Evening Sapience,

This will be my final muse to the world as Overseer of the Bastion of
the North, the city of freedom, Ashtan the mightiest of nations. For
decades now I have had the distinct honour of leading this esteemed
institution and the fine men and women that reside within. Together,
this united and prosperous Bastion has declared to the world its lone
sovereignty, and its belief that all nations are served best in their
own independent capacity.

For centuries now I have stood upon the political stage of Sapience,
ever aware of the teetering scales and independent motivations within,
bringing forth what the young of this world now call history. I have
seen develop with my own as the South and the North united in polar
oppositions, lead not by principle or Divine Credence or mutual benefit,
but rather a reactionary measure to one another's greatest fears.

Terrified that its ever-growing internal political turmoil would lead to
absolute and catastrophic failure Shallam sought to paint a picture to
the world that we are all locked in a two-sided conflict devoid of
complexities or individuality. To the eyes of the world it began to
appear that there were only forces of Good and those that were not.
Chaos, Strife, Mischief, even Evil and Darkness were cast into
convenient subcategories so those of lesser imaginations could easily
digest and accept as absolutes.

Cities, as we were, carried little to no identity. Yes, the Eastern
political propaganda nearly had us all convinced we were but one side of
a bipolar Divine Alliance, serving wholly and completely Wills of the
East or West alone. Good or bad, that was all there ultimately seemed to
be.

Sadly, convenient as simplistic models may be, the Truth was much harder
to bear. Indeed, recent history does not need retelling. The people of
Ashtan have brought to the world this cycle of geopolitical evolution a
valuable lesson. That true strength and independence is gained through
unilateral and independent directions made collaboratively by a
self-sufficient cultural mass. Convenient as they are, all external
alliances divided by boundaries of core values and sub-motives within
this world are but temporary anomalies designed by those too weak to
achieve self-sufficiency. Those starved enough of victory and success
will at times falter from this greater path and seek to de-individualize
themselves through conveniently arranged unified fronts retained well
past their expiration periods at the behest of selfish friends.

This is the ultimate failing of the East, and those who would seek to
create sides beyond those geographically present. The assumption that
you have any semblance of individuality remaining when answering to an
authority foreign of your own is utterly nave at best. Nay, I'd dare say
that any who deem any rule independent of its people's direct
representation to be a viable long-term option of ruler-ship through
time of peace or war are doomed for gradual and spectacular failure.

Thus it is with these thoughts in mind that I bid my final farewell to
Sapience as Overseer of Ashtan:

My fellow citizens, family, and most cherished of friends, it has been
an honour to lead this great city through a war that lead us in a grand
circuit around the entirety of Sapience. Your pursuance of victory and
dedication to your cause is unmatched in my over three centuries of
political and militaristic experience. Never have I imagined there could
be a people so pure, so dedicated, so powerful and so overwhelmingly
committed as my fellow citizens of Ashtan. Indeed, you have well earned
your title of Champion and long shall you carry this title. Forever
shall the Bastion of the free stand, forever will its people prosper,
and forever shall I call you my home, my family, and protect and serve
those within.

And to those enemies who dare think a reprieve is in sight, beware. Our
future is only brighter than the past at the hands of fresh and capable
leadership now at the helm of our great city. The continued and
irreversible disassembly of the now debunked Jewel is far from over, and
those who would help her, far from safe.

And thus, I formally relinquish my position as Overseer of Ashtan and
proudly watch as our armies carry on.

Darknight Sioraiocht-Sar'vet
Citizen of Ashtan
Dread Admiral of the Pirates of Meropis
The Grand Shadow


Penned by my hand on the 16th of Mayan, in the year 585 AF.