*A dark haired woman, Kalandra Jayrs, walks into the alley between the Wench's Clench and the Beacon after announcing a public sermon on freedom: and a hand out of free food and spirits, a silver clad warrior is the only person waiting when she arrives. He speaks first.*

Are you the priestess?

I am.

I am Warden Morgan of the Ivory Rose. I will hear you.

Kalandra Jayrs, saved by the Elder Eye from slavery. *she raises and kisses the back of her palms, each decorated by a strange scar shaped like lips* I welcome you even though I see the corruption in your soul Arther Morgan.

Arthur Morgan: What corruption would that be?

Jayrs: What I've come to speak about this dark is the slow death of freedom in Sanctuary. Lower Sanctuary has always been a place of freedom, of openness and personal choice, a place where all who will not harm others are welcome. Unlike upper Sanctuary, already corrupted by the chains of "law and order", controlled by the Spellguard, and intimidated by the tyranny of the Watch_Lord Azzam. Yet, Sanctuary Below exists in a perfect state of nature. All men are free to pursue their lives, their happiness, and to protect their possessions in their own way. In such a land, each soul, guided through wisdom by their deities, becomes its own sovereign master. It is sadly, in this perfect state of nature that our freedom most readily is jeopardized. For too long, Lower Sanctuary has lacked a voice to speak in defense of its liberty and freedom. Too often, those who claim to speak for Lower speak only for themselves or their secret masters. Witness the greed of former gangs and their violence, witness the aim of the various cults each eager to convert all to their faith. What Lower Sanctuary needs now, more than ever, is a Beacon that desires only freedom. It does not need the chains of priests of Ilmater who have long sought to bring their own laws, the "justice" of Hoar who ignores the personal strength of each man to defend his own life. Most surely, what we need is not a shining holy light that seeks the same law and order that has corrupted and destroyed freedom in Sanctuary.

Arther Morgan raises his chin as she speaks.

Jayrs continues, "Thus todark, the Priestess of the Elder Eye, the eye that watches, that which lurks, offers her guidance as mistress of the Beacon. The Elder Eye exists for one reason, it his his desire that all men are free. He is the patron of rebels, rogues, and those who live on the frontiers of freedom. Many will raise their voices against the Elder and fear him, seek to make you fear him, tell you of the corruption his priests supposedly spread. Those who say this are themselves the sources of the very corruption Sanctuary Below was founded to avoid. Proponents of law and order disguised as chains, those who do not come now as I do, a harbinger of freedom. A woman sworn to devour and destroy any who would chain you, impinge your freedom, or ignore your rights. Thus, I've come with the gift of food, as we devour this meal, so shall we devour the enemies that would keep you chained. Those who would decieve you from freedom for the slavery their gods wish of you.

*a man in non-descript armor, helmed leans against the wall, arms folded, now listening as the crowd grows slowly*

Jayrs' sermon continues, "For this is all the Elder seeks, freedom and the pursuit of individual life, he does not desire your worship though he'll reward it. Here in Sanctuary Below, if you accept a new light for the Beacon, you will have what you are promised. You are promised, nothing more than the right to live and have Upper's corruption halted at the stairs. You are asked nothing in return. Those who wish, may approach and share in the succor of the Elder Eye.

*Jayrs pulls out a kettle of soup, and pitchers of alcohol to share with any who wish it*

Arther Morgan, "You serve a poisoned meal, priestess."

Kalandra Jayrs, "Of course you say so, I sense your corruption even from here. You are another slave master, come to spread law and order. Come to make yourself a guardian and master for Lower." *The non-descript man in armor steps closer straining to examine the refreshments, which up close are nothing more than humble watery soup and the Free Drink in several bottles* Kalandra Jayrs continues, her voice sounding hoarse from all the speaking, "Sanctuary below needs no holy masters with their silvered chains." A lower's man approaches and speaks, "Hello! " "Greetings, do you come to share meal with me," Jayrs asks him.

"Is it.. uh.. free?" "Nothing is free," declares Arther Morgan as he walks away. "True," replies the Lowersman. "Hear it there!" Jayrs yells, sounding angry as she points a finger at Arthur's back. "That is his corruption speaking, a man who declares nothing is free but seeks to offer Lower Sanctuary charity!" Her hand swivels to point at his order's notice on the Beacon's door.

"What I offer you friend, is entirely free, provided you reach forward with your own strength to take it. She offers up a bowl of soup and a pitcher of alcohol, which the lowersman takes with a simple, "Oh.. okay!" and a smile.

Jayrs smiles warmly in return, a strangely kind gesture when compared to the hoarseness of her voice.

The Lowersman digs into the meal, soupbowl in his right hand, the drink in his left. "Great!" "Will any others share in our meal?" Jayrs asks as she surveys a growing crowd.

A man approaches, a white rose is emblazoned prominently on his chestdesign, and he bears a greatsword drawn and readied over his shoulder. The nondescript man in armor coughs once, and raises his voice to speak, "I've never heard of the religon of the Elder Eye... I heard your calling , Miss Priestess.... Are you the new Beacon manager?"

