Good people of Baldur’s Gate! I ask you, hear me!
You have doubtless seen the feckless writings of the Zhentarim and their allies, perhaps splayed about as vapid stationery, or even rained from the firmament like so much waste from the harbor gulls.
They write to cast blame. They have emptied all the inkwells in Darkhold to conjure grievances to put to vellum. They think because it is the Lord’s Alliance that marches upon them, they can condemn this great city. They posit that they now have justification for the atrocities they intend to commit.
Do not be fooled.
Behind all their clever words is a single, resounding message:
Because the Zhentarim are not getting their way, they mean to kill us all.
Think on what has actually transpired. The Lords’ Alliance marches upon Darkhold, its host comprised of soldiers from
other free cities. Baldur’s Gate withdraws from its treaty with Darkhold. The Gate sends no Fist mercenaries to the front. Any of this city who goes to aid the front does so of their own volition, not on behalf of the Gate. The Dukes send not a single soldier to combat!
And what do the Zhentarim do in response? They could have sent their letters straight to the Dukes. They could have sent their scribings to the Lords' Alliance. Instead, they threaten
you, with parchment from the sky.
I ask you - is that fair? Is that just? No, of course not. But what would the Zhentarim and their allies know of justice?
The Zhentarim want you to think that because a treaty is dissolved, the only outcome is war. I say to you:
that is a lie! That is the narrative they want you to buy into. But who has really chosen a war with you, the free people of Baldur's Gate, here? Certainly not the good people of this city, not the Dukes, not the Gate! War is their choice, not that of the free descendants of Balduran! War is their choice because Baldurian coin will no longer flow into their coffers. War is their choice because their corrupt whispers will no longer hold sway at court!
For these reasons, they train their eyes upon the good people of this city. And they have made clear that they care not for the masses, the innocents, the good people of this city who have not had any say in the matter. They will lay waste to us all. Their vows of peace and prosperity are shown for what they are - worth less than the wind upon which those empty promises were spoken.
You need only look to their own fetid words to know I speak truth:
AsuraKing wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 4:57 pm
[...] will continue to result in Bhaal’s embrace coming for the masses, both innocent and guilty as their souls get sent to Myrkul.
You reap what you sow, and the Lord’s Alliance and those that support them have crafted a terrible tapestry of death and destruction with the Coast as their canvas.
Vigilator Baron Barristan Schulltze
These are the words they have sent to the good people of this city because a trade treaty was severed. These are the threats they have levied at you, the innocent people of Baldur’s Gate, because we no longer submit ourselves to their terms! These words are not directed at the Lord’s Alliance, not at the Dukes, not even those who march upon their precious stronghold in the Sunset Mountains. This 'Vigilator' has the temerity to address his intimidation to
all citizens of the coast.
Why?
They mean to unnerve you, to intimidate you, to cow you into submission. That is who they are. They think because they themselves are slaves to even more sinister masters, that you will follow suit. They think because their words are careful and calculated, that you will not be able to see through their deception.
Do not be fooled. Do not submit. Do not waver.
In the face of mad tyrants who have abandoned reason for wanton violence, in the face of war criminals who consort with drow and send dragons to scorch the earth, in the face of murderers who mean to take from you all that you hold dear, we cannot - we shall not - falter!
Let us steel our resolve! Let us stand together with our fellow patriots of this free and fair city and defend our home! Let us make it known to the Zhentarim that we are not afraid of their threats, that we will not kowtow to their whims, and that we will not back down from a fight!
Glory to Baldur’s Gate! Glory to Her People!
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