This is interesting. I had a theory that if these peoples god-given destiny was to conquer Terra, then the other planets would have been outside that mandate. But this doesn't seem to be the case. The whole issue of space travel by hyperdrive and magic fascinates me, but I should probably stay on target.
"Do you know which gods the Mongolchin and the Azmayincans worship?"
"What do you mean, which gods? Are there other gods?"
--M. J. Young
Ah...
I shrug. "I have no idea, but on my home different peoples, such as the Mongolchin and the Azmayincans, worshipped their own gods. It was the cause of much strife when they tried to 'convince' each other whose gods were superior. But I guess you haven't yet had enough contact with them to find out their customs."
"But anyway, back to the subject at hand. If your technology and magic won't work in the lands of the Mongolchin and Azmayincans, why do you think that this new scriff weapon will?"
"That's the beauty of it: it's really generally very simple in its technology. There's a kinetic pressure injection system and an electrical capacitive discharge circuit. It's a bit above anything we've seen them use, but experience says the more complicated our technology is, the less likely it is to work. With this, we need only make the missle fly--a simple magnetic rail gun--cause the target to be injected--the needle point penetrates and the impact collapses the container--and deliver a jolt of electricity. It's been quite effective in animal tests, and we've tested it in sheep driven into Mongolchin territory. Their dampening fields, or whatever they use, make them slightly less reliable statistically, but they are still quite effective at disintegrating--"
He breaks off, realizing that according to your information, they have not actually disintegrated anything--or rather, they have not done so in a permanent way.
"Well, that was the hope."
He puzzles on the idea of different gods for different peoples, and then says, "Who knows? Maybe the gods themselves are trying to prove who is superior."
--M. J. Young
"Yes, those were my thoughts exactly. I think now that I've made my point about the scriff weapon being an ill-conceived idea, I should pay a visit with my priest friends once again. I've got a few more questions I need to ask them."
I'll probably be needed back for more convincing of the brass all the way up the chain to the emperor, but I think tomorrow will be spent visiting the temples again.
You catch the transmat back to Rome. Once again you have that impression of something waiting by your body as you return to it.
The next morning you will be visiting temples. What is your plan in this regard, and what are you doing about the language (a twenty hour language spell obviously lapses daily)?
--M. J. Young
One question: When the romans say that the empire extends south through to the tip of Africa, do they mean the southern tip of Africa?
*shudder*
I'm really going to have to talk to the temple priests about transmat madness...
I should have plenty of language potions - I brewed a whack of them. In fact, if preparation for the big meeting I had 27.
Your post regarding the failed rolls here:
This twenty-five would be in addition to the two you still have from before, so you have twenty-seven. (Since the spell is completed by quaffing the potion, you won't know if they are successful or botched until that moment, although some of the failed rolls might mean that you knew it didn't work at some point. In play, this will mean that some failed rolls will simply mean you had one less potion on you and that the statement you were going to drink one didn't mean that one, but a roll for the next.)
I used 1 potion for the meeting, then I went to the military base the next day and presumably used 1 potion more. So, I have 25 left.
This morning I have Latin lessons at the 4th hour, so I won't drink another potion until after that.
In the afternoon, after my lesson, I will first go to the temple of Apollo (as god of healing) and question them about transmat madness. I want to know what they think causes it and if any of them have experienced the weird surveillance feeling I get each time. I ask them if they have any charms or anything for luck or protection during transmat.
After that, I will visit His Swiftness. Mercury, as messenger, might have some information to impart about the gods of the Mongolchin and Azmayincans. If the high priest doesn't know himself, I will ask him to consult with his god on my behalf. I will also give him a report on my day, not telling him anything secret, but letting him know that the message was delivered.
Before the end of the day I will drop in on Julia at the temple of Juno and report my progress. I hope the emperor's mother will be able to make inroads with this new chink in the emperor's armour.
Yes, the entire African continent is part of the Roman Empire. As near as you can tell, every land mass but Antarctica is part of one of the three empires, but you're not certain about the southern polar region.
The priest questions you about "transmat madness". Then he attempts to reassure you.
"You are not going mad," he says. "Those are disembodies spirits, hoping to seize an empty body. As long as you remain conscious during transmat you should have no problem returning to your new body."
