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The "Lower Council" recently declared that any uniformed member of the Watch or Spellguard entering that ward will be slain on sight. When will the Council realize that this is treason and do something about it? Two sessions have passed by with no response, will the third be the charm? While freedom is important to us all, freedom must be tempered by wisdom. In the last weeks several monsters have attacked the Canal Gates, lizard-men, orogs, and ogre-magi with the latter actually making it as far as Upper Sanctuary before driven back by local citizens and the Watch.

Shall the cry for "freedom" by a "Council" led by former criminal gang leaders persuade this city to leave hundreds of citizens undefended? Make no mistake, the "Lower Footmen" will fail, there is not enough gold to pay them floating around in Lower Sanctuary with its depressed economy. Even when the Tigereyes patrolled the city, a ninety man force that worked for far less due to their violent history, Upper Sanctuary bore the brunt of paying for Lower's safety.

Nor was it done solely for Lower's safety, if Lower Sanctuary wishes freedom I welcome seeing them go. Yet they are too weak to defend themselves, and that allows monsters, rogue animatrons, and worse to come up the lifts or any of the ruined stairwells deep in the ruins that connect Lower and Upper Sanctuary. Unrestricted magic use in Lower has attracted drow armies to our city as recently as this year, and there is no reason to believe it won't draw more foes. Therefore, the only choice for Upper Sanctuary to remain safe is to quell this treason in Lower Sanctuary. Unless the highly skilled Watch now under proper Spellguard control is put on the Canal Gates, then Upper Sanctuary is endangered by Lower's radical claim for "freedom" from a democratically elected government.

Cathbad, a roving mad priest of Garagos recently hosted a gladiatorial combat in Sanctuary. The winners obtained fine, magical weapons and the losers died. His purpose in this event was to gain blood shed in battle for some unholy ritual. He's even taken to explaining to local adventurers how to slay monstrous beasts to gain further blood for his rituals. It is up the Spellguard to stop this ritual before it happens, its effects will not be good for Sanctuary.

The discovery of Sheriff Walter's duplicity with a slave ring has been revealed. With Walter's execution, the Spellguard has taken the responsibility of overseeing the Watch. This is a progressive step forward. The Spellguard has never been implicated in slavery or worship of Beholders; the same can't be said for the Watch. This oversight should remain permanently, it is our hope the Council will realize this. What about the children of Sanctuary though? Most were captured in Lower Sanctuary, stolen from their homes because the "Lower Footmen" and "Lower Council lack the man power and resources to keep its citizens safe. This organ urges the city to put Seekers into the field quickly to locate our children and engender a rescue if it can safely be done. Our children are a top priority, far above seeking a lost passage to the surface supposedly found by the murdered Frederick Bresley.

For sale, enchanted suit of splint mail. Offers same protection as half-plate, magically! Leave word at the Rock Bottom.

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Lower Sanctuary truly deserves freedom. Let none argue, but what is freedom? Is it freedom to die at a poorly defended gate because you lack the men or the taxes to support it? Is it freedom to starve in the streets because you reject the charity of Upper? Is it the freedom to have your Council appointed for you, without open and public elections by criminals who now patrol your streets alongside the remnants of the Tigereyes? This revolt was the act of a minority, a violent and dangerous minority and not the voice of its people. Moreso, Lower has a history of failure with "freedom". The Watch came to protect Lower Sanctuary at the request of those appalled at the death toll from its inability to feed or protect its own streets, when the gangs turned on the Watch, the Tigereyes were a necessity until their corruption was realized, but the Council under conservative voices like Starag refused to move fast enough and the criminal element revolted. Some would say leave Lower Sanctuary to die with its vaunted "freedom". These naive souls may mean well, but do not realize it's not just Lower that dies. Unrestricted use of magic in Lower draws enemies to Upper's gates too. An ogre raiding party already made it into Upper Sanctuary after easily bypassing Lower's pathetic "defenses". When lives of Upper citizens are lost, what choice then but to force Lower to accept our protection yet again? If your neighbor endangers your survival, the course is to eliminate your neighbor's ability to endanger you. A "free" Lower Sanctuary has been and remains a danger to itself and to Upper shall Upper citizens die for a mongrelized freedom that no citizen in Lower ever even voted to obtain?

Corruption unfortunately will exist as long as mortals remain imperfect. Yet while some try to turn this into a fearful police state, realize that the corrupt were captured and caught and then executed. This will continue to be the case. While it is agreeable to have Council discussions publicly voiced for the review of the citizens, the "transparency" of the Watch and Spellguard will only embolden the criminal element and protect it.

