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Messages - WriterX

#1
Janissaries,

 Due to pressure from my advisors I was strongly urged to obtain a Groknak skull. To this end, and due to the limited time that we have, the hunt will have to be held tomorrow. I would ask for an escort, to make sure the hunt is successful, or at least a little safer.

 Know that I do not feel confident in bringing the Clans the Skull, or even the rest of the Groknak for the feast, but everybody else seems to be under the impression that it is the best possible decision.

 There is no set time, but I will gather whom I can in relative secrecy tomorrow. We do no want half the city chasing after us, but know, this hunt will be a dangerous one.

Walk with Izdu's Wisdom,

 Legate Marcellus Saenus
#2
Student Gloamingdaith,

 I have studied your texts and they are very well written and well structured. However I hope you do intend to include a few other locations that also hold some significance in the region.

These include:

Rampart Nusrum
Perforated Ashways
Alkab

 Further, you could make brief mention of the modes of transportation in the Ash Desert. The Ashsail, the Carpet, the Groknak, Camel, and so forth.

 I know this does not shorten your work, but Alkab, for example, is the bread basket of the desert. Most other nations and settlements gain their food from them. The Ashways are perhaps a bit more of a curiosity, but Rampart Nusrum also has a rich history. Even small symbolic mentions would be better than to leave them out entirely.

Walk with Izdu's Wisdom,

 Legate Marcellus Saenus
#3
Niranye Auvreathil of Y'fahliel,

 My apologies that it took me so long to respond to your letter, much was upon my head and only now could I sit down and address it. Sadly, the painting you saw is the only one I completed while I was in the Well.

 As you could tell perhaps I went with some "Symbolic Realism", though do forgive, I do not know all that much about art as some may prove to show. I prefer it when a painting reflects all of its actors, elements, in truthful proportions, and where the positioning of objects or actions of the actors or characters may reveal deeper meaning to the piece.

 Such as in the case of the Heron, the Eagle and the Snake, where I tried to depict the joint efforts of the Well and Sultanate in fighting off the influence of the Wyrm, represented as a twin-headed snake, while in the background, gathered around the Oasis we have people, resting, drinking, living. It simply speaks of a conflict that is present but of which some may simply not be aware of, or not feel it, or perhaps not pay much attention to it.

 Perhaps once I have the time, and the means I shall work on more such pieces, but for now work has consumed me greatly, and it is my sole focus, especially with the ongoing election.

 I do not consider myself a prolific enough artist to be included on any such list, but if you decide to mention me still I would appreciate the gesture.

Walk with Izdu's wisdom,

 Marcellus Saenus
#4
*The Parcel and letter are received, and taken into consideration.*
#5
Correspondence / Re: [A letter to Marcellus Saenus.]
March 03, 2024, 10:55:49 PM
*After what seems like an extended pause a response is written*

To whom is may concern,

 I am afraid that due to personal circumstances there will be no public opening of the Temple, or if done so it shall be done so sporadically. I know this might inconvenience people who would seek to explore my extensive collection, but it is sadly necessary.

 In the future, please sign your letters.

Walk with Izdu's wisdom,

Scholar Marcellus Saenus
#6
Correspondence / A Letter to Elossi (DM)
January 28, 2024, 11:15:29 PM
Sincere Elossi,
 
As I continue to work on my Museum of Ephia's Well one of the things I hoped to do is create Slabs describing in short all of the previous Legates who were elected in Ephia. You mention yourself that you were a Legate to our Well, and yet throughout my time here I never learned of your works or achievements during that time.

If it would not be any trouble I would ask for a few brief words from yourself, to learn of this time in your life.

If however you would not wish for any such great details to be mentioned I will at the least write that you did act, for a time, as Legate to the Well.

Live and drink,

Marcellus Saenus
#7
Correspondence / [A Letter to the Consulate] (DM)
January 18, 2024, 08:10:17 PM
Secretary,

 Throughout my time as Legate you were there to advise me, though as I recall we did not always see eye to eye, and in one particular instance we almost went into a sort of argument. Still I would like to thank you, for your work for the Sultanate, for a chance for me to aid these efforts. If it will be the will of the people for the me remain as Legate I shall do so, but I write this letter in case I am defeated this election.

