I. ♔ Video

[oathwalk]

[He selects the video function, at ease with the technology. Regally dressed and with a genial smile, Richard addresses the network.] Greetings, guests of Keeliai. I'm Richard. I look forward to meeting you all.

[There is no insincerity to him. He speaks with a genuine, if measured warmth. He likes people, generally. But Richard has thought through what he wished to say, and he has more important matters than social ones.]

Salutations aside, I have a few points of inquiry that I hoped someone could be of help with. First, a question of home. Though I was comforted to hear the reassurances of our hosts, I must ask if we foreigners have any confirmation of our own that our worlds do not suffer our absence while we are here. It is of some concern. [He doesn't take the Emperor's word for it. Sorry, Eshai!]

The second matter is one of occupation. It is my understanding that we are asked to contribute through some form of work. While I am happy to do so, I'm afraid I . . . don't know how one would attain employment. [Royalty lessons don't include lessons on resumes, whoops. He pushes aside the awkwardness with that same geniality as before.] I'd be grateful for any advice or suggestions.

[His expression becomes more grave now. This last is the most worrying to him.] Finally, and most importantly, I wish to know about the eleth here. I posed my questions to the kedan, but they did not seem to understand. Is it known what means this planet uses to channel eleth? I have heard no mention of cryas or valkines, and Tu Vishan's current state begins to bear a disturbing resemblance to that of a planet I visited where the eleth had gone almost dry.

[Richard pauses a moment, and then smiles again, but that smile is somewhat more grave now, weighted by his last query.] Thank you for listening. I warmly anticipate your responses.

[And with that, he shuts off the feed. Somehow, that was even more difficult than making public speeches.]

Comments

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[bindsthedead]

I think that question might be easier to answer if you explain what eleth is.

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[oathwalk]

[Richard is a little surprised at that. Everything else was translating easily. He didn't expect that this wouldn't.]

It seems the translation doesn't cover everything. Eleth is the word for the energy from a planet's core. Without eleth, life can't exist.

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[bindsthedead]

I see. I haven't heard of anything like that, but the reason for the decay in Keeliai is because Tu Vishan is ill.

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[oathwalk]

[No one tells the newbies that they're on a turtle.] I'm afraid I don't know who that refers to.

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[bindsthedead]

Tu Vishan is the great turtle that Keeliai is built on. Haven't you noticed how odd the ground looks in some places? That's his shell.

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[traitre]

"Eleth?" Not a term I'm familiar with, though I've substantial experience with a very similar sort of planet-powering energy. [ a little smile! ] Some things just stay constant between worlds, it seems.

As far as your home is concerned, I'm... Afraid there's little be done for it, even if our hosts are lying for some reason. But I do believe that if I'm meant to be absent from my world, this certainly isn't the worst place to spend that time while away.

[ aaaaand it's obvious the kid's some sort of noble if he has to ask how to be put to work. or, you know, the clothes are also kind of a telling sign. qilby's monarchical status may not be quite as obvious beneath his simple garb (and enormous hat.) ] Finding a way to make a living here may be as simple as putting your greatest skills to use.

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[oathwalk]

So it would appear. [It's nice to hear, and Richard can't help but smile a little back. He's almost reminded of the Amarcians.]

[He taps his finger to his chin, but he nods, accepting the second comment with a little reluctance.] That's unfortunate, but I suppose it's to be expected. It has at least been a hospitable city. [Well. Richard has experienced a certain amount of hostility. But he isn't going to talk about that.]

[More thinking to be done. Thinking nothing of the hat (except that he likes it) he ponders that.] I . . . see. And one simply does so, without a need to inform anyone else, and that will suffice? [There are no social security numbers on Ephinea.]

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[traitre]

It's... Somewhat more involved than that. No one will be able to solicit your services if you don't let them know that they're available. Which, unfortunately, means no payment rendered.

[ it's not like qilby's used to this whole honest employment thing either, and putting it in words is trickier than he anticipated. in fact, his explanation kind of sounds as if it's for his own benefit as much as the other guy's. ]

Here-- what did you do on your world?

