Notices were posted and messages were delivered....Lady Wilder would be holding her first actual press conference. A small warehouse on the edge of the Marketplace had been rented for the event, and security was tight. Anyone could attend, but no weapons were allowed. The Templar Magi were present in force to prevent any magickal mischief or combat. It would only be for a few hours, but there would be no teleporting....no invisibility....just people, meeting as equals, and asking questions of the Candidate.

Not surprisingly, a fair number of the Templar's supporters made up the crowd. The members of the Press were provided a separate area, so they would be able to hear things clearly and take notes.

Karen stepped up to the podium amid cheers and smiled warmly at the crowd. After a minute, she raised her hands and asked for quiet...."We're gonna be 'ere all day otherwise." she added with a chuckle.

"Tae begin, I've a few statements..."

"I wish tae renew me call tae me fellow candidates thet this remain a campaign based on issues, nae on negativity."

"I call upon th' citizens o' this great city tae ask th' hard questions o' m'self an' all the candidates. Learn about all o' us, so ye kin choose th' candidate thet best suits ye."

"There've been many sayin' it's better tae vote fer noone....tae 'ave no governor....But will they be th' ones who stop th' murders" Will they be th' ones tae fight invaders?"

"Now, I'll be answerin' any questions from th' Press or from ye in th' crowd."

Bob was in the crowd and he raised his hand instantly, and he spoke his question with a sense of arrogance maybe even a sense of Disrespect as well.

"You mentioned invaders, who are you expecting over for dinner in this city that you might consider, an invader?"

"In th' recent past, th' city 'as been invaded by Zombies an' attacked from within by th' followers of Myr'Kul. Other attacks upon th' city 'ave come from across th' seas an' through th' Nexus. There's no reason tae believe thet such attacks will ne'er occur again."

"Would you support a vote of no confidence in this city if this recent and surge of rumors and attacks keep coming, is a governor worth all this trouble in the end" Is it better not to just step back and support the people in their time of crisis and put your obviously vast resources to better use than running for this post?"

"It seems tae me thet a majority o' th' recent attacks are 'gainst a single candidate an' come from a single source." Yes, Karen recognized her questioner now....but she wouldn't call him out directly. "E'en so, th' waters o' politics 'ave ne'er run smooth an' anythin' worth havin' is worth fightin' for....especially safety an' security. As fer me 'vast resources'....th' Templars still continue tae help patrol th' streets, we continue tae train new recruits an' we continue tae provide aid an' support where we can. All good leaders know 'ow an' when tae delegate, an' I be blessed with competant assistants an' volunteers both inside th' Templars an' among th' populus."

He paused.

"One more thing, What do you think of Wolvinator's stance on the issues at hand, knowing what you know about him now?"

"I'm nae sure what ye mean by thet question." She certainly wasn't going to get drawn in to insulting a fellow candidate. "Many o' Ser Wolvinator's stances on th' issues mirror me own....yet thet should come as nae surprise, since all th' remainin' candidates hold similar stances. Th' differences come in how we intend tae provide solutions. Ifin yer askin' me tae speak on his moral character, I will nae. My personal feelin's are jest thet, personal....an' how I feel 'bout th' other candidates should nae have any bearin' on how ye or anyone else votes. It's nae my place tae convince ye not tae vote fer someone....I'm here tae convince ye tae vote for me."

She glanced around a moment before pointing to someone else. "Next question."

The dark form lingered at the back of the public crowd, listening to the answers. They were entertaining at best, and he wondered if the Emperor had to face this sort of thing after the establishment of the Empire. The questions posed by the "supervillian" and then answerd by the Templar knight were amusing at best. He had been on a crusade to get the "admiral" out of the race as soon as possible.

However, the girl's question about the slaving one was interesting. Perhaps his actions had been a bit more noticed than realized. He folded his arms behind his back, and awaited the answers.

He couldn't help but laugh darkly. "Really...You are going to stop the slavers..."

"And, you are of course going to enlighten us as to how you are going to stop the slavers." He began moving through the crowd, towards the center of the crowd. "Fighting slavers and stopping slavers are two seperate things. I know slavers that have been slowed down," he chuckled darkly.

"Slavery is a serious issue in this city. There are more and more slavers going public and taking females from the street - even in broad daylight."

He eyed the Templar carefully. "So tell us, Lady Templar...How will you stop the slavers...especially if you cannot catch them?"

He couldn't help but laugh darkly. "Really...You are going to stop the slavers..."

