[Copies of a letter are posted all throughout Sanctuary, both Upper and Lower]

To any who wondered of the last thoughts and beliefs of the now deceased Sheriff, here they are. If ever you wondered what this dwarf, who gave his life so that others wouldn't have to would've liked to say in regards to the War, this is your answer. You will notice it is incomplete. This is because he was in the middle of writing this letter to the Council, when the Lizardfolk attacked our fair City.

Heed his message, for every word is true.

I am but a humble dwarf. I have served this city all my life.

Just under a month ago, the Council offered to elevate me to the post of Sanctuary's War Leader. I declined. As the founder of the Watch, Charles Bresley, wrote long ago, such a supreme command would be a responsibility so great that it would be "larger than any one man" could bear. Yet, I am coming to fear that this was a grave and terrible mistake.

Our fair city has begun to gear up for a war against the sprawling lizardfolk nation of Sslal'teesh. Yet, the Council has done nothing to improve our readiness for such a confrontation. Letters of concern from my Lieutenants have been mocked and set aside. Advice from former Watchmen on the Council has been ignored. It pains me to take any time away from the urgent preparations of the city's defenses to write this letter, but our city cannot afford the Council's inaction any longer.

Our city's first line of defense is the Watch. I have spent my life serving with the city's bravest defenders, and when I was given the opportunity to take over as Sheriff, I felt that I could receive no higher honor. I have made every effort to root out corruption and restore honor, dignity, and excellence to this organization. Yet, at every step, the Council undermines my efforts to reform the Watch into the organization that Sanctuary deserves.

I can not condone the Council's decision to continuously support rebellion and insurrection against the Watch that was formed to keep the people of Sanctuary safe. Seekers openly preach against the Watch, and I'm told are being seriously considered for medals of honor. A Private who was trying to do his job was beaten savagely and two Councilors did not step in but rather applauded it.

I do not know if we could have avoided these hostilities with the settlement of Sslal'teesh, but I do know that Sanctuary has traditionally survived in these dark depths by avoiding entanglements beyond its borders. Yet if war was inevitable, then serious plans of defense should have been considered. All reports indicate that Sslal'teesh has many, many times the numbers of soldiers that Sanctuary does, yet the Council has seen fit to do nothing to close this gap or pursue alliances with those who could help protect us, choosing to instead lead only the occasional antagonizing and ineffectual raid on our enemy and find new enemies to threaten us.

There seems to be an attitude among certain Councilors that the Watch has been over-funded, but may I remind the esteemed Council that our responsibilities have been doubled and we've been forced to prepare ourselves for a war against a foe that vastly outnumbers us.

I am afraid that the above concerns I raise in this letter may have dire consequences for Sanctuary.

There are many reasons it is difficult to recruit for the Watch, but I hope that all of you agree that it is vital we do so. For the Council to so publicly disrespect the Watch and the order it represents makes this vital task all the harder. How are we to recruit new defenders when the Seekers preach of our destruction in the streets and Councilors applaud assaults upon our men?

An attitude of distrust against the Watch will continue to spread, fomented by lawless adventurers and rebel-sympathizers, often times quietly or not-so-quietly supported by the elected leaders of Sanctuary.

All of this leads to a gravely weak Watch, and a Sanctuary that is as threatened now as it has ever been.

For the sake of Sanctuary, I beg you to consider the following requests:

Cut the funding of the Seekers, at least for the duration of the emergency, and give it to a group that's not actively advocating that citizens arm themselves and rise up against the Watch and Spellguard.

Cease the practice of upsetting long established precedent without consulting or even informing us, and provide clear and consistent guidance as to the laws that should be enforced.

Cease calling the Watch corrupt and incompetent, but rather recognize it for what it is: an imperfect organization made up of imperfect men and women, united in a noble cause, that of the preservation of Sanctuary. Accept that the Watch needs and deserves your support.

Develop a serious plan to defend this city from its enemies, and grant emergency funding to this end. It is time to get serious about defending this city, before it is too late.

Stop spitting on our organization. Stop treating us as though we are dirt, to be kicked around and slandered and mistreated and ignored. We strive to preserve the order and security of our fair city. You have brought Sanctuary into this war, and now the fate of every man, woman, and child within our walls rests in your hands. Please, I beg of you, take your responsibilities seriously. We can no longer afford to indulge in pointless squabbling, misguided dreaming, and never-ending personal feuds.

For the sake of the Sanctuary that has kept us all safe for so long, I beg that you make the changes that are so desperately needed before it is too late to -

-Sanctuary Watch