As Coriantumr was recovering from his "deep wounds," he remembered the prophecies of Ether concerning the fate of his people, and began to repent. "He wrote an epistle unto Shiz, desiring him that . . . he would give up the kingdom for the sake of the lives of the people" (Ether 15:4). However, as has been noted before, Shiz was out to "avenge" the death of his brother and, in effect, prove the Lord's prophet wrong about Coriantumr not being slain (see Ether 14:24). Thus Shiz wrote "an epistle" to Coriantumr saying that "if [Coriantumr] would give himself up, that [Shiz] might slay him with his own sword, that [Shiz] would spare the lives of the people" (Ether 15:5). This exchange just stirred both sides up to battle again, and we are told that "when Coriantumr saw that he was about to fall he fled again before the people of Shiz, and . . . came to the waters of Ripliancum" (Ether 15:6-8).
Concerning the "epistle" of Coriantumr and the "epistle" of Shiz, David Palmer notes that Ether must have had records from which he compiled his history. Furthermore, the elite knew how to write, for at the very end of their civilization we find Coriantumr writing letters to his opponent, Shiz (Ether 15:4,5,18). Nothing is said, however, about writing among the common people. [David A. Palmer, In Search of Cumorah, p. 64]