"And, you are of course going to enlighten us as to how you are going to stop the slavers." He began moving through the crowd, towards the center of the crowd. "Fighting slavers and stopping slavers are two seperate things. I know slavers that have been slowed down," he chuckled darkly.

"Slavery is a serious issue in this city. There are more and more slavers going public and taking females from the street - even in broad daylight."

He eyed the Templar carefully. "So tell us, Lady Templar...How will you stop the slavers...especially if you cannot catch them?"

Karen gave a grin....she recognized this man. She had no proof, but perhaps he would provide some.

She didn't like the way he seemed to laugh at her questions, or the dark way he posed his own. Stepping to the side,she put more space between herself and that man. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Was it just her, or had it gotten colder all of a sudden"

She waited for the man to finish speaking, then called back out. "Beggin' your pardon, but you still left a couple questions unanswered. "How do you intend to improve security in Rhy'Din, and how will you fund it?" She waited patiently for an answer.

"I'll be th' first tae admt no one kin really stop all crime....anybody thet says they're gonna end crime is lyin'." She leaned forward slightly. "But any criminal thet says they're uncatchable is nae only lyin' tae th' public, they're lyin' tae themselves."

"As I already mentioned, by recruiting existin' militias an' offerin' rewards for those thet aid in th' capture o' slavers, there'll be fewer an' fewer places fer slavers tae hide." She straightened again. "I dinnae intend tae go after slave owners....but slave-takers. But, when Slaves 'ave' th' same protections under th' law as e'eryone else, e'en the slave owners will 'ave tae watch their step. There be some other ideas in th' plannin' stages thet I cannae comment on at this time. Suffice it tae say, I's nae gonna reveal me plans tae capture slavers to th' slavers themselves."

"An' I think thet answers th' first part o' yer question, miss. As fer payin' fer it....th' money is already there. By shiftin' th' revenue towards th' Watch an' courts, as well as th' other projects I's outlined, we should see a rapid decline in crime. By reducin' crime, we increase th' confidence an' security o' th' populous....as well as foreign merchants....an' this stimulates th' economy. And, o' course, a more robust economy generates more taxes."

"I hope thet answers yer question."

"Why, yes of course! Your plan makes all so much sense." He chuckled darkly as he turned from the crowed. "Of course anyone with the intellect of a rock would know that there has to be a tax increase somehow, how ever will you increase the Watch or improve the Guard?"

He looked around the crowd. "That is, unless of course, you are going to allow the Templar Knights to roam without the Watch or the Guard. Of course, then the city would be come a military dictatorship."

He turned, looking to the Templar. "So, which lie will you tell us now?"

Baker opened his mouth to ask a question, however the woman next to him beat him to it...again. Rolling his eyes at all the silly tax and slaver questions, he waited patiently.

Baker had a question...a question of paramount importance.

Hearing the way the man spoke, she wondered at his occupation. She stepped nearer to ask him a question about it, but another sudden chill overcame her, and she changed her mind. The way the hairs at the back of her neck stood up, the chiller she felt as she got closer, all sent warning bells ringing in her head.

Instead, she turned to ask yet more questions.

"Would the Templars be incorpaorated into the Guard" Would the Guard become the Templars" Could you explain how your affiliation with the Templars affect your role as Governor, should you win?"

Karen chuckled again. "I'll try tae explain th' details a bit better. Th' current arrangements between th' Watch an' th' Templars will remain as they are. Th' Knights Templar currently patrol th' city to suppliment th' Watch. As Governor, I would 'ave th' official position an' authority tae arrange fer better trainiin' an' organization."

"Th' Knights Templar 'ave a long history o' working wit' existing governments and militias. In none o' those situations did th' Templars absorb th' existin' forces, an' it would nae this time. As fer me position wit' th' Templars, I's already trained others to take o'er th' job I do so I will be able tae focus me attention on me duties as Governor."

"Yes...", clearing his throat, he spoke. "...a recent survey shows that 99.9% of RhyDinians visit the Red Dragon Inn on a regular basis. These are facts which no one can deny! With that said, in the interest of social happiness, will YOU, Miss Wilder, coordinate, promote and offer Free Ale Nights at the Red Dragon Inn!?"

A shocked hush fell upon the crowd. Baker stood there; defiant, stoic and half drunk.

"Bah!" Throwing his hands up in the air, Baker stalks off to find the "No Confidence" petition.

But in mid step, Baker stopped suddenly and turned, looking back to Wilder. "Tell you what, I'll give you a second chance. Show me your boobs and you get my vote." He then stood....waiting.