Subira: Ah, you're home. That makes things easier.

Subira: I'll cut right to the chase. The path to the Zendruu Tree is now clear.

Subira: I sensed a disturbance in the energies around the Echo Wall last night. By the time I arrived whoever caused it was gone... but the wall no longer rejects attempts at passage.

Subira: Ulfe, you've stopped. Is something amiss?

Subira: ...

Subira: (Ulfe stands in front of a small worn doll abandoned in the street. He bends down to pick it up, gripping the doll so tightly its form distorts slightly under the pressure.)

Subira: Ah. Was that yours? I apologize, I was under the impression everything here was from the War.

Subira: (Ulfe shakes his head, still holding the doll.)

Subira: Do not... know.

Subira: This... all this. I stay away a long time. Before the forest is sick, I stay away.

Subira: And before the forest was sick... you were here?

Subira: (He nods and shrinks back into himself, still clinging to the doll.)

Subira: Ulfe... this may be a difficult question to answer, but I must ask nonetheless.

Subira: Where are your parents?

Subira: ...

Subira: Gone.

Subira: Where did they go?

Subira: (He points at the ground.)

Subira: I see. Thank you for answering. Player, can I speak to you for a moment? Alone.

Subira: ...

Subira: I did some digging. While the Elderwood is not under Order jurisdiction, we have long kept our eye on it.

Subira: There are no records of another settlement being established after the destruction of the outpost during the War.

Subira: A war which happened nearly 40 years ago.

Ulfe: (Ulfe holds the doll with both hands, staring down at it.)

Subira: (You enter the clearing and come face to face with what must be the Zendruu Tree. Dark infection dances across its bark, surging slightly as you come closer.)

Subira: (Every inch of it has been infected by the Echo flooding into the Elderwood.)

Subira: ...I cannot say I did not expect this outcome, but I had hoped...

Subira: Forest sick. Zendruu Tree... is forest.

Subira: I see. Are you able to track the source of the infection?

Subira: (Ulfe shakes his head.)

Subira: Too much sick. Everywhere...

Tamala: A spell designed to keep eavesdroppers out, hence the secrecy.

Tamala: I had to make sure they didn't have time to counteract it.

Tamala: You had a rat trailing you. I'm shocked you did not sense their presence, Watcher.

Tamala: ...I find it difficult to sense anything past the infection in the air.

Tamala: Which means I have no way of confirming your claim.

Tamala: You'll just have to trust me then, won't you?

Tamala: Ah, before I forget.

Tamala: (Tamala leans forward, pulling a runestone from her pocket. She blows you a kiss with a wink.)

Tamala: My little spell is lifted. You may test for yourself.

Subira: (You carefully make your way down the precarious path, one step at a time.)

Subira: (Strangely, as soon as you step through, your vision goes black... and you find yourself standing outside of the tree again.)

Subira: ...Something is wrong. Why are we back where we started?

Subira: How curious. Perhaps the tree has a few tricks up its sleeve as well...