In a little black rothe hide scroll case

The History of the Decline of Sanctuary

Prologue:

I have no desire to insert my own commentary into this work, nor do I see the need to entertain the reader with a voluminous recounting of the full history of Sanctuary and all of the influential people, actions, and outcomes which have occurred over the past century and a half with regards to the city itself. Nor am I interested in the plethora of personal stories of survival, struggle, fortune and misfortune that shape the lives of any of the citizens of the city (whether they count themselves citizens or not), for such likely could never be written in full, nor do the individual true justice in what they have endured and imparted. This work is merely a historical account of the decline and fall of a city in which I find myself, and in so finding myself thus occupied I find it only right to make a full accounting of the occurrences and happenings. I leave it to the reader to decide on the intent of the players in this historical accounting, and on their drives, motives, and to their character (if not explicitly described in the exact quotations of the person interviewed). Only a brief past history of the major events leading up to this date will be noted both for historical accuracy, and as a way for the reader to gain a basic understanding on the background to the events in which we find ourselves. I have taken historical data from events that I was not witness too from either discussion with individuals that were there, or from accountings, books, and journals of those that were. In all occasions I have cited the resources drawn from, as well as the authors and an estimation of their reliability. Again I leave a judgment of each author’s motives in the hands of the reader.

It is my sincerest hope that in the grand accounting that something may be learned, wisdom imparted, and knowledge obtained. For Knowledge is Power, and Gods are they that use it.

The Below was found on a sign, previously displayed in public, and later retired to the small, makeshift library of the city.

The Laws of the Town of Sanctuary Current as of Marpenoth 20th, Year 151

Crimes: Willfully Endangering Sanctuary: exile or stoning

Murder of Sanctuary Citizen: exile or stoning, dependent upon Council

Assault upon Sanctuary Citizen with intent to kill (using weapons or deadly magic): exile or stoning, dependent upon Council

Assault (hands, harmless magic): imprisonment, fine, or exile depending on situation

Theft: imprisonment + fine

Public Nuissance: imprisonment and/or fine

Endangering Sanctuary (accidental): anywhere from fine to exile depending on situation

Sustained Criminal Behavior (repeated crimes): exile

Unauthorized Magic Use: Minor Imprisonment

Repeated Unauthorized Magic Use: Imprisonment + fine

Animation of the Dead within Dunwarren: Serious to Capital Charges.

Trespass: imprisonment and/or fine.

Resisting Arrest by refusing to hold still for the arrest wand to activate: Minor Crimes.

Resisting Arrest through direct flight: Serious Crimes.

Resisting Arrest through force: Capital Crimes.

Judgment: All crimes not involving exile or stoning are judged by highest ranking Spellguard or Watch member present.

All crimes involving exile, stoning, or "Council's Judgment" are determined by Council. A council member may sit in judgment of the case, and propose a punishment. If the presiding Councilmembers disagree on the best judgement, a majority vote will determine the punishment. Judges are chosen randomly from the pool of available judges capable of judging the case at hand.

Guest Law: Any guest found guilty of a crime will be punished at one level higher than a citizen would be (assault automatically becomes a capital crime, instead of serious).

Murder of a guest of Sanctuary within Dunwarren: First offense Serious or Capital, further offenses Capital.

Assault of a guest of Sanctuary within Dunwarren: Serious offense.

The Below was copied verbatim from the original posted charter of the city, and from the inscription on a card carrying the following description:

"The First Council Charter, Founding to Alturiak 152".

The key rules and powers of the Town Council were granted in a charter developed, written, signed and enacted by Mayor Charles Bresley. This charter had become the most important government document in Sanctuary, and an enlarged replica was proudly displayed in the Town Hall.

Charter of the Sanctuary Council Signed into law by Mayor Charles Bresley

Understanding the importance of a just and fair government, accountable to the people whom it serves, we draw upon the wisdom of our forebearers in the lands above, who knew that only rulers drawn directly from the people can truly preserve justice and liberty, prevent misery and corruption, and work unhindered on behalf of the common good. On behalf of all who reside in this Sanctuary, it is hereby established that a Council of equals, chosen by the people in open elections, shall be vested with the powers and the responsibilities of Government. This Council shall henceforth serve as guardians of the public weal, laboring on behalf of prosperity and freedom, striking at the roots of oppression and corruption, eternally vigilant against the spectres of domination and slavery that haunt these depths.

Hereby it is established that the powers of government over our Sanctuary shall be vested in an elected Council of equals, comprised of five men chosen in open and regular elections by the citizens of our city. They shall be vested with the powers

To enact and amend the laws of our city, To serve as judges in criminal trials and as neutral arbiters in civil disputes, To levy taxes and spend money in the government treasury, To issue bounties and decrees of banishment To confer honors and honorary titles And to issue and revoke property deeds.

(working draft of the) Fundamental Rights:

Justice - "All citizens of Sanctuary arrested for capital crimes may plead their case before the Council." Freedom - "All citizens of Sanctuary are free, and no slavery shall take place within our walls." Representation - "All citizens of Sanctuary may vote in regular Council elections."

The Civil Defense Act

On the Eighth of Alutirak, in the Sixth year of Sanctuary, Mayor Charles Bresley wrote:

The Civil Defense Act

Where there were once dozens of refugees there are now hundreds of citizens; where there were once camps and ruined buildings there are now streets and homes; where there was a handful of loyal protectors guarding against the 'dark there are now orders able to provide us safety from dangers within and without; henceforth there shall be three agencies which shall ensure our defense, working in concord and harmony to undertake a task that is larger than any one man and larger than any one order.

The Watch shall guard the gates of our Sanctuary and enforce just laws within, bringing criminals before the Council for judgement and defending the city in times of need. The Order of the Spellguard shall be charged with warding our town against its enemies, reactivating the old automatons and lost svirfneblin defenses, and protecting the citizenry of the town from the harmful spells and magecraft of our countless foes. The Seekers shall lead the forward defense, seeking out new resources, identifying the threats and dangers that surround us, and taking proactive action against these threats as needed.

These civil defense agencies shall be vested with these powers: to arrest and detain citizens, that they may perform criminal investigations and punish criminal acts; to use lethal force as a last resort, that they may quell particularly volatile disturbances; to issue bounties on wanted men, that citizens might legally bring justice to a societal menace; and to collect taxes from the citizenry at regular intervals, that the city might possess the funds to maintain its defenses and other public services.

The undersigned pledge their forces and support to the Civil Defense Act for Sanctuary: Charles Bresley Frederick Bresley Melinda Bresley Calley Hennet Henry Archibald Jadderly Donrick

The following is one accounting of documented council members over a one year period. I place it here in the prologue only to provide an insight into the stability and rate of turn-over of the council members. As this may or may not be of import (again, I leave it to the reader to arrive at any particular end analysis of the impact of this information on the possible decline of the city).

Taken from a document prepared by one Varlam Nikitovich, scribe and public officer for a time for the Council and the then city government. I find him to be a reliable source in my readings.

The Councilors of Nightal 150 to Nightal 151 compiled by Varlam Nikitovich for the Sanctuary Library

150 Nightal - 151 Hammer Grigor Starag Gaeseric the Unyielding Demetrius Bhast Ronus Graidan Ivandur Reynolt Victor Hastian Adelia Tyrell Julian Lancaster Mandarin Dreagle Genevis Ward

151 Alturiak - 151 Ches Demetrius Bhast, with 202 votes Gaeseric the Unyielding, with 195 votes Grigor Starag, with 178 votes Genevis Ward, with 121 votes Adelia Tyrell, with 116 votes Jacob Geigne, with 111 votes Mandarin Dreagle, with 98 votes Rilo Manasi, with 86 votes Morgan Maddocks, with 86 votes

151 Tarsakh - 151 Mirtul Grigor Starag, with 232 votes. Demetrius Bhast, with 228 votes. Gaeseric the Unyielding, with 206 votes. Shane, with 171 votes. Adelia Tyrell, with 119 votes. Gregor Toboerski, with 116 votes. Kayragh, with 89 votes. Majre Noguerya, with 86 votes. Ronus Graidan, with 71 votes.

151 Kythorn - 151 Flamerule 171 Demetrius Bhast 147 Grigor Starag 146 Adelia Tyrell 143 Alexander Archibald 118 Ronus Graidan 107 Gaeseric the Unyielding 106 Frum Highill 100 Akevitt Anvilsmasher 87 Dungal Toboerski

151 Eleasis - 151 Eleint Demetrius Bhast (207) Alexander Archibald (182) Shane (164) Lucien Deauxfortes (145) Maxwell von Matterheim (142) Julian Fryar (95) Eugene Castile (86) Gibbon Meldren (85) Maeturorant Gorthaurca (55)

151 Marpenoth - 151 Uktar Demetrius Bhast (176) Maxwell von Matterheim (141) Blackhaw of the Beacon (136) Adelia Tyrell (124) Julian Fryar (114) Alexander Reile (100) Aaron Russell (97) Gloinar Runehammer (76) Gibbon Meldren (believed dead - not eligible) (66) Wendall Hood (believed dead - not eligible) (64) Frum Highill (62)

