
Tallgrass - Local Politics
--------------------------

There are three power-groups in the town: The farmers and
laborers, who provide the manpower which it takes to make
the town function, the Church (and principally Fr. Hannias)
which was a major focus during the rebuilding, and the
brewery and its merchant associates in Portown and Seaton
who are supplying much of the export income which is
helping the town grow.

Issues:                         Farmers   Church   Brewery

1. Should the Granary be
   destroyed and rebuilt?         ?        Yes       No

2. Should we wage war against
   the Tigerfolk?                Yes        No       ?

3. Should we join Portown as
   an ally for protection?        No        ?       Yes


The granary issue concerns the granary ghosts. Fr. Hannias
feels the only way to free them from their torment is to burn
the place down. He also argues that the ghosts represent a
danger to the community. The Brewery, however, relies on
the granary and its capacity as a warehouse for its business.
Taking the Granary out of commission would represent a severe
disruption in business and could result in lost contracts.

The Tigerfolk issue is a difficult one for the community
as well. When Tharvantul controlled the town, he waged
a slash and burn campaign on the countryside, hoping to
exterminate the Tigerfolk from the region. The Tigerfolk
struck back, naturally, and many of the town's farmers have
lost family members in this relatively recent bloodshed.
They want revenge, and feel that the Tigerfolk are planning
to destroy the town. Occasionally, reports of outlying
farms being raided reach the community, helping to lend
substantiation to the farmers' point of view. Fr. Hannias,
however, preaches restraint, reminding the farmers of how
Albareth, their town's patron saint, lived in harmony with
nature, and respected the rights of all thinking creatures
who showed the capacity for peaceful co-existance. His
sermons have driven a wedge among the town's population,
creating a state of uncertainty and doubt over the best
course of action.

The final issue, concerning an alliance with Portown, is
perhaps the most serious. Seaton is ruled by a dictator
who would like to make himself King of the region and
who would have seized Tallgrass by now were it not so
far away and so close to his rivals in Portown. Portown,
by contrast, is a democracy, albeit not a perfect one,
and already the majority of the town's exports go to
Portown. The Brewery would like to see an alliance,
mainly because it would encourage business. The Brewery
owner has made personal friends of many of the merchants
in Portown who have promised lucrative contracts if he
would convince the farmers to make a voluntary alliance.
The farmers don't want to be governed, however, and
harbor a deep mistrust of any government, particular
since their last government, under Tharvantul, was so
despotic.

