Hello, Sapience. I have a proposal to make.

I know that there are many of us who aren't sure if we should take part in the Tsol'teth's trials. Some of us are people who aren't sure if we personally should take part or if we can bear to turn against what we've worked and sacrificed these last few years for. Some of us are city leaders trying to decide if our cities should make a united stand for our values against this. Personally, I believe in being reasonable and working things out where we can, but I'm not sure that this is a place to compromise.

Because let's be honest with ourselves. We know that the Tsol'teth are only holding these trials for their own benefit. There might be a small chance that they could change their policy and not require processing, but even then, they would still be using this for their own sake to make themselves stronger. In the end, every one of us that takes part will just be kneeling down to pay them tribute.

I know we might not all see eye to eye on things, but I like to think that everyone who isn't already serving Tsol'teth masters cares enough about their ideals to not want to follow right after Hashan and Targossas just for these games. Maybe especially because Targossas gave them the staff in the first place.

But there is another choice. A way to participate in games like usual for a chance to win prizes and crown a champion, without sacrificing to the Tsol'teth's cause. A way to take part without throwing away our ideals and spitting on everything we have sacrificed to hold them back. A way to make the year 802 games not a symbol of the Tsol'teth's power and influence that we happily bowed down to, but a symbol of resistance and strength. This way is simple:

We run our own true world games.

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Yes, I am completely serious about this. No, this is not a bluff.

I want those of us who can't stand the thought of bending a knee to the invaders and taking part in a games designed to strengthen them to come together, organise, and run our own. There are talented event planners in every city, and together, it's more than doable. This isn't just our chance to fight back against the Tsol'teth and refuse to make them stronger, it's a rare chance to build and run an event that can go down in history, if only we dare to make it happen.

Think about it. Most everything the Tsol'teth have planned could be run by us instead, and plenty of us have experience running these events, and ideas for them. We can run the same games, we can collect donations for credit prizes, create our own medallions for participation and rewards for victory. We have far more experience with the world games than the Tsol'teth, let's show them that, and completely upstage theirs.

Now, to answer some of the practical questions:

For the games that count towards the championship, they can all be run either nearly the same, or partly modified.

The twins tournament and quiz could be done exactly the same, only run by us.

The hunting contest would need to be done by measuring essence, but should be completely doable with that.

The Foozle would be the hardest, but I'd bet we could find a way to bribe Tharos or Bruyan to hold one, and if not, I've got some ideas for how to make it work.

The games not usually worth points would be even easier. Tumble racing, jousting, archery, riddles, a drinking contest, ship events, all of these could be run fairly easily by volunteers, and special prizes could be crafted for them and given to the winners.

Events would all be given their normal point values and, however much is possible with donations, given credit prizes, too. Events would be held a short time before the Tsol'teth hold each of theirs to best overshadow them, and if we came together to make this a success, could completely outmatch them in participation.

At the end of the games, the points would be totaled, and a true champion of year 802 will be decided. We might not have the Staff of Nicator itself, but we can give our own prize, untainted by the Tsol'teth, that will be one of a kind and held for life. Whoever would win these games would go down in history not just as one in a long line of temporary holders of the Staff, but as a champion of the surface realm, a hero in our long war against the Tsol'teth.

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When the Tsol'teth try to run their events, let them try while being drowned in the cheers of our bigger event above. When they try to name a victor, let them do it knowing that they couldn't get the best or the most skilled. And whoever takes up the staff, once the symbol of our world's resistance to the Tsol'teth invaders, let them do it knowing that they were not the one truly worthy of that legacy and that prize, just the best bootlicker out of a small group of loyal minions in this pathetic mockery of our traditions.

And so, if you are someone not sure if you want to take part, or a city leader deciding what stance to take, don't set aside your values for the Tsol'teth's plans. Instead, put your weight behind these Resistance Games and make them possible, to make history fighting them one more time. We will need volunteers and donations, but this really, truly is possible.

There will always be another chance for the Staff of Nicator. But there will only be once chance to hold these Resistance Games, something that has never been tried before and will never be tried after. One chance to go down in history not as those who simply sat down and didn't take part, or bowed down for the promise of prizes, but stood up to show that we are better than them on -any- battlefield, that we will not kneel to foreign gods and conquerers, and that we have the skills, the ambition, and the strength to make this happen.

I'm looking forward to hearing back from you all.

Ever Loyal,
Keorin, Commander of the Vashnars

Penned by my hand on the 18th of Valnuary, in the year 801 AF.