Greetings Sapience,

This is the first time I've felt the need to post publically, but with
the recent turmoil that has been brought about by the new Shallam laws
and after having visited with a few of the Shadowsnakes I need to
clarify why we did what we did as I was one of the major seekers of
these new changes to our constitution.


First off, I want everyone to know the Shadowsnake guild was not
targetted exclusively because of hostility, but because we as a city
must do what we can to protect our citizens from those who'd rob their
shops. Why don't the skills of other guilds get hit as often?
Because the freedom of self will your guild enjoys also prevents your
leaders from being able to curb a widespread problem unlike the
leadership of many of the other guilds I speak with is able to do.
When a guild is not able to regulate its own people (by its own choice)
the city has to, in order to keep its protection of its own citizens.


Now that having been said, the specific reason that I myself proposed
this law was to give us as the Security ministry of Shallam a larger
window to catch those who've been lying in wait for shopkeepers in.
Up until now the only chance has been basically if they were caught
inside the stockroom itself. People, by the time a thief has made it
that far it is too late. By the law there was nothing I could do
before even if a suspected thief was found following a shopkeeper or
hiding there for hours lying in wait for them. Why should any thief
fear getting caught if they can't even be fined until they've already
half gotten away with the theft (made it inside the shop stockroom)?


I realize this is an inconvenience to many, and for that I apologize,
but the benefit and safety we hope it will bring to our store owners
justifies that.


However, there is one promise I want to make to the Shadowsnakes, and
to everyone who is upset over the anti-hiding laws. This law is NOT
going to be used to enforce a witch hunt on everyone who has cloaking
abilities. As anyone who's ever been a security aide or minister can
attest, I have far better things to do with my time then running
around the city looking for every concealed person and throwing them
out. Does this new law mean everyone ever found hiding is going to
be immediately fined, lynched, banished, and hunted? No way. That
was not the purpose of my proposing it to begin with. Does this mean
I'll be doing random searches of shops though and taking note of
anyone who is found hidden in a shop so a watch on them will be kept
though? Yes. Does this mean that people we DO discover hidden around
shops, particularly those that have been known to be targetted for
theft are going to be the first suspects? Probably. Does this mean
if the same person is found to be hiding in shops a LOT is likely to
get a warning, and have the law used in full force against them if
they continue hiding out inside Shallam shops, and the owner complains?
You better believe it.


I know this has been an extensive post, people, but given the number
who were upset over these new laws I wanted to make it clear that the
aim of it was never to deprive a guild of their skillsets. The sole
aim was to give us increased control over catching suspected thieves.
I will be using all resources at my disposal to ensure that this law
is used only for that, and that fair warning is given unless we have
very good reason to believe a theft was actually being attempted. As
long as myself, and honorable people have any place within the city
of Shallam these laws will not be allowed to be interpreted otherwise.


Sincerely,
---Guardian of Shallam, Sir Alcor of Aalen, Wind Crusader


Penned by my hand on the 24th of Ios, in the year 104 MA.