"The People's Man"

[Sunburst]

Subat 10th. A time when there is a great feast of B'aara and the waters return.

[Sunburst]

The Cinquefoil Rose offers their deepest thanks to Legate Dante, whose incredible generosity has given some of our disgruntled guests outside warm soup and warm blankets, as well as some spending money, to compensate them for the loss of their lights.

Truly, he is the People's Man.

[Sunburst]

Mhm, Dervish Bajica, blessed is the message, and holy are those who hear. As those who have walked the Scald, felt blood boil on hungry sands, Fire is the enemy, the tool of the Demon's Eye. Yet with flame comes light, and with light, guidance in this dark age...

It is our burden, each and every one of us to offer such guidance to those who come here weary. Even those of far shores and fal-... hn... foreign ways have done so. Consider the message you carry and the guidance it may offer. Wheel above all.

[Sunburst]

I came to Ephia's Well as most did, a poor immigrant with nothing to my name... but for the Ash-bitten clothes on my back...

I was just as the men huddled outside our gates now. Just as the frightened, the hungry, the coinless. All I had in my hand was hope. Hope, for this city of opportunity. Hope, to make something great of myself. To rise, from no one at all, to someone atop the world.

And so now that I have, what can I do but look back at where I was?

I went out today, to the angry masses. I heard them. Cold. Starving. I bought each of them a warm blanket, and a hot bowl of soup. A few dinars, to help them make their start, and work hard toward the light of greatness... as I did, in their shoes...

They are the working men, the labor class, the backbone of our city. They should be uplifted and honored, and given every opportunity to succeed, to earn their place among the princes of the Voiced.

I believe in every one of them, the potential and strength to do exactly that.

[Sunburst]

The Legate Dante, a young boy runs to him at the Pilgrim. The boy shouts, "you are my hero, thank you for saving the Well!"

The Legate gives him 100 dinar for a wondrous cake for his family, or a box of dozens from Xu Yin.

Find the Legate and your own fortuna may change.

[Sunburst]

The Legate Moretti's generosity knows no bounds, may the Gold Guild live long. Dug and I shall live long on his donation to this humble sell-axe refugee. So sayeth Haknar, praise Warad. Live and drink.

[Sunburst]

Uh, hi everyone. Just, uh, wanted to say that Legate Moretti really is the People's Man. A new food stall opened in the Palm Heights. Usually, it'd be really out of my budget but, uh, Legate Moretti treated me to a three hundred dinar steak from the place.

He's so, uh, great! Really the People's Man, he is.

[Sunburst]

People of Ephia's Well, it is Babu Burak that speaks; Most Serene Waterbearer, Tender of the Fifth Fountain, Virtuous Attendant to the God Mother of the Great Temple of Baz'eel, your chosen Hakem of the Wheel.

I have walked the streets at this early hour, spoken to many. The vagrant, the merchant, the beggar and the Legate. Many are their woes, and fears, and many are their dreams, and desires:

Of the vagrant, he spoke to me of his fear of his liberty being taken from him. Of his dream, that he would rise above the desperate acts of his past, to a bright future. I prayed to B'aara for him, for Her Mercy is endless.

Of the merchant, she spoke to me of her fear that the suffering and war we are now faced with will cause her to lose her business. Of her dream, that she may, through her mercantalism, lay the foundations of a legacy for her child. I prayed to B'aara for her, for the Great Line is blessed.

Of the beggar, they spoke to me of their fear of hunger, and of thirst. Of their dream, that they might see another sunrise, free of the aching pangs of desperation. I prayed to B'aara for them, for under Her Gaze, all must be warded and protected.

Of the Legate, he spoke to me of his fear, not for himself, but for those people to which he owes his support, those that with the great actions of state, he serves. Of his dream, it was of Ephia's Well made in the image of the Golden Age. A place of prosperity, and opportunity for all men. A place of protection, where the walls are strong and its people have warm beds and security. A place of learning, where the great minds of the desert speak of philosophy, and progress. A place of opportunity, where the vagrant, the beggar, and the merchant, all may allay their fears, and think only of their dreams.

To be a Legate is to dream of the future, to dream of what may come to be, for your people. Simple dreams no longer come to you, in sleep; they are dreams instead, of progress. B'aara delights in the good charitable works of men such as Legate Moretti who, despite being a man not from these shores, has grown to love its people as they may have grown in turn to love him; many have told me that he has looked to feed, and cloth the helpless. We must applaud this, no matter the League. To be a Legate, is to further the designs of His Sublimity.

And Legate Moretti plays his part.

[Sunburst]

I saw something precious in the Souk today. A haggard mother, fresh-arrived, corralling two hungry children in the Souk of Salt and Spice, clearly lost and unable to afford a thing. Legate Dante gave the children candy and showed her around, buying a week's worth of healthy food for them.

He's truly taken to his charge as the People's Man. I hope to se such generosity from our candidates in the upcoming election!

[Sunburst]

Lo and behold, fate has done me a good turn in the shape of Dante Moretti! A real People's Man! He done put me up with a room in the Krak, so I can move out of my two-body apartment with that one mummified man behind a worm nest in the Gutters!

I'll be providing some more readings in the Krak, if anyone wants to have the fortune read!

Genuine readings, I swears! I ain't never lied where the cards is concerned...

[Sunburst]

People of Ephia's Well! I was so moved by the passionate arguments put on display tonight, by the eloquence of Janissary Turul and Recluta Yn'vylyn, that I could not help but be inspired to assume the seat of judgement from the selected Magistrate...

...and sentence the Accused to the justice that I believed to be most fitting the charges before us...

Melody Stearwood is found guilty of murder, and hereby sentenced to receive the same punishment that her victim, Zoturu, had been remanded to for his parallel crime of lobotomizing a Balesterie.

She is to be taken outside the Gates and lashed, in exactly the same manner, and exactly the same number of times.

And so, may her crime of passion be duly scorned...

[Sunburst]

Hey, Recluta Longhands here.

The People's Legate has blessed you citizens of Ephia's Well with free coffee at the Soot Lamp, as distributed by La Banda Rossa. Come, join and partake in some fookin' coffee. It'll wake you right up.

Free coffee, for every citizen who asks!

Come one. Come all. Treat yourself to a hot cup of ambition, brewed by the finest artisan this side of the Edutu.

After all the hard work you've done, you deserve it.

[Sunburst]

I wish to thank Dante Moretti, the People's Man, for taking the time to assist and mentor me in some sorcery. He's been quite helpful to me since my arrival and continues to be so throughout.

I'm not one for politics, but a good man is a good man.

[Sunburst]

Dear people of Ephia's Well! This is Zina Zizzo speaking. Ashsail travel to the War Camp can be expensive. It is why I come to all of you with an offer: for a mere 120 dinari, I will take you and your group to the War Camp. Save your money for supplies!

You need but seek me out if I am available. And why do I do this, you ask? Well, for one thing, I rather like ashsail travel, it's a welcome change. For another thing, I love helping people, it's just in my nature! It's what we do in the League of Gold, as the People's Man would tell you! Live and drink!

[Sunburst]

Good Ephians of the Well, I am you like to express my gratitude to the Peaple's Man, Legate Dante Moretti. Bless him for taking those of us newly arrived aspiring wizards and mages under his wing to provide us with lectures, knowledge, and wisdom to further advance our studies.

Thank you, Legate Moretti, I look forward to your leadership in the future of the Well.