[He shouldn't be surprised, but still, he internally rattles - gulps, next words come out - not exactly hitching, but bumping.]

The -- the Ancients...?

I -- [Swallows again, quietly - doesn't hurt to talk about them, why slow down... Mumbles himself back into momentum.]

...Beings from outer realms, pagan cults drew magic from them and - corrupted human politics, er --

Mantorok. -- He was the one, who - enlisted us. Occasionally. Humans, to keep the - others. -- Out of his - its... domain...

[He'll - start there, he reckons.]