Greetings.

I feel that there is a misunderstanding of sorts.

Those that feel Ashtanite orphans should not be slain often take the
view that because we are "the City of Freedom" that everyone should have
the freedom to do whatever they want. This, sadly, is incorrect. The
City of Ashtan is a free -state-. It is a free -city-. There is a
government in place, one run by officials elected by the citizens of
Ashtan to represent their interests. This is not anarchy. No one is free
to do whatever the hell they want without repercussions.

In this case, the interests of the Ashtani people are to keep the
orphans of Ashtan available to us as a resource, and to keep them within
our city . Is this moral? Is this right? Is this good? Is this just?
Maybe, maybe not. I don't care, and neither does Ashtan. That's not the
issue here.

Then what is the issue, Reznik?

The issue is that a foreign state is telling us what is right, what is
wrong, what we should do, and what we shouldn't do. The issue is that
this foreign state is forcing -their- ethos and -their- morality upon
us. They are violating our law, be it right our wrong, because they
disagree with it. That's fine. But we can and will cut you down when we
find out you're doing it.

Ashtan is not interested in your morals.

Ashtan is not interested in your rhetoric.

And unless the people of Ashtan decide otherwise, the only way you will
"change us" is to storm our gates. You can have our candy and our
orphans when I'm dead and you pry the candy from my cold, dead hands.

I do hope this clears up any confusion on this matter.

Father Reznik Saer'rac

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Phaestian, in the year 371 AF.