Seneschal Ruth,

To say that Hashan has had a stance of inaction ignores the fact that
the actions of your individual citizens still speak to the city's
allegiances. The Spirt Walkers are Patroned by Lord Appollyon. The
Serpent Lords tested our Icons. Hashani take part in raids and act as
thieves against citizens of the Jewel and her allies. Even if Hashan
does not specifically endorse each of these incidents, your unspoken
words communicate volumes.

Thankfully for Shallam, many who would aide us from your city have
already realised these unspoken motives and left. It is plain to see
that our ideologies are indeed different, and Shallam will not recant.
The points raised by my Vizier still stand and any misapprehensions are
on your part.

Devotionists are servants of Good; there is no neutral path for them,
nor can there ever be. The problems with allowing Devotionists to be
citizens of Hashan are many. One is that your very Patron opposes the
Light, the source from which Devotionists draw their power. Another is
your acceptance of Occultists and Necromancers within your walls.
Servants of Good and Creation cannot dwell peacefully alongside those
who serve Evil and Chaos, as anyone who truly understands these
philosophies

The Qashar are disbanded, Hashan - long disbanded. Far more recently,
forces from Ashtan and Mhaldor raid your city. Or has your recent affair
with Darkness conveniently blinded you to this fact?

The pyre in front of our Basilica represents a war on Chaos, not
knowledge. The books and other items that burn there now are nothing but
vessels of Chaos, infused with Karma and useless apart from their
instructions on how to attempt to unravel Creation. If you wish to
condemn us for this, I would be happy to hear you out... As soon as you
can explain to me why a truly neutral City would find something that has
no bearing on their neutrality offensive.

Hashan has, in fact, been largely ignored by Shallam despite your silent
support of Evil, Chaos, and Darkness. If you must bring up issues that
are decades old in order to justify your 'neutrality', perhaps you
should first shift focus to those who actively attack your walls, or
those who seek to commandeer your government.

If you truly wish to take a stand for yourself, proclaim your neutrality
to the West rather than the East.

Caliph Lukis Op'Shae

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Mayan, in the year 556 AF.