I forgot to mention before that Reverend Sa'ar found a quiet moment with you down in Corflu and confided some news to you. You know that he means this information to stay in your head and never be uttered to another.
"On the Lunars... you know that the cult is divided on their stance toward the occupying force. But I should let you know my position on the topic, now that you are part of the upper headwaters of the river cult. Back when Corflu was first occupied by Lunars, I was the only river priest here and the Lunars came to me for help negotiating the marshes. I agreed to help them only to learn later that hungry soldiers camped in the marsh had mutilated some of my clutchmates and eaten their tails. They paid us well and granted us a permanent place in Corflu, but my feelings about the Lunars have always been mixed. Our relationship since then has had a similar duality. In earlier times, I sat idly by and watched, or even lent assistance, as Lunar marines prepared to mount sneak attacks on the far-off lands of Heortland from their base at Corlfu. I seldom interfered with the progress of the Empire, except when I had to negotiate for Zola Fel's interests that conflicted witthe the Lunars, helped to have an outlawed riverman smuggled to safety, or turn my head when a Mru acted in vengeance against Lunars that took advantage of his daughter."
"The Wolf Pirates have proven a great problem in these parts for all peoples that live and work around Corflu, from decadent foreign merchants to innocent fishermen. We are lucky to have the Lunars here to help in defending our property. But again the duality is present. The Lunars do not respect our ways or other holy things. When the Giant's Cradle passed by here 4 years ago, and I heard it had been pursued by Lunars all along the river and saw them preparing to stop it in Corflu once and for all, I had to make a decision." He pauses in contemplation.
"It took but a moment... all I had to do was recall our ancient bond with the giants, oaths in the distant past. That alliance is far more honorable and profound. I called on allies around the marshes; creatures and peoples that few riverfolk even know of. The Thirsty One, giant mosquitoes; the Mudslithers, great marsh-serpents, and the Croaking Horde, angry frog-men all summoned my calling and defended the Cradle as Lunar marines stormed it. Orlanthi lifted on god-winds swept the air to do battle with wyvern-riding Lunar troopers, and Zola Fel answered my summons for a great quicksand to slow the advance of The Watchdog, which was later repelled by the power of the Cradle magical defenses. This was the first time that I acted against the Lunar occupation directly and I do not regret it. The River renewed its ancient alliance and the Cradle passed into the Eternal Sea safely."
"I had a chance to board the Cradle briefly, as I figured I would never get that chance again and had to behold its glory. On board I met many warriors from the city of Pavis, and troll defenders as well. They had fought for the Cradle's welfare for days as it went downriver, staving off attacks from Lunars, nomads, chaos, sundomers, and more Lunars. One of their leaders, a striking young Orlanthi named Garrath Sharpsword, had words with me that I will not forget:
'Sometimes hopes can take solid form, march out and take the foe by the throat. Hatred too. Sometimes one must cast Death in the service of Life, let unbridled emotion fly unfettered and action flow from the inner wind.'
His words were of wisdom I was not familiar with, the old Orlanthi way, but they rang also of other wisdoms akin to the way of the river; the left hand of harmony and right hand of vengeance. And his words still surge within me, like the foaming maw of a whirlpool or the roaring heart of a storm." You've never seen this much emotion in Sa'ar; he seems almost human with such rich pathos and unspoken pain.
"Since those days I have often acted silently against our occupiers. Sometimes capriciously, on a whim, I have given the word to have Croakers tip over rafts or disrupt supply trains. The troll insect priestess here at times brings me pests to lower the morale of the garrison. And then recently the Wolf Pirates returned, and again I faced a tough decision: which enemy to help? I had heard that Garreth passed onward with the Cradle, and later met Wolf Pirates whom he recruited as allies somehow. Remembering his wisdom and strange charisma, I reluctantly placed my bet on the Wolf Pirates, hoping that if I assisted them they would spare our kind, while in the meantime the cult would profit from bringing the Lunars down here. Perhaps the two enemies, with my help, would strike each other down without too much harm to my people."
"So far my gamble has paid off. The Lunars are plagued by mishaps and ambushes by watery forces they do not understand, and so far they have not uncovered my duplicity. In turn, the river cult grows more endeared to the Lunars and is defended more vigorously down here in the swamp. By turning the two heads of the serpent on itself, we are surviving."
"But soon the battles may draw nearer to Corflu, and I may need to reveal my allegiance or be swept aside. I want you to know that, if the time comes, the river beings of Corlfu are pledged to drive the Lunar forces out. We can take refuge from the Pirates' plundering deeper in the mud-holes of the swamps until their lust is glutted or bored, but the Lunars will not lose interest in Corflu until they are defeated here. If that time comes, I will heed the words of Garrath and many fearful, secret powers will be unleashed here for the first time in ages. Powers that I have been preparing for years for such an event. I may need to call on you and the River Voices to unsheath your swords as well, if not here then elsewhere. I want you to know this, as I am the High Priest of Zola Fel and thus dictate our cult's position. While others may dissent, this will be the way that the river's flood surges. I know you feel similarly; that is why I tell you this dread secret. Be prepared to act."