Sigil: City of Doors

I will not, and cannot speak for all my fellow anarchists and revolutionaries. I speak for myself alone. I wish to share with you a few thoughts. I have been so busy living my life that I had not taken time to look at it… to examine how I’ve existed. I know that a time comes for everyone when we are forced to sit back and look at life. That time, generally, is wise old age. I, though, have not become wise enough to expect to ever reach that point. I’m enough of a realist to know my time will come before I’m permitted the opportunity to reflect in old age. Most people who look at life never live it. What they see is not life but a mere shadow of it. They only see illusion. They have not been taught that life is a curse visited upon them by inept Gods of the ‘Verse. Most people look at life as a stepping-stone to a paradise in the hereafter. They dare not live life as it presents itself. It means taking a risk. It means giving up their little material achievements, wealth and station. It means going against "public opinion" and the laws and rules of Sigil. There are few people who have the daring and the courage to give up that which they surround themselves with. They fear that their possible gain will not equal what they give up. As for myself, I can say with absolute honesty that I can give these things up. I was not born and raised so much as I was "grown." I grew with life, life in all its aspects, in all its heights and in all its depths. The price to pay was high, of course, but if I had to pay it all over again, I would gladly do it, for unless you are willing to pay the price, unless you are willing to plunge into the very depths, you will never be able to climb to the heights of life.

For me, life presented itself in different forms at different ages. Between the age of eight and twelve, after my father was executed, I dreamed of becoming an adventurer. I longed to grow rich delving into portals and returning with victorious gold. When I was fourteen I wanted to study healing, so I could help my fellow-beings. When I was fifteen I wished to become Factol... of any Faction. To rule over others and become strong, but at sixteen I decided on a more purposeful life. Free and alive.

Then came my independent life in SigilÂ… life on my own. I found work in the Lower Ward, with its dirty foundries, pounding metal for twelve hours a day for ten jink a week. This was followed by the greatest event in my entire life, the event which made me what I am today. It was a tragedy of the Hive ten years ago when five of the noblest men were judicially murdered by the Red Death and their oppressive allies. They were Anarchist cell leaders who were legally assassinated just for being Anarchists. Their deaths sanctioned by the law that was supposed to protect them. These five were killed for defying the Lords of Order. The state sanctioned death of these Sigil freedom fighters was my spiritual rebirth: their ideals became the reasons for my entire life.

Now I know that most of you have a very confused, very strange, perhaps frightened and usually false conception of Anarchism. I donÂ’t blame you. You get your knowledge from the Lords who control your city. Yet this is the last place you should seek out the truth. Anarchism, to the great teachers of knowledge and enlightenment, is not a dogma, not a thing that drains the blood from the heart and makes people zealots. Anarchism is a releasing and liberating force. It teaches people to rely on their own possibilities. It teaches them faith in liberty and inspires men and women to strive for a society where every one shall be free and secure. There is neither freedom nor security in the city today. Whether one is rich or poor, whether his station is high or low, no one is secure or free so long as there is a single slave in the Cage. No one is safe or secure so long as he must submit to the orders, whim or will of another who has the power to punish him, to send him to prison or to take his life, to dictate the terms of his existence, from birth to death.

ItÂ’s not only because of love for one's family and friend--it is for the sake of all that people must learn to understand the meaning and significance of Anarchism, and it will not be long before they will appreciate the great importance and the beauty of its philosophy.

Anarchism rejects any attempt of a Faction, or of any individual for that matter, to control the lives of others. Anarchism exists on its faith in society and its possibilities, while all other Factions have no faith in society whatsoever. The other Factions demand that we cannot govern ourselves and that we must be ruled over or be destroyed. Today most people believe that the stronger the ruling Factions are, the more successful the city will be. It is the old adage of the rod. The more it is used on the child, the finer it will be when grown to adulthood. We have freed ourselves from that idiocy. We have come to understand that education does not mean crippling, twisting and brainwashing the young. We have learned that freedom in the development of the child creates better results both for the child and society as a whole.

That, free people of Sigil, is Anarchism. Greater freedom and opportunities for every soul in society. This betters society as a whole and increases the creative and constructive lives of everyone. That, in brief, has been the ideal to which I have devoted my life.

