Speaking as an Ashtani, and as you said, probably with an opinion
as slanted towards Ashtan's interests as your note was slanted towards
Shallam's interests, I will try and convey the general feeling within
the city. We are tired of people coming into our city to step on our
laws. We are tired of people of the Church, and for the Church
sneaking around and then denying what they are doing to our citizens
and leaders faces. If they are really taking the moral high ground
they believe they are taking then they should shout it out, do the
honorable thing and claim their intentions, and simply do what they
honestly think is the correct thing. They should stop sending in
people barely out of childhood themselves to do the work and put their
own necks on the line for the ideals and morals they so claim to have.

Ashan respects people that take stances, and well, at least if the
stance was taken and not defiled by hypocritical actions, slander and
deception after the fact Ashtan may be less united in its thoughts
against Shallam and the Church. We feel slaps in the face with every
lie, with ever transgression which is done within our city. We don't
take too kindly to being asked to close down a city landmark, and then
even less to have morals forced at us with these invading people.
There is only so much we can take without reacting as a city and not
as seperate bands of individuals. Both cities seem to want and wish
to take a stand, we are willing to negotiate but will not stand to
have unreasonable demands foisted onto us.

Regarding the point on whom started this I can not say that I know.
In the past we've had wars, many long wars, and well, that has worn
hard on both cities images of eachother. I know that Ashtan adores
its freedom, and allows its citizens to act individually how they
wish. Individually some of the citizens may have started it, but
upping the ante by organizing against that as a city, offensively, was
first done by Shallam and the Church from what I've seen. I do admit
there has been a definate reaction and escalation on Ashtan's part
since then, but what else is to be expected as a responce to
aggression than a like responce. It will keep escalating until one
side stops, or until one side is unable to do so. Ashtan really
doesn't desire to lose any of its freedoms and become some subserviant
puppet to either Shallam or the Church's whims.

I feel that the proposed solution regarding the orphaning problem,
to allow cities alternative options to enrolling will just pit the
cities against eachother more, will end up causing more distress.
Ashtan already has a lawful way to do this, as you spoke of, but as
I've been monitoring it the use has been next to nihil as the kids are
being shipped out immediatly. Ashtan has not punished anyone for
taking them to her, and well, as to this date Shallam has not a single
alternative present. Even if such an alternative became available I
worry that we'd just end up with more hatred as the cities compeate
and attempt to lock down their respective ways of enrolling from
eacohther. The only solutions I see are to forgive and forget, or to
learn to forgive and forget out of respect won as equals after a long
and grueling war.

-Xadzia Rihwin-Lucoster

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Lupar, in the year 370 AF.