First of all, a small note to Rangor's post: It was reported, during the
events preceding the release of Gaia from the Tree to which she was
bound, that a Red Mist was sent by Twilight to cover the Forests. This
all happened during Daelvenmere's Guildmasterhood in the Druids, so, in
the early years of the third century. I am not sure at all whether this
mist was in it's effects the same as the one that now covers the island
in the west, and have been trying to get more information to this
without success.

Now, to the point. Unlike Kirath, I am not a Mhaldorian, nor a member of
any other city - and it is most unlikely I will ever be. So let no one
doubt my loyalties! I should remark first of all that as far as I know
an alliance between Eleusis and Hashan is not, in fact, currently
imminent, so this discussion seems premature, and I am not quite sure
why the matter was raised on these boards at all. Yet Asara's and
Rangor's posts raised enough ominous points for me to react.

If Hashan is really regretting its past crimes against the Forest, that
is applaudable. Their efforts in tending to the Northern Ithmia are
applaudable as well. Nice saplings, very nice, yes. Yet, the city still
employs the insulting name "Crown of the Ithmia" and mocks the memory of
Gaia by having a statue of Her beside that cursed road for which it
ravaged the Northern Ithmia. However, people who think that the question
is one of Hashan being nice to the Forest or bad to the Forest miss the
point completely. The point is one of Druids placing any faith in cities
to assist in the protection of the Forest, regardless of whether this
city is Hashan, Ashtan, Mhaldor or Seleucar itself. Cities will always
act upon strategic interests which may be, at best, not conflict with
defense of Nature - but he that relies on them to protect the Forests
acts like the frog of the fable, who believed the scorpion's promise not
to sting him as he carried him across the river. The frog was
disappointed, and so were the Druids, way back.

It was a Druidess that led the armies of Hashan into the Western Ithmia
in 221. She and those that supported her never betrayed the forest -
rather, they believed Hashan would protect the Ithmia from, notably,
Ashtan - which was always in the centre of the all too myopic and narrow
view of the Forestals, much like Mhaldor is now. They were deceived in
the most terrible manner, and suckered into assisting in the destruction
of that which they were sworn to protect. The lesson which the Druids
took afterward - when they banned citizenship in _all_ cities (not just
Hashan!) had nothing to do with Hashan being bad to the Forest or nice
to the Forest - it had everything to do with placing no reliance in
cities, any cities, to protect Nature.

It would be a black day when this lesson is undone! Druidism has
suffered blow after blow during the last four decades. We have a city
planted in the middle of the Forest which they called a Forestal
Village, the Temple of Gaia is closed - many principles and memories I
held dear when a young Druid are fading. And now, we are starting to
forget those bitter lessons of 221 as well.

Twilight may no longer be the Patron of Hashan - but I think He would be
very proud if this alliance were ever to become a reality.

Narses

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Valnuary, in the year 356 AF.