*left at their respective offices*

Clan Stoutheart is unable to render aid in dealing with the goblin and kobold problem in Lower due to the following reasons: 1. Lack of compensation. 2. Lack of official authorization of this action. (Upper Council, Lower Council or otherwise) 3. Lack of support from bodies officially responsible for dealing with these sorts of problems (Watch, Spellguard, Lower Footmen, etc) 4. Lack of details offered regarding the goblins and kobolds (intelligence reports, reconniasance, etc) 5. Lack of availability of Clan members. The Clan is currently dealing with an infestation of Flying Chosen in Barak-Tor and we are unable to spare the stoutpower. Please refer to Watch contract as to Clan responsibilities in this area. 6. Lack of an official contract offered. No written offer has been made to Clan Stoutheart. This is necessary for ours and your protection in case of disputes arising.

Frors Boulderlock Clan Stoutheart, Clan Elder

Almost all of these issues are things that should be dealt with Upper Authority, Lower has authority within Lower and what the Council and people says goes in Lower.

As for compensation, if my favors in the past are to be overlooked, then I can manage some coin to pay.

Noye

Mr. Noye,

The Clan avoids involving itself in human political affairs - be it the schism of Sanctuary into Upper and Lower. As we see it, the goblin problem is primarily a Lower issue - and one that is specifically with the are of responsibility of the Lower Footmen. I fail to understand how this is something to be discussed with the Upper council - this is primarily a Lower issue.

The issue of compensation is quite reasonable. We are professional adventurers. We do not recieve pay, free food and lodgings or supplies from official bodies, as the Lower Footmen do. If the Lower Footmen - who are paid and supplied to deal with such tasks, are incapable of dealing with it, why is it reasonable that Clan Stoutheart - which gets no pay or supplies from city coffers - take on the task for free?

No offence intended, but judging from the average life expectancy of councillors, we do not feel a vaporous promise of unspecific "favours" warrants risking the life of stouts who are needed elsewhere, and can find infinitely more financially rewarding tasks (any number divided by zero - the amount of coin offered - is infinite).

Frors

Frors,

The Footmen are unpaid volunteers. They are keepers of the peace, not soldiers. They patrol the streets to ensure that there are no minor disturbances. These men and women are common citizens, they are not warriors, and I'll not send them into battle unless we are forced to.

I had not known that the Stoutheart Dwarves were mercenaries who demanded compensation for services that were neccesary for the common defense of our homes. If you feel I should seek Mercenaries then perhaps I am better off asking the aid of Fort Mur.

The infestation of goblins and kobolds in the southern quarter is not something that only affects Lower and Upper knows this. That is why they are aiding. Say what you will about avoiding to involve yourselves in "Human politics" but your clan lives in Sanctuary, their clan hold is on -Sanctuary-, and is still owned by the Upper Council. Say what you will about avoiding such politics, but the truth of the matter is that your clan is very much involved.

I am now curious if you speak for Thane Stoneshield, I think he'd hate to have it said that a Stoutheart Dwarf demanded compensation for lifting his axe against Goblinoids who infested and threatened his city.

If it is only coin you wish and care for then perhaps you are right, perhaps it is best that you remain in your place, killing Trolls for Slurto, Razing Orog Fortresses for Fort Mur and ridding the Grunstubhle mines of Urdlenites for the Duergar.

Noye

Noye,

The Watch is more than willing to hand out bags of gold to clear bats from the derelict portions of the Town Hall, but lacks the coin to compensate the clan for what will obviously be a dangerous and expensive fight? I fail to see the fairness when the council approves funding of bat killing, but is unwilling to part with coin to deal with a mob of gobbos and kobolds which were, may I point out, let into Sanctuary by the authorities. This rings of disrespect and is insulting to the Clan. You, the Council, have created this problem, and seem to find bats to be of more pressing importance and monetary value than an exploding population of goblins and kobolds.

How else is the Clan to take a request for our aid with no offer of compensation? Even defending a staircase from a few dozen undead is worth a few hundred coins to the Watch, but uncounted goblins who are well organized, fed and prepared is worth NOTHING?

May I remind you that the Clan pays RENT for Barak-Tor. If you value honour and doing good deeds more than coin, perhaps you can have a word with the Watch about waving our rent? Since the Council has shown it values coin so highly, we fail to see why we should be even more generous when our funds are already stretched by the Barak-Tor rent.

As for the Lower Footmen, if their training is limited to breaking up drunken fistfights and apprehending pickpocketing children - perhaps you should re-assess their suitability to defend Lower. As I understand it, the Lower Footmen are responsible for Lower's defence in general - they are the counterparts of the Watch. If they are incapable of matching the Watch's duties, perhaps it is time to call an end to this pathetic display of amateurish thuggery and call the Watch to extend their patrols into Lower.

Oh yes, they are unpaid volunteers. Indeed, the Clan, with Gloinar aside, recieves no salary from the city. We have no pay nor training from Sanctuary. We have no rights above the "common men and women" of the Lower Footmen. I fail to see a difference in our rights and responsibilities. The Lower Footmen actually bear a greater responsibility to deal with the problem, as they accepted the possible conflict as part and parcel of their "volunteer" duties.

If selfless sacrifice and unpaid workers are what you wish and care for - you are best advised to seek out Michael, religious fanatics like paladins, or fools like the elven "warband". The Clan has more practical sense than those who throw their lives away for greedy, self-serving politicians unwilling to part with so much as coin for a bandage.

Frors Clan Stoutheart, Elder

*copies of all letters are sent to Marshall*

Noye,

Yes, I am representing the Clan on this issue.

We have determined that Rollo is too kind hearted and good natured to be able to deal properly with the manipulative and decietful ways of politicians.

Alternatively, you may deal with Kasin, should you desire. Please state your preference in this matter.

Frors

Frors,

You know nothing of Lower Sanctuary, contradict yourself in several places and appear to be only interested in coin.

I have no control over the Watch and Upper Sanctuary's waste of gold and their decisions. Take your qualms up with them. I am only a man doing as I see best for my people, we are not wealthy, mostly due to Upper's selfish and careless choices in the past.

If you wish Clan Stoutheart to be remembered as greedy little dwarves who are little better than the Duergar in their sense of what is right and just, then I will make sure that is how they are remembered. These are not the dwarves I have aided in the past, and I care little to have myself associated with them anymore if this is how they plan to conduct themselves.

Take your complaints of compensation and place them where none will find them for some time.

Noye

[Copies of all the letters are sent to Rollo Stoneshield]

Noye,

As an elected member of Lower's council, you have the right and responsibility to request coin or aid from the Upper Council in times of need. Your lack of inventiveness and imagination is no doubt the reason Lower languishes in economic squalor. Do not blame Upper for your troubles, when you are too lazy to exercise your imagination and consider how to find coin to pay for tasks your people require.

Take your insulting and selfish request and stick it up where only your rothe will find it.

Frors

[Noye sees the letter waiting for him and tosses it in the brazier before opening it]

Sergeant Marshall,

I would like to inform you that my status as Thane is unchanged, and if you received information or documents to the contrary they are incorrect at this time.

Regretfully, I can not share more information with you as this is Clan business and a violation of our Law to discuss such outside of our Clan.

Thane Rollo Stoneshield