Part 1: The Speeches in Ithamar
The plan was to travel to Ithamar via Buchend. And after Ithamar to go to the other nearby towns. Daron would depend on the Lucky Fate Squad for his added security.
But first some time at Buchend
Dressed in his stretchy loosing fitting cloths and black Trench coat with his death stone axe on his back and his cannon on his side Both attached to belts incase he shifted… Walks to his place in front of the Crowd.
Daron says to them “Thank you for coming. I am here to STAND with you, STAND with Refuge. I’m hear to listen to what is needed. Find out what is needed. Learn about those I can meet.
I’ve heard there is a Dance Hall here, and I hope I get to see it. But first.
I use the word stand because it means something. And the first part is what brings me here today because of what I heard. The S stands for security. Security is the key to everything, raising a family, building a business, trade. And we need a better way that these issues up to those who can help. Too often too much is lost before help arrives. We need a way where anyone can report a concern across the colonies so either the EEF or the colony itself can rectify the issue. We need to bring help to those in need quickly and efficiently.
I’m told there is an issue with Hydra attacks? I would be interested to see and check out things while I’m here on my way to Ithamar. Hopefully I will be able to bring more light to this issue and maybe help out myself while I’m here.”
Daron spent the day out in the swamp fighting hard against hydras for hours. When they said they had a Hydra problem they weren’t kidding. He spend the entire day fighting and only cleared out a single hydra nest. He estimated another twenty nests still in the nearby marshes.
When he arrived at Ithamar he was still tired, and barely had enough time to bathe and get the swamp muck out of his fur before going onstage for his speech. Standing there before the people of Ithamar he instantly regretted stepping into a double speech with a battle in between. His body ached and his voice hurt as he began.
“Thank you for coming. I am here to STAND with you, STAND with Refuge. I’ve spent a long time figuring out what I STAND for. What can I do as Colony General and why should everyone vote for me.
STAND - Security, Trade, Access, Nation, and Determination. STAND. Let me explain my plan.
Security is the key to everything, raising a family, building a business, trade. And we need a better way that these issues up to those who can help. Too often too much is lost before help arrives. We need a way where anyone can report a concern across the colonies so either the EEF or the colony itself can rectify the need as quickly as possible. We need to bring help to those in need quickly and efficiently. This should be throughout the colonies so everyone knows how to get help. This is a huge goal, but it is achievable.
Trade. Trade is how we make our livings. Whether we trade in goods or skills. We need to expand and make it easier to trade across the colonies. Bring in the Provincial Colonies as full colonies. This will bring in more trade and give more areas for you to trade with.
Access. Access can be security, education, or location. If someone corrupt is crushing a small town, everyone should have access to report this. Education. If there was a way to save a farmer’s crops, those farmers and those who buy the farms food would all benefit. The farmer would have more crops and with more supply food maybe a bit cheaper overall. A win for both. And Access to Trade and travel. Race should not matter for you to have security and opportunities.
Nation. Do not discount this too quickly. Refuge is a place of where if enough believe in something and focus their desire for something, it can happen. We of the Colonies already share a military that protects us. We already work together in many cases for a common purpose. Colonies can still keep individuality. Though by realizing we work together and continue to work together for the common good, we could do much more to help each other.
We are all in this together.
Each of these, Security, Trade, Access, Nation will make us Safer and more prosperous. But there is one more thing we need.
Determination. Determination to see this through. Determination to get change for the better. I will continue to work for the improvements I talk about. Determination will be needed to get those afraid of another to work together. To get change, you will need to try and try and try again. If this was easy it would be done now. I won’t give up until on trying to help those I’m asking to serve and protect.
I ask for you to stand with me even as those who are afraid or seek their own power try to undermine or skew our message.
STAND with me and I’ll STAND with you. Whether an Earther, Olgog, Uth, Bastard, or any of the Children of the Falosini, we should all STAND together. STAND for the Colonies and STAND for Refuge.
Thank you.”
He finished his speech and shuffled off the stage. He made it as far as backstage, where he literally fell into Hekeriki’s hands. She had been right at stage left operating one of the many cameras onsight. Dressed in a white suit, with a pink backpack.
At first she was worried Daron had been injured or poisoned, but a quick check of his vitals, and his exuberant snore let her know he had just pushed himself way too hard within a twenty-four hour period. She created a white unicorn, and tossed Daron over its back.
Hekeriki had her squadmembers, Fonzie and crew, bring Daron back to his rooms and put him to bed and stand guard over him.
Hekeriki noticed there was a young Earther standing next to the security. The security officers had their pistols out and pointed at a tall Mummy-like undead with a dirty top hat, while the young man with the nametag Johnny D, was exposing what looked like chimera breath weapon glands embedded in the mummy’s neck. The security led the mummy fellow off site, while Johnny D went back to checking people on line.
Hekeriki was looking out at the crowd, she had sworn she had seen someone hurling a fish, but it had been intercepted by a big burly brezan who was dressed like security.
When it was Captain Oliver’s turn, after Candidate Daron, the former KGM officer would step up proudly. Waving to the crowd he would fly an EEF Flag before reverently placing it in a stand.
After he placed it, he was struck by a rotting fish hurled by one of the crowd members. Oliver could not help but note there were three men in retro pinstripe suits of the style common to the 99s in the area where the fish had come from. He wiped away the rotting fish, but it clung to him, making what should have been a triumphant speech be one of constant upset.
Captain Oliver began, "Good Evening, people of Ithamar. You know, you have to trust the people of a Colony like Ithamar. They live all day, every day under constant threat of annihilation. A threat of annihilation every day all day. In fact some of you folks are living an undead life because of those very annihilation mines throughout this beautiful city.
I have no fear standing here in Ithamar. You see Ithamar represents the very existential threat every colony faces. Whether its the Northern Kingdoms and their technomancy, or the Kasanthians and their nightmare slaves. If its Doomwyrms, or Sea Kings, or the Iron Republic invading from above. They all represent the daily fear and threat that you all experience EVERY SINGLE DAY.
The rest of the Colonies needs to learn from Ithamar. We all need to hone our resilience. It is hard work to do right, and harder work to do well.
The Other Candidates are simply not ready to face that danger.
Some like Jeremiah Strykker and Arnold Grimaldus can make hard decisions, yes, but their past decisions have always been over kill. They will nuke those who would be our allies. And they will alienate our friends. Why do you think it is even after WE COLONISTS spilled our blood to liberate the I’tashis they still do not trust us? Why do you think it is the Southern Lands are still in conflict?
Some like Candidate Wengyr and Candidate Yildor are zealots hidden in plain site. They will sell out those among you they disagree with. They will purge you. They will kill your children if they disagree with these candidates. Do NOT trust them.
Then there are others like Candidate Daron. What can I say about Candidate Daron, except he is not a colonist and never has been. He never lived in the colonies for a long period. He is a tourist, who sees the Colony as a bauble to be taken. Don’t let an unknown person like him divert this prestigious role of Colony General into the hands of someone who…is…not…a…colonist.
There will be others who say they should be Colony General. BUT I SAY NO. And you should too.
Vote for the only Colony General who will support the rights of All walks of life, All Philosophies. I will even go a step further and say that if I am voted Colony General I will support the full rights of any sentient being in the Provisional Colonies to be recognized as a citizen. While the current colonies may continue to rule themselves as they see fit. I will ask that any Provisional Colony that is recognized as a full colony can even give citizenship to citizens who may lack lifeforce but still have sentience like many of the undead here in Ithamar.
Imagine a day when you could move down to sunny Zh’Ka’al or the United Tribal Lands and have the full rights of a citizen! That is my promise to you people of Ithamar.
