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quechianI asked Jack about his trip to his Temple, and he told us how he'd gone through the maze, saw lots of odd people having strange sex, and climbed up to the temple at the top, where he went into shadows. There were others there with him in shadow, interestingly, all there together. He prayed about whether to join the army, and got a vision of time running out, not about what to do more specifically.
Thymelixsen said that if we went into the army, we'd likely be separate. And he said that he knew some of who we'd be seeing tomorrow. Jack and I immediately asked how, and he said he'd asked Yallo, his henchman person. Of the ones we were likely to see in the morning, there were four he'd gotten information about:
1. another Inyus, sailing with the Valiant Gold, fighting the All, destroying corrupted places, and bringing back useful debris.
2. a representative of the Forgers, who would offer to look at us, using us to make things, if we stayed here.
3. an Ethka who works for the order of kathel, working to get the kathel back into the roots.
4. an Ult from Pulshanakov, the largest Ult group.
I said that one of the other groups of us Cor had seen had gone with those last. Cor said that they didn't say much about it, but did say it was a short trip, then they were going to the Inyus. (Still, I'm nervous about Yallo, who knows so much and appears from nowhere.)
We went to sleep, and again May went walking with Tam, which she told us about when she woke us. This time they were in a snowy Featureless Plains. She showed Tam the kupar and the shrine of the Mother underground. This time, she recognized some of the Arcoons on the walls. Tam said taht it was a hidden place, and May has secrets. May could see that some of the writing was about the Mother, and about light. Tam said that the weapons was a spirit weapon to be imbued in a person, not a physical weapon, as we'd thought.
When May woke us, the room had changed more, with May and Jack's bed having cubby holes, and a side table by Thymelixsen and me. There was a basin and towels on a table by Cor, though, unsurprisingly, there was no water. There were hanging lamps as well.
Since we had the blue time, we ate some rations and took time to practice. May helped me with resisting layered magic. And then we went down to start interviewing again. Metakesh met us, and brought us to the same reception room, where 1827 and Tam were waiting for us.
The eleventh interview was with what looked like an orange and yellow striped housecat, wearing clothes, though it walked on all fours. It hopped on the table, and Jack tried to pet her, but she hissed at him. (She turned out to be an Ethka.)
Memwenna was a minion of the kathel order. Her order believes that the war can only be resolved if the kathel return to the first world, which they can do, and intervene against themselves to not break the first world.
(Cor wondered whether that would mean no roots.)
Thymelixsen asked what they do. Memwenna said that they work on a careful mapping of the roots, and they would seek to study us to help in that. There is a degree of corruption as indicated by the variety of interest. And the point of origins of all the roots, the nexus, is of interest to them.
Jack asked whether the first world still exists, and Memwenna said that the first world, the roots, all of it are all together, all the time.
I asked about the nexus and how they would do this, and Memwenna said that in the area where the critical nexus is believed to be, a small craft could be injected, though it would be dangerous. Those connected to the Creators would be easier to get into the first world. Then once in, they would signal to the other craft.
Thymelixsen asked how they would get the kathel there. Memwenna said that there were two difficulties. One was getting the kathel beyond the Veil, and the other is finding the first world. Previous efforts were working on getting the kathel into the roots, and now they were working on the other part.
Jack asked about what would happen if the All found the first world. Memwenna said that the All already found the fist world. That was the error, that the kathel brought the All in. However, it is improbable that the All knows where the first world is now, since it cracked when the All was introduced.
Thymelixsen asked about how long the work would be, and what we would be paid. Memwenna said that there would be a period of study, during which we would be paid a sustaining wage, relieving the loss of essence, and paid in highest purity essence too. Room and board would also be covered. We would be studied for about four cycles, then the next would depend on what discussed during that study. Only those committed to their mission would they have on a mission (they do not want people with other points of view), and if one ponders the implications through...
Jack said "we'd never have existed." Memwenna said that he was correct. The breaking of the first world would never have happened. They believe that the kathel were trained to oppose the All, then turned against the Creators, and regretted that when they saw what happened.
We thanked her for her time, and got ready for the next interview; it was an interesting point of view, but no one saw it as a likely choice for us.
The twelfth interview was with what looked almost like a black, almost pillow-sized water beetle.
Tiktik represented the Forges. The masters of the Forges sent an offer to do impression work, using our memories which are now fresh to make new and unique things. They are particularly interested in foodstuffs and textiles. Also we could train in forge work. If we learned well, we could earn two to three times sustaining wage, and room and board. It would take twlve to twenty work clusters to complete training (work clusters turn out to be ten cycles of six work and four rest). Apprentices are dormed and sustained.
I asked whether they would use our impressions at the same time we studied, and Tiktik said that the impression study pay would depend on the value of our memories.
Cor asked whether, once they'd used our memories, we'd forget things, and Tiktik said no, that this was just exploration.
May said that Thymelixsen and Jack would likely have more of those kinds of things than the rest of us, and Tiktik said that however many of us would still be useful.
Thymelixsen asked about whether, if he made other things (his fetishes), whether they would market them for him. Tiktik asked about their nature, and Thymelixsen described what they can do. Tiktik thought it sounded like the work of a possibility tuner. And he said taht it would be possible for the house to market other things, with an appropriate percentage going to the house, of course.
We thanked him for his time.
The thirteenth interview was with a kathel, not as big as Tam but larger than Cor, so likely a third, who was a rusty orange with deep purple eyes. He spoke to us without translators, greeting us all.
He asked if he were the first kathel in the auction, then went on to tell us that he has been through the spiral woods, the over the copper sea, to the bionlear, seen all the cities and the great see. He has gone into the trap and seen the whole of this place, now finding it to be a small box. He said that all kathel want to return to the roots. He offered us his services as a specialist in the this place. He acknowledged that the roots were not created for his kind. The first place was, and he wants to return. However, he has a suspicion about the roots, and the nature of creation. He sees us all standing on bright lines, like seeds of change that have come from the roots, and have changed this place.
Jack commented that this seemed like a big place for us to have changed.
May asked if he were going to eat us, and he said no, he wished to bond with us. He wanted to bind essence with all of us. Somehwere in the bright lines of us, he saw how we were connected to the roots. If we mingle our threads, we gain power, and he gains a connection to the roots. It would make us different, changed in greatness.
Jack asked whether it would be harder to get back to the roots because we'd be part kathel, and he said he did not believe so.
Thymelixsen asked to see one of his threads, and he agreed. He sent one out, and I didn't get a sense of voice. There was a sense of intensity, but not a sense of otherness.
Jack said that this was interesting, but he would have to ask the Creators, since it might not be part of the design. But it might be.
He said that he would go with us on our journey, could go with us to the edge, and to the tower, then getting free. The tower will not let full kathel approach, but by being third, he was less.
Jack asked whether anyone with kathel thread could go back, and he said yes (which makes sense, since the new essence is made by kathel...).
Thymelixsen asked whether, if he gets to the tower with our thread, he would go to our root. He wasn't sure. Thymelixsen asked how many threads he would need. He wasn't sure of that either; he would weave them in, and see how it felt.
Thymelixsen asked how this would not be temporary. And he said that his threads have greatness that would hold.
Thymelixsen asked whether he had done this before, and he said no; others had tried with single travelers, but that failed. But we are many and bright.
May asked what he would do in the roots. He was not sure, but would swim, look into the sky, see the stars.
Jack asked if he expected he would die, and he said yes, he would become mortal if he went to the roots.
Thyemlixsen asked whether, if we agreed, he would expect us to go to the edge immediately. He said that that could be discussed. And that when we went to the ghostlands, he could protect us, that he'd already been there.
And then we finally managed introductions. Jom is this one's name.
Jack discussed wanting to go back to the roots full, so we'd want to earn our way back to full first, which Jom said would be fine.
Thymelixsen asked what the firsts would say if we asked them about this, and Jom said they would be disagreeable, but would not stop us.
I asked whether that was because of not going to the roots, and Jom said some of it was that, and some of it was about choosing to become less. Jom said that being perfect is overrated, and he would rather be in the roots.
May asked whether he would be lonely in the roots by himself. And Jom said he might be. Bust he still wanted to go be free for a lifetime, then die.
Thyemlixsen asked Tam what the down side is, and Tam said he could offer no opinion.
Jack asked whether we would lose the threads Jom gave us, and we were told that we would be more sustained, that those threads would be less inclined to leave the same way.
