Council of Sanctuary City,

There is an outstanding matter that needs to be resolved before we continue on further. The matter is that you do not understand the reality of the situation, which is clear in your proposed 'treaty'. I shall outline for you very clearly, once again, what is happening.

Background: Etorix the Benevolent, father of all free beings in the Underdark, came to your city and offered it His divine protection and a trading alliance with His faithful Shadow Tribe. This arrangement existed for years, and in return for His gracious bounties which saw Sanctuary become a place of refinement and wealth, His agents in the city only requested that the City show their appreciation and thanks to Him by fashioning statues of His splendorous form. Throughout this period of partnership, relations were often stained by the unfounded disrespect and and misconduct of various Councilors, despite their city enjoying the safety from outside dangers that the patronage of Etorix begets.

Recently: Shadow Tribe Warlord Throx Claw was appointed Ambassador to your city by the Great Shadow Death. Aware that existing Ambassador Natch had been secretly plotting treacherous acts, Ambassador Claw arrested him with the authority bestowed upon him by Etorix. On the way back to Ssal'teesh, Shadow Tribe soldiers escorting the treasonous Natch were set upon by Councilors Kainth and Rook and other Sanctuary citizens.

Following shortly after this undeniably severe act on the part of your city's highest authority, the Council, Port Claw -the domain of Etorix- was attacked by citizens of Sanctuary City, which included at least one member of your armed forces, Private Danger.

Understandably consumed by wrath at the insolence displayed by your City in the face of all that He has provided for it during these years of patronage, the Illustrious Serpent Himself did descend on Sanctuary and demand those immediately responsible, content to slake His desire for vengeance with merely the gnomish leader of the assault, rather than the whole city itself. However, when the gnome was delivered by the City authorities to the jaws of Etorix and promptly digested, the gnome blew up inside His stomach in a feeble attempt at murder. Pained, yet very much fully alive, the Illustrious Serpent flew into a rage and destroyed your entire defensive structures in a matter of moments, before flying off. Shortly thereafter was it made clear to him that the City authorities were fully aware of the attempt at his life. Protection and trade ties with the City were severed immediately.

House Montezzi then treated with the Supreme Entity, offering Him their respect and reverence, eventually entering into an agreement with Him similar to the one previously shared with the forsaken City of yours. This involved protection in the advent of attack by any hostile force. House Montezzi, partnered with the Faithful of Etorix and known to be under His protection, was then attacked by Spellguard forces, which included a monstrous, mutant spider that had been hatched and grown as a secret weapon by the Spellguard, your City's primary defense force. This beast did immense damage to the Canal Port.

Resolving These Issues:

The first issue is that of reparations to be paid to us for attacking the recently-deceased vassal of Etorix (House Montezzi) while under His protection and subsequently bringing damage to the newly-claimed domain of Etorix, the Canal Port. We have not yet fully tallied the extent of the damages, or yet put a price on the gall displayed by your City. We shall deliver the reparations to be paid to us when our calculations are done, and discussions regarding this are to be held separate from any other issue.

The second issue, separate to the first, is that your City is currently without any protection offered by Etorix (including the halting of trade), and indeed, is on the verge of being descended upon by Him unless He is duly appeased. Regarding this issue, Warlord Throx Claw delivered nine demands to your city which needed to be met before the existing treaty could once again be restored, and Cataclysm at the claws of Etorix be avoided.

Since then, discussions have taken place which ultimately ended up in the signing of demands #1-4 and 9, and the dropping of demand #8 by Claw. Partial agreement on your part with these demands so far has been awarded by us with the return of subsistence trade so your entire city does not buckle while we discuss how it might be saved. Demands #5-7 are still outstanding, and discussion on them needs to happen very soon if the initial treaty is to be reinstated, and thus salvation secured.

Regarding the recent Proclamations of Etorix, these are not up to discussion at all and are absolutely irrelevant to any discussion regarding the the above.

Likewise, any claims you make or have on Lower Sanctuary (except of course the new Temple to Etorix site which has already been claimed by us) are entirely unwarranted of mention in diplomatic discussion between our two parties. As I have pointed out, my master has no desire to add those cursed streets to his domain, and thus there is no conflict.

As it is my duty as a diplomat to do my utmost to ensure that calamity can be averted, I would hint that the return of my stolen belongings and the full pardon for the reckless verdict in your Court I suffered a few days ago shall assuredly be featured amongst the reparations which we shall deliver in a few days time, and any act on your part to provide them before we must demand them shall be received warmly.

