To the citizens of Shallam,
Your leadership is leading you down a dangerous road and they are not
telling you all the facts. Charlotte did indeed offer herself to Hashan.
But what Ryvern isn't telling you is that when Hashan tried to set a
court date, Charlotte was instructed by Dresden to decline. Dresden then
continued to call for a trial in public while constantly turning down or
out right ignoring the city of Hashan's further attempts to set a trial.
I do not know what "baiting" Ryvern refers to. Perhaps he means my
request for Dresden to do only what she demands of us. To explain
Shallamite law on those releasing horrors upon the lands when said
horror is clearly labeled do not open. Dresden refused stating that
Shallamite law was her own and was not to be explained to those not of
the Jewel.
So Dresden put herself above the law of Hashan. Then the council
appointed Charlotte, who as you well know is not exactly going to win a
popularity contest in Hashan at the moment, as Trade Minister. Who's
very responsibilities would be to negotiate with us in the future over
the trading of commodoties. It does not take a lot of wisdom to guess
what our reaction would be. Couple that with the flagrant disrespect
that Dresden was heaping upon us and we did what we had to do. We
followed the laws of Hashan and charged Charlotte and her associates
with the crimes listed.
Let it be said that Hashan bent over backwards to avoid this. Based on
Charlotte's then other of her groups testimony, there was more than
sufficient evidence to convict. The main defense of the action in
question is ignorance. One of the precepts of our law is Ignorance is no
excuse. The box WAS labeled with a warning. The first box did cause mass
destruction. It was fairly reasonable to assume the second box would as
well. Saying it is like a child firing off a loaded crossbow is a
wonderful defense....for Shakti. To apply it to Charlotte we have to
have the parents telling the child don't ever do that again and then
watching as the child reloads the crossbow and shoots his parents.
We offered GREATLY reduced fines. They were rebuffed. We offered a trial
set in Hashan, Ashtan, or might I add Shallam. That was rebuffed.
Everytime we turned around we were either told not good enough or just
ignored. Exactly how much Dresden expected us to take before we gave up
and said nevermind I'm not sure. But we weren't about to say nevermind
about this. So we did what we had to. We convicted.
In Hashan you are guilty until proven innocent. Thats the way it is.
Having a trial BEFORE charges are brought is unheard of. But in the
hopes of peace we attempted it. When that failed we went with our
system. Which includes an appeal process I might add. However, your
former Sultan apparently did not like the fact she was finally charged
and did the unthinkable. Waged a personal war against the town of Hashan
until her enemy status was invoked at the end of the month.
She totally disregarded YOUR welfare for her own personal vendetta. A
Sultan's acts reflect upon the whole. And she led you to where we are
now. A war with Ashtan and Hashan against Shallam. You have no devotion
coming in and the prospects are dim that you will receive any while this
conflict continues. You are hopelessly outnumbered. And your leadership
is trying to rally you around causes that have nothing to do with why
this conflict was started. I would imagine that is because its hard to
rally a city of light to defend a mass murderer and a ex sultan who
manipulated the court systems and others around her for her own benefit.
So I ask the people of Shallam to think long and hard about those who
have put you down this path. Their personal agendas have brought this to
be. Not the welfare of you the citizens.

Penned by my hand on the 13th of Sarapin, in the year 290 AF.