Space Oddity

[Bjorn]

"I come from a bit further afield," Bjorn admits.  "If you have particular questions, however, I could ask them of a spirit who comes from the Shroud.  But I would myself be quite interested to learn what the Church has to say of these things."

[Dracos]

"You wish to know of our homeland?  It is a land of devout people.  Too devout, I might say.  The church is largely the greatest authority in the lands and the people live, for the most part, primitively in comparison to your own works, with the templars keeping forcibly all cultures even more primitive than theirs.  Most of the luxuries taken for granted here are things that simply do not exist there.  Technically, we committed sacrilege by how we came here, circumventing the gates.  But I think I ruin the tone of the meal and the evening.  Perhaps Quincy could share a more pleasant tale of his home, and of the people of Windhurst rather than the policy."

[Brian]

Quincy winces again, shifting his shoulders as Aliester's gaze turns to him.  "I am curious to know, then.  Windhurst neighbors us, but we have so little communication aside from the monthly Church officials...."  He pauses, considering Quincy's attire.

The young churchman looks like he wishes for another outfit than the one he's wearing, as he stuttering offers, "W...well, the people of Windhurst have always been kind in my memory, and our land is safe....  The only threats I know of are the, um, savages who live edgeward...."  He trails off, glancing at Bjorn, then swallows nervously.  "T...the Church and the Templar Guild tell us that they protect us from savages and, um, Anabarans, since....  Because it is said that the use of anabaric devices is a violation of the Church tennents...."  He swallows again, then starts over:

"Our houses aren't so nice, and our cities are much smaller, but outside of what the Church tells us, our people are peaceful and content."

[Bjorn]

"The people of the plains aren't truly a threat to anyone.  Quite peaceful in nature."  Bjorn grins broadly.  "At least, until I taught them how not to be.  A significant portion of their lives, however, revolves around speaking with the spirits of the world.  I imagine that this is the sort of thing of which the Church might not approve."

[Dracos]

'It appears we lack good story tellers for the evening.  Perhaps one of yours could regale us, and in turn possibly ignite the storyteller spirt in one of our fellow travelers," He looked over the group.  "Most of us have never before set foot on Anabara, and these are wonders quite beyond us, in that sense."

[Brian]

"Interesting," Holmes muses.  "Still, be at ease.  This isn't an interrogation."

"True enough," the king agrees, holding his cup out to Aliester to refill it.  "I apologize if this has made you uncomfortable, friend.  Colonel?"

Westley has been sitting at attention the entire time, and inclines his head.  "Majesty?"

"Tell me of your expedition, if it's not too trying."

"Certainly!"  And then Westley launches into his retelling of the mission.  He had three years to work on this speech aboard the ship, so everything but the last part shines like a gem, neatly glossing over the fact that they spent just over three years wandering, lost.  As far as detail goes, Westley recounts things that the king would logically already know, but conveniently outlines the facts for everyone else:

Westley and the crew of the Starflare were handpicked over the two years leading to its completion and launch.  The ship (and its mission) were the proof of the king's Spark after the loss of his parents a few years earlier (though Westley doesn't suggest it, given the political clime, foul play is not out of the question).  They were able to ascend until they pierced the Shroud, whereupon they took many measurements, recordings, and performed what tests they had the equipment for.  The ship's Anabarist was able to determine how to create lemon-water to stave of scurvy and other ills, a potentially invaluable skill for future missions (Westley seems to be fascinated by this, but the fact saved his life so it makes a degree of sense; no one else seems much interested other than a nod of the head).  Eventually, they stumbled into some kind of vortex, and found themselves within another sphere, above the plains where Christianson's people lived.

For Tim and Nathan, much of this is news, but Westley has had less time to polish this part of the recitation:  "Once we reached Windhurst and made fast friends with the natives, we learned of a detachment of the Church knights -- the Templar Guild -- who were headed towards friends of Master Christianson.  Ah ... Captain Vega chose to aid our new allies against the Church...."  Westley hesitates a moment at this.

"Force, I presume," Aliester says, pushing his plate away and steepling his fingertips together.  "How many representatives of the Templar Guild were involved?"

