The Tip.It Times


Issue 22299gp

The HAM Letters - Part 3

Written by and edited by Hamtaro

Read Part 1
Read Part 2

Letter VII: A copy of a letter from Johanhus Ulsbrecht to Polmafi Ferdygris (Fifth Age, Year 165)

My Dear Brother Polmafi, order and wisdom be upon you,

Saradomin has willed that, after two years of searching by our couriers, I have been able to make contact with you, brother. I was referred to you by brother Safalaan, by whom I was informed of your status as your organisation’s theological authority. My wish is that through correspondence we can share ideals and, perhaps, work towards a commonality of purpose.

My organisation, the Humans Against Monsters, takes as its central tenet the seventh fundamental principle of the holy book, “To disbelieve is to be inhuman”. Our interpretation is that Saradomin has in this principle expressly stated that non-humanoid creatures, which therefore exclude the gnomes, elves, dwarves and so on, are always equal to disbelievers. As I am sure you know, the tenth principle states that, “A disbeliever must be defended against in all ways – a holy war is a just war”. In simple terms, we view ourselves as acting in unison with the priests and monks of Saradomin: they proselytize those humans who worship wrongly, and we rid the world of those who are below Saradomin altogether, those incapable of goodness and order, the races of darkness.

Our group has long been in contact with Safalaan and his side of your organisation because we see in his campaign a fulfilment of the above aims. My wish is to extend this offer of aid to you and your brothers, be it that you are in need of silver bars or gold pieces, for in this safe land all are plentiful to us.

Second, if you could send my courier with a response, it would be much appreciated if you would bless me with an outline of your own organisation’s views, in order that we may seek a commonality of purpose.

May this letter reach you well,
Johanhus Ulsbrecht


Letter VIII: A letter from Polmafi Ferdygris to Johanhus Ulsbrecht (Fifth Age, 165)

In the name of Saradomin, the most gracious and merciful,
Venerable Brother Johanhus,

Your letter was a welcome breath of fresh air in the fetid hovel in which we are living here. Alas, reflection on the eminent Saradomin does not always come easily in this dangerous land, and it is refreshing to see such a learned man such as you write to me concerning the wishes of the most divine Saradomin.

It was refreshing to see such a new and innovative approach to the problem of the disbelievers, brother, and I must admit that your letter changed my views on the matter somewhat. I think I speak for all the Myreque when I say that the tenth principle is interpreted rather differently among us. The crux of the principle is that of defence, in my view, and as such we believers must never instigate a holy war, as stated in the twelfth principle, “The violent man upsets the order of things”. Indeed, your point about the similarities between disbelievers and non-humans, which I had never before considered, seems to me now to be the only reading, but to me and the rest of our group, as stated before, these disbelievers can only be targeted in self-defence. Across Morytania, vast swathes of humans live as slaves, fed off by the putrid creatures that demand our blood and our livelihoods1—we cannot allow this to happen, and it is our duty as believers to wage this holy war, in defence of the faith.

Blessings upon you,
Polmafi Ferdygris


Letter IX: A copy of a letter from Johanhus Ulsbrecht to Polmafi Ferdygris (Fifth Age, Year 165)

My Dear Brother Polmafi, order and wisdom be upon you,

I suppose that I should have been clearer in my letter to you in communicating my organisation’s ideological stance. Indeed, we too draw the line between a just and holy war initiated in self-defence and an unprovoked one. Ours is a war of self defence, rest assured. I shall try and explain why this is so, Saradomin willing.

Most of our members come from communities ravaged by foul beasts. They flock from across the human kingdoms, telling of the dangers of beasts and their encroachment on our lands. These beasts, stupid, strong, and violent, have no minds of their own. A goblin of one tribe is the same as a goblin from another. The goblins more than any other species continue to plague our lands and raise our villages—separated by geography, these beasts nevertheless assault our civilisation from all sides. They are all the same, and their very existence, at least so close to us, poses a direct threat to our people.

It is my hope that you will see, brother, that we are not aggressors or sinners. The species that threaten us are our only targets, no more, no less.

May this letter reach you well,
Johanhus Ulsbrecht


Letter X: A letter from Polmafi Ferdygris to Johanhus Ulsbrecht (Fifth Age, Year 165)

In the name of Saradomin, the most gracious and merciful,
Venerable Brother Johanhus,

I am glad to hear from you again brother, so soon after I dispatched my reply with your courier. Truly, the man you employ must be using teleports to be so fast in his delivery. The leader of this order is also impressed by the theological vigour displayed in both of your letters, and wishes this dialogue to continue, for the good of both our organisations.

The theological orthodoxy of this organisation holds still that attacking any group that has not first attacked is a violation of the twelfth principle. Though you inform me of your group adhering to this view, we do not feel it is correct to view entire races as aggressors. In your letter, you used the goblins as an example; let us then continue with these as our case in point: are all goblins to be killed? Your answer is yes, based on the seventh and tenth principles (that the disbeliever is inhuman and that defensive holy war is just, respectively). By your own admission, yours is an indiscriminate war, which seems to me a violation of the twelfth principle: the main goblin tribes are not to blame for the acts of pillaging by other tribes or, as is usual, by dispossessed marauding groups. The vast majority of the goblin tribes, such as the Dorgeshuun, or the two tribes in Goblin Village, are peaceful creatures. Inciting violence against them is not a response in any way.

The struggle of the Myreque is a struggle only against those that seek to oppress humankind, the Vampyres. Other beasts of this vast eastern land are, so long as they do not seek violence, free to pursue their own ends. The werewolves of Canifis are perfectly hospitable to us, for example, and should be treated respectfully and proselytised if possible.

In spite of these disagreements, I would like to express that I and the brothers here in Mort Myre are respectful of your organisation and its mission, and closer cooperation between us in future is a goal we all seek to achieve.

Blessings upon you,
Polmafi Ferdygris


Footnotes

1 — The creatures referred to are the Vyrewatch, and more generally vampyres.


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