Golben.

[Cinnabar]

It's hard to imagine, such a cataclysm occurring, hard to envision how it must have appeared; a vast and expanding wall of destruction sweeping out across the land, devouring earth and stone and fields and trees in its path. The scale of it. And in its passing... emptiness. He turns from the crater as Aldred finishes his tale, and pulls a face at this talk of understanding them... especially the last.

"It is hard to mourn for that which you did not know; suffice to say that I am glad we do not have a whole town of such creatures here any longer. Myrken has enough troubles already." He keeps pace as the Councilor heads back towards the horses, gladly turning his back on the pit where Golben once stood. After a last glance for the abyss, and certainly a shudder or two, the Constables follow after.

"An interesting history lesson, Councilor. And a compelling demonstration of the threat posed by such individuals. As for D'zir, though... perhaps. Or perhaps it might be preferable to leave him to his own affairs, hm? Ideally somewhere far-removed from Myrken Wood."

[Kylerryth]

"Indeed, though I would not call them 'creatures'," said Aston Jylan. "They are human, decidedly so. Just capable of great acts of destruction, and doomed to madness and death. An arrow in the brain, a knife in the heart -- these will kill them just as swiftly as, say, your man there." The Lord of Aldred gestured to one of Calomel's men, who blinked and, for a moment, looked genuinely concerned.

"But I agree," Aston Jylan went on to say, walking with an easy, casual gait. As if war did not linger on the horizon; as if there were no Ashfiend terrorizing the populace; as if ... well, Myrken Wood were not Myrken Wood, and this was just another day in the life of the Lord of Aldred. "We are certainly better off without the lot of them, and Myrken Wood has troubles enough. We are barely dealing with those as it is. On that note," added Aston Jylan, glancing to the younger man, "I must admit, Calomel, you made headway at that meeting. It was surprisingly productive. Time to see if we can follow through, hm?" And the Lord of Aldred smiled at him.

"History is an invaluable reference," said he after the High Constable had finished. "I find that it repeats itself more often than you might think, but with subtle variations on a similar theme. Mm ... as for the threat, or potential threat ... I do not think we need to worry. The channelers are united, now; and while they certainly could break free of the Duke's hold -- who among the armies of Thessilane could stop them? -- for some reason they choose instead to serve. Curious, but not strange. I don't think so, at least."

Aston Jylan did not deign to explain that; he went on. "I doubt we will see another Golben, Calomel. At least not here in Myrken Wood. In fact, from what I understand, one of them actually made a start for himself here. He wasn't born in Myrken Wood, but he spent a good chunk of his formative years here and actually managed to save the town from a flood at one point."

The Lord of Aldred glanced again at Calomel; he was also smiling. "Care to guess whom?"