I, Prince Rinaldo Montezzi, do offer respectful greetings to our neighbors above.

Relations between our two separate and sovereign nations are, at the moment, uneasy. The purpose of this letter is to clarify, and in so doing work towards peace and stability between the both of us.

The division between my principality and the Canal region is unnatural and out of balance. It is artificial, and unnecessary. It is my belief that the region could be more capably managed by myself. Historically, the Watch have only governed the Canal for a few months. During this time no meaningful trade or economic activity has taken place. Other than apparently a settlement of shield dwarves, the Council lacks the connections with other settlements on the Dark Lake to conduct prosperous trade. The docks of the Canal are empty and unused. At presumably great expense, large numbers of Watchmen and Spellguard animatrons patrol empty streets, cut off from the needs of the Upper settlement.

I do not wish to invade the Canal to conquer it, although I am certain I could do so with but an hour or two of notice.

I do not wish to war with your city-state, although I believe that I would prove to be victorious. I have sincerely no interest in conquering the streets above, although I likely could.

Let me tell you what war between our nations would likely resemble. There would be few pitched battles. There'd be no glorious last stands. House Montezzi could simply fade away, out of touch of masses of Watchmen and animatrons, and terrorize your town.

Sorcery-concealed groups of my men could enter Sanctuary, and butcher lone Watchmen on their patrols. Arrangements could be made with monsters to invade. Civilians, merchants, and innocent townspeople could be slaughtered like hogs while the Watch struggled to defend streets too large for their thinned numbers. Councilors, already vulnerable to assassination, would find themselves being hunted in taverns and even within the Town Hall. Spellguard members would find their associates disappearing, offers of assistance disappearing, and blades turned against them wherever they went.

We could hide, and emerge to terrorize, to murder innocents, to destroy. And, perhaps, in the end there would be little left than ruins and the Chosen would rule over abandoned streets, while House Montezzi moved on.

That is not what I want. But I write of such things, to make clear what could happen if you refuse to negotiate with us. I solemnly assure you that I know of the vulnerability of your town, and my House is perfectly capable of performing such terrible deeds.

What do I want? I want a unified realm, not half of one. The Canal has historically always been part of Lower, and as the Prince of Lower, it should rightfully belong to me. I can guarantee that under my rule trade and wealth will flow to the Canal as it never has before. And this wealth will flow to your realm above just as it does to me. Your traders will be free, without taxation, to enter into the Canal and conduct business. They will bring the goods your people have produced or scavenged below to trade, and bring the resulting wealth upwards to enrich your coffers.

The requirements of supporting a clumsy and expensive defensive force within the Canal will be gone, to be replaced by my strong men.

In exchange for a peaceful transfer of territory, terms could be negotiated and then reached. I would offer gifts to to the realm above, as befits a generous ruler. A contract could be agreed upon, and if House Montezzi fails to live up to its bargain to manage the Canal well, then under negotiated terms House Montezzi would withdraw to allow the Council to re-administer the region.

For you see, rulers of the misguided republic above, I seek not to destroy, but to build. Instead of an empty and unused Canal, I would bring to it the glory and might of House Montezzi.

I ask that you, even if for a moment, allow your imagination to consider these two paths. One of an unfortunate and unnecessary war with human-surfacers who could be a strong ally against our true enemies; the other of being relieved of an unhappy burden, and seeing true trade and prosperity come to Sanctuary, and being able to fully and without interference reap the rewards of such a happy future.

I welcome the opportunity to speak at length with any of you to address any concerns you may have.

Dream well.

Prince Rinaldo Montezzi

*disgusted, Danger adds this to the files of the Watch*

Prince Montezzi,

I am fear that I must adamantly restate my previous position. You have not yet had any economic success of your own with very narrow resources, anyways. While your word is fair, your actions have not yet sufficiently convinced the Council that you are capable of running the port any more efficiently than we have done thus far. Of course, we will continue to discuss the matter and see if something can be arranged.

Fear not of my dreams, dear Prince, I rest easy knowing what I know and my slumber as pleasant as those pink figs. And if indeed your word is true, we both know that there is but one thing we both should fear-- Fear himself.

Chairman Dentra

Another letter is sent to Watch, Spellguard, Council

Gentlemen,

It is possible my letter's intent has been misinterpreted. My intention was to explain clearly why a war between our two settlements must not come to pass. It is something I wish to avoid. I wish to avoid this not out of the fear of my own destruction, but simply because it is not in my interests to destroy your settlement.

I wish to negotiate for this Canal, to enter into an agreement that allows for my House to administer the region under terms that are acceptable to both sovereign nation-states.

Instead, I learn that the Watch have orders to arrest and execute all of my men. I learn that the Spellguard are preparing for war. I learn that the Council accepts these drastic actions and moves to support them.

Any unjustified hostile act against any of my men will be considered to be an act of war. Do not arrest them, detain them, forcefully question them, or otherwise harass them.

I state again with all sincerity that I do not want war with your republic.

If there are any among you who see the reason and good sense in my words, and wish to avoid conflict that pits human against human in a bloody conflict while we are surrounded by horrors unknowable, then I urge you to contact me.

If you intend on beginning a war, however, we shall be the ones to finish it.

Do not enter into a course of action that shall lead to consequences you can not bear.

Prince Rinaldo Montezzi

*Pvt Redbeard is seen getting this letter and adding it to files.*

Prince Montezzi,

It seems the possible misinterpretation is on your part. My letter was a statement of refusal with no intended tone of hostility. Additionally, this execution decree is rather ludicrous. Azzam would never make such a statement without at the bare minimum informing the Council of the act and making a witty desert analogy.

Regardless, what I said before remains true. And remember the words I told you two nights ago. We both know full well the cost of a fight. It will be more than a bloody nose, for sure.

Chairman Dentra

Rinaldo,

A letter from you is a pleasant surprise, though I wish it could have been made in better circumstances. The changes to Canal Ward have been in the works for weeks as part of an initiative to improve security in the area, as the lack thereof discouraged actual trade from happening. You can find more information on this in the first Spellguard newsletter. In any case, the Agents working on the area are mad geniuses--I'm blown away by their abilities. Canal Ward is nearly ready to be opened, and the Order is quite concerned about these insinuations of war which could damage the confidence potential traders would have in Canal Ward as a trade port. People will always talk, but rumors are prone to misinformation and disinformation unless you speak directly with a Watchman, Agent, or representative of the government.

Now, let us suppose you have a trade route you wish to profit from. Judging by your boundless ambition, you would wish to own not only the trade goods and the knowledge of the route, but the ship to transport them in, the whole trade port itself, the regulation over what passes in and out of the trade port, and who owns the buildings in the Canal Ward. Discord arises from festering misunderstandings. If this is what it is about, you should have approached us earlier.

Jacob

Gentlemen,

Five spellguard agents attacked my fortress with no provocation. They were all slain.

If you wish the bodies and equipment returned, I suggest you enter into negotiations. Otherwise, things will very rapidly get out of hand.

Dentra, you think yourself cunning, but your plans have been known to me. It is unfortunate that you refused me. I hope you will continue to reflect upon lost opportunities as you witness your power slip from your fingers.

Prince Rinaldo Montezzi

Gentlemen,

If you wish to salvage a peace, then I suggest you myself contact soon, or your humiliations will simply continue.

Prince Rinaldo Montezzi