₊˚🂡   Those with ties to Dubious Origins or otherwise the less than savory sort… would recognize these words within Thieve’s Cant.

Short and simple, written on the backside of an Ace of Spades—pinned to the board with a dagger. 🂡₊˚

Sick of getting played?

Change your hand.

༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻

{!} A new poster found itself nailed to Albern's Crossing noticeboard. {!}

For those whom wish to visit with the Spirit in this town,
the shrine behind the home labeled “the Drake Warden” is open for you.

Do so in peace.

- Eivor

༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻

»»———-　🂡　———-««
Heavy is the Crown
»»———-　🂡　———-««
P.S.: READ THE SPOILER PLEASE!

(!) Mysterious poems find themselves scattered about at random. Those relaxing in the shade of a tree by the fountain, or resting beneath the bleachers of the pit may find themselves in its company. Sparse and few between, but legible enough. (!)

They raised bright banners in the square,
Strung up lanterns by the sea,
For someone crowned without a vote,
Declared her Birth a sight to see,

So dance and cheer and drink away,
Let viper smiles hide quiet pleas--
That even Queens with Paper Crowns
Cannot outlast the patient seas. 

Seeking a Teacher

Lua is seeking a teacher underneath The Dreaming One. Please, contact me if you can help me.

(Please.)

♡Clearance Sale at Romance and Ribbons!♡

Hello! The previous owner left in a hurry, and forgot to take these lovely pieces with him. Why don't you take them off my hands for the low low price of fifty crowns?

»»———-　🂡　———-««
 Birds of a Feather
»»———-　🂡　———-««

(!) New notices found in odd places. Tucked beneath bleachers at the pit, or near fountains. Where you wouldn't expect it. (!)

I remember a day when even the Spire stood strong in defiance against the Empires of this world. As a beacon of choice and prosperity without the weight of a royal family dictating when you could breathe or hope. Vassal to none, I'd see the notices spout. 

It is a sad thing, to see even that vanish from this town's last remaining dignity. First you allow a dictatorship to strip away your right to vote without say. And then you welcome Valkia itself into the Spire's walls, as if their true views on us are distant memory, and treat their Princess as if she has a place here. As if royalty has a place here. 

It is no surprise that your Queen fancied herself to stand alongside this princess, to shower her in gifts and praise. Birds of a feather, as they say. Of course she'd support the royalty of our enemy. And with the war brewing so close to home, and dignitaries from all over vying for expansions of their lands, it certainly looks like a good direction to go. Win the favor of other "royals", solidify yourself as one. 

And then, as if to rub salt in the wounds, she announces that she will 'allow' you to vote upon the new Chancellor, instead of  giving it to yet another unchosen member of her circle. A little reminder of what you so willingly let yourself lose.

Watch your rights, Spirefolk. For when they run out of scapegoats to beat and drown, 
all that is left is you. 

(!) Below this is a few scribbled names. Seemingly with no further meaning. (!)
Meriel
Magnolia
Fukuro
Lua
Edvard
Crow

kass:

»»———-　🂡　———-««
 Birds of a Feather
»»———-　🂡　———-««

---

(!) New notices found in odd places. Tucked beneath bleachers at the pit, or near fountains. Where you wouldn't expect it. (!)

I remember a day when even the Spire stood strong in defiance against the Empires of this world. As a beacon of choice and prosperity without the weight of a royal family dictating when you could breathe or hope. Vassal to none, I'd see the notices spout. 

It is a sad thing, to see even that vanish from this town's last remaining dignity. First you allow a dictatorship to strip away your right to vote without say. And then you welcome Valkia itself into the Spire's walls, as if their true views on us are distant memory, and treat their Princess as if she has a place here. As if royalty has a place here. 

It is no surprise that your Queen fancied herself to stand alongside this princess, to shower her in gifts and praise. Birds of a feather, as they say. Of course she'd support the royalty of our enemy. And with the war brewing so close to home, and dignitaries from all over vying for expansions of their lands, it certainly looks like a good direction to go. Win the favor of other "royals", solidify yourself as one. 

