Dear Sapience and Vertani,
I have been absent from the realms for many years, and am a relatively
small player in the realsm, and have but a superficial understanding of
the Vertani situation, but I believe that I have observed enough trends
and events to make a measured comment on the situation in whole. I ask
you consider this:

What we know about the Vertani:
- They are more powerful than us.
- They come from a world of which we know very little, refuse to share
much of it with us (?), and are in the process of assimilating
themselves into our continent.
- They do seem to fear our limited powers, building impenetrable
fortresses/outposts in various places.
- Building on that, they fear us enough to use overwhelming force to
destroy Thera in retaliation of one of our attacks and past attacks
- They seem to nevertheless be careful about using this force to
actually crush our civilization.
- They teach us their language.
- Their recent show of peace involved the use of priests and a -false-
version of Hingar.
- They say they want to -civilize- Achaea.
- Their values seem to be compatible with ours.
- They are gathering information about us.
- They made a real effort to mend relations after the Thera incident,
but were very eager to do it, so eager they wanted to use a fake Hingar.

What we can draw from this:
- We -definitely- have some use to the Vertani. We have a utility to
them, that is why they haven't crushed us completely.
- This use involves us understanding their language.
- Our dialogue with them nevertheless has largely been in the language
of war and intrigue.
- Their use of a false Hingar to gain our trust implies that they still
wish to have the advantage in this dialogue, that is, they want to have
more security than we do.
---> Complete security for one party is complete INsecurity for all
other parties.
- The most likely reason for this is either an agenda they know we will
dislike or one they believe we will not appreciate.
- Their proposal to "civilize" us suggests they believe they are
significantly more advanced than us.

What I think we can draw from all of this:
- Their mission seems to be a combination so far of missionary work and
a search for a real colony here.
- Nevertheless, this constant evasion is very worrying.
- Their refusal to inform us of their situation prior to coming into
contact with us beyond the fact that we can never go there is troubling.
--> What are they hiding?
- Advanced civilizations always want to change those they come into
contact with. Why can't they explain to us what is so much better? Do we
want to change? I personally
am interested, but I want an open hand.
- I say we will not be decimated, but perhaps enslaved or used as
resource mines. The less advanced civilization often loses more in
contact with an advanced one.

Policy from here:
- Continued vigilance
- An explanation of their history and tangible values
- I wonder if they -need- us, and if so, why and what for?

In short, I approve of Ashtan's stance until we find out more.
Acquiesence is stupid. So is outright violence, but this Thera incident
followed by this questionable mending
of relations worries me greatly, and if I were not attempting to take an
objective view of the situation, I would be inflamed. They do want some
measure of control/influence
over us, while we are only asking for information about them. Why can we
not work out some agreement about giving them a place to start their
civilization. Why are they
insisting on -feeding- off of ours? More thought is required, but that
is for other minds.

My only goal was to give what seems to me is a half-decent summary of
the Vertani events followed by some thoughts on policy. Consider if you
will. I will not be here to respond for a while, but I will return
eventually.

Yours truly,
Acheron

Penned by my hand on the 9th of Miraman, in the year 386 AF.