The Works of Vindolanda #2 Pamphleteer

This character I am playing, Thrush Vindolanda, is drawn from a variety of sources.  One of these sources is Thomas Paine, the great pamphleteer of the American Revolution.  Here is a piece I (he) wrote early in our campaign to flesh him out a bit and--of course--add some depth to the world, itself.

CONCERNING a RECENT INCIDENT that commenced PEACEABLY in 
a PUBLIC PARK!  

My dear FELLOW KINTARGANS!
What is happening to our fair city--nay--to all of Ravounel?  Many are aware of the recent unpleasantness  that occured in front of our OWN OPERA HOUSE where we have become accustomed to gather to celebrate, to discuss, and to air our differences in a PEACEFUL and WHOLESOME fashion.  I will not bore you with the details of that event except to say that our OSTENSIBLE LEADER sent from the capital of this empire to nurture and grow our community instead treated its citizens in the most VILE and INSULTING manner!  Then, of course, he set his dogs on those peacefully gathered.  Yes, he turned the DOTTARI against those they are sworn to protect.  Yes THEY are dogs!  However, this small minded petty-tyrant also used ACTUAL DOGS FROM THE PITS OF HELL to disperse them!  I could go on, my friends, but the blood boils hot at the thought and I know it does for you as well.  

Nay, I want us to consider why the citizenry gathered in the first place.  Why did our neighbors throng in protest bearing that time honored symbol of resistance, the PUSH BROOM? I need not tell you that the humble broom is there to clean streets, stages, and CORRUPTION of all kinds and that is why they were carried on this recent fair morning as we always have in times of need!

THE REASON is that THE THRUNISH UNDERLING WHO CLAIMS TO RULE THIS CITY has ATTACKED our very LIFEBLOOD!

We--here in this glorious, FREE THINKING land--rely on commerce and the arts for our livelihood and the depth of our culture.  Perhaps you can pass off the BANNING of EMBROIDERY as a concern for the nobles and the wealthy, but to do so would be to deny everyone’s right--as free people--to self-expression.  Maybe you DON”T LIKE TEA, though that seems unlikely.  HOWEVER no true Kintargan can ABIDE the CLOSING OF OUR PORTS to trade and the SEIZING OF OUR OPERA HOUSE, itself!  

While it is all fair and good that this copper-piece THRUNE who puts on airs is interested in the arts, but art is for sharing, for growing the IMAGINATION of the CITIZENRY and not merely for the consumption of Ergoian TOADIES.  As for the port...what true governor would prevent the easy flow of goods and people, if not for the diversity in art and ideas such a flow brings? This THRUNE does not abide diversity...look at what he has done to our many temples. Look at what he has done to make us SLAVES! Yet that is to be expected.  He is a narrow-minded dolt whose trappings conceal a limited intellect. At LEAST, though he may not be capable of ORIGINAL or MORAL thought, his advisors would understand the basics of commerce, the NECESSITY of TRADE!  Does the Empress know about this?  One can only imagine NOT!

These are the times that try our souls, my fellow-folk.  Do not succumb to the normalization of oppression but resist, resist, resist, RESIST now in small--even secret--ways later in greater ones as time and circumstance alter the state of our affairs.  

ABOVE ALL please know...you are not alone.  We are better than this low state our occupiers drive us to and yes...WE WILL RISE!!!


“When all the singing falls silent, 
and the rageful raging of the streets diffuses
with  the dim echo of fellow-feeling,
circling ‘round and ‘round the tired state of mundanity
we remember 
that resistance finds its way 
whenever--whether by prince or prophet or profit 
or country or creed or profit and profit--
hellhounds surge upon our body and soul
yet we are not consumed”
---A CHILD OF RAVUONEL