Prince Montezzi,

Greetings and congratulations on the influx of business you continue to receive in the former Ward. Lord Alexander is still carefully considering his options as to investment, likely nothing will come about until after the election. It is my hope that a deal can be worked out to both our benefit and the benefit of the people of Sanctuary.

This letter, however, is not intended to merely pat you on your back for your successes. I also wish to issue you a warning about some things that have come to my attention. Please be aware that besides negating any business opportunities your great house and my own might share, should evidence surface about your involvement, on any level, in the trade of slaves, the new council will unanimously consider it an act of war.

Please do not see this so much as a threat, rather as a request to nip any thoughts of this in the bud. Neither of us wants a war, and hence the importance of establishing clear lines on which both sides can not cross. This is one of them. Should you have any for us, feel free to express them.

Hopefully, what I have learned is a mere misunderstanding and none of this will matter anyhow. Seek me out should you wish to discuss anything further. Best of luck to you and your men.

-Ambassador Rook

We thank Lord Archibald sincerely for his thoughtfullness.

Montezzi Court

[The letter is brought to the Prince personally, for his consideration]

Ambassador,

I can assure you completely we do not participate in acts of slavery. We have never even considered such notions, and if we had, don't you think so many of those foes vanquished by the House during the forging of the Kingdom, along with the foes who attack it since, like that Seeker, would have been enslaved? Rather, they are universally released and shown mercy.

To address your thinly veiled attempt at asserting a measure of control over this realm by way of alluding to things that will cause a war. I ask you, why does it matter to you, what we do in our own Kingdom? This is not your land, this is not the Councils land, or the Upper Republics land or any land but that of Prince Montezzi. A slavery policy, while not implemented currently, would affect you and your citizens little, as I'm sure chattel would not be drawn from such places.

I am utterly baffled, as to why you show such great concern over us possibly practicing slavery, yet pay little to no regard to the Drow, or the Duergar of For Mur, or perhaps the Kuo-toans, or the Shadow Tribe, or the Beholders or perhaps the Illithid? All are known to keep slaves in their own Kingdoms, yet you do not seem to be jumping to make war upon them over their slaves. So why would you jump upon us should we choose to do such?

I theorize that it is because so many of you still seem to look upon Lower and the Canal as a part of the same land. The same city, as though some authority is still exerted over us by your Republic. It is not. We are a Kingdom unto ourselves, and if you choose to make war upon us based on a policy, then why do you not make war on everyone who holds such policy?

Eagerly awaiting your thoughts, Lord Semaj Lemalian, Court Magician

Lord Semaj Lemalian,

I have it on good source that, at the very least, an offer for the trade of slaves has been made to your court. I am happy to hear in your response that you have agreed to no such thing.

In regards to your further statements, know that if we could win a war against Traensyr, Mur or any of the other slaving nations to free all of the slaves in the Dark Lake region, we would do so. As it stands, neither of us know for certain who would win an all out war between us and this will push people to action. While the new laws of your land are sovereign and recognized by those of us above, the fight against slavery in Dunwarren holds a tradition even with your own people that dates back 152 years. Had your own people not escaped the bonds of oppression, you would have none to rule. It is a moral implication that would infer a duty to be stopped if the means were within our reach to do so. I would hope that you would agree with this assessment.

Take my letter for what it is, a warning. You are free to do what you like, of course, but there will always be consequence to any action you take. Such is the nature of foreign relations. All I wish to express is that the consequences surrounding this particular decision could be catastrophic for both of our nations. I request only that you consider it very carefully. As far as I can tell, it is the very same courtesy that was extended to our own nation in regards to the Canal.

Take care, -Ambassador Rook

Ambassador,

Your words ring true, and your warning is taken under advisory in that case.

Lord Lemalian

Ambassador,

We will not be engaging in slave trading, obviously. Thank you for your concern however.

Lord Ignatiev