 I have spoken with the Astronomers on our distant neighbor, who is still plaguing the Pearl Sea and aiding, at least to some degree the Archon, or at least using the War to their own benefit.

 Because of this I instructed the Astronomers to design a tool meant to act against a specific creation of our mutual troublemaker. I do not wish to speak of the details in this letter in the event it is intercepted, but I would ask you to speak with Apothar Stern or Mevura, who will inform you of the matter at hand. The matter of coin is not a huge issue, as I imagine the city could afford it, but there is a component necessary that I believe only the Consulate has access to.

 As such, I do not force you to do anything, but ask you to at least study the proposed solution, and if you find it acceptable, invest in it.

 Forgive the cryptic nature of this letter, but the less unwanted people know the better.

 I do hope we will still have a chance to meet, be it in the offices of the Pyramid or beyond them.

Walk with Izdu's wisdom,

Legate Marcellus Saenus
#8
The District that will be built should be located in the Sand District and protected by our trusted Garrison, the Fourth Legion, our Janissaries. Dedicated to the Crown princess Faziima, who has continued to bless us during my re-elections. A symbol of friendship with Baz'eel, a fountain with her likeness, to provide water to those in need who shall now live in the new District. Housing capable of keeping as many safe from the storms and raiders beyond as possible. A place to call home for the people.

Our funding is being gathered, we have crossed the mid-point and we are nearing the stage where works may begin soon. Whether it is in a month or two. We will gather the necessary funds. Over half of them already gathered through sensible spending and taxation.

Special schemes or plots are not necessary, for I am confident that if we are responsible, if we are wise, as Izdu would dictate for us to be, we can achieve our goal. To rush ahead is to invite accidents, or eventual disaster, and I'd rather see the Well at its strongest, capable of funding its works on its own, and not tied to outside forces or sources.

If others desire for us to become slaves, tied down by obligations, then they are free to choose such a path. But I believe we can, and shall achieve our goals on our own, proving to ourselves and others, that we, people of Ephia's Well are resourceful and determined enough to see anything achieved.
#9
Ephia's Well is in a very difficult situation, for even when we would choose to distance ourselves from conflict, our enemies tend to come to us. We might recall in the past, Orc raids upon the Gate of Roses, Melek attacks upon our walls, brooker and cult attacks in the Sewers. Even when we think we can push these matters aside, or ignore them the truth unfortunately is that while we might prepare to fight a singular, specific enemy, it is folly to lower our guard when one foe is defeated, and we feel we can rest easily.

Our conflict is constant, because our foes and enemies do not choose to surrender their arms and retire, they continue to try again, and again. When one is beaten back, another will rise to challenge us once more, and this cycle continues.

Even when we look to more distant history, the Old City itself was at one point dominated by the Sibilant Empire, and even when they were defeated they continued to be the thorn to many a people, present in numerous Rings. In Centuries past, many warlords of the Thousand Clans rose up, leading the Clans to fight the Caliphate and later the Sultanate, each time defeated, each time regrouping and trying once more.

Even Qa'im did not have a single decisive conflict, and instead a series of conflicts, greater and smaller, leading to the current uneasy stalemate between the Sultanate and Qa'im.
And the Cults rise and fall as quickly as weeds. Some two months ago we had the Butcher, a Brooker who after a long spree was finally hunted down. Before that we had a gnomish brooker, who brought down a meteorite, and unleashed horrors, at the behest of his Djinn masters. Every time we catch them, execute them, defeat them it is only a matter of time before another group or individual rises up attempting to follow some dark creed.

So the answer is two-fold, for right now we are in conflict most clearly with Thousand Clans and the Sibilant Empire, or rather the Melek who also aid them and the Wyrm. We are also weary of Qa'im infiltrators, and the Cults that appear in our city. There are those engagements that are clearly visible, audible, the raids we perform, the battles we fight. Yet at the same time, there are those the public might not be aware of, where Brookers and Cultists are hunted down, where Qa'immi sympathisers or agents are dealt with swiftly.
 
