Greetings to the Loyal Citizens of Hashan,

Though considered relatively young by the standards of those who measure
such things in the realm, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting
to know many of you. As a result, I have the pleasure to call a number
of you "Friend."

It is for this reason, and because I like to consider myself a friend to
all who wish to treat me as such, that I address you here today to ask
this simple question: How do you want others to perceive you and the
city in which you live?

The actions of our citizens and the actions of our leadership have a
significant impact upon the way that others form their initial
impressions of us and our home cities. Until recently, I had received
nothing but a warm welcome when visiting Hashan and have always thought
well of the city and her citizens. Unfortunately, I have recently had
such a negative experience that this feeling has been significantly
altered.

One of my better friends in the realm is a longtime resident of Hashan.
During his tenure, he has served on your ruling council in many
capacities. He has (an still does) own property in your subdivision and
has served on the councils of more than one guild that calls Hashan
home. In addition, he has owned and managed shops there.

For otherworldly reasons, my friend was inactive for a time, but
returned to the Achaea some 5 or 6 years ago. He joined the guild of
which I am a member and rapidly mastered all the guild skills. He also
bought a home in Shallam so that he would have a place to relax while
studying with the Sentaari. Because of these distractions, he remained
relatively quiet on your city channel.

An announcement was recently made stating that a shop was being
auctioned off in Hashan and that the auction was open only to citizens
of the city. This was confirmed in the return message sent to anyone who
sent any message to your Chancellor.

Shortly before the announcement of a shop being for sale was made, he
had decided that he was homesick, returned to Hashan and joined the
guild of Sorcerer's.

I was contacted in a strange and otherworldly manner by this individual
and asked to do him a favor. Before beginning travels to an alternate
plane, he had forgotten to send a message placing a bid on the
previously mentioned shop to the leaders of your city and asked if I
would mind passing the message along for him. I happily agreed.

Unfortunately, my messages on this topic were not only discounted, but I
was treated in an extremely rude and unprofessional manner by more than
one of your city leaders. I even went so far as to speak with one of
your Regents, who is well acquainted with my friend and was assured that
word would be passed that the offer that I was making on his behalf
should be accepted.

In spite of this, I was again told that my efforts to assist him were to
no avail and that he needed to submit the bid personally. I communicated
this information to him and he went to extreme effort and expense to
make this happen, personally submitting a bid on the shop.

Recently, he was notified that in spite of the fact that his bid was
more than twice the final purchase price of the shop, it had been
rejected. It was even stated that his offer seemed suspicious and that
it might be some sort of scam.

That being the case, he quit your city and the guild to which he had
become allied, leaving a rather angry farewell post.

Since that, he has been enemied by your leaders blocking access to his
bank accounts there and the property that he owns there.

Now I ask again: How do you wish to be perceived in the realm when you
say you are a citizen of Hashan?

Put yourself in the shoes of my friend. How would you feel if after 40
years of service to your city you were treated in such a manner? Would
that be a city to which you would like to remain loyal, or would you
rather find a home that treats their citizens with the same loyalty that
they expect from you?

Food for thought: How many citizens quit your city on a monthly basis?
Why do so many leave?

I bring this to your attention not with the hopes of seeing masses quit
Hashan but rather with the hope that you will bring about change. Change
the way that you allow yourself to be led. Change to the service that
you demand for your leaders.

Make your city shine! Don't allow it to be tarnished! Don't just stand
idly by while you are misrepresented in the realm.

If you feel that this all represents the way in which you want to have
others perceive you and your home, then ignore this and move on to the
next post. I would be extremely disappointed to learn that this were the
case.

I hope to see the Crown of the Ithmia shine with a polish it has never
before seen.

Your Friend

Grand Master Saigo Seir-Trefenwyd : Rose of the Sun and Properian



Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Valnuary, in the year 385 AF.