All,

I am not a pirate. I have never engaged in any piracy. The only ships I have fired on have either been in self-defence (usually against Amrak), or in retaliation for repeated attacks (again Amrak). I was asked if I wished to join the Pirates of Meropis, I declined. I have no desire to be a pirate.

Amrak justifies his attacks on me, and all Ashtani vessels, because we are all pirates by association. I posit that someone who attacks merchants and seamonster-hunters with no links to piracy due to their citizenship is a pirate.

Again this month, whilst engaged with a shraymor, Amrak sailed out of harbour and began firing on my vessel, thereby acting exactly the way he decried in Public 20135: "You feed on easy targets which is always the pirate way it seems".

I will give you his justification in his own words:
Amrak tells you, "Haha you can thank your fellow ashtani pirates for their effors in keeping my motivation strong in sinking any and all ashtani ships."

I reiterate the fact that I am not, never have been, nor hold any intention of ever becoming a pirate.

Amrak himself has declared he will fire on any and all Ashtani ships with impunity, an act of piracy. Amrak is meeting the criteria he himself set out to define a pirate.

To protect the interests of Ashtani traders, the Esoteric Consortium posts a bounty of 25000 gold sovereigns for each and every verified sinking of the pirate Amrak. This includes any vessel he is currently sailing on, be it as captain, crew or passenger. It does not include ships known to be used by Amrak, unless he is physically on board. Provide this evidence by message and payment will be made. All information will be treated with the utmost confidence.

Please note, the Esoteric Consortium does not sponsor piracy, merely the sinking of one specific pirate.

Klendathu
Principal of the Esoteric Consortium

Penned by my hand on the 1st of Scarlatan, in the year 760 AF.