While by My nature I generally disdain the generous transmission of
knowledge to those who take little time to ponder the Mysteries in their
questions, I have decided that as the drums of this Sapience-wide war
sound more and more frantically, I should relent and inform you Mortals
what role I choose to play in this conflict. Moreover, I was irked into
verbal imprecision at the end of last month by a band of warriors who
would not stay their marauding hands to hear My words about the precise
nature of their insult to My realm; so may you all find clarity in My
proclamation to follow.

In one of its many profound senses, Mystery is possibility. Possibility
exists to some extent in every object, every being, every location,
every organization. The more that is discovered or rendered possible,
the more the Mystery of Aetolia is enriched; inversely, the more that is
destroyed or made inaccessible, the poorer Mystery becomes. As it is
unclear to Me whether the forces arrayed against Ashtan and its allies
seek destruction for the sake of liberating possibility, or seek
destruction for the sake of quashing possibility, I cannot fully support
either camp at this time. Furthermore, the many organizations that I
mentor (all of which are a matter of public record, for those with the
resolve to seek that information) themselves have conflicting loyalties,
and only a strong impetus would convince Me to oppose one of them for
the sake of simple border-nudging.

My dictates for your behavior can thus be summarized in two parts.

First: even as the quickening rhythm of battle resounds in your chest,
remain mindful. You are still responsible for every choice you make. If
you descend to the point where you lose sight of the Mortality and
possibility in your enemies of the moment, you profane the realm of
Mystery.

Second: do not seek destruction for its own sake. To strike a blow
against enemy forces for tactical reasons is to be expected during war;
to chase inactive citizens gleefully around their city when your
military strategy is pointed elsewhere is participating in destruction
of the type that diminishes Mystery.

I shall justly bestow My disfavor upon those whose actions run counter
to these principles, and I shall righteously present My favor to those I
feel victimized by violators of these principles. By the grace of Lord
Varian's Creation, you have the freedom to hollowly interpret My actions
as declaring My support for one side or another, just as you ever have
the freedom to sacrifice rational thought for comfortable slumber. As I
have countless important investigations of My own to complete, I shall
confine My efforts to shape your reasoning to the words scribed here.

If you wish your opinion about which intricate allegiance in this
conflict better embodies the precepts of Mystery to enter My thinking,
you may deliver it unto one of the sagacious members of My Divine Order,
the identities of whom are known to many and discoverable by all. They
shall convey any thoughtful debate on the subject to My ears. Attempts
to nominate events you have witnessed as worthy of My Divine response,
as if I have no perceptive powers of My own, shall be duly ignored.

I remain greatly interested to see what results from all of your
efforts.

- Niuri, Goddess of Mystery

Penned by my hand on the 9th of Severin, in the year 123 MA.