Only a few copies of the poster exist, each identical to the last in content. One is posted up visibly outside the Town Hall, another on a wall in the Last Stand, others in Lower - outside the Pissing Crone, one in the Lower Bazaar, and a last on the outer wall of the Mercenary Fortress, on the side facing away from the Bazaar. Each poster is headed in striking bold text, certain to attract the attention of a passerby, the words...
The Wrongs of the Council
The nature of any government in this world, is such that it is founded upon the consent of the people. There is an agreement between the government and the governed. It is the obligation of the government to protect its people, and to keep them happy and protected. For near 152 years now, Sanctuary's Council has done a passable job at such, but more and more the Council fails to guard us.
Years ago, the Council inflicted the Tigereye Mercenary Corporation on Lower Sanctuary, and for years, despite the obvious and rampant corruption and abuses of power, failed to overturn their organization. This neglicence led to one of the most violent uprisings in our history, causing a great amount of death and strife
Late 1372, a squadron of drow held our city for ransom, demanding a sum of gold or a sacrifice of slaves. In the end, the Council was tasked with a 24 hours. Once the drow arrived to collect, the Council still having done naught, it fell to a number of citizens to sacrifice themselves for the good of the city. The council's failure to act nearly led to the razing of the city, and it was because of courageous citizens that the city was saved.
Following the Ubel Rebellion, because of Sheriff Dhogur's power play in Lower, the Watch's power was almost entirely curtailed. While an adequate effort in restoring peace to Sanctuary, it has been many years, and things are no longer the same. And yet, the Watch remains underfunded, the City unable to defend itself, while the Seekers are paid to inspire rebellion and procrastinate when they are most needed.
It was the Council's decision to take away the citizenship of the slaver races in Sanctuary, a novel effort, and effective in that it has prevented further incursions upon the electoral process - however apart from this the bill has caused no other benefit to the city. It has removed any incentive for the goblins to defend the city, and nearly lead to our destruction at the hands of the kobold's draconic patron - especially after the Council failed to respond to it for overly long, nearly inciting its great fury.
The Council of Sanctuary is weak and ineffectual. While once a novel experiment for the sake of freedom, it has lead further and further down a path toward Sanctuary's utter destruction. Do we not deserve a government capable of protecting our interests? One with the foresight to see what actions will cause harm and which will be for the greater good? Do we not deserve a government which does not lose itself in bureaucracy, which hesitates, frequently to the point wherein further hesitation will lead to destruction? Do we not deserve a government which, when it makes a law - such as banning the presence of slaver races in the city - acts, and eliminates those threats, rather than leaving them to florish, and steal our land and drink of our life's blood?
I submit that if we, as citizens of Sanctuary, have not just the right but also the obligation to ensure our government protects us, and if it does not, then to demand reform. If we, as citizens, do not exercise our voices, then the Council will grow deaf, and we will be consumed by our enemies, and enslaved once again.
My fellow citizens, even if you are inclined to agree with my assertions aligned previously, then I wish you to consider the following, and give its truth or falsehood a reasoned thought: To be content, in our world beneath the earth, is to walk the path of doom. To do nothing, in our fair city of Sanctuary then, is to clap oneself in irons. To rise up and demand change then, is the most noble act one may take. Do not be satisfied with more mediocrity from the Council, demand more!!
I am James Thorne, a Concerned Citizen, and Political Activist. I may be reached at the Pissing Crone or Last Stand Inn with comments or concerns.