Sigil: City of Doors

Hello again Sigil, it's been a while. Though I'd like to spend a good amount of paper-space catching up, I'd rather direct your attention to a new issue at hand. Lately there's been some noise about a new school or group of schools opening up in the Bazaar and Hive Ward: an apparent non-profit whose objective is to provide educational opportunities to all Sigilian children in need.

Sounds good enough.

This announcement comes several months on the heels of the now defunct ENOW project, one which used the facade of education and altruism to conceal the selfish motives of the head: Neli La Meor, and her utterly incompetent servant Phantom. Thankfully enough, the ENOW project was run into the ground by a lack of leadership and perseverance. I follow this topic with great interest, as there are many similarities with what was once known as the ENOW project.


There is one major difference between this and ENOW, however - the fact that the Baequiannia Institute plans to employ locals - local craftsmen, local architects, local teachers, and local security. This is far less threatening (and less moronic) than ENOW's private mercenary force. A lesson learned from ENOW's utter failure, but is it enough?

It isn't because ENOW and the Baequiannia institute still have one damning similarity: Nienna.

No, Nienna was not involved in any aspect of the ENOW initiative, the similarity stems from her character traits and affiliation with shady individuals like small time thug, and newly discovered coward Hildmor D'Kridis. It is no big secret that Nienna and D'Kridis were involved in underhanded dealings together and had a dark alliance before D'Kridis fled from Sigil like a whimpering dog with his tail between his legs (this has been confirmed to me from several independent sources).

Moreoever, Nienna has a reputation as a ruthless, uncompromising, self-aggrandizing "Fiend Slayer." Even more, I suspect she thought I was trying to assist her cause when I wrote my expose on the ENOW initiative. Soon afterwards, she sent me this letter:

wrote: Greetings, Ms. Vaas

I have read for columns and editorials for some time now and have always found them refreshing. I would like to meet you in person to discuss several things, perhaps providing information for several possible stories. At the very least, I owe you a drink.

~Nienna

It is my inference that she felt she *owed* me a drink for exposing the competition, making way for this school. She found the downfall of a potentially helpful project amusing, not unfortunate or saddening. In her own arrogance, she did not consider that this reporter was not one to take sides, merely present the truth. Of course, I did not meet her, despite assuring her I would. After all, I wanted to stay on apparent friendly terms with her in the case that she sent me further revealing correspondence.

The truth is, Sigil, that the idea for the Baequiannia Institute was birthed by locals Kelth McEwan and Dom - two characters whose charisma and reliability is well known in the Bazaar as well as the Hive. It is also common knowledge that thugs like D'Kridis greatly fear them- and this will also be the case if they decide to take their efforts to the Baequiannia Institute. Any local Hive thugs or warlords will think twice before launching their forces against the likes of Kelth and Dom. Leadership under Nienna will be met with the same fierce uproar that the ENOW initiative was met with. I am unsure by what mechanism Nienna decided to take the reigns of leadership, but I am inclined to believe that it was underhanded and ruthless- based on her history of dealings and personality traits.

Unlike the ENOW initiative, I belive the Baequiannia Institute has a chance to not just survive, but thrive .... under the correct leadership. That is why, if this initiative is to not have the same fate as ENOW, then the original leaders who conceived the idea must retake the reigns from Nienna, and drive the project forward. She knows that this project must be led by the ones who founded it, if it is to succeed.


Step down, Nienna.



-OV

A letter to the editor is promptly sent in response.

wrote:Oerianna Vaas is not a journalist, as shown by her latest piece on the upcoming Baequiannia Institute.

For whatever reason, she chose not to do any investigation and simply has made wild accusations based on her own prejudices.  First, the idea of the Institute was not taken from Dom and Kelth; it was begun well around a year past.  The first public reference of it was made in your very own S.I.G.I.S. six months ago in seeking teachers and crafters. I believe this predates  their own plans and E-Now completely.

