Hingar, if you and your kind really feel that Szanthaxs' actions
are also the responsibility of Ashtan and her leaders, and that we
should take action to equalise the stress in our given relations
then I have a modest proposal. Think on the crimes, I have and am
aware that your people are not gifted with the many lives which
our Logos grants us all, but if you truely feel that taking the
life of Szanthax will somehow reduce your pain, bring back some
semblance of your comrade's existance or whatnot then taking the
life of a leader of that city which he calls his homne in place?
You can contact me, and we can work out a place outside the city
where you can take out this task, on me, as many times as you all
feel is fit for his debt to be paid.
You see this offer came of how I have viewed your logic when
dealing with our races thusfar. Reviewing it here may make the
idea somewhat more tasteful to you, if you will. Now, you seem
to feel that someone in an elected position of leadership within
the influance of Szanthax has enough sway over his paradigm to be
held accountable, or somewhat responsible for not serving him up
to you as a peace offering. You read one individual's actions
as being condoned by the entire city he lives in and them, not
wishing to break their own value system for the one mans actions
for the organization that he tred on. If those are all true,
even somewhat, why not kill me in place of harming the city, and
the individual? I am obviously to be blamed for not keeping my
errant citizen in line.
Perhaps your own grasp on our language is rough. Perhaps you
are incapible as a species of feeling, thinking and reacting in
a scope that we can mutually comprehend. Perhaps you remain
ignorant of us and our values on purpose, feeling better than us
or blatantely misunderstanding, and even choosing vauge words to
communicate with when other words may better convey feelings
across this board. If its an honest mistake, or a correctable
miscalculation, I suggest perhaps that you have dishonoured house
Kortul and that you should retire as a liason. The Vertani
would best be served with someone with more energy, passion and
a true wish to communicate. Otherwise, well, I suggest perhaps
that you all would be best to return to your own plane, or world
wherever that be, before both sides do even more regretable
things to eachother and start something that can not be ended.
Your species is an interesting one, much could be learned from
further contact, but as it is there is a deep compatibility issue.
Mistrust is taking it lightly, I would move to say outright
suspicion looking for proof, verging on a mob ready to create its
own proof. There are many very odd pieces, from your supposedly
peaceful race gifting such a violent game to Sapience, up to your
envoys stating how much they abhor slavery, yet seeming to feel
that a city leader leashes and shackles their citizens to the
point of extraditing the ones which some other authority find
distasteful. Either you are all withholding much crucial and
valuable information, history and beliefs, or well, you are
really botching up your attempts at contacting and learning from
our kinds here, and forming any sort of lasting, co-operative
relations between the two planes.
This is not just a problem between you and Ashtan, or between
you and Mhaldor. It is a growing problem, one now with
you and Mhaldor. It is a growing problem, one now with a very
loud (and long-winded) voice. It is a problem between the
Vertani and most of Sapience. Some cities, and some people
may be content as it is now, but how long will it be before
unrest sets in? How long do you intend to sit and watch us?
How much longer will you be welcome here if your actions keep
seeming so defensive while your attitudes are so pompus and
offensive to us? What are you afraid of? Us catching up with
you? Us being equals to you, or even (sic) surpassing you?
Are we really that threatening to you? Well there is something
to be said about fears, sometimes fearing and obsessing will
make those deep worries become a reality.

Xadzia Rihwin-Lucoster

Penned by my hand on the 1st of Chronos, in the year 381 AF.