Venerable Spellguard,

I request that you send your desired budget to the Council, detailing why you need this level of funding. The Council did not turn out the way I would have wanted, but I may be able to see another increase in your budget this term. Councillor Jacelyn Cheval

Venerable Spellguard,

Again, I strongly urge you to send a detailed report on your desired level of funding. At the moment it looks like the Order could receive 25% or 29%. Crowshire is pushing for 25% and Dederich should be in favour of 29%. Goldbrick and Redd just want an extravagant discretionary fund, Goldbrick so he can waste it on golden thrones and chamberpots, and Redd so he can further sponsor works of art.

If you can demonstrate the combat prowess of the newest Watcher animatron, against say, a willing Watchman, Crowshire will have difficulty justifying his stance towards the Spellguard. Assuming the animatron truimphs, of course. At the moment, there seems to be the unsettling feeling amongst the Council that the animatron is just an expensive toy, and thus the Spellguard has been frivolous with its funding.

If I may make a humble suggestion for the future. Politically, it is best to wait for the budget to be decided, before announcing the completion of projects that may be considered "useless" and "wasteful", just before the end of a Council term. I am not implying that I think the project a waste, but I cannot change the thoughts of others so drastically. Councillor Jacelyn Cheval

Additional: The animatron orders the display of citizen stones for it to scan, assumingly to determine citizenship. Currently, citizenship cannot be defined as the possession of a citizen stone.

Venerable Spellguard,

Just to confirm, the Watchman Animatron is effective in combat, more so than a skilled man-at-arms? Crowshire wants to choose his champion to fight the animatron, presumably to appear cunning and retain a semblance of the dignity he lost over his years in office.

I suppose you could always magically enhance the machine temporarily.

J.C.

Councillor Cheval,

The Order will require at least 30% of the budget for this term, preferably 35%. The restoration of the defense orbs was not cheap, and I think we can agree they are an effective means of defense well worth the expenditure. In addition, the Order intends to undertake a series of research projects this term that require new laboratory equipment and many animatron parts, which require funding to obtain, obviously.

We are engaged in research which may prove useful in the event of another Chosen attack, and are planning operations to further secure the Canal Ward against the Unseelie threat. All of this will take gold.

As far as the Animatron Watcher goes, direct your inquiries to Agent Miller, as that is more his area of expertise. But, given what I've seen of the Watch, I'm sure it's capable of defeating whatever Private Crowshire intends to pit against it.

-Agent Ramana

Agent Ramana,

I am not the one in need of convincing. Address the whole Council quickly with why you need the funding, and soon. Goldbrick has given support for Crowshire's budget. The Council feels the Spellguard has not been communicating well with them.

J.C.

Venerable Spellguard,

The vote now hinges upon Jonathan Redd, who has since abstained from budget discussions. It is quite difficult to reach him!

J.C.