Fiction:Tenet/History/15

=~NO NO NO NO-=

~This is wrong.

-This shouldn't be happening.

~The Setrapans are stronger than they should be. Twice they have thrown you back. A single city against the hundred nations of the Tenet Kingdom. You ask us, king Makann, how this is possible.

-We've got an answer for you. It's possible because of the enemy.

~Our enemy.

-We call him Taboo. We don't know when or how he arrived, but he's here. Setrapa reeks of his sorcery. We've been shielding you from the worst of his influence, but the rest of your army suffers. Illness and weakness spread through the ranks, while the Setrapans enjoy unexpected strength and good fortune in battle.

~Taboo wishes to ruin our great work. He wishes to destroy what we've created here.

-We didn't tell you about him before because we didn't need to tell you. He's /our/ enemy. He shouldn't be here. How did he find out about this place?

~Silence, Anungim. We will consult with the Choirs, but later. Setrapa must fall.

-Very well. Makann. It's time to move your education forward. We'd been planning to leave this off until you'd conquered this continent, but Taboo gives us no choice.

~Listen to us. Swords and spears and arrows: this is the first and truest form of warfare. But there exists another form above it, a form fought with words and symbols and signs.

-Ritual warfare. Our power lies in this. Taboo's power lies in this, which is why he's so dangerous.

~Your race has this power too. The eye upon your forehead is an expression of it, but you are an exception. The others cannot call upon their power directly as you can.

-But we can teach them how to invoke it.

~Listen to us, O king. Gather your finest priests and physicians hence. Do this quickly.

-Setrapa and Taboo are two parts of the same problem. We'll show you how to kill them both at once.