Ariel,

A slight misunderstanding I believe based on how Ashtan's Laws work and
our offer that I hopefully will be able to clarify. Ashtan's laws for
the most part are instated to protect the citizenry, and only extend as
far as our walls. There in lies the problem that we were faced when
attempting to place this offer. We wished you all to remain independent
sovereign states, but to protect you as you so stated we would need to
classify you as a citizen of the city-state of Ashtan. Even considered a
citizen our power would only be to prevent our own from attacking you,
and if such did occur the punishment would be as if they had done so to
another denizen of Ashtan, removal from the city. You would be still be
at the mercy of the other predators of the land and Ashtan would have no
way to protect you without considering the land of your village as part
of its own city state, hence the inclusion of being a satellite state.
Perhaps as one of my citizens stated considering it a confederation
would be best, then you would not feel as if you were an inferior in
this joint venture and we could still consider both lands to be a single
entity.

As for the reparations, I have attempted to speak with you in private,
my ability to negotiate with you on what you would feel would be fair is
largely hampered by the fact that I seem to continually catch you while
you were busy and unable to respond. Any offering I make here can be
rebuffed as being insufficient and would only cause a rift should both
sides feel they were slighted in public. Our offering was made to you,
as it was made to all the other villages, should they seek to speak with
me about reparations they feel is their due they can approach me in
person. Seek me out and speak with me and we will see how the
negotiations and alliance between us goes, until otherwise noted the
Ashtani will stand by their word and not attack your people. Anything
further will require personal negotiation.

-Erhon, Overseer of Ashtan-

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Miraman, in the year 382 AF.