AnvilThe sinewy old man bows his head in reverence. "With your arrival, the blessing of the Two-Headed Eagle-God has descended upon Quetza Temer, O Starborn! This servant of the skies, earth, and those in between foresaw this conversation in his dreams a long time ago. This servant hopes that Leads-Ahead and her tribe welcomed the Sky-Herald of the faraway stars with utmost reverence."
AnvilThe priest shudders, his eyes staring into space over your shoulder. His pupils dilate, and his head leans to the side... Then, after dispelling the vision seen by him alone, he gives you a friendly smile. "Silent questions hang in the air... This servant knows much, and even more is unknown. But if the Starborn seeks answers, this servant will not hesitate to help."
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."
Anvil"Speaks-With-Gods is the name of this humble servant of the forests, rivers, and mountains. For when the Two-Headed Eagle-God speaks — this servant listens, and recounts the words to his tribe, and the tribe carries out His will."
AnvilThe old man closes his eyes, and his body sways to the rustling of the leaves and the babbling of the stream. "This servant of dreams, nightmares, and reveries can see things that others cannot see. What has transpired and what is yet to be. Your appearance in the heart of the forest and..." The priest falters for a moment. "...the consequences it bears for Quetza Temer."
YOU"What consequences of my coming to this world did you see in your visions?"
Anvil"The Sky-Herald stands at the crossroads — I see all of his/her choices and see none of them... But this servant knows one thing clearly — the Starborn must go to the Deadlands to destroy the one who should have been long dead."
AnvilSuddenly, the old man throws his head back — his body shudders, and droplets of blood burst from between his clenched teeth. "The sunset rays will paint the heart of the forest crimson if the darkness leaves it, and the two stars will part, then meet again! Crimson... Crimson... The fading light can still be saved..." The priest covers his face with his hands and breathes slowly, finally coming to his senses. "F-forgive this servant, Sky-Herald. The waking dreams are often the most... painful..."
YOU"What consequences of my coming to this world did you see in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about your tribe."
Anvil"We are the children of the fiery mother and the pale father who look after us by day and guard us by night. The faithful servants of the Two-Headed Eagle-God who shields our lands from misfortune with His wings. We are the ungone forest-dwelling children of the earth and the guardians of the Temple of Quetza Temer — the first Starborn to have ever set foot on the virgin soil of this land."
YOU"What consequences of my coming to this world did you see in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about your tribe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Leads-Ahead."
Anvil"Leads-Ahead is the half-sister of this servant of smoke, fire, and ash. She was the first to emerge from the mother's womb and thus named the next ruler of the tribe. And this servant was the shield to fend off disasters from his ruler. Many years later, when the gift of the Eagle-God awakened inside this servant, Leads-Ahead named her brother the priest of her tribe."
YOU"What consequences of my coming to this world did you see in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about your tribe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Leads-Ahead."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange, just like your sister's."
AnvilThe old man looks down, embarrassed. "Forgive the servants of Quetza Temer for their speech, O Starborn! No matter how much the ancestors tried to pass the language of the gods on to their descendants, the tribes seldom use it, for the gods only descend from their heavenly palace not more often than once in three life-dwells."
YOU"What consequences of my coming to this world did you see in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about your tribe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Leads-Ahead."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange, just like your sister's."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange."
AnvilThe old man looks down, embarrassed. "Forgive the servants of Quetza Temer for their speech, O Starborn! No matter how much the ancestors tried to pass the language of the gods on to their descendants, the tribes seldom use it, for the gods only descend from their heavenly palace not more often than once in three life-dwells."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."
Anvil"This servant knew that you would say that."
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"
AnvilThe priest nods affirmatively. "The spirits-from-the-darkness brought the fire-rain down on Quetza Temer, killing many of the tribes who had cared for the forests young and ancient. This blasphemy enraged the guardian spirits, but as soon as this servant of the wind, rain, and sand soothed them with the ritual sacrifices and divine sorcery, their wrath gave way to mercy."
YOU"Did you not foresee this in your visions?"
Anvil"The dreams come and go, Sky-Herald of the faraway stars. Sometimes this servant of the gods can understand the mystical visions of the days of old or the future... But even Speaks-With-Gods cannot fully comprehend the divine design of the Two-Headed Eagle-God. Sometimes I am blind even when I can see."
YOU"Did you not foresee this in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know that sorcery such as yours is punishable by death in the Imperium?"
