Commoner First Party

The Commoner First Party (CFP) was a populist, revolutionary political party primarily based out of Stormwind City. Created and led by Adrian Engles for a time, the party sought to end the era of the noble and bring dramatic change to Stormwind. The party was later led by Simon Whitaker and Gideon Northgate.

The Party was later believed and accused of being no mare than a front for the Cult of the Damned. After the tenure of Engles—who was believed to be primarily responsible for its supposed Cult activities—its successive leaders attempted to reclaim its origins and rehabilitate its image. The cloud cast by its original leader lingered, however.

## The Elections for City Council

Adrian Engles gained prominence during the Stormwind City Council elections. During the elections, Engles waged an anti-nobility, pro-commoner campaign to secure a place on the City Council. Early on, Engles gained the attention of Dalaran’s Magus Senate; the ambassador of the Magus Senate met with Engles and soon thereafter began an investigation into Engles’ past.

It was during this campaign that Engles first began using the phrase “Commoner First” and began speaking about a House of Commons. Opposed vehemently by the nobility, considering his anti-nobility rhetoric dangerous, Adrian was presented with several obstacles, including a sham candidate handpicked by the nobility, the tampering and delaying of the election.

A few days prior to election night, the Magus Senate ambassador followed her investigatory leads to a place called “Dunmarsh.” Adrian Engles won the elections and became the Representative for the Mage Quarter on Stormwind’s City Council. This was the city council’s second session (632 KY).

## Following the Elections

However, unrest grew in Old Town following the elections. Many presumed Engles the culprit, as his rhetoric was considered inflammatory by many. Others contend that the unrest in Old Town was tied to the elections for the district seat there: Olivia Winterfang beat her opponent, Tim Reed. Reed’s people, some believe, were behind the unrest and the attempts on Olivia Winterfang’s life. Following the unrest in Old Town, some nobles called for the dissolution of the City Council.

## Failed Assassination and a Protest

It was then that an attempt was made on Engles’ life. Engles was nearly killed by a mystery assassin with unknown affiliation who said as they plunged a dagger into his back, “The nobility sends their regards.” Engles would have died if it weren’t for the quick actions of Amonar Edel, his courageous campaign advisor. Engles was spirited away outside the city to recover from his grievous wounds.

In the wake of the failed assassination and in the wake of the unrest in Old Town, Engles called for a protest to take place outside the gates of Stormwind Keep, as the House of Nobles met. At first peaceful, Engles led the protests as they called for justice, equality, and the abolishment of the nobility. Engles left and many of his people did as well. There are some reports that things turned violent following his departure.

Following the events of the protests, the Magus Senate ambassador gathered another group of investigators to venture once more into the place known as Dunmarsh. The trip resulted in several reports. A few of the investigators suffered from mental breaks.

## Detainment

In the wake of the events of Stormwind Keep, Engles announced a cross country tour of the kingdom as well as the formation of the Commoner First Party (CFP). After some time gathering steam, however, Engles was detained by the Magical Enforcement Bureau, amid rumors of a conflict between the Ministry of Magical Affairs and the Magus Senate of Dalaran -- a few hours before a noble was kidnapped by a group calling themselves the Committee for Public Safety. The noble was rescued, resulting in the deaths of the kidnappers. Engles held a rally and a memorial following the deaths, denouncing the noble and the nobility in general. As a result of the public events, recruitment for the CFP surged.

## Manifesto and Tour of the Kingdom

The Commoner First Party began to draft the Commoner’s Manifesto. Another group ventured into Dunmarsh. A noble, Darioch Aurelious, had an attempt made on his life. The Commoner's Manifesto was completed and distributed. Engles began his cross-country tour of the Kingdom.

Engles visited several areas as he toured Elwynn Forest — Norbury, Greenstown, Caldain, Mivirdaeux, Kingsmark, Ridgegarde, and others. There, Engles and the CFP gathered supporters and members and information on the misdeeds of the nobility in the countryside. Several local branches of the CFP were set up in the wake of the tour of Elwynn Forest.

Following his tour, Engles revealed that he had discovered slavery in Caldain. He denounced the practice and announced that the CFP would pursue legal action against the Baron of Caldain. Several weeks later, the Baron had received no punishment for his actions. The assassin that tried to kill Darioch Aurelious is found dead in his cell in the Stockades. Engles wrote and passed two bills, one to establish a literacy school and another to begin a loan program for commoners to start businesses.

## Westfall and New Elections

Engles and the CFP went to Westfall, the next leg of their cross-country tour. Following the death of Richaun Brooks, a CFP member, Simon Whitaker vowed to run for his seat on City Council and submitted a letter of intent. However, in response to claims made by Whitaker regarding Baron of Caldain’s practice of slavery, the Baron orchestrated a warrant for Whitaker’s arrest. Engles threatened to resign his seat on the council over this. Simon was arrested following a rally in the Dwarven District.

## Elections and a Changing of the Guard

Whitaker was quickly released from prison, and went on to win the seat for the Dwarven District on Stormwind’s City Council.  Another noble has an attempt made on their life. Prominent members of the Alliance Free Press (AFP) began to play a greater role within CFP. Whitaker assumed greater and greater responsibility within the party until he was named Deputy Leader of the CFP. Another group ventured into Dunmarsh, determined to stop the force that grew there.

The Journalism Integrity Act is introduced to the House of Nobles, endorsed by Whitaker and Gideon Northgate, owner of the AFP. The Act sows some division among the ranks of the CFP—with some supporting its passage while others, including Engles, denouncing it as no more than a noble power grab.

Engles announced his intention not to seek re-election, indicating his loss of faith in the institutions of the City Government. Amid a rally, Engles was assassinated. A fatal blow to the chest and leg ended his life. In the aftermath of Engles’ death, Whitaker assumed leadership of the CFP and maintained a peaceful response to the death of Engles, despite growing unrest in various parts of the kingdom, including Segentis County, Westfall. Several members of the CFP—including Calvin Quill and Gideon Northgate—won seats on City Council.

A mysterious group gathered and performed a ritual in Segentis County.

## Rebellion and Reform

Influenced by the dark arts that manipulated their rage at the assassination of Engles, the martyred leader of the Party, the commoners of Segentis County took arms against their tyrannical lord in a brutal and merciless display of rebellion. Despite orders barring them, the Party traveled to the city, motivated by mounting evidence that something was amiss in the county. They soon discovered that Engles, who they once thought dead, had by then turned into a lich, taking the name Plagueheart. Engles had incited the violence in the county as part of an elaborate plot to turn its citizenry into the undead.

After a terrifying battle, the Party seemingly defeated him. In a bid to quell the rebellion, the lord of the county entered the streets to negotiate, though a mob of rioters charged him. However, in a flash of an eye, an associate of the Party snatched the approaching lord, as the Party’s own Ambassador to the Den, Lord Tate, magically obliterated the mob in a bid to halt a perverse ritual from being completed by Engles. While this act stopped the ritual, it left all witnesses, including his fellow party members, stunned and horrified.

The CFP's reputation suffered after the events of Segentis, facing backlash from those within the House and society, struggling to regain traction. With internal and external pressure and strife against the Party, Whitaker was influenced to resign, tapping Northgate to replace him as Leader of the party. Whitaker and Northgate repeatedly disagreed on the path the Party should take — Whitaker preferring a direct, loud, and rebellious approach while Northgate preferring indirect, subtle, and reformative one. Shortly after his resignation, Whitaker publicly announced his departure from the Party.