Greetings,

I write today to address an issue occurring with increasing frequency in recent years. This message is addressed in particular to those residents of Cyrene who have no desire to participate in the conflict between Sea and Sky.

Within the last three months I have had no less than five Cyrenians express confusion and regret over acts of aggression that they were swept up into, claiming that they were unaware of where their party was headed, or stating that it was never their intention to participate in the battles between Sea and Sky. Repeatedly we are being asked for pardons, second chances, to be unenemied. Additionally twice I have been attacked in entirely unrelated areas and with no justification other than my Dauntless status, except that they coincided with attacks on shrines by citymates or with tells from partymates linking the two.

Up until and including now, I have waived every first time offence without giving it much consideration. I find it is far too easy in these realms to accumulate grievances, and far too difficult to set aside past differences or incidental encounters. Today I will grant three more Cyrenians clemency, but this post marks the end of that practice. Unfortunately a more cynical view is being forced upon me.

There is an expectation that when you attack or kill someone in this world that you know the reason beforehand. If you follow someone into combat without asking where you are going, understand that you are still accountable.

I do not know what is happening in Cyrene's channels. Perhaps people are responding to calls to defend, which then turn out to be attacks. Perhaps their leaders make the same observation that I do - that enemy status is easy to obtain and difficult to resolve - and use this against their own citizens to drag them into an undesired conflict. Perhaps I have been falling for a coordinated attempt to create confusion and to take advantage of my leniency. It is strange to me that the largest adventurer force on the continent also feels the need to further pad their numbers with confused youth, but I guess all's fair in war.

Going forward I will not waste any further time exchanging tells, messages, or letters with bewildered twenty-something year old Cyrenians about this issue. I am simply going to respond with the fine amount, term length, and this post number. I am not without sympathy, but you are after all the ones electing to live in a city with triton slavers for allies and a Tyrant for a Patron.

I do encourage all Cyrenians unhappy with the current situation to resist. It is proper to feel fury with your leaders for dragging you down this road. Resist however you can, in ways large or small, but resist. We have seen enough of you cut down in your own streets, by your own allies, to understand that this must usually be done in silence or secrecy. Even small acts of little practical value have significance if performed with conviction.

To the rest of Sapience I will only add that another thirty-nine of you have been proactively pardoned this month for older offences. Any of you who remain an enemy to the Order of Lord Vastar and who wish to discuss it are welcome to reach out; I am generally very happy to receive these sorts of inquiries.

Sky and Storm,
Khalayx, Tzin Ahuacatl

Penned by my hand on the 12th of Daedalan, in the year 997 AF.