Erhon Lucoster

Ashtan held out the promise of peace: a potential ceasefire to lead to
the negotiated removal of the Vertani fortress in the ruins of Thera.
Vertan offered to move to ceasefire status first, as a gesture of good
will. I declared on multiple occasions my confidence in the promises
made your people about the coming peace.

I also explained our intention to rebuild, or cooperate in rebuilding,
Thera, both then and later in a more detailed post.

With security concerns still high, a volunteer freely offered to go out
as my body double and circulate amongst your people. My dear friend and
I were in constant contact throughout his tour. He knew the risks.

And he died by the hand of one of your assassins.

Then your words of peace changed to words of bile and vitriol:
acrimonious words of bitter slander, attempting to re-construct events
in a new light favourable to Ashtan.

Thera was a declared enemy, and sent its troops to attack ours. Thera
was at war with us. As with all wars, we both gave and got. Of course
our reaction in Thera was too strong. It was a mistake. This I have said
over and over.

In the immediate aftermath of the event, we were excoriated for doing
nothing. "Why do you not rebuild Thera?" people cried. So we moved in to
build. Now we are attacked for so doing. Interesting contrast.

Was Ariel a lesser leader? Clearly. She led a small village of about 17
souls. Oh, she may have had personal greatness (I did not know her
enough to say) and she surely had spunk in her negotiations with Ashtan
and Vertan), but her village is microscopic in comparison with nearly
anywhere else. You lead a city of multiple thousands, and uncounted
denizen residents. Shallam boasts a similar number. Your cities are, by
comparison, vastly more numerous and powerful, and your leaders, by
extension, more significant in the realms. Ariel led a group which
fought bravely, and was very small. There is no shame in that, but there
is no inaccuracy either.

I have no doubt that your utter loathing directed at we Vertani has
grown over time. It is good of you to confirm that fact for us all in
a public forum though!

It is greatly pleasing to read your words of praise for Therans, however
late to the party you may have come. For your people repeatedly,
interminably, massacred Therans, without declaration of war - just for
sport, or experience, or as mere highwaymen do, for a few gold. You paid
huge reparations to compensate for these extensive crimes. This gained
you at least the accomodation and alliance, if not actual forgiveness,
of the Therans.

And now fully wrapped in the smug self-righteousness of the newly
accomodated (forgiven? probably not, but accomodated) - you dare to
express your outrage on behalf of your
victims-and-whipping-boys-turned-allies, the Therans.

Remarkable. Have you considered a career in politics?

In any event, the palm branch was extended to you before, and your
assassins chopped it off. I extend it yet. Shall we not have peace?

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Miraman, in the year 386 AF.