Proven
833 I. E.
16 Years after Albert's Exile
Golem Factory, Gale, Surface
Albert's labored breathing finally returned to normal as Helen recovered enough to heal him fully. That had been a bad one to the leg, he mused to himself.
They looked around the ruins of another monster factory; this one had made golems. Frruh and Sschass were both wincing from remaining injuries, but still gathering smashed fragments of the Mind Crystal which had controlled the place.
"I hope," Sschass said seriously, "that whoever makes these monsters won't be able to make another factory for golems. So hardy, and with such raw power!"
"Not without significant effort," Frruh said with assurance. "This facility was very extensive and intricate, and we smashed a great deal of it. Odd, though - I know this continent is unsettled, but it's amazing that such a structure could be built without being noticed."
Albert's mouth quirked, "Maybe it was noticed, but nobody could get close enough, if they had a few golems they made already to guard the construction. I never like to admit it, but bravery alone isn't always enough."
They began to trudge towards the door. Helen asked carefully, "Who will we bring the news to first? General Baziron will be glad to hear of this, but there are others we could inform."
Albert could tell she was monitoring his reaction. He hadn't exactly had a poker face when he heard that the local hero battling the golems was an Empire Dervish. He hadn't been thrilled about meeting the general. But Albert had, and he was glad he did.
Albert responded, slightly too casually, "Maybe tell the drake who helped us first, if he's closer; I'm too tired to remember. But yeah, definitely General Baziron, and soon. He lost enough men to these things, and he did help; he deserves to know."
They all heaved their tired bodies out of the room. Sschass, leaning on his spear, commented, "I wonder when it got so normal for us to talk to high-ranking officers in the Empire army."
"When did it get so normal for them to talk to us?" Helen laughed tiredly.
"Exactly," Frruh said. "I never expected it, but it's happening."
Albert shrugged. "The ones who get it, get it. They're at least trying to help. I still remember what it was like, hearing that the Empire hired eyebeasts to attack Cotra. I couldn't imagine how they could live with themselves, but more of what held my thoughts was wondering when the monsters were going to invade my home. Now it's the Empire's turn. Maybe it's justice. But at least some of the Empire is trying to use its power to actually help its people." He laughed bitterly. "Wish they'd done that for Carl and me."
Sschass asked, "You've mentioned your brother died in the war. What happened?"
Albert started ahead again, and they followed, and he said after a few paces and blowing air rapidly out of his lips, "Well, he went down fighting, at least there was that. A dervish got him. No one was ever sure which one, not enough light for that. Or survivors. Just enough to get the word to us." He shook his head. "That's what I mean about bravery not being enough. I always knew Carl would be brave, I always knew the army would be brave. But if just one thing had gone wrong, if Avernum weren't so far from the Empire, if Captain Tompkins and his men hadn't convinced the vahnati to help us - we would've lost the war. There were just too many in the Empire, and too few in Avernum. And now the Empire's finding that out. In these unsettled lands, there's too many monsters being made, and too few in the Empire willing to stand against them. Thought I'd enjoy it more, but I want to help these people. Just wish it wasn't the Empire I was helping."
"We're just helping people, just regular folks," Helen said reassuringly. But she wondered as she said it if that were the whole story. They had just helped a general. What fine line might they have already crossed into simply helping the Empire? They were here to help Avernum. Further, how long would the Empire accept them before sending them back into the pit?
Helen glanced at Albert, who swallowed and said softly, "I hate the part of me that says the Empire deserves worse."
Helen wanted to tell him that he was awful, that there were so many sick and dying and grieving that needed help, but she couldn't. She said instead, haltingly at first, "A few months ago, one of you asked me if I ever had doubts. Most of them trace back to when I was a scared little girl in Avernum, learning that the Empire had hired monsters to kill my aunt and uncle and three cousins in Cotra. I couldn't understand why God didn't judge the Empire right away. Maybe that's what's happening now, but I still hate the part of me that revels in their humiliation."
The others had similar thoughts as they walked outside, to where they had concealed their horses. Calming their animals, they got on and started heading back to Upper Avernum.
