There are very few things that Cyrene and Mhaldor could ever agree on. There is probably no culture that stands more opposed to what Cyrene believes in than Mhaldor, and these differences run through all parts of our societies. And yet, even the most different cities can find places of understanding.

How we view loss is one place where Cyrene and Mhaldor are different. We do not believe that the Occupation of Cyrene, the loss of almost all of our people, has made us stronger. It was a tragedy that we wish with all our hearts could be undone. But we do believe that we must learn from what has happened, to become better so that it will not happen again. And here, for all of our differences and though we might not think about it in quite the same way, we have a note of shared understanding with the West.

The Tsol'teth will return, and they will bring as much death as they always do. All of Sapience knows this. When they do, Cyrene will give all that we have to see them driven back. And for this, we must use all the time we have to prepare. We have seen more than anyone what the Tsol'teth can do, and so we know more than anyone how much progress needs to be made to stand against them. The occupation of Cyrene did not make us stronger, our strength comes from our community, from the Cyrenian spirit that will weather any trials. But since we cannot change the past, we will learn from it and grow from it, to make sure a tragedy like ours will not happen again.

To learn from the past, it must first be recorded and preserved. And so, Cyrene has agreed to take part in a cultural Symposium with Mhaldor, an event aimed at recording more of this important time in Sapience's history, and comparing Cyrenian and Mhaldorian perspectives on this shared past against each other. This will not be an event held between friends but between rivals, as we believe that meeting on the battlefield should not stop us from meeting on the stage as well, especially as we prepare to someday fight against a common enemy once more.

And when the Fourth Wave comes, we are glad to be able to look to Mhaldor not as an ally, let alone a friend, but as a city that has chosen the right side in the fight against Sapience's oldest enemy. We will fight against Mhaldor with everything we have to keep our city safe, but when the Tsol'teth next return, we will not get in the way of their efforts against the Tsol'teth just as they will leave us to ours, for defeating Anzari-tarin will take the efforts of all of us.

With this post, Cyrene sees fit to end the ban on Mhaldorians entering Cyrene. This ban was put in place because of Mhaldor's actions against us in the last war, and while we will not forgive them for what happened, we feel that the ban has lasted long enough. With this Symposium and the discussion around it, we feel that we have found an understanding of what must be done to prepare against the Underrealm, and Mhaldor has been willing to speak of mistakes of the past so that we can avoid them and be more effective in the future, a skill too rare in a world where many would rather put ego before strategy. We will always fight back against Mhaldor on the battlefield and stand against their culture, but Mhaldorians who are not currently enemies are once again allowed in our streets.

Cyrene welcomes the challenge and opportunity of this Symposium. Let the world know that for all the differences there may be, the Vashnars, South and West, will always stand against the Tsol'teth, as we use this chance to prepare to fight against them.

-The Senate of Cyrene

Penned by my hand on the 7th of Ero, in the year 826 AF.