Summary: The CIJ came to possess books stolen from Eleusis, the last surviving remnants of the temple of Lady Artemis, charged us for copies, and now wants to extort a ridiculous amount from Eleusis to have the original, stolen copies returned.

On the day of Eleusis' greatest tragedy in modern times, the deaths of Lord Lupus and Lady Artemis, Anatral Winterhart had the foresight to retrieve the contents of the Anachaine library before Lady Artemis' Temple vanished in recognition of Her passing. He entrusted those books, 21 volumes, to Danna McPheron, Eleusis' librarian, to include the books in Eleusis' library so that all of Sapience could benefit from them. A desire as unfortunate as it was generous, considering the tomes the world has already lost due to the passing of so many Divine and the closing of Their Temples.

For reasons unknown and irrelevant Danna held onto these books and kept them to herself instead of putting them in the Eleusis library. While this wouldn't normally merit mention on the public boards like this, what happened next shall stand as a warning to any who would put their trust in the leadership of the CIJ. Danna, seemingly disgruntled at having lost her seat as a Hierophant of Eleusis, gave the books to a friend in the CIJ and then immediately retired to distant lands. She was subsequently charged with theft, but the damage was done and she managed to escape any consequences.

Anatral Winterhart approached Bellis, of the CIJ, and ended up negotiating a return of the Anachaine library, but at a great cost to himself. He paid an exorbitant amount of gold to have the books copied and returned. The CIJ gave Anatral the copies, rather than the originals, leaving Eleusis with generic books with authors listed as members of the CIJ, rather than the appropriate tomes authored by members of Lady Artemis' Divine Order. As part of this 'deal', Anatral agreed to state his satisfaction with the exchange, which he did.

Years passed and the offense to the Village lingered, until finally we could stand it no more, and the matter was renewed with the CIJ. Having offered to pay for the books, again, and to return the copies to the CIJ in exchange for the originals, the CIJ scoffed. After some back and forth they offered to give us the books for what they claimed was a paltry sum of 11,000 credits. After some back and forth they 'settled' on a lower offer of 2,100 credits.

Considering that the books were stolen to begin with, and that the CIJ refuses to return the stolen books, we are taking the following steps, published here to stand as a warning to any others who may consider putting trust in the CIJ.

(1) The village of Eleusis is declaring hostilities against the CIJ. We will stand against them at every opportunity until they return the stolen Anachaine library.

(2) Rhydian will be declared an enemy of Eleusis until such a time as she returns the stolen books to Eleusis in their original state and pays recompense for withholding what is rightfully ours.

Our memory of the CIJ's betrayal and thievery will endure for as long as our memory our of departed Goddess of Wrath, and it is this wrath that they shall endure until they have atoned for their crimes against the Village of Nature.

Eleusis

Penned by my hand on the 7th of Glacian, in the year 902 AF.