It has not been long since the Provisional Government's declaration that the Commonwealth Guard of Cordor was to undergo an extensive paramilitarization in an effort to marshall themselves against the threat of a mercenary militia hired by disaffected nobles. A couple of months of quiet preparation go into the western district of Cordor, once home to many of the city's most affluent citizens. Now, the district is mostly abandoned, save for a few shop vendors, businesses that have refused to close due to still receiving enough general clientele to keep their doors open, the Arena and the communal Garden. Many of the once majestic houses stand empty, some of their windows boarded up, the rows of garlanded rosebushes dried out and untended.

Now, seen off on side streets, are large barriers that can be dragged into various positions to block access one way or the other. Guard traffic and patrol picks up slightly in West Cordor, as Commonwealth guards investigate the area, plotting out schematics and designs. A large vessel sails in from the main harbor to dock along the Western district's waterfront, moored securely. The sails flap high and proud, and the ship bears no particular vessel at all. Those who get close enough to the ship to notice can see that the sails appear to be rigged by line to be easily dropped at a moment's notice onto the deck.

Some of the Commonwealth Guard even appear to have keys to these abandoned homes, and regularly make tours of the interiors, stepping in, looking around the rooms, and stepping out again before relocking.

On the second day, cobbles are being plucked up from a sidestreet running along the westernmost exterior wall, and what looks like the preparation for masonwork is being laid down: an extension, or facility, being built on the inside of the wall. Laborers from South Cordor, mostly hired and put to work happily by Minister Cromwell of the Labor Ministry, begin finding work right away for the project.

It isn't until, on the third day, when caches that clink and clatter as though they were filled with arms and armaments are carried into one very central manor in the heart of Western Cordor that people begin to talk.

In various areas throught Cordor, public graffitti had been smeared onto walls with black ink:

In an alley way off the main square of South Cordor:
"Keep Your Promises! Protect The People!"

Upon the Western Wall of Cordor Prison:
"Free The Duke! Free Cordor!"

On another alley way wall in South Cordor:
"We Have Eyes Too! We've Seen The Republic's Crimes!"

Upon the South Side of the Nomad, behind some Palm trees:
"Out with the New! In With the Old! We Want the Duke!"

On the back wall of City Hall:
"Cordor has Eyes! We've Seen Your Crimes!"

On the wall entering the Library:
"History is not forgotten! Down with the council! Bring Back The Duke!"

Down An Alley on Old Theater Ave:
"Rebuild Our Theater! Not our Militia!"

Upon the wall of the Fletcher's Building:
"Private Buisnesses Ran By Private Owners! Keep Your nose away Republic!"

In Old Moribund Square:
"See Where Your Tax Money Goes! Stop Paying For The Militia!

In an Alley Way in West Cordor:
"We Want Homes! Not Shields!"

Near the School for Girls:
"Montgomery Forever! The Provisional Government Was Wrong!"

By Cordor Park:
"Demilitarize Now! Cordor For The People! Not For The Council!"

_________________
Character Status:
Mynna- Guldorand
Samrael Cymere-Winya Ravana
Laika-Unknown

It does not take very long at all for the Commonwealth Council to respond to the latest slew of propaganda. A city clerk crosses the Square to bang on the door of the Guardhouse before delivering an urgent letter.

Commonwealth Guard,

Uncover the person(s) responsible for this vandalism immediately. It is highly recommended that those in the Adventuring Guard who prefer to linger in Cordor's Eastern District take to more regular patrolling of the entire Commonwealth to prevent the defacement of public property and this blatant disregard for the governing powers and our renewed equality.

Any and all information is to be delivered to the Council's chief clerk, Franton, as to the identity of the suspects. Please also take this opportunity to aggressively remind those citizens and outsiders alike that graffiti is a punishable crime and heavily frowned upon not merely by the Council, but by the Commonwealth itself. We take pride in what we have all fought to earn together.

The Commonwealth Council

Joseph Maximillian, Ministry of Finance
Hector L. Carton, Ministry of Law
Collin Reyes, Ministry of Magic
Jonathin Leohnard, Ministry of Public Welfare
Elijah Cromwell, Ministry of Labor


******

Ethan Starr of the Amian Recorder receives an overwhelming response from the Council, and immediate instructs town criers in Cordor to carry a paid message by the Commonwealth Council. In addition, a public statement is delivered on the morning after the discovery of the graffiti, by Hector L. Carton. Standing to his left and just behind him, the Minister of Finance, Joseph Maximillian.