Jack asked about threadcraft in the roots, given how residents here with fused threads can, and Jom said that he had heard yes.
Jack asked whether edgewalkers could step back from the edge, and Jom said that most fall, but some can step back.
I asked about whether it would be easier to learn with Jom's thread, and he advised against learning threadcraft. He said that greatness come with a knowing, memories.
Thymelixsen asked about the minimum number of threads he'd need, and Jom said more than one, and more would be better.
Thyemlixsen asked who he'd recommend us to work with. Jom said that it depends on our beliefs. There are quicker ways, but they are likley to compromise our beliefs. The most peaceful path would be with the Ults, though the pay is less, and they have restrictions, but they take care, and treat people well. With others, there are more physical risks, and moral risks as well. Some see the roots as a source of income and nothing else. If we go to the roots, we change them, and that change can affect others' lives. What we do can thicken the roots, or make them fade.
Thymelixsen asked how that is different than life in general, and Jom said that the scale is different. There are jobs that earn enough to recover thread loss, though slowly.
The corruption in the roots creates: creation has taken it in and used it to make things. Jack liked the parallelism that if the kathel arrogance shattered the first world, giving up immortality to fix it, by going into the roots.
We thanked Jom for his time. Once he'd left, Thymelixsen pointed out how Jom and Zom offered similar paths. Jack thought that we should pray about this. before discussing it.
The fourteenth interview was with an Ult wearing the mark of Vosh. He was carrying a golden scepter, and had glittering nodules on his clothing.
Jack said that the lumps were pretty. And the Ult replied with a modulated voice; one of those nodules seemed to be a translator. He said that he was from the root craft Green Leaves Turning, an exchange class root craft, from the Pushancove Collective. Thymelixsen asked what an exchange class root was, and he said that it was a trade ship, larger than a hauler. It carries about two hundred people, with thirty of those being crew. It's a heavy cruiser, line station in size. Line stations are flying fortresses, in the line, and back in the roots as stations. The largest of these are life stations, which can have one thousand people on each of them. Only Ult have these, and there are three of them, some beyond the veil in cities that are not in any root.
May commented that there are so many Ult out of the roots.
He said that long ago, they traveled between the roots, to define nature. They crossed the Veil fairly early, dealt with the kathel, and the war, and so on.
Thymelixsen asked what job they had for us.
He said that Green Leaves Turning was his ship, but there are many more in the Pushancove Collective. They focus on the largest roots, maintaining and tending them to keep corruption out. They work outside, getting corruption that has lodged itself there, extracting it if it has gone in. They work differently depending on whether it is random debris or brought in, deliberately or otherwise. He said that a root is like a rope, with insides of all the flow of opossiblity. A possibility going out from a damaged root can affect other nearby roots.
Thymelixsen asked if we worked with the Collective, how long the initial study then shipping out would take. He said as soon as possible. There would be a three thread signing bonus (I asked about its purity, and he said that it was generated by Vosh), we'd be paid 5 gulwarn/unit in down time, and 30 gulwarn/unit on duty, plus bonuses on completion, which tend to average 2500 gulwarn.
Cor asked about how long the journeys tend to be, and he said that exchange craft take long trips, but smaller craft take shorter trips.
I asked how often ships left, and he said that they left all the time, since they were such a large Collective. I also asked about whether we could use down time to practice our own crafts, and he said yes, as long as we were not in others' employ.
Thymelixsen asked about whether the Collective would market things he crafted, and he said that they could assist.
Thyemlixsen asked about the tuning, and he said that it was done to our physical bodies, and was only done if necessary to enter the root.
I asked about sustenance, and he said it would be provided.
Thymelixsen asked what would be needed to renegotiate, whether it was only about our performance. He said that it depended on how reliable we were, what our useful skills were, and with seniority, experience.
Thyemlixsen asked whether the Collective would have a problem with how corrupted we are. He said that there was no difficulty. Some have different associations, but there was no technical way to get around the taint. Thymelixsen asked what would happen if we were more corrupted than they'd expected, and he said that they would advise us of that, suggesting options for us, and end the association.
Before he left, I asked whether there were translators on board, and he confirmed that there were. And we thanked him for his time, and he was gone.
May asked Thyemlixsen if the next one would be the gold whatever, and Thymelixsen said he didn't know. I noticed Tam noting the exchange...