Anarchism is not a cut-and-dried philosophy. It is the internal spirit embracing all of life. Therefore I do not direct this explanation only to some specific elements in Sigil: I do not explain myself only to the Hivers. I do not explain myself only to workers and serfs. I address myself to the upper classes as well, for they need enlightenment even more than the Cagers they strive to control. Life itself teaches the masses, and it is a strict, effective and powerful teacher. Unfortunately life does not educate those who consider themselves to be above others, the better educated, the superior or the more powerful. I have always believed that every form of information that helps to broaden the imagination of men and women is most useful and should be employed. For in the great scheme of things, the grand adventure--which is freedom, the true inspiration of all idealists, poets and artists--is the only adventure worth striving and living for.

I do not know how many of you have read Gorki's fantastic prose-poem called "The Snake and the Falcon." The snake cannot understand the falcon. "Why don't you rest here in the dark, in the good slimy moisture?" the snake demands. "Why soar to the heavens? Don't you know the dangers lurking there, the stress and storm awaiting you there, and the hunter's bow which will bring you down and destroy your life?" But the falcon paid no heed. It spread its wings and soared through space, its triumphant song resounding through the heavens. One day the falcon was brought down, blood streaming from its heart, and the snake said: "You fool, I warned you, I told you to stay where I am, in the dark, in the good warm moisture, where no one could find you and harm you." But with its last breath the falcon replied: "I have soared through space, I have scaled dazzling heights, I have beheld the light, I have lived, I have lived!"

Now that I have explained myself, my philosophy and my position I lay down this offer to all sides. If you do not reside in the HiveÂ… remove yourself from it. Whether Mercykiller, Harmonium, Orc or Indep. If the Hive is not your home remove yourselves from it now. We will not stop you or attack in your retreat. Seal it from the outer edges for all I care but allow the free people of the Hive time to heal. Do this, in entirety, and I will make official statement to call off all attacks against the other factions. I will call for truce and will try to bring peace to the city. Enough blood has been spilled. Enough invaders have settled in our midst. Remove all outsiders from our home and there will be peace and dialogue. Maintain presence within the Hive, even minimal and dispersed and we will continue our fightÂ… both from within and from outside. This war will escalate and pour out from the Hive. Peace can be brought by you. Consider this offer carefully as it will not hold forever.

I eagerly, and earnestly, await reply.


Signed


~Phoenix~





(((ooc: Much of this was taken from, and inspired from, “An Anarchist looks at life” by Emma Goldman’s 1933 speech. It has been modified and added to so it would fit the genre of Sigil, my characters outlook on things and other events in play. Gorki's prose-poem, "The Snake and the Falcon" is an actual poem by an actual writer. Although a real world poet I decided to leave it as is (only word changed was Gun (to bow) for literacy’s sake.)))

*Lorich reads the ... or rather skips large portions and mutters* "Father executed.." snicker and muttering how the job should've included rest of the family "Justice served..." approving muttering "False thoughts of Anarchists? "Oh hey, I blew up these places, but I'm totally misunderstood!" twat, even reading this makes me feel sick." he tosses the paper to trashcan and makes his way to find closest S.I.G.I.S. reporter to put his own reply...

wrote:Hey mister "I blow thee up to FREE you",

That's a fancy story you wrote, but ain't going to settle your past crimes, and don't even start with "I want peace" trash when you started the war by fighting the established order. Now be the big, or small, man and come to meet your trials. Or cut the crap and hide again. Run and hide, since I'm still getting paid to take you down. I'll even let you know that I have a booked room in Foul Olde Spirit inn, that should make it easy to blow up for you. And if you won't, I'll just come after you still.

Oh and to end it in corny manner like yourself "Peace can be brought by you.", or pieces can be brought by me.

- Lorich Bladesworn.

After the aggressive S.I.G.I.S. message he went to book infact three rooms in Foul Olde Spirit Inn, despite the arguments of Muriel which made him have to pay some extra to persuade her, might have something to do with his attitude also. All next to each other... but not only that, he actually went to book another room in an inn not too far away.

Alisohn had been quite silent of late, but a statement was finally given.

Fortunatley for Phoenix, the statement would only give him publicity after his attempt to negociate "peace":

There will be no diplomacy.

