Well,

I've spent some time reading the newsboards and the general impression
I've gotten from the Shallamese posters is that Thera deserved to be
destroyed. To be fair this is not the only opinion out there, however,
of those from the Jewel who choose to vocalize their opinions, the
impression I get is that the Vertani retributive strike was totally
justified.

I must say I'm impressed, never in my long life have I seen such a show
of hypocrisy. Thera deserved to be destroyed, the priests, the
ropemaker, the mayor, down to the last Theran. Yes, even the children!
And as far as I can gather its for the unexpiatable and totally
unforgivable crime of siding with Ashtan. How dare they side with the
Freedom loving, outspoken, tentacle of Chaos spawning Ashtani! Yes you,
dear soul, who was once an innocent child, you deserved annihilation
because your mayor decided the best interests of Thera lay not with
Shallam but with Ashtan.

So here we are, at the crossroads of history, certainly one of the most
pivotal events in my long life, and we all manouver for advantage. I'm
sorry El'jazirans, the Mhaldorians are exterminating your race, but
since your slavers anyway, we'll just forget about this little genocide.
Thera, you sided with Ashtan, here's your not so happily ever after- as
a hole in the ground.

Amazingly to me, that when people turn to Shallam and look for
leadership, I see gloating, vindictiveness, self righteousness, and
mis-placed hopes. Did I say leadership? Yes, indeed. Not for me of
course, I'm rather old stubborn, crotchety and the Garden knows I always
want to do what *I* want. But like it or not Shallam, the Forces of
Good, those who consider themselves fair and just and moral and caring
look to you for leadership. They see an entire town wiped from Sapience,
the single biggest attrocity of this century. And what they're hearing
is, you deserved it.

Well to Shallam and to all of Sapience, I say this, the time for waiting
is over, the time for complex schemes and careful manouvering for
advantage, has passed you by. When your grandchildren's and your
grandchildren's grandchildren say to you, "and when Thera was
annihilated, what did you do then, Nana?" What will you say?

As for me I am perfectly content for Shallam to stay behind its walls.
However, I will not sit by silently and continue to listen to this self
righteous tripe on the public boards. This is my opinion, I speak
neither for Ashtan nor the Ashura, but I hope that my words in some way
reflect what people hold in their hearts.

Skarash Azon

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Sarapin, in the year 386 AF.