Hamlet of Greenbriar

[Theon]

I am far from comfortable with 'Occulte Noctournalis' being situated in Briar under such circumstances, I will not lie. But, if we would be able to work with them rather than against them, I'd welcome that. I do not want war, combat or even discomfort. If they wished to be friendly towards Briar, then I'd welcome them. Briar hasn't banished these people so Briar should not have to go through suffering in their company; I see no reason why we wouldn't all be better off as friends, maybe even allies. It is their choice.

Sir Cawdor,
Lord of Caelum

[Avalyon el'Hattarr]

Indeed.. we must not see them as a foe because they did nothing to us. As youreself said friend Dusty, the Temple brought no unreast to Greenbriar. They respected your decision of neutrality. We must respect their's now. We have no right to treat them with hostility, even if they wrongfully claimed the land.
They maybe criminals, but even criminals should be treaten fairily and given a chance to prove themselves.
War is the last thing we want in Briar
With respect,
~Sir Avalyon el'Hattarr of Caelum~
~Head of Senate~

[Samantha Meryadeles]

The members of the Temple used your lands to rob and hurt others there. The Bandits under Galthran have caused many pain on Greensbriar, as have templemembers like Retlak and Gort.

I know for example one man called Lexis Katarino who was first robbed and than attacked on your land by Galthran, Gort and Retlak after Mister Katarino wanted to make trade with your traders.

You should not belief to quick that they are harmless and "friendly"

~Lady Samantha Meryadeles~

[Korm Kormsen]

dear sirs!

Mayor Dusty Bottoms,

Sir Cawdor, Lord of Caelum,

and specially

Sir Avalyon el'Hattarr of Caelum,

to my knowledge it is not correct to believe, that there had not been any unrest in the briar, caused by the new neighbours to the south.
several of the Greenbriar's citizens have been attacked, some have been slain.

therefore i urgently recommend, to insist of some real sign of goodwill from said neighbour (not just words), before we seriously express neutral or even friendly intentions to them.
as before mentioned, if they want peace, they should sort of pay for the land, that is ours.

Sir Avalyon, you, being freshly arrived in the Briar, may ignore the hardships, the population of the greenbriar has sufferd.
and, the act, to take our land without our consent, alone is enough reason, for the "right to treat them with hostility".

the background of my shield is blue, not yellow. and as far as i am informed, the briar's shield has no entirely yellow background as well.

i am in favor to have talks about mutual peace and understanding.
but only, if the other part shows some kind of respect too.

dictated and signed by alderman of the hamlet of Greenbriar,

tjalf

[Avalyon el'Hattarr]

Please don't think that I favor them or something, I just want to avoid bringing further strugle in our lands. I think that Briar has suffered enough and there's no reason to look for battle where we can have peace.
Dear mister Tjalf, with all due respect, we cannnot expect them to show us respect if we treat them like enemys.
Yes, they have take our lands but that's no reason to start a bloodshead. We must hear what the other part has to say before taking an hostile stance. We are diplomats not criminals.
Lady Meryadeles, i did not say to see them "harmless and friendly", just not to rush into things.
I say to keep a neutral stance without dropping our guard. We must not jundge a whole town by the actions of a few people.
~Sir Avalyon el'Hattarr of Caelum~
~Head of Senate~

[Korm Kormsen]

to Sir Avalyon el'Hattarr of Caelum,

dear sir,

i am no diplomat. i am a farmer and i am of a clan of farmers and fighters.

maybe, that the merchant, who acted as scribe for me, did not express my thoughts clear enough.

what by all gods, made you write this:

they have take our lands but that's no reason to start a bloodshead

have you planted a single tree on the land lost? - i have.
have you hunted in the woods lost? - i have.

so please abstain to tell me, that this land had no worth to us.

we, - the free county of Greenbriar - gave freely a good part of our island to caelum.
we did it, because it was a bigger advantage for us, than the land given.

same rule has to apply to each and any piece of land, we give away.

so, if the diplomats tell me, to give up, what somebody took from me by force, im not very fond of diplomats.
the point is: that land in question is ours! and it will stay ours, untill the occupants pay for it.
and the task of you diplomats is, to find an agreement with the occupants, to compromise on a price, a price just and bearable for both sides.
not to give it away for free!
or do you insist, to call my point of view criminal??

i repeat: forein relations are about respect.
nobody respects talkers.
everybody respects swords.
think as the occupants would:
they have a lot of enemies. they have now two territories to defend.
for them, the possibility to pass freely and unattacked through the briar is something of a certain worth.
because not all of their followers are undead, the free access to our fields and merchants has a certain worth to them as well.

