Dear Elresse,

You are right that both Shallam and Mhaldor are passionate
about the philosophical ideals upon which each city is
based, but I am at a bit of a loss as to the facts upon
which you are basing your other assertions about Shallam,
including the one that Shallam is "more violent than any
other city in sapience".

Can you give me some specific examples of Shallam citizens
"torturing, killing and generally harassing people for the
sake of religion"? Can you give me some examples of people
who have been "persecuted...just because they won't let [us]
convert them to a religion they don't have faith in at all"?

Shallam will always seek to reduce the practice of evil in
this world, because evil works at cross purposes to good.
However, Shallam is a diverse group of people, and citizens
use different methods in pursuit of our common goals. Some
focus on encouraging and supporting people who may be questioning
the path of evil to make a personal change for the better.
Our more conflict oriented people try to raise the cost for
practicing evil to the point that its practitioners stop
out of self interest. Neither of those methods includes
"persecuting innocent people", and if you have evidence of
innocent people have been persecuted or tortured by Shallam
citizens, I would like to know of it.

I could not tell you anything about the shopping in Mhaldor,
but I do agree with you that they are up front about what they
are: they seek the tyrranical subjugation of Sapience and the
destruction of whomever they deem as "the weak" through the
application of pain, cruelty and torture. I don't know about
you, but for myself that's just not something with which I
can get on board.

Finally, the destruction of the Basilica was a the result of
someone opening a box. The person who opened the box did not
know what it would do. A second box likewise destroyed
Hashan. Although I am sure there were people who applauded
the Basilica's destruction, the reason it was destroyed was
independent of any mortals' feelings about the Church or
Shallam at the time.

If you or anyone else has questions about Shallam and the
philosphy upon which the city is based, please feel free to
contact me or any vizier.

Most sincerely,

Solar Stormcrow

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