The fifteenth interview was an Inyus wearing a wide black belt, a white shirt, and gold rings. 1827 translated for him.
This was steward Weltawesk, representing the Sure Cutter, and Inyus medium cruiser, part of a fleet called Valiant Gold. They were dedicated to destroying points of corruption around, on, and in the roots. The fleet wanted us for navigation, and targeting against corruption points. They have fighting ships for fighting places damaged by corruption, if it is greater than a particular level of corruption.
Jack asked whether this destroyed some roots. Weltawesk said yes, this burned corrupted roots before they threatened others. The debris from the destruction is scavenged and sold. They offer a three thread signing bonus, 7 gulwarn/unit downtime, 35 gulwarn/unit on duty time, and there would likely be bonuses of 5000-6000 gulwarn on completion, which would be 10-15 cycles.
Jack asked what we'd do, and Weltawesk said we'd wai to be injected, then go in, and mark places.
May asked what quality threads, and Weltawesk showed us some. I could feel the whispering. They might be 98%, definitely better than 97%.
Thymelixsen asked about whether they would provide food and water, and they would during journey times. And whatever we pick up in the roots, we can keep.
I asked about translators, and Weltawesk said that they have them.
Cor asked whether this meant getting close to the corruption, and Weltawesk said yes. There is risk, including being attacked by corrupted ones.
Thymelixsen asked about tuning, and Weltawesk said that they have devices that help keep us healthy, that they would try to use near the roots.
Thymelixsen asked whether we would talk with root denizens, and Weltawesk said it depended on the mission.
Thymelixsen asked about renegotiating later, and Weltawesk said it would be possible after the first trip.
May asked how often they have ships leave, and he said that they have ships leaving every cycle.
We thanked him for his time, and he left.
We debated our options. 1827 asked whether he should release the others. Jack asked 1827 if any qualitatively different interviews were still to come, and 1827 said that he was not able to answer. Thyemlixsen tried asking another way, if there were other major groups with root craft, and 1827 said that we'd seen the major groups, though there are others.
We debated further, and finaly Cor said that we should see one more today, then break to discuss.
The sixteenth interview was with someone who looked kafke-like, though his his whiskers, ears, tail, fingers, and muzzle were longer. Rather like a vision kafke. He was waering the mark of Bove, in a sharply cut outfit with silver buttons. He had silver earrings as well.
He started talking, and though the intonation was right, the words were completely unknown to me until 1827 started translating. Still, his body language was clear, and he seemed at ease.
His name was Gallax Romkulla. First, he had questions about language, asking 1827 what he knew of Elix (though that was not what he called it, obviously). Next, he introduced himself as the representative of a group called Edge Hammer, which was about forty people who have nearly been to the edge, but not quite. They are equipped with weapons and abilities from the roots. They work inflicting damage to the All and to the ghosts from the edge, but their focus is to assist travelers to get to the edge.
Jack asked whether they were interested in having us join them or in giving us assistance to the edge. Gallax said that some don't wish to go to the edge, to fall, but they come with skills to help thos who believe they can get to the edge. He has seen many go who thought they could, and fell instead. Still, others have returned. He was offering help on the journey.
Jack asked whether they could assess our ability compared to those who survived, and Gallax said that they could do this assessment, evaluating our possibilities.
Jack asked what they would want in return, and Gallax said they asked nothing. They offered positions for those who would wish, as well.
Jack asked whether would could join, then journey to the edge later, and Gallax said yes. The first things we would learn would be to reduce the rate of thread loss. The company is routinely hired by Bove and other kathel to deal with beasts and other things that come to the cities.
I asked whether we'd be paid if we joined. Gallax said that we would get training, and if we joined on missions, those would be paid.
Thymelixsen asked about the type of training, and Gallas said that it depended on the skills we already had. Mostly fighting and some espionage.
Thyemlixsen asked whether we would stay together, and Gallax said it depended on our skills and what was needed for the mission. I asked whether they used healers, and Gallax said yes. Thymelixsen asked whether they have trainers in magic, and Gallax said it depended on the type of energy work.
Jacked asked about how much missions pay, and Gallax said that it depended. Their focus is on good missions, and keeping stable.
Cor asked about how long their training was. Gallax said we'd be deployed immediately, and the training would be on the way. The work was regular.
