Back to top 2nd Nov. 2005

It was large crowd, nearly all of them were holding a sign of some sort. Cogil introduced a majority of them to me. It was a swirl of long hair and cardboard, I didn't think I would ever learn them all. There was a Mike, a Bob, a Dan, Ryan.

With the introductions over Ryan came over to me. He asked where I was from and why I was in the government district. I told him of my experience in the Hall of Bureaucracy and how I didn't know what to do next.
"Ya, the Hall of Bureaucracy can certainly be rough." Ryan stated the obvious. "This merry band of protestors always has an opening, if you're interested."
"Well this is certainly my most optimistic prospect but I was wondering a few things."
"Ya, I supposed you would. Go ahead."
"Well first of all what exactly are you protesting?"
Ryan paused a moment. "Well between you and me there's a group who pay to stand here and protest this building, holding up signs."

Now this seemed interesting to me. Why would a group spend money to pay people to protest and why would anyone accept a job that simply pays for that protest?

"Ok so someone is paying you protest here and now. Does this particular group frown upon you mentioning this to any random passer by?"
"Well no, not really. Protesting just kind of became popular several years back and this particular group kept it going one way another."
Now this as a concept just seemed really bazaar to me. Apparently a "group" of people somewhere saw how protests effectively changed a policy so now this is used purposefully.

"Is this common knowledge?" I couldn't help but gather more information.
"Yes, of course it is. The institution we protest knows this, the local reporters know this, all the citizens of Towz knows this. Never really thought too much about why it is the way it is but it's just the way it is. What you never knew?"

I started to wonder what had happened to Cogil. I started to look around just as he walked through a crowd of the protesters.
"Come on, we're going back the our protestor's paradise." He started to walk away. "It's not far. I'm sure you'll like it."

The next morning I awoke stairing at a ceiling. I couldn't remember how I ended up the room I was in, nor where I was. The ceiling appeared to be the standard issue in the western part of the city: flat wood paneling. As I gained more conciesness I realized I was on the floor of an apartment probably some number of floors up and there were fellow protestors all around me. Then sounds started to come into focus: some of my new room mates were still sleeping while others appeared to be cooking some sort of meals. There was a strange taste in my mouth, like my tounge had hair on it. I was about to get up when Cogil tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hey mate, what a wild night. Do you remember any of it?"
I started to get up and immediately sat down again. I had the oddest sensation in my arms and legs and something like a headache but the strangest one I had ever experienced. Seeing this Cogil added "No I don't suppose you would. No one does the first time."  ¶ 11:18 PM