His Swiftness has never heard of "other gods" either, but agrees that this is something that is worth consulting Mercury.
Julia is pleased to hear from you, and asks about everything you can tell without pressing for secret information.
--M. J. Young
Oh yeah, because disembodied spirits will reassure me...where's the Vorgo when you need it?
I'll return the next day to His Swiftness to see if there is any news on the expansion of the god neighbourhood.
Upon your arrival at the Temple of Mercury, you are ushered into the private chambers of His Swiftness, who then dismisses everyone including the servants before sitting across from you. His mood is somber.
"It seems that you are right. Mercury is reluctant to speak of it, as Jupiter does not want it noised abroad--but there seems to be a sort of war in the heavens being fought on the earth. The Gods of the Azmayincans are very open about this, driving their worshippers toward world domination; the gods of the Mongolchin are very secretive, and their own people do not know their names nor pay them homage, but are nontheless working toward those goals.
"And this seems to be why there is a battle: the gods have different ideas about how the world ought to be run, and they are battling over control so that they can impose their will over the entire world.
"This is a heavy burden for me. I have seen that we are not one world but three, each vying to devour the other two. The gods are wise to hide this truth from men. I do not know what to do with it."
--M. J. Young
Just as I suspected...
"I'm surprised he confided in you at all, actually. You may be High Priest but you're still a mortal in his eyes. I'm not really sure what to do about this but I'd keep it under your caduceus for now. Normally my advice would be to reject the gods entirely, but not only would it put you out of a job, it would give a vast advantage to the other two civilizations and certainly lead to the fall of Rome. The way I see it, the only way out of this is to somehow forge a peace between the mortal civilizations. If the gods want a war, they should have to fight it themselves. Unfortunately, Mars has the ear of the Emperor (or perhaps even is the Emperor) and there are probably similar arrangements with the leaders of the Mongolchin and Azmayincans. It's a precariously balanced and deadly triangle. Even if we convinced the Emperor and the Mongolchin to sign a peace treaty, the Azmayincans would immediately gain the upper hand. It has to be all or nothing. Except I'm sure I don't have to tell you that without even nominal diplomatic relations with the other civilizations, it will be next to impossible to arrange."
"Yes, I can see that. What we need is some sort of neutral arbiter--someone who is not part of any of the empires, who can travel between them and attempt to build the connections. But then, there is no such person even among the gods."
--M. J. Young
"Yes, a shame about that."
It'll never work. Not with my luck with language potions lately.
I head back to the hotel to ponder. I'll putter around for a few days to see if I hear back from the military.
You have the daily attendance of the slave assigned to your care; he will ask each day whether you wish to return to the base, or whether you have some other intentions, and what he should do for you.
--M. J. Young
I ask him to keep in communication with the military and to inform them that I am waiting for them to let me know the outcome of their deliberations regarding the scriff weapon.
What is his name, by the way?
I also ask him where he comes from, what he did before becoming a slave, and what it takes for a slave to become free in Rome.
Yeah, I guess this guy needs a name. Does Andronicus work for you, or would you like to suggest something else?
Andronicus was born a slave; the vast majority of slaves are, although sometimes the poor or even middle class will fall on hard times and sell themselves into slavery to pay their debts. His family has been property of the Senate for at least twelve generations.
Rarely slaves will raise enough money to buy themselves; even more rarely, owners will free them. However, slavery is a secure job, and freedom does not always work well for former slaves. He is not certain whether he could afford to buy himself--although he has a fair amount of money saved, he is a very valuable slave, and does not know what price the Senate would set for him. However, he does not know what he would do if he were freed, particularly as his skills and education are particularly suited to the tasks to which the Senate usually assigns him.
You'll have about a week before the military will ask you to return. Anything you wish to accomplish in that time, besides continuing your Latin lessons?
--M. J. Young
I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get so I ask Andronicus to get a bunch of chicken bones and decorative cord and I'll make about a dozen magic luck charms.
I will also visit with Julia the priestess of Juno to see if there is any news from the Emperor's mother. I don't expect Caeser to accept the scientists view that the scriff weapon should be abandoned.
