Inquirer: Delegate, excuse me! Might I have your name?
Liushna: Am Liushna. Hello, who you?
Inquirer: I'm a writer - the public are eager to know more about the convention proceedings. How are you finding it so far?
Liushna: A writer--don't suppose speak Draconic? Chelish my worst language.
Inquirer: Sorry, I can't say that I do. Are you on any committees?
Liushna: Yes, three. Being delegate very different anything I do before, learning very much about humans.
Inquirer: What are some of the most surprising things you've learned?
Liushna: Think most surprising thing learned is humans most Cheliax, very less revolutionary ones in Pezzack. Pezzack humans really changed when they-we threw off Asmodeans. Other humans know Asmodeus bad now, but having harder time change habits from when Asmodeans in charge.
Inquirer: Habits like what?
Liushna: Do lots lying implying things instead of just negotiate openly. One man not understand difference between slave and property that not a person. Lots people scared be at convention just because last queen dangerous be near.
Inquirer: Which committees are you part of?
Liushna: Non-human rights! Also forests and slavery.
Inquirer: How are the findings shaking out in those three? Any big changes people should be ready for?
Liushna: Probably depend if convention have power to make archmages close Hell portal in Whisperwood. Or, if not have power, they say okay, do anyway.
Inquirer: I presume that's Forests. Less progress on Slavery and Nonhumans so far?
Liushna: Nonhumans complicated because lots of kinds of nonhuman. More progress some kinds of nonhuman than others. And some progress not changes! Everyone agree Brastlewark go on as is. Slavery committee complicate by define slavery; if get rid of slavery, also get rid of indenture? Penal labor? Want free slaves but turns out, have more details than expect when learn slavery exist few days ago.
Inquirer: That was news to you? What are your thoughts on it?
Liushna: Is bad. Is evil Asmodeus thing. Penal labor probably fine? Not worse than execution. Indenture okay if person indenture understand what happen and don't get screwed over but indenture not okay if person get trapped forever. But slavery from birth bad bad bad.
Inquirer: I take it your home has nothing of the kind; what is it like there?
Liushna: Itarii--our word, humans usually say strix--live in tribes. Each tribe work together so everyone survive and be okay. Tribes trade with other tribes for things one tribe cannot make or has less of. Only barter, not use money. Everyone obey leader of tribe, although leader--Rokoa--also have to listen to tribe when give advice or ask for thing. Most resources held as property of whole tribe, but persons have own things, can trade within tribe. My bow mine, my clothes mine, my whistle mine; if someone take, I go rokoa, rokoa make give back. Itarii not have wizard, but have Shalyeen and Imazi, not know if humans have, not know if chelish words for those exist.
Inquirer: That's a short list of things that are yours but it includes a whistle! Is the whistle special?
Liushna: Itarii use bones of tribe dead for make things, so even after death still part of tribe, still help family survive. Whistle from bone of grandfather.
Inquirer: What an interesting custom. You mentioned earlier that Chelish is your worst language; how did you learn it at all?
Liushna: Listen in on Pezzack before allied with Pezzack to overthrow Asmodeans.
Inquirer: For readers who aren't up on the news out of Pezzack, would you summarize that for me?
Liushna: Pezzack throw out Asmodeans before archmages get there! Very brave. Itarii help.
Inquirer: How did you help?
Liushna: Lots of Itarii archers. Archery from above very good, Asmodeans not prepared deal with it, only expect fight other humans.
Inquirer: Anything else you'd like to add before we go our own ways?
Liushna: Hope very much convention go well and new Cheliax much much healthier happier stronger old Cheliax!

