So we send me, a senior Corps officer. And I have enough arcane equipment that they're unlikely to simply dismiss me as a chancer, and the authority to offer just about anything they could want, up to and including their own Lanterns. And there's Hieronymous, who clearly isn't up to defending himself against truth compulsion spells from local archmages if they decide that they want to test my story.
I have to wonder if he has
any arcane defences at all. I mean, surely he has something, but they might be as durable to an attack as paper, especially from his local wizards.
Well, it;'s rare that OL is so lost for words, even in his inner monologue.
Despite the fact that Queen Artemis rules an entire world, her throne is a simple wooden affair set in an alcove at the far end of the room. The main floor of the throne room is made of bare flagstones, though the stone making up the 'royal platform' appears to have been fused into a single mass. The windows are designed to resemble leaded panes, though they're not using lead but rather… Wood? Some sort of magic-enhanced superwood? Seems like it would be more of a fiddle than just enhancing the glass. Purple drapes cover the walls of the royal alcove, and a mirror that is blatantly used for scrying is attached to the wall within convenient using distance of the throne.
It's like an advanced civilisation cosplaying as medieval. Then again, given their supposed arcane power, it may well be magitech rather can mundane scientific developments.
Queen Artemis herself… Blonde and pink hair, pink and rose dress, a silver diadem on her forehead and… Odd… Antennae..? Things..? Sticking out of the corners of her eyes before rising up above the top of her head. None of the other locals appear to have those. Might be an age thing? Or like Hieronymous odd skin colour, maybe a proportion of their species just looks a bit odd? Or maybe it's just the magicians? Otherwise there's not a lot about her that sticks out; average height, musculature, reasonably attractive but not stand-out attractive…
Perhaps magicians above a certain level of power develop certain physical quirks? Oddly coloured skin, peculiar features. I suspect you'll need a larger sample size to determine that.
Though, again, that could be a miscalibration on my part.
I approach to what I think is a respectful distance and bow to a forty-five degree angle, waiting to be acknowledged.
That's what comes from hanging around ladies who are usually a
minimum eight out of ten.
"Ritual supplication is not required, though I do appreciate your willingness to be polite." I straighten up, smiling apologetically. "I have long since grown tired of off-worlders who do not understand that our magic makes us perfectly capable of defending ourselves."
"I apologise for my ignorance. This trip was arranged at short notice, and there wasn't a compatible diplomatic packet for me to absorb. I understand that I activated some sort of alarm when I arrived, and I apologise for that."
Yeah, Hieronymous really should have had something prepared to brief him with. Or at least written
something down during his induction way back when.
"The alarm was intended to detect people being used as hosts for powerful demons." She regards me suspiciously. "Do you know why it might have reacted to you?"
"Are you familiar with the Green Lantern Corps?"
Ah, the Ophidian link. Yeah, I suppose to many arcane senses, he'd look like some manner of daemonhost.
"I have met our local Lantern. Neither they nor-" She wiggles her right forefinger at Hieronymous. "-whatever species he is triggered it."
"I was born here."
I mean, it's not
impossible they have multiple sapient species on one world. Especially given how otherwise RPG-like this place is.
"Each colour has their own Embodiment; a powerful elemental creature comprised of the corresponding emotion. I have served as the host of the orange one, and though she's not currently occupying me we do maintain a link. Would that have done it?"
She nods, relaxing slightly. "Yes, that is most likely the issue."
So ultimately not a danger, just an annoyance. Presumably the ward would have to be reset anytime he goes past it.
"If you'd like to meet her, that can be arranged. For an Embodiment of Avarice, she's surprisingly quiescent at the moment. Of course, that would require that you travel to Maltus, and I know how difficult interstellar travel is when your civilisation is magic-focused."
"Yes, I noticed your concealment spells. You world uses magic, then?"
I'll
bet they noticed his tattoos. Being basically invisