[Just as the Sovereign Host threatened would happen if its neutrality was not publicly reaffirmed by the Regime, flyers begin to filter into Sanctuary and its surrounding environs. In the Upper Ward, the easiest viewable flyers are all on the side of the rebel's barricade facing outward toward the rest of the city, however in places where there are no Watchmen or Spellguard Agents, in quiet and secluded corners, these flyers also appear. Any who venture outside of the city will find it difficult to miss these flyers.]
Public Revelation: The Truth of Recent Events Publication Date: Mirtul 15th, Year 153
My name is Kedrick Reynolds. A few of you may have heard of me. I loyally served the cities Council and its people as the Grand Marshall of the Marching Men. I am a devout servant of Helm, the Vigilant One, and I have taken an oath to protect this city even into death. Let it be known that every word that you read here is the truth to the best of my knowledge and ability to confirm it. I swear this in Helm's name.
Recent events threaten to destroy our only home. There is no place to run, no place to hide and no way to escape. Many of these events that have taken place have been a long time in coming and unavoidable.
Yet, instead of delving too deeply into the history of our settlement, dating all the way back to the creation of the Machine, I'd like to focus on recent events and what has led to our current state of affairs.
Some years ago, a rivalry was born between two powerful Illithid. Their names were Intyrzz and Phandiates. This rivalry led to Intryzz's exile and the eventual establishment of the Sleeping Pyrimo Inn. Phandiates went on to become a member of the Elder Conclave, the ruling body of the Illithid city of Ysinode.
For years their rivalry has played out in our city, behind our backs, and under our noses. All that the Illithid Intryzz spoke of in regard to Alexander Archibald is true, but he was only one of many pawns in their morbid game.
Many crimes were knowingly committed during the process. In the end, Phandiates was slain through the use of House Archibald and other citizens of Sanctuary.
However, to understand what I am going to reveal to you there is a need to understand the context of current events.
The shadow dragon Etorix had long protected Sanctuary from outside threats, from the Beholders of Chabzash, to the Drow of Traensyr and including the Illithid of Ysinode. He kept their armies at bay but he could not keep their thralls and servants out. Taking Sanctuary by force was not an option for them so long as Etorix existed.
However, by an accident of fate a group of local druids unknowingly relocated a tribe of giants near their best enthrallers. In doing this, Ysinode finally saw the opportunity it needed to remove the threat of the dragon.
They enthralled the giants, and with implants that strengthened them beyond reason, they sent the giants against Etorix as you yourself saw in the vision. The giants were joined by the most powerful Illithid of Ysinode, and together with their combined might they were able to overcome Etorix.
They then took his weakened and nearly broken body back to Ysinode to place before the Elder Brain. It was there that the Elder Brain and the Elder Conclave unraveled the dragons mind and placed implants into him. You already know this. You saw it in the vision.
What you do not know is the real reason why. Etorix was a thorn in their side, yes, but it was one they could easily work around. And they did. With Phandiates and his agents within the city, they were able to over a period of time, extract thralls and brains which were taken back to Ysinode. You may have noticed over recent times people simply disappearing off the streets, particularly in Lower Sanctuary. That is what happened to them.
But how did this happen? It is not as if they can simply move them through our gates. The answer is simple: The Spellguard helped them.
For some time, even unknown to me for how long, the Spellguard has subtly and covertly funneled thralls and "food" to Ysinode. The food I reference being us and our brains.
The deception and betrayal does not end there.
As you might expect our civil war sparked a critical and radical shift in Ysinode. After all, being their food, they could not have us killing each other.
When the Illithid in the vision said, "The breeder-colony has begun to splinter and fragment, and soon will destroy itself if we do not exert direct control..." Some of you may have noted concern on behalf of the Illithid. After all, what does an Illithid care for Sanctuary? The reason is revealed to you: food and thrall-slaves.
However, this explanation is not satisfactory, and I understand it leaves many unanswered questions. So I will inform you of other things that will make the picture more clear to you.
For some time, as I noted earlier, Phandiates has manipulated events in Sanctuary. There have been many plots, some not even known to me, but for longer than most of you can remember he has moved the hand of the Spellguard. This was unknown even too many of their most trusted servants and agents.
But in recent times the Elder Conclave, the ruling body of Ysinode, they found themselves tempered by the subtle tactics of Phandiates no longer. The advantages of allowing Sanctuary the illusion of independence was gone. So they formulated a plan to take it over using the Spellguard as their puppet.
The Spellguard assisted in implanting Watchmen, including Sheriff Azzam with implants given to them by Phandiates.
Later, as many of you may recall, Lieutenant Werner Sheps (now the appointed Sheriff), made a public sending to inform everyone that thralls had been uncovered in the Watch. According to him there was a "random" screening of 15 men. There was nothing random about this screening. As it is clear to all with eyes to see and brains to know Werner Sheps is a Spellguard puppet. His instructions were given to him by the Spellguard and his eventual elevation to the rank of Sheriff assured.
