Auxientia has always been a divided city. Whether it is the factions themselves, wage disparity, restricted access to technology, healthcare, or even a roof over your head, one finds it hard to not see these systemic problems and want for a solution.
With the winds of change blowing across Auxientia in the past year, The Observer wanted to take a moment to check in with members from all five of the city’s factions and get their take on what struggles the average Auxientian faces. Robert Irons, Luce Kalēkṭara, Viv Bower CTO, Gilded President Sabine St. James, and Aveta Aldridge. Here are some of the highlights of our conversations:
What is the most persistent issue affecting the people of Auxientia?
Irons – “Wealth disparity in Auxientia is the source of many struggles of the common people. Their limited resources creates a desperation that can be exploited by those who hoard wealth and power for themselves. Only by organizing and supporting each other can this power imbalance be reversed.”
Kalēkṭara – “Inner city and inner faction conflict. We need to put up a united front. There are threats hitting us from so many sides, not to mention there are people at work trying to actively pin the factions against each other. My hope is to continue to work with faction leaders so that we can have a united front in the battles we face ahead.”
Bower –”The most persistent issue affecting the people of Auxientia is the inequity between people of different means.”
St. James – “The overall lack of trust/understanding between different factions- we’ve made great progress with a few people but it’s not solid across the entire city, and it’s only been a few months.”
Aldridge – “The health and well-being of everyday citizens is limited by a gap between the haves and the have-nots.”
What is a change you would like to see happen that would uplift the people of Auxientia?
Irons – “Increased funding and support for community lead aid programs. Outside groups often try to move in and start what they see as a solution without the understanding a local would have. The people living in these struggling areas have an understanding that no one else can, empower their solutions.”
Kalēkṭara – “I would like to see the structure of what people presume are walls between factions crumble. We are a fortress of walls with bridges. No faction is better than the others. We all supply something to support the city.”
Bower – “A change that I would like to see to uplift the people of Auxientia is a minimum quality of life through a universal standard of living: healthcare, food, housing, and technology that is needed to make a life.”
St. James – “I want to see power and resources a little less centralized so that the everyday citizen is less at the mercy of things like the generosity of the wealthy or whatever gang runs their neighborhood.”
Aldridge – “I believe to make a permanent improvement, we cannot simply work within existing systems. It would require an overhaul, where everyone’s Auxientian’s medical needs are no longer a matter of cost.”
What community issue in Auxientia is of most interest to you?
Irons – “The surge of wyvern’s widow is a symptom of social troubles, not a cause. Lack of health care, poor living conditions and work that takes a significant toll on both physical and mental well-being leaves people desperate for an escape.”
Kalēkṭara – “As of late, I’ve been putting work into helping those without work find jobs to support themselves and their families. We’ve opened up several successful bakeries serving Bahiran delicacies but I’d love to expand into helping other factions that need work and make these bakeries a treasure of the city. One of my dreams is to have something special from each faction served at the bakeries. But to answer your question, job security for those that lost theirs when the lumenstone mines closed.”
Bower – “The community issue of most interest to me is enhancing lives through technology.”
St. James – “Rebuilding Dunmeadow.”
Aldridge – “I think we are seeing improvement in livable wages in some areas, but if workers cannot afford to eat and have shelter, they cannot be healthy and raise healthy families.”
After such engaging conversations, dear readers, I feel we now can say, with better understanding, what affects our citizens day to day. What hurts us and holds us back.
Mr. Irons intends to have a meeting of like minds. More details to be announced.