151 Nightal - 152 Hammer - 152 Alturiak Demetrius Bhast Baron Maxwell von Matterheim Adelia Tyrell Frum Highill Wyric Crowshire Dugo Nish Victor Hastian "Uncle" Worn Ferdinand Fenwick

Myrtul the 12th, Year 153 since the founding of the city of Sanctuary, 1375 DR by reckoning of the city scribes and date books as I sit to pen this prologue. Exact dates are given in years from Founding, hereafter referenced as Year Since Founding (SF). The short background history I give here is for setting only, and not fully referenced. (Though the majority is taken from numerous texts by a prominent Priestess of Ohgma and former Councilor. Her credentials on historical matters are generally seen as impeccable. I have removed any insight or possible biased commentary from the perspectives. Again, I leave bias to the reader.)

In 0 SF a small group of slaves organized an uprising and escaped their Drow captors, travelling for some unknown time through the underdark before coming on a generally abandoned Svirfneblin city. In terms of distance from the city, later named Sanctuary, to the Drow gates it is generally held it is a hard, unforgiving journey of between 7-8 darks time. The statements ‘hard’ and ‘unforgiving’ may seem judgemental on the authors part, but in discussion with many hardy adventurers who have made the trek I elucidate here the obstacles that the small slave band overcame in order to come to the then desolate and defunct city gates.

The Drow city gates are described as wickedly wrought steel structures, resembling a spider’s web of sharp metal and continually guarded by formidable dark elven warriors and roaming sentries. Trained guard hunting spiders, as large as a small pony skitter across the hardpacked dirt and stone both searching by sight and feel for escaped prey outside any dim light kept on inside the gates—for the drow themselves have grown accustomed, perhaps moreso than their kin, to seeing in the utter blackness. This gives them the relative advantage, as they have lived in the area (in reports) thousands of years. It is assumed that they have a firm grasp of the underdark, the surrounding terrain, and hunting techniques therein in order to have thrived for so long. On escaping the gates and the sentries (both animal and elven) the long way out of the surrounding area leads through an area many have termed “the badlands”. This region is regularly traversed by creatures such as Umberhulks, Hook Horrors, small groups of goblin, Drow patrols, underdark predatory beasts, and various and numerous packs or groupings of smaller predators (cave rats and deep cave bats). Food is described as scarce, and with one notable watering hole, likely a spot that many underdark creatures congregate around both for needed water and for locating easy prey.

One direction out leads to a separate Gray Dwarf slaver fort, where drow have been known to purchase slaves and likely would not have been a friendly and welcoming place for new slaves with no money. Heading other ways leads out past many more dangers. By some chance, this group came upon the Svirfneblin city. I can not comment on any other deep gnome settlements, for I have seen no others, nor have I interacted with any who have. This one however is set back deep past a small rock opening. This opening is quite easy to miss in the dark, and follows a winding thin path into the area of the front gates. Long narrow stairs lead down into the main city, with descends into a large cavernous structure for many levels. It is well hidden, and given the existing magical apparatus and in discussion with two mages who have had interest in the workings, likely was shrouded in illusion as protection at some time in the past.

The Founders began clearing the ruins of vermin, delving deeper into the city. A small group of hearty men known as the Cave Worm Clan fought deep through the known city to settle in the wilder parts, while the rest began working on defense and organizing food and supply runs. Through the next few years a city watch was created (see the above Charter) as well as other defense organizations of the Spellguard (by Melinda Bresley) and the Seeker (by Charles’ brother Frederick). The Seekers sought to find the way out of the underdark to gain freedom, while the other two organizations generally worked more closely with one another in the defense of the city. Through raids and localized farming of mushrooms and lichen, the ex-slaves grew slowly to inhabit the more stable buildings and establish an elected form of governance in what was called The Council. It is known that many of the councilors did not last long in the office, whether to death by adventuring, assassination, or resignation from documents (one of which is noted above). In a clearing of a number of vermin in the Town Hall it was noted in old records that the population has fluctuated, though always near 1000 at lowest (to plague and disease and attack) to near 2000 from the documents discovered. Voting records are recorded above to lend some semblance to the activity in the city, as well as some representation of the citizenry.

I will not go into the full history of any of the above, it would take volumes on any of the individual subjects to do them justice. Suffice it to say that the Council was in constant flux every three months. The watch suffered continual losses to defense of the city over the course of the city history, escalating losses in the last year particularly to increased attacks. The city fractured in 150SF into subsections, with the Upper city regarded as Sanctuary and the lower city and the canal ward area as not within the bounds of city law or scope of protection. This brief introduction brings us to the present state, which is now described in the true chapters of the history.

