A Lily-Stamped Letter to Estillise Azimi

[Zambition]

To the esteemed Apothar & Fatespinner Estillise Azimi,

I write this letter well in advance of the next election for it carries a purpose beyond my obvious intent to once again place my hat in the ring of the League of White primary, and thus, the election of Hziran 7789.

You see, my intent as a statesman (yes, I said statesman, not politician) is to understand the city-state that I deign to govern with purpose and prudence first and foremost, and whilst I have garnered many understandings of several colors in my now home of Ephia's Well, I find far too much partisanship stands in the way of truly understanding.

So here are a few fundamental understandings I have come to live by;

1. This is not a democracy as it stands, but a dinarcracy. A term coined by a Scribe of our League, one I've taken a liking to. And so my policies revolve around the depreciation of dinar and the appreciation of wealth in soul, and the values of anything but, for I find dinar can waver between far too easy to procure and far too easy to monopolize upon, and all the while, the vast majority of our population are Voiceless refugees that may be lucky to scrape together 50 dinars for a month of their labor in say, for example, the Gloamingdaith-Argyris Quarry. This is in direct comparison to the wealth of a boardworker, who can earn up to 600 dinar for a single contract from the board of lobbyist interest in the surrounding region.

2. While some states have constitutions, charters and bills to define themselves and their citizenry, Ephia's Well instead has one forbearing agreement with a shared purpose, the Accord, and its intent to safeguard our city. At the heart of our city is the Accord, and anyone deigning to govern as a Legate in it must understand this, while ensuring that each Signatory is looked upon fairly and justly in every circumstance, in the pursuit of ensuring that in their actions, their rights are not infringed upon as Accorded and signed by the Sultan Maribid. Make no mistake, however, that it is wholly my intent to work towards an Accord-driven agreement to one day make writ of such things as defining the rights of the citizenry and bringing consistency to what is known as the law in Ephia's Well so we may work towards order and stability, not bedlam and mayhem in tow.

3. And finally, that while the Accord stands as a fundamental part of our city's function, it is also its greatest enemy in the sense that each Signatory bears a means of blackmail over Ephia's Well, and all three Signatories have utilized this fact; the Shade operated by Q'tolip and his Astronomers, the Penal Officiate of the Fourth Legion and their sole duties of prosecution, and the Cinquefoil Rose who control the city's highest traffic gate and most frequented tavern in leagues, offering affordable shelter, access to the board lobbies and so on. When self-interest of the Signatories overpowers the common interest and good of the city, it creates a vacuum of doubt and fear, and while it must be noted the significance of the Accord in the functions of our city, it must also be noted the lack of significance in other functions of our city and other institutions that are overshadowed by their interests. In the future, I should seek to make of this city all encompassing, so we may all work towards co-prosperity and co-operation for the sake that we are all Ephians, and have a duty to serve our city first and foremost, and not ourselves. Before words are twisted, however, I must therefore state my highest respect to the Accord and I shall never strive to stampede upon their influence or importance. I will, though, bring to light that we have a city to develop and defend, and must recognize that the Accord is an agreement among the three Signatories and the Sultan, and that many new arrivals have never heard of this agreement nor care much for it, and that they have interests of their own, ones more humble than the average Accord issue, and that we must strive to listen and hear them, to make this city the Sanctuary we labor for it to be.

So to come upon my point with some anxiety, my question to you, Fatespinner, is how in your sightseeing, perchance, do you foresee all of this and more coming to pass and do you believe your respected institution would allow it to be? Sister Selsi spoke highly of you, but claimed you have a fear of progress, and so resolve yourself to the status quo where nothing gets done, and all remains as it is. What then has stoked these fears so that you are apparently afraid of being loyal to the League of White you have supported ere long, and what has now gotten into you, that you must now be quite adamant and public in your support of anathemian causes such as the League of Gold and her newest candidate?

Help me understand, and by some good happenstance, we may then work together, and not against one another in the foreseeable future.

Yours truly,

Prelate Edmund Lothere

[cmenden]

Dear Edmund Lothere,
 
First of all, my name is Estellise, not Estillise.

What then has stoked these fears so that you are apparently afraid of being loyal to the League of White you have supported ere long, and what has now gotten into you, that you must now be quite adamant and public in your support of anathemian causes such as the League of Gold and her newest candidate?

Second, I have not shifted to support the Gold League in the slightest. I voted for the League of White this past election despite my misgivings that those in leadership have aggressively strayed from our tenets and decided to align with the Priory's goals to destroy this world and replace it with one of their choosing.

Third, I suppose I will merely say this. Defeat Alexandria in the Primaries and prove you are of the League of White first and foremost, that you represent our populist ideals. Prove that you are neither puppet nor pawn of mystery cults and religious fanatics and drunken idiots and you shall easily have my support.

It will be simply done, in truth.

Regards,
Estellise Azimi

[Zambition]

Estellise Azimi,

All I have deigned to do is listen to whom has asked my ear and lent their support, and I know the Sisters not on a personal level, but on a political level, and have enjoyed my conversations and discussions with them.

But I am not so foolish as to presume everything they say is truth, merely the fact of the matter is that I have heard only one side and now another from your own writ hand, 'The Priory's goals to destroy this world and replace it with one of their choosing,' is a very certain impasse of yours that you have worded to me.

I would like to know more, as is the intent of my correspondence with you, and I should like this chance to be tutored not by a mystery cult but an Apothar of Q'tolip's Astronomers, especially one so invested in the pursuit of our tenets in the League of White.

Furthermore, you must accept my apologies (or do not, and I shall ask it all the same), as I had made at least one presumption indeed that you were in alignment with your colleague, Margarethe Eisenberg, who is also a member of the League of White and profusely campaigned for now Legate Vellyn Lhyrian during the election, and mirrored her at every corner I saw the then candidate.

Quotes from her such as, 'Do not give in now, Vellyn, we are so close to victory,' and unto that I must say if I am claimed to be a puppet of the Sibylline Sisterhood, Vellyn Lhyrian is certainly a puppet of perhaps not the Astronomers as a whole, but certainly the overly ambitious Nadiri, Inanna Eilissere and the cunning Margarethe Eisenberg, Apothar in service to Q'tolip.

Or perhaps the truth is that neither of us are puppets, and that as per your letter, puppets are not sought, but even playing fields where those uplifting the state as politicians should respect the Accord but not give in to the Accord's self-interested demands. You wish of that, then, and I have already deigned it in all my works. Shall I see you at the meeting on the Third of Hziran?

I look forward to meeting you in person and discussing this at length.

Regards,

Edmund Lothere