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The elves were the first civilization to inhabit these lands. Even though they remain the only civilization worthy of the name, humans have since developed their proto-civilization here in an extremely invasive manner. Although these lands were given to humans by some kings of the past as a token of “friendship”, you do not consider these actions legitimate, especially since they ultimately yielded nothing but intrusive and utterly ungrateful neighbors.
It was therefore only fair to levy some taxes, however unintentional, on these illegal occupants. You have thus decided to redistribute wealth more equitably, in your own favor as the self-proclaimed representative of the elven people. This does not mean, however, that you would not redistribute your own people's wealth to yourself if you deemed it necessary: after all, those who allow it to happen accept it and are consequently compromised, thus calling down just punishment upon them.
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Approaching the edge of the forest, that is, the moment when it became less enchanted and more sparsely wooded, abruptly jolts you out of your self-justifying musings.
See you in 211.