Winston,

The future of the Canal Ward is being decided, whether it becomes a barren filled with a hundred squabbling tribes, striking at eachother in the night, or an oasis, depends on the actions of those with foresight and strength.

We the Gatekeepers control the docks and gates of the Canal, and intend to open them up to use under our direction. We have the utmost respect for your person, and consider you to be one of those men of foresight and strength. We recognize that you yourself may have a desire to use the docks and/or gate and offer you a partnership.

You will have access to the docks, with reduced docking fees, and you will declare your support for the Gatekeepers. The Gatekeepers will ensure the security of your goods, and will bear the entirety of the risk in the venture. You need not risk the lives of your men in what would be a violent squabble for territory, and you gain the same benefit as if you had, for a simple declaration of support. Profit for yourself, without the exposure. We hope to hear from you soon.

Quaithe of the Gatekeepers

Who are you to charge me fees, and furthermore, who are you to declare ownership of anything? Lower is a free place, owned by any and all that live here. Your open declaration of ownership is the act of a tyrant, and vaguely disturbing to me as well.

You speak like the people of Upper, the people that are our enemy, not a well-minded citizen of Lower.

W

Winston,

You know as well as I, that if everyone squabbles over the docks, they will quickly be destroyed and be of little use to anyone. There are fees, because running docks takes coin, because the people of Lower who work them deserve to be paid so that they can buy food for their families. Any and all will be free to use them.

However, I will not engage in the slavery of forcing others to work for nothing because you or others have no wish to pay them for their honest labour. You protect the beacon, we are protecting the docks and the gate. While you do not charge for the use of the beacon, it's workers are volunteers. I cannot expect my fellows to volunteer to do hard labour, and volunteer to risk their lives defending gates from goblins, orogs, and drow, or from the aggression of Upper when they come to take the docks for themselves, because Lower did not stand together. I hope you will change your mind, and offer a compromise acceptable to you.

Quaithe of the Gatekeepers

Your exuse is a poor one, and indicates that you have much to learn. Because my brother steals my bread, does that mean I must employ the same tactics to take that which he loves? No, quite not.

It means that I must show this man the error of his ways. We will let the plants grow. We will let the water be cleaned, and we shall see that the people of Lower come together to enjoy the Canal Ward together - in peace and harmony. All of this, we shall join hands and do together.

As far as I am concerned, your claim to the land is as legitimate as Jerry Boy's or his Bugbear Servant. It belongs to all of Lower equally.

W