I read and pondered the previous posts for many a night. And I've come
to an odd conclusion...
You're right.
Perhaps not about the things you wished to be, though. But you are right
in many point.
Does Shakti see the world as revolving around Ashtan? Of course. Do I?
Undoubtedly. You're right in that, because every action, every event in
Sapience, will have an impact on the city - great or small. And the
first thing we do when we hear of an event is think, how is this going
to effect Ashtan.
But you know what's funny? The very thing you try to pass off as a
terrible misguidance is our job. It is our sworn duty as Archons of
Ashtan to first and foremost think of her. It is our life's work, our
primary concern, to make sure that in every encounter Ashtan grows
stronger, freer.
As far as I am concerned the world DOES revolve around the city. It was
a game to you and your guild? Ashtan is never a game to us. We cannot
gamble that which we must protect. You came and made a mockery of all it
stood for. You advocated opression, and cried that doing so impinged on
your freedom. You openly spied for an enemy organization, and wailed
that being punished for this infringed your right to belong to any
organization. You wanted Ashtan to burn, yet you expected her to take
care of you? The Maldaathi wanted a home of their own, where they are
autocrats, to which they hold city-like loyalty, and expected to be
granted the RIGHTS and PROTECTION that Ashtan gives its own?

Do not cry to us about coincidences. If you read carefully, you would
see that ONLY former Infernals who have become Maldaathi are placed in
the category of traitors to the city of Ashtan, with citizenship rights
revoked TEMPORARILY. Even despite all that has been done to the city, we
do not state 'Maldaathi cannot be citizens. Sartanites cannot be
citizens. Ex Infernals cannot be citizens." It is enough to read
'citizens' to see that all three groups are represented within our
walls.
Now, to explain the reasoning for this traitor status.
Those Infernals who have not joined the Maldaathi have all made amends
with Ashtan, to the extent of my knowledge. A good number of them reside
within Ashtan's walls, and have given her the bare minimum of loyalty
and respect that is REQUIRED for citizenship.
Those Maldaathi who were not Infernals during the war, including new,
younger members, have committed no crimes against Ashtan. Thus, if they
give the city that same minimum loyalty and respect, they are welcome
among us.
Which leaves the Maldaathi who were former Infernals. This group acted,
quite consciously, to destroy Ashtan. Since they changed their titles
from Infernal to Maldaathi, I have not heard a single word of
apology/regret. We, as the council, are only left to assume that the
sentiment remains, even if the strength to act on the sentiment burned
with the citadel.
Thus, we have decided that before the right to be a citizen is granted
to those who have harmed us so, and have shown NO indication that this
harm is in any way inappropriate, or will not be repeated, those knights
are to PROVE to us that they have indeed started a new life.
This is quite easily done. First of all, make amends to Ashtan for the
hurt. (Read: regain ally status). Second, spend five Achaean years (A
short term, truly), not harming the city. After this, the gates of
Ashtan are open once again.
Now, if this seems like a problem for the knight in question, then I can
only assume that they either a) don't want to make amends and are proud
of the harm they did to the city or b) have every intention to keep
harming Ashtan in the future.
Quite obviously, either of these reasons would make them ineligible for
citizenship.

As to your own loss of citizenship, Amitation, if you did not notice
your status coincided with the group targeted by the Council's edict.
Making an exception would have been a possibility had you shown yourself
loyal to Ashtan in act and SPIRIT. As you wanted her to burn, our
decision was delightfully easy.
Not to mention perfectly in tune with the ideals of Ashtan. We are a
city of the free, for those who wish to be free. We are not a city of
the free for those who wish to kick our rears when we're not watching,
and use the excuse of freedom to avoid retribution.

I hope I've made things more clear.
~Silverstorm

P.S. With all you 'dearing' and 'amusement', I'm beginning to think you
want to join Dresden for tea and crumpets. This is really turning into
quite the trend.

Penned by my hand on the 8th of Glacian, in the year 303 AF.