From: paul@phyast.pitt.edu
Date: Wed 19 May 1993 - 21:28:30 EEST
Paul Reilly here.
This is a Gloranthan fragment from an author who accompanied a Storm Bull expedition into northern Dorastor. The northern approaches are quite difficult, as will become apparent.
Portion of a Letter from Augustinius the Red Sage to the High Librarian
of Glamour:
[Greetings, introduction, etc. deleted]
...On our journey we observed many types of diseased and chaotic vegetation. The Storm Bulls insisting on destroying approximately one per centum of the plants we encountered in the first few days; as we progressed deeper into Dorastor this ratio climbed to perhaps one in twenty. Most of the offensive plants seemed little different from their neighbors but some were clearly Chaotic and a few fought back vigourously. We lost several animals to such Chaotic plants and many more to plants which while not Chaotic were poisonous or motile. These seemed to be deliberatley planted in such a way as to impede movement into or out of Dorastor. In addition, some twenty of our scouts were ambushed and shot with arrows on various occasions. These arrows were apparently grown rather than crafted and some deposited venom or living vegetable parasites in the wound. See my forthcoming 'Report on a Journey into Dorastor' for more details.
Based on the the records of the Carmanian expedition of 1228 S.T. I believe that there has been a substantial change in the vegetable life of Dorastor since that date. While they encountered a few Chaotic plant forms, the sort of plant defenses we ran into were more formidable and seemingly the result of intelligent design.
It is my hypothesis that the hostile vegetation in Northern Dorastor has been developed and maintained by the Aldryami exiles from Rist and their descendants. I will endeavor to show the plausibility of this hypothesis in my next address to the Academy. I believe that if true this hypothesis bodes ill for us as the exiles of Rist are likely to be practicing a coherent strategy hostile to the Empire. Perhaps most disturbing was the fact that the caves used by the headhunters (ibid.) seemed also to have vegetable defenses. This may indicate a hitherto unknown level of cooperation between Aldryami and _krjalki_.
I request that I be allowed access to the sealed records on Rist kept at the Imperial Library in Glamour. I am willing to take an Oath of confidentiality to protect any secrets in these records which affect our security interests. I believe that if in fact there is an active Aldryami community in Northern Dorastor they are likely to pose a greater threat than any other in that region, saving only Ralzakark himself. I beg you to take rapid action in this matter.
Yours in Service to Moonson and Truth,
Augustinius Toadflax.
Notes:
The expedition included Uz: ZZ allies of the Storm Bulls. Augustinius
doesn't mention this in this letter for some reason.
This is the same Augustinius Toadflax who invented the improved Toadflax paper-making process. His family has been in this trade for generations and includes both Etyries and Irripi Ontor branches.
The expedition foundered in Dorastor and was only saved by the arrival of the Crimson Bat. Unknown to many Orlanthi, the Bat is sometimes used to put down Chaotic menaces in Dorastor if they seem to be threatening the Empire. The Storm Bulls were not told in advance of their 'backup' as the Bat is disturbing to them.
[ Written by me in consultation with Finula McCaul]
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