Well, this IS a surprise. I am very pleased to see Ashtan finally
joining the civilized world and recognizing the that those who are not
Ashtan citizens have rights too.

Thera is eager to secure the safety of its citizens, but given that our
primary threats are Ashtan and its apparent ally against the Vertani,
Mhaldor, I think it is understandable that we remain unsure about your
sincerity. There is also the matter of reparations for the incredible
amount of evil your people have perpetuated against us in the past.
While slaying the crypt beast is certainly an admirable act, it hardly
serves to balance out everything else you have done to us. What will
Ashtan offer to atone for its past actions?

Finally, I wish to point out that Thera will certainly not become a
satellite village of anyone, Vertani or Ashtani or otherwise. We would
wish alliance with Ashtan, not an inferior status, and not a loss of our
independence.

The Vertani offer us all of what we have asked for and have done us no
wrong in the past. With all due respect to Hingar, of course, it is
understandable that we remain cautious of them, as they are an unknown
quantity with no history to judge them but the peaceful and generally
benevolent manner in which they acted upon arriving on Sapience, until
attacked by, again, your people.

In summary then, Thera will willingly consider an alliance with Ashtan,
but we wish to know what reparations you offer, and we must have a
public pledge, sworn on the honour of the Logos Himself, that you will
cast out any of your citizens who harm our people, and will actively
oppose any harming of us by others.

Penned by my hand on the 14th of Miraman, in the year 382 AF.