Tweet
Rastellia reads a copy of the petition to repeal the Vellik Act at the Corps de Grace Headquarters in Sestra and ponders it for some time. At least two bottles of wine are consumed as she mulls over the implications. After some time she takes up a quill and ink and begins to write a response.
When she's finished she transcribes it onto fine parchment using the best inks that she can find and has it delivered to the Arbiters in Sundren City. That done, she begins to travel to each town and settlement in Sundren delivering the letter as a speech but with far less flowery words. She speaks in the language of the common man where appropriate and in a more learned tongue when the situation warrants but she does not stray or back down from her points.
She does not sign the petition.
Many people have begun recently to work on the task of repealing the Vellik Act. While it is true that many of those who worship and follow the teachings of the Lord of Darkness are despicable persons who hold others in contempt and hatred it is not true for many who worship him out of fear and misunderstanding.
Opposing those who wish Sundren and its people ill is a noble and often exalted calling but forcing into hiding those with the desire to spread fear and terror into the hearts of our people can do little but bring back the days when the Black Hand and its agents were unknown and were able to operate with relative impunity.
Right now we can easily know which of the registered worshipers of the Dark Lord are members of the Black Hand. You can ask them. Service and fear of the Lord of Darkness are so instilled in his most devout followers that they're unable to lie effectively about their affiliation with the Black Hand. Nor could they because their Dark Lord would look on it as a sign of weakness in his followers; his followers are instructed to fear no one more than him. It would be an utter failing of his followers to fear the repercussions to a truthful answer to the simple question, "Are you a member of the Black Hand?" It can be meaningfully answered only by stating "yes" or "no."
I have witnessed registered Banites get utterly confused and frustrated when approached in this manner. A halfling that I have asked the question to would not answer it at all. Instead he evaded the question and left in a very angered state of mind. If he had not been a member of the Black Hand he would have had very little to fear from anyone. By refusing to answer at all there can be only one thing that can be deduced. He is a member of the organization that seeks to enslave not only the people of Sundren but the people of Faerun as well. He is a member of the Black Hand.
Repealing the Vellik Act will also have dire consequences for the heroes and protectors of Sundren. Allowing anyone with the means and the will to be able to attack and kill anyone who might be associated with the Black Hand would, in fact, be performing the very works that the Tyrant would presumably smile upon. Good people would, out of fear, turn to the Dark Lord for protection from the very people that are supposed to be protecting them from him. How can we expect the good people of Sundren to respect our heroes when those heroes will be on a witch hunt to find any Banites that may be in hiding?
For the sake of Sundren and the good people within it I urge the Arbiters to weigh carefully any decision regarding repealing or changing the Vellik Act.
--Rastellia
Opposing those who wish Sundren and its people ill is a noble and often exalted calling but forcing into hiding those with the desire to spread fear and terror into the hearts of our people can do little but bring back the days when the Black Hand and its agents were unknown and were able to operate with relative impunity.
Right now we can easily know which of the registered worshipers of the Dark Lord are members of the Black Hand. You can ask them. Service and fear of the Lord of Darkness are so instilled in his most devout followers that they're unable to lie effectively about their affiliation with the Black Hand. Nor could they because their Dark Lord would look on it as a sign of weakness in his followers; his followers are instructed to fear no one more than him. It would be an utter failing of his followers to fear the repercussions to a truthful answer to the simple question, "Are you a member of the Black Hand?" It can be meaningfully answered only by stating "yes" or "no."
I have witnessed registered Banites get utterly confused and frustrated when approached in this manner. A halfling that I have asked the question to would not answer it at all. Instead he evaded the question and left in a very angered state of mind. If he had not been a member of the Black Hand he would have had very little to fear from anyone. By refusing to answer at all there can be only one thing that can be deduced. He is a member of the organization that seeks to enslave not only the people of Sundren but the people of Faerun as well. He is a member of the Black Hand.
Repealing the Vellik Act will also have dire consequences for the heroes and protectors of Sundren. Allowing anyone with the means and the will to be able to attack and kill anyone who might be associated with the Black Hand would, in fact, be performing the very works that the Tyrant would presumably smile upon. Good people would, out of fear, turn to the Dark Lord for protection from the very people that are supposed to be protecting them from him. How can we expect the good people of Sundren to respect our heroes when those heroes will be on a witch hunt to find any Banites that may be in hiding?
For the sake of Sundren and the good people within it I urge the Arbiters to weigh carefully any decision regarding repealing or changing the Vellik Act.
--Rastellia
She does not sign the petition.