Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

*the following posters have been put up all around Baldur's Gate, as well as alongside the Trade Way*

Citizens of our fair city of Baldur's Gate,

You will not see these posters for long, for those who speak the bitter truth are usually swiftly silenced. Read this text until it will be torn into pieces and not let the truth to die.

Ask yourself - where is Justice in these lands?

Our glorious city has been plagued by lowlife thugs and assassins for too long. How many times have you found your purse missing? How many times have you heard of someone disappearing to never come back? And now they even moved further, carrying this infection to the roads, robbing travellers in the broad daylight and calling this a "tax". The name of the leader of those vermins is well known. Yet, they are allowed to act.

Where is Justice?

And what of the Flaming Fist, brave warriors who have sworn to protect our city? Why do they close their eyes on the thieves' activities? Where does their attention belong to?

Why they still have not rooted out that criminal plague from our city? Why they instead go and arrest a man without any solid proof, disregarding the sovereignty of Candlekeep, the stronghold of knowledge, ignoring the Guide and the First Reader? And outrageously exceeding ther authority.

Where is Justice?

Who will protect us from the thieves and assassins?

Who will protect us from being arrested because of the rumours and not facts?

Who will protect us from the anger of the Fist Captain using his position for his personal revenge?

Where is Justice?

*Raymond nods approvingly after reading the note as he speaks to the note, as if it could hear*

Justice....my dear incognito "friend" has been lacking too long......most do not even know it's meaning I think.....but there -are- those who share your vision....justice....still excists....just way to many.....fear to do the job properly....and it is not only the thugs.....it is also...those of unnatural origin...

*Raymond shook his head, thinking of the injustice he has witnessed so far in total.....*

*Caedis reads the poster several times and goes through the full gambit of facial expressions on each reading. His face and hands tense, a small smirk, a small frown, all these visible signs pass but one thing doesn't change. His teeth remain so tightly clenched that one of his molars actually breaks under the pressure. His thoughts continue to run through his head like a wild herd of devils.*

I am going to crush every one of those heathens beneath my boot. The Fist serves their purpose and usually well enough... but I think it's time for a rout of these knaves I hear more and more of.

I will bring swift justice, by the god's I swear it. My sword and shield shall be judge and jury... the "decisions" shall be numerous and delivered with haste.

*The otherwise friendly crusader reaches for his hilt instinctively and tightly grips the leather, though he does not draw the blade. He gives an about-face, and with anger coursing through his veins Caedis marches towards the gate. With his boots making hefty thuds against the earth and a firm grip on his sword's hilt, he approaches the the exit with great haste. His face dons a look so severe and stern that the guards take a step back instead of rendering their normal greeting. He conjures a thick blood-soaked wad of spittle with jagged remnants of his tooth and heaves it towards the stone tower as he passes the great walls.*

*Though nowhere near all of the original posters have been defaced, SeveN takes the opportunity to cast "invisibility" on several posters, urinates on some others, and replaces text on many to read something silly as follows:*


Citizens of our fair city of Baldur's Gate,

You will not see these posters for long, for those who speak the bitter truth are usually swiftly silenced. Read this text until it will be torn into pieces and not let the truth to die.

Ask yourself - where are Pies in these lands?

Our glorious city has been plagued by low quality blueberries and rasberries for too long. How many times have you found your ruebard sour? How many times have you heard of someone baking pies and never sharing? And now they even moved further, carrying this infection to the roads, raising prices on pie tins in the broad daylight and calling this a "tax". The name of the leader of those vermins is well known. Yet, they are allowed to act.

Where is the Baker's Guild?

And what of the Flaming Fist, hungry warriors who have sworn to protect our bakers? Why do they close their eyes to the merchants' activities? Where does their attention belong to?

Why they still have not rooted out that fruited plague from our city? Why they instead go and accost a man without any food critics, disregarding the deliciousness of his pies, the stronghold that is strawberries, ignoring the Recipies and the Reader? And outrageously exceeding their authority.

Where are the Pies?

Who will protect us from the recent lack of deliciousness?

Who will protect us from being arrested because of the poor recipes and lackluster ingredients?

Who will protect us from the hunger of the Fist Captain using his position for his personal revenge against those of questionable culinary skill?

Where are the Pies?

[edits - formatting, working]

Barvok, upon seeing the final line, (black person). Not much kept the day interesting during Guard Duty in Baulder's Gate but the image of Captain Crownsilver demanding "MOAR PIES" just made him laugh...

The question is, can he keep a straight face if he sees the captain again?

Mausman wrote:*Raymond nods approvingly after reading the note as he speaks to the note, as if it could hear*

Justice....my dear incognito "friend" has been lacking too long......most do not even know it's meaning I think.....but there -are- those who share your vision....justice....still excists....just way to many.....fear to do the job properly....and it is not only the thugs.....it is also...those of unnatural origin...

