Shakti and Charlotte both unlocked and opened boxes which resulted
in death and destruction being rained down upon Sapience. That is
not in question. Whether or not they knew what would result from
opening the chests is a point of fierce debate. However, the Divine
have made it very clear that an act by itself determines its own
nature. It is either Good or Evil by its own merits regardless of
the intent of the individual performing it. I should like to say
that I've never fully been able to agree with this, but that is
my own failing as a mortal. The Basilica was destroyed. Hashan was
enveloped in an inferno. Many people died. Again, this is not in
question. What I want to address is the cause of these events.
And to do that, I would like to use an example we have all seen.

A child stumbles upon his fathers loaded and cocked crossbow.
Picking it up, he turns and shoots his little sister, instantly
killing her. Is the child without blame in this instance? He
committed the act. Is the father without blame? His negligence
and irresponsibility allowed it to happen. Are they both
responsible? Only one of them? If both, do they share it equally?
Would it make a difference if you were judging them if you knew
that the child had seen a crossbow before, and seen what it done?
The chests were sent by Varian, whose power rivaled that of
Sarapis himself. I do not pretend to understand him, or the
abilities which he possesses. In allowing mortals to release
the merest fraction of that power upon ourselves, he was handing us
a loaded and cocked crossbow. And we are all mere children next to
the Gods. So how do you apportion responsiblity? And who judges?
Everyone was put at risk, and only Varian can tell us why he chose
the targets he did when he created the chest. Should it be those
who actually suffered? Or all of Achaea, for we were all subject
to Varian's power. The Gods perhaps? It was their realm which
was most greatly infringed upon.

On a final note, I would like to return to the matter of the child.
If it fell to you to act as judge, would it at all influence you if
the child were to have slain himself as well? When Charlotte opened
that chest, she was the first to die in the inferno.

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Glacian, in the year 288 AF.