Gallax cautioned us to be careful after tonight, that we shouldn't travel alone, since the protections given us by Vosh would have gone down, and it will now be dangerous for us.
Thymelixsen said that if we went into the army, we'd likely be separate. And he said that he knew some of who we'd be seeing tomorrow. Jack and I immediately asked how, and he said he'd asked Yallo, his henchman person. Of the ones we were likely to see in the morning, there were four he'd gotten information about:
1. another Inyus, sailing with the Valiant Gold, fighting the All, destroying corrupted places, and bringing back useful debris.
2. a representative of the Forgers, who would offer to look at us, using us to make things, if we stayed here.
3. an Ethka who works for the order of kathel, working to get the kathel back into the roots.
4. an Ult from Pulshanakov, the largest Ult group.
I said that one of the other groups of us Cor had seen had gone with those last. Cor said that they didn't say much about it, but did say it was a short trip, then they were going to the Inyus. (Still, I'm nervous about Yallo, who knows so much and appears from nowhere.)
We went to sleep, and again May went walking with Tam, which she told us about when she woke us. This time they were in a snowy Featureless Plains. She showed Tam the kupar and the shrine of the Mother underground. This time, she recognized some of the Arcoons on the walls. Tam said taht it was a hidden place, and May has secrets. May could see that some of the writing was about the Mother, and about light. Tam said that the weapons was a spirit weapon to be imbued in a person, not a physical weapon, as we'd thought.
When May woke us, the room had changed more, with May and Jack's bed having cubby holes, and a side table by Thymelixsen and me. There was a basin and towels on a table by Cor, though, unsurprisingly, there was no water. There were hanging lamps as well.
Since we had the blue time, we ate some rations and took time to practice. May helped me with resisting layered magic. And then we went down to start interviewing again. Metakesh met us, and brought us to the same reception room, where 1827 and Tam were waiting for us.
The eleventh interview was with what looked like an orange and yellow striped housecat, wearing clothes, though it walked on all fours. It hopped on the table, and Jack tried to pet her, but she hissed at him. (She turned out to be an Ethka.)
Memwenna was a minion of the kathel order. Her order believes that the war can only be resolved if the kathel return to the first world, which they can do, and intervene against themselves to not break the first world.
(Cor wondered whether that would mean no roots.)
Thymelixsen asked what they do. Memwenna said that they work on a careful mapping of the roots, and they would seek to study us to help in that. There is a degree of corruption as indicated by the variety of interest. And the point of origins of all the roots, the nexus, is of interest to them.
Jack asked whether the first world still exists, and Memwenna said that the first world, the roots, all of it are all together, all the time.
I asked about the nexus and how they would do this, and Memwenna said that in the area where the critical nexus is believed to be, a small craft could be injected, though it would be dangerous. Those connected to the Creators would be easier to get into the first world. Then once in, they would signal to the other craft.
Thymelixsen asked how they would get the kathel there. Memwenna said that there were two difficulties. One was getting the kathel beyond the Veil, and the other is finding the first world. Previous efforts were working on getting the kathel into the roots, and now they were working on the other part.
Jack asked about what would happen if the All found the first world. Memwenna said that the All already found the fist world. That was the error, that the kathel brought the All in. However, it is improbable that the All knows where the first world is now, since it cracked when the All was introduced.
Thymelixsen asked about how long the work would be, and what we would be paid. Memwenna said that there would be a period of study, during which we would be paid a sustaining wage, relieving the loss of essence, and paid in highest purity essence too. Room and board would also be covered. We would be studied for about four cycles, then the next would depend on what discussed during that study. Only those committed to their mission would they have on a mission (they do not want people with other points of view), and if one ponders the implications through...
Jack said "we'd never have existed." Memwenna said that he was correct. The breaking of the first world would never have happened. They believe that the kathel were trained to oppose the All, then turned against the Creators, and regretted that when they saw what happened.
We thanked her for her time, and got ready for the next interview; it was an interesting point of view, but no one saw it as a likely choice for us.
The twelfth interview was with what looked almost like a black, almost pillow-sized water beetle.
