genessia | video; Backdated to late evening, 30th (After the defeat of the Merrow)

[There's a faint click as the video feed initializes. Richard looks toward the camera with a weary and troubled expression.]

One of the shards we were told about fell in an area of the Fayren forest the locals call Loci's Wabe. We were warned about the dangers of the Wabe, but the shard was more important. [His frown deepens as he nears the point of his broadcast.]

Five others entered the Wabe with me: Koishi Komeiji, Gale Reinhardt, Yugi Mutou, Ib, and Rydia. The creature that dwelled there, and the reason the locals tried to warn us away, played...tricks with the mind. I was able to resist...barely, but I wasn't fast enough.

[He looks away from the camera for a moment before continuing.] If these people were your friends, I'm deeply sorry. I wasn't fast enough to save them.

[he clenches his jaw and takes a steadying breath before finishing his report.]

Know that the beast has been defeated and the shard recovered. They did not die in vain. [A pause.] I searched the area and collected what I could find of theirs. I wasn't going to leave it in some forgotten glade to be looted. If...you would like to claim them, please let me know. I would rather they be handed to loved ones than left to rust or collect dust.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Doesn't the Gladekeeper have plenty of dragons who fight for her?

She does, but the Plaguebringer can wipe them out at will. The Gladekeeper doesn't want her dragons involved in their conflict.

The treaty of peace between the deities is a rather precarious one. They realized that the only way to keep the world together is to live separately. The Plaguebringer is just a tad more aggressive towards the Gladekeeper.

[Richard shakes his head.]

If she encroaches on her lands, she's broken the treaty.

Perhaps, but we can't afford to escalate it by fighting back. We'd have our talons full just fighting the plagues she unleashes. As I said, the last one took more than a year to cure, and I'd rather avoid another one if we can help it.

[But unfortunately they can't control when the Plaguebringer decides to move.]

[He nods.] And I understand that, but...that cycle can't continue forever. Something has to give.

...The only thing that would "give" is the world itself, and that would be disastrous for all of us - dragons, deities, and all other life forms alike. No one wants that.

How would...standing up for yourselves ruin everything?

We're talking about gods here. Each one has the power to ruin the world. They have almost done so in the past, with their conflicting visions for the world. In fact, one of the gods has brought about the end of the world twice.

We'd best leave the deities to their own territories. Curing this recent plague has gotten the Plaguebringer to back off...at least for now.

Gods or not, they don't have the right to treat people like pawns.

The Plaguebringer had infected the Gladekeeper with her disease, tainting the magic that nourishes our lair. We were just unfortunate to get caught up in it. And when you get sick, it really takes the fight out of you.

[And then an afterthought strikes her.]

...Do humans never get sick?

We do. [He nods. Darken Rahl used similar tactics against the people of the Midlands.] But we still fight. Freedom is important.

It is... I was only able to fight because Qubine had brought me to the Gladekeeper for treatment, and even that took several weeks before I had the strength to breed. The others...and myself before that point...we were in so much pain, and so weak, that we could barely move. Qubine had to build an entirely new clan in order to fight the plague. Somehow, he was the only dragon in our clan who was unaffected.

[He nods.] Qubine sounds like a great dragon, indeed.

[She sighs with a pleasant smile.]

He is. He's the oldest dragon in our clan, and the greatest warrior. I'm sure he's seen it all by now...but then again, we're always discovering new things.

The first dragon he raised when the plague began became my mate, named Coco.

Your mate...? [He suddenly looks sympathetic.] I'm sorry you left him behind.

Left him...?

[It takes her a moment to realize what he means.]

Well, it wasn't intentional. I know he'll be waiting for me when I do get back home...

Still. [He frowns.] I know how painful even a small distance can be from...the one you love.

video; Backdated to late evening, 30th (After the defeat of the Merrow)

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