Dear People of Sapience:

Recently Yhog expressed great concern about the conditions and treatment
of Trolls in Hashan. Some time previously, Callisto expressed a similar
concern about the Mhun in Mogedu. Both these matters touch upon what,
for me, is essentially the same issue: the hunting of sapient species.

The purpose of this post is not to point fingers or to judge, but to
initiate conscious reflection and intelligent discussion. It seems that
many hunt without much reflection, simply from expediency, so perhaps
shedding a bit of light in this area would be appropriate at this
juncture.

Why hunt sapient races? Your clan mates and guild mates, even brothers
and sisters, may be Mhun, Horkval, Xoran, Troll... by what reasoning do
you hunt their brethren? If you are consciously embracing an evil or
chaotic path, perhaps it makes sense (note that 'consciously' is the
operative term here) to kill indiscriminately. If not, please pause and
reflect whether any motivation other than sheer expediency is directing
your choice of prey.

Now, many will say that they have no choice, that they must hunt
whatever they can find in order to advance. I have heard these arguments
for decades, and would like to point out that I have managed to continue
advancing over the years without ever once harming a member of a sapient
race. This is not said in judgement, but merely to point out that
upholding a standard of ethics is no barrier to advancement.

So I ask all who do -not- consciously embrace an evil or chaotic path to
pause and reflect a bit. Why would you hunt Mhun in Moghedu and not
Rajamalans in Saluria? Why would you hunt Trolls or Lizard Folk in
Hashan, and not Tsol'aa in Aalen? What is the difference, in your mind?
Do you kill Horkval yet avoid killing Grook on Ulangi? Again, why? For
all of these are sapient races, relatives of your own friends and kin.

In the interest of opening a fruitful dialogue, as well as furthering
our understanding of the indigenous races of Sapience, I am going to
recommend that the Open University of Sapience (read CLANHELP UNIVERSITY
for more information) add a department for the study of the history and
cultures of sapient races. I encourage any who are interested to message
Nuincuiel, who can enroll you in the area or areas of study which are of
interest to you.

I also encourage Callisto, Yhog and other concerned persons to come
forward and help us to better understand these races and cultures. Tell
us of the history and folkways of the Trolls, the Mhun and other sapient
races you seek to protect. Engage our minds and hearts in your cause.
Help us to see and understand why these races should be respected,
honored and protected.

As a final note, I concede that finding sufficient and suitable prey for
hunting is becoming more and more a challenge. This is a separate issue
from the moral implications of hunting sapient races. Perhaps Lord
Varian will, in His compassion and wisdom, assist us by bringing into
being more suitable quarry for those of us who are keen to advance while
keeping to an ethical path.

Thank you, all of you, for reading this carefully and thinking it over.
By exercising our own consciousness in self-honest reflection, we may
come to merit the name which Lord Varian has so generously bestowed upon
us: Sapients.

Penned by my hand on the 25th of Severin, in the year 153 MA.