"The anabaric brissance projectors, Maestro.  Yes.  I believe we had located near to twenty.  They were closing in on Master Bloom and his junior, and his companions, Masters Tom and Seven.  At Master Christiansion's suggestion, the remaining forces with Master Bloom were diverted to the plains to reinforce his own people; we traded with them for some small supplies and tokens of esteem before making the journey back here.  Thanks to Master Christianson, where the trip to Windhurst took more than three years, the return voyage was far swifter."

"It seems that we will need to speak with Captain Vega, then," Aliester murmurs.  "Your majesty, what do you think?"

His majesty looks thoughtful, pushing his vegetables around on his plate with a fork.  "We think the mission could have gone better," he finally says with a sigh.  "However, Captain Vega and his crew have served you, and therefore ourselves, magnificently.  Commendations will be issued, have no doubt."

"Majesty, I--" Westley tries to apologize.

"Nevermind," the king says, shaking his head.  "It is no fault of yours, rather--"

"Mistakes can be made," Aliester interjects, before the king can continue.  "However, other than an unfortunate delay, all has turned out well.  The mission returned, you reached Windhurst, and have made our kingdom new friends and allies.  As his Majesty says, worthy of commendation."

Westley nods, falling silent.

"A question, if I might?" ventures Holmes.

"By all means, Inspector," the king says, setting his silverware on the table and mimicking (though, it looks a tad silly) Aliester.

"Thank you."  Holmes turns to Phil and Tom.  "Could you tell me more of how it is that the Church has cause for you to serve them?  Or, what you know of it, at least?"

[Dracos]

Dracos coughed slightly.  "In simple terms...  Tom was a slave, or soon to become one, likely to be used in battle, much in the same way those nobles here may gather tools to hinder or strive against their fellows.  Criminals, neverdowells, and people the church simply would rather disappear tend to find themselves there.  In general, the treatment to transform them into such a state leaves their minds nearly blank, often with no idea who they are or what they used to be.  In Tom's case particularly, the results were extremely obedient individuals for the most part with tremendous physical strength.  This is accomplished through the utilization of the gates to selectively regress and eliminate traits."

[Brian]

"What he said," Seven says, nodding.  "Tom has better memory, though."

"Memory problems abound," Aliester says with a shrug.  "Unfortunately, Master Shuker remembers little from his sojourn through the Gates either.  The Starflare provides a convenient way around that."  He shakes his head.  "Regardless."  Aliester gestures, and a previously empty dish fills with ice-cream, surrounded by a flickering momentary aura of crackling energy.  He serves the king first, then offers everyone a bowl.

[Dracos]

"My compliments to the king, for such an exquisite greeting to emissaries from abroad.  Truly, we are honored," Dracos pleasantly replies, digging into the ice cream.

[Brian]

Tastes homemade.  Vanilla, too.  Still, pretty decent.

"Uncle Aliester should be thanked, really," the king says with a shrug.  "But all of our guests are welcomed here.  I imagine tomorrow will be quite busy for the colonel; the Councils will both want details of the journey."

Holmes nods at that.  "The Councils will both be quite busy, I imagine.  Especially with your cousins returned...."  He turns to Catherine, then.  "Have you a place to stay then, with your family home burnt down?"

"An apartment," she says quietly, her first contribution to the conversation.  "I am not overly concerned with that for the moment."

"You are always welcome to stay in the palace, cousin," the king offers quickly.  "And you, too, cousin Timothy."

[Carthrat]

Tom digs into the icecream; sugar? Dessert? Sounds great!

"That's a useful trick," he remarks to Aliester. "Could you make other food, too? Or other objects?"

[Brian]

"It's not my specialty, aside from this dish," Aliester says with a shrug.  "But yes.  Manifestation is one of the powers of Anabarists.  Are there none in Windhurst?"

[Dracos]

"Only among the church.  Beyond that, Tom has been having memory issues since his enslavement," Dracos passed off.

[Carthrat]

"No, there was at least one," responds Tom, shaking his head. "Well, one other Anabarist who didn't strike me as affiliated with the church- the one that used some kind of teleportation device. At least, that's what I think it was."

[Halbarad]

"Given the events at the tower earlier, I think I may have to take you up on that," Tim replies to the king. "Since one of the foremen very definitely knows my abilities go beyond what you'd expect of a normal journeyman, I suspect it's best I don't head back to the tower. I'd trust Master Tavner, but I also wouldn't be surprised to hear rumors start springing up, either."