Hail.

Whilst many seek to sway with words why all should come to their city, including Pirate Lord Kuriel, there is a simple matter that should be raised. Look not solely to the words that are spoken but rather to the actions that speak the loudest.

Targossas. A city with potential if but they could perhaps rise above the same inherent corruption that was as much a part of Shallam as it is part of the cobblestones along the roads of the Silverveil. The city preaches Good, Light, Growth, Truth, Righteousness, Purity, Sacrifice... yet even within that same city the novices are oft unnoticed, the Aarashi cannot agree on a single meaning for what Truth is, and due to the actions that caused many of those who were part of its founding to leave, the active Caefir number but one whose sole stubborness and steadfastness should be a mark of pride...Caefir Cleric Halos Vorondil. Regarding the rest, from the temporary alliance with the Tsol'teth during the last Black Wave which ended with the massacre of Jaruvians, those of New Hope, and Targossians to the very fickle nature of the one who seems to run from one city to the next when a new Divine reaches out to him...I need not say more there.

Hashan. A city still aligned with the Tsol'teth, they break bread with the race that has on three separate occasions sought to destroy our mainland beginning with the time of Emperor Nicator's son. Many forget this not so small fact. To this day they remain under Lord Twilight, the very orchestrator of Death's Heart, He who sought to steal the essence from Lord Thoth via means of a bomb that used death energy...the very energy which, if it had succeeeded, would have meant that not a one of us would be standing this very day. Even closer to present, they seek to sway mortals to joining their city, not by actions which speak, but by words as hollow as their own beliefs. They preach mortals should strive to achieve mortals goals...and yet still serve beneath a Divine Patron. Call it business transaction, call it temporary alliance, call it whatever, but the fact of the matter is that He has been Patron for countless years with people within the Court of Shadows still rising to His whims.

Ashtan. There is much to be said about you and yet... and yet I daresay that the strength shown in rising up against a self-centred tyrant who flaunted the very laws she swore to uphold is something still worth a smallest amount of pride. However, that being said, it is no secret that the Court of Chaos shows ever more empty promises, from the democracy wherein mortals believe they have free will to choose who leads yet the Seat of Chaos itself still serves the same Court's whims. All for the 'promise' that when the world is prepped for the same Court that all who are within Ashtan shall be remade as Chaos Lords. As any who have ever visited the Chaos Plane would know, such a world is hardly one worth living in. Also, as any proper scholar would know, the Court is hardly one to hold to anything other than the simple matter of the strongest survive, the rest do not.

Eleusis. A village that has come up from tumultous times from where they were so divided that they needed not an enemy to cause them to fall. No, they were falling themselves. Now, they have embraced those who have on more than one occasion been known to sink villagemates along with anyone else on the seas...I merely point to Artanis for this. In addition, they welcome those who were cast out of Ashtan for acting in treason with the hopes that perhaps their spots have changed? Note that it is with bated breath that I am not holding. Furthermore, the same village seems to have put so much effort into the Capture the Flag...only to fail utterly at the Games which came afterwords. One would think that with the incursion of the Aegeans they could at least have done something on their own. One would think that perhaps they would at least have the temerity to lose by standing for what they proclaim to stand for rather than ally themselves with the very cities they claim to be against. Or, perhaps, is the "Falsities of Iron and Stone" part of the Viridian Charter merely a suggestion as so much 'faith' seems to be of late? ...Perhaps...

Cyrene. One would think the cowardice of so many of its citizens during the last Black Wave would have been a low point for you. One would perhaps think that seeing so many flock to the seas rather than fight for their own home, rather than fight to save the very people. One would think that hearing the cries of the children being torn from their mothers would have woken something in you...perhaps a sense of resolve, perhaps a spine. Yes...a spine was found, but one so weak that when it came to the games, the choice for easiest was more important than right. It is no secret to any who have the slightest hint of knowledge about the Lord Smith's (Lord Phaestus) teachings that of all the things in this realm He is most adamantly against, it is Chaos. He is known as the Creator. He, along with Lord Proteus, did much to create the world as we know it. Chaos is anathema to Creation. Yet, the Imperiate Keorin chose to ask the Senators if she could use the occultist class...a class which relies upon Chaos and by which means of using one must make pacts with the Chaos lords upon the Chaos Plane. Behold my lack of surprise that somehow their Patron, Lord Phaestus, took issue with that! Behold the same utter lack of surprise that rather than stand for what was best for Cyrene they chose to dance about without a patron, watching as those who have actually fought for Cyrene leave due to this duplicity on their part, they continue to embrace the same Imperiate.

Mhaldor. A city with what may be the harshest environment known to mortals. A city which has been hated and reviled by many across the land without question. Alone they stand beneath the heavy hand of the Malevolent Lord. Alone without recourse to any temporary alliances for the sake of convenience. Everyone who dares to search for any rise within this city begins as a lowly slave. Every slave has the lessons of discipline and respect whipped into them at an early age. They have the Master's Truths branded upon their very souls as they do the oath which they swear to Him and His City. Not every slave breaks their shackles. Many seek the greener and far easier pastures of other cities. Yet it is a known that from the lowest of the slaves barely waking from the pygmies to the very Tyrannus himself that all within the Master's City are subject to HIM. All within the Master's City are HIS Slaves. The city makes no excuses for when they falter. Indeed, there is usually a death falling such failures. Yet that same harsh measure is the very same that causes them to fully embrace His Truths. "The First Truth. What is called evil is simply the drive for advancement, for greatness. We seek, through discipline and pain, to spur nothing less than sentient life." This is not a mild mantra they chant during duress. It is something that they embraced as they held the treacherous planes for their hunters to weave their dance of death in during the xpevents of the Games. It is the very Teachings which has brought forth a rather quiet, yet staunch servant of His forward as the new Wielder of the Staff.

Look not to the idle words many banter about but rather to the simple facts. It may be yet that those who are blind may see the truth of the Master's ways, the deaf to hear His Teachings, and the mute to demand of their own leaders and of themselves why it is that a city alone against the world, one burdened beneath the harsh weight of Lord Sartan's cruel hand, should be the one to rise where others fall.


In His Eternal Service,
Lii Lichlord, Chancellor of His City.

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Daedalan, in the year 853 AF.