0.2 - The Fallout Report
General Summary
What follows is a transcript between Dolgos Ebarath and Oroos of the Sea of Hills (Heydehav), which took place Day 131 of Year 162, recorded live.
OROOS
I'm telling you, the reinforcements you sent just... vanished as soon as the assault was over. This is an omen. Paritet should've never—
DOLGOS
How about you start from the beginning before throwing accusations at Paritet.
OROOS
[Long, suffering sigh] The imbalance of magic woke the dead from the battlefield of Deudsflod Plains—
DOLGOS
Which is now referred to as Riner Ånd, seeing how it's now turned into a swamp.
OROOS
[Through gritted teeth] Yes, the desecration of the land due to—[stops himself]. Regardless, our sacred grounds were being destroyed by the vengeful dead. Seeing how this was, in fact, a result of Paritet's actions, we asked for assistance. And you sent three reinforcements in an attempt to help us at Sluttheyde.
[Expectant silence.]
DOLGOS
Ah, yes. [Clears throat.] That's right. That's all we could spare, with the assault in Isfeljor. You understand.
OROOS
No. No I don't understand why this is happening. But your three troops seemed confused when they arrived. They didn't understand why they were there. One of them, the elf dressed in robes, kept saying this was all a dream. It took some convincing to get them to just start helping set up the defenses. The other two at least settled—I cannot recall his name, the one in robes—down, but even they did not know what they were helping to defend against. Tch, and one was even one of my people, a centaur! ...Though I also cannot recall her name. Or the other man. Though they did help set up defenses, I wonder if you even sent actual Paritet troops.
DOLGOS
Er, yes. Yes of course. I apologize for their behavior. I assume they just weren't properly briefed on the assignment.
OROOS
They seemed completely out of touch with anything that has been going on the past decade. Hmph. Well, we set up defenses and anxiously awaited the next assault. It started with the rats as we were eating dinner. Rancid and biting at our heels, fur sloughing off of them. Innocent creatures now condemned to unlife, souls unable to pass properly with—
DOLGOS
Yes, yes. "Because of what Paritet has been doing." I do get your concerns, Oroos, but once Paritet has completed their campaign then the magics will balance back out. I have total faith that soon souls will be able to pass into the afterlife, only this time it will be more in the hands of mortals. Your people's hands, Oroos.
OROOS
If you had any faith, it would've been to them [points vaguely at the sky], but now you pray to the frailty of mortals. The magic was balanced with them.
DOLGOS
Then have faith that magic will be balanced again once they are all gone. I do. That is what I have faith in.
OROOS
Tch, now I only carry faith that my people will overcome Paritet's folly. Your disappearing reinforcements may not have even been necessary.
DOLGOS
Perhaps that's true. Tell me, how did they disappear?
OROOS
Hmph. Once most the rats were dealt with, we rushed outside to face the undead Paritet... and centaurs. The reinforcements, admittedly, held the line admirably. There was one particular walking corpse that was resisting much of our siege. And the one priestly man you sent, he cast fire magic. With that and the addition of alcohol from the centaur and torches from the robed man, the undead Paritet captain burned to... his second death.
I approached them to thank them. But, they weren't speaking right. They no longer seemed to understand me, and I could no longer understand the gibberish coming from their mouths. Then they all... just collapsed. They... they vanished into a stream of... an oil slick on water, but streaming upwards toward the sky. I know what I saw! Though it is hard to describe. They vanished, and I do not know with what sorcery. But surely, this is a sign. An omen that what Paritet is doing will not last, and will also go up in... strange, oily vapors.
DOLGOS
I... see. I will admit, Oroos, I also do not know how they would've done that trick. Again, I apologize for the... strange procedure by which they finished their job. Thank you, Oroos. For your patience with Paritet, despite your grievances, I will help to ensure your people can still live as they wish in Sluttheyde. I know... I know that doesn't qualm your anger over the demise of Ånd, but well... I hope it's more amenable than other options.
OROOS
It doesn't come close to making up for what you've done. But we do not have the forces to oppose you, and if we had, Paritet would not be where they are today. I'll take you on the offer of leaving us be. We will not be so kind if we see Paritet in our lands moving forward.
[Oroos's stomps his hooves away and out of the room.]
DOLGOS
[A deep sigh.] You, taking the transcript, Egil was it?
EGIL(erm, me, I suppose)
Yes, sir.
DOLGOS
We didn't send any reinforcements to help the centaurs at Sluttheyde, did we?
EGIL
No, sir. I started digging through all our files in these boxes when Oroos first mentioned it. We have his request for help... but, sir, it... was denied.
DOLGOS
As I thought. [Another deep sigh.] So many strange things. So many unknown consequences. [Dolgos rubs his eyes.] I have no idea who those reinforcements were. Perhaps Lady Vira sent them herself? But I can't imagine she even got word of Oroos's request. [Quietly, so quiet it was hard to hear.] Maybe Oroos is right.
Egil, start packing the essentials. Get the other scribes to pack the rest of this makeshift library and office to transport to Isfeljor. I've no doubt Vira will succeed there, but I think it's time to have a chat with Zaru first. If anyone can get through to Vira, it's him. Are you still writi—- Atani
- Corvis
- Malik
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