if we concede all these advantages for free, they will think us being very yellow.
if they think we are frightened yellow by them, what reason do they have, to not behave bad to our citizens?
what reason would they have, not to believe, that taking over all of the briar island might be possible?
if you, dear sir, are not willing to fight now, if necessary, than you will have to fight later, very possibly at even less favorable odds.

one point more: you say, not to judge a whole town on the behaviour of a few people.
i say: it was not a few people, but the leadership of the occupants, that decided to take over the south of briar.

last, you wrote:

Please don't think that I favor them...

i, for my part will favor them. - the moment, they have paid up for our land, and they have made an agreeable treaty with us.

dictated and signed by

tjalf

[Avalyon el'Hattarr]

Mister Tjalf,

I agree with you, but how do you expect to make a treaty with them when you want to bring war at their door?
As i sayed before, we must give them a fair chance to explain themselves, show their intentions and, as you say, pay for the land.

You said that giving them "advantages" is wrong... I say that, after a mutual agreement with the other side, we will have much to gain from them too. They also have merchants and goods to trade..

We must arrange a meeting with them to discuss all of this. I think it would be wrong to start a war without even hearing them out.

There's another thing to consider.. I think that they wouln't had risked making themselves known to us if they had any hostile pourpoise. Building a town is not that easy and I think that they didn't build it just to risk having it raised to the ground.

With all respect,
~Sir Avalyon el'Hattar of Caelum~
~Head of Senate~

[Sahara Rosaci]

* The Letter below is written in Common, Human, and Elvish *

Dear Citizens of Greenbriar,

Though you may not know me, I wish a formal meeting with Dustin Bottoms. Aswell as any druids or rangers that might be in the area. Sorry to clutter your boards, but I have little time to allow myself free time as it is currently. Just Find me around if you would.

Jakath Rhionn
Teacher of the Ranger Arts

*A magnificant specimen of the night angels blossom is pinned here, obviously as a present to the town*

[Korm Kormsen]

to Avalyon el'Hattar,

i nearly give up.

either you are not able to understand me, or you are not willing to understand me.

but how do you expect to make a treaty with them when you want to bring war at their door?

i did not write, that i want to bring war upon them in any case.
i advokate, to war them, if they are not making a satisfactory treaty with us.
even a diplomat should note the diffrence.

we must give them a fair chance to explain themselves, show their intentions and, as you say, pay for the land.

they had that chance since the first day, whence they occupied the land.
and, now, since they declared their intentions, it would be only natural, if they would contact us.
if they do not contact us, that can mean only one thing. they do not think us worthy of an official treaty. - that they do not respect us.
if they do not respect us enough to parley, that can mean only one thing: they think, to take the rest of our land for free as well.

in one point you are right, they dont need to send a representative to us.
you are advokating their case as good, as one could.

I say that, after a mutual agreement with the other side, we will have much to gain from them too. They also have merchants and goods to trade..

here you err:

We must arrange a meeting with them to discuss all of this.

not we, they have to seek a meeting.
i stressed the point before: if they don't get a treaty with us, they face a multiple front war.
multiple front wars are very hard to win.


your statement:

I think that they wouln't had risked making themselves known to us if they had any hostile pourpoise.

seems wrong in my eyes.

first possible reason: they look for more suporters and followers.
second possible reason: they think us for so scared and weak, that they dont have to take us seriously.

and, sir, for the second, you give them every reason to think they are right.

dictated and signed by

tjalf

[Juniper Onyx]

From these posts, as well as others I have recieved anonymously, it sounds like we are agreed on option 2, but may be favorable to option 3.

Tjalf, Although the option 4, having a wall built, sounds like a good idea, I'm afraid it would only serve to aggravate our neighbor and would be torn down.

I will try to contact the new city and call for a meeting to allow us to hear them out and see what they are willing to agree to. I appreciate everyone who posted letters here as well as respect the anonymity of those who sent letters by dove.

We will move forward at least in Neutrality, at best in Union with our new neighbor. Thank You.

In Service,
~Dusty Bottoms~

[Nalzaxx]

I will consent to talks with the county of Briar. The town of Occulte Noctournalis is not hostile in its intentions. It is a place of safety and refuge. Not a base of operations.

Name your time and we shall meet to discuss matters more finely.

~ Nalzaxx Nerenghast Overlord of Occulte Noctournalis

[D.C.]

I would like to hold audience with Lord Cawdow and Mayor Bottoms if at all possible.

Phillippe Charboneau, Paladin of Elara

[County of Briar]

I will consent to talks with the county of Briar. The town of Occulte Noctournalis is not hostile in its intentions. It is a place of safety and refuge. Not a base of operations.

Name your time and we shall meet to discuss matters more finely.

~ Nalzaxx Nerenghast Overlord of Occulte Noctournalis

Our County citizens have welcomed a meeting, however due to the sensitivity of this issue, we shall communicate meeting time and place by dove only, thereby keeping it safe from third parties. I shall send a dove to members of both town governments as well as to you, Overlord Nalzaxx in the next few days.

Any other "citizen" of any of these three cities may attend only by request by dove, and your request will be considered based on 'threat' to the participants of the meeting. Non-citizens need not apply, they will be denied as this is an internal issue.

Thank You,
~Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar~
~Cawdor, Lord of Caelum~

[Hamlet of Greenbriar]

I would like to happily announce the addition of Mark Armstrong and Lexis Katarino to Greenbriar's citizens. Mark has been a longtime and trusted friend to Greenbriar and has recently asked to stay and be a member of our fair Hamlet. Lexis is a fine tailor and cook who speaks the old Language. Welcome to them both!

~Dusty Bottoms~

[Lennier]

I want, that my name get removed from all lists of Briar. I has nothing to do with the halfling community in the south! Never there was a direct connection and i also bet, that in closer future i do not change my mind.

-------------
Lennier
Grandmaster of the Grey Rose

[Ku 'Agor]

Lennier will alsos be removed from protection.

Ku

[Hamlet of Greenbriar]

Earl Lennier's request has been honored.

The title of Honorary Citizen is an voluntary honor to the achievements of leaders, not a 'connection' as such with any requirements or responsibilities to our Hamlet. It is freely recommended and given by our leaders to show respect for their achievements as leaders of their own people.

~Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar~

[County of Briar]

We would like to welcome the city "Haven of Occulte Noctournalis" within the folds of Briar County. Much was discussed and agreed upon in a meeting today and Overlord Nalzaxx will be joining the County Council as the leader of his city and has agreed to the County Laws.

A Point of clarification: Negros and the area known as "Hellbriar" has no association with the new city of Occulte Noctournalis, which is situated in the heart of it, but underground. Efforts are being made to contact Negros, however until they are, He and his minions recieve no protection from attack and are therefore still considered 'Enemy'. However, any attack upon the new city of "Occulte Noctournalis" or its citizens will be met with deadly force and repercussions as per County Law.

Although this will no doubt be a controversial decision to many both in the County and without, it comes with an assurance that no citizen of either Greenbriar or Caelum will ever be attacked by any citizen or minion of Occulte Nocturnalis, and vice versa, unless attacked first. Furthermore, any non-citizen visitor to Briar County is guaranteed against being attacked by any citizen of any member city, unless attacked.

We have safe-guarded the safety of citizens in Greenbriar, Caelum and Occulte Noctournalis as well as 'friendly' visitors and brought peace back to the Isle of Briar. May it ever prevail!

Welcome to the new city!

In service,
~Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar~
~Cawdor, Lord of Caelum~
~Nalzaxx Nehrengast, Overlord of Occulte Nocturnalis~

[Samantha Meryadeles]

Through recent desicions of Greensbriar the Magic Academy of Gobaith will withdraw any offers of help or support for the town called Greensbriar and its citizens. Dissapointed by their desicion and alliancing with the temple we will aswell forbid any member of the Greensbriar or Caelum land to join the Academy once it opens again its gates.

Any future negotiations between the Academy and Greensbriar, aswell Caelum, will be canceled.

For the magic Academy of Gobaith the town Greensbriar and aswell Caelum are not longer to be considered friends nor trustworthy.

May Zhambra protect you against future failures.

For the Magic Academy of Gobaith,

~Lady Samantha Meryadeles~
Archmistress and Headmaster of the Academy

[County of Briar]

The election for the fourth County Councilman position was delayed due to the possible addition of another city. Now that it has been resolved, we would like to extend nominations one more week to allow citizens of the new city "Occulte Noctournalis" to participate, and then a vote. Let us have a deadline to complete nominations within the week and then take a vote.

Remember, the fourth position is elected to represent common citizens of any member city.

So far, nominations are (Alphabetical):
Avalyon el'Hattarr
Dominic Fisher
Harkilo Drogas
Neela Rabenfeder

((Lets conclude nominations by midnight Friday, then Vote during the weekend.))

We apologize for the Delay, but other matters commanded our attention.
Thank you,
~Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar~
~Cawdor, Lord of Caelum~
~Nalzaxx, Overlord of Occulte Noctournalis~

[Juniper Onyx]

Through recent desicions of Greensbriar the Magic Academy of Gobaith will withdraw any offers of help or support for the town called Greensbriar and its citizens. Dissapointed by their desicion and alliancing with the temple we will aswell forbid any member of the Greensbriar or Caelum land to join the Academy once it opens again its gates.

Any future negotiations between the Academy and Greensbriar, aswell Caelum, will be canceled.

For the magic Academy of Gobaith the town Greensbriar and aswell Caelum are not longer to be considered friends nor trustworthy.

May Zhambra protect you against future failures.

For the Magic Academy of Gobaith,

~Lady Samantha Meryadeles~
Archmistress and Headmaster of the Academy

I personally am disappointed by M'lady Merylades decision as well as others of like mind. It demonstrates that many in Gobiath are unable to set aside their differences in place of Peace.

Very few in Gobiath truly cared about the fate of the common citizens here and their safety. When we acted to safeguard our safety, it is misunderstood and condemned. It only shows that we always were alone in our troubles. We cannot be criticized for a peaceful solution. Who are they to Judge us? Nothing but Wars upon Wars have erupted from Gobiath.

Peace is only achieved when the sword is laid down. We have done just that. We have solved our own problems without Gobiath's 'help'.

~Dusty Bottoms~

[Garett Gwenour]

For what it is worth Mister Bottoms I understand what you are trying to do and as I said before I do not share ill blood for it. At the same time, I know that Negro and his minions, (this new city), will only let you be untouch as long as the other lands are free and fighting. I truly pray that during this time, during this inevitable war, that the peace loving people of Caelum and Greenbriar do not witness the destruction and carnage of death. If we are victorious, it is very likely that you infact will never need to witness what horrid evil that is war, and that is what I pray for. But I also pray for your protection if we fail, because if we do, Negros will not be content with letting you remain free and happy.

Phillippe Charboneau, Paladin of Elara

[Korm Kormsen]

to the county council

Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar
Cawdor, Lord of Caelum
Nalzaxx, Overlord of Occulte Noctournalis

concerning the election for the fourth council member

i have been named as candidate. that is not good.

i lack the knowledge and wisdom for such a post. (that i found out during the part of the unification talks, i attended to)
frankly, i did not understand most of what was said.
but i think a counciler should understand, what is going on.
when you, mayor Bottoms, asked me to serve as alderman of greenbriar, i thought i would be able to help running our small backwoods settlement.

but i am nothing, but a dumb barbarian farmer, who does not understand politics.

i dont want to be an that candidate list. and i want to retire from my post as alderman of greenbriar hamlet.

if you need me in the future for agriculture related questions, i am at your disposal.
but i wish to retire from politics. may more apt persons lead the briar.

in all respect,

(dictated and signed by:)

tjalf

[Theon]

Through recent desicions of Greensbriar the Magic Academy of Gobaith will withdraw any offers of help or support for the town called Greensbriar and its citizens. Dissapointed by their desicion and alliancing with the temple we will aswell forbid any member of the Greensbriar or Caelum land to join the Academy once it opens again its gates.

Any future negotiations between the Academy and Greensbriar, aswell Caelum, will be canceled.

For the magic Academy of Gobaith the town Greensbriar and aswell Caelum are not longer to be considered friends nor trustworthy.

May Zhambra protect you against future failures.

For the Magic Academy of Gobaith,

~Lady Samantha Meryadeles~
Archmistress and Headmaster of the Academy

We have ensured that our people are treated fairly and that they may be able to live in harmony. Anything else simply does not matter; the people of Briar may be able to sleep without fear from now on. It's quite wrong to consider people who mean absolutely no harm and have negotiated their way to peace with no argument, combat or foul words, unfriendly.

For what it is worth Mister Bottoms I understand what you are trying to do and as I said before I do not share ill blood for it. At the same time, I know that Negro and his minions, (this new city), will only let you be untouch as long as the other lands are free and fighting. I truly pray that during this time, during this inevitable war, that the peace loving people of Caelum and Greenbriar do not witness the destruction and carnage of death. If we are victorious, it is very likely that you infact will never need to witness what horrid evil that is war, and that is what I pray for. But I also pray for your protection if we fail, because if we do, Negros will not be content with letting you remain free and happy.

Phillippe Charboneau, Paladin of Elara

One of the reasons we've been seeking peace and to perhaps prevent a war so soon is that if it fails, Briar pays, and all who lost the war could go back over the bridge and leave us to suffer. But we are certainly aware that something must be done.

to the county council

Dusty Bottoms, Mayor of Greenbriar
Cawdor, Lord of Caelum
Nalzaxx, Overlord of Occulte Noctournalis

concerning the election for the fourth council member

i have been named as candidate. that is not good.

i lack the knowledge and wisdom for such a post. (that i found out during the part of the unification talks, i attended to)
frankly, i did not understand most of what was said.
but i think a counciler should understand, what is going on.
when you, mayor Bottoms, asked me to serve as alderman of greenbriar, i thought i would be able to help running our small backwoods settlement.

but i am nothing, but a dumb barbarian farmer, who does not understand politics.

i dont want to be an that candidate list. and i want to retire from my post as alderman of greenbriar hamlet.

if you need me in the future for agriculture related questions, i am at your disposal.
but i wish to retire from politics. may more apt persons lead the briar.

in all respect,

(dictated and signed by:)

tjalf

Many a time you have said things that have put me straight and made me think from different perspectives Tjalf, I do not believe that you're a "dumb barbarian farmer" at all, nor bad with politics. I have respected your wishes though and removed your name from the candidates list, there's the other county position of County Surveyor that you have taken, which you've not asked to be removed from, I will wait for your word on that. And I have no power to alter Greenbriar's charter, that is for Dusty to do.

Sir Cawdor,
Lord of Caelum

[County of Briar]

By his request, Dominic Fisher is now a candidate for the fourth member of the council.

Sir Cawdor,
Lord of Caelum

[Korm Kormsen]

to
Sir Cawdor,
Lord of Caelum

dear sir,
you might remember, that i dictated letters with some thoughts about the circumstances i thought (and think) that have to be met, before an enemy and occupier can become an ally.
aparently they have not been taken in account.

and, to state it clear and open: i think we have been cheated.
we have made ourselves allies with nalzaxx, whoose citizens are mainly consisting of the bandits, formerly employed by the rothmans.
(i think, you remember who kidnapped and tortured master bottoms?)
so, these bandits are (for the moment) bound, not to harm our citizens. we are bound, to defend them, if anybody attacks them.
who is not bound by this treaty are the numerous undeads, that lately harm our citizens.
and worse: who is definitly not bound by this treaty is negros, the liege of the overlord nalzaxx.
the moment negros says so, nalzaxx has to obey and attack our people and county!

that is, what i think.

you and mayor bottoms think differently.

so if two wise men, whom i hold in high esteem, think so different from my own thoughts, for me its clear, that i dont understand, what is going on.
therefore i decided, to do, what i know best: i will farm.
and you will find better men, with better working heads for the posts i was occupying.
and, no, i dont want to stay as official farming surveyor.
if you or dusty have any questions about farming, i will answer you to my best knowledge, but i will do it as a simple citizen.

dictated by the citizen of the Hamlet of Greenbriar

tjalf kormson

[Avalyon el'Hattarr]

I, Avalyon el'Hattarr, Head of Senate in the town of Caelum, nominate myself as the forth council member of the country of Briar

Thank you

~Sir Avalyon el'Hattarr of Caelum~
~Head of Senate~

[Juniper Onyx]

Dearest Tjalf,

I undersand and envy your choice. Yes, envy. Because it takes a strong individual to know that he has had enough and can retire from his excellent public service. I admire your decision. Many a day I almost made the same decision.

We did not mean to offend you. Your doves did not go unoticed, quite the contrary. However the opinions you had expressed were in the minority of all those I had recieved and to be fair, I had to go with the majority.

I respect you decision to step down and wish you a prosperous Harvest this year. You have been an example of service and loyalty, and if there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. I look forward to chatting with you in the Tavern over some cider about the crops rather than politics.

Always your friend,
~Dusty~

[Korm Kormsen]

in very bad handwriting:

to dusty bottoms,

yes my friend, there is one thing you can do for me.
watch out, that you dont get harmed.
i need my favorite merchant, you know?

and no, i dont feel offended. i just feel bewildered.
when we of the snake clan are bewildered, we either attack, or take a step back.
i would not know, whom to attack over this. so i take the step back.

well, thats one advantage i got over you...
i've got a lot more time for the tavern now.

as this is a personal letter, i wrote this myself,

yours, tjalf

[County of Briar]

By his request, Avalyon el'Hattarr is now a candidate for the fourth member of the council.

Sir Cawdor,
Lord of Caelum