Tri'lanna gives the big picture

The facts that Tri'lanna have presented to you are unsettling. Vanarim, the demon overlord, is trying to become a God. He sent his minions to attack and decimate your village. His armies completely wiped out the Druids. And somehow, the Shining Stone is the knot that binds all these things together.

This information is vital to your quest and you are glad now that you brought the elfgirl with you to the Dragon's Spines, but something concerns you.

"Tri'lanna," You ask her, "how do you know all of this?"

A cloud passes over the elf's face, like she is unearthing a terrible memory. But as quickly as it came, it is buried again, and she is back to her now-usual smirk.

"I...won't go into depth, but it will be enough to say that I once belonged to a cadre of powerful sorcerers." Tri'lanna explains. "They dedicated a significant portion of their lives to learning more about the Akashic Records. Unfortunately, the life they dedicated happened to be terminal. Vanarim saw to that."

"This is why our quest is so important." The elfmaid looked back and forth between you and Ceinwyn, seizing your attention.

"The Great Pretender is moving. For years, everyone thought he was gone for good, but he was just gathering his strength and waiting for the right moment. And when it came, he fell like a thunderbolt. There are other forces here on the Isle of Seven Stones, and they too are now moving. Some against, some alongside. But now that the Druids are dead, everyone will know that no side is exempt from the coming war."

Tri'lanna's emphasis on the word 'war' makes you shiver. When was the last time there was an all-out war on the island? Were you even born then? You think about what you have heard about the Druids. How they have remained neutral in almost all political conflicts on the island, and have successfully mediated disputes between various groups. They maintained the peace. They weren't warmongers, and Vanarim's atrocities against the Druids was almost overkill.

As if moving parallel your thoughts, Tri'lanna says loudly, "You see, although there was a practical reason for destroying the Druids, Vanarim had another purpose behind his actions. He could have chosen a more subtle method of doing it; he has the facilities to spread plagues, an infestation of vermin, make the forest animals turn on the Druids, and a number of other, more devious ploys. But he chose fire. Why?"

Ceinwyn nods, understanding. "Because fire is noticable. There is no mistaking what happened when you see the entire Druid home burned down to the ground. Fire leaves a mark."

"Yes, Ceinwyn." Tri'lanna says, "Countless times in history, fire has been used as both a weapon and a signal. It has been used to communicate your intentions, and this fire has only one message: You're either with us, or you're against us."