Shallam,

When this interminable conflict between our two city-states took root,
the catalyst was mundane. We battled over resources and territory, like
any fledgling kingdoms, both sides heeding theology but seldom until the
Church took root in Shallam. The Tower of the Luminai grew like a
tumour, its cancerous influence overwhelming the minds of the East and
turning the hearts of its people to stone. From the cinders of the
ensuing Burning Times arose a new kind of war: a holy war, waged in the
names of the Gods.

While Shallam may have laid siege to the Ashtan of old, and while the
Templars may have laid waste to the cabalists who sought refuge within
this Bastion, the debt of blood has been repaid a thousand fold upon
your citizens. Your walls have trembled and your city has smouldered
beneath the fires of retribution. It is clear to all of Sapience that
the Light, for all of its vainglorious pretense, lies dead at the feet
of the North.

Let us be quite clear, Shallam: regardless of what you once were, you
are now a global failure. Your gilded spires are little more than the
place where those disenchanted with the harsh lessons of the West or the
brutal honesty of Ashtan have fled to rest their brittle bones. Your
priests sit silent within their cells, preaching only to acolytes older
than Ayar, for even your youngest blood lies exhausted and embittered,
too indifferent to progress the ideals you once proclaimed with such
zeal. The Light has gone out over Sapience, Shallam; we have seen to
that! Your Caliph cowers quietly in his chambers, what little army you
may have had has fled to the trees, and even when an apostate cast from
your most holy orders succeeded in releasing a creature sworn to the
service of the Lord of Chaos, you could not be bothered to mount a
considerable defence, let alone a retaliation. There are only so many
times that salvation can be
rejected, both from within and without, before the opportunity will
simply cease to be offered.

With that, I shall come to the crux of the matter. All threats to the
Bastion of the North will be eliminated with prejudice; I believe this
is fairly established. The city of Shallam, however, ceased to be a
threat long ago. Deny it as you will, and claim that you still stand
strong, but the reality is painfully evident.

Consider yourselves too pathetic to warrant Ashtan's full notice. There
is no use in wasting resources on a vanquished enemy. Once upon a time,
you stood proudly as a worthy foe, and, perhaps someday, you will rise
again...but somehow, I do not anticipate that you will pose a tangible
threat anytime soon. Unlike the cabalists who survived slaughter at the
hands of your ancestors, I suspect you do not possess the tenacity to
endure your defeat.


In service to Ashtan,

Tanris Rozzan
Overseer of Ashtan
Keeper of the Flame-Bright Spear


Penned by my hand on the 15th of Scarlatan, in the year 598 AF.