Tiktik represented the Forges. The masters of the Forges sent an offer to do impression work, using our memories which are now fresh to make new and unique things. They are particularly interested in foodstuffs and textiles. Also we could train in forge work. If we learned well, we could earn two to three times sustaining wage, and room and board. It would take twlve to twenty work clusters to complete training (work clusters turn out to be ten cycles of six work and four rest). Apprentices are dormed and sustained.
I asked whether they would use our impressions at the same time we studied, and Tiktik said that the impression study pay would depend on the value of our memories.
Cor asked whether, once they'd used our memories, we'd forget things, and Tiktik said no, that this was just exploration.
May said that Thymelixsen and Jack would likely have more of those kinds of things than the rest of us, and Tiktik said that however many of us would still be useful.
Thymelixsen asked about whether, if he made other things (his fetishes), whether they would market them for him. Tiktik asked about their nature, and Thymelixsen described what they can do. Tiktik thought it sounded like the work of a possibility tuner. And he said taht it would be possible for the house to market other things, with an appropriate percentage going to the house, of course.
We thanked him for his time.
The thirteenth interview was with a kathel, not as big as Tam but larger than Cor, so likely a third, who was a rusty orange with deep purple eyes. He spoke to us without translators, greeting us all.
He asked if he were the first kathel in the auction, then went on to tell us that he has been through the spiral woods, the over the copper sea, to the bionlear, seen all the cities and the great see. He has gone into the trap and seen the whole of this place, now finding it to be a small box. He said that all kathel want to return to the roots. He offered us his services as a specialist in the this place. He acknowledged that the roots were not created for his kind. The first place was, and he wants to return. However, he has a suspicion about the roots, and the nature of creation. He sees us all standing on bright lines, like seeds of change that have come from the roots, and have changed this place.
Jack commented that this seemed like a big place for us to have changed.
May asked if he were going to eat us, and he said no, he wished to bond with us. He wanted to bind essence with all of us. Somehwere in the bright lines of us, he saw how we were connected to the roots. If we mingle our threads, we gain power, and he gains a connection to the roots. It would make us different, changed in greatness.
Jack asked whether it would be harder to get back to the roots because we'd be part kathel, and he said he did not believe so.
Thymelixsen asked to see one of his threads, and he agreed. He sent one out, and I didn't get a sense of voice. There was a sense of intensity, but not a sense of otherness.
Jack said that this was interesting, but he would have to ask the Creators, since it might not be part of the design. But it might be.
He said that he would go with us on our journey, could go with us to the edge, and to the tower, then getting free. The tower will not let full kathel approach, but by being third, he was less.
Jack asked whether anyone with kathel thread could go back, and he said yes (which makes sense, since the new essence is made by kathel...).
Thymelixsen asked whether, if he gets to the tower with our thread, he would go to our root. He wasn't sure. Thymelixsen asked how many threads he would need. He wasn't sure of that either; he would weave them in, and see how it felt.
Thymelixsen asked how this would not be temporary. And he said that his threads have greatness that would hold.
Thymelixsen asked whether he had done this before, and he said no; others had tried with single travelers, but that failed. But we are many and bright.
May asked what he would do in the roots. He was not sure, but would swim, look into the sky, see the stars.
Jack asked if he expected he would die, and he said yes, he would become mortal if he went to the roots.
Thyemlixsen asked whether, if we agreed, he would expect us to go to the edge immediately. He said that that could be discussed. And that when we went to the ghostlands, he could protect us, that he'd already been there.
And then we finally managed introductions. Jom is this one's name.
Jack discussed wanting to go back to the roots full, so we'd want to earn our way back to full first, which Jom said would be fine.
Thymelixsen asked what the firsts would say if we asked them about this, and Jom said they would be disagreeable, but would not stop us.
I asked whether that was because of not going to the roots, and Jom said some of it was that, and some of it was about choosing to become less. Jom said that being perfect is overrated, and he would rather be in the roots.
May asked whether he would be lonely in the roots by himself. And Jom said he might be. Bust he still wanted to go be free for a lifetime, then die.
Thyemlixsen asked Tam what the down side is, and Tam said he could offer no opinion.
Jack asked whether we would lose the threads Jom gave us, and we were told that we would be more sustained, that those threads would be less inclined to leave the same way.
Jack asked about threadcraft in the roots, given how residents here with fused threads can, and Jom said that he had heard yes.
Jack asked whether edgewalkers could step back from the edge, and Jom said that most fall, but some can step back.