Chapter 1: The Present State of Sanctuary Mirtul 13th :: Year 153 :: 1375 DR

Chapter 1: The Immediate Past Mirtul 13th :: Year 153 :: 1375 DR

It is common knowledge that a pot left to heat on a bed of smoldering coals may heat slowly, then simmer for a long period of time. Many cooks will know that in the blink of an eye, with even the smallest of gusts of wind to fan the low lying embers a boil erupts, spilling over the edges in a cascade of chaos. Who’s fault is it that it has occurred? The pot left not on a stand? The inattentive cook? A lack of stirring? Or was it the gust of wind, random, slipping in through the door that sets off the end events that ruin the meal. I offer that the reader not take a stance that one event solely had the hand that drove the decline of the city, but to take a broader view of the history of the situation and that knowledge can be gleaned from the analysis.

In the month leading up to Myrtul, 153SF the lower city had been taken by Choosen—a breed of were-rat infesting the depths of the city sewers. It is reported by the watchmen and the citizens of lower that they first took control of the upper sewers and the pump house, responsible for the pipe systems of water, steam, and air that function in some capacity to allow the city to thrive in an otherwise inhospitable region. After a few failed sorties in an attempt to push them back and quell the attacks, the Choosen pushed farther out into the lower city, making it unsafe to walk (or even travel invisibly as this author has found out). They have roaming arcanists, hunters, and warriors ready for attack and willing to attack any they see as a threat. On the walls of the old and fractured lower city read inscriptions in blood saying , “The Appetite will rise”, and others relating to the fact that the city was once thought of as theirs. Records and Rumors seem to confirm the belief that The Apettite is some sort of powerful entity (rumored to be a Beholder Lich who will awaken when all it’s past opponents are thrown to their death) though I state here that the truth of the matter is not known to me.

With the Choosen endangering the city and dividing it in two, a tribe of kobold under the command of a Shadow Dragon named Etorix took control of the Canal Ward in order to pacify the region. The Choosen were said to have been held back both at the Canal Ward by the kobold horde, and from entering the upper city by the Watch, sworn to protect the Upper city.

On 3 Myrtul it is known that a Councilor Edward Raymus was assassinated by a member of Order of the Spellguard. The reasons I do not delve into here, for that is conjecture on all but the part of the assassin, or, if indeed a conspiracy, those that initiated and planned it. The fact of the matter is, that the assassination occurred in an environment of war and fear, in a time when city supplies were at a low, and at a time when the new Council had yet to solidify any real power coming directly out of the election time period. Further complicating the matter was the fact that this council was recently reinstated, the past power of the Council members as a whole having been limited by oversight by the previous Sherriff Azam. As head of the Watch, the standing military force of the city, he held oversight control over the Council for a period of approximately two council periods. Complicating the state of the city defenses was the recent findings that the Watch itself, including the sheriff, had been acting as Thralls to a nearby Illithid. It is unknown the motives of this entity in controlling the city as it was, though the time period was one of relative stability as told by the citizens I have interviewed. The watch was decimated, the thralls removed by inquisition driven by the Spellguard, and the New Sherriff Sheps quickly stepped up. After the assassination he declared martial law, removing all power from the council and dissolving it. Together with the Spellguard agents the unified forces maintained safety and order in the Upper city.

Know that at this time, many of the citizens are divided as to the need of the applied force. Some believing it to be a heresy to the values of freedom the city was founded on, and others agreeing fully with the quick action of the military bodies to ensure the safety and survival of the city. What we do know, however, is that this division went into the Watch ranks as well, and many left the military body to join the Seekers or other freedom fighters to oppose the new regime. Rebel watchmen as they were called by the governing body, were caught as they could be and marched in front of the Seeker Hall in the Upper city before being killed as traitors to the city. Note that in the Laws as written in the Prologue, death is an appropriate penalty for treason or endangering the city, though the previous laws were based on need for a trial by councilor. Outside any moral judgments, the facts are that the new governing body is very lawful and strict as seen from previous governing bodies in the city. Actions by them occur swiftly, and this is again is vastly different from previous reported occurrences in the city. As of Myrtul 13th, 153SF the Seekers remain barricaded within their Hall, supported by the rebel watchmen opposing the rule of the newly formed regime. The spellguard and the watch both are working together for the stated defense of the city against foes both within the walls and without.

Chapter 2: Rare Occurances

A few lines about the beginnings of the Archibald speech is penned neatly, thereafter the pages are blank--excepting being fully stained and the ink obscured by copious amounts of blood.

Dead to IG events