Inquirer: Chosen!  Might I have a word?
Jofre Espaillat: I guess I don't see why not.
Inquirer: What might your name be?
Jofre Espaillat: Jofre Espaillat.
Inquirer: I've never seen the symbol before - Gozreh?
Jofre Espaillat: That's right.
Inquirer: How long have you been a cleric?
Jofre Espaillat: Several years, actually, there was some sneaking around.
Inquirer: I imagine that must have been difficult.
Jofre Espaillat: Enh.  Why did you want to talk to me?
Inquirer: Everyone wants to know more about the honored delegates shaping our future.
Jofre Espaillat: Well, I'm a sailor and a Gozrehn and I think that tells you most of what you need to know about me as a person.
Inquirer: How are you finding the convention so far?
Jofre Espaillat: I guess it's been surprising in the pleasant direction, nobody's died yet.  I didn't really want to go, but my shipmates rather insisted.
Inquirer: And the other delegates, what about them?
Jofre Espaillat: We've got all sorts: puffed-up, terrified, speechifying, homesick, and touched in the head.
Inquirer: I take it you're 'homesick'.  Anyone I should keep an eye out for to speak to?
Jofre Espaillat: Nobody I'm on name-giving terms with.
Inquirer: Are you on any committees?
Jofre Espaillat: Yeah, the Trade one.  I'm chairing it actually.
Inquirer: What should people look out for, are big changes coming?
Jofre Espaillat: We might be doing... something... about internal passports, maybe, or we might not.  I know that's not useful but neither are a lot of the folks any ideas have to get past.
Inquirer: Either something or nothing about internal passports, got it.  What are your hopes?
Jofre Espaillat: Well, I don't need an internal passport so much, I live on a boat when I can and don't use the roads, so I guess I'm impartial.
Inquirer: Do a lot of people seem to be inclined to go by self-interest when they're considering Constitutional matters?
Jofre Espaillat: Oh yeah.  They dress it up sometimes a little.  But yeah.
Inquirer: What about you, do you find that tempting?
Jofre Espaillat: I'm not even sure it's a bad way to be.  That's why there's lots of us, right?  So if most of us want a thing it's probably good for most people... I'm there on Gozreh's behalf and I think He likes most of the same things I like or I wouldn't be chosen, so it's not that there's some thing that's bad for me that I ought to try to get anyway.
Inquirer: What would you say are those things that you and Gozreh like?
Jofre Espaillat: The wind and the sky and the sea and the rain.  Plants and creatures and sunshine and starlight.  All the stuff you can't get in a building.  I don't like buildings.
Inquirer: Should fans of buildings be worried?
Jofre Espaillat: There's hundreds of delegates and only one is me.  I'm not even trying to do anything that'd worry a building fan, it wouldn't fly.

READERS! In the brief time this series has been made available, it has attracted some... unexpected attention. Dismiss if you must, but read if you dare, the tale of my midnight visit from Lady Eriape.

Upon my very bed, standing over my ankles, was a zombie badger of tremendous size. Upon it, on a saddle white enough to gleam in the window's admittance of lantern light, rode a parchment-pale LICH.

Lady Eriape: I followed you here.
Inquirer: I - didn't think you were real.
(At this juncture she cast a mage-light.)
Lady Eriape: I am! Pamphleting is the most fun I've had in fifty years!
Inquirer: That's - yes, it's a wonderful - pastime -
Lady Eriape: Don't be frightened. I want to be interviewed.
Inquirer: I have only prepared questions for delegates... but I can improvise something.
Lady Eriape: Splendid! your readers will want to know everything about me! I'm very interesting.
Inquirer: I've seen many people interested in your pamphlets, yes. If you will permit me a moment to go get my writing materials?
Lady Eriape: Certainly! This bedroom isn't very nice. Is this really where you live?
Inquirer: It keeps the rain off. You said fifty years?
Lady Eriape: Yes.
Inquirer: Are you enjoying reading other pamphlets as well as writing your own?
Lady Eriape: Some more than others!
Inquirer: Does your badger there have a name?
The Badger, Clarabella: Clarabella
Inquirer: Oh - hello, Clarabella. And... what do you most hope the convention will settle on for the new constitution?
Lady Eriape: I don't have much hope for it - they didn't invite me!
Inquirer: Would you have wanted the experience alone, or is there some policy you'd be excited to see emplaced?
Lady Eriape: I don't dare scry on them, but from the reporting, I get the impression the archmages don't like the undying! There should be a voice in favor!
Inquirer: What is it you'd say, if you had the floor?
Lady Eriape: You and your children could be like me, perfect and undying. The key is unchecked ambition! Vote for a constitution that makes that happen!
Inquirer: Do you think you'd get your proposal voted in?
Lady Eriape: Not this year! But I have not left my unchecked ambition behind! The badger will continue! Many children read it! In fifty years, they will not fear me!
Inquirer: Is there something you'd like to say to the children specifically?
Lady Eriape: Disobey your parents! That's how I got started! Goodbye!

