Rennik Colmes

[Sunburst]

Lieutenant Rennik Colmes,

All glory to Princess Shaimela!
Bronze Spear in the Heart of Darkness!
Brightest Ruby in the Sands!
Builder of a Thousand Minarets!

May her star rise high and glorious above all the Ash!

This could be the last time I use this formal League stationery. As you'll soon read in the sending logbooks, Legate Sayburgh has demanded that you arrest me (rather specifically) on the capital charge of "Apostasy." Izdihar came by to shoot the breeze about it, as one among many topics she had for me; she suggested both that the choice on whether to prosecute will be yours and that she didn't know what choice you would make.

After the months we've worked together, I find myself just as uncertain.

I do not expect or offer anything in particular. We aligned momentarily, as it suited our goals, most recently to push forward Zina on a pro-Janissary platform in the hope of defending the Gold League's claim to the seat. We were unsuccessful, and the new regime has since gone to great lengths to punish us for defying the will of the Cinquefoil Rose. But you owe me nothing. And I owe you nothing. We came together only because it suited us, and we went our separate ways shortly after.

Even so, I don't see any reason why you would kill me, so I feel comfortable enough reaching out with this letter and asking for your intentions.

If you do wish to press charges, there is no need to indulge our sadistic Legates with a trial and an execution. I will accept exile within a day of receipt, departing this city like the other notables of the Gold League. Although Zina departed for Kha'esh, that place does not suit me, and I will instead exert my privileged right to enter Baz'eel. The change of scenery might help Fiordelise recover her spirit, and the harbor almhouses might be what she needs for new purpose and drive.

If you do not, then I will simply take you at your word. I will instead remain in Ephia's Well as the leader of the League of Golds, tending what remains of this shattered party. I will continue to cultivate a minority opposition criticizing our newly deranged government. You should not expect us to be much of a force, of course; I have accounted a dozen of our wealthy Voices leaving Ephia's Well already in disgust at the state of this city, and it will take time to rebuild. And I do sympathize with their feelings. Balestriere Luther Donisthrope has openly bragged about how the persecution of Zina was her just deserts for daring to oppose the Banda Rossa, and it's made my skin crawl so fiercely that I almost chose to commit a real capital crime.

What will it be?

There are many argument I could make for why I am innocent of the legal definition of this crime, or why you would be foolish to indulge Alexandria, but honestly, none of that matters. You are damned if you do, damned if you don't, and of these bad options, it is fundamentally a political decision on how to answer a political order. As Izdihar predicts, if you don't do this, you will be lambasted for having no respect for the rule of law (even though the current Legates, themselves, obviously don't). And as Izdihar also predicts, if you do push this, then you will be decried as a wicked, oppressive tyrant, crushing the innocent. There is no winning. There is only a choice of what terms you lose under.

For my part, only one thing will matter at the end of the night; living long enough to hold my child in my hands and to know that my family will be alright.

The rest of this is just a job.

DANTE
MORETTI

[Blue41]

Legate Moretti,

The work's taught me a couple of things, and one of those things is that forming connections-- forming friendships-- can be dangerous to your health, to your career, to your state of being. The Wroth-- toss the Ash-- claims that trust is not bound by blood, but respect is watered by it. There have been moments where you've surprised me, disgusted me, impressed me. None of those feelings would be enough to supersede the work, one way or the other. But I'm not some faceless automaton of the dread Qa'immi horde. I do not live to thoughtlessly and pointlessly carry out the will of the Legates, whoever they may be. Some of them might have preferred that, but ultimately it's on me to act.

You should know in your dealings with me that I'm capable of putting aside old business in exchange for preventing a greater tragedy, or taking aim at a bigger target. I don't seek your execution, but you and I both know that once a case reaches the court, what I want is secondary to what a tribunal determines. We've gone through that more than once. 

I'd like to speak in person. Tonight, if at all possible. I'd like to offer you a choice as well. Ground my bones to dust, but I think you're wrong about what you're owed. You deserve that much.

Lt. R. Colmes