Eleusis,

While I'd prefer to address you all privately in the Eleusian boards, I no longer have that capability; and frankly I am far too lazy to pen a letter to those of you that I care for as there are many of you! I get hand cramps easy these days. None of you are allowed to make an age joke. For those who have reached out, I am fine and I appreciate your concern. It is definitely a confusing situation. My story is too long and too personal to share so publicly, so I will offer an abbreviated version for those of you I have not had time to answer with the depth you deserve.

Aodfionn knows me well enough to know how to draw my ire, to know what to say to test my patience, and to know exactly how I respond when someone in a position of power abuses it against me. What he chose to present as an impulsive call to vote to punish me was another thing entirely; yet he knowingly emulated the abuse of power he knows had hurt me so many years ago. This was a calculated escalation of a discussion he was already escalating. I don't believe in deference based on rank; I believe in respect based on merit, an area in which Aodfionn is sorely lacking.

I am many things: I'm loud, I can be annoying, I regularly challenge authority, I habitually call people out on hesitation and fear, I regularly question what's right... and I never speak a lie. I have a temper, but you never have to wonder about my motives or my allegiances: merely ask, and I will tell you. There are those who speak plainly, and there are those who stand in the shadows. Aodfionn is one of the latter. He is power-hungry... and craves an eventual rise to power. It is why he has ran in every election in recent memory. His ethics and morals are why he's had to run repeatedly.

In his disfavour that he cites the Viridian Charter. However, he was very eager to carry Mizik's cape as he begged Ashtan's aid in military matters. He was very happy to welcome the assistance of Cyrene when getting overwhelmed on the isle of the tree. He was violently opposed to my efforts of diplomacy with the Hearth regarding the tree - yet it was my efforts that resulted in the lake being spared the purifying fire, that the Earthmother be offered more time to come up with a solution. It was my efforts that led to the Targossians coming to help the Earthmother's sapling... and it was these very efforts that he cites in his disfavour.

Lake Narcisse? I made a single mistake while attempting to test how we can stop those who aid the Mad Mage - a mistake many, many others made. I also fought to reclaim the isle every time it was lost. Nishnatoba? I followed through on my very publicly-spoken intention to aid the Righteous Fire out of gratitude for His kindness; an intention the Earthmother was aware of and approved of. Conquests? I watched Targossas succeed at an unopposed beacon, and annoyed the Dawnlord by tying ribbons to people while they weren't looking. By 'whenever the whim arises', he is referring to whenever I disagree with him: whenever I act with the strength and confidence he envies.

...

Aodfionn, this part of my missive on I address to you personally: I stated many unkind things to you earlier.. I told you you were not allowed outside of the village. I suggested you had the strength of Viola, the spine of Shecks, and the wit of Serahfyna. I killed you in cold blood while you pretended to allow me to. I repeatedly struck down the courageous warrior who came to defend you while you fled, and then I found and killed you once again. I came for you in your sacred grove where you are at your strongest, and I ensured you were back within the village before I was done.

I have spilled enough of your blood, and have given you enough of my time, energy, and attention. Your petty grudge and mockery of faith is beneath me - a fact that I had temporarily forgotten. At a certain point, continuing to retaliate against you is like rolling limbless children down a hill. Well, not quite, I suppose. They'd put up a better fight.

You have nothing more to fear from me, unless you draw my ire again. Bring more than Treyal to protect you if you do.


With love for the flowers and disdain for the snakes in the grass,
Tesha Young

Penned by my hand on the 6th of Aeguary, in the year 973 AF.