The Black Gate is Closed

[Dracos]

Dracos eyed Bjorn, closing the books at the incoming sound.  "I suppose that is your masters returning?" 

OOC: Shifting to presence, diplomacy and all that.

[Brian]

"Y...yes," Maximilian manages, glancing across the yard with the Gate nervously as six men in nearly identical dress emerge from the checkpoint, approaching the yard and babbling to themselves in irritable tones.  They seem oblivious to any other presence aside from their own.  They have dark suits, with vests, inferior pocketwatches, and stovepipe hats.

All of the men are the same height, and approximate build (very, very round), with one exception.  He would be taller, and thin to the point of appearing emaciated, but he's stooped nearly in half and uses a cane; none of the others seem to need walking sticks.

Maximilian and the other apprentices wait quietly by the door to their dormitory as the Gate technicians approach.  The thin one casts an annoyed glance at the apprentices, pausing to blink slowly and narrow his eyes at Bjorn and Phil.  "Guests?" he asks dryly, causing the babble to instantly cease.  His eyes flick to the pocket watch, and he blinks again.  "From that know-it-all blaggart, I would expect.  Well, get on with it, then.  What business do you have here?"

[Dracos]

"Blaggart?" He shook his head. "We are examining the progress on your research," He pondered briefly opening hostile demands...but decided to give it a moment.  "I trust that you have time to elaborate on your current studies."

He switched instantly to mind reading, listening in to the man's answer.

OOC: Switching to telepathy six dice and YOUR MIND IS MINE...Or your going to be very obvious as am I...and I think I have more aces.  Bluff on!

[Brian]

Phil's initial probing with his mind powers reveals only the surface thoughts of the man he is interrogating -- and for the most part, he's not hiding anything.  He's annoyed, thinks his time is being wasted, and doesn't know who Phil is, but thinks that the envoy of the Inspector is just trying to stir up trouble for some foolish reason.

"Elaborate?" he asks, a scant thought becoming clear to Phil, diagrams, charts, rows of formulae with the information he's gone over in the books occasionally hinting at what they might be for.  "Oh, I'm sure that there's nothing better to be done with my time.  Let's get this nonsense over with."  He nods curtly to the other gate technicians, dropping his voice slightly to say, "I'll be in shortly."  In his mind, he expects to be done with Phil in a matter of seconds.

"What is it you think you need to know?"

[Dracos]

"Well, I think you need to tell me the current state of the art with your work on the gates, and be thorough and I'll be done here to leave you to your research all the swifter," Sensing a man with more pride than sense, he gave the man at least a slight excuse to talk, even as he was scanning for the real story.

[Brian]

"The state of my work?" the man says, puffing up self-importantly.  "My work is what will draw Anabara from the dark age we risk falling back into."  Filtering through his layers of surface thought, Phil is able to pick a few details out here and there -- the man's mind is full, and it's difficult to delve deep into it without more time.  Beyond the surface, Phil is able to tell that the man knows an awful lot about the Gates, including some details which he has not shared with the other Gate technicians there. 

"It is through these Gates, once we know the secrets of their workings, that we shall expand the Anabaran empire."  Phil isn't able to get to those details immediately, but he can recognize that there are thought that this guy shields away, hiding from his general flow of consciousness to keep them from slipping out in discussions with the other Gate masters (who he thinks of as idiots, but less idiotic than every other non-him entity in the world).  Given what Phil has managed to glean from the books and study so far, it's reasonable to guess that the senior Gate technician either knows how to use the Gates without using the unpredictable regression/progression complications, or another way to bypass the Gates entirely.  But it's a certainty that he's not going to share it easily.  "They work simply.  One inputs the traits one exemplifies or wishes to minimize, once one understands the various formulae of the Gate function, activates the Gate, and sends a subject through it.  Our current goal is to discover a means to use the Gates without invoking any formulae on ourselves or our devices; we know such a method exists, as the bi-monthly envoys from the Church demonstrate when they arrive.  It is only a matter of time before we understand it."

He raises an eyebrow.  "Is there anything else, then?"

[Dracos]

"That is...somewhat disappointing.  I was certain you were an actual scientist rather than the bludgeoning students.  You had that kind of bearing, that of a man truly into his work, and I'd believed Anabarians had managed to overcome the base savage level of understanding.  I suppose I misread...  so who's the person who has actually been doing the science?  Was it one of those ninnies following you?  Can't be they didn't look intelligent enough," Dracos played off the man's ego and pride, expecting that if he didn't outright say it, it'd come right to the front of his mind.

[Brian]

The man blinks several times, as though he has trouble believing what he's heard.  His thoughts aren't, unfortunately, about whatever secrets he's been keeping, but how infuriated he is by some mook storming into his workshop to try and stir up trouble.  Some servant of the weak and grasping King to try to keep a hold on their fragile power-base--  That thought is quickly wiped away by a curtain of rigidly ordered control.

The senior Gate technician is trembling with barely restrained anger, and he says, "I see that we are done here.  Guards!  Show the investigators out!"

From the gateway, a confused guard pokes his head out, though after glancing between the technician and the guys with the pocket-watches, he looks reluctant to actually do anything.

[Dracos]

"If we are, then it'd be very unfortunate.  It verifies the other reports about your work...and your loyalties.  Guards, stand down.  The technician is in no danger, and any action taken against us is as an action against the king," He replied firmly, not even looking at the guards while he did so, his eyes staring into the man.  "I believe you have more to tell me, Humphrey Gladstone."

[Brian]

Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, and the less involved his is, the better ... the guard melts back into the entryway, vanishing from sight.  "And I believe that we are done!" he counters, almost snarling.  "You can take your thuggish antics elsewhere; here, important work is being done to save the kingdom."

[Dracos]

"Would that be the army of thugs that was being purchased using transmission through this gate or some of the other work done here to depose the current king?  He was hoping that you change your ways and truly bring your talents to forefront of Anabara's progress.  But I see that you're intent on playing the fool," He sighed slightly, knowing the fellow is too angry to take the offer, but at the same time listening to his thoughts, intending to dig through to his gate research if the man was confused and scan any thoughts on folks that could've betrayed him if not.

[Brian]

A single frantic thought is clear to Phil before Humphrey somehow manages to shield his mind, glowering furiously at the priest from another land.  That thought is a name ... someone named 'Hathoway'.  "I take offense at your claims, Sir!" he says, indignantly.  "Complaint will be filed with your superiors and you will be brought before the Council!  Now be gone from my sight, you dog of the Inspector!"

[Dracos]

"You seem to assume I have superiors to take offense.  I find this amusing.  You seem to also assume everyone Hathoway has dealt with actually was dealt with,"  He smiled.  "Let us cut to the chase.  I came here because I was thoroughly aware of your leanings.  This entire conversation has been laid with opportunities to demonstrate differently.  While it would be preferred to keep you alive as a tamed scientist for the king helping create a new golden era, traitors must be dealt with,"  Dracos eyed across at Bjorn before pinning the man with a harsh stare, stepping near, ready to grab him if needed.

OOC: Assuming based on physical description that I should have no issue restraining/outmoving if necessary.  If he moves surprisingly quick, can I borrow my dex for a react?  Until then, brainscanning as deeply as possible on this.  If I can push it, push it.

[Brian]

Humphrey is rattled at this point.  "W...what do you want?" he finally squeaks out.  "Who sent you?"

His mind is a turmoil of fear and anger; he doesn't know what's going on, beyond the fact that he's being threatened by people who know more about him than he knows about them.

[Bjorn]

"Now, then," Bjorn speaks.  "There's no need for these harsh words.  I'm sure, Phillip, that you've misread the situation.  After all, even if Dr. Gladstone was in fact not loyal to his King, to openly declare defiance against agents of the Inspectors would be tantamount to declaration of open rebellion, not only on his part, but why, for all his superiors as well!  Such a serious action, taken when the King has just proven his Spark?  Oh, no, this I cannot imagine.

"So, then, Dr. Gladstone.  Let us return to the matter at hand, shall we?  You know things about the Gate.  More, in fact, than you have said.  Share this knowledge with us!  Is that not the heart of science, to learn and to share?  Let us be friends, Dr. Gladstone.  Tell us what you know."

OOC: Using Influence to bring over Nightmare Presence (+20 PRE).