"Unrest grows throughout the empire", an ancient Kobold Allen didn't remember the name of spoke endlessly, "new cults sprouting like poison flowers in vinewood dungeon", it was all breaking apart, "we even found evidence of crystal sacrifices inside the capital".
"Kill them all" Allen murmured, "or let them become Ferals and we negotiate with their caretakers in a couple hundred years", the madness of it infuriated him.
After a long silence the speaker continued, "rumors speak of a pirate invasion", she looked around for a specific face and settled back, "Naromy could probably give a more accurate report from the spies at the Emperor's court", she just blabbed along, "but it creates even more unrest as resources are diverted from defensive programs to curing the Feral plague", the other attendants nodded in agreement, "though we all know how important it is to bring back as many of our people as soon as possible", drawing breath, "we have to consider the greater picture and start relocating some of those resources back to everyday life".
Allen was apalled at the suggestion, already working nonstop with every resource available and not even one percent of the Ferals returned to their lives, "taking away their freedom for financial nonsense is unacceptable" he said out loud and the Kobolds stared at him again.
Teliasha, Allen finally remembered her name, continued after anothet pause, "civilian projects that also ground to a halt include deforestation in the northern region and the highway connection to the free guilds association in the east", she looked to another Kobold, "Meteor can elaborate on implications rising from breaking our agreement with the guilds on both commerce and defense pacts"
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"Who cares about roads and forests when lives are ruined every minute we waste on idle chatter?" Allen burst with rage, "once we finish healing the Ferals we can do all that stuff"
"Enough" BoneSmith snapped, "you are breaking under the stress Allen", gasps heard around the room, "it has to be said", she looked directly at him, "we made a mistake".
"Putting you in charge was the only mistake I made" Allen retorted.
BoneSmith remained calm though some of the others moved in visible distress, "you need a break" she continued, "we all know what is happening to you", looking around the table at the nodding Kobolds made Allen even angrier, "this is stress from overworking", her eyes stopped on a Kobold Allen didn't know, "we all fealt it and had subordinates going through it", the newcomer nodded "our mistake was thinking you had our experience", she looked directly at Allen "that you would know how to pace yourself", Allen had a stone sink through his mind, "and know when to stop or ask for help", her eyes never wavered as Allen fealt something quivering inside him, "but when we worked and thrived for hundreds of years you did whatever it was you were doing", the words hammered in his mind "you will have to trust us on this" she paused, "that we do this because we care about you", her eyes darkened "Allen the man not the god".
Closing her eyes for a few seconds "because you may be omnipotent but you are not omniscient" opening her eyes and looking at him, "if you were really my subordinate", the pause filled Allen with dread at what she was going to say, "I would send you to a management course before putting you in charge of a much smaller project than what you are currently doing" Allen sighed with relief inwardly, "but I can't make you do anything", she looked around the room, "we need you", and added "but we need you for the long run", her eyes focused on him again "so please let us help you" her final tone almost begging.
Allen knew she was right, the words struck a chord deep in his heart and he wanted to curl in a corner and cry, silence permeated through the room as the seconds dragged into a minute and beyond before he finally said in a quiet voice "help me"