I asked about whether it would be easier to learn with Jom's thread, and he advised against learning threadcraft. He said that greatness come with a knowing, memories.
Thymelixsen asked about the minimum number of threads he'd need, and Jom said more than one, and more would be better.
Thyemlixsen asked who he'd recommend us to work with. Jom said that it depends on our beliefs. There are quicker ways, but they are likley to compromise our beliefs. The most peaceful path would be with the Ults, though the pay is less, and they have restrictions, but they take care, and treat people well. With others, there are more physical risks, and moral risks as well. Some see the roots as a source of income and nothing else. If we go to the roots, we change them, and that change can affect others' lives. What we do can thicken the roots, or make them fade.
Thymelixsen asked how that is different than life in general, and Jom said that the scale is different. There are jobs that earn enough to recover thread loss, though slowly.
The corruption in the roots creates: creation has taken it in and used it to make things. Jack liked the parallelism that if the kathel arrogance shattered the first world, giving up immortality to fix it, by going into the roots.
We thanked Jom for his time. Once he'd left, Thymelixsen pointed out how Jom and Zom offered similar paths. Jack thought that we should pray about this. before discussing it.
The fourteenth interview was with an Ult wearing the mark of Vosh. He was carrying a golden scepter, and had glittering nodules on his clothing.
Jack said that the lumps were pretty. And the Ult replied with a modulated voice; one of those nodules seemed to be a translator. He said that he was from the root craft Green Leaves Turning, an exchange class root craft, from the Pushancove Collective. Thymelixsen asked what an exchange class root was, and he said that it was a trade ship, larger than a hauler. It carries about two hundred people, with thirty of those being crew. It's a heavy cruiser, line station in size. Line stations are flying fortresses, in the line, and back in the roots as stations. The largest of these are life stations, which can have one thousand people on each of them. Only Ult have these, and there are three of them, some beyond the veil in cities that are not in any root.
May commented that there are so many Ult out of the roots.
He said that long ago, they traveled between the roots, to define nature. They crossed the Veil fairly early, dealt with the kathel, and the war, and so on.
Thymelixsen asked what job they had for us.
He said that Green Leaves Turning was his ship, but there are many more in the Pushancove Collective. They focus on the largest roots, maintaining and tending them to keep corruption out. They work outside, getting corruption that has lodged itself there, extracting it if it has gone in. They work differently depending on whether it is random debris or brought in, deliberately or otherwise. He said that a root is like a rope, with insides of all the flow of opossiblity. A possibility going out from a damaged root can affect other nearby roots.
Thymelixsen asked if we worked with the Collective, how long the initial study then shipping out would take. He said as soon as possible. There would be a three thread signing bonus (I asked about its purity, and he said that it was generated by Vosh), we'd be paid 5 gulwarn/unit in down time, and 30 gulwarn/unit on duty, plus bonuses on completion, which tend to average 2500 gulwarn.
Cor asked about how long the journeys tend to be, and he said that exchange craft take long trips, but smaller craft take shorter trips.
I asked how often ships left, and he said that they left all the time, since they were such a large Collective. I also asked about whether we could use down time to practice our own crafts, and he said yes, as long as we were not in others' employ.
Thymelixsen asked about whether the Collective would market things he crafted, and he said that they could assist.
Thyemlixsen asked about the tuning, and he said that it was done to our physical bodies, and was only done if necessary to enter the root.
I asked about sustenance, and he said it would be provided.
Thymelixsen asked what would be needed to renegotiate, whether it was only about our performance. He said that it depended on how reliable we were, what our useful skills were, and with seniority, experience.
Thyemlixsen asked whether the Collective would have a problem with how corrupted we are. He said that there was no difficulty. Some have different associations, but there was no technical way to get around the taint. Thymelixsen asked what would happen if we were more corrupted than they'd expected, and he said that they would advise us of that, suggesting options for us, and end the association.
Before he left, I asked whether there were translators on board, and he confirmed that there were. And we thanked him for his time, and he was gone.
May asked Thyemlixsen if the next one would be the gold whatever, and Thymelixsen said he didn't know. I noticed Tam noting the exchange...
The fifteenth interview was an Inyus wearing a wide black belt, a white shirt, and gold rings. 1827 translated for him.