To prioritize one over the other is simply not feasible, because we must be in a constant state of readiness, for we do not know when or who may strike next or what opportunity for us to strike may arise. Recall, even the recent battle against the Melek, it wasn't anything we planned or prepared for, it was spontaneous. We accidentally obtained the battle plans of our enemy and rode out to meet them. The Raids, while they seem to happen regularly, are based on intelligence we gather, what our scouts report back about. There is no frontline we send our people to, no standing army that we supply or arm in the next region over. We have a number of forces, here in the Well, ready to protect the Well from a direct attack, or to send them out for military operations further out, while also having to protect and maintain the Well internally. 

We should, of course, prioritize, but opportunities to end any of our ongoing conflicts with any sort of finality have yet to come up. Like a drawn out duel, where both opponents are equal, the fight will continue until, eventually, that clear opening or failure on our enemy's side is visible, while we ourselves try to not offer them an equal opportunity to strike at us, harm us.

Our ongoing conflict with Diakos and Iakmes will continue until either both sides collapse, or they are kept in a permanent stalemate, thus granting us relative peace. And while this war on the surface is happening we must keep a weary eye below, internally, for cultists, brookers and agents of foreign powers that would seek to infiltrate and weaken us.

There is no simple answer here, for we are not at War with a single neighbour, we are not at war with one enemy. We are in a state of constant preparedness, for we cannot ever truly know peace until we are certain that all those forces known, and unknown, that would seek to strike at us in any form will be unable to do so. And unfortunately, as I mentioned before, from what we have seen thus far; we strike down one, another rises.   

Keeping all the military arms of the Accord strong, and never underestimating the threats as they arise will be key toward our survival. While I had high hopes for sponsoring certain citizen ventures, such as the Al-Sayaadin, it is clear that for such a thing to work we would need a man capable of organizing and maintaining such a thing.

That said, at the very least, I would hope that one day our own Citizens, those more inclined to fight, would be trained as a sort of militia or citizen army within the Well itself. People who while not part of the Janissaries or the Rose could still be organized and oppose those threats that come toward our city. Men, who after becoming Citizens are ready to stand and protect their home, for they are a part of it.

As to these dangers lurking in the Gutters, among us, all we can do is remain vigilant, allow those trained, experienced, knowledgeable to handle them as they rise up. Among the Accord are such men who continue to perform such duties, and time and again they manage to identify and handle them accordingly. What we ought to do, what the Pyramid should do, is grant them the resources necessary to perform such work efficiently, with as little obstruction as possible.

This may not be the answer many had hoped for, for it does not simply identify one problem, or set our gaze upon a single thing, in plain, simple words, but I wish to point out that in the state that we are in we cannot afford to avert our gaze from one enemy to face another, for to do so is to invite a dagger in our back.
#10
*Marcellus' rebuttal is published*

If there is no system in place to grant citizenship, if there is no clear definition of what citizenship is, then it simply does not exist as a concept. If all who enter the Well are a citizen, then the entire world, every visitor, every man, woman, child, is of the Well, whether they want to be or not, bringing back what happened in the Old City and the King.

If we still decide that Citizenship holds certain boons and marks, but these can be taken away if somebody commits a crime, or whenever an official deems it fitting, then how does one regain their citizenship if there isn't even a system to grant it in the first place?

This does not even begin to mention the mess in any records we would keep. If everybody is a citizen then our records would be endless. And people coming to and from the Well would have to be recorded, never to be taken out, clogging up pages and archives, and any claims would have to be tracked down through an unreasonable system.

There is also another facet to all of this. Currently, if a merchant or business owner would come to the Well, with the desire to open their new business or manufactory here, they would need to speak with the Pyramid to do so. They are not citizens of the Well, they have to go through official channels to receive any such permission. If we assume every such man is a citizen then the future is truly bleak, for they would be able to purchase every single home, every single property and then rent it out at any price that they deemed fitting. The only way how this would improve the housing situation is by allowing those sufficiently rich or affluent to purchase and hold all of them. They would not even have to remain in the Well to maintain said properties, for they could move back to their actual home city, leaving behind somebody to tend to said properties, collect rent and be done with it.

