— From the Intro to Valley of Dying Things

— First entering Skylark Vale (Valley of Dying Things)

"Just look outside. Look at the valley. See how well we protected it. The disaster started years ago. Yet, despite my pleas, you're the first help we've received."

"It started six years ago. Slowly at first, barely noticeable. A bitter taste in the water. Then the taste got worse, like poison. Then the illness began."

"You are the first, the only help the Empire has deigned to send us since the disaster began. And forgive me, but I strongly doubt you're sufficient for the task."

— Cmd. Terrance, commander of Fort Talrus (Valley of Dying Things)

"You're here to remove the curse. Well, we've all suffered by it, but I've noticed something. Nobody here seems too inclined to figure out its origins."

— Kilborn, at Blinlock Foundry (Valley of Dying Things)

"Well, the main reason I came to the Vale was to learn of the School of Magery. Then, lately, I have been trying to determine the cause of the curse which has afflicted us."

"It was a school in the Vale, which taught some of the wisest mages in the Empire. It closed a century ago, and was sealed up. It was to the north of here. You can visit it if you wish. However, you will likely have the same problems investigating I did."

"Go up north and see for yourself. The mages who closed the place sealed it up well. I have been able to neither enter it nor find out why it was closed. Few here even know of it."

— Axel, sage of Sweetgrove (Valley of Dying Things)