Greetings, all.

No rewrite, retraction or clarification of my recent post, 17788, is
necessary. The general misinterpretations of the new laws, however, do
deserve dispelling.

Jaizsur has alleged that this motion by Shallam is a land grab, and
implies that Shallam intends to restrict access to the Pash Valley and
other areas. His protests make it seem as if Shallam has erected a wall
around these areas in an attempt to keep people out. This is simply
misinterpretation. Shallam has extended legal jurisdiction to cover
these areas, meaning only that Shallamese legal code is now in effect
over the areas. The new laws are not intended to imply ownership. We do
not claim to own the land of Pash any more than we claim to own Jaru.
Jaizsurs allegation that this will allow conflicts to arise over eagle
feathers or fishing pursuits. Are likewise unfounded. The city of
Shallam itself is open to peaceful visitors, why its territory would not
likewise be open is beyond me.

It is further implied that Jaru is the unwilling ally of Shallam. For
centuries, Jaru has functioned autonomously, separate from Shallam. It
has also enjoyed the legal protection of Shallams legal code, at its own
request. This extension of protection has been re-affirmed many times
over the years, such as during the Jaru War. If Mayor Cotridge or a
successor decides to no longer accept Shallamese protection, we will
understand. It has, however, come to my attention that Jaru has no say
in our legislative process, a problem I have already spoken to the
Sultana about, and we will be rectifying.

Jaizsur also makes mention of the audacity of Shallam claiming authority
over the Pash wormholes, attesting that they are public property. I care
little for the semantics of wormhole ownership. The Pash hub has always
been the de facto property of the Dawnstriders, and by extension via
their House Charter, Shallam. It is preposterous to claim that we are
unnecessarily restrictive with our warp hub, particularly when the
Shadowsnakes hub is not only within Ashtan, but is frequently guarded by
totems and sometimes Ashtani guards, and any city enemy caught within it
is killed. Ashtani have often accused Shallam of hypocrisy, yet this is
an prime example of the same.

Seneschal Saltaern, thank you for bringing up your concerns. I believe I
have addressed them above, but will reiterate my responses here. Shallam
has only extended our legal code to govern the aforementioned areas, and
has stated its authority over the Pash warp hub. No opportunistic
land-grabs [or] annexation was intended, nor was any aggressive action
taken. We are simply acknowledging territory long treated as within
Shallams authority.

In summation, this extension of Shallamese legal jurisdiction in no way
threatens or brings offense to any other city-states territory. This is
a legality, not an attempted expansion of Shallams city borders. Any
action taken against it will be seen as an unprovoked act of war.

Vizier Tanaar Al'Jafri

Penned by my hand on the 18th of Sarapin, in the year 481 AF.