Dawnlord Maynard de l'Evanoir,

I bring humble greetings, and well-wishes in regards to the next step in the Dance of the Vault. I hope you, and all of Sapience have many prosperous and fulfilling steps to come - for my own part, I have been busy spoiling myself and loved ones absolutely rotten with crated pets, talisman pieces, and globes that reflect the world around us; however, it is not for the purposes of joyful revelry, nor the auspices of goodwill towards my fellow adventurers, that I speak. The public news is an open forum, created for voicing ideas and opinions - and, occasionally, to publicly threaten and insult those who are perceived to be inferior. A woman much wiser than I once told me that the Public News is a place where proud peacocks strut and puff their chests and show their flashy feathers to prove their dominance over others. If that is the case, then I hope I am forgiven for showing a few feathers of my own.

Dawnlord Maynard, this is not the first time you have threatened violence upon another and their possessions for expressing an opinion that is different than your own. For such a thing, I must glance askance: why? Were the strength of your cause as certain as the coming tides, what good is it to threaten and browbeat those who have never harmed you, never spoke ill of you, never did anything more than suggest your path may be a destructive one? You speak of burning a library - destroying knowledge - and threatening to burn another; how is this not destructive? You speak of the "...weak-minded and weak-willed..." crumbling before the Divine that you worship - how is this not destructive?

When Atalkez Al'Jafri left your city for Ashtan, betraying his oath to you and yours, Targossans hunted and murdered him. And when he arose, your people hunted and murdered him again. And again. And again. How many times have you and yours murdered a single man for changing his mind? 10 times? 20? 30? I had to shoot arrows into Santar for trying to murder him in my nest, my city - and he had put some arrows into me, as well. How is this not destructive?

Melodie Le'Murzen is one of the most benevolent people I have ever known. She's helped me, my house, my city, your city, and more people than I could count in more ways than I could ever fathom. She has been honest, and has been on the forefront of any battle I have experienced against those who were evil, or embraced oblivion. She's shown her gentler side, sometimes to her detriment; she has made mistakes on occasion, as we all have. She is a paragon of selflessness, insofar as I have seen. Where is the benevolence of excommunicating someone who has, time and again, proven that her heart is made of unburnished gold? How is this not destructive?

How have such actions not proven Lara correct?

I have never been a devout man; truth be told, the Divine can strike more fear in me than the most lethal of mortals. Being an orphan in Shallam left me experiencing tales of the wonders and the horrors that They are capable of, how Their power could gift a mortal with more might than they had ever known, or rend a mortal asunder a dozen times over on a mere whim. The Bal'Met crisis underscored both sides of this, with the destruction of a city and Lady Maya's last gift punctuating the beauty and the horror that Divine power is capable of.

Since then, my fear has turned into a curious sort of wonder. I've come to the realms, only to find Lord Phaestus' truefavour upon me for no discernible reason beyond His benevolence. I have shared a drink with Lord Scarlatti and asked Him for advice, and He has offered an ear to my opinions when I had considered them unworthy of notice. Lady Pandora has thanked me for offering Her essence - thanked me, and taken notice, for such a small gift to Her! Lady Ourania took the time to speak to me of Serpents and Cyrene, even when it is clear that I sometimes deprive my darker instincts to find the angels of my nature. I am so humbled by Them, and Those of whom I have not yet met, and Their Orders who have done so much good in this world for me and for others. I thank Them and Their followers with all of my heart, for what little that is worth; we may not always agree, but I am thankful for every kindness I have been given.

I say these things, Dawnlord, because Targossas is meant to house the defenders of Creation, to cultivate and protect it like a garden. I see Targossans in positions of power who constantly strive to fight those who would destroy their garden of Creation; yet, where are the Targossans who live to create? Where are the Targossans who follow Lord Phaestus? Where are the Targossans who walk in song? Where are the Nerai, the Dreamers, the Miscuri, those of the Order of the Silver Wing who call the Dawnspear their home? Even the city of Mhaldor has those who worship beyond their city's Patron. Destroying evil does not cultivate benevolence within others, Dawnlord - it only halts its advance for a time and creates a vacuum. A respite, which can only bring good into the world if it's seeds are sown and given the nourishment to flourish.

Theft, murder, and destruction - even of those who do not serve the light - are the salt in which you expect benevolence to grow.

I read your posts, and the posts of your followers, and I see a common theme in them. Miss Azagnanna is more gentle, and you are much more forward, but the message is the same: "Join us, or suffer and die." How is Lara wrong in her assertion that your path is a destructive one? Where is the benevolence? How is this not destructive?

I hope that you and others might reflect upon this, as I have and will continue to do over the passing months.

Regards,
Bronislav Zviera


Penned by my hand on the 15th of Aeguary, in the year 644 AF.