If I have time, I will get Andronicus to bring me by a Druid - perhaps the one who had an ad in the news"paper".
That night Andronicus brings a Druid priest to see you.
You also get a messenger that night: the Emperor expects you to be in his court tomorrow morning, the fourth hour of the day. No, the messenger does not know what he wants.
--M. J. Young
Well, well. Seems like the Emperor is anxious to see me. Since I happen to have a Druid with me (is his name Getafix?) I will ask him to perform an augury (Andronicus seems to have money to pay for my expenses) to determine what the Emperor might want (mostly to test the Druid as I am pretty sure I know what the Emperor wants). I will quiz the Druid about what gods he petitions to, mainly to find out if they are the roman gods. If we have a new set of gods(!) then I will ask for an augury about my purpose concerning the Scriff Weapon.
The name choice is fine with me, if you like it. I'd have gone for something more Anglish or Celtic, but my Celtic's not that good and my Anglish is non-existent.
It takes a moment before Getafix understands that you are not challenging his gods, and then yes, he serves and calls on a distinct collection of gods--the names familiar to those who have read the Deities & Demigods section on Celtic beliefs.
You ask him to do the divination, and he answers that he can do it, but it is much more reliable outside the city in his grove--partly because his are gods of nature, but partly also because Rome is the heart of the territory of the Roman gods, and they get a bit contrary when other gods are petitioned from here. The Empire is fine with recognized faiths, but when in Rome, call upon the Romans.
He does not mind taking you there; but first he asks you about your faith, what you believe and why you would call upon the gods of the Isles.
--M. J. Young
Maybe because of the Dieties and Demigods book, I am willing to believe that a whole host of gods exist. The stories of the greek and roman gods always had a profound affect on me as a child and I'm much more inclined that the universe is ruled by committee than by a single god. But my ancestry (scottish) and my love of nature means that if I had to choose gods to worship, I would probably choose some sort of animistic nature-spirit style religion or druidic-style. (I would not choose our world's modern druidic religion, though, because I've read up on the history and know that the original secrets were lost in Roman times and all the rituals, etc. were just made up by a guy trying to revive the beliefs.) Anyway...
"My heart lies with the natural world. I do not call any god my king or patron but if anything deserves to be revered, it is the Earth itself and the life upon it. I need to call upon the gods of the Isles because I have received some advice from the gods of Rome and I need a second opinion."
If we have time to get out to the grove and back before 4th hour (we should be able to considering their fancy modern transport) then I will go to get a good augury.
The fourth hour of the day is roughly ten in the morning.
Getafix explains that it would be possible to get to the area near the grove by hovercar in an hour, depending on traffic, but that it would be half an hour afoot through the wild to reach the grove itself, and then it would take half an hour for him to commune with the gods. He is not averse to leaving before sunrise, but you are committing three to three and a half hours to the task if everything goes well.
--M. J. Young
Can't we leave now and do the ritual by the light of the moon? We could easily be back by morning.
"Seriously?" Getafix asks, as if he finds your idea surprising coming from you.
"Seriously?" Andronicus asks, as if you just suggested walking up to a dragon and slapping it across the face.
Getafix picks up the ball. "I certainly would be able to do the ritual there tonight. It is rare, though, to find a Roman willing to travel through the wild in the dark, even with lights."
"With good reason," Andronicus replies, "given the wild of the wilderness and the beasts that roam at night."
"I have never been afraid of the wood at any time."
"You are a priest of nature. I expect that you would be quite comfortable and probably quite safe there at all times--more than I can say for us. Messenger, I would not advise this course of action. It is too dangerous."
--M. J. Young
"Let's go!"
Andronicus pulls a phone from his pocket and pushes a few buttons.
"A cab will meet us downstairs," he says, somewhat nervously.
Indeed, a cab is waiting downstairs. It is a hovercraft, of course, but serves the usual function. The three of you board, fitting comfortably in the limo-like interior, and Getafix gives directions. The cabbie raises one brow, but asks no questions, and you are soon speeding out of the city.
"So, what you want me to do is ask the gods what the Emperor wants. Not to object, but why are you not asking the Roman gods?"
