Ye Gods, enough already. We go through this routinely with one another
about every decade or so.

- Ashtan (and her allies) and Shallam (and her allies, minus the
Vertani) will never, EVER have an alliance until BOTH sides can put
aside their pride, their stubbornness, their suspicion, and their
"history" and unite for the 'common good'. The sooner everyone realizes
this, the sooner we can stop trying to convince each other until we're
blue in the face.

- Ashtan (and her allies) and Shallam (and her allies, minus the
Vertani) will never, EVER put aside their pride, their stubbornness,
their suspicion, and their "history" and unite for the 'common good'
until people on BOTH sides realize we have the potential to lose our
entire world to these foreigners.

Now, it's easy to say none of this would have happened if we would have
just left the Vertani alone. But who can really say what might have
happened? Who can even say what WILL happen? There is no such thing as a
friendly invasion, but perhaps the Vertani weren't "invading" at all. I
of course will not argue about this, because it's a moot point now.

Do I care if Shallam allies with Ashtan and Mhaldor and etc.? No. Am I
worried that Shallam is having the wool pulled over their eyes and that
their friendship with the Vertani will end with a huge chest in the
middle of Fish Street that someone will scamper to open and *poof* there
goes Shallam? Yes (no, really, I am). Will I go stand in the middle of
Shallam and try to convince them of this for the rest of my life? No.

You cannot force listening upon someone who does not wish to hear. I
think it is unfortunante for us that Shallam allied with the foreigners,
but Shallam is intelligent enough to make their own decisions. Arguing
with them over policies and possibilities will not change the fact that
they are allied with the Vertani.

My biggest fear for Sapience is that we will destroy our own world. Our
cities will burn with fires started by our own hands. Our forests will
smolder with ashes we ourselves created. Whether we like to admit it or
not, we are in the midst of a war. Put aside your political and
religious differences, and consider what is best for your own city, your
own homes, your own families. In wartime, you are forced to choose a
side, and sometimes entire households are divided. If you do not agree
with your city's alliances, leave. Do not force your beliefs on those
who are already deaf to your "reason"; save your energy for rallying
your troops. You are wasting precious time on bantering among yourselves
when what you need to be doing is preparing, no matter what side you are
on.

The days of reckoning are upon us all.

Iliana Lucoster



Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Mayan, in the year 385 AF.