"No, I merely offer my aid. If it is not wished for, I will offer it elsewhere, but I find myself growing more fearful every day at those others who also offer. Priests dedicated to gods of law. Paladins or knights, *she points at Gorleith in his armor and drawn greatsword*, who come promising violence for any who will not life as they demand."

The non-descript man replies, "Depends on whom the law serves, I'd imagine." Jayrs retorts, "Sanctuary Below is a land where the only law must be a man's own conscience and the eyes of his neighbors. Those who promise law all too often follow with promises or threats of violence. It is inherent in their system of beliefs." The man in the whiterose armor speaks up, "I bring violance only to those deserving, woman. It's called justice in that aspect."

Jayrs gestures again at the whiterosed man. "These corrupted souls carry their violence and appoint themselves judges, juries, and executioners. Then seek to control the Beacon, as did its original Founder-Bhast!"

The non-descript man speaks, "A law of the unfettered heart... sounds promising..." and his voice trails off. The lowersman turns toward the knight in the whiterose armor, "I don't think you should be bringing any violence at all, she's being kind!" He then nods twice and returns to his drink.

"All I offer is soup and a promise to respect the freedom of these people. " The knight retorts, "Respect, however, has its boundaries. "

To which Jayrs states, "The Beacon can again become a place to help the weak grow strong, a harbor of calmness from the chaos we all embrace as our freedom, a bastion of learning, and a voice to declare loudly our freedom. All the people need to know though to judge us is to look between the options." "Tis what all Sanctuarians live by, no?" asks the nondescript man.

The knight raises his voice to declare, "Once you overstep it, you'll have to answer for your actions." "My soup and drink which succor your souls, or the open threat of yet another self-appointed knight who would kill me for offering it." Jayrs speaks as she approaches the knight, offering a bowl of soup that she lays at his feet. "So either strike me down now and prove your corrupt nature, or let me feed the people who need it." She stares into the slits behind the knight's helm, looking deep into his eyes and unafraid.

The knight looks at the untasteful looking soup, but takes a spoon and digs in. "Better than the grub we ate in the pits." He says after a swallow.

Jayrs smiles softly, her voice hoarse from speaking as she continues. "Thus all are free to walk here, even those corrupted by violence, here in Sanctuary below can find refuge and homes provided they obey the only rule. Harm none, and do as you will." She continues around the market, handing out food to those who listened and even those just walking past.

The non-descript man gazes at the soup and folds his arms. "I'm intrigued.. what is this Elder Eye you spoke of?" He asks this as various lowersmen gulp down their soup. The crowd has grown much larger now.

"If you've returned for soup, it is yours." Jayrs states as Warden Morgan returns. A humble bowl of soup is laid at his feet. She then returns to the nondescript man's query and says, "The Elder Eye is an ancient and quiet god. Before the first gods sought to bind the world with laws, he was waiting. "

Arthur Morgan shares a look with Gorleith, the white armored knight as Jayr's continues.

"He knew great sadness, but did not seek to interfere with the law-bringers. Even they deserve freedom to do as they will."

"Here, the mortal races have a new opportunity to learn to live in true harmony without law, without chains, without threats of violence." She is briefly interrupted by noise as Arthur Morgan knocks the soup out of the other knight's hands, but continues apace as the soup goes flying through the air and the white-rosed knight looks alarmed.

"A new chance to recreate the perfect state of nature that existed before law and government created inequality and poverity."

"In Sanctuary?", asks the non-descript man as he points at the dirt at his feet.

"I am here now to help create this possibility for those who wish it, to help those who seek to return to the surface that opportunity. Here and in Sanctuary, all I can do to actualize the dreams of any mortal, I will do." She speaks forcefully as several lowersmen sit and listen, pushing themselves up to hear better.

"I will do it even as others strike with violence." She gestures to Arther as and the bowl of soup he knocked from the white-rosed knight's hands. A lowersman speaks up, "Hey, if you're going to cause a ruckus, do it somewhere else, eh?" He looks at Arther and the white-rosed knight, his arms folded.

"Save your poison woman." Arther declares. "That is what I came to present todark, an alternative to the knights who would strike even a bowl of soup from a man's hand. Rather than let him learn to live in freedom and harmony." "Well there's many who would stop you violently.. and just as many who would aid you... violently." The non-descript man quips. The white-rosed knight curses suddenly, "By the Nine Layers!" He puts a finger deep into his throat, and gags, coughing up a stream of sour stench. Forcing himself to vomit in the street. Jayrs turns to face him, looking startled by his behavior, "My words, and my action are not violent, and I speak for a new Beacon. One that will be an example for others. The alternative, is clearly insane knights with eating disorders." The non-descript man carefuly picks up the bowl of soup from the ground and cradles it. Other lowersmen reacted too slowly to get to it, clearly eager to have finished off a second bowl. Even as the white-rosed knight swipes at his mouth with the back of his hand, and glares at Kalandra.

Heedlessly, she continues to talk, "Those who want peace are welcome to aid me peacefully, those who want violence have a home in the Sanctuary Watch and Spellguard." She turns to face the crowd one last time, and then walk inside the Beacon.

