The Bastard Play Rebellion

The Prelude

When first Dagenmaw, then Yoventen and lastly Dir'raiten were founded, the groups in possession of the Cerulean Thunderstones were the decision makers. Using this to gain power permanently, they claimed the titles of lords and ladies, earls and duchesses. To be allowed to build ones abode within the reach of the shields, one had to accept to live under the rule of the local nobility and pay them well, most often in labour. This has lead to fairly large differences in class, as the space within the shields got more expensive, the more people dared to search for their luck in the remains of the Lacuna. Setting up trade between the larger cities ended up an easy feat, once people knew to avoid crossing Lake Ravitas. After some negociation they decided on a council of twelve to rule within the newly established borders of The Republic of Free Trade. Being upset with the unfair power imbalance and the sometimes haphazard choices of the council, rebellious groups started to grow independently in all three cities - The Final Curtain in Dagenmaw, The Song of Knives in Yovoten - and Vivikanese Guild in Dir'raiten. But they weren't separated for much longer. With the implementation of easy trade and travel routes, the exchange between the troublemaker guilds also started to grow. So, they planned a coordinated attack to fell all three capitals in the same night.

A Spark in the Dark

It was decided to happen on the night of the first new moon of Zahan, and that a distraction was needed. Nothing serves better as a distraction than setting fire to an important building - which would also force the councils to meet in the governing halls. The idea was to to strike down all the council members of Dagenmaw, Dir'raiten and Yoventen all at the same time. As such, they could avoid warnings being sent to the other cities. After murdering the council, they wanted to disguise themselves as the ex-members and take over the decision making until the system was more beneficial to the poor, before staging a murder and allowing for a vote to happen.
With Dagenmaw being the largest of the capitals, and also the central one, most planning happened in it's underbelly. One of the rebel leaders was Rion, who put himself in charge of communicating the plan. The rebellion had long been using the blooming theatre scene to spread their ideas and obtain flollowers. Following this idea of using the lower-class art scene, he wrote a play, telling a gripping manuscript for a "fictional" story of an uprising of the poor against their oppressors. This play, when performed by the right people would give them all the information necessary.
It was reprinted a couple of times in a local bindery to give to the different subgroups and the other cities.  The book binder, unaware of the delicacy of the content, was impressed with the writing and saw a good story to make money. He sold the play to an upper-class theatre colleague of his for a good sum. Unexpectedly, and mostly unknown to the lower-class and the rebellion, the play was adored by the people of higher status, much read, occasionally performed and well discussed.

On the Battlefield

The night of the first new moon of Zahan came around and the rebellion set the decided buildings ablaze. This included the large governmental trading hall in central Dagenmaw, the largest barracks of Dir'raiten and the house of Corval - The Everheart in Yovoten.  Since the story that some of the upper-class had read or seen in the theatre, some of the more observant people recognized the eerie similarities (the matching date, and the specific place set on fire). Combining one plusone, the council members were warned, moved to safety and then had well-trained soldiers impersonate the, in the governing hall. The soldiers, who were playing decoys overwhelmed the unexpecting attackers fairly quickly. The leaders of the rebellion were forced to give away their hiding spots and so the builings where the rest of the rebellion was waiting for news were stormed. This effectively ended the rebellion. Since the play was, what gave it all away and ended in many deaths, they dubbed it the Bastard Play. The leaders, including the playwright Rion, were all publically hanged for treason.

The Aftermath

Recognizing the discontempt of the public, the council decided to offer the general public a seat on the council. This was an easy way to calm some of the more frustrated folks without handing away too much power. Every three years, a city-wide vote is held, where the fifth member is decided. This brought the total members council of the republic to 15, and introduced the current system.

Conflict Type

Battle

Start Date

around 950