Dear Mordyval,
I am pleased finally to find an intelligent voice among you. I have many questions. First of all, how are the shrines war machines? While I have not been here long enough to remember the building of shrines in Ashtan, I have been consistently perplexed by references to them as war machines. Indeed, they do have purposes in war, but their purpose is not to wage war. However, this point could be argued all day, and I understand that you do not want them in Ashtan. So be it.
However, I would point out that your terms are essentially a surrender for the church. The shrines are necessary to our members not only to wage war, but to perform our everyday tasks. I have yet to meet an Ashtanite who wants anything but the removal of many shrines across a vast area. You must understand the work that went into those shrines, and the outrage some feel at beiung asked to tear them down.
I do not appreciate being called a blind sheep. I understand that you and I have differing philosophies, but that does not imply that I have been nrainwashed. The only truth I have seen is that the priests and templars are good, kind, caring people, while the occultists and kharons I have met have been unscrupulous and cowardly. I realize that I am judging on my experience only, but what else am i to use.
In regards to Ashtan as the city of freedom, I would warn you that freedom is a slippery term. You believe that freedom consists of the ability to do anything one wishes within, as you say, certain broad guidelines. I conceive freedom as a state of peace and the knowledge of security. This is not to say I will not accept risk, or even that I fear danger. Rather, to be free would be to be able to walk all through achaea without fearing for my safety. Right now neither side has that.
Difference of philosophy is no reason to jeopardize the safety of innocent guildmembers. I chose to join the war as soon as I slew my first occultist, but today I have seen a priest of peace murdered for no reason. We can end this war. Achaea is large, and we are adults.
The war can only end if the attacks stop. I can say nothing about who began the war, because I was not around to see it. I can say that many Ashtanites are prowling shallam constantly, hunting us and defiling our shrines. If war is violence, then the Ashtanites are continuing the war zealously. I recall you saying that the first part of the war was shrines being built in Ashtan. Well, the war now consists of shrine defiling in Shallam. We have come full circle, and now it is time to stop. I propose that you end your defiling in Shallam while we discuss terms for a fair peace.
Walk in peace.

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Valnuary, in the year 218 AF.