--M. J. Young
"It is merely a test. I think I know what the Emperor wants to see me about tomorrow, but I want you to perform this augury so I can compare. After I am satisfied with that question, I will have you ask the Celtic gods what my purpose is with respect to the new Roman weapon. I have asked this question already of the Roman gods and want to see what the Celtic gods' views on the matter are."
The cabbie pulls over.
"Are you sure this is the spot?"
"Yes, thank you," Getafix says. "If you would be so kind as to wait for us?"
"I'll wait here with him," Andronicus says.
The cabbie looks at Andronicus. "Yeah, all right, I'll wait."
With that, Getafix exits the cab and walks into the woods.
--M. J. Young
I follow, with Pixie on my shoulder.
Getafix never wavers in his movement through the trees, as if he were walking down his own bedroom hallway to the bathroom. He pauses to check on you from time to time. Pixie is perfectly comfortable here, but it is difficult to see and difficult to move through the woods. Still, you have some experience in this sort of terrain, and while you are not nearly so comfortable as your guide, you have no problems.
It is about half an hour before you enter a clearing that does not look entirely natural.
"We made good time," Getafix says. "Not many can travel the woods so well. You have done this sort of thing before?"
--M. J. Young
Why is the clearing not entirely natural? Have trees been cleared by chopping them down?
"Nice grove you've got here. I spent a lot of time in the woods and mountains growing up. And I spent a fair amount of time in the jungles of Malaysia, too, which is where I met Pixie."
I'll let Getafix get himself organized while I casually take in the surroundings.
When he's ready, I'll ask my two questions: "Why does the Emperor of Rome want to discuss with me tomorrow morning?" and "What is my purpose here with respect to the new Roman scriff weapon?"
It is the regular shape that is most unnatural here--it is very nearly a perfect oval, with no signs that any work was done to cull trees from within, but the size of the trees suggests that it has been thus for a very long time.
The Emperor wants to know what you propose he do to defeat the Mongolchin if he abandons this new weapon.
To know why you are here, you must know who brought you, and ask him.
--M. J. Young
Hm, ok, that suggests someone brought me here. Someone really likes to jerk my chain - and if it isn't Dimtri, who could it be? Mars? Jupiter?
I'll ask another question if it doesn't take too long. "What will happen to the world if the Roman weapon is allowed to exist?"
No one can know the answer to that. The gods of the Azmayincans and the gods of the Mongolchin have not allowed others to know the secrets of what their people are preparing. The existence of the scriff disintegrator might enable the Romans to send untold numbers of Mongolchin warriors into other universes, but it is not clear whether even that simple technology would work there, or in realms of the Azmayincans. It might make no difference to this universe at all; it will make a difference to other universes.
If you wish to know what is happening in the lands of the Mongolchin and Azmayincans, you must visit those lands and speak with those gods. The gods of the Azmayincans would no doubt welcome a stranger; however, the gods of the Mongolchin are silent, and they have no priests.
--M. J. Young
Well, that's promising at least. I'll thank Getafix and head back to the taxi and have Andronicus pay him for his hard work.
Then we'll head back to Rome. I'll attempt my Remove Fatigue spell in my room before heading to the meeting.
(1@8 Remove Fatigue (self) M2@1 (sit cross-legged, close eyes take long, slow breaths, relax, visualize energy flowing into me and fatigue being released, for one minute) +15)
Andronicus and the cab driver both seem a bit relieved to see you return; Andronicus says it was quite a risk to take, going into the woods at night like that.
You successfully wash the fatigue from your body, and leave on time for the audience with Caesar.
Upon arrival, Andronicus announces you to the guards, who escort the two of you to a small reasonably comfortable room to wait.
"So," Andronicus says probably as much for something to calm his nerves as anything else, "What are you going to tell him?"
--M. J. Young
"Probably, 'Good morning Caesar, Emperor of Rome. It is an honour and a privilege to meet you.' After that, I'm going to have to wait to see what he wants."
It does occur to me, however, that if the gods are the ones behind this whole world-dominance thing I have polled a very biased focus-group. It could be that if I let the Romans continue along the scriff-weapon path, the gods will realize that their little game has gone too far and it's time to call it off.
