I am surrounded, each day by scum. Barmaids, Prostitutes, Bums, Orphans and Thieves. These are the people I have grown up with, these are the people I know. They are lowly, they are base, and they are vile. And they are Free.

I am not the first to assert the beauty of our freedom, nor will I be the last. That, my brothers, is a good thing. There must always be someone, willing to show to us the splendor of what we let dim. When we allow the light of our freedom to be dimmed a dull gray to match that of our surroundings, we are failing.

When we allow trespasses against us, by the Tyrants of Upper, we are failing. Today, a Councilor of their Upper City, a City which cast us aside, threatened harm against one of our own, for actions in our own City. Imagine, for a moment, if a Lower Man deigned to position himself in the affairs of Upper, promising harm to it’s citizens. How long do you think such a man would last?

Do not be fooled by our apparent independence. Our freedom is as much at risk now, as it has ever been. They have told us we are separate, to keep us docile. To keep us from seeing things as they truly are. Look at their actions. They monitor us. They promise us harm, if we do not concede to their wishes. Are these the actions of one bordering City to another? No. These are the actions of a tyrant, to it’s slave.

I have no intention of being a slave, My Brothers. Not to a Drow, Not to a Beholder, and certainly not to any well dressed, well spoken, and perfectly clean Upperman.

I’ve made my choice, and if it is death that is necessary to keep Lower out of the hands of Hosfryd Reev, the Spellguard, and Upper, so be it.

Make yours.

-L.U.