Much as I hate to prolong these little discussions, I feel compelled to
correct some of your more interesting reinterpretations of history. No
wonder the young people of Mhaldor have no idea what their own history
is, if this twisted mess is what an *elder* Mhaldorian makes of it.

First of all, the Sartai War has nothing to do with the red fog. The
Sartai War was the struggle that began with Lord Sartan exterminating
Lady Gaia's grove. It surprises me somewhat that you are unaware of the
large-scale conflict which essentially created the Nature-Evil feud
which persists to the present day. Perhaps information on the war was
surpressed because it was, to be tactful, something less than a rousing
victory for the Sartai. Nonetheless, if you should wish more details on
the war, it's development, and its end, I am happy to oblige.

The red fog event did not occur until decades later. And please allow me
to correct a partially correct fact on Lord Sartan's imprisonment. The
Shrine Alliance of Gods did in fact smite Lord Sartan and land the
mountain on Him. However, this was brought on by Lord Sartan's
kidnapping of Lady Valnurana and attempt to steal Her realm and power.
After Lord Sartan was thrown down, His essence did come forth in the
form of red fog.

However, here is where you make a crucial omission. The red fog was
spread from its meager territory around the mountain by the acts of the
Sartai and dispossessed Infernals who had become homeless when their
guild was dissolved. These folk sacrificed themselves on a stalagmite
deep in the mountain's heart, because someone had said that doing so
would allow Lord Sartan to return. As a result, the red fog (Lord
Sartan's essence, as you say) began to spread. It spread throughout the
island, and then onto the mainland, at which point we ceased to find it
amusing or harmless.

The fog first of all brought foul demons, from the small and weak to the
towering and brutal, which wandered onto the mainland and slew innocent
passerby, including many youngsters and novices. And when the fog
touched Natural land, we discovered that it totally raped the area,
destroying all plant life it touched and turning the world into a
sickly, dying shadow of what it had been.

Lady Gaia's Order rallied the forestals. A shrine was built in the mouth
of the cave, and Gaians and their allies fought to stop the impalers.
But they would run in graced and sacrifice themselves before worldburn
could touch them. Later, the Basilica was raised and Lord Pentharian's
Chalice was found. The Chalice, when filled with demon blood, could
purify the rooms touched by the fog and drive it out. People of all
cities and creeds, not just forestals, battled the demons and filled the
chalice, working to push the fog back as the Sartai worked to push it
forwards. In the end, Lady Gaia smote the island in an attempt to stop
the fog at its source- but Lord Sartan was released. The fog retreated
to the island, where it remains today without tainting the mainland.

I have left out a few details- for example, the fact that the Sartai
thought it was extremely funny that the fog was destroying plant life,
and that Lord Sartan rewarded one of the impalers with a guildmastership
(hint for the slow- he is currently your Tyrranus).

The red fog was originally an unfortunate byproduct of Lord Sartan's
imprisonment, perhaps. But it was the Sartai who spread and encouraged
it, who laughed at the destruction caused thereby, and who fought with
the forestals and other inhabitants of the mainland to ensure that the
red fog continued to spread. Mhaldor can call these impalers heroes as
easily as the forestals damn them for their actions. But that's not the
point. The point is that you need to know the facts of that conflict,
because that incident led to the creation of your city, and it is the
basis (though not the entire cause) for the prejudice against Mhaldor.
With the historical Nature-Evil problems, then then the red fog, Mhaldor
and the forestals really started off on the wrong foot.

I suggest if you are interested in knowing more details, you start by
perusing the events posts and the ethereal records of Achaean history. I
would also take note of the fact that the Shrine Alliance was not a
forestal invention, as you seem to imply. It included multiple Divine
from various cities and attitudes. If you would like to say that the
Shrine Alliance caused the red fog, feel free, but please don't do it
under the impression that it's some kind of slur against forestals,
because it's not.

literarily yours,

Rhakshai Silvertongue
Sentinels Guild Historian

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Chronos, in the year 350 AF.