Sapience,

As the conflict with the Vertani rages on, and the death toll on both
sides rises (a fact felt more by the Vertani perhaps), the question must
be asked: What will be the outcome of this? Will the violence continue
unabated until either the entire Vertani race is wiped out or until even
more horrors such as Thera are committed (perhaps on both sides). Is it
not time that SOME decision is made on this matter? That some final
verdict is reached?
I must ask for forgiveness in this newspost, for I am going to be rather
straight with you all and perhaps a bit insensitive as I relate what has
happened, what we have learned, and what perhaps should be done. With
that said, I will start at the beginning as so many of these posts are
apt to do. This entire conflict began when a portal opened up and a few
Vertani made their way into our world to figure out what they had
discovered. In my few talks with Hingar he has told me that the Vertani
are a race of explorers, intrigued by the unknown as many of us Sapients
are. They did not know where their porta led to and they were
understandably curious as to what lay beyond. It was then that the first
blow of this long conflict was struck, by Sapience. The Vertani scouts
were killed and thus began the snowballing that continues today.
While the Vertani may have decided to simply close their portal and not
bother with the world that had claimed their scout's life, something
made them continue their search whether it was their curiosity or to
search for some reason for their kindred's death. Skipping forwards in
time, we now find the Vertani firmly established in Sapience, actually
taking two towns to be part of their empire (by request we have been
told). One thing is for sure, the Vertani are here to stay as long as
they are able.
"Well why don't they just leave now?" many have asked and this is a
valid question. If the Vertani are upset with our way of life, why do
they not simply leave? The answer is simple: Sapience has become their
home as much as it is ours. Both Tasur'ke and El Jazira are parts of the
Vertani Empire and not in name only. Think on it, if you had expanded
your city into an newly discovered area and suddenly came under attack,
would you simply abandon it to whatever would come? I doubt that many
would. The same is true with the Vertani, Hingar himself has told me
that if he could do it all again, knowing what he does now, that he
would have never opened the portal yet it is too late for the Vertani to
leave, they too have a stake in Sapience now.
Xenophobia has played a large role in this conflict, the fear of these
unknown people with such great power. Many do not even see them as
people, they treat them as animals to be slaughtered and do not even
stop to think about how they would feel if someone waded into their city
killing at random. Since death is final for the Vertani, the horror of
this Xenophobic attack is multiplied immensely. The Vertani are people,
with lives just as valuable as ours. Think of how you would feel if your
father, mother, sister, aunt, etc, were killed and you NEVER got to see
them again, that is what the Vertani face. This Xenophobia seems
unexplainable, both the Xoran and the Rajamala are not native to
Sapience and yet you do not see mass killings of either of those races.
Why were the Vertani not welcomed as these races were? Their
aggressiveness is no excuse, considering that WE struck the first blow.
Many despise the Vertani due to their acts at Thera. This is where I
must become a bit insensitive but do not think that I do not grieve for
Thera and its, as of right now, missing inhabitants. It must be noted
however that Thera WAS actively attacking the Vertani and while a case
can be made that its civilians were not doing so, the fact that they
supported their leaders and remained in Thera without protesting makes
them just as guilty in the aggression. Also, the Vertani has expressed
their sorrow for the destruction of Thera, even exiling their own
Overlord Drafaris and making known their intention to rebuild Thera. The
Vertani have tried to do what they can to atone for Thera, letting it be
known that is was a horrible mistake. People make mistakes and while
this one was devastating, it should not be enough to doom an entire
race, especially when it was mainly the work of one Overlord, angered at
his relative's death. Estan's death, an event that came about due to
provocation and disrespect on both sides, was the catalyst for this
event and the Vertani's response to this seems to show their intent to
try to make peace.
One final event helps to show how the Vertani, despite the lack of
respect and anger directed towards them, have done what they can to show
their intent. After much protestation, the Vertani agreed to move their
Theran fortress to a neutral area, sacrificing a good number of their
own during the move. This is an important event as it shows that the
Vertani are willing to make concessions for Sapience, that they are not
completely dogmatic in their own decisions. This more than anything has
shown the Vertani's will to be on friendly terms with Sapience
Do not think that I call for complete forgiveness and embracing of the
Vertani, for there is much that needs to be discussed on both sides
before a final pace is possible. All that I ask is that the Vertani be
accepted as a part of our world and that they are not needlessly
persecuted for being different and for the mistakes that they have made.
If we had arrived on Vertan first there is no doubt that many of the
same misunderstandings would have happened and then it would be us
trying to make amends and simply survive. Even though cities like
Shallam do not openly oppose the Vertani, it's apathy does nothing to
fix the situation. Could not Shallam at least say that they will support
the Vertani's right to live and be understood? To promise that in the
case of emergency that they will give what aid they can, as many have
already done for Thera and its citizens? Can not Ashtan see that this
war has gone nowhere, that Thera's destruction was caused by the war
they helped to start? The cities of Sapience have managed to coexist to
the point where they do not actively try to wipe each other out, and the
Vertani community should not be different. Hashan and Cyrene have been
just as silent as Shallam in their actions, neither supporting nor
opposing the Vertani yet inaction may be just as damning as open war.
Only Mhaldor seems to be perfectly happy with things as they are, having
finally gotten the war they wanted. However, even they have lost much in
the war and must think of what is best for them, more death or a stop to
hostilities?
What this entire post is intended to do is to show that the Vertani are
a people, and like people they too make mistakes, do things they wish
they hadn't, and sometimes stumble into situations they can't handle (as
I'm sure many novices who have met wildcats knows). If we all were
doomed for making one mistake I hesitate to think that many of us would
still be here today. Let us agree to accept each other's differences,
and not fear what we do not understand. Violence has been the norm since
the Vertani have arrived, perhaps it is time to try a different path.

In Hopes of Peace

-Apprentice Gaishan A'Bertal, the Indigo Mage

Penned by my hand on the 14th of Miraman, in the year 387 AF.