While I am glad you consider yourself versed in the ways of forestals, I
do not think you understand all there is to know about Eleusis. Our
villagers hold many varying ideals but what brings us together is the
common goal to protect nature and ensure its well-being, and that alone.
During the major incidents with the Vertani - before and after Thera -
it was explained many times over that Eleusis wished to remain
uninvolved. It had nothing whatsoever to do with our ability to sustain
attacks or defend ourselves, as you have apparently been told.

We simply had no reason to become involved. At no time did the Vertani
pose a threat to nature, nor to the village. They were hostile only to
those who were hostile to them. I had several amicable conversations via
messages with Hingar, and I still am not convinced Eleusis nor nature
would have seen a threat had the Vertani not been destroyed for the most
part. But of course, that is something we will never know.

Were the Vertani wrong for destroying Thera? By one moral standard, yes
they were. Is Tiamat wrong for destroying the forests? By another
standard, yes. The difference is that the latter is what forestals
subscribe to. Many may also follow the former, but first we place the
wellbeing of nature. It's that simple.

Lastly, I don't believe you are in a position to dictate what nature is
nor what proper defense of it entails. I won't even go that far myself -
indeed, opinion on that varies widely even amongst forestals. You argue
that in order to defend nature we must respect and thus defend all life?
I will take the liberty of disagreeing with you on that. I hunt a wide
variety of both sentient and non-sentient creatures in this world.
Whether I respect them or not, I would hardly say I am attacking nature.

That's really becoming rather tangential to your original point, which I
do recognize. However, I believe you are basing your arguments on
assumptions that are, frankly, incorrect.

Greyda Corten

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Miraman, in the year 393 AF.