Prologue

Report to the Skyfire Council, December 8th, 155 H.A.

An incident at Urii Forge, November 20th, 155 H.A.

Forgemaster Artem Khariton

My fellow Forgemasters, I bear ill news. In just the day prior I have lost a Starvedun, a Guardian, one Yeger with a second damaged, and half of a watch rotation in the garrison. Additionally, the nearby hamlet of Tihoyezerka was destroyed with most of its inhabitants.

No arcanist has reached their morok unexpectedly on my watch before. I know the signs, I carefully manage the reports. And yet. I lead this report with a confirmation of my resignation and self-exile. Starvedun Lianna was away on her final home visitation before a planned and accepted permanent posting to Urii. For many years now she has made her home on the slopes above Tihoyezerka, barely an hour away, in Urii’s neighboring valley. Her Guardian Alexii accompanied her there, he is experienced, I had thought it a safe enough posting.

In the dawn light of November 19th, with no warning, Starvedun Lianna leveled Tihoyezerka and set her cottage aflame. Nothing useful was found in its wreckage. Guardian Alexsii reports to have been placed under some trance as he woke, that his armor moved him at its whim and without his control. In the intervening time before this report’s authoring he has been thoroughly questioned and his reporting confirmed as genuine from his perspective, so it is included here. He reports that Lianna talked to him as she always had, except called him by the name “██████”.

A single body was found in the ashes of Lianna’s cottage: a maid who takes care the place when she is away. Alexsii recounts that she was set aflame and that his armor threw her through a wall. Lianna then destroyed the village and the two set out overland up hill towards Urii. They avoided the main road for reasons unclear even in interrogation.

Upon entering Urii’s valley they encountered a Yeger patrol. Lianna and Alexsii both should have known the proper words-of-friendship, but none were exchanged. The first Yeger’s accursed soul was sent quickly back to Urii, while the second was summarily maimed by the armor surrounding Alexsii. A second patrol moved to intercept but did not reach the pair before they had made it to the gate.

They split the gate and burnt those on watch with no hesitation. My staff here knew both well, and faltered (confused I am sure) when presented with the kindly faces in such strange conditions. With this report I have also sent personal letters of regret to all families of whom I have information.

Once within, they advanced quickly upon the crater. Starvedun Lianna was cogent enough despite the morok to remember her code bindings, and the inner gates opened for them. Guardian Manni (may the fires cleanse him onward) attempted to intercept but was burnt from within—his armor’s bind-plate still held the runes from his tour at Lianna’s side. Starvedun Ilyas was here as well and his words are the most chilling of all: when he moved to bring the flame against her, Urii did not respond. He could only watch helpless. I have begun his stay within the walls ahead of time and denied him his goodbye tour, he accepts this.

Thankfully, from here she passed within Urii’s chambers without more destruction. The call of morok was at least consistent. Guardian Alexsii regained control of his armor shortly thereafter and removed it as fast as he was able. I have not reassigned this armor and instead sent it to Borovipol for examination.

Readings from Urii throughout this event match the downward trend we have all been seeing, though we did observe a brief spike upon Lianna’s entry. Output here was almost double (〚2.8〛vs〚1.6〛) compared to Iegu’s recent Starvedun return. Perhaps more to be studied about morok’s effect on rekindling. I wish the best of luck to you all from here forward.

—A. Khariton.