Also, there was no taking 'the reigns of leadership'.  After I learned of Dom and Kelth's intentions, I approached them and asked to combine forces, which both agreed to. in truth, Kelth will very much be my partner throughout this.  Due to Kelth and Dom's experience with the Hive, they will also have nearly full oversight of the Hive Campus with my role relegated to financial backing.

Lastly, my offer for a drink was simply because I felt Ms. Vaas conducted herself with a shred of honor and dignity. That is not the case. To avoid of there being another indignant and shamelessly misconstrued article, I will also announce that charges for libel and defamation will be put against S.I.G.I.S. and Oerianna Vaas.  The claims she has made are categorically false, and have a great deal of easily accessible facts to prove otherwise.

Good day,
Nu'oro Baequiannia

Soon enough, a new SIGIS article appears, delivered by some Indep courier:

Dear Citizens of Sigil,

I have not spoken to you in a while. One of the main reasons is that I don't like SIGIS nowadays. Latest article of one lady Vaas has a lot to do with it...and believe me or not, it's not just because of the things written about your faithful. As we all know, no lies stand strong without a grain of truth. Truth is, I am a persona-non-grata in Sigil and currently there's no sufficient reason as to why I would disregard my status and enter Sigil secretly or in the open. As for cowardice, all I can see are the words of my enemies...My friends in Sigil, however, are quite sensible and prefer to avoid discussing their business or personal experiences with me. I've no real public response to the statement for my supposed my 'fear' of Mr. Domiscus Sensbane and Mr. Kelth McEwan but those who ever witnessed the two gentlemen above and your faithful together certainly know the truth and by Her Serenity, I know am so provoking more rumours here.

E-NOW. Oh, so much for mutilating a corpse, Lady Oerianna. I am not going to comment on Lady La Meor's true motives here but I can say with certainty that most of those she led during the project had few to none selfish intentions. I can swear most of the children who used to be regiarly fed while that particular charity was still operating did not give a damn about such intentions, too. On the other hand, I can understand how a truth-seeking reporter could expose the truth and let people decide whether the deal is worth the terms even if what Lady Vas doing was nothing like that.

Baequiannia institute...Now, no love for Nienna from me. A filthy traitor, handing a fellow criminal and Indep over to the Harmonium, one could say that she's also a psychopath. However, I must admit that if she's funding something, be in non-profit or otherwise, there's...like nothing saying she can't keep running her affairs as she wishes as long as the overwhelming amount of money used to keep it up is from her pocket. Now, I am not very competent at charity or any sort of good deeds whatsoever, so excuse me if this sounds wrong here but if a collective of individuals is trying to accomplish a goal they either develop terms or go their own ways. So, if Nienna is giving the resources, she can decide as to how others participating in her project are to act. Incase she's not the only one pooling money into it, they either come to terms or separate and leave each other be. It's that simple.

Now, before Lady Oerianna wastes ink and parchment on writing that I am just offended, here: I am not really offended. I just don't like bad, horrible, incompetent misleading. Ofcourse, by saying things about your faithful she might be attempting to tell us that she's not taking sides in my and Nienna's conflict and was not bought by me. Obviously, she's not. I can afford better liars. I also hope SIGIS editors as well as those wishing to tarnish Nienna's already striped reputation can afford such too.

A certain figure sighs. He would start posting flyers again everywhere possible, using couriers to keep his identity from becoming too well known. The same 'seal as in his earlier flyers and letters would be apparant.


First however a letter gets sent to sigis. It would be delivered by a man in a white and black longcoat, an rather elaborate face mask on as well.

wrote: Miss Oerianna Vass... it seems we are destined to clash yet again. You have slandered and defamed as per the usual. Last time we met I decided to be merciful. Things could have gone far worse for you. You had gone underground for a while, yet now you rear your ugly little head once more. Your so called truth is nothing more than a distortion of such, to the point it is in no way plausible nor logical. You have done nothing but spread falsehood in order to achieve your so called goal of disseminating the truth. You just oppress it even more-so, in fact work against it. If people want the truth, they will find it themselves. Spoonfeeding them mouthfuls of Hezrou-shite will do nothing but discredit you further.