Sschass, already having a suspicion, asked, "What do you think the Bunker will say about these fragments from the Mind Crystal?"
Albert released the reigns a moment to throw up his hands in an elaborate shrug. "Probably just another guess at who may be behind the plagues. Nothing different from the other monster factories."
Sschass was uneasy, but kept silent, since he didn't want to speak without proof.
Approximately Two Weeks Later, in 833 I. E.
Secret Avernite Research Facility: "The Bunker", Upper Avernum
Berra, research mage of the Bunker, looked up as he heard the sound of the secret passage opening, and the sound of booted feet entering. It wasn't time for a meal or shift change, so it was almost certainly the surface exploration team come to ask what he'd learned from the latest evidence. He took a deep breath.
They knew the way to his office by now - they should, after delivering four pieces of evidence to it! The door opened behind him with its usual creak, and he turned to face them. They all looked relaxed, peaceful. He hated to ruin the atmosphere. They all greeted each other pleasantly.
Frruh asked, "Berra, may we inquire what you learned from the Mind Crystal fragments?"
Berra took another deep breath. "Something grave. The vahnati are the ones responsible. They unleashed all the horrors on the surface."
Sschass hissed, lowering his head, Helen covered her mouth, and Frruh coughed in surprise.
Albert blinked, but was otherwise frozen. Then he said unsteadily, "How sure are you?"
Berra's smile was sad and sympathetic as he replied, "Certain. There's simply no denying it. The Mind Crystal fragments alone would be, but together with the crystal generating the barrier between the troglodytes and giants, well. They're clearly magical crystals far beyond what Avernum can do, and with skill and precision and style that match the vahnati exactly."
Albert stared at him. He had to be wrong. But Berra was one of Avernum's most trusted mages - that was why he was in this secret facility, and he and his colleagues were tasked with this important work. And both the crystals looked like vahnati work - he and his most trusted friends had thought so when first seeing them. And, Albert thought bitterly to himself, though he had been too blind to see it, while both Erika and the dragons had responded to the accusations with a solid way to help, the vahnati had responded only with words.
Same Day
Office of Commander Anaximander, In Charge of the Surface Exploration
Fort Emergence, Upper Avernum
Anaximander leapt to his feet. "The vahnati after all!" he exclaimed. "And how certain is this?"
Albert said slowly, "Sir, Berra was completely certain. I still don't want to believe it of my friends. But even I have to admit that when I first laid eyes on that crystal, that it looked like it had been made by the vahnati."
"And, sir, there was the less complex crystal we recovered from the cavern with the giants and troglodytes," Sschass reminded him. "Berra and the other mages confirmed that one was also made by vahnati."
Anaximander paced a few steps, back and forth, then ordered, "Return to Ghikra. We know that a rival vahnati clan helped the Empire steal the Crystal Souls a decade ago - maybe someone's trying to make trouble again."
Same Day
Upper Avernum
On the way to reach Ghikra, the vahnati patrol they had seen a few months ago had come close, exchanged whispers, then suddenly attacked. After the Avernites won the battle, Frruh said darkly, "There's our answer, then."
When they reached Ghikra, they found it completely empty. The children were gone. The merchants were absent, goods nowhere to be seen. The doors of the houses were locked. The compound that had housed the Crystal Souls was open, but the pedestals that had held the Crystal Souls held nothing now.
"Why?" Albert asked. But there wasn't even wind to answer him in the caves.
Author's Note
In Exile/Avernum, an Empire Dervish is an elite soldier, capable of incredible maneuverability and speed, even in full plate armor. General Baziron, leader of Empire forces in Gale province against the golems, is a dervish.
Berra may be out of character, as I don't quite remember how Berra expresses his certainty that the vahnati are the culprits.
I also don't quite remember if you can travel between the Bunker and Fort Emergence and Ghikra in the same day, especially since you don't bring the horses into Upper Avernum, but as I recall, Upper Avernum is not supposed to be enormous, so it seemed possible. If I'm wrong, it should read "Same Week" instead of "Same Day."