Trade with Duergar it is clear that some groups specifically the Stouts of this city hate their kin. Duergar are a slaver race, but there is no evidence Grunstubhle engages in slaving. Yet without their trade our city will quickly fall apart as our economy and security crumble.

A Councilor's duty is Sanctuary. Starag adhered to a higher power while claiming to serve the people. His suicide is welcomed by free people. Mix Not Religion and Democracy, the real meaning of Starag’s monument!

Julian Fryar objected because his view of Lower Sanctuary will endanger all of Sanctuary and instill a tyranny of "moral control".

Deauxfortes objected for accepting Lower "freedom". His words show a man hungering for power.

Shane does not seem to realize what "lower freedom" means, it is not an invitation to defend them on their terms. He must be objected to for proving he learned nothing the first time he failed to act decisively on Lower.

Gibbon Meldren a priest of Talona that urges war against Slaal'teesh. This madman must not be supported by wise people.

Sando Ubel a claimant to the rebel Ubel's thrown, have we not learned from Ubel himself or the madman Dreagle who last tried this trick?

Thanath Dhyms demanding a transparent Council, Watch, Spellguard but the only opaqueness here is where the stance on actual issues are. Why waste a vote for something you're unsure of, from a candidate claiming to be open and honest?

Maeturorant Gorthaurca our only objection is that he too fails to understand why Lower Sanctuary was never able to stand on its own.

Frum Highill if he intends to do anything this session, he at least has the right policies in mind.

Kaddaz this man appears to run a campaign only on his own name's merit, and we've heard no deeds done by his hand.

Alexander Archibald a former Spellguard Agent, giver of charity, with a strong view against rebellion. Our full support.

Demetrius Bhast we believe the inspiration that led to A.A.'s success and wisdom in office, without a doubt the most meritorious candidate.

Ronus Graiden a reliable supporter of the Watch, his lack of insight into its operations ruins his candidacy now.

Adelia Tyrell a wise and insightful view of the city, yet why has she not proposed a solution to Lower?

Ernestine Helthor the true moral voice of Sanctuary, it has been too long since she sat on the Council. Those who truly wish compassion and justice in Lower will vote for Helthor or Bhast.

Maxwell von Matterheim a truly experienced civil servant and voice of justice within Sanctuary. Matterheim may be the perfect voice to replace the conservative Starag.

Eugene Castile an Ordinant of the Ordered Mind. His main focus is aberrations but that can not be a city's entire purpose.

Amothiewein ni Stet'nend an elf with a level head but no history of public service or voice on the issues.

Magus Salzador one of the boogy-men slaver wizards of the surface. All Sanctuary will stand united rejecting this man.

Can we accept freedom in Sanctuary below? For 100 years Sanctuary below existed as a crime ridden, diseased pit. On 22 Mirtul 100, the Council formally incorporated Lower into Sanctuary putting it under the Aegis law and order. Despite violence directed against the Watch, the death toll in Lower dropped, crime dropped, the streets were safe from gangs and invading monsters. Then the "people" claimed they wished freedom, never mind freedom means no elections-their leaders are appointed from gangs, kobolds guard their gates from...kobolds, and a third of the population is now goblins and other monsters. If the people of Lower desire freedom so badly they continue to attack the people who try to protect them, perhaps Sanctuary does not need Lower. The truth is, without Lower there is more money for Upper. They can't support themselves through taxes, more Upper money went to fund Lower than the reverse. Our tax money went to provide safety, law, order, and charity. Without Upper, Lower will fail. So yes, we can accept "freedom" in Sanctuary below. It's the people in Lower or the refuge camps upstairs that suffer if we accept the "freedom of gang rule."

While the Council fails to keep up correspondence, this paper seeks to keep it appraised of the word of its people. On that note, a few more suggestions from the people: judges in Sanctuary shouldn't be limited to just 9 busy Councilors. It's the opinion of this paper that three lifetime appointments should be made for judges. To remove judges from the dictates of politics and proselytizing for votes. To uphold the law, and only uphold the law.

Word reaches us that the mad priest of Garagos Cathbadh met his fate. Once again it appears the Spellguard is actively pursuing this situation and has all things in hand.

Witticism What do you see when you look directly into a half-orcs eyes? The back of its head.

Ad Space One Day 50 gold Two Days 75 gold Four Days 100 gold

Word reaches of us many citizens openly criticizing the Seekers for supporting the rebellion.