Let's start with your last point. Defining 'truth' is a hedgy matter. I
personally strongly believe that reality exists quite independently of
the people observing it. Lunastra will shine even if there is no mortal
or even squirrel to see it. So, one can define 'truth' as a one-to-one
correspondence between a given statement (I will accept your point about
'statements' rather than 'word' - the latter was sloppy usage of mine)
and reality. Therefore, if someone cries "The Forest is on Fire!" it is
either true or false regardless of whether it is me, you, Lodi or
Chuckles the Jester crying it. This was the point I was making. And I
disagree with the idea you raise, that truth is dependent also of "the
use it is being put to". If aforementioned cry turns out to be a false
alarm, but the subsequent patrolling turns up a previously unreported
extermination, it has nevertheless been useful. It's no less a lie, of
course.

I took care to distinguish Lodi's words from the motivations he's saying
them with - on the latter, I can claim no knowledge, though I of course
do take note of his past record. This changes nothing about the former.
Is my view held by a minority? Probably. Is the minority confused? No, I
think it is remarkably clear-headed.

As for people being enemied to Oakstone - those being permanently
enemied to Oakstone for justified reasons do not live in the forest and
will not do so in any foreseeable future. Are they forestals according
to my definition? Probably not. Also, my definition would exclude the
unlikely case of someone having Grove and Concoction skills but never
having put them to use. However, we would both agree that someone
enemied for only a year to Oakstone for an overharvest would still be a
Forestal - so I'll stick to "living in the forest". I think the
disagreement here is very superficial.

Of course, I agree that there are principles underlying Forestalism, in
addition to skills. I just believe those principles are different than
you hold. Actually, I think all that is really important can be summed
up in one principle - I would go no farther than "not intentionally
harming Nature and aiding in protecting it" - without membership in
Eleusis, Druid Guild, Sentinels, Awen or whatever being added to it. The
rest is discussable.

Narses

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Phaestian, in the year 352 AF.