In the short time that I have been a citizen of Sanctuary and adventurer, I've observed the incredible amount of hatred and rage that many people feel toward each other, and other organizations. The endless tension between Upper Sanctuary and Lower, between Spellguard and Seeker, and a general feeling of contempt between opposing parties. I've seen some few examples of mutual respect, but they appear to be few and far between.

When I walk through the city I feel a kind of cold distance between myself and other adventurers. No one seems to want to take time to talk before beginning with hostilities. Is padding your coinpurse with my coins so important, when maybe I just want to talk? Do you feel threatened? I could not hold a candle to you in a fight, so why not chat a little? Inter-factional communication would be so much more vibrant if there was a greater willingness to communicate.

Where does all this hate come from? I can see that the older generation of citizens have a long list of grudges and slights and other insults they are trying to avenge, but what about newcomers? Do we have to adopt the anger and rage of our elders? Should we allow ourselves to be infected by their hate?

I'm not calling for an end to fighting. Most of the weapons we wield and spells we know are designed for the sole purpose of taking another being's life. But wouldn't it be a more beautiful city if we, the newer generation of citizens held a greater mutual respect for each other? The hope of the younger generation is their unstained hearts--we haven't had the time to become so jaded or angry that we shut out everyone except our own. We should reach out to each other in the interest of making everyone's experience better.

Maybe next time you find yourself hovering over the prone body of a stranger, you might try talking to him instead of killing. Who knows, you might make a new friend.

JM