[Rowan's response has what is possibly its intended result - Estinien relaxes slightly at the shoulders, as if that shared disdain for Thorne is what he was hoping to hear. He doesn't smile, but he does nod his head in appreciation for the sentiment.

Perhaps it's rude to go straight for the big issues, but he doesn't seem any point in wasting the time of the commune's leaders. He's already quite willing to collaborate with this community, he just wants to know on what terms.]

I can say that Thorne made few friends, even among those of us it deemed 'worthy.' From what I saw, most of their flock abandoned them at the first opportunity.

[If Rowan and his people are looking on the bright side in terms of their arrival, he'll do his best to justify it.]

If you and your council are interested in the details of what transpired, I see little reason to keep the High Mage's secrets for him. Your people have been kind to me and mine, in sharp contrast to the months I've spent rotting in Thorne's dungeons.