Cyrene,

It's unfortunate, but your leadership has not responded to my efforts to offer them the opportunity to deal with Faur's treachery on their own.

I have lived a long time, and there's much I learned over my lifetime. One of those lessons is that the world exists in shades of purple, rather than red and blue. Just as I know not all of Cyrene supported the choice to invite the God of the Seas to claim dominion over Cyrenian land and people, I know not all of Cyrene supports the actions of the leadership, or the actions of Faur. I know not all of Cyrene supports the act of tearing the wings from Atavians like some sick child tearing wings from butterflies.

I am not going to be indiscriminate in my attacks, but it is inevitable that some of those who have no wish to fight will be caught in the crossfire; in addition, sometimes it is inevitable one must choose between doing their duty and doing what's right.

I like you as a whole, Cyrene, but your leadership has not treated this plague or those who spread it seriously. For those of you who will defend Cyrene and begrudgingly accept the rule of the Sea Tyrant, those of you who will stand against me even if you do not wish to... I have advice for you. None of your citymates know how to fight me successfully. I will teach you myself. See below.

1. Prepare for retardation combat as best as possible - ensure your curing functions properly. You would be surprised by how many those who have fought for centuries and declare themselves the best fighters in existence don't even know how to cure in retardation.

2. Prepare a sufficient amount of curatives such that you will not need to fish around in your rift every time you want to cure. This will not be that helpful as I usually target salve curatives the most, but it will help at least slightly - especially if you are unable to retrieve things from your rift due to broken arms.

3. Focus your actions on having as many impacts from a single action as possible: things that cause relapsing afflictions, secondary and tertiary effects, things that simultaneously hinder and do damage, and so on. Psions are particularly effective at this. This is one of the biggest failures that the 'best fighters in existence' have - they largely do not adjust their strategies for retardation, and simply try to apply what works in standard combat but more slowly.

4. Come at me in groups - staggered arrivals are the most difficult for me to deal with. In general, three or four pups can pose a sufficient threat to a wolf. None of those who will try to protect you stand a chance against me alone; follow their lead, and if you are going to fight me, bring a group.

5. Inform me of your intentions and motivations, and I will strive to keep from ending you while I kill those who act with malice. Nowhere will be safe for those who stand against me with malice in their hearts.

There seems to be concern that I represent the village of Eleusis, that my interpretation of Cyrenian actions as a declaration of war means that I intend for Eleusis to go to war with you. This is not the case.

I intend to go to war with you alone.


Sincerely,
Tesha Young


Penned by my hand on the 8th of Daedalan, in the year 979 AF.