Dear Ashtan,

Traditions are rare in Achaea, this fickle world of change, but we
have at least one that's over one hundred years old. Sadly, it is the
Ashtan practice of using orphans as harvesting grounds. The
Loving Heart's orphanage was exposed long ago, and a halfway
house was placed in the city to give an alternative home to the
children. The Ashtan council later burned it down. To replace it, a
choir was eventually established in Shallam, thus saving some of
them from their fate elsewhere. The quest for devotion and
necromancy fueled the fire of saving or condemning these children,
and the ability to raid has opened new doors in this area, as well.

Yet this century old legacy has received another twist, for it seems
citizens of the Bastion have perceived these young ones can instead
be employed by a jeweler, giving them a much preferable choice to
simple death, as well as providing the city with skilled artisans.

This development is both dramatic and heartening. Ashtan has long
claimed they are no longer evil, but support freedom and chaos in
its stead. This claim is supported by the fact that the council that
burned down the halfway house is not the same that leads the city
now, in person or in spirit. With that in mind, this seems an ideal
time to break free of that label. However, this cannot be done
while outdated traditions continue.

The inherent evil involved in the slaying of orphans for their organs
is difficult to dispute. Furthermore, while not all Ashtanites
participate in this practice, for this type of evil to exist, there must
be passive acceptance and approval by the city. While Ashtan may
not openly promote and embrace the ideology of evil, there is still
tacit support through this orphanage.

Beyond the argument that the use of the orphanage provides a
strong case for the imputation of Ashtan as evil, there are other
considerations. As aforementioned, Ashtan now seeks to promote
freedom. Logic dictates that freedom that is reserved only for
those strong enough to subjugate others is not a self-perpetuating
type of freedom. However, this style of freedom does align itself
closely to the teachings of Lord Sartan.

Granting all citizens the chance to experience life and freedom and
preventing others from impinging these rights will without question
result in greater freedom for all, and a better society in general. If
the jeweler were the only method Ashtan supported for the
utilization of its orphans, this evil appelation that Ashtan often
denounces can be more easily left behind.

Our request and suggestion should be clear by this point. The
murder of innocents is undeniably evil, and when this orphanage is
protected and supported, the city is protecting and supporting the
very label it seems to disdain. Bloodshed can be averted, both of
the orphans and cities, if the orphanage is closed. They can be
productive members of Ashtanite society. Another stone can be
placed on the road to a more pure, and enduring form of freedom.
So the question is, why continue? Locking one door, that of the
orphanage, has the opportunity to open many more.

Sincerely,
Aldair d'Vast
Archprelate of the Church

Penned by my hand on the 17th of Phaestian, in the year 310 AF.