Carmell,

I found myself shaking with laughter as I read your post. Firstly, I
can't help but see the irony in the fact that Shallam's "protection" is
what drew Mhaldor to Jaru in the first place. Has Mhaldor sworn that the
streets of Tasur'ke will run red with blood? Thera? No. It is only Jaru,
and it is only Jaru because of your "protection" and long history of
attempts to claim Jaru.

I pose to you the following questions:

If Jaru was merely Shallam's neighbor, with Shallam purporting no
military protection of it or its citizens, would it have been attacked?

Had Shallam's fence-sitting not deprived Mhaldor of a true and legal
conflict between the cities, would Mhaldor have felt it necessary to
invade Jaru?

Do the benefits of Shallam's intervention in Jaru mitigate the fact that
Shallam is the cause of Jaru's problems in the first place?

The answer to all three of the above questions is a resounding "no". If
Shallam had never claimed affiliation with Jaru, Mhaldor would not have
waged war on it. Had Shallam agreed to terms of armed conflict with
Jaru, would Mhaldor have been forced to bring the conflict to Jaru? No.
The conflict would have been in -Shallam-, against -Shallamites-.
However, Shallam's inability to stand up for its own ideals, and their
willingness to put others in harm's way to support their land grabs,
show how dedicated to "good" Shallam's leaders are. The citizens of Jaru
are innocent bystanders in this, and because of Shallam they are now
human shields that stand between Mhaldor and Shallam.

Shallam may be assisting Jaru with defense against Mhaldor. The streets
run red with Mhaldorian and Shallamite blood alike. But the simple fact
remains that had Shallam never made claim to Jaru, this conflict would
never have come to the streets of Jaru.

I also find Carmell's comments concerning the Mayor of Jaru incredibly
amusing. Just -this month- I asked her permission to enter Jaru to speak
with the Mayor, vowing not to harm any Jaruvian or Shallamite, offering
to be escorted if need be. I made every accomodation and approached this
situation as diplomatically as possible, and what was the result?
Because I am an enemy of Shallam, I was refused. Residents and denizens
of Sapience... does it -sound- like Shallam wants Jaru to have complete
control over itself?

This is the face of tyranny.

This is the face of totalitarianism.

Jaru is paying the cost in blood for Shallam's desire to expand its
power and base of influence. Jaruvian citizens are meat shields for
Shallamite citizens that couldn't stomach a conflict in their own home.

How very ironic.

Father Reznik Trismegistus

Penned by my hand on the 14th of Lupar, in the year 369 AF.