And then, as if to rub salt in the wounds, she announces that she will 'allow' you to vote upon the new Chancellor, instead of  giving it to yet another unchosen member of her circle. A little reminder of what you so willingly let yourself lose.

Watch your rights, Spirefolk. For when they run out of scapegoats to beat and drown, 
all that is left is you. 

---

(!) Below this is a few scribbled names. Seemingly with no further meaning. (!)
Meriel
Magnolia
Fukuro
Lua
Edvard
Crow

---

Spoiler

Same warning as before. Please do not take this OOCly, my char is just STARKLY anti-monarchy etc. c: 

A missive for Cowards and their ilk

To those who would hide in shadows, stoking fear and admonishing those for celebrating hope... Why hide? Why not spout your hideous libel in the light? Mud is your shroud, that is why!

Step into our view and let us discuss the problems with the Spire, instead of hiding behind anonymous messages. That is the only way forward.

From a warrior unafraid of the light and of criticism...

𓆩✧𓆪 Florian 𓆩✧𓆪

[A scrawled, yet legible notice is pinned onto the board...repeatedly. The unsigned notice reads as the following:]

There was a circus at the festival.

They chose to have them there, chose to give them a tent and a place to be safe, and didn’t let anyone who’d been hurt, anyone who’d lost something do anything about it. In this time, the circus was chosen over the people we’d lost.

They claim this is a fringe group, a splinter, a change of leadership, everything else is fine, but doesn’t that feel convenient? That this circus just conveniently did away with all the bad and everyone that’s left is perfectly normal?

Let me tell you a story, then.

The first day of the festival, someone was taken: three people were attacked and only two walked away.
They still have the third.

He is, or maybe was, a resident of the spire - a doctor, a hero, a loved one to many. Someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s friend. And in the so-called peace of the faire, he was snatched away. Those who were attacked were not even armed.
And we are allowed to do nothing.

We cannot forgive the circus, or any who use their name. If they truly wanted to change, they wouldn’t live in the shadow of a monster - they wouldn’t tote around the branding like they’re proud of it.
Even if there were a sliver of truth in what they claim, they’re making no attempts to lessen the hurt, to fix what their people have done. We’re expected to be the ones who are better.

Why should we always be the ones to lose?
We, the people of the Spire, deserve our happiness. We deserve a life where a friend isn’t snatched away in the night, where no one else has to lose.

So take it back from them. Make them pay for it.

THE CIRCUS ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS.

DO NOT GIVE THEM A PEACE THEY DO NOT DESERVE.

[!]

Yet another note was tacked beneath the several scrawlings of Circus happenings...

ANOTHER PUBLIC CLARIFICATION

Allow me to remind you all, along with the original public announcement regarding the Midnight Circus' explosive records as clarified by Raven Hoshimi, that the majority of such performers are young children who have not been raised to know anything better than to survive and serve the hand that feeds.

Yes; the damage and crimes dealt by the Circus is remembered, and such retribution will continue to be treated under Spire law. 

No; this is not how it should be handled - not by calling for violence, pointing fingers, and going after kids with explosives in their chests with the intent to intimidate, harm, and drive them away from the help they need.

I'm just as angry as you are.

I have witnessed and tended the injuries of my co-workers, friends, and loved ones from several attacks at the hands of this Circus.

I have rescued those who were taken away from us, and I will continue to do so with the help of like-minded individuals.

The current missing person you mentioned is being searched for even as you read this.

However. Read these words, and read them closely:

If it is a Carnie, default to a cell; not a sentence to hell.

Should I catch any citizenry initiating hunts after these children with the intent to brutally harm, intimidate, or otherwise kill them, I will personally drag you into the Gauntlet's Fist to be dealt with on account of the assault and/or murder of children.

Anger is perfectly fine, and understandable.

But this is not how it should be directed.

H.S

𓆩✧𓆪 Hope against all odds 𓆩✧𓆪

No matter how dark the night is, the dawn always comes. Seek out the Crimson Heart if you wish to do good.