I do not normally post on this board (this makes exactly the second
time) because I am generally of the belief that argument here is a
pointless waste of time. However, I have something to say I want a lot
of people to hear.

While Mhaldor and Cyrene fought, I was content to just roll my eyes and
ignore it. I'm not Cyrenian and I'm not Mhaldorian, and it seemed clear
to most people that Mhaldor's apparent reason for attacking Cyrene
(because Phaestus is its patron) is facetious. There seemed no reason to
point out what everyone except Mhaldor appeared to be aware of.

However, now we see three Orders stepping forward to join in the fight.
At least the Shallam-Ashtan conflict makes some sort of sense. This is
just absurd. Cyrene is a city where members of the Orders of Sartan,
Aegis, Eris, and Twilight are not welcome. Do I think that's right?
Maybe, maybe not. But that's not the point- it's not my city and what I
think is completely irrelevent. It's THEIR city and THEIR law, and if
they have decided to be a city of peace, order, and generally of good
and light, that is their own business.

It is beyond me why Aegians, Erisians, and Darklings even CARE. Why
would you join a city that openly does not welcome you? Even if killing
Cyrenians convinces them to change their law, you think it will change
their attitude? You think you can force a city to welcome you with open
arms? Supposing it were possible for an Occultist to join Shallam or a
Churchie to join Ashtan, do you think those cities would welcome their
new citizens happily? Most likely they would distrust and dislike them
automatically, which is why such things would not happen even if the
Church allowed it. So I ask again, why do you want to force your way
into a city that will only dislike you the more for it? I seriously
doubt whether any of your members would take advantage of the 'freedom'
you are trying to win them.

Common sense aside, the fact is that a city has a right to make its own
laws. Forcing your ideals on people who don't want them doesn't create
freedom. It is just another form of oppression. So what if Cyrene does
not welcome your Order members? Send a one-fingered salute in Cyrene's
direction and join a city that does welcome you. Do not kid yourself
into believing that you are fighting for a noble cause- you are trying
to force a city that you are not connected to in any way to abide by
your personal morality.

This action is especially shocking coming from Aegians and Erisians,
because many of them are Ashtani. Ashtan styles itself the 'City of the
Free' and is known for its law which allows citizens to murder and rob
noncitizens in its borders without punishment from the city. Now, this
law is highly favored by the citizens of Ashtan, but many a noncitizen
(myself included) has had fits over it. Ashtan's traditional response to
such complaints, and demands from individuals and organizations that
want more consideration in its law is, "It's our city and this is how we
want the laws to be. If you don't like it, bugger off." Indeed, Ashtan
citizens make the law and they like it the way it is, so no outside
organization can or should compel them to change it.

So you Aegian and Erisian Ashtani, where do you get off deciding that
you have the right to impose YOUR idea of what Cyrene's laws should be
on that city? Since when does a group of noncitizens have the right to
march into a city and demand that the city do things THEIR way, or else?

What's next? The Occultists declare war on Shallam because their
entities aren't allowed there and they can't be citizens? Mhaldor
declares war on the Sentinels because the Sentinels won't allow Sartai
to be members? Hey, lots of Hashan and Ashtan guilds insist that their
members be citizens of the home city- come to think of it, that's
discrimination too! I think Shallamese and Oakstone members should be
allowed to be Ashura or Shaman too! No fair!

I'm sure this post has ticked off at least some of you. And believe me,
I mean no disrespect to the Deities involved. I just feel that perhaps
some people have not fully considered the intents and implications of
their actions. Remember that if you push a new precedent into being, YOU
are also subject to that precedent.

I expect these strongarm tactics to impose noncitizen beliefs on Cyrene
will be born in mind next time a noncitizen objects to the morality of
one of *your* cities.

Warmest regards,
Rhakshai Silvertongue

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Lupar, in the year 320 AF.