Peek: Opened Eyes

Dergol lays in his assigned cot, trying not to flinch at all the movement around him. Today has been difficult, in more ways than one. He still hasn't gotten over the deaths of Lechula and Merrik in that freak cave-in. Even Jayle was troubled by it. And today has been so much worse.

Invaders came, much more organized and powerful than any before. He and Jayle were assigned to help push them out of Silvervein proper, and when they saw the shiny metal they wore, everyone devoted to the Great Maw thought it'd be an easy victory. Then one of the priests tried to crush one of the invaders with their own armor, and suffered backlash before even producing a dent! Even with metal affinity on the opposing side, the priest was channeling the Great Maw! It would take a much stronger faith to resist something like that.

From there, the fight is a blur, with Dergol, Jayle, and the others trying to push back the invaders. It became quickly clear the invaders were veterans to fighting together, and though Dergol's people did their best, so many were still fresh from training! He's still not sure what hit him, he just remembers an impact and flying through the air, then he woke up here.

He had thought the Great Maw's forces has somehow pushed them back and rescued him, but just a glance disproved that idea. The Great Maw doesn't have these strange ants, nor does It have disembodied hands. He tried to get up to run, but pain from his side made it clear that would not happen. And so he sits and thinks, and wonders what's happening.

He's clearly been taken by the invaders, but why? Is he a prisoner? The lack of chains makes that pretty unlikely. It looks like he's in come kind of hospital, especially with how the molten ants keep running in with people. But even that doesn't quite add up. If these are the invaders, why are they healing people from Silvervein?

He probably wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't watched a pale dwarf vanish under a tide of smaller ants, only for them to eventually recede with him bandaged and still breathing. He had expected to see just a pile of bones, rather than a recovering townsperson.

Why heal them? Aren't they enemies? He chews on that question, recalling rumors that had started circling, and shouting he heard just before the fight. The invaders want to stop the Great Maw, but don't think that includes having to destroy Silvervein? Just an hour ago, he'd find that laughable. Who could beat the Great Maw? Who in Silvervein wouldn't fight to protect it?

From the way the fighting went... maybe he should consider those questions more seriously. Sure, he's not exactly devout, but he can't imagine anything being stronger than the Great Maw. Fighting on its side just makes sense. But there's always rumors of some resistance or another, some plot or scheme to try to topple the dungeon that gave birth to their peoples. He always thought it was a fool's errand to try that, but there were always people trying. And now there might be people succeeding.

But how? The Great Maw said the surface was weak, that they exhausted themselves just to beat the Harbinger! Looking at the efficiency of the hospital, Dergol has to admit what the Maw said has the taste of a lie. And if that's a lie, what else?

Well, that outsiders are an existential threat, for starters. Sure, they're dangerous, but if they were aiming to wipe out everyone, why bother with healing? The Maw certainly wouldn't. Any enemy combatants that survive would only be healed enough to not die, before being fed to the Maw. The work being done around him is not the work of preserving food, but of actually repairing people.

His eyes wander over the other cots, other people in them. The outsiders look like they're mostly relaxing, some of them chatting away with their fellows in nearby beds. The pale elves and dwarves all look nervous, all look like they're thinking over the same things Dergol is.

Motion catches his attention, and he spots a ratkin walking around, checking on people. He chides the chatting people, admonishing them to not work themselves up while healing. Most take the advice, though they lean back up after he walks past to resume chatting. He tries to talk to some of the people of Silvervein, but they all stay quiet, still wary about the entire situation.

When the ratkin comes by Dergol, the pale elf speaks up first. "What's going on?"

The ratkin tilts his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you healing us? You attacked, didn't you?"

The ratkin nods. "Lord Thedeim is leading the attack, yes."

"Why? How? Why heal us? We're enemies, aren't we?"

"Are we?" asks the ratkin in return, making Dergol's brow knit in confusion.

"Aren't we? You just said you attacked us!"

"Lord Thedeim is attacking the Maw. His efforts in Silvervein are to secure it with minimal harm."

"Who's Lord Thedeim? Some surfacer? How can he expect to beat the Great Maw?!"

The ratkin chuckles. "You have a lot of questions. I can't stay to answer them all, but I can explain why we're healing you, and everyone else we can: Lord Thedeim commanded it. His fight is with the Maw, and he holds no ill will towards you or your people. Now, please try to rest. Queen and Thing have tended to you, so all you should need is some rest to recover. For now, please just try to relax."

He walks to the next conscious person, and Dergol hisses in pain when he tries to sit up properly to protest. He keeps trying for a few moments before sighing and slumping back, leaving him staring at the ceiling. He passes the time, trying to comprehend what the ratkin said, but his answer, despite being pretty straight forward, only leaves him with more questions!