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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Morrow" data-source="post: 5055926" data-attributes="member: 301">A Letter to GarnhamDear Garnham,I write to you because I wish to share my thoughts with you before sharing them with Lady Lavinia. In writing I can say what I mean without my difficulties with your southern dialect getting in the way. I have nothing but respect for Lavinia, but my meditations on the situation here on the Isle of Dread have made me doubt the goodwill of her late parents, especially her father and his family. I find it all too convenient that Lord and Lady Vanderboren established a colony on the very island that happens to be the center of shadow pearl production for the Crimson Fleet. (This leads to the disturbing thought that there may be other shadow pearl factories, located in other remote corners of the earth.)It is clear from reading Lady Vanderboren’s journals that she approached this project with the naive delight of the colonizer. It is my impression that among Sasserine’s elite, women are themselves oppressed and “protected” from the business that supports their lifestyle. They are put in the impossible position of being complicit with the very networks of colonialism and oppression that support their privileged place in society. Some women, like our employer, have chosen to face their family’s business interests head on. Judging from Lady Vanderboren’s journals, and especially her naive trust of her husband’s interest in pearl harvesting, I take it that she was not one of these women.Why, exactly, did Lord Vanderboren establish a colony here? What was his intention toward the natives of the Isle? What was Lord Vanderboren’s brother’s involvement? Lady Lavinia reports that Vanthus was a good-hearted, if rascally, boy before he went to apprentice with his uncle. What happened to him to turn him into the psychopathic monster we now know him to be?I have been impressed with Lady Lavinia’s willingness to partner with the native inhabitants of the Isle of Dread. Far from being an all-powerful colonial governor, she is a fair and democratic leader. I shudder to think what would have happened if Meravanchi had won the election for the mayoralty.My druidic training among my people taught me to recognize patterns of power and oppression. There are powerful forces at work here who seek only to crush and dominate all who are different from them. From the bullywugs who worked with the Fleet in Sasserine, to the Mother of All, to Khala, we have encountered foes symbolic of a deep loathing for and fear of women and women’s sexuality. The Mother of All and Khala attacked male and female foes equally, of course; but it seems to me that our larger enemies attract allies whose bodies or agendas display a hatred of women. Here on the Isle of Dread, we have found the native peoples co-opted for Demogorgon’s foul plans. We, along with the Common Folk of Sasserine, may now feel that we are not among the targeted groups. We must revise this opinion. I fear that Demogorgon, with the Fleet’s help, plans to embark on a campaign of genocide, through which they may make the Material Plane a home for demons bent only on dominance and power. I do not understand how the Crimson Fleet plans to protect itself from such an eventuality. I wonder if there is any way we can infiltrate their organization or spy on their plans. I fear we do not have as much time as we need to lay careful plans. My first loyalties are no longer to Lady Lavinia, but to those in greatest danger of oppression and destruction here on the Isle. They have too much in common with my own people in Druzistan for the situation to be otherwise. Although I plan to continue working with the Lady, you, Dexter, and Maggie to thwart the Crimson Fleet and Demogorgon, I think it is time for me to leave Lavinia’s employment.My last recommendation to Lady Lavinia as her employee will be that she remove the human colony here and return this land to its native inhabitants. Her intentions may be good, but this colonial enterprise is too tainted to continue. Her strong mind and will can be put to better use among the nobles of Sasserine, who must either be in danger themselves from Demogorgon and the Fleet, or complicit with them. I only hope we are in time to avert total disaster.I remain,your companion and friend,Elyosha Tatanya Fyorovna.</blockquote>

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