Gilmore frowned, rare lines appearing between his eyes and across his brow. It took a minute to fit the story together, even with more of the pieces, not just because it had happened some time ago, but also because...he simply wasn't expecting it. Couldn't have imagined it, in fact. He hadn't experienced the horrific, visceral message the Briarwoods had placed on the Sun Tree to Vox Machina first hand, had only heard it from Vax and seen the haunted look on his face, even years from the event. For Vax, for all of Vox Machina, it was a lightning bolt of reality that what was happening in Whitestone was more than what they'd faced before
There were real consequences to their actions, real people who suffered. And one of them was right in front of him, staring at the very place she had died. Had sat near the very woman she was meant to represent in one gory sacrifice.
"Oh darling," he took Laudna's hand in between both of his. "I am so very sorry that happened to you. I can't even fathom what's going through your head now--Laudna, darling, how old were you?"