doesn't take a lot of observation to see that the people of Cordor are feeling the bite of the new taxes. This has only been made more bitter by the recent rusting that hit Cordor, ruining vast amounts of property and trade ware. The Blue Skies Academy has budgeted to provide one free meal for citizens for a day. It's not much, but we hope it'll go to helping out our hurting brothers and sisters. Dinner consists of meat, fruits and vegetables, as well as clean water. Dinner will be held in the Blue Skies Academy's cafeteria at 19:00 in the evenings. Come get a warm meal, find comfort and solidarity with your fellow Cordorians, etc. The doors lock at 20:00. Wandering the school is forbidden.

RACE

A trio of Cordor citizens rallied in Cordor West earlier in the tenday. The three citizens alleged that the eroding economy and quality of life in Cordor should be attributed to dwarves and elves. The organized for protests and acknowledge the possibility of rioting if the Commonwealth did not remove them. There are several elves and dwarves who are citizens of the Commonwealth who have been unfairly targeted for non-existent wrongdoing.

When I arrived on the scene, things were starting to boil. However, the crowd soon calmed and dispersed peacefully. About half of the crowd decided not to blame dwarves and elves quite yet, but instead to sign my petition regarding the inaction of clerks and demand restitution and explanation from the Commonwealth. The petition will be sent in a few days.

ACT 9

In my last letter, I mentioned Act 9 in passing in my previous newsletter and printed the exact text. I rehashed these arguments again at the rally mentioned above. Two of the arguments supporters of the rally follow: (1)Transparency isn't necessary because it is not always in the interest of security to be open and (2) Elections should only be done on demand rather than at regular intervals so that the ministers don't have to interrupt their work to campaign. I'll address both of these below and provide a brief summary of my arguments at the rally.

1) Commonwealth is derived from public welfare. The Commonwealth Legislation and Acts also refer to Cordor as a Republic. In order for the citizens to make a rational and informed decision and opinion about the actions of the government it must be aware of what is happening. Furthermore, the installation of new taxes and regulations (the ones that are currently forcing Cordorians into homelessness, taking away their boats and their livelihoods) was never formally announced and do not seem to have a place on the public record. How is it in Cordor's security to (1) tax its citizens into poverty and (2) also fine them for not paying taxes they were not informed even existed? Furthermore, not complying with the taxes results in the loss of property and possibly jail time. Having money taken under threat? We call that robbery. That there are no open records about these taxes (a full record of them could not be provided when I inquired) would seem to indicate that these were passed under the Emergency powers of Act 9, which are put into law by the Speaker, not by any one minister.

2) This is the same attitude that is taken toward nobles traditionally. Nobles, under the noblesse oblige, are to rule in their citizens best interest and have a divine right to rule. The idea of being removed from common cares so they may work to rule wisely is almost directly taken from the dogma of Siamorphe. The Commonwealth rejects that any one person has a divine right to rule. As no one is qualified to rule via birth, every one should have equal opportunity to rule. This is how a republic works. Regular elections acknowledge that, as men, we are fallible and should be held accountable to the people. Regular campaigns force more openness by forcing a minister to re-sell themselves to the people and continually move on the road of progress as they evolve to new issues. They also allow the citizens to decide what issues will be tackled and in what direction policy will move in the next term. They force elected officials to open themselves to criticism and questions, rather than be placed on a pedestal away from the concerns of the proletariat. This dialogue is vital to a republic.

I will address two more things before I end this segment. I learned what I have about the dogma of Siamorphe from the idol of Siamorphe located right within the Commonwealth building, in the back office and meeting area. There have also been exactly two elections for minister positions: Health and Public Welfare and Finance. Finance was previously held by its original seat-holder, Joseph Maximilian, who relinquished it for election. Before then, he had held both the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Finance as Law had been empty. Minister Maximilian, therefore, took over ministry of Law himself, rather than put it to a vote. The Ministry of Magic, whose seat holder has not been in Cordor in literally years and whose more or less entire ministry was suspended and put under investigation, has also not been subject to an election. This was an investigation, mind, that has never been fully disclosed to the public.

CRIME

A man named Darius was asked in by the guards for questioning in connection to a previous infraction. He refused and it came to blows. He killed a guard, but was executed and placed under arrest.

Still no word in regards to the investigation into the murder of the Browns or the cordon around the home of a dockworker named Cole.

