The House of Light reopens already, along with its gallery of rich donators. When will Upper folk realize down here that we've got pride? The House built the rich a statue to their favorite god or dead mum for donations. Then asks us to take its charity, so the rich in goverment can feel a little better about their gains stolen from our backs by themselves and their friends.
Yet in the battle between government and society, the Archibalds are merely the soft underbelly. Our society is in danger of being run by perpetual politicians. Men skilled in manipulating government, accumulating power, abridging rights to protect leeches like the Archibalds. Who are these men? These agents of government, these foes of democracy, these scourges of our civil society?
The true foe of the people are two Councilors who claim to serve us. Geigne and Ward. Enemies of the People, wolves disguised as sheep. Presenting themselves as friends, they are monarchists and merchants looking to crown themselves with gold.
But for now, let is ignore Geigne. He's merely Ward's puppet. A tool, dazzled by Ward's words. Let us hope that knowing the view of the people he understands his folly and repents. Ward is the true devil.
Ward's beginnings appeared humble, a man born of Sanctuary. He was straightforward, claimed to want honesty and reduced corruption in the Spellguard and Watch. He said he'd promote trade with our neighbors. That was all he promised. It seemed a fine thing, but I voted for someone else. Most of us did. His promises rang hollow.
He spoke of free clinics to heal those who can not afford magic, or the 'charity' of the House of Light and its 'god of the week'. Despite a sign, it never materialized. What he gave instead was blood and like drunkards we loved him for it.
The Gladiator games were a success. Cyrus reaped in our gold as we paid for drinks to watch adventurers bloody themselves. Distracted by sport, high on life, we thought Ward was one of us. Then he formed the Commonwealth, a fine name to cover a rotten core. Distracted by the games though, who was to notice?
The Commonwealth is where the profit of the Games really goes. Ward claims it encourages trade and bolsters the 'economy'. The people don't have a stock in this economy though. The Commonwealth helps make merchants richer, men like Bhast. The Commonwealth deals with slavers like the druegar. Ward's used the Commonwealth to make his friends, those who donated to his campaign richer. While still rubbing elbows with us in the Crone.
My friends, my kin, my fellow citizens we've been betrayed and deceived by this physician turned merchant. Ward is a coward of the first rate. He stood beside us as we fought the drow armies, but no man saw him lift a finger to strike the drow. He hid behind the free militias. In his own gladiator ring, he was challenged to fight Gaeseric the Unyeilding and cowardice let him back away. He spills the blood of others to make his friends rich and keep himself in politics.
Now Ward will claim his Commonwealth has made him not a silver peice! He's poor he'll say from helping the 'public'. Yet I've seen his fancy armor and his fancy weapons and his magical gear to protect himself. He carries enough wealth to feed a family for a year, and where did he get 2,000 gold coins to enter the elections twice now? The truth is, he's enriching himself.
He promised to make the Watch less corrupt, instead he's had a hand in bringing it to Lower Sanctuary!
He has tried to open a mine and he has promised it to dwarves who don't even live in Sanctuary, who live beside the slaver druegar.
And that's it! All his hollow promises, and no action. There is no clinic for the poor who can not afford magical healing. There are richer merchants today than yesterday, but that gold is not in your pocket or in mine. He seeks to make rich men richer to remain in power. All he seeks in return is glory, to claim he's a martyr for the people while lining the pockets of his friends.
If Geigne is wise he'll publically denounce Ward and reaffirm himself as a friend of the people. As for the rest of us, there is a fitting end to all traitors and here in the Underdark a stone is around every corner. If Ward would not fight drow, would not fight Gaeseric in his own gladiator matches, he'll not resist even the first child to cast a stone at him.
Strike fear into the heart of the people's enemey. Do not allow Ward to become a career councilor, devoted to his own memoirs and not our society! Boycott Ward's Gladiator fights, boycott the Pot Helm Consortium and the Commonwealth! Buy from true citizens of Lower like Speckard, and take part in honest rat fights at the Gambling Hall. Don't cheer the man who'll sell your blood to ensure his next election.