The Ireem Chronicles

Citizens are the backbone of the city of Ireem, and make up the main part of the kingdom's infastructure with their business ventures. Two candidates stepped up to lead the citizens of the kingdom, and here are thier questionnaire answers:


1. So you're a citzen of Ireem! Why did you choose this role over being a predator?

YELENA: Well, I was born into a family of privilege but beyond that I am just a peaceful person. Even after I was tragically separated from my family and their wealth I have chosen to be an honest person and bring honor to my family and the way I was brought up. I work hard and I am satisfied in knowing that my achieving success is based on my own merits and no one else’s.

ULRIC: I was what the people of Ireem call a predator when I first arrived. After many years of leading mercenary armies and war bands throughout Europa I found that I needed to get out of Byzantium quickly. The Janissaries don’t like Westerners at the best of times and the Janissary commander took a particular dislike to me. The fastest way out of the Empire was by sea and the only available passage was aboard a slaver bound for Ireem. I signed on with the captain and had to serve for some time after I arrived in the desert. It did not take me long to realise that many of the crew at the time were insane sadists intent on rape and pillage rather than on capturing and selling quality slaves. I befriended a few of the crew but I quickly paid off my debt to the captain and considered returning to Europa.

I am now convinced that it was fate which led me to stumble on the last Innkeeper of the Ship Inn when I did. I found him lying in a doorway, bleeding from stab wounds and near death. He didn’t know who I was but as I tried to make him comfortable he exhorted me to take over his Inn and show Ireem that honest and decent folk can make a living here. I have held many in my arms on the battlefield as they died, but this was different. This man impressed me because he did not weep for his life or beg the gods to visit vengeance on those that attacked him. He wept for his wife and children and for his unfinished work. He told me his plans and his passion. He wanted the Ship Inn to be a place that welcomed all and catered to their needs. He wanted prey and predators, citizens and knights to be welcome there. He wanted all to be welcome and safe in the city. I saw his vision and understood it. He begged me to promise to look after his family, take over the Ship Inn and take up his cause. I did not hesitate. I realised it was the sort of goal I had lacked since the bastard English and their Norman masters first drove me out of my beloved homeland in my youth. He died in my arms, as the sun set over the city. I carried his corpse to his family and I made sure they left the city together with his body. I bought the Inn from his widow for a handsome fee. I wrapped my sword in a cloth and lay it behind the counter, with a vow that I would only ever draw it again to protect the innocent and needy. I am now an honest citizen trying to improve this city for everyone that lives here.


2. Do you think that citizens are productive members of Ireemian society, or should they all be mercillessly hunted down and enslaved or destroyed by the predators? Explain the rationale behind your opinion.

YELENA: Laughs, If I answer yes I should have to go into hiding! Of course not, we citizens are the glue to Ireem. Regardless of what is going on between the different fractions, the citizens provide services and goods essential to everyone. We provide a much needed escape from the violence of the desert that would otherwise warp ones mind and lead to suicide.

ULRIC: What an extraordinary question. Who do you think runs Ireem? Who makes it work? Who produces the food? Who builds the buildings? Who imports the goods? Who digs the wells? Who provides the clothes, the furniture, the pottery? Who heals the sick? Who maintains the walls? The answer: citizens. Who else produces anything in Ireem? If the predators hunted the citizens to extinction then the city would cease to exist, because there would be nobody left to make a city. The citizens are the city.

3. What's your favorite business in Ireem? Why?

YELENA: My personal favorite business in Ireem is the Cafe, which is why I was so thrilled when my husband and I recently acquired ownership. The walls of the Cafe provide a safe haven to all of those who dwell within Ireem, regardless of their station in life and it provides a unique opportunity to socially meet those that you might not other wise cross paths with.

ULRIC: The Ship Inn is clearly my favourite Ireem business. Why? Because it is a genuine safe haven for all that live and work in Ireem. It is not possible to capture or to fight in my Inn. As such, I am host to all the groups provided that they respect my two rules: no capturing and no fighting. I have only ever had to ban one person for persistently breaking these rules, and he was eventually exiled for being an obnoxious idiot. In all the time since I took on the Inn I have observed that many have returned time and again to its refuge. I have saved many girls from the dangers of the desert, giving them work, a roof and food. I am proud that a few of them even became citizens of Ireem. I also like to think that we hosted some of the best events at The Ship, like Captain WongFei’s party. He certainly seemed to enjoy it. I noticed a few of the past editors of this publication also enjoyed it.

4. Describe the citizens as a whole. What characterizes all of you? Is there anything that you'd like to tell everyone about the citizens, that you don't think most people know?

YELENA: I think that the defining thing for the citizens is our general support of one another and common love of Ireem. It is a common occurrence for us citizens to lend a hand in any way that we can to one another. We don’t do it for superficial reasons such as money but rather because we just generally care about our fellow man and would like to do our part to ensure the health and vitality of Ireem.

ULRIC: The citizens are honest, hard working people that are trying to make Ireem into a better place for all. They try to help and support as many as they can, without taking sides in the various conflicts. Those who are not of the citizenry should consider something very carefully: the city of Ireem is OUR home. We built it and we maintain it. It is our camp and the other groups that coexist with us in the desert should start to pay more respect to those that strive each and every day to improve the lot of the citizens.

