To Legates Lhyrian and Sayburgh

[Ephel]

Legates,

These days of turmoil have no doubt had their toll on both yourselves and your time. For this reason I will attempt to keep this letter as brief and direct as possible. Yet I will not mince words.

The public are uncertain and afraid. Rumors swirl and this scribe can only make vague gestures towards recent diplomatic proceedings to explain them. They look to me for answers when they should look to you for leadership and vision. To my observation, both are at an unfortunate lack.

Upon the bellows transcripts I see legates at odds with their warmaster. I see lickspittle clamouring for spoils and I see pundits reigning our foreign affairs. This scribe shares their fears of the future because our legates are silent.

And most damning, my knowledge of Arslan's recent liberation has come to me not by official proclamation. It has come by rumor and innuendo. Same with the massacre at the warcamp if not for Lieutenant al-Asal's updates. This scribe has seen no announcement regarding any of this. And like the citizens of The Well, I am left to speculate. How could there be NOTHING from either of you!? This state of affairs is unacceptable. If it carries on it may be ruinous.

I write this not in admonishment but in earnest plea. Now more than ever, Ephia's Well needs your leadership. Seize the narrative before it seizes you! Cease this malaise of torpidity and give our citizens and soldiers a reason to look to the future. Tell them what is happening. Tell them how it will happen. Tell them why. Do it by writ, or by bellows. See that your vision is known! Show them that you have a plan!

If words escape you, think of what Marcellus Saenus would say. Or even the villain Argent Argyris. I know neither of them would let this moment chance them by.

I wait with held breath at the ponderous turn of The Wheel.
~Scribe Kiran al'Arith

P.S.

That gold league claiming ownership of The Argyris Quarry is a farce. The quarry's deed is in state hands. It is you who decides who it will belong to. If you award the quarry to anyone, do so as a reward for fealty or service. Or place it in trust with The Sublime Garden. Or auction it for the treasury if you must.

But PLEASE do not hand it away for nothing on the say-so of golden clad windbags (sitting legates excluded). They'll laugh all the way to the coin changers and spend their new income on scorch and whores in Qadira.