Elient 5, 151 Council Townhall Regard "Treaty with Lower Council"

I have looked through proposals to reunite Sanctuary with the criminal rebels dubbed the "Lower Council". I expect many citizens express disdain that any "negotiation" is happening with armed criminals resisting lawful authority while a band of 200 kobolds protected by a dragon and their goblin allies under the guidance of an undead knight entrench themselves in Lower Sanctuary.

Since the Council insists on this negotiation, I expect several clauses and suggestions deserve consideration:

1) Right of return, all exiles and refuges will be granted the unconditional right to return to their homes and properties. A special court should be established to ensure no one who left or fled their property due to the revolt shall lose it to squatters. A number of refugees have complained that their homes are currently occupied by kobolds, gangs, and similar dregs.

2) Right of appeal, while the recent decree by the Council foolishly pardoned criminals from Lower; the Defense Leagues should be allowed to present evidence of crime to the Council to ensure that gregarious violations of the law are still punished and not granted a blanket pardon.

3) The Lower Watch should not merely "report" to the Sheriff, but be directly overseen by the Sheriff. To do otherwise is to invite factional competition between the two branches of the Watch such as existed between the Tigereyes and the Watch or the Seekers and the Spellguard. It should be one body, to create two seperate bodies will weaken the city not strengthen it.

4) Removing the Spellguard's ability to arrest will merely create a situation where the Spellguard is forced to rely on deadly force to incapicate criminals when no Watch presence is around. This will only create greater hostility against the Spellguard while making their job of protecting Sanctuary more deadly. Arresting a subdued criminal and trying him fairly is far preferable to being forced to slay a violent suspect or allow a criminal to escape merely because people in Lower Sanctuary fear the only Defense League that has never been connected with any crime.

5) The Golden Mercenaries should be banished from Sanctuary or disbanded. They are nothing more than the corrupt continuation of the Tigereyes. Their members even now continue to dabble with necromancy and build alliances with aberrations as evidenced by recent situations with Frem Hill.

6) The kobolds guarding the Canal Gates should immediately be withdrawn.

Respectfully,

Sergeant Barrister Fawkes

Sergeant Fawkes,

I'll respond to your suggestions, though many of these decisions have not yet been made or voted upon by the Council as a whole.

My initial thoughts: 1.) This would be a point I would be favorable of- We would want those who lost their property during the violence to regain it. Obviously, this would require some level of review, as we, for example, would not wish for the Tigereyes to regain the territory they lost.

2.) They haven't been pardoned. What the decree was intended to convey is that the rebellion against the Tigereyes themselves will not be punished, however, other crimes that occurred before or afterwards will be punished as they would have been otherwise. Should you have evidence of any such violations of law, treat them as you would have before.

3.) That was also our intention when drafting the proposal. There will be no Lower Watch, but one Watch. Every step will be taken to ensure a lack of rivalry between the Watchmen in Lower and Upper.

4.) We are working on ways around removing the Spellguard's right to arrest, but that may happen. I'm afraid that may be a concession we have to make. Any decision on that matter, however, will occur as a result of an investigation into the Spellguard, not as a result of the Lower Council's demands.

5.) Present your evidence on the connection between the Golden Mercenaries and the Tigereyes, as well as any evidence of criminal behavior on their part and the Council will act accordingly. I'm certain such affiliations would not be looked upon favorably. I'm all for them being exiled from Sanctuary, for both their association with the murderer Memnon and, apparently, the Tigereyes.

6.) We agree.

I remind you that these responses only reflect my opinion, however. Many of these issues have not yet been brought to a vote- As we're still in the beginning stages of reunification.

- Councilor Fryar

Elient 5, 151 Council Townhall Regard "Treaty with Lower Council"

In the event the Spellguard must be investigated, then I highly suggest the Watch handle the investigation. The "Lower Council" prefers according to information I have to put an outspoken critic of the Spellguard in charge of an investigation. This will clearly cause any findings to be highly biased.

Instead, the Watch operating with the assistance of a trained wizard should perform a survey of the Spellguard's operations and premesis. This will ensure a fair investigation handled by trained peoples.

A brief note to Julian Fryar, I wish to inform you up front and honestly that I fully intend to expose your friendship with several known criminals who are currently walking the street. While the allegations I make are true, and unfortunate, it is my hope you will be wise enough to help bring these criminals to justice rather than continuing to malign me and insult me publically and without an ounce of evidence. The true sadness is you lambasted me in front of Townhall while lacking evidence that I arrested Noye without evidence; I felt I had to verify the truth and as a citizen did so.

Respectfully,

Sergeant Barrister Fawkes

Sergeant Fawkes,

You are among the recommendations I've made for an investigation of the Spellguard. None of this is driven out of an association with criminals or a hatred of the Spellguard. I apologize for the situation in front of the Town Hall, none of this should be made personal, and I overreacted. Take any issues you have with the allegations to Sheriff Graiden, as he is handling this investigation, as is his duty and not mine. I merely made him aware of the complaints that had been made.

I will not engage in any more confrontation with you.

- Councilor Fryar