So many unknowns. I'll have to sound out the Emperor to see where he stands and on what information he is basing his decisions.
It is probably only about twenty minutes before someone comes in and announces that the Emperor will see you now. You are led into a large room with one large chair on a dais near the far end, and a man sitting on it. Andronicus indicates that you should go ahead, and that he will wait by the door.
The Emperor's questions/statements are given in the order I think them most likely to arise in your discussion. If you think your answers are going to change the order, or eliminate a question not yet asked, feel free to resequence them in connection with your responses.
The Emperor is a young man, probably in his late twenties, apparently with some physical training probably in the military, and all his wits about him.
"So, they tell me that you are a messenger of the gods, and that I should call you," he pauses, and says the next with a bit too much emphasis, "Messenger. Why should I believe this, and which gods are supposed to have spoken to you?"
"Does it not seem strange to you that all the gods would be conspiring against Mars, the one god who promises us victory in this war? Why should I believe them, and not him?"
"You apparently know something about our secret weapon. How did you learn about it, and what is it that you really knew before the Senate decided to tell you the rest?"
"And how do the gods propose that I defeat the Mongolchin without this new weapon? What weapon do they propose I use instead?"
"As far as I can tell from the reports, the weapon disintegrates targeted enemies, at low cost and low power, in a way which our scientists believe will not be blocked by whatever it is the enemies are using to disable our technology. If it is going to eliminate enemy soldiers, why should I not use it against them?"
"Why would Mars want me to use a weapon which does what you say it does?"
--M. J. Young
Late 20s - eugh! - he can't have spent much time in the military, or anything for that matter!
"Emperor, I am sure you have had detailed briefings from Senate and your military scientists. I'm sure you know I have had divinations from all the major gods: Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Pluto, Diana, Apollo, Minerva and Vulcan and what they told me. Your scientists have no doubt told you that I have satisfied their curiosity of my being from beyond this world by the presence of scriff in my body and belongings. I do feel that it would be worth our while to re-hash these things but if you would like to ask me to tell you stories of other worlds or perform some kind of trick to satisfy you, then I am at your service.
"You ask why the gods conspire against Mars. I simply ask you why you take the word of one god over the rest? Do you not listen to the multiple voices of the Senate and your many advisors before making decisions?
"I read about the development of a new weapon in the news. Beyond that, it was the gods that told me that there was danger involved in it's development. I did not know it involved scriff until I met with your military scientists.
"I do not know how you will defeat your enemies without this scriff weapon, but Rome has many resources. I am sure you will find another way. The gods only sent the warning that the scriff-weapon is dangerous and not as effective as it seems. Indeed, I do not believe the weapon has yet been tested beyond the borders of your Empire. It's technology may yet fail. As your scientists have no doubt informed you, victims of the weapon are not disintegrated - they are merely sent to another universe, where they may learn or acquire things even more dangerous and possibly return.
"I also do not know why Mars supports the use of this weapon. I suggest you, who seems to have the ear of the god, ask him. For all I know, he hopes gather the warriors you send to other universes as his own personal army.
"I will, however, offer you my services. I council you to attempt to make peace with the Mongol-chin and the Azmayincans. The gods of Rome, the Mongol-chin and the Azmayincans have pitted their mortals against each other and you now face stalemate or utter destruction. Only through peace and cooperation can further advancement be made. Send me, as a neutral Messenger apart from all three civilizations, to the Mongol-chin and to the Azmayincans, and let me attempt to arrange a cease-fire."
"Peace?"
The Emperor seems completely stunned at the notion.
"Would enemies who have been bent on conquest for thousands of years be willing to discuss peaceful coexistence? Would they even believe us, were we to broach the suggestion, and not take it as a ploy to gain an advantage over them? And indeed, what would Rome gain from such a peace--and what would we do with our armies and our military research facilities? The unemployment alone would be crippling to the economy." He breaks his seriousness with a bemused smile. "See, I did listen in Economics class. But seriously, do we want peace? Why do we want peace? Would giving up the dream of a world empire, that has inspired our people since the founding of this city by Remus and Romulus, mean the end of our civilization?"
He looks at you now as if you had some divine insight he would love to fathom: "What kind of future to you see?"
--M. J. Young