The Chronicle

of the month of Galemir in the year 147

This year's committee elections turned out to be a hard fought contest which the longer established factions marginalised the less powerful newcomers. A strong alliance between Beatrice Perignon and Adam Avery lead to them gaining control of all the key posts except Lands and Agriculture where a concerted effort by all the other factions enabled Gemma Down to beat Melanie Romanie. This resurgence of power for the Perignon faction has caused grave concern amongst some members of the Aldermanic court. Bernard Hubold in particular made a blistering attack on her faction, accusing them of being the "lap dogs of a Citadel hag who hasn't been seen in the city for months". The mood lightened during nominations for the forthcoming election of the Lord. Sheriffs Shefford and Tasker were nominated, to their apparent displeasure, by Martin Key and David Ravensdale respectively. Should either manage to get elected, they can only avoid the duty by proving that the office would bankrupt them – not a difficult task given the current number of civic improvements. Alderman Romanie provoked outright laughter by suggesting that the Witanmoot skip the middlewomen and nominate Alderman Monterey directly. This was ruled out of order by a frowning Sheriff Tasker, presiding in the absence of Lord Dixon. The Dixon faction spent the session elsewhere auditing everything in sight, and was saved severe embarrassment by Alderman Derwent who was the only person to remember to re-nominate Lord Dixon himself.

Following the elections the potentially contentious bridge repairs vote went surprisingly smoothly. The motion gained widespread support despite some reservations raised by Richenda Sylvanus. Emily Martel now has unlimited access to the Treasury Funds and the Chronicle wishes her luck in coming up with a solution which will keep all the various factions happy. Alderman Martel has already been visited by leaders of both the Carpenters and Masons guilds who, having spent the last few months in detailed negotiations with Olivia Warin, suddenly find themselves having to start all over again. Elliot Anderson can be expected to have an interesting time with next month's budget split. apart from trying to guess how much money the bridge repairs will cost he is also expected to fund the city wall plans of Lord Dixon whilst re-establishing the City reserves and keeping all the other factions happy by backing their initiatives. This may go some way to explaining the secrecy with which this year's budget is being prepared. Even the Witanmoot scribes are at a loss for gossip about whose pet project will be scrapped this year.

Following the final end to the East Hill pestilence, tributes and appreciation have been pouring into the Torian Temple. A motion of thanks proposed by Aralan Derwent gained unanimous support and citizens throughout the City have been paying tribute to the hard work of the Torians in containing the threat from this illness. It has also been confirmed that the illness was less prevalent in areas which had been complying with Alan Monterey's much derided stone cess pits legislation. Suzan Faithside told the Chronicle, "As with so many other things Alan's visionary leadership has been of great service to the city" Aralan Derwent seems to have uncharacteristically avoided the pestilence outbreak this time and celebrated her return from Torian duties with a boisterous party at the Greengrove tavern. Her preferred escort for much of the evening was David Ravensdale, although their decorum was said to disappear after the arrival of several junior Physickians from the temple. The proprietors, perhaps used to clientele from the Bards College, took the resulting scenes of debauchery in their stride, and were only heard to murmur protests when vociferous medical discussions resulted in a slump in food orders from other customers.

Alderman Miranda Andrews and William Trueman anticipated this month's committee changes by completing their spend of the amended W&E budget well before the elections. The ringfenced £82 has purchased some land in Faringdon for the city orphanage, as well as enough building materials to allow completion of initial foundations and a copious stone-lined cess pit. The project has generated considerable local interest. Both Gax and Alderman Rimon enterprisingly organised collections from onlookers and unwary passers-by, which included a rather startled-looking Cllr Hywel Duthon.

The Full Election Results

Trade

Martel

13

RB, AF, LT, SQ, MR, GR, EM, AP, AT, AS, GH, GR, AM

Rimon

7

SB, BB, GD, JI, AD, MD, EA

Warin

4

JS, OW, MA, BH

Law & Order

Tholin

15

RB, AF, LT, SQ, MR, GR, EM, AP, AT, AS, GR, AM, OW, MA, BH

Derwent

9

JS, GH, SB, BB, GD, JI, AD, MD, EA

Welfare & Education

Beaureli

8

RB, AF, LT, SQ, ,MR, GR, EM, AP

Horl

7

JS, AT, AS, GH, GR, AM

Andrews

5

OW, MA, BH, MD, EA

Monterey

5

SB, BB, GD, JI, AD

Lands & Agriculture

Downe

16

JS, AT, AS, MA, BH, SB, BB, GD, JI,GH, GR, AM, OW, AD, MD, EA

Romanie

8

B, AF, LT, SQ, MR, GR, EM, AP

Salvoyn Envoy

Blessop

8

JS, AT, AS, GH, GR, AM, MD, EA

Hastings

12

AD, MR, GR, OW, MA, BH,EM, AP, SB, BB, GD, JI

Jardine

4

RB, AF, LT, SQ

Nyskilde Envoy

Davy

13

RB, AF, LT, SQ, MR, GR, EM, AP, , AT, AS, GH, GR, AM

Travers

7

OW, MA, BH, SB, BB, GD, JI, AD, MD, EA

Cascorach Envoy

du Bolay

11

RB, AF, LT, SQ , SB, BB, GD, JI, AD, MD, EA

Dunn

7

MR, GR, EM, AP, OW, MA, BH

Cllr Randy Parkinson insists on reminding citizens of their responsibility towards the many frozen beggars now that the Spring thaw is due. Please ensure that you dispose of them in the marshes in the approved civic manner.