Over the next several days, thralls and rebellious Watchmen alike were executed within the Spellguard Tower, safe away from the public eye. This eventually culminated in the public death of the enthralled Sheriff Azzam himself. While a handful held conspiracy theories, all was done secretly behind closed doors. Just as the Spellguard always had done over the many years.
That was the way of the Spellguard, slow, quiet manipulations with a keen eye on public relations. If you got in the way you were silenced, permanently, but never publicly. That is, until after the death of Phandiates by the manipulations of House Archibald and other defenders of the city. As it is known to everyone now, Alexander Archibald had long served Intryzz, and has for the past year been kept within the Sleeping Pyrimo Inn.
Alexander Archibald was an enchanter, and yet appeared to everyone in a similar manor as Commander Simms. However, anyone with even the basic knowledge of wizardly spell schools knows that enchanters abstain from dabbling in illusions.
With Phandiates dead another had to assume control of the Spellguard. The Elder Conclave could not allow Intryzz and his interference to endanger their plans to assert more direct control over Sanctuary. Yet, this Illithid lacked the subtlety of Phandiates, and the Spellguard itself began to unravel revealing to the public for the first time what it long tried to hide.
This culminated in the assassination of Councilor Edward Raymus in public view, clearly marking the beginning of the civil war we are now engaged in.
Yet, with Phandiates dead how could influence be exerted over the Spellguard?
Long has Commander Simms and his existence puzzled many citizens. How can a human man live so long? The truth is that Commander Simms is not a man, nor is he a human. The truth is he is in much the same position as Alexander Archibald, but this is not the doing of Intryzz. It is the doing of Ysinode and the Elder Conclave. For an untold number of years a number of Illithid have posed as him, manipulating events in Sanctuary through the Spellguard, using us as a breeder-colony for thralls and food. Phandiates was Commander Simms, and his way was subtle and quiet, but when he died the identity of Commander Simms passed to another member of the Elder Conclave of Ysinode.
This new Illithid lacked Phandiates cunning and subtlety, unable to truly understand that Sanctuary had long existed on the knifes edge of rebellion. All it needed was a spark. The Elder Conclave, in forcing Phandiates hand provided that spark, and the Illithid who replaced him as controller of the Commander Simms identity ignited the fire.
Yes, Commander Simms, the Leader of the Regime, is an Illithid, and he even unknowingly admitted it to you. In his speech he said this to you: "The Tower and its environs shall be sealed, and any threat of aggression shall be cast from the minds of the citizenry."
The Elder Conclave moves to preserve their breeder-colony one way or another. They will even endanger exposing themselves to you.
When the civil war happened they realized that they were losing control and that the Spellguard was no longer enough. Their hand was forced to move against Etorix and they enthralled him to turn him into their "Super Weapon." Not just against us, but against their many enemies of the Underdark, including but not limited to the Beholder city of Chabzash.
It should be obvious to you now why we are in our current situation. Let the truth be known, and spread it to everyone that you can know or trust not to turn against you.
I had hoped that the Sovereign Host could move silently under the notice of the Illithid. However, it was revealed to me by a defector from the Regime that the Spellguard had caught a glimpse of what I knew, and as such I knew it was only a matter of time before they moved against me and the Host. Then they assaulted a member of the Host and my hand was forced.
I gave them a chance to reinstate the neutrality of the Host, hoping that we could once again pass unseen, only to eventually strike the killing blow against those who would enslave Sanctuary and feed upon her people. Yet, even so the Chosen threat was one that we could not deny. It was an independent threat of Ysinode, one that even Ysinode underestimates.
Know that in a few days time, perhaps as little as over a week or so, the Appetite will awaken. This is a being of pure hunger and it will devour all within the city. No one is safe. Not the rebels, not the regime and not the Chosen. All within the city are doomed if this threat cannot be stopped, and any efforts taken against Ysinode would be fruitless if our attention was allowed to become divided.
Yet, as I wrote, my hand was forced. However, there is a way to strike a killing blow against the Chosen, the Appetite, the Drow and even Ysinode all at once. The Sovereign Host knows the way, and now that you know the truth, I ask you to put down your weapons and join us.
Now that the truth is known, the hand of Ysinode will be forced like my own. Their efforts will increase to bring this city under their thumb. They may try and silence this truth, and may even be successful for a time. Yet, I am certain that those who need to read my words will read them. And they will join me.
The Sovereign Host is the last hope for Sanctuary. Even if you flee this city and we fail, the Appetite will follow. There is nowhere to run; nowhere to hide, the Appetite hungers and it stirs, and when it awakens even the so-called Super Weapon of Ysinode will be consumed.
We hold the key to the survival of our city. Join us. Leave word for the Sovereign Host in the Shifting Caverns outside of Sanctuary. We will find it.
I swear in Helm's name that every word that has been written here is true to the best of my knowledge and my abilities to confirm it.
The Sovereign Host
