With the recent escalation in the conflicts shaking up Arche-Terre, the GOAT decided to investigate at the source of this conflict by finding and interviewing a representative from the Consortium. For this purpose, we went to Antebellum, the base of operation of the Consortium. If it is a rather dangerous travel to go there by using the Arches (the gates from which Arche-Terre holds its name), it is however doable to get there via a much safer road: the island of Radotonga, and from there, taking one of the flying ships docked in Ukari Station. Once there, I was immediately accosted by Consortium soldiers fully armored, but luck was on my side and their officer appeared a moment later, allowing me to interview her.

The Interview

Can you please introduce yourself to our readers ? Who you are and what is your purpose here?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: I’m captain Sa R’ha from the Consortium Corporation. I’m in charge of the affairs concerning the Arche-Terre. Our purpose is to maintain a certain degree of security to this world.

With the situation in Arche-Terre, lots of our readers are wondering what are the motivations of the Consortium for invading the lands.
Capitaine Sa R’ha: The situation is particulary dangerous at the moment indeed. As our ultimatum wasn’t listened, we had to take actions to prevent the denizens of Arche-Terre to cause more damages.

What ultimatum are you talking about?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: The utlimatum we gave to the « missionary »? The woman from Lomidar, Leslie. She never came back and there were no movements at the Arches. We gave them time… For a while. As for the content of the ultimatum: we want everybody to leave the Arche gates and stop interfering with the prisonners. However, it seems personnal interests for some go above general interests.

Who are those « prisonners »?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: Your people have no idea what they’re doing… They are prisonners from the ancient times.

You’re mentionning those who are called the « Ancients », those who have been found in the tunnels under Whiteharbor. Can you please tell us more about them? Who they are, and what they did? What’s their relation with the Consortium?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: That would be an awfully long story, but to make it short they are the original inhabitants of this world and lost the war which opposed our master to the « others ».

The « others »? They have a name? And, who is your master?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: My master is the mastermind who made all this possible. They were just as us but with a different « goal ». But there’s no point in asking about them. They are prisonners and should stay so.

Who is that great mastermind you mentionned? And why was there a war with the Ancients in the first place?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: Like the old story goes, it was a battle of good and evil opposing each other. As for our master, they are the one who discovered the secret and made us what we are now.

That is not answering the question, captain.
Capitaine Sa R’ha: What can I say more ? All ancients took part in it, and there are actually only two physical persons from that time on this world stil.

Who are those persons?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: The Lich and the Old Sorceress.

Here, I must precise that the interviewee refused to elaborate on that topic.

Mur Village has been invaded recently, even though its population was neutral in the conflict against the Consortium. Why did that happen?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: Because it was the most logic unguarded place they’d go too. But it actually seems they found another way, an even more annoying. As I said, your people have no idea what they are playing with.

Is that why you attacked Mur Village? Because of « another way »?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: We attacked nobody in Mur Village. We just walked in. Then, even I wouldn’t have… But master’s orders can’t be refused as you probably know.

But it was understood that it would be considered as an hostile act by the different factions of Arche-Terre, right?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: I’m not them. It’s a typical primitive reaction we encounter alot. Let us not forget though that our ultimatum wasn’t answered, wich makes your people the aggressor after all.

In the past there has been some problems with the creatures called « crispids ». People notably reported sexual aggressions. What do you have to say bout it? What are the purpose of those crispids?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: They are remnants of an ancient weapon the « others » developped. They became autonomous since. A bit like us. You could say that where we go they go. A real plague. As for the aggressions, sex is a mean to reproduce for a lot of species, some even sustain themselves that way.

You’re saying the crispids are not a creation of the Consortium?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: No they are not. I am, however.

It is said that some of the agents from the Consortium share a collective conscience. A hive mind if you will. Is that true?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: A hive is very primitive and it’s sort of a military secret but I guess you could say that it’s true indeed.

Does it apply to you as well? Are you an independant entity?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: I’m a fully independent, reproducible entity but it could apply to me too, if I wanted. It’s not the case for all of us, though. It depends of your status.

Recently, there has been reports of new things appearing on Arche-Terre. Domes with odd capacities. Has the Consortium anything to do with them?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: That’s all your people’s fault!

Once again, the interviewee didn’t want to elaborate on that topic.

Would you be ready to meet all the representatives of the different factions of Arche-Terre in an actual gathering in order to find a diplomatic solution to the current situation?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: Unfortunately there is no diplomatic solution, or rather the diplomatic solution would be for your people to leave the gates and stop bringing the prisonners to the tower. Especially those black underground creatures. « Elves » for the most of them, I think it’s how you call their race?

The interviewee was obviously referring to the drow settlement of Chel’Oloth.

Bringing prisonners to the tower? What do you mean?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: It higly irritates my master and I don’t have the status to do anything about that. I understand you don’t know what I’m talking about. I suggest you ask them what they did.

Any last words you’d want to address to our readers, captain?
Capitaine Sa R’ha: To be honest we wouldn’t be at this if in the past you would have listened to my predecessor… But alas it can’t last! Stop being so selfish and let us handle the gates.

A last world form the author

As this interview ended, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. The Consortium answered to some of my questions, but others were clearly not to be aborded. On my way back to the starport, dozens of soldiers stared at me as I walked in the otherwise peaceful streets of Antebellum. Sure, I managed to go in and out of this place, but war is always on the horizon.

Vincent D. Ryder