Instead of solving the problem we deepen in, we create a situation where the already rich gain even more influence, because the poor shall remain poor, and having a Voice does not change the fact that they will be less likely to afford a home, or even a room.

This also applies to so many other aspects of our lives. Citizenship does not protect one from prosecution, all are judged equally by the Law. And while I agree that the current system may not be the best, it is better than having nothing at all, opening the flood gates and then, in a panic, trying to solve a problem that we ourselves created.
#11
The Question of citizenship was always a difficult one, but what always made it more difficult are the systems we have in place, what is realistically possible and what I would envision could be created in the future.

For what is citizenship? It is a question many of us did not have to answer until now. When the Old City still stood and the King lived those who were born or who Awoke in the City were automatically assumed to be "Subjects of the King". One could not argue against it, for any attempt to do so would label them as an opponent to the King's rule, an outlaw, a bandit, or worse. We lived in a world where we were automatically made "citizens", without our saying, without any other options. Where one was a subject, and thus had to abide by the rules and dictates of the King or those who claimed to be his Lords and Knights, or flee into the wilderness, into those Rings that were less populated, becoming an Outcast. That was the reality of the Old City, and after the Ring Fall we found ourselves here.

Many came to Ephia's Well, as people without a home, without a place to call their own, and we were presented with a choice. Remain as Residents, who can linger in the Well, as long as we abide by its Laws, or become full Citizens, Voiced, who can purchase property, Vote, in essence both to have a physical home or property, and a chance to decide what we deemed good and proper for the Well through our elections and Assemblies.

When I arrived to many the possibility of becoming Voiced was at best a distant memory. We did not have the gold or riches we have now, many struggled with earning enough coin. This lead to many of those already prosperous, including the Legates, to offer opportunities for people to ascend, to become Voiced, to become Citizens. That was also a time where an Officer or simply a higher ranking member of the Accord would be granted citizenship as well.

This has now changed unfortunately, as I saw it as a chance to prove one's self. For the Accord, and thus the City to reward somebody for their hard work. For in my eyes, Citizenship should not be treated as a Trade Good, with a specific value, but granted to those who are deemed worthy of becoming citizens. People who through their dedication and hard work have advanced enough to become Citizens, who may then, of course, choose to retire to a more civilian life, or advance their careers.

What I am of course implying is a Citizenship through Achievement system, but many could say it is unfair. It takes months for a man to advance to the rank of Lyrist, Sergeant or even an Apothar. Nobody used to receive those ranks within weeks of arrival, and this posed a hurdle to those who perhaps sought to become more active in our voting system, or to simply become full citizens. You had to become a member of the Accord, something not everybody wanted to do, and then toil away for however long you had to, subject to internal politics of course.

With this avenue locked, and the current system being that of coin, is it a sensible system? It is not, at least not in the way some could envision. Some could say that earning the necessary five thousand dinari is in a way a sign of dedication, hard work, savings, to allow a person to show that he has earned this coin by his own merit. But in reality it could just as easily be a donation, or a sponsorship, to people who were not motivated enough to reach out for this goal themselves.

I raise this point because Citizenship, what it is, what it is meant to represent, is a point of status where people become true Ephians. Where they choose to become Citizens because they wish to be part of this City, this community, this nation, and as Citizens they wish to continue to work both with and for Ephia. It is proof that they truly consider this place their home, and they are not only ready to remain in it, to accept its boons of ownership, representation and voting, but that they would be ready to act for Ephia's benefit, whether to protect it from outside aggression or to defend the foundations upon which Ephia was built. When one becomes a citizen they should equally expect certain obligations that the government must fulfil, while also Ephia, as a nation, as a people, should expect something of its citizens.

So, what would be a suitable path for citizenship then? How should we view this step toward becoming Citizens as sufficient proof of one's dedication to the nation and to its people?
Paying a fee, as we do now, both lifts a lot of expectations, but it also imposes none. Anybody could come in, purchase a Voice and become a Citizen, regardless of what they stand for or believe in.

