Ladies and Gentlemen of Sapience,

As you may have heard, Hashan has recently re-opened our planetarium and
observatory after years of it lying forsaken and unused. And as you
undoubtedly know, the crowning jewel of any good observatory is, of
course, its telescope. I dare say ours is the finest in the land,
repaired with the gracious assistance of the Cauda Pavonis.

In the short time I have been experimenting with this magnificent piece
of equipment, I have come unto a simple, yet profound epiphany. The
nature of this realization is not so much tied to the devices
machinations but something of a more universal truth. As such, this
truth is two-fold:

The first is this, at night, one is free to probe the vast heavens
uninhibited, to search for the knowledge of the cosmos and to find a
more perfect understanding of not only the multiverse but a deeper
understand of ones place in it. There is no restriction, no prejudice,
no fear of the knowledge that lies amongst the stars, just the
excitement and yearning for the advancement of mortal kind and its
ultimate benefit from it.

On the other hand, with the dawning of a new day, the glorious Sun
eclipses the Heavens, hiding away the stars in exchange for its aureate
blaze. There is no doubt this is a resplendent and welcomed thing, yet
the humble seeker of knowledge who peers through our fine telescope will
be met only with the harsh glare of the Sun, unable to gaze upon the
innumerable celestial bodies hidden behind its obfuscating rays.

Now, just because one is blinded by the effulgent splendor of the Sun,
does
that mean the vast heavens are gone? Should one be contented with the
pure and golden glory of this radiant sphere, forsaking the countless
others as inferior? Should we seek to stare unblinkingly into the Sun
until we can no longer see?

I will tell you this, Hashan will continue to seek knowledge and look up
into the night sky for guidance.

Highest Regards,
Seneschal Vayne des Valois


Penned by my hand on the 11th of Mayan, in the year 580 AF.