Since my public post concerning the bungling of the Magi election, I've
received dozens of tells and messages expressing support and agreement,
some from Magi and some not. Unfortunately, nearly every one was someone
who found it politically inexpedient to take a public stand on this
matter. I'm disappointed by how few people ended up standing up publicly
about this, and in hindsight I might not have bothered to take the first
step, knowing how few would follow suit. But it seems political
expediency wins out over principles too readily for most.

It is true, as I said at the time to my Guild, that election fraud
within the Magi is not Sentinels business, nor Cabalists, nor Paladins,
nor Sentaari, nor any other guild. Such things exist on a different
level from the individual guilds, in the same way as administration
policy; and in that same way, they are *everyone's* business. Guilds are
perhaps the single most important thread in the fabric of Aetolian
society, and trust in the structure of guilds is key to how everything
works. Every guild deserves to be able to trust in their own elections
and their own leaders; and once one guild proves that elections are
readily subverted, all guilds will feel the repurcussions of that fact,
and when the guild structure itself is damaged, all of Aetolia is
damaged.

Maybe I'm being starry-eyed and naively youthful to even be outraged by
this. Maybe many people feel that the horse is long out of the barn
already, that elections have already been farces as often as not. Maybe
I'm just being taught to be jaded, bitter, and cynical, instead of
hopeful and focused on what I think is right. The realm is full of such
lessons, so why not one more?

But so long as most of Aetolia doesn't consider this worth taking a
stand about, there's little reason for me to stand nearly alone against
it. I don't mind taking the heat -- if I did I would never have taken
that first step -- but if no other guild is willing or able to stand up
publicly against election fraud, what good does it do for mine to do so?
I therefore remove all sanctions against the Magi. If they want to be
known as the guild that breaks its own elections, let them. If everyone
else wants to shrug and go back to orc-bashing, so be it. Good hunting
to you all.

And to all those who privately expressed support and outrage, thank you.
I'm sorry my voice wasn't loud enough to carry yours with it.

- Chef Theragil Starion, Pride Leader


Penned by my hand on the 24th of Slyphian, in the year 140 MA.