At this juncture I lost consciousness there in my desk-chair, and awoke come morning with ink on my face and a momentary confusion about whether these events had been true or dreamed. But as my pillow I had the transcription of the above remarks, which I now relate to you just as they occurred.

Inquirer: Delegate! May I have a few minutes of your time?
Levrolurment: It depends. Are you going to be talking about political philosophy?
Inquirer: I'd like to hear about how the convention is going, which seems like it to me!
Levrolurment: The Committee On Alternative Political Arrangements To Monarchy And Ways They May Be Further Studied isn't very academically rigorous.
Inquirer: Isn't it? How so?
Levrolurment: No one has any sort of academic background in the subject. The Molthuni at least has some interesting personal experience. I would like to draw on Vudra, on Tian Xia, but I just don't have the background, nor does anyone else on this committee. One annoying woman just wants to do a peasant revolt.
Inquirer: That sounds like a difficult situation to be in. Do you have a way to requisition more materials?
Levrolurment: I am strongly considering it. Or perhaps a Teleport.
Inquirer: Well, with archmages around I imagine that's not completely out of reach. Is that the only committee you're on, Delegate - might I have your name?
Levrolurment: Levrolurment. I think if the archmage wants us to consider alternatives to monarchy he shouldn't arbitrarily limit us to one continent when he has enough Teleports and Tongues to enable us to write a full treatise on all alternative forms of government.
Inquirer: Are you on any other committees?
Levrolurment: Nonhumans. It's boring.
Inquirer: I would have expected it to be rather colorful.
Levrolurment: Like my hair, presumably.
Inquirer: It's a very lovely blue. What are they discussing that's so dull?
Levrolurment: The proper relations between the Chelish government and various nonhumans.
Inquirer: I gather you're already satisfied with how gnomes are treated under the law?
Levrolurment: It would be nice if I had lower taxes but I understand this opinion to be shared by nearly all citizens of Cheliax.
Inquirer: How are you getting on with the other delegates?
Levrolurment: A higher percentage of their questions are about political philosophy than in, say, conversations with you.
Inquirer: Do you think the constitution is meant to undermine the power of the Queen?
Levrolurment: Perhaps it is intended to increase her power through cultivating the loyalty of a grateful citizenry.
Inquirer: Does it seem to you like it'll be a gratitude-inspiring edifice, or a flop?
Levrolurment: I for one am very grateful for the opportunity to meet people
Inquirer: I've heard speculation that a hidden purpose of the convention is just that, giving important people the chance to meet others of diverse backgrounds - do you think that's an important part of a well organized government?
For Delegate Levrolurment's thoughts on this topic see the Appendix to this pamphlet.
Inquirer: Thank you so much for your time, Delegate.