If you want to settle this again, we shall meet at Khazeets, in the middle of town, in front of everyone three cycles from now at peak. If you don't show you will just do nothing but discredit yourself even further. Oh, and I guarantee I will post a copy of this everywhere, the more people who show up to see you brought down off of your throne of deceit the better.

~N

As for the flyers getting posted all around sigil, it would display the following.

wrote: So... the feeder of lies has shown herself once more. The so called Oerianna Vass has returned to continue her campaign of falsehood. I have challenged her to show herself for once. If she doesn't or just tries to send a harmonium platoon in her stead, it would illustrate plain and clear that she is a coward that is scared of the consequences of her own actions!

I also sent a letter to her and SIGIS. If it doesn't even make it into SIGIS, you all will just see the note here instead. It is as follows.

wrote: Miss Oerianna Vass... it seems we are destined to clash yet again. You have slandered and defamed as per the usual. Last time we met I decided to be merciful. Things could have gone far worse for you. You had gone underground for a while, yet now you rear your ugly little head once more. Your so called truth is nothing more than a distortion of such, to the point it is in no way plausible nor logical. You have done nothing but spread falsehood in order to achieve your so called goal of disseminating the truth. You just oppress it even more-so, in fact work against it. If people want the truth, they will find it themselves. Spoonfeeding them mouthfuls of Hezrou-shite will do nothing but discredit you further.

If you want to settle this again, we shall meet at Khazeets, in the middle of town, in front of everyone three cycles from now at peak. If you don't show you will just do nothing but discredit yourself even further. Oh, and I guarantee I will post a copy of this everywhere, the more people who show up to see you brought down off of your throne of deceit the better.

~N

Now then, for those who truly want the truth from the Hezrous mouth, come to the bazaar 3 cycles from now, at peak. Make sure to bring a drink, something to eat, and everyone else you can muster. The truth shall come out once and for all!


For the sake of truth.

~N

*Nienna and Hildmor's letters are both quoted word for word to preface Oerianna's response:*


Dear Sigil,

She named the school after herself!


I had no idea that Nienna had changed her name to ..Baequiannia - but apparently that is how she signed a recent letter which my Editor informed me of- which is a different signature from the first letter I received from her. This is worse than I had imagined (also, it's easier than I had imagined to make my case).

Not only does she display an egregious amount of arrogance in this matter (even ENOW, with all its shortcomings, did not name itself after an individual), but also sheer ignorance. Does she not realize that SIGIS is operated from within Undersigil- and the law has the same amount of jurisdiction here as it does in every other part of Undersigil? It is my dear hope that this level of incompetence is not operating the new schools - which is why it is crucial as ever that she step down or be removed so that history does not repeat itself (see: ENOW)

As for Hildmor - his ever-so-fragile ego would not allow him to ignore my appraisal without a knee-jerk response, so it is posted above... Shouldn't he be busy running/hiding from the authorities rather than paying attention to every article that includes his name?


Finally - recent reports have picked up some propaganda flyers by a figure known as N. It is my duty to inform you who this rabble rouser is, and how he kidnapped me. *At this point, Oerianna describes her encounter with N, being sure to note his physical appearance.*


If the Guvners and Harmonium want something to do, perhaps it would be to take this menace off of the streets before he kidnaps the next person who dare express an opinion different from his.



The truth has never been popular, SIGIL, but then again, I'm not the one trying to win a popularity contest, Nienn--- or should I say Nu'oro Baequiannia is.


I may die tomorrow, but the truth never will. At worst, it will remain hidden for a time.


-Oerianna Vaas

'N' would laugh as he reads the newest issue.

He would send another note to SIGIS. The letter would also get pinned up with the rest of his flyers.

wrote:
To Oerianna Vass and the SIGIS staff.