If we imposed a different system, one of Achievement, one of dedication, where the Pyramid would decide who could be elevated, through the merit of their work, through their service, dedication, contribution or perhaps charity or investment into the Well, we are subject to biases and potential corruption. The Well counts thousands of people, and it is impossible to thoroughly or accurately know who has done what. Some will lie, some will cheat, some will usurp the achievements of others, and of course, some say coin is king and people paying for their own achievements to be seen above those of others could also occur.  Then there are personal biases, where somebody judging the worthiness of a resident might discredit them simply based on their race, their profession, or personal spats with that man or woman.

As such, the current system as it stands is not perfect, but it takes a bit of both worlds, which while I admit are not the best, it is the system we are present with currently:

1)   The Purchase of a Voice, as I said, is too simple, too arbitrary in a way, for it to be considered a meaningful way of obtaining a citizenship, but it is a way for those who are more resourceful. It is how I obtained my own Voice, through my hard work and savings. The price of the Voice should also remain, for now, at its current level of 4,500 dinari. It is still within reach for many, and a bit cheaper, compared to the original 5,000 dinari.

2)   The Assembly Vote, something introduced during my tenure, together with Legate Domhnall, a system where once a month we are meant to uplift one Resident to becoming a Citizen, through a vote of those Assembled. It has its flaws of course, but it also carries with itself the spirit of Ephia's Well, where the people Vote for new residents  to join their fold, just as we, the Legates are elected to our positions. I feel it is both symbolically and through method a correct way.

3)   Sponsorships, while of course simply throwing a bag of money at an individual, in exchange for votes or similar, upsets the system, the way it is meant to work, if used correctly could be a proven way for Residents to become Citizens. Whether it is through service, in the Accords or other organizations, or through contests sponsored by other Voiced. A chance to prove themselves before others that they are worthy of becoming citizens.

While this might not had been a straightforward answer, it is one that lingered in my mind for a very long time. It is also a question that has lingered in many of our minds for a very long time. Here I should underline that the idea of "Every Man having a Voice" is a poor one, because there is then no control, no need of proof of dedication or devotion to the Well. Anybody, whether they come from another city, country, whether a bandit or foreign agent, or just a malicious individual could become part of our City and do only that which would upset the system. I'd rather avoid a situation where the government is forced to act as an overbearing parent, and start nit picking who should and should not have a voice, but it is also clear that simply opening the gates is not the right way either.

Citizenship ought to be earned, one way or another.
#12
To the esteemed Majordomo Siursum avak Res,

I try not to write without need to anybody close to the Sultan, as many matters that come forth are specific to Ephia's Well, and if something that could impact the Sultanate arises, we have the aid of your advisors and aides to resolve them.

Ever since I was given the honor of acting as the Well's Legate, and later when I was re-elected twice, I strived to maintain the Well's unity and also to foster its growth. It was not always a simple task, and many challenges would be cast before me, but I continued with my duty, as would be expected of me.

Yet this matter is of a different sort, for it concerns our Water tithe to Baz'eel. I was informed that my predecessor, Legate Zaniah, whose position I superseded after her unfortunate demise, had opted to donate all the previously unallocated Waters to the Sultanate. My Scribes did not inform me of this until about a month ago, when I wished to finally expand the Well to offer the refugees and new arrivals of our city a living space where they would feel safer than outside the Gate of Roses, where they are often left to fend for themselves.

My intent, my charge, is to protect these people, and while the construction of the district may be a task that will take many months to complete, it is one that must begin as soon as possible. With every storm and every raid, those whom we have strived to protect shrink in numbers, and it continues to anger me greatly, for we are unable to fully stop this from happening.

As such, the building of the new district at the Sand Gate shall require new defenses, housing, and so forth. The design and project are still ongoing, naturally, but it will be my most ambitious project, considering its scale and expenses.

Because of this, it is my humble hope that Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Faziima, would approve if the district was named after her, and a statue of her, present above a public fountain, would form the heart and centerpiece of the district. Where people would meet, draw their water, and find respite. A symbol of the Crown Princess' love for her people. Just like her father, our Sublime Sultan, has given many of us hope, so too will she be remembered for doing so in turn.