Inquirer: Pardon me!  Are you a delegate?
Kicharchu: I?  Yes!
Inquirer: Are you a representative of the kobolds of Cheliax?
Kicharchu: Yes yes.  In the Great Work of Everybody Talking About Everything.
Inquirer: What's your name?
Kicharchu: Kicharchu!
Inquirer: Which quadrant do you sit with?
Kicharchu: Quadrant?
Inquirer: Were you elected, or sortitioned -
Kicharchu: Ah!  I sit electedly.
Inquirer: Are you on any committees?
Kicharchu: Nonhumans committee.  Because of being nonhuman.
Inquirer: Are you getting along all right with the other committee members?
Kicharchu: So far.  It is hard to tell for sure.
Inquirer: What makes it hard?
Kicharchu: Many words going by very fast.  I learn but the learning is new.
Inquirer: I can see how that would be a problem.  What do you do when you aren't attending the convention?
Kicharchu:  Kobolds live in the sewers, thousands of them, worse than rats.
Inquirer: You think you're worse than rats?
Kicharchu: It is something I hear.
Inquirer: What are you hoping for from the convention?
Kicharchu: A way for there to be food for everyone.  Everyone is better full.
Inquirer: Do you think you'll get it?
Kicharchu: No.  But I get yellow coins to try it.  And some people, they want those yellow coins more than they want their food!  Amazing.
Inquirer: What's your favorite food?
Kicharchu: Horsemeat!
Inquirer: Thank you for your time, Delegate Kicharchu.
Kicharchu: Have a good black lines on paper!

Inquirer: Chosen, a word! Madam Delegate!
Ester Lacort: What?  What's gotten into you that you're yelling down strangers in the middle of the street?
Inquirer: I'm sorry to trouble you, ma'am, but might I have a minute or two of your time?
Ester Lacort: Is your wife giving birth as we speak?
Inquirer: I mean to ask about the convention and how it's going, Chosen.
Ester Lacort: It's going.
Inquirer: Might I have your name?
Ester Lacort: What are you, a fairy?
Inquirer: No ma'am, I'd just like to know what your name is, I apologize for the phrasing.
Ester Lacort: It's Ester Lacort.
Inquirer: Are you on any committees?
Ester Lacort: Maybe I am and maybe I'm not.  Off with you.

Inquirer: Good evening, Chosen!
Laia Solandra: Good evening!  How can I help you?
Inquirer: Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Laia Solandra: Probably!  I'm Laia Solandra.  I read aloud some of the best-made pamphlets to audiences on the steps of the church of Shelyn.
Inquirer: Are they usually well-attended?  The pamphlets themselves can be had so cheaply.
Laia Solandra: A lot of people don't read.  Even ones who went to school, but I notice plenty of children who haven't had a chance to learn to read yet especially seem to like the performances.
Inquirer: I see.  And how are you finding the convention itself?
Laia Solandra: I'm enjoying my committee on the Promulgation of the Teachings of Virtuous Churches quite a bit.  I think maybe it's the pleasantest one, the topic preferentially attracted people who care about the right things.  We're planning to ask the Queen to host an artistic salon so that - just like my pamphlet readings, you see - all kinds of bards and entertainer troupes and writers and so on can come up with more appealing forms for those teachings so they can spread throughout Cheliax.  Of course that will sound very self-centered of me as a Shelynite, but it wasn't even my idea!  It was a Desnan who proposed it.
Inquirer: Any other plans coming out of that worthy committee?
Laia Solandra: We're going to need to have more meetings to hammer out lots of the thornier stuff but we did all agree that the Crown should publish a list of approved benign churches and proscribed ones.  So that it's harder to get confused and wind up in some kind of horrid cult, if you're trying to be conservative about your worship, you see.
Inquirer: Who's to be on these lists?
Laia Solandra: I imagine the Queen will have final say!  But if there's a lesser-known empyreal lord you're fond of, let me know, and I can put in a word to at least confirm that they're all right.
Inquirer: Not me, but does that go for anyone who reads this?
Laia Solandra: Oh, is that why you're writing it all down!  Maybe I'll perform it - as myself.  Yes, of course, anyone can leave the name of a favorite minor deity they want checked up on and mentioned in the proposal to the Crown at the temple of Shelyn.  My assistant Eloi will be there when I'm at the convention if the other priests are too busy.
Inquirer: Thank you so much for your time, Delegate.
Laia Solandra: Of course.  And once this is all over, if you're ever in Ostenso, come see me on stage!