The aging yet stately Councilman stands before the doors of the Commonwealth Center, his broad mustache graying and his spotted hands shaking just ever so slightly. Maximillian, significantly younger, stands ramrod straight, his hawkish nose made all the more like a predatory bird by virtue of his piercing gaze and sharp, blonde eyebrows.

Citizens of the Commonwealth, it has ever been the fashionable thing to communicate distress and dissatisfaction by defacing public property. Those who have committed this shameful act of vandalism prescribe to the notion that, to speak one's mind in voice or legal writ alone is to go unheard; to them, the only proper carriage for their message is a breach of the law. By painting these garrulous quips on our homes, businesses and public thoroughfares, we are given no choice but to read them..."

Minister Carton pauses to take a deep breath, ready to continue, but with a purse of his lips, Joseph Maximillian comes forward to finish, his reedy tenor distinct from Carton's authoritative basso. Carton retreats backwards, his moist eyes downcast, one shaking hand cupped over the other.

"...and we, the Commonwealth Council and the Commonwealth Guard, are given no choice but to prosecute those who would shame the great State that Cordor has built. No longer do we wallow and suffer under duchal privilege and corrupt authoritarianism, but now reap the benefits of equal opportunity: no matter your heritage."

A cheer goes up from some of the gathering citizens, particularly those of clearly foreign descent.

"No matter your wealth."

A larger cheer now, this time from some of the guards in attendance.

"No matter the district you live in!"

An incredible outpour of support rises from the southernmost portion of the crowd, having wandered in from the southernmost district. Caps are thrown, and it takes ten seconds before Maximillian can continue.

"We citizens of the Commonwealth are law-abiding people. This dissention does not come from among you, but from those who had everything to lose when Duke Montgomery wisely abdicated his unjust and biased leadership of Cordor. His graciousness in stepping down has always been respected, but he must still be held accountable for the crimes committed during his reign! The crimes that built sprawling manors and high-rises in West Cordor for his exclusive friends, and left unkempt slums in the South, sometimes with more than one family living under one roof!"

The majority of people on the South side of the assembly erupt into cheers again, with the exception of a handful of oddly dressed citizens carrying wicker baskets full of roses, bluebells, and other floral garlandry, which they've been handing out to people through the congregation. One is heard to remark quietly by those around her. "Wow, like, we totally still live like that, man, but its a communal thing. The spiritual essence of the South flows through us. We feel its love and, oh man, just can't help but share it with everyone, right?"

Maximillian's sharp report cuts through the love fiercely. "The crimes that ensured an entire generation of the wealthy elite enjoyed the sycophantic privileges of tax breaks. The crimes of nepotism in bureaucratic power and business ownership!"

This time, a cheer from several familiar business owners and industry hounds from Central Cordor. Among them is Ethan Starr, the brains and the pen behind the Amian Recorder located next to the Federation office in Central Cordor, but the sharp-eyed observer notes he doesn't cheer at all. He's too busy scratching away at a small notepad with a rough-edged quill.

The Finance Minister's arms thrust outward, palms open. "The crimes that elevated adventurers over citizens! And only because Citizen Montgomery was a mercenary-minded, feckless adventurer himself before receiving the ill-gotten mantle of duchal power!"

The announcement is made with incredible passion, and it is clear to everyone that a sore spot has been touched; Maximillian's face relaxes when, to everyone's surprise, the crowd goes markedly quiet. Suspicious (and even fearful) glances are given to those known adventurers in the crowd, those with epic reputations, those seen often loitering in Cordor's eastern district, those known to have great powers with no responsibilities. The Commonwealth is too afraid to cheer even a passing condemnation of the city's adventuring populace.

Maximillian recovers quickly. ....no, this dissention comes from those nobles who lost everything when they lost the Duke's protection. Theirs is a sorry lot. Pity them, Citizens. Their greed has sent them elsewhere to find more misbegotten fortunes, but they hold a great spite for you who have taken their undeserved authority, their nobility, and in true and just form divided this nobility amongst yourselves, so that as a Commonwealth, we share just enough of this nobility to retain its honor and its glory, and cast all of its temptation and avarice beneath our feet."

Bolstered by the admission that they are worthy people, the citizens of Cordor cheer a final time, and the Councillors appear to have said their piece. Maximillian puts a rough hand on Carton's shoulder and leads him quietly back inside the Commonwealth Center, while two stiff-necked elite guards plant themselves at the entrance, admitting entry to no one and encouraging the people themselves to take pride in their city by preventing further graffiti and reporting anyone seen conducting such heinous vandalism.