Get everyone else involved if you want, the more spectators, the better. Order has its place, as does the opposite end of the scale. And are you sure about appearances? Memory can indeed be a fickle 'friend'.

Regardless, I will be there, waiting at the designated time and place.

He indeed did not feel unnerved or really even afraid of the consequences. He has a firm conviction in his own beliefs after all. He already planned on appearing as his actual self.

Graffiti has been scrawled on a conspicuous wall in the Bazaar:


Nienna:

Talks like an Indep
Acts like a Taker
Thinks like a Godsman

NOT WELCOME HERE!!!

A response is sent.

wrote: Again, Ms. Vaas proves she has made no effort to do any reporting or examination at all.

For there is no case to make.

The Baequiannia Institute is named after my family. I have made no effort to hide or conceal where the name came from.  Nu'oro was my given name as a child, however I have not used it in decades. I do not consider the name my own and use it only in regards to the school, because I wished it to honor my family. There's nothing egotistical about that, nor is it named after an individual.

Also, I realize S.I.G.I.S. is stationed in Undersigil. Still, there are productive judicial options available.  Further, the only similarity between the current situation and E-Now is you Ms. Vaas.  For whatever reason you are dedicated to keeping aid from the hands of the people. I do not understand what your fixation is, especially when you are willing to openly lie to inspire violence and conflict.

Considering that there has been no, nor will there be, of forcing of aid or change; I do not see how this private charity is of your concern. The only people who will be directly affected by the Baequiannia Institute are those who choose to become employed, and those who choose to become students.

Good eve,
Nu'oro Baequiannia

EDIT: HAD to take out the second "Also", it was driving me nuts!

A less than hesitant Zoel-Ahra evidently sees this propagate nonsense as an excuse to stirr even more unnecessary chaos.

She cares little for the wellbeing of Nienna, or for the wellbeing of the project, but this Oerianna was clearly just as much a problem if not a greater one for her scheming and propaganda... it was almost as if, she was an Anarchist.

The Mercykiller convinced herself to a point of fanatacism of her logic, this and E-Now had been signs of this Vaas riot stirring, her actions signified a small womans voice could raise significant interest from mindless sheep needing a hard hand to tend the flock.

The Harmonium had failed to react the way that was necessary, they tried too passionatley to quell the fire and only stirred it.

She would not make the same mistake.

Concerned only with assuring order, law and co-operation can be instilled, she turned immediatley to the Justicar that commanded her unit and demanded permission to apprihend the woman. As to her reasoning? The Harmonium had failed, and they did not need to know 'everything' the Mercykillers did in the name of Justice.

Her Justicar, a rather clever and wry individual had raised her to understand this, Yuren Xaosbane was a firm handed Yuan-Ti of a glare that could make even the firmest mind crumble. She smiled at Zoel's wry plan and nodded approvingly.

"Bring this Oerianna to us for... interogation... make certain the Sons of Mercy do not catch wind of what must be done, not even the Harmonium must know."

"They will not Justicar, by the laws of the Mercykillers, I am innocent of all crimes in the eyes of my peers?" She asked as if requesting permission.

"You are child, now go, find this Oerianna and bring her to us... she can be useful, if bent, broken and reforged to our purposes."

She nodded in turn. "I will do so, without hesitation."

Red fire gleemed in her eyes. A pray, a hunt, a conquest.

She would not hesitate, and she would not stop untill Oerianna was found, conquered and broken to their will.

Zoel was not an expert of disguise and espionage, but she knew how to at least blend into a crowd, for a while.

She wore a suit of armour not so unlike the one she already did, but altered its colourscheme to make her appear even more shady. The rust brown armour made her look like an outcast trying to get away. It wasnt the best disguse for her nature, but she wasnt here to have a long term disguise.

She headed deep into the bowels of Undersigil and observed, simply observed. She watched the filth traveling dwellers of the dark for signs of anything that could point her to this hidden base, possibly even a safehouse Vaas uses...

She waited... and watched.