Disappearance of the Eloquents

By: Tristan Arts

Listen here, all who read this scroll. Know you of the Eloquents??? They were a mighty civilization, indeed. They made us look like babes n the wood, yet they shared their knowledge with all who wished it. Yet take heed, for people did not always listen to them. Foolish ones often thought that they could know better than the Eloquents. It is that

folly that led to their disappearance.

Listen! Know you of Jophwaan Island? Twas once the most beautiful island ever made by the deities. Just absolutely splendid, twas. Yet that it is no longer. It is now the deadest place you will ever see. Death took advantage of a little toehold and murdered the place. What toehold is that? Listen! Twas this very Tiirii Council that started the whole problem. Many were so awestruck by Jophwaan Island as to want to live there. They debated in council for many a week, in favor of colonization. Taking with them many cities, they began to prepare.

Yet twas then that the much wiser Eloquents heard of this, and they were terrified. For this island, they knew, though big was very sensitive. The ecosystem would not be able to handle colonization. They advised in Council against doing this; the Council ignored them. They begged, they pleaded not to go; the Council said 'Tis not in your wisdom, we thinks, to decide such matters. We go. We fear that, for once, you are wrong.' Nothing could be done to stop these fools, and even when they were beginning to erect cities upon the island, the wise Eloquents continued trying to stop them.

For ten years the plan to settle worked out fine. The Councils said to the Eloquents, 'See! You were wrong! We have settled, and the deities are happy!' People were also happy, and all seemed to be going well. Yet listen! Twas then that people did start to notice that certain plants and animals were not seen as often. Spices and cures unique to the island were growing scarce. Yet twas not that they grew concerned until the well-known cure-all plant named Uiinipahkah could be found no longer. After that, more species began to disappear and to die off. The island's ecosystem was suffering. The people were overusing resources without knowing it, and causing the ecosystem to fall ill.

A year later it was so bad that the Eloquents were furious. As the island's condition worsened, the people left and became very sorrowful. The Eloquent were so enraged by the foolishness of the Councils that they closed their doors to the outside world, but not before saying, Tools! Look at what you have done! Urgh! Be gone with you, and touch not the island again!' The others banged on the doors, crying and emoting, pleading, even begging the Eloquents to forgive their foolishness, saying that they would no longer ignore advice given by the Eloquents.

Yet listen! These fools did not realize that they had been given advice yet again. They went back to Jophwaan Island in a desperate attempt to save the island's ecosystem. Yet if they had just listened to the advice of the Eloquents and left the island alone, it would have recovered in time. Mayhap a dozen or more generations, but in time. Yet listen they did not.

A year after the ecological rescue group started working, the island's condition worsened so quickly that the people were forced to abandon the island yet again, only, leaving everything behind. While this had gone on, the Eloquents, unaware as to what was going on, had decided to forgive the fools and become friends once more. Yet just as they opened their doors to the outside world, the first news they got was of the new Jophwaan Island disaster. The island was dying, and dying fast. This so infuriated the Eloquents that they slammed the doors closed, after saying only 'You are children who defy the wisdom of your betters too often. This is the last straw.' Again, there was banging, begging, pleading, and tears.

The next morning, the doors were open, but there was nobody home. All of the cities of the Eloquents had been abandoned. Jophwaan Island was, and shall forever be, completely dead. The Eloquents have never been seen or heard from since, though we have searched far and wide for them. That is why, now, the word 'Jophwaan' means 'a final, permanent goodbye.'