Dear Overlord Mournria,

On behalf of Shallam, I'd like to respond to your recent
offer of money in exchange for a mutual alliance with any
city of Sapience willing to help defend Vertani fortresses.

Since long before your plea for assistance and your offer of
gold for allies, I have been in communication with Hingar,
seeking to establish whether or not a formal alliance with
the Vertan is something that makes sense for Shallam to
pursue.

Shallam would never consider an alliance for money. Any
alliance between Shallam and Vertan would have to be based
on shared ideals and goals for Sapience.

I urge you to speak with Hingar, to find out what has
already passed between us. I have asked him to offer
specifics in the areas of trade, cultural exchange, and
mutual protection. We also need solid assurance that
Vertan's ideals have enough in common with Shallam's that
we would be able to build a relationship of trust and mutual
benefit. The words and deeds of Vertani leaders so far have
sent very mixed signals, and the people of Shallam are sharply
divided on the issue of your empire as a result. We need a
commitment that the Vertani will be a force for good in Sapience.
A decent start would be for El'Jazira, now part of your empire,
to renounce the practice of slavery.

Please contact me if you wish.

Most sincerely,

Solar Stormcrow, of Shallam

Penned by my hand on the 17th of Valnuary, in the year 389 AF.