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[oathwalk]

[Two useless monarchs try to work out how to get ordinary employment: they could be a sitcom.

Richard pauses a moment to consider what it is that has been leaving him with no sleep every day for the past six months.] I was called upon to govern and to participate in diplomatic conferences. I also led my nation's monster eradication taskforce.

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[traitre]

[ they could call it rules of employment...

--but a governor, then. looks like he'd hit the nail on the head with that one. ]

A diplomat? Well, as hospitable as you claim the people are, I'm sure you've noticed that not everything is well in the city. [ a frown. ] There was some talk of a Foreigner-run council but it looks like there were some... Complications with the people originally involved.

[ though calling that three-part drama over the network a "complication" might be understating the fact. even if he doesn't involve himself, he does take care to observe the goings-on -- far less messy that way. ]

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[notdreaming]

What exactly is eleth? I've never heard of it before and the word isn't translating.

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[oathwalk]

I suppose the best way to explain it is as a kind of life energy that comes from a planet's core. Without it, greenery turns to howling wastelands, and all life becomes hollow and like clay.

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[notdreaming]

Life energy? Plant life primarily survives on solar energy.

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[oathwalk]

Interesting. Then your world lacks any equivalent to eleth? That explains why the word won't translate.

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[notdreaming]

I suppose photons would be a little like eleth only inside out. I haven't seen anything to suggest the wildlife here works differently.

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[una_persson]

Hello, Richard, it's nice to meet you. I'm Una.

Have your questions been answered, and if so, have you been left with any more?

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[oathwalk]

They have, as far as it seems possible. I do have further questions about the nature of Tu Vishan's illness. Is anything else known about it? And in the interim, have any methods other than the rationing been employed to help sustain the population?

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[una_persson]

There's a fellow named Banner who is working on alternate methods of planting and crop cultivation. As for the nature of the illness ...

Nothing definite yet, so far as I know.

[She switches over to Private.]

There is a known threat, however.

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[oathwalk]

[He'll have to make contact with Banner and see what he can do to help. When she mentions a threat, however, all that is set aside, and Richard becomes serious.]

If you could tell me more about this threat, I would care to hear it.

private, basic encryption

[una_persson]

[She shifts a little, uncomfortably.]

Those of us who know about it—a man named Iorveth, and a young mage named Sabriel, amongst others—have been looking into this quietly, because we really don't want to cause a panic. Not least because apparently it's dangerous to so much as speak the name of the threat out loud anywhere except in the Palace. [Dorian's Turtle Who Lived crack crosses her mind and she almost has to physically push it away, to keep from snickering. Gallows humour and inappropriate facetiousness has always been her weakness in times of stress.]

Anyway, this threat—it's a powerful, shapeshifting entity that can't be killed, is older than Tu Vishan, and is generally every kind of bad news of which you can conceive—and we're the cannon fodder.

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[demon_brat]

There are people I know from home, but from an earlier time, who have been here nearly as long as I have.

They have not been missing, from home. Presumably, that means you return to where - and when - you were taken from. Between waking and dreaming, but not stuck in that state back where we come from, I suppose.

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[oathwalk]

[Some tension falls from Richard's shoulders. Here, at least, was some kind of outside confirmation. Windor will not miss its king.] Thank you. You have relieved from me a great worry.

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[demon_brat]

[Damian gives a small nod.]

You worry about others more than you do about yourself. That seems... not very frequent, here.

[Not many people live a decent first impression on the network. Sorry.]

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[oathwalk]

[Sorry, Damian, but you just hit Ephinea's Rule #3: think the best of everyone until proven otherwise, and try to to be sympathetic even then.]

I'm surprised to hear that. Perhaps many simply have yet to express it? [Richard smiles warmly, and gently, he adds,] It appears I've met at least one person who does.

[Reasoning: Damian is bothered by a perceived lack of prioritizing others, so Damian likely values that quality and seeks it himself. See Ephinea's Rule #3.]

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[demon_brat]

[... oh, great, an optimist.]

>Tt.< Maybe. Or maybe they learn to pretend.

[Yes, it does matter to Damian. But he simply isn't good a believing good things of people. Ever.]