Esteemed Mithrilsouls,
I am Frances Allegretti, Priestess of Lurue. I am asking for a place on the Council of Upper Sanctuary. My decision to run came, as all things, by whim, and thus I have taken most seriously to seeing it resolved. I have enclosed some pages of my responses to your questionaire and respectfully ask that you post it along with the others. I am proud of my answers, as any folk must be proud and stand by their words.
To those in your ranks who have worked with me, you know my character. I am a healer by trade, a priestess at heart, and I am not selfish. I will not abuse my powers on pain of shame and death.
Lurue's blessing on your noble clan, ~Frances Allegretti
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1. Should duergar, kobolds, orcs and goblins be allowed into any part of Sanctuary? Would you support the right of citizens attack and kill them on sight?
It is reasonable to assume that somewhere in the 'dark is a tribe of such beings who act kindly, thoughtfully, and without cruelty; ones that do not waylay travellers for their goods, and abuse the liberties of their people. I, however, have not met any such tribe. I have met goblins who eat man and child alike, orcs who steal women, and duergar who shackle slaves. This is what I have seen and known, and it is on this that I will act.
2. Will you continue to allow kobolds of the Shadow Tribe to occupy one of the finest pieces of real estate in Old Sanctuary? Will you subscribe to the argument that we need their dragon they worship as a god to protect us, as well as continue to purchase ore from them for our economy?
The kobold race is ruled by fear and trepidation. To this end they are beholden to a great and terrible power. If someone were to tell me that, without a shadow of a doubt, rejection of the Great Shadow Death would mean the arrival of Sanctuary's major enemies, then I would act to defend our settlement. If, however, there is any chance we can become fully independent and self-sustaining, then I will take that path every time. In this case, I believe there is more than a chance, and in this belief lies the separation between the fear of the kobolds and the wisdom of Sanctuary.
3. Should the style of execution in Capital Convictions be at the whim of the Councilor, giving them the right to declare by what means the condemned shall die?
I do not favour the taking of life by any means; I lost my position at the School of War for opposing Councilor Redd's allowance of fights to the death for sport and glory. In an organized city, however, execution is a matter of law and not a bard's show for the bloodthirsty public. Those who seek blood should take up adventuring and spill the life of orogs and drow. Execution should be quick, formal, and respectful to the victims first, then the condemned. It is not a way to cater to the masses.
4. Should Sanctuary try to remain unnoticed by our dangerous neighbors for the safety of the majority, or actively seek to thwart the cruel practices of slavery and worse?
Ask any tactician and he will tell you that there is no difference between one and the other. The best technique against overwhelming odds is always one of stealth and guile, and to this end we must make use of our adventuring community's most guileful characters to liberate and strike without being noticed. By these means we will build our strength. The dream of Sanctuary as a power to be reckoned with in the Underdark is easily within our reach and should not be discounted, but until such time as we can accomplish it we must be content to raid, and to unify the good peoples of the Underdark.
5. Will Lower continue to be a lawless place where the strong may do as they wish to the weak, or should Sanctuary proper send in the Watch or mercenaries to enforce their law to protect the weak at the risk of violence and bloodshed once more?
This is a major issue with me and I intend to be perfectly clear. Upper must not interfere directly or indirectly with Lower, in a societal and lawful regard.
We are a people of Pride and Honour, and it is the few amongst our ranks who have made our city a cuss word in Lower. The time of direct unification is long passed, and the best we can hope to do is to repair the broken trust between both settlements. Gangs and rogues of Lower have mugged and killed our people. Rogues amongst the Watch and Spellguard have also antagonized Lower and bent rules to have their political enemies done away with. Liberties are taken with each other outside of law.
If a man who lives in Upper Sanctuary walks in Lower, he is at risk. If he mugged, robbed, or killed, then his mugger or robber or killer should be found and held accountable. Is this a matter of Upper's law? No, it is a matter of man's law. In each of our hearts is the capacity to understand right from wrong, and it is by these unwritten and unbroken laws that we should act. By no means should all of Lower Sanctuary be held accountable for the few who kill and do wrong. If you have walked amongst the family men or Lower and known their plight then you would know they are not to blame.
There is a lesson we can take from Silvanus and his wildwalkers; that all things are in balance. The actions of the gangs in Lower, striking against the weak for their own gain, will be a self-destructive way. Outside of educating or slaughtering those desperate enough to turn to that path, what can be done? It is simple: amongst all men in all places there are those that will oppose one another. There are many paths to wisdom, as all different as they are all correct. Lower, when no longer antagonized by Upper, will eventually come to its own balance. We must foster this balance by fostering Lower's freedom, to take a note from the Seekers.
Upper and Lower should be separated. My dream is that with time we can do trade, and make alliance, but in order for that to happen we must first break away completely. The history and broken trust between Upper and Lower is the necrotic tissue of a festering wound that must be cut away before the healing can begin.