*Raymond shook his head, thinking of the injustice he has witnessed so far in total.....*

*Galen'ael steps up behind Raymond and comments*

"Indeed, Raymond. These fools will learn what swift justice is, should they foul Our lands and it shall be swift, as the Lightening Bolt splits the Oak and as swift as the spring storm cleanses the forrest."

*claps him on the back and wonders off*

Later that day, a flaming fist officer staggers into the Santuary of Ilmater in a foul mood and holding his jaw. The hammering and constant clatter of the construction all around him obviously doesn't seem to be helping his aching jaw.

Abby leads him through confused scafolding into the back room.
"Well, lets have a l-look then s-ser..."

The officer opens his mouth, revealing a shattered molar. "Ouch... that l-looks quite painful. Seems your teeth a-are showing signs of w-wear a-as well. You've been grinding t-them havent you?"

The Fist grumbles something indicipherable, and then winces as Sister Abby begins to probe around the broken tooth.

"Well... I c-can fix it e-easily enough s-ser, but you're going t-to have t-to find a w-way to control that t-temper of yours. Id s-suggest circular b-breathing to r-relax.

Following another grumble from the aching mercenary, the small healer wrapps her wrist in red cord, and begins to whisper a quiet prayer. Pale blue light seeps from her open hand and begins to quickly grow in intensity. Opening her eyes, Abby reaches up to the warrior's face, brushing her fingertips across his swollen jaw. With a brilliant flash, Ilmater's healing power chanels through him.

The officer lets out a smooth sigh and puts a gloved hand to his face with a slight smile.

"Better then s-ser?"

With a nod and a word of thanks, the mercenary makes his way out of the Santuary.

Abby watches him go, a pensive look upon her brow as the officer makes his way through the choatic temple.
"Everything alright sister?"
Broken from her thought, Abby glances over to Sister Juna.
"Oh... yes. its just.. Quite a t-temper on that one. Actually b-broke his own tooth just from c-clenching his j-jaw in anger. I think Alex had the r-right of it... some men m-make better soldiers than peace k-keepers." With a sigh, she looks back toward the door through which the officer left. "If t-they keep recruiting soldiers t-to be peace k-keepers, well... I t-think it won't be long before people a-are going t-to get hurt... and it w-wont be the criminals d-doing t-the hurting."

*vishnir glances upon the poster (///the first one not the joke one that was meant as a diversion) upon one of his usual routes through the city*

*his head nods almost after every sentence, by the end of the poster he is livid with a fury to rid the lands of these evil, sly, cunning assassins*

"By the Gods!!" *he exclaims* "How could this have been let go??!! How could the Fist let them endure for so long?"


*shakes his head and lets out a deep sigh*

"Candleekeep attacked!? Indeed the time has come for change!"


*he yells to the street at large* "Men! Women! Countrymen!! The time has come for action! No longer must we sit here and allow this band of evil fiends to rule our streets! No longer will we let their vile filth taint our lands!! Who shall stand with me against this threat? Who has the bravery, the valor, the courage to stand and fight!?"

*a few cheers come his way, perhaps he had enticed a few to help for the greater good. with that, Vishnir departs on the long road south, where he is to help plan the retake and defense of the city of Nashkel, his eyes wary for any danger along the way*

*Tomar, Avowed Scribe of Candlekeep walks by the message board in Baldur's Gate and stops to take a look at the new postings. Upon seeing this particular message his old blood begins to boil in anger and rage. Not caring who is near by he begins to spout out his thoughts aloud, not caring at all how he might look or who hears his words.*

These tyrants! These foul hooligans manipulating us through this guild of theirs bringing tyranny and despair upon us all only to fill their greedy pockets and bring power upon themselves!

Something needs to be done! People need to unite and stand up against such rubbish!! I for one will not take it at all I can tell ye that much!

This is pure madness! To think, the Fist uniting with such a guild. That much is plain obvious. And to think other is complete foolishness! And the fools we were to let it go on as such for so long! *shakes his head ashamedly*

It has never been any secret this guild has been around for as long as it has. Clearly these Fist are one and the same with these brigands who scour our lands trying to take control by such deadly and malicious means.

BLOOD AND ASHES! *he curses* That Crowsilver should be trialed and burned at the steak as far as Im concerned!!!

*the small crowd who have started to gather around give each other uneasy looks at his last comment*

*Tomar, noticing the uneasy looks goes on...* What!? You choose to disregard and ignore this madness people? Use your heads! This man has been brainwashing you all this time, can't you see it? Liberate yourselves! This man's tyranny must come to an end I tell you! We are a free people! He twists your minds into thinking this guild of brigands will kill you unless you succumb to their demands, hoping you indeed will so he can fill his pockets! In the end he may choose to make play he has destroyed this faction and rid the lands of evil, but I tell you, that is exactly what he wants you to think! He being the hero yet again!

