It seems to me that Oakstone is being a bit greedy. The reason they want
control over the Darkenwood is NOT to protect it in the name of Gaia.
Sorry, but I don't buy that. They want control over it, in order to
possess it, and in order to do with it what they will, in the name of
Gaia. What us mortals fail to see and recognize is this: NOTHING in this
world was made by us alone. We have taken our cities, made them great,
given them structure and molded their purposes, but we do not own our
cities. We have taken our equipment, given them use, made them work for
our own purposes and uses, but they are not ours to own. We claim them,
yes. But they are not ours. The only person who can -own- something, is
the person who -makes- something. However, that person can also
surrender ultimate ownership to somebody else. Then, and only then, does
that person OWN that thing.

Lord Twilight made the Darkenwood. Therefore, He alone OWNS it. Gaia can
no longer own it, for She has surrendered joint reign of it, by not
being able to care for it. If the child is neglected and abandoned by
the mother, she is considered unfit to care for it, and the father takes
custody of the child in order to give it better and proper care. Gaia
has dispersed Herself into the Forests, She will not return. Therefore,
even though She is the mother of parentage in the Darkenwood, She no
longer can care for it properly.

Now back to Oakstone being greedy. You, Oakstone, already have `reign`
over all the Forests to do what you wish with them. Black, Aureliana,
Ithmia, Aalen, whatever. All of them, you claim as under your
discretion. Because, obviously, if you don't claim them, somebody else
will, right? Okay, so you care and protect all the Forests because you
don't see anybody else doing it, except affiliates of Oakstone. Then I
say this: the Darkenwood already has those who tend and care for it, and
who will continue to care and tend for it. It doesn't need your laws, it
doesn't need your protection, and it doesn't need your maintainance. All
are already taken care of by the Order of Darkness, Lord Twilight's
Children, who are the heirs to the Darkenwood. You will live without
having complete dominance over one forest, it won't lessen the expansive
influence of your power, which seems so vitally important to you.

Iliana Lucoster


Penned by my hand on the 17th of Scarlatan, in the year 308 AF.