You, and your kind are a pox on Sigil. An infestation of the lowest kind, a fire that tries to spread from building to building, person to person, soul to soul. You will spread no further, my purpose, my factions purpose, is to "end" you, Phoenix, and all of your kind.

The city of doors, has no need for revolutionaries who would do more damage than good. How many lives did you let die for the 'cause' in the name of your 'righteous' belief. You hide under the veil of lies that protect you but no truth is greater than this:

You are a coward.

I will weed you out like the unhealthy razorvine on the wall. My faction will personally hunt you like a rabbit made for the game of dogs, and between them, they will tear you apart.

Your "kind" do nothing for this city but bring more unnecessary turmoil to its doors. Might I remind you of the case of Marcus Rose, one of "your" colleagues, who quite happily bragged how he slaughtered hundreds of lives for a cause!

YOU CALL THIS JUSTICE?!

Justice, is perfect, flawless, uncorruptable.

Justice, is virtue beyond measure, action beyond doubt.

Justice, is fair, honorable and most of all...

Justice, is PURE.

There is no justice in the Anarchist belief, your factoins entire manifesto is to bring down a thousand lives just to see the city fall apart with your own bloody hands.

No, there is no "diplomacy" here, there is only certainty.

I will wipe the city of your faction to the very last Anarchist and watch you and your conspirators hang on the gallows.

And as for your companions, and minions...

There are far worse places than the abyss, we can send them towards.

FEAR, earns, respect.

The people will fear the hand of justice...

Or they will be culled by it.

SUCH, is the way of The Red Death!

FEAR, earns, respect.

The people will fear the hand of justice...

Or they will be culled by it.

SUCH, is the way of The Red Death!

...And there we have it. The finality of the threat is very clear. The Red Death, self declared butchers of Sigil, place final threat directly at the free people of the city.

We must obey the Mercykillers or we will be slaughtered.

We will not be led like sheep to slaughter. We will not be chained in fear and forced into servitude. We will not be reduced to mindless slaves by the child guard in charge of the Red Death.

You have made a grave error with this threat, child guard. Moreso than I could ever have imagined. You have single handidly turned the entire unaligned city against you. You have shown your true colours by demanding that every single member of society must obey your Faction. Whether they be Indeps, Godsmen, Guvnor or Harmonium. It is your vision that must be obeyed. They are only secondary and exist, by your mercy, to facilitate you.

You have just furthered the cause of the revolution more than I could have ever done on my own.

So, no... we will not surrender. I have called for peace and you have refused. I have called for the people of the Hive to be spared and given time to heal... and you have refused. I simply asked for a truce... called for calm.

You will not have it.

Very well.

I now call on every supporter proficient enough to destroy the Mercykillers. My fight is no longer with the Harmonium. It is with the biggest threat to this city. It is with the Red Death. It is with the faction demanding slavery or death. This faction must be eradicated if the free people are to survive.

I ask every supporter proficient enough to strike from beyond the Hive. To take the battle to the home of the Red Death. Burn them out of their homes. Cut them down in the smoke and chaos. Char their legacy.

Take the battle from the Hive. Take it to the other sanctuaries of the Cage.

The Red Death has openly called for war against the free people of Sigil...

... and war they'll get...

*The Harmonium adds their own reply to S.I.G.I.S.*

Any civilians within the Hive Ward will be invited to our newly made Fort Safe Haven, it is a small briefly secured fortification now made to Hive Ward where we provide food and shelter for those that cannot defend themselves.

No Anarchists nor Mercykillers will be allowed to act within this fort during these times, nor will they be allowed to enter the fort. Any Anarchists found within the fort will be prosecuted and taken to Harmonium Barracks Holding cells to wait for trials. It will not be entirely possible for us Harmonium to defend the entire ward, so we have taken a second objective to first secure the civilian lives. We urge the Hivers to not remain at their houses, and only take what they need to the shelters, the space is not unlimited.

If you are willing to contribute this act of peace, then provide your aid to the Fort Safe Haven by sending food supplies or blankets to make the stay for Hivers more pleasant at the time.


Any non-Mercykillers and Anarchists found within Hive joining this war will be prosecuted for assault and act of murders accordingly. No vigilantism will be allowed by the Harmonium. This war has gone long enough and we do not want any further grief to spread around.

- Harmonium