((EDIT: A few things I forgot to change in my template))

Minister Hodgewall reads the newsletter at the Long and Short. He slumps slightly, considering the work ahead of him, but otherwise he maintains a welcoming aura about him as he makes a point of supporting the partly-Hin operated establishment. If questioned about Act 9, he lets citizens know that he is in the process of calling it to a vote in the council and to bear with the bureaucracy. He swears that so long as he is Minister of Finance, he will do everything in his power to see ships and homes ill-taken restored to their proper owners.

In a time of pro-human sentiment, the only non-Human minister in the Commonwealth evidently refuses to keep his head down. A tall order for a Halfling.

During all of those, a Gnomish Magician seemed to ponder a few points of significance to himself as he looked Southward. He looked around Kohlingen for a map of the region and then seemed to begin to go over points of elevation outside of Cordor and the distances away from them.

This special edition of his newsletter is left in fairly large quantities the Nomad. the Long and Short, The Theater and most other public gathering places in Cordor. None of them are at Andrew's relief breakfast table in West Cordor at the morning or at his free dinners in the Academy in the evening.

MURDER

There was a small commotion outside of a West Cordor home. A pair of guards, Sergeant Branton and Corporal Coran, were blocking a family from entering their home. Another guard, Private Amber Agravar, arrived on scene. Apparently, Lieutenant Addams Hole was busily working inside. We raised enough issue for the Lieutenant to come and investigate himself. He mentioned five people in the building had been murdered. I, at about this time, left to escort the family to some place where they could rest.

Naturally, this matches the same events that occurred at the home of a dockworker named Cole. As such, I informed the family that they would likely not get answers. Furthermore, Sgt. Branton and Corporal Coran were on the scene when I arrived as well at the home of the dockworker cole.

The other residents of the home included five of the people who signed my petition. Lt. Hole was on scene when I gathered support at the rally a couple of days ago. Lt. Hole also kept Private Amber from even seeing the scene of a crime and later beat her and put her under arrest while I was away with the family.

I'll list out these points again:

1) The guards on scene were the same two who were at the home of the dockworker, Cole, whose information never came to light.
2) The was no kind of commotion until the family arrived at their home to find it barred off.
3) Lt. Hole, who has a tendency toward violence on duty, was the acting officer in the 'murder investigation'. He only answered why they were there under pressure.
4) The alleged murder victims were people who had opposed the racial riots and sought for transparency in the Commonwealth.
5) Lt. Hole refused to allow another guard who was not one of his lackeys into the investigation. Furthermore, he put her down violently and placed her under arrest when she tried to force her way in. Keep in mind, Private Amber was trying to get answers that the Ministry of Law has still refused to provide.

It is for these five points I allege that Lt. Addams Hole should be investigated and charged for Murder and Guard Corruption. As well, investigation into how deep this alleged corruption runs should also be investigated. As long as the Cordor 'Guard' continues to staff its ranks with plated thugs and bullies such as Lt. Hole, who feel they do not need to answer to the people who fund their pay checks, do not need to be respectful the people who they are to protect, who feel they're above the law because they have a badge, then the future for justice in the Commonwealth is bleak.

These actions are those of a police state, sons and daughters of the Cordor, not a republic.

Last edited by Elorathall on Sun, Sep 01 2013, 8:58 AM, edited 1 time in total.

((Only just noticed my stupidity))

This afternoon, a tall, pale moon elf can be observed making the rounds of the public areas of Cordor, distributing copies of a handmade flyer to wherever such things are welcome: the Nomad, the Long and Short, the market hall, the chapel of Lathander, but most especially in the businesses of the neighborhood of Elftown.

Come Visit Scenic Winya Ravana

Quessir of Cordor! Do you need a respite from the trials and tribulations of metropolitan life? Do you long to trade steel and stone for the green and blue of nature? Has the big city’s lack of privacy and open spaces got you down? Do you feel estranged from your neighbors and ministers, and yearn for the serenity of communion with sistren and brethren?

Come visit Winya Ravana, the ancestral home of the People on Amia island! Here, we wait to welcome you with open arms. Located above the Nexus Falls at the headwaters of the Minmir River, Winya Ravana can offer you the peace of mind you’ve been missing. Experience the beauty of the Falls, the majesty of the Temple of Corellon, the fellowship of the Iron Butterfly, and the expertise of our skilled craftsfolk.

Best of all, you can reverie in ease, knowing that the lands of the People are warded by the most skilled guards on the isle, passionately dedicated to keeping you safe from all harm. Let the joyful embrace of kin be a balm to your assailed spirit. Stay for a day or a year, or for as long as you like!

Winya Ravana hopes to see you soon!

Kaithan Cylverand
Winya Ravana Minister of Tourism

Diplomacy's Game Continues: Blood and Rebirth

Who is online