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Finally, the day of the meeting came.
Innumerable people of the four nations - Githien, Rireven, Zalik, Birakath - were sitting on rows of seats in front of an rostrum.
Behind the rostrum, Rokk, once again clad in that copy of Coelho's High Alchemist suit, was sweating bullets.
"Ready?" asked Carrios .
"No," muttered Rokk.
"Hurry to get ready," snarked Coelho as he and Carrios went upon the rostrum to make the first part of the announcement.
They could hear the High Alchemist and the merchant lord begin the story with a reminder of the first failed attempt at conquering Birakath's summits, then the letter from the Red Claw.
Rokk felt on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Come on!" said Cletus. "Don't tell me you're scared of a crowd! Surviving all those years was scarier, no?"
"No! I got used to solitude and distance! And they never saw me in that shape now! What if they think I'm a freak?!"
"Oh, please!" protested Vathek. "If you had applied that philosophy to the settlers, you'd still be in that snowy wasteland right now!"
"And the settlers had no idea what you were, yet they welcomed you! These guys have all the presentation done by the boss and your son! It'll be a breeze!"
Shocked gasps interrupted them. Clearly, the point of the revelation had been reached.
"It's for soon," moaned Rokk.
"It's gonne be fine, Rokk," promised Cletus.
"Just stay calm and don't forget the outlines of what to say," advised Vathek.
Before Rokk could answer, Coelho slid back behind the rostrum.
"You're up," whispered Coelho.
With one last gulp, Rokk climbed on the rostrum, where his son still was, and looked at the crowd.
All of them were staring at him, in surprise, shock, disbelief.
"Hello," stammered awkwardly the gnoll. "I know Co... the High Alchemist told you who I am and what I used to be years ago."
A silence stretched a bit.
"I guess you're shocked to see that, especially those of you who knew me from before. Hell, I'm still shocked, and I see myself in a mirror every morning!"
The cuckles were rare and scattered, but still present, and Rokk felt his anxiety weaken a bit. He continued in a stronger voice:
"You must be wondering what occured exactly on the summits, for this to happen. Well..."
And for the second time, Rokk told the story of this long exile on the mountains.

Art by  buckdasystem
Rokk © me