The event Allison was reffering to regarding the food gift and related offers, happened before the fall of Springdale, indeed before we had ever decalred war on anyone.
However I would guess that the lack of interaction was merely the result of the fact that Caerwyn never used to concern itself much regarding religion (at least before the metioric rise of VE gave it an unofficial state religion), being an offically secular republic. Indeed, that was one of the reasons why SA never spread there.
Troubles with Duke Cato began before the founding of Caerwyn. The destruction of Springdale only amplified the existing resent these colonists had for the religion they saw tearing their home realm apart.
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