((OOC comment = the citizens as a group generally try very hard to create and promote good roleplay. We struggle when people run into the city and into our businesses and don’t engage with us; or worse, destroy existing RP. I have seen so many good RPers leave Ireem because of this and some more sinister behaviours. What a shame! Ireem is probably the most beautiful SIM in SL. It is deserving of good, sustained, long term RP. Some of the predators have spun out a few yarns in the past but the citizens are the only sensible option to act as a fulcrum of KOS as an RP SIM. If people just want to fight and capture then let them do that on the sands. Come to the city for RP, not fighting.))

5. Why are you the best candidate for the position of leader?

YELENA: Well I feel that my competition and I both have the common goal of unifying the Ireemian citizens and being a positive influence however I am young, smart, and enthusiastic and I have fresh ideas which I think would make me most equipped with handling the challenges that are required of such an honorable position.

ULRIC: With the exception of the wonderful Lady Kerrina, I am the longest-serving of the active citizens of Ireem. I have run my business to the benefit of all that will use it. I set up the Merchant’s Guild to promote the interests of the citizen/merchants of Ireem, and has the city so quickly forgotten that it was my stock, my generosity that enabled Kerri to manufacture the antidote when the wells of the city were poisoned? Nobody recompensed me for that and I did not complain, still do not complain. I hold it up as an example of what it means to perform one’s civic duty.

6. What plans do you have for the faction upon being elected leader?

YELENA: I am a big promoter of peace but I also think that everyone should have the ability to defend themselves and their businesses. If elected I plan on providing fighting lessons so all citizens know how to defend their businesses as well as themselves. However, I should mention that the classes would also include negotiation tactics. I feel it is important that all peaceful methods are exhausted first and that using the sword should only be used as a last alternative.

ULRIC: I intend three simple things....

I intend to improve the lot of the citizens of Ireem through a more active and assertive relationship with the Sultana and the palace. We pay taxes and support the palace and yet there is nothing done to provide protection for the citizens or their businesses. I will work hard to improve this.

I intend to work energetically with the leaders of the other factions to improve the treatment that the citizens of Ireem can expect from other groups. I still struggle to understand why the citizens have had to wait so long for an opportunity to appoint a leader. With proper leadership we can work with other factions with greater authority.

I intend to expand the enforcement of my two rules to cover the whole of the city. In other words, there will be no captures in Ireem and fighting will be outlawed. I shall remind the palace that the provision of security to their citizens is the first obligation of a sovereign. I intend to work with the Knights and the Dungeon Keepers to remind them that they have a duty to enforce these rules and protect the citizens. If that is insufficient then I have some other, more direct, ideas in mind.

7. If you could add any kind of business to the city, what would it be? What would make it special?

YELENA: Ireem is full of diversity and the different backgrounds and cultures that each resident of Ireem carries with them fascinate me. If I were to add any business. If I were to add any business it would be a museum where everyone could provide samples of art work, literature, music, and stories of their culture and offer a glimpse into their heritage and showcase what makes them special and unique.

ULRIC: As a merchant, I would like to see an import/export business set up. Our city needs to trade more with others. It will benefit the merchants and our customers. Speaking of customers, I think that they would benefit from the establishment of a slave trade overseer. There are many abuses out there. Having an officer appointed that will ensure that all slave transactions are conducted correctly and, more importantly, that transgressions are punished will, I think, improve the wellbeing of the slaves and reduce the frictions between the factions.

8. How can slaves be best utilized by the citizenry of Ireem?

YELENA: There is always work to be done within the city walls. The slaves helping out with the daily chores will be great not only for the citizens who can go home earlier in the day to spend time with their families because the work is done sooner but it is also beneficial to the slaves. The citizens, with their education, upbringing, morals, and kindness can serve as an example and provide positive influence upon the lives of the slaves whom many never have the chance to learn otherwise.

ULRIC: Any that own slaves should show kindness and compassion, treat them as valuable assets. That is not to say they should be soft... discipline is also important. However, the best slaves respond positively to being shown respect and appreciation for their contribution. That has been the case right back to the ancient civilisations. With that in mind, it is easy to see that slaves can contribute to ever business in Ireem, provided that they are trained with the necessary skills. There is a dearth of reliable labour in the city, so I certainly encourage my fellow merchants to seek out and purchase good slave helpers.

9. Any Final Throughts for Ireem?

YELENA: Faults and all Ireem is my home and I love it here, the buildings, the landscape, the weather, but most importantly the people. The people I have had the opportunity to befriend and get to know and those that I will in the future are what have stolen my heart and cause me to call this city my home. Regardless of what comes out of this election my love for Ireem and all those who share this home with me will never change.

ULRIC: The city stands at a crossroads. With good leadership and hard work we can genuinely become a haven of prosperity and happiness that will be the envy of the known world. If we do not work hard to that end then the city will continue its slide into ignorant conflict, strife and suffering. Those that currently sustain the city and provide the lifeblood of its commerce are close to exhaustion and despair. Without the citizens the city will fall into ruin and the desert will take it. I implore the citizens and people of Ireem to support the old Innkeeper’s vision for our future greatness.