[ He is, quite literally, taking notes. Every detail. It's all important. ]

The coal sick. They saw that and assumed it started here. So Serthica was whole before, the sickness spread everywhere, the two halves fought and split, and now everyone's separated and doesn't trust each other.

[ A pause for a moment, letting that settle in his own mind. ]

Would you go up there if you could? Live up there, with the children?