[A Letter Left at the Embassay Wing: To the Representatives of Banafsi] (DM)

[Empress of Neon]

*A letter is delivered via courier to a diplomat at the Pyramid's Palatial Wing.*

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Dear esteemed diplomats to the Great City of Banafsi,

You have doubtlessly heard of the recent scandal that erupted during a debate among the Citadel's candidates. Accusations have been set upon Gold League Candidate Sol Auk of something I fear threatens the relationship and future of the Well and your splendorous home. Talks of a prominent citizen; a candidate in one of our sacred elections, no less; being illegally extradited or coerced with the threat thereof because of an incident that fell under her watch in your home. An incident some of us, I have been told, was supposedly resolved after a labor of penance.

I do not intend to insult your intelligence by explaining to you how an incident like this could threaten future relations, or needlessly generate ill will from citizens (especially its merchants) in the Well who have felt safe in matters of exchange prior to the scandal. Yours is a society of law and order that very clearly puts its sanctity close to heart. I myself have seen the degree your beautiful city goes to, in order to keep it safe from corruption and dangers of outside influences.

But the picture painted before the Voiced in those chambers was very damning. Sol Auk and his mercenaries, last seen with her before her mysterious 'illness' that had her folding from the race. The woman missing, with only her companion Naelin to speak on her behalf at this abrupt turn of events. It is well known that Gold League Candidate Sol Auk left the pyramid with a far heavier purse than the one he went in, shortly after you called for attendance. Nevermind the expulsion of White League Candidate Lynneth, who was in the company of another elven that was associated with Purple Candidate Sephidra. Sephidra's exclusion from invitation to the pyramid entirely only adds to the narrative, I'm afraid. Her absence was both a political advantage to Sol Auk (an overt and unsubtle one at that) and caused a wave of uproar among many of the citizens; especially the Voiced. Her associate, Naelin, the one speaking on behalf of her absence, is not a convincing liar in a chamber full of people who are primed to constantly read each other, I'm afraid. Her gaze towards Sol Auk as fearful as it was, when she was bade to bring truth to light on the matter. It did not help that Sol Auk chose to leave the debate abruptly, rather than confront the accusations before him. Or downplay what had happened shortly after. The Well keeps its candidates, who will one day oversee its ruling chambers, under very close scrutiny. And I'm afraid this problem isn't going away with a few words or attempts to distract and deflect as he often does.

Sol Auk believes his candidacy is all but assured, but it's ultimately the Voiced who decide affairs of the state (as he himself has often platformed); especially in regards as to who will become legate. I can not emphasize enough how the mere specter of an outside power being able to purchase citizens from the Well unsettles us. Even some of his own supporters are already beginning to look to the other two candidates, after seeing what he's willing to do in the pursuit of power. Before I was even out of the pyramid, there was already a conversation about the sheer terror for a friend's life; one we still do not have accounted for. People are angry, confused and above all, afraid. And I fear what kind of tone this will set between our peoples going forward. I do not want to see relations between Ephia's Well and Banafsi sour. Both our civilizations deserve a better future than one where resentment from its higher castes dictates the course of our lives.

I make no accusations. It is on Sol Auk for his lack of transparency to the public concerning your meeting and the damning events that followed Sephidra's absence that are now on everyone's lips. If he did make a promise, however, or deceive you into thinking he had some kind of judicial power he's not privy to, then I implore you to make a public statement and help preserve our relationship as city-states.

I don't believe the Great City of Banafsi, in all its sanctity and majesty, ever intended to steep or mire Ephia's Well in this level of corruption of our highest offices; not even the perception of it. I'm willing to wager you wanted to know which candidate you'd contribute to would close the gap on matters of extradition into codified law, as it's notably vague on such matters, rather than something as outrageous as what's been presented before us. I'm willing to wager Sol Auk greatly misinterpreted your contribution as a bribe for Sephidra's attendance in your judiciary system. I know you have more respect for our laws and our own sanctity than that.

But I also know Sol Auk's heart. And I'm afraid these accusations on his misdeeds are very much within the realm of reality. You are begged, my neighbors, to help us bring truth to these matters and wash your hands of this incident for good. Whether it absolves or confirms the guilt of the Gold League Candidate, the Voiced must have answers, or this specter will haunt us forever.

Please, help us.


P.S If you ever wish to discuss codified law on matters of extradition or other inter-state grey areas in our penal code, please feel free to speak to any of our Voiced; myself included; regarding such affairs as such policies fall within our role in the Assembly in their proposal, not Legates. Gods know it needs to have the discussion after this.

~Isabella Fitzgerald

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