Deus Ex Machina

It starts in the meaner warrens of the lower districts. It might be a single piece of graffito in the Trevelyan that opens the eyes of one person on one particular day. Fires and collapses amongst the insulae of the Street of Brands are common, but any one of those events might be the incendiary event to arouse strife & sedition. Most often the malaise starts in the Anbar and spreads outward, gaining momentum from alley to alley, on unnamed corners, and in the low light and unique stench of paga dens until the whispers can no longer be stilled. I was witness to the first raised voices on Demetrios Street last night. More than a dozen but less than a hundred, they had the look of men that had tired themselves of argument and infighting. They had the sound of men with the heart and energy to vent, but they lacked direction, focus. They shared my sentiment, though I never voiced it aloud. It was, too, their autumn of discontent manifesting itself.

Though they have no direction, only the aforementioned discontent, that will change as the mob grows. Blood will spill. Factions will likely develop. Eventually, one carnivore will rise. The unruly and restless will become the firm, staunch and devoted. Given one inspiring act, they will unite. They will follow. It is a necessary, if unfortunate, part of our government. When the checks and balances go unchecked and unbalanced, we must throw the ledger into the fire.