Notice how long it has been already and he has yet to react! He wants to collect his gold first! Bring more fear upon these lands, make all uneasy.

I pray thee to all I speak falsely. If so let it be proven to all! He must act now and destroy this evil which has befallen our lands and demand such action among his comrades. They must seek out this guild and utterly desry it!

If that not be a quick and easy task then mend the insolence the Fist have taken upon themselves in the mean time by assaulting the great Candlekeep and give due respect to the great renown order and release this honored scholar he has taken upon himself to kidnap!

Bah! this is pure madness I tell you and we can not just let such a madness rule our lives and dignity!

*the crowd, which has since grown larger starts to nod in agreement and talk more among themselves of exactly what has been happening, why the fist have yet done nothing all this time against the crooked guild and of the horrendous display of hostility toward the great and renown, through all of Fearun, city of Candlekeep.*

*While the larger portion of the crowd listens to a wise old man*

The man must be senile to take an anonymous note tacked upon buildings for the truth. Since when do we believe mysterious bulletins written in such an inflammatory way? 'Tis a shame some are so gullible.

*He shakes his head*

*after all the talk and posters and hustle and bustle, and the mere fact one of his own Avowed of Candlekeep as been taken with such brute force, it is no wonder the old man is in such an outrage, as most think among themselves*

*seeing a shouting match about to begin, phantom steps up to address the masses.*

"if your anger belongs on anyone, it belongs on me. i am the one who brought the old man's secrets to the light of day. i am the one who learned the truth, and knew that it jeopardized the safety of this land. would you prefer to live in ignorance, and overlook his treasonous acts? this man has committed crimes not against the fist, but against all of the people of this land. those who obey the law, and those whom ignore it. every single life was put in the line of danger, yet the fist were willing to stand in front of that danger. so that it would not fall upon the people who did nothing to provoke it. the ordinary citizen.

you call for the heads of the very men that put their lives on the line to see to it that you are safe. you call them thugs, and treat them as though they are the enemy. would any of you wish to bear such a burden? to be hated by the very people you are trying to protect? to be treated as outcasts for doing their job?

this message that has been tacked up around the city is only an attempt to discredit your guardians. to instill hatred, so that they will lose your support. it is a tactic and nothing more. do not fall prey to such deception. justice shall prevail at the wizard's trial. do not lose faith in that."

*when Phantom steps forward to start his speech, a shouts start flying from among the crowd of curious citizens gathered at the place*

What crimes has that man committed?

Where is your proof?

Why the word of Candlekeep means nothing to you?

And why are we speaking to the helmet instead of a face? Why are you hiding, eh? Who are you at all?

Are you defending the Thieves, then?

*when the heads turn into the direction of a voice, nothing can be seen right there, for its source seems to have disappeared*

Tax? I think I saw a thief today in the streets he gave me food I don't know anything about tax. He was a kind man that game me food and coins.

What crimes has that man committed?

Where is your proof?

you wish to have trial here, on the streets? all questions concerning his guilt will be answered when he is brought before a judge.

Why the word of Candlekeep means nothing to you?

the sanctity of candlekeep was threatened by this spy. that threat has now been removed. i would hope that they more than any would understand that the safety of the plane comes before their own desires.

And why are we speaking to the helmet instead of a face? Why are you hiding, eh? Who are you at all?

i suppose i could spout off a list of my credentials, though i have to wonder why one in this land would not be aware of them. i have not hidden myself from the public, and my deeds are well known. those who defend this land know me well. the flaming fist. the weavemasters. duke eltan. even elminster himself, as proof by the blade on my hip. when the stakes become too high, it is my job to even our odds.

Are you defending the Thieves, then?

*phantom couldn't help but laugh.*

the point, that you have either missed or are trying to have overlooked, is that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few. the danger we face is larger than any individual, or any one group. it threatens all who dwell in this land. if by making sure that the people of this land are safe means that a few thieves happen to survive as well, then so be it. would you rather the fist not try to prevent this land from turning into a vast graveyard, a grim reminder that there are dangers out there far worse than a few cutpurses? you may lose your gold to a thief, the greater dangers that are being dealt with will take your life, or the lives of those you care most about. would you actually suggest that you would trade the lives of your loved ones for a few gold pieces? i have to wonder about the morality of one who would.

i have no doubt the thieves will be dealt with in time. however, a more immediate threat presented itself and is being dealt with. once this danger has passed, focus will be able to once again turn to the thieves. but know that there are ever watching eyes, looking for any new threat that may present itself, so that the guardians of this land can be prepared to deal with them.