My fellow Aetolians,

Sadly, in these absurd times of absolutes, neutrality is not tolerated,
or at least not understood. The demand for Ashtan to "stand for
something" is intellectually immature and unrealistic. I think it is
about time somebody gets up and rebels against this ludicrously simple
system by not declaring themselves on one side or the other of the
violent, partisan duality that passes itself off as the status quo; the
constant fighting of which -- inevitably amounting to nothing --
threatens the well-being of all. Ashtan is a large city, not a letter to
be sorted by the postmasters of Sapience. I praise Ashtan for not
falling into this unfortunate structure of perpetual war. When both
sides of the light and dark/chaos and order/nature and civilization
conflicts have dubious ambitions, it seems the only rational path to
choose.

May the Bastion thrive, and may all people be welcome under its banner.

Respectfully,
Callisto Orange

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Lleian, in the year 141 MA.