Dearest Saruman and Epich,

I know neither of your posts were directed at me or the clan I am a
member of. However, I happen to be a free thinker and I do live by my
own standards.

Some individuals choose to belong to communities, and these communities
are usually based on political views. These communities form governments
(whether governments are good or not is an issue I won't tackle
may each find the path that best suits them). Since the political views
that originally pulled those individuals together were the same, a body
of guards is easily funded, formed, and implemented.

As I mentioned, these individuals have the same political views or
similar enough to cohabit in a community. But the way how each
individual behaves is very different. And there lies the problem. If a
community stands for a certain ideal there are at least to possible
scenarios for the political life of the community. One where the ideal s
unique objective and predefined. And another where the ideal is subject
to individual interpretations. The instant the government takes a stance
the disagreeing body of the community becomes in one way or another
oppressed by a government that counts with the support of some of the
citizens. Immediately those whose views happen to agree with the
government take an attitude similar to a herd, where the leader sets the
path to be taken. Those attuned with the government's view stay and the
rest take the highway.

There are many rogues in the land. Some belong to no guild, some belong
to no city, and some belong to neither. I am one of these I belong to no
guild and no city. But I do not consider myself an anarchist. I just
happen to live peacefully dealing with my life one day at a time, and
facing one problem after the other. The longer I live like this, the
less I understand governments and the more I think that the best way to
fight oppression and discrediting governments is by leaving their cities
or communities.

Some cities even go the extreme of tell their guilds which citizenships
are appropriate for the members of the guild. A case of government
influencing (to put it mildly) another government. Unfortunately, many
guilds determine the city where their members can (or not) live. If
governments were supported only by those who agree 100% with their
ideals most wars would be avoided, because governments would have very
little support and thus, power.

As Saruman mentioned, if you belong to an organization (be it a guild or
city) and pay taxes, and buy credits, and approve a system to fine, and
basically finance the very existence of the government, make sure the
government is working to fit your ideals, not the other way around.

Thank you for your time and patience,

Ottis D'lajess

PS: Needless to say this are my views exclusively. Nobody else's.


Penned by my hand on the 15th of Miraman, in the year 331 AF.