File 0.28.181.40d, Royal Archives 2002-2008: The Fall of Zursalbalad (Severedcoils)
Testimony by Ingish Olonalåth, Miner, delivered to Unib Tunrithlut
on 6th Obsidian, 210, Late Winter,
several Urists North of the border of Zursalbalad proper.
Attached: Form U-V, Profile of Ingish Olonalåth, Miner: 1 (one)
This transcript contains conversation between 2 (two) people: Unib Tunrithlut (referred to as "U:") and Ingish Olonalåth (referred to as "I:")U: Please state your name and occupation.
I: My name is Ingish Gearedbolts. Olonalåth. I am a dedicated miner and a general hauler of goods at Severedcoils.
U: How long have you been in attendance at Severedcoils?
I: Oh, I can't even recall... There's so much work to do, I couldn't even tell you whether I came last year, or was in the original traveling party!
U: So, you would say Zon Rimtarothil Afentumam is overworking you? The populace?
I: Overworking?? Not at all, we're clearly underworked! I had time to take a break last month, what'dya call that! On the surface it seems there isn't ever a single idler - well, except for 'Di,' that lazy lout uses her lack of eyes as an excuse to slack off.
U: Ah... yes. How is 'Di,' after all? I had heard she was given special accomodations due to her needs as a blind dwarf.
I: Well... I should watch what I say, but... can I be candid and sincere in my dealings with you?
U: Of course you may.
I: Well, to me, Zon's treatment of 'Di' is a disgrace. 'Di' gets this nice, big room all to herself deep within the mines, separated from most dwarven contact. She's got her own stockpiles of food, booze, and even bolts and a target range so she can shoot in her room whenever she wants! And she's got these vents in the walls constantly spewing smoke and keeping her warm through the winter. Now, I understand, being totally blind and prone to falling over and knocking herself out, 'Di' requires... certain accomodations. I can understand sticking her far down the stairwell in a chamber by herself, but why does she get all these amenities? Most of us have tiny, 1x2 urist closets, just the way we like 'em. No dwarf should need that much stuff and so much space all to herself.
U: Smoke... coming through vents? Is 'Di's' room located near the magma vent?
I: No, it's by the... ahh...
U: By the...?
I:
<Ingish has grown incredibly nervous with this line of questioning. He looks over his shoulder as if followed. Zursalbalad and the sounds of its industry are safely in the distance.> You must excuse me, I'd rather not say. I mean... nobody knows for sure, really. It's merely speculation.
U: Just what has been speculated? Tell me.
I: I'm sorry, no. You said we were to speak of Zon, not of... of smoke coming through a few holes in a wall.
<Ingish switches quickly from nervous caution to assertive stubbornness. I am forced to choose a new line of questioning.>U: Very well. Zon, my dear old friend. How is she these days?
I:
<Ingish pauses a long time with a distant look on his face. He is clearly troubled.> Zon Rimtarothil Afentumam has been ecstatic lately. She ate a pretty decent meal lately. She dined in a legendary dining room recently--
U:
<I cut him off.> --As have you all. Severedcoils is renowned for its legendary dining halls. Have you filled out the Form U-V Profile like I asked you to construct?
I: Yes, I'm reading it to you now. Zon Rimtaroth--
U: That is alright, you can just give that to me.
<Ingish hesitates, but eventually relinquishes the requested information to me. I take a moment to look it over.>Attached: Form U-V, Profile of Zon Rimtarothil Afentumam, Clerk: 1 (one)
U: Very thorough. Not entirely out of the ordinary for one who lost her lover so soon after coupling... hm. She admires her own fine Seat?
I: She's quite proud of it, actually.
U: Perhaps you should have added that she is narcissistic.
I: No, that wouldn't do. Despite that quirk, Zon hardly finds joy in anything at all, least of all herself. The closest she comes to smiling is when she's fishing, only...
U: Only?
I:
<Ingish sighs, and relinquishes to me a sketch. This was not asked of him, it was created on his own accord.>Attached: Sketch of Ingish Olonalåth and Zon Rimtarothil Afentumam at the Severedcoils Brook: 1 (one)
U: Are those...
I: Fish. And bones. Quite a number of them... of the live ones, there are three rainbow trout and seven char... the bones... three char, nine trout.
U: Fish... bones? Well, surely... she must be eating the fish?
I: I don't think so... the bones looked as though the fish rotted clean off of them. She's been fishing in that spot so long that the fish she caught weeks ago have decayed right before her eyes, and she doesn't seem to even notice or care. Occasionally she counts them, along with whatever's alive that hasn't already been brought back to the fortress by a hauler. And then she curses, and mutters to herself... but I can hear her clearly. She says, "Not enough, Asmel." That's usually the only bit that's intelligible.
U: Asmel... Could she mean Asmel Sensedye?
I: I don't know who that could be.
U: Nevermind... I will attempt to confirm the identity of this Asmel myself.
I: There's another... thing she did recently that I find disturbing. The guard dogs we had in front of the fortress to sniff out marauding kobolds? Well... She had them replaced. With wolves.
U: Tame wolves?
I: Yes.
U: What's the matter with that?
I: I thought you wanted a psychological profile on Zon... That doesn't strike you as odd?
U: What strikes me as odd is that she didn't do this sooner. Muttering to herself over weeks-old fish is certainly cause for concern. Upgrading the fortress defenses to tamed wolves? That's a mark of a true leader right there. A bold move, one that could only be pulled off by one capable of catching and taming dangerous creatures. She probably did this either for status or to keep the ranks in line. I can abide this.
I: Ha... I doubt that's it. You haven't seen her release a flock of giant eagles upon a goblin siege.
U: Hoo hoo! What a funny joke. The beasts of the sky cannot be tamed, let alone captured... can they?
I: ...You haven't seen her release a flock of giant eagles upon a goblin siege.
U: ...If... you are serious...
I: I know, mark of a bold leader, right?
U: No! I mean, yes. I mean... that is... why, such an action would be both bold AND insane!
<I end the interview here, for now. At this time, I am not yet ready to risk a direct inquiry about the missing Dukes. Should Zon find out about this secret meeting, I know not as of yet how she might react. For now, if she were to find out the sorts of questions I've asked, my hope is that she would take it as genuine concern for her well-being. I must disguise my purpose for the safety of this investigation... as well as myself.>