However, this would not be a simple undertaking. Not only must we make certain that the fountain has sufficient water, but also that the Shade, which would have to be expanded over the district, could guarantee the safety of the people within. If we were to complete the district and lack the water for both the people and their protection, it would all quickly turn to dust.

And so we fall now upon the mercy of the Sultan and his Court, our benefactors and protectors, and their generous natures. We request in this time of hardship for us that you might ask on our behalf if any among the court find themselves requiring less than what is given that part of the tithe might return to the Well that it might grow stronger through this charitable act. The names of those who would do us such honor would be forever inscribed upon Crown Princess Faziima's Fountain in the new district, their generosity recognized as making the monument to her possible.

As a humble servant of the Sultan, I would never make demands of his Court or courtiers, but as we draw ever closer to finalizing our plans, I ask that you consider this request.

If you would wish to discuss this matter privately with myself you need only make the call for me, and I shall answer.


Walk with Izdu's wisdom,

Legate Marcellus Saenus
#13
Zamia Ahmel,

It is unfortunate that the race has reached the conclusion that it has. I offered Sephidra as much aid as I could, both monetary and otherwise, but she lost, if barely.

Still, I recall what you mentioned of investors or sponsors being interested in the Well, from Baz'eel. While I know the lack of a second Purple Legate might narrow down the pool of interested parties I would still ask whether any of them would continue to hold some manner of interest in opening their enterprises here in the Well. In exchange for additional funding, contributions, for our District project I am certain we could grant them, at the very least, their own permanent properties within the District and perhaps negotiate some additional benefits.

It seems a far more reasonable thing than some of the ideas that have been offered to me, in gathering the necessary funding.

As such, I await your response, and hope that we may come a step closer toward making the Well a much better place for all, not only in regards to the new living space, but also more jobs for those in need of them.

May Izdu's wisdom light your way,

Legate Marcellus Saenus
#14
To Kur Tarul, Secretary to Vice Chancellor Pakas Oruko,

Word has reached our ears of the damage suffered by the Temple of Izdu in Tlonsiyya, due to a recent ashstorm. A most saddening affair. The Izdurs of Ephia's Well share their prayers with you, in hopes that the good people of Tlonsiyya shall soon be able to return to their most sacred temple, so that the venetration of Izdu, the Many-Armed-Abacus, can continue on hallowed ground.

In interest of furthering the relations between our fair cities, Ephia's Well wishes to send an official envoy to meet with Vice Chancellor Pakas Oruko, to discuss prospective trade agreements. The ingenuity of Tlonsiyyan engineers is indubitable, and we are most interested in seeing more of your innovative devices, such as the formidable turbines that were witnessed by our previous envoy. Negotiations for salvage rights to the Well of Tlonsiyya, alongside a long-lasting exchange for baublium, are also possibilities that interest us greatly.

Please contact us with a suitable date for a meeting. If there are particular personages that you would wish to accompany the Legatine envoy, do let us know. It is our wish to see Ephia's Well and Tlonsiyya stand together during these troublesome times.

May Izdu's wisdom guide you,

Legate Marcellus Saenus
Office of the Second Seat
Ephia's Well
#15
Correspondence / Re: A report for the legates
November 18, 2023, 04:10:50 PM
Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe,

 Exemplary work. I thank you both for the extremely detailed report and the map. I will take all of this into account during the next Allotment. Some claim the Torchbearers deserve no Allotment, and I never agree with such claims, and this is a prime example of how the nay'sayers are indeed wrong.

 I will discuss with you the details as soon as I am able, I feel there is much promise with our cooperation and trade, granted many may view it as potential Pra'raji work.

 Perhaps persuading the good people that the Temple of Izdu may be restored would be a sound first and kind gesture, both to ease the people in the Well about these people not being Pra'raji, and to hopefully prove that the people of Tlonsiyya  are still adherents of the Wheel.

 We have much promise here, and I hope we shall not squander it.

Legate Marcellus Saenus