The Wind of Change

[Crimson]

"Dasaria... Varana... Empire... Kingdom. What does it matter? In the end, this is our home, and little else. We, the people, are the blood, heart and soul of this nation - and when we act together, we can make anything happen. Anything."
His voice rings loudly, yet calmly across the town square.
He sits on the edge of the fountain, clad in a brown and black jerkin and a travellers cloak. A scimitar hangs by his side, sheathed in an old leathersheath bought years ago.

"I say this to you because I believe in the people, our will, our rightful anger. And I say it out of fear of what Dasaria is becoming.." he smirks and shakes his head slightly. "No, wait... it is not Dasaria. It is the laws that harsh men and women wrote and enforce. I say this out of fear for what these laws allows our leaders to do - to us."

He rises and looks around, meeting the eyes of whoever is listening to him, and then he gestures towards the arena.
"Many of you know what happened in the Arena a few weeks ago." he says.
"A man was tortured in public. He received twenty lashes from a steel-tipped ninetails. And an instrument like that... tears the very flesh from the back of it's victim, and shreds the muscle and bone underneath."

He takes two steps forward, away from the fountain, and curls his hand into a fist in front of him.
"After the whipping, which would have killed most other men, he was stabbed and cut with a dagger, and his bones were shattered with a hammer."
He lets his fist fall, and looks around with a shrug.

"Public torture... is this what we allow our leaders to do? Also, slavery and unjust trials where one cannot even defend himself... "
He gestures to the city around him.

"Young girls and boys are being sold into slavery as we speak."

He points towards the docks district.

"Children are living on the street, huddling together just to get that little spark of warmth that their families can no longer give them."

He looks towards the docks and shakes his head.
"And what are we doing to stop all this...? Waiting for politicians and highlords to decide? it will not do... for those who stand and watch are as guilty as the culprits and villains themselves."

He leaps up unto the edge of the fountain and looks at those who listens, and those who do not.
"One man cannot change any of this. Nor can one woman. Nor a pair or a small group... but the voice of the people, when we stand together... is something else. It is the most powerful thing that a nation can do. And it can mean justice... true justice! So let us speak, people of Dasaria! Let us tell our leaders that they must make changes, for we know that they have the power to do so! Draw no weapons against our own, but use your voice instead!"

He undoes the sheathed scimitar from his belt and holds it up for everyone to see.
"We are at war, but if we fight our own with anything but our combined voice, we will destroy our home."
He then tosses the weapon to the ground.

"The time for change has come, my fellow Dasarians and Varanites. It is time for a revolution of words! Spread the word, for none of this is illegal - it is our right, and it is our duty."

Darion Crimson then steps down from the edge of the fountain and walks out among the people.
"For the people." he says as he walks.
"For the small ones."

[Jain Zar]

Hidden in the shadows of an alley a hooded figure had partially witnessed Darion's 'speech'. During certain words a fist was clenched, ... a shiver ran over the person's back when Darion pointed at the docks and mentioned the children on the streets, ... and a slow nod under the hood was visible when the Dragon Knight talked about words instead of weapons.

When Darion left, the figure let out a sigh and whispered, inaudible for everyone else, " I'm with you, my friend."

[Karma]

Thayne Rhaz steps out of a nearby shadow and looks around. His flowing cape swirls around him and he looks at the weapon on the ground. "This man speaks of unity, of peace. Yet he denies you information. This man, he speaks of beaten and left for dead and he does not tell you why. He simply tells you is it wrong. Certainly, it was an unfortunate thing, but I was present for this trial, and I saw our leaders united in their judgements against the man. He was set to trial for being a part of the Canite Heresy and he has been redeemed in Lochwars Name. He has been given a second chance to aid us in the conflict."

Thayne walks over to the weapon and picks it up, looking it over slowly. He looks up again at those who may have gathered. "He speaks to the ends of peace. Unity and not bearing arms against one another, yet he speaks of ignoring the very laws that bind us together and keep us safe! We have this arena in Cear because the people like to see sport! If it were not so, it would be void and empty! The Dragon Knight, misguided though he may be, has the right intent! We must stand together and unite of the people! For the Orphans! We will not win this war if we constantly snap at one anothers throats."

The Steward of Rhaz takes out a scroll and reads it quietly, a spell falls over him and his voice is amplified. "Henceforth, I announce that The Temple of Lochwar and House Rhaz shall be holding a Tournament in the Arena! To the ends of raising money for the Orphans of Cear and the Construction of a proper orphanage! More details will be given to you in the coming weeks as we take the steps to Organize this event! "

[Jain Zar]

Outrageous...

Who did this man think he was???

"Public and organised violence and bloodshed in the name of charity?" The hooded figure stepped out of the shadows and when Thayne would turn in the direction of the female voice, he can see a black-clad lady leaning against a facade with her arms crossed.
"The orphans don't need any of this."

Her face still hidden in the shadow of her hood, the woman turns her head in the direction before looking back at Thayne,"As a matter of fact, if this is how you think to support the orphans, I advice you to stay far away from them."

[Karma]

"I said a tournament, Not bloodshed, woman. A martial display for the entertainment of the people." He looks over at her curiously. "The point is to raise money, to help them. To help the people of Cear Many will come and much will be gained for them." he walks off and takes the sword with him

[Jain Zar]

The woman behind him shook her head, and headed straight in the direction of the docks.

Elvina bit her lip, and hoped to find sister Alina at the temple for a small conversation...

[Crimson]

He stops, and turns to face Thayne - with a small smile,

"A display of martial skills between willing participants is a good idea, mr. Rhaz. I might attend personally, simply for the good cause" he says and locks eyes with the slaver.
"And yes, the man who was tortured in public was a Canite once - but he became a man when he observed and talked with certain people here. A punishment was in order, of course, for any Canite should be punished..."

His smile fades, and his expression becomes neutral.
"...but not if we do to our prisoners what the Canites do to theirs. We are not them... and we should never act like them. Never."

[Crimson]

One month later, flyers are spread in the villages and cities of Dasaria.
The flyers urges people to speak up, but to leave their swords at home:

"People of this Nation!

Do not let injustice rule, speak up! The voice of the people is the most powerful force in the nation, and our leaders WILL LISTEN!

Get out there on the street and let them know that we will NOT tolerate public humiliation and torture, that we will NOT tolerate slavery, that we will NOT tolerate that a man can be sentenced without a chance of defense!

Dasaria is our Nation, and the leaders are only the leaders if we back them!

But woe the man or woman who takes up his sword against his fellow man, for a war amongst us now would surely mean the defeat of our Nation! SPEAK, DO NOT FIGHT!"

[Crimson]

One day later, another flyer is spread in the same villages and cities.
This time, it is an invitation to join a debate:

"Want to let people know how YOU think we can make the best of Dasaria as a nation? Come to Two Bridges on the second day of this week, at the eleventh evening hour! Voice your ideas and opinions!"

((That's TUESDAY at 11pm GMT for any who might be interested in joining