This was steward Weltawesk, representing the Sure Cutter, and Inyus medium cruiser, part of a fleet called Valiant Gold. They were dedicated to destroying points of corruption around, on, and in the roots. The fleet wanted us for navigation, and targeting against corruption points. They have fighting ships for fighting places damaged by corruption, if it is greater than a particular level of corruption.
Jack asked whether this destroyed some roots. Weltawesk said yes, this burned corrupted roots before they threatened others. The debris from the destruction is scavenged and sold. They offer a three thread signing bonus, 7 gulwarn/unit downtime, 35 gulwarn/unit on duty time, and there would likely be bonuses of 5000-6000 gulwarn on completion, which would be 10-15 cycles.
Jack asked what we'd do, and Weltawesk said we'd wai to be injected, then go in, and mark places.
May asked what quality threads, and Weltawesk showed us some. I could feel the whispering. They might be 98%, definitely better than 97%.
Thymelixsen asked about whether they would provide food and water, and they would during journey times. And whatever we pick up in the roots, we can keep.
I asked about translators, and Weltawesk said that they have them.
Cor asked whether this meant getting close to the corruption, and Weltawesk said yes. There is risk, including being attacked by corrupted ones.
Thymelixsen asked about tuning, and Weltawesk said that they have devices that help keep us healthy, that they would try to use near the roots.
Thymelixsen asked whether we would talk with root denizens, and Weltawesk said it depended on the mission.
Thymelixsen asked about renegotiating later, and Weltawesk said it would be possible after the first trip.
May asked how often they have ships leave, and he said that they have ships leaving every cycle.
We thanked him for his time, and he left.
We debated our options. 1827 asked whether he should release the others. Jack asked 1827 if any qualitatively different interviews were still to come, and 1827 said that he was not able to answer. Thyemlixsen tried asking another way, if there were other major groups with root craft, and 1827 said that we'd seen the major groups, though there are others.
We debated further, and finaly Cor said that we should see one more today, then break to discuss.
The sixteenth interview was with someone who looked kafke-like, though his his whiskers, ears, tail, fingers, and muzzle were longer. Rather like a vision kafke. He was waering the mark of Bove, in a sharply cut outfit with silver buttons. He had silver earrings as well.
He started talking, and though the intonation was right, the words were completely unknown to me until 1827 started translating. Still, his body language was clear, and he seemed at ease.
His name was Gallax Romkulla. First, he had questions about language, asking 1827 what he knew of Elix (though that was not what he called it, obviously). Next, he introduced himself as the representative of a group called Edge Hammer, which was about forty people who have nearly been to the edge, but not quite. They are equipped with weapons and abilities from the roots. They work inflicting damage to the All and to the ghosts from the edge, but their focus is to assist travelers to get to the edge.
Jack asked whether they were interested in having us join them or in giving us assistance to the edge. Gallax said that some don't wish to go to the edge, to fall, but they come with skills to help thos who believe they can get to the edge. He has seen many go who thought they could, and fell instead. Still, others have returned. He was offering help on the journey.
Jack asked whether they could assess our ability compared to those who survived, and Gallax said that they could do this assessment, evaluating our possibilities.
Jack asked what they would want in return, and Gallax said they asked nothing. They offered positions for those who would wish, as well.
Jack asked whether would could join, then journey to the edge later, and Gallax said yes. The first things we would learn would be to reduce the rate of thread loss. The company is routinely hired by Bove and other kathel to deal with beasts and other things that come to the cities.
I asked whether we'd be paid if we joined. Gallax said that we would get training, and if we joined on missions, those would be paid.
Thymelixsen asked about the type of training, and Gallas said that it depended on the skills we already had. Mostly fighting and some espionage.
Thyemlixsen asked whether we would stay together, and Gallax said it depended on our skills and what was needed for the mission. I asked whether they used healers, and Gallax said yes. Thymelixsen asked whether they have trainers in magic, and Gallax said it depended on the type of energy work.
Jacked asked about how much missions pay, and Gallax said that it depended. Their focus is on good missions, and keeping stable.
Cor asked about how long their training was. Gallax said we'd be deployed immediately, and the training would be on the way. The work was regular.
Gallax cautioned us to be careful after tonight, that we shouldn't travel alone, since the protections given us by Vosh would have gone down, and it will now be dangerous for us.
