"- It is very far from here, and more costly explanations would be needed, in order to let an outsider into the sacred city. The shaman would not need to travel here physically; their spirits can walk these paths easily." 

"...with a tapestry?"

"Not physically, but it is the magic that matters, the tapestry is merely the physical anchor for the spell. Though I suppose if you do wish to go yourself, the Tayledras can give you directions." 

"I can check it out here if that's more convenient, it's just weird that it would be. Uh, I don't actually have a great angle on ending the supervillain career of a bodysnatcher, though."

"His operations are in the north, on the other side of the mountains. You have many capabilities. You might investigate what he has been doing and plans to do next, if you wish. It is not pleasant." 

"Yeah, I can forensic it, I just don't see what I'd do about it. Operate from orbit?"

"Perhaps. I am certain you can figure out something. He is powerful, but not omnipotent, and he will not be expecting you." Her voice is fervent, impassioned. "If he is not stopped, then even more people will die. And you are the only hope to stop him." 

"Uh. Thank you. ... do you know why that other fellow set me on fire?"

Her eyes bore into him. "The future held darkness and destruction. He was afraid. As am I, but - if you did not come here to harm anybody, then it is better to be friends and not enemies." 

"I appreciate that. I will take some basic precautions, and do some forensics, and if you would like me to also look at the magic nonphysical tapestry I have no other appointments right now."

"Of course." She bows her head, briefly. "...One more thing. It would be best if you did not tell Herald Vanyel of this. I cannot say exactly what might happen, the future is chaotic, but - you must at all costs avoid letting him fall into Leareth's hands. He would be far too powerful a weapon if used against his own people." 

"...I kind of need to tell him about some of the basic precautions because he is my summoner."

A nod. "I think you should not bring him with you, though. And that you ought not delay." 

"...does the tapestry count as delaying? Does waking him up to give him the ten minute version of a summoning lecture count?"

"I cannot see so exactly as that. But ten minutes - in the dead of night, when you are here and safe in k'Treva - seems unlikely to make or break your efforts here. And the tapestry will not take long, for - what I think you need to see most urgently." 

"Okay. I'm ready for tapestration."

There's a brief pause - 

- and then suddenly another woman is there. She's wearing robes as well, but midnight blue, and her eyes seem a bit bleary, like she might have been woken from a deep sleep a few minutes ago. She gives Cam an incredibly nonplussed look. 

"You - needed to see the memory tapestry, no? Of the Mage Wars?" 

"That is my understanding."

She holds out her hand. 

And whenever he takes - 

- he sees a lot of things. 

Armies marching on cities. Mages throwing fire and lightning. Ruined villages burning. Strange winged creatures diving, tearing soldiers to shreds. 

Terrified people meeting in a room, as the Archmage of Tantara, Urtho, explains what his enemy Ma'ar just did - a mind-controlling artifact in the palace, one that generated unnatural fear, overnight sending nearly everyone fleeing, so that he could capture the palace and the capital city almost trivially... 

A permanent Gate destroyed in a vast explosion. 

Urtho evacuating his Tower, telling his people - including the Kaled'a'in, ancestors of the Tayledras and Shin'a'in - to get out, knowing he was going to die - 

- a memory through a young woman's eyes, of the distant flash on the horizon, and knowing that their beloved teacher and mentor and friend was dead, had called a Final Strike because if Ma'ar captured the Tower and its contents then all would be lost... 

Endless devastation. Wandering through a twisted landscape, despairing, after they had lost everything... 

Cam is quiet when it's over.

The blue-robed shaman who helped him out stands quietly, eyes downcast. She looks apologetic. 

The Star-Eyed Goddess doesn't. 

"I hope that gave some helpful background," she says. 

"Looked like - well. A war."

"Indeed. If you have no other questions, I will send you back now." She waits for a beat. 

"Can I swing by again later if I think of some?"