I am not a leader of Ashtan, and do not speak for Ashtan. However, I
will say this much, we may have had occasional skirmishes with
Mhaldorian raiders lately, but they don't amount to much. A few dead
guards, a few visits to the Halls of Lady Maya on both sides. It keeps
us on our toes, the fighting that we go through keeps us active, so it's
not much of a loss.

As our Overseer, Erhon, said, your city scorned the destruction of
Thera. The only reason for it was because they allied with us. They were
smart enough to see through the lies of the Vertani, just as Ashtan,
Mhaldor, and Blackrock did, yet your city was blind. You scoffed and
turned your backs til the Vertani actually initiated their attack, and
even then I saw some Shallamese fighting beside those same Vertani
warriors. You didn't offer help until after we took care of the Vertani.
So much for the compassion and justice your city stands for.

Ashtan and Mhaldor has fought beside and against each other on many
battlefields over the years. I don't recall a time since we kicked the
Church out of our city that our cities have fought beside each other. I
highly doubt this will ever change, for despite the fact that the Lord
of Oppression resides in Mhaldor, if you had the slightest chance of
succeeding in spreading the light across the land you would oppress it
much the same way as Mhaldor for not all share your views.

The glory of Shallam ended a long time ago, it is a ghost of what it
once was and it will never regain it. Now quit whimpering like a kicked
puppy and stand on your own feet.

Nijias Oloren

Penned by my hand on the 19th of Phaestian, in the year 425 AF.