Regards,

Ambassador Ignatiev Governor of the Canal Port

Council of Sanctuary,

Deliberations over the reparations to be paid to us, as discussed in my previous letter, have been finalized. We demand:

- Thirty thousand gold. Must be paid before the next Council election. - The return of Pyotr Ignatiev's effects relinquished by City authorities and an overturning of his Exile. To be done immediately. - A magnificent statue depicting the glorious form of the Illustrious Serpent, to be built either in a prominent place in Upper Sanctuary, or spanning the battlements of any new gate you manage to construct. This statue must be constructed in before the next Council election. - A formal apology delivered by Commander Simms for the Spellguard Order's sickening machinations which culminated in the releasing of their mutant spider on a vassal of Etorix, which in turn wrought many deaths and much destruction in his new domain of the Canal Port. This apology is to be delivered within one tenday.

The Shadow Tribe and its Revered Master Etorix do sincerely hope your City appeases us fittingly. Your very continued existence demands you do. When these reparations are agreed upon in writing with the authority of the Council, we can move past this and work together on a brighter future.

Respectfully,

Ambassador Ignatiev Disciple of Etorix Governor of the Canal Port

Council of Sanctuary,

As outlined previously, in order for your City to have the trade which allowed you to prosper reinstated, along with the protection borne of the wings of the Illustrious Serpent, you need to deliver on the rest of the demands already asked of you by Ambassador Claw:

Demands of the Shadow Tribe, as decreed by Ambassador Throx Claw 5th of Ches, 1375 DR

In exchange for the continued alliance, trade, and security that the Shadow Tribe has offered Sanctuary all these months and years, the Shadow Tribe demands the following:

1. The right to invite any guests to visit the Shadow Tribe Embassy at any time without warning to the Sanctuary Town Council or the Sanctuary Watch.

2. The right to grant guest passes to any and all persons who pledge allegience to Great Shadow Death and therefore the Shadow Tribe without warning to the Sanctuary Town Council or the Sanctuary Watch.

3. A statue of Great Shadow Death to be built in a location of prominence that can be agreed upon by both Ambassador Throx Claw and the Sanctuary Council.

4. All those who have attacked Port Claw and were involved in the attack and attempted murder of Great Shadow Death are to be executed in Sslal'teesh.

5. The Shadow Tribe will have full rights to view Council Archives, and take part in discussions of the city.

6. The Shadow Tribe will obtain the power to act as a vote on the Council.

7. 15% of the city budget will be given to the Shadow Tribe to pay for the Shadow Tribe's continued protection and good will.

8. Gnomes will lose all rights as citizens.

9. Aurelius Natch must be handed over to the Shadow Tribe.

For clarity's sake, demands #1-4 and #9 have already been met by your city and demand #8 has been dropped, leaving demands #5-7 outstanding. Of course, discussion regarding these outstanding demands is welcomed. It may be that your city could persuade us to drop one of them, or that you could offer another in one's stead. The decisions are all yours.

Respectfully,

Ambassador Ignatiev Disciple of Etorix Governor of the Canal Port

Pyotr,

I grow tired of your demands, demands, demands. Offer something for god sake, or I swear I'll swing my vote and things will really get crazy. I have put in too much work to be ridiculed by the likes of a man who I saved from execution. You are not even worthy of your master. I am a thousand times the man you will ever be. If your Lord wants me with him, then I demand you start by earning my service.

-Queen's Rook

Rook,

These are not my demands. These demands are those spoken from the gaping maw of a very incensed Great Shadow Death. The 'offer' you claim we must provide has already been made painstakingly clear I had thought, though again your inability to grasp the simplest realities means I must reiterate...again.

We offer you salvation. We offer you the chance of appeasement, such that your precious City does not collapse from within as our subsistence trade is once again turned off. We offer you the opportunity to ingratiate yourself into my Master's good standing, earning His protection once again rather than being the focal point of His ire, and thus on the brink of utter ruin.

I am sorry that you feel so inadequate when dealing with me that you need to childishly claim with no provocation otherwise that you're the superior man. I understand, however-- I've often seen this happen in the course of working with lesser minds.

I think I shall speak to your Council hence through Dentra. He at least is reasonable, and unlike you, quite capable of seeing the larger strategic picture beyond the bulge of a poignantly unfounded pride.

Respectfully,

Ambassador Ignatiev Disciple of Etorix Governor of the Canal Port

Pyotr,

The Shadow Tribe no longer has my support. Explain to Etorix that I will not deal with him through the likes of you. End of discussion.

-Ambassador Rook

My reply is penned, and being sent to the Council for final review. Both letters have been considered in this reply.

Cnc. Dentra