Councillors of Old Sanctuary:

We have received word of your recently passed decree to solve the metal shortage that has long plagued the town by beginning to dismantle parts of the Machine supposedly viewed as rusted, useless or otherwise expendable. The Spellguard Magocracy is strictly opposed to this decision and will state here several reasons explaining why it is ill-conceived, hazardous, unnecessary and, above all, not in the interests of Old Sanctuary:

1. Violation of sovereign Spellguard territory. As the Council surely is aware, the so-called Machine Zone was claimed as territory under the sovereignty of the Order of the Spellguard when it seceded from the rest of the town several months ago. The governance, maintenance and development of this territory is done by our Order with the interests of Sanctuary in mind. In the event that certain parts of the Machine could be deemed as excess ironwork to be removed and reused, only the Spellguard Magocracy possesses the legal right and the necessary technical expertise to undertake such action. Any attempt by the Council to tamper with the structures and buildings of the area will be interpreted as an act of hostility and will be dealt with accordingly.

2. High risk of interference with the operation of the Machine. No official or citizen of Old Sanctuary is capable of properly determining the parts of the Machine, if any, that could be labeled as "rusted" or "unnecessary", given that even the technically highly proficient experts of our Order would have difficulties with such a task. No one fully understands the functioning of the Machine at this time: it would be highly hazardous both for the safety of the workers to be dispatched to handle the disassembling and for the safety of Sanctuary at large to commence the plan outlined in the decree just passed. The Machine is responsible for the maintenance and operation of numerous functions in the general Sanctuary area, including in currently inhabited regions, and therefore recklessly tampering with it could have extremely unexpected and potentially highly dangerous results that could compromise the safety and security of every citizen in Old Sanctuary and beyond. A detailed report of the risks involved can be written and sent to the Council by our experts if deemed necessary. Any means necessary will be taken to prevent this Council from undermining the safety of the citizens it is sworn to protect.

3. Other ways to solve the metal shortage exist and are being continually researched. Our scouts have just recently discovered an untapped and plentiful source of iron within our grasp: the research of means to secure this resource and exploiting it for the benefit of Old Sanctuary is currently underway, rendering the plan devised by the Council with all its risks utterly unnecessary. More information on this resource will be revealed in the near future once the means to tap it have been found, provided the Council has shown its will to peacefully cooperate with the Spellguard when that time comes. We will then, and only then, negotiate with the Council the use of this resource to end our mutual metal shortage.

The Council is to re-evaluate the decree in light of these facts and to honor the territory claims of the Spellguard Magocracy as it has done until this point. Inciting armed hostilities between Old Sanctuary and the Magocracy is unnecessary and in no interests of either faction. The Order of the Spellguard is here for the protection of Sanctuary against threats from within and without: we urge the Council to realize that a decree to compromise the proper functioning of the Machine is precisely such a threat. It was due to thoughtless measures like this made by previous Councils that the Magocracy was formed in the first place. Current Councillors of Old Sanctuary, do not repeat the mistakes of your predecessors.

The Order of the Spellguard [Affixed with the Spellguard seal]