Kalandra climbs atop the wreckage of a smashed building outside the Beacon and begins to speak after several street urchins ran through town spreading word of her coming sermon.

"Several darks ago, I spoke about Freedom and the necessity in Sanctuary of a new Beacon to ensure and guide the spread of Freedom in Sanctuary Below.

Today, I speak to you about a threat to that Freedom, not through the ministrations of cabals dedicated to evil gods such as Bane-for they work all too openly to spread the chains of slavery.

This dark, I speak to you about a foe of the Elder Eye, the corrupt god Ilmater. A slave master of a different kind entirely. Ilmater is subtle in his corruptions, appearing often in the guise of a kind hand, a friendly face, or a warm bowl of soup.

Yet, do not be taken in, look closely at the holy symbol of his followers, who for centuries wore openly a pair of pallid corpses' hands bound by bloody chains.

*a few street urchins run up to Kalandra, asking if they've done a good job delivering her message, and are paid several coins from her pocket*

Ilmater's servants prey upon those who are suffering, poor, weak, or without hope. Those are his chosen targets and victims, those who he seeks to bind with a different chain.

The Beacon formed as his temple, and what has it done for Sanctuary Below? Has it easted suffering? Does the Watch or Spellguard meddle no more in your freedom?

*She looks around, her eyes narrowing and her voice hoarse*

No!

Clearly not, and many here prefer suicide in the cult of the Red Skull. Whether they find Ascension or not, I will not judge heere, but it is clear Ilmater only exists to ease the very suffering that he requires to grow his following. Be bound by these chains, and you are a slave to his "gentle ministrations".

That is where the Elder Eye is different, the path that I offer unique!"

An urchin chimes in, his young voice proclaiming, "Its all true, its true! Mama prayed to Ilmater all dark so long, but then she...too...sick..." and the boy trails off in tears.

"I do not ask for converts, the Elder needs no worshippers, he is older than gods, wiser, and more patient. The Elder Eye promises to shatter all chains, from those of the drow who enslave your kin in Traensyr, to the heavy yoke placed by Bane, to even the gentle but insistent bindings of the tear spreading god Ilmater."

"Again, I remind people that the Elder and I offer to become a voice for freedom, a Beacon of liberty in this dark place. We will provide soup and bread, not to those too weak to fend for themselves, but strong enough to help themselves. Each man and woman of Sanctuary Below is strong, is powerful, and can stand alone. The Elder Eye will ensure this through his power. Even the crippled beggar has strength in the Eye of the Elder. And together Sanctuary Below is strong still, and this is the essence of my message."

"Ilmater's chains are placed on individuals too weak to fend for themselves. When the time comes for the Elder to shatter all the chains that bind us, to resist those who would enslave us, it will be because the entire community has stood up and realized--WE--ARE--STRONG!"

Several beggars begin wandering over, lured by the words of Jayrs and the smell of warm soup. Meanwhile, an urchin interrupts and asks "If the Elder is so strong, why didn't he help mama?"

Jayrs turns to him slowly, facing the boy, "the beginning of strength will come not when we stand apart, divided by those who mistrust the guidance of the Elder Eye, but when we stand together. The Eye is a Beacon of another kind, an example that will show us all a guiding light forward."

*Kalandray begins to throw loaves of spore bread into the crowd smiling widely.*

"There is no compunction to this message! No demand of worship or the following of dogma! Those who wish to be weak, to follow the chains offered by the White Lighters, such as Tyr or Ilmater, may sell themselves to slavery for the comforts of Upper Sanctuary!

Those who wish to be strong, need only to realize that the Elder Eye will be a Beacon leading to a community of strength and freedom!"

A man in the crowd speaks up, "You make men weak woman! Compassion is one thing, but where are we when no man can fend for themselves?" As he speaks, the beggars and people of Lower throw food to one another, clearly enough was brought for all that no fights develop.

Kalandra seems to ignore the question, fixing the man with a bemused look as she continues, "Those who gainsay this message, who claim you must serve another's will, pray to their god to remove sin, behave only as they demand--they seek to chain you! I will tell you this, do as you will. Harm none, and you are pure in the Eyes of the Elder.

Nothing more is required, live free, live strong."

Not to be ignored, the man speaks again, "You will lead them to a community of weakness and slavery woman!" His voice is harsh from his evident anger. "We need to be strong ourselves, and pick up arms to defend ourselves. Only THEN will we truly be free, for with steel in our hand we can not be slaves!"

Now Kalandra pays his words heed, "You are eager sir, but the poeple must feed themselvs now. Once they are fed, then arms will be provided by the Elder."

"At what cost? Dependency?" The man demands.

Kalandra looks at him, matching his gaze from atop the rubble, "This I swear, a spear and a leather jerkin on any man or woman who can bear arms and will." As she speaks, even more beggars appear to scoop up the food. Some yell out from the crowd in support of her, "She speaks turth!" and "We must become strong!"

Then Kalandra finishes, "I will make you strong, I will provide you with weapons, I will feed you. You are asked nothing more in return, but to live free and live strong." She looks around to ensure all are fed, and then walks away.