First of all, let's be sure to withold final judgement for the moment. So far
all we have to go on is one player's (Captain Arr) claim that he was asked to
leave Azrain. We haven't heard yet from LotC, and we don't know if their
decision to ask Captain Arr to leave was because a) they have decided to close
Azrain to ALL players, b) they have decided to close Azrain to PLATO players,
or c) they decided to close Azrain to Captain Arr only. It's important that
we hear LotC's side before we rush to judgement.
As to the current debate of "spirit vs. letter". I agree with Captain Arr,
and others, that the spirit of the Peace Accord [and all treaties] is more
important than the letter. It is impossible to cover all possibilities in a
written document and thus, the parties are reliant upon each other to uphold
the spirit and intent of the agreement. Where I differ from the good Captain
is to what the spirit of the Accord was. More to the point, Captain Arr is
taking offense at one part of the spirit of the Accord, but is ignoring the
spirit of the entire document.
One of the underlying forces behind the creation of the document was the
frustration that Provinian based alliances felt with non-Provinian alliances
waging war on Provinian soil. Namely The Harn Alliance, The Rimmon
Musketeers, The New Empire, Lords of the Crown and TIB felt that if Plato and
Eagle Alliance wanted to wage war, they should do it on their own soil, read:
Camaris. [gentlemen of the above alliances, please correct me if I have
mistated your position at that point in history]. This "spirit" was reflected
in the Accord provisions calling for the removal of all Plato and EA nobles
from Provinia and the augmentation of the Plato/EA "Camaris non-agression
pact" to include Provinia. This was an attempt to get the Camaris alliances
to "mind their own business" and to let the Provinian alliances straighten out
their own mess.
The negotiations ref the division of former New Empire land and Azrain did not
involve Plato or the EA and they were not consulted on them. The LotC, New
Empire (an EA ally) and Inner Circle (a Plato ally) were heavily consulted.
In the end, the division was as shown in the Accord. The right to close or
open cities within ones territory was specifically discussed during the
negotiations and was not included - to the agreement of all CONCERNED parties.
So, while Captain Arr may feel that the spirit of the Accord has been ignored
by LotCs apparent closing of Azrain, I would be remiss if I did not point out
that Captain Arr's (and the rest of Plato) trying to influence the region is
also against the spirit of the Accord. And, the area that Captain Arr has
taken issue with (the closing of Azrain) was specifically discussed in
negotiations and was left out by the concerned parties [read: local PROVINIAN
alliances]
In closing, Azrain is in LotC territory and it should be theirs to do with as
they wish. I personally believe closing Azrain to all outsiders, including
newbies, is a mistake, and if true, I think they should reconsider. Plato's
claim of protecting newbie rights is admirable, but misplaced. Afterall, this
started because Captain Arr was not allowed to set up a trade run in Azrain.
If the Captain's concern were really with newbie's rights to trade routes, why
would he attempt to fill a "trade slot" in a city that is right next to
Yellowleaf? Wouldn't newbie's rights be better served by leaving that slot
open for a newbie? More importantly, Plato does not control the land around
Yellowleaf, and thus, has no say in how the area is run. If they really wish
to have a say in how newbies (and everybody else) are treated in Yellowleaf,
then they should take and hold the region. I know that I would not stand by
and let Plato dictate how TIB must treat newbies in Drassa, and I'm sure that
the Ussuns in Port Aurnos, the Greyfell Council, the Musketeers of Rimmon or
the Harn Alliance would also broke no such interference. Why should LotC, as
rulers of Yellowleaf, be forced to suffer the same?
I guess I'm asking Plato to come out from behind this "protection of newbies"
shield they constantly erect. While it may truly be their goal, and a gift
they really want to offer to newbies, it is not their gift to give. And
Captain Arr's inability to start a trade route in Azrain has nothing to do
with newbie rights.
Just my 8 cents,
Eric the Seehawk