AnvilThe old man is deep in thought. "Imperium... This servant of the stars, clouds, and eclipses does not know this word. The priest's sorcery is a gift from the Two-Headed Eagle-God. How can His gift be condemned by mortals?"
YOU"Did you not foresee this in your visions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know that sorcery such as yours is punishable by death in the Imperium?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are a good man. Even if you are an unsanctioned psyker."
AnvilThe old man smacks his lips, pleased with the praise. "Blessed is a life that serves the Two-Headed Eagle-God and His Sky-Heralds!"
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"
Anvil"The Starborn who carries the seal of Quetza Temer's descendant is strong in both body and will — as befits a god. This servant, like the rest of his entourage, had grown weak on just the seventh night of our journey. But the Starborn continued to lead us fearlessly, pressing forward to seek out the spirits-from-the-darkness even among the twisted paths, delivering the sky's judgement!"
Anvil"This servant of the grass, flowers, and trees regrets only the imminent death of the Starborn's companion, the one you call the Seneschal. He quarrelled with the iron-clad guardian, and his words enraged the Starborn... And thus he slashed the unfortunate man's body up with his axe, and threw the remains to the wild animals of Quetza Temer for them to feast on."
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"
Anvil"This servant saw everything with his own two eyes." The old man pauses in hesitation, then continues, "It is not proper, perhaps, for a mere speck of dirt under the heels of a Sky-Herald of the Two-Headed Eagle-God, to muse upon the deed... However, this servant did sense, with his entire being, the rage that possessed the Starborn at that moment. And the iron-clad guardian revelled in his god's wrath."
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."
Anvil"May the Two-Headed Eagle-God shelter you under His wing, O Sky-Herald!"
end of branch
Anvil(sequence)
Abelard"Iron-clad guardian? I suppose you mean Calligos Winterscale's Arch-Militant. Worten the Grey seemed dangerous to me even on our first meeting, but our time together spent wandering through the forest cemented this notion."
end of branch
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pray that your forest does not cause any more trouble."
Anvil"I pray for this with every breath, O Starborn."
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."
AnvilThe old man nods obediently.
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Anvil(sequence)
IdiraIdira almost snorts with delight. "If only the holy folk of the Ecclesiarchy could hear that! Equating our 'unclean powers' with the God-Emperor's blessing... That's brilliant, just brilliant!"
end of branch
Cassia"The absurdity of this old man's words hides nothing but snow-white reverence... He has no intention of offending the Emperor. There is only a golden glow in his heart akin to that of His most faithful followers."
end of branch
YOU"You are a good man. Even if you are an unsanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pray that your forest does not cause any more trouble."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you know that sorcery such as yours is punishable by death in the Imperium?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are a good man. Even if you are an unsanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pray that your forest does not cause any more trouble."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Anvil(sequence)
Pasqal"The lingo-cultural analysis of the target's speech suggests that the expression 'three life-dwells' equals one hundred and fifty standard Terran years."
end of branch
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange, just like your sister's."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
Anvil(sequence)
Jae"Either my memory's as empty as an amasec decanter after a party, or I've heard this before."
end of branch
YOU"Tell me about Leads-Ahead."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange, just like your sister's."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
Anvil(sequence)
Idira"That's strange. I can't see or hear anything from the other side... But I'll go ahead and say it since nobody else wants to — I don't like this one bit. So if the darkness leaves the forest, something bad will happen? I thought it was usually the other way around."
end of branch
YOU"Tell me about your tribe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Leads-Ahead."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange, just like your sister's."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your way of speaking is strange."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 3
AnvilThe sinewy old man bows his head in reverence. "With your arrival, the blessing of the Two-Headed Eagle-God has descended upon Quetza Temer, O Starborn! This servant of the skies, earth, and those in between foresaw this conversation in his dreams a long time ago. This servant hopes that the Sky-Herald of the faraway stars will bring peace to the forests of his tribe."
AnvilThe priest shudders, his eyes staring into space over your shoulder. His pupils dilate, and his head leans to the side... Then, after dispelling the vision seen by him alone, he gives you a friendly smile. "Silent questions hang in the air... This servant knows much, and even more is unknown. But if the Starborn seeks answers, this servant will not hesitate to help."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 3
Anvil"Speaks-With-Gods welcomes you, Starborn." His violet eyes are reverently trained on you. "How can Speaks-With-Gods help you this time?"
YOU"Tell me about yourself, old man."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did the ritual truly make the forest safe?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me, how did you and Winterscale survive all this time?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you mean to say that Winterscale killed his Seneschal?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above