Hail the Dawn, Northman.

In light of your - as you put it - very interesting news, I find myself with a few notes on your offer. I imagine that you, as someone who clearly enjoys writing propaganda, might find use in a few.

"The Archonate has pardoned the terms on all enemy statuses with the exception of a few select individuals."

One could be forgiven for thinking, "Oh, that's nice! Aside from a few permanent enemies, that seems to indicate that everyone's got a blank slate. Cyrene did something like that."

Ahh, but the reasoning strikes me as a little off. "Due to the influx" implies your city cannot handle the attention it is getting on all fronts; but having seen how quickly your government is cycling through Ministers, it seems far more likely that this 'amnesty' is pretty much only intended to try and get people into joining Ashtan, because your government is so corrupt and broken that they are quite literally resorting to paying people off to do so.

Unlike Cyrene's amnesty, which arguably would have its roots in the very founding ethos of the city, your offer is not about standing up for anything, nor standing up to 'oppressors' - it's about saving your own skin. No shame in admitting that, but please, do try to be honest with the public.

"In addition, any citizen of Targossas that throws off the chains of their oppressors and renounces their citizenship will be pardoned by the Ascendant without having to pay their fine or serve their term."

Your proclamation said that -all- enemy statuses will be pardoned, with the exception of a few individuals. Are those few individuals 'the entirety of Targossas?' If not, why not mention that sooner?

Because you want to try and offer words with no substance, in hopes that no one will examine such things closely, so that you may manipulate and deceive. You offer an amnesty, but then try to offer a special double-amnesty to Targossians, which is in practice no different but in theory means that Grandue thinks you're swell. By all means - any Targossian who is not entirely against Chaos' machinations would do well to take you up on your offer, but you will find these individuals are few and are between.


"These newly liberated individuals are under no obligation to join the Seat of Chaos and may align themselves with whatever other faction they please. Your former Minister of War, Minister of Development, and several other of your high ranking citizens are all recipients of the Ascendant's pardon. Join them."

Just to reiterate, you're trying to use Autere, Morthif, and Jadys - all Eleusians, mind you - as examples of people who "Grandue thinks is swell," because they got that -extra special- blessing.

Well, considering the entirety of the public have seen how Grandue and the Council talk about those particular individuals behind their backs, are you certain that they are the example you wish to use? If Targossians wish to leave, they are certainly free to do so; unlike your kind, we are not terribly desperate. As the Bloodsworn have noted time and again, the Dawnspear will never sacrifice quality for quantity. This is a lesson some cities seem to have a hard time learning.

"The Seat of Chaos will be hosting a great number of events opened to all non-enemies of Ashtan. This is a great opportunity to rectify your enemy status and join in on the upcoming festivities."

And to top it all off, you managed to come up with a festival along the exact same general premise as Mhaldor's, half a year after Mhaldor starts theirs, and are now trying to claim this as an original and uniquely Ashtani idea.

I imagine you can see how that might come off as a little insincere at best, and foolishly manipulative at worst.


Thank you for your time. I look forward to your next update on these events.


In service to the Bloodsworn,

Aodfionn Wintermourne
Deacon of Celestia

Penned by my hand on the 9th of Sarapin, in the year 709 AF.