Ash Sea Chronicle/Issue 15

http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/ASI_small.png The Ash Sea Chronicle
Price: Free	Editor: Landesred Stromsfiordspace	Issue: No. 15 - 19th August

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Printed in Ash'rily for the glory of the Islands

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War Comes To The Islands Again

Taking advantage of the interior lines and the strategic initiative, Abington forces reentered the islands yet again and proceeded to wreck fortifications in Wor'av and enter the city of Wor'ight. ASI and allied forces are gathering to defend the islands yet again. It seems apparent that Abington and ASI will simply remain in a state of perpetual warfare. ASI nobles are accepting of the fact and are content to never give Abington any rest, or have any themselves, if that is what the fates have decreed. "Perhaps that is our reason for being, to be a fire on Abington's bloated rump so that the rest of the continent can enjoy their absence. Happy to be of service!", stated one wag.

Debate Over War in ASI

The King and Senate solicited comments from the nobles of ASI in regard to the current situation with Abington and the failure of peace negotiations. In response to this call, a fierce debate broke out between ASI nobles. The debate was serious, heated, and generally friendly with the exception of one instance that resulted in the momentary drawing of weapons (however no blood was shed).

The general consensus was, that treaties with Abington have been fairly worthless. Despite this, several nobles called for attempting to gain an iron-clad treaty one more time. There was much debate in regard to the honorable course of action and much frustration at Abington's hard line on every diplomatic point. In the end, there seemed to be no real choice but for events to proceed as they will and to whatever conclusion the fates dictate. Diplomatic routes all seem closed.

Peace Talks Falter Yet Again

Peace discussions between ASI and Abington have broken down again. The stumbling block is apparently ASI support for Kybcyell. ASI has no choice but to assist Kybcyell as long as it survives. It is a debt of honor and a respect for past sacrifice by friends. It is also a policy of supporting colonial realms. ASI does not support secessions, so it must support the only other way for new realms to be born.

ASI has been willing to limit itself to providing direct aid to Kybcyell, and not making a general war against Abington, as long as an honorable treaty could be arranged. Unfortunately, there seems to be no possibility of Abington and ASI reaching a compromise. Abington insists that support for Kybcyell stop before a peace, ASI believes it has a debt to friends and that stopping support for Kybcyell would be dishonorable.

Editorial (this editorial is the opinion of the editor) The war with Abington still goes on. Abington is wealthy, geographically well situated, has a high income, and has many other advantages. Unfortunately, they are a diplomatically stunted realm. ASI, having recovered the islands, put forward peace feelers. The stumbling block was ASI support for the realm of Kybcyell. The people of ASI do not blame Abington for its efforts against Kybcyell. We do not consider that dishonorable even though we support Kybcyell. Abington's reaction is understandable even though we support Kybcyell's survival. We were willing to let it be decided on the battlefield honorably. Unfortunately, Abington diplomacy is unable to deal with reality and instead, wants what it wants and expects what it wants to be delivered on a silver platter. Always. If it is not exactly what Abington wants, it is a non-starter. Diplomacy does not usually work that way. When we went to the aid of Kybcyell we marched across Abington. We could have initiated takeovers, we could have looted, we could have destroyed fortifications wildly, we could have created a swatch of destruction across Abington while they were busy. We did not. We did as we said, and went to the aid of Kybcyell and nothing more. To do more, would have been dishonorable. But in exchange for limiting ourselves, we hear nothing but calumny and hate from Abington, interlaced with threats of the total destruction of ASI. This war could have been limited. ASI supports Kybcyell as long as it survives, peace on all other fronts, events finalized on the battlefields outside Wayburg. But, Abington insists always that everything be exactly as they desire and anyone else's interests be damned. The fact is, ASI MUST support the allies and friends who came to its aid before as a debt of honor. ASI CANNOT do otherwise. Part of diplomacy is compromise. Compromise does not mean demanding things that you know the other side simply cannot honorably do. The only time you demand things you know the other side cannot do is when you want war. Abington insists that ASI break faith with friends and turn its back on other agreements in exchange for peace. I can only take this as a hope that ASI will break faith with other realms in exchange for peace. So, it appears that we will have unrestrained and relatively endless war with Abington again rather than a limited one. I can't say that I am happy about that. I would prefer the latter. But what we have is what we have and we will fight that too. At the moment, Abington is at war with a host of nations. Why? It has something to do with diplomacy.

King's Statement No King's Statement at this time.

DISCLAIMER: Ash Sea Chronicle is an independent journal. Opinions contained herein are not necessarily the opinion of the government of Ash Sea Islands and are strictly the responsibility of its editor.