The City of Cyrene has long enjoyed good relations with the Village of Eleusis, and with the forestal community at large before that. Since our re-founding, Cyrenians have tended groves, fought fires and exterminations, and lent aid to those who fight for Nature whenever we are able. In recent years we have worked together against the menace of the Tsol'teth, helped drive enemies from Eleusis' village paths, and were honoured to be able to offer our aid during Lord Lupus' dreams and our essence to help Lady Artemis in Her final battle.

We do not forget our history. We know the story of our ancient founding, of the forest that once stood in our valley that was cut to build the settlement that would someday become Cyrene. We know the story of those Dwarves, whom Propasia cursed to commit mass suicide in revenge. It is a history of great loss for all who were involved, a tragedy we do not forget.

Despite what happened thousands of years ago, Cyrene and Eleusis have always been able to find common ground. From common enemies to shared goals, there has always been a willingness to look beyond the past for the sake of creating the best possible future. This cooperation was not in spite of the Lady Artemis, Who told us that She did not bear any particular ill will to Cyrene, as She once explained to us in a talk She held in our city:

"My feelings toward this one city have changed. I am wary of all cities, but it is a neutrality that I bear. My first and foremost concern is that of Nature, and those who harm it. Surely, I must have better things to do than plot the destruction of a place that unknowingly destroyed a forest centuries ago."

But the world has changed. The Lady Artemis has fallen, and we recognise that Lady Gaia's position is rather different from those words Lady Artemis once shared with us. In truth, the losses of our founding are not something Cyrene is proud of. There are many in Cyrene with a love for the natural world, and while we were long content to take Lady Artemis' words that she did not bear a special dislike of our city, we recognise the need to honour what came before and are more than willing to work with those who serve Nature to find the best way to honour the losses of those early days.

However, the current proposal made by High Warden Adrik, where Cyrene would tear down every stone building in our city and accept Lady Gaia's authority over how we live, is one that the City of Cyrene must respectfully decline. This proposal started with the High Warden choosing to not fully honour the agreements made between Cyrene and Eleusis already, and promises for the future can not be built on broken promises of the past. But more fundamentally, it has been made clear that there is little to no room in this proposal to negotiate and find common ground, and little thought paid to Cyrene's values and heritage. We believe that there is common ground here, but as with any cooperation, it must be built on a desire for understanding and a willingness to negotiate, not on all or nothing demands.

In the tragedy of the past we see a lesson for today. There was no room for real cooperation by either side in those early days, and the result was only barrenness and death. And so, the Senate of Cyrene extends an offer out to the leadership of Eleusis and the High Warden to meet and discuss how we might best work together to honour the past. There is room for discussion on the role of nature in our valley, on our use of building materials, and on our shared goals, so long as we are able to meet as equals and truly negotiate. We hope that you will accept our offer, that we might work towards a better way forward in a way that works for both our city and your village.

We cannot change the loss and death of the past, but we can ensure that we do not repeat it. Let us work together to honour the past and create a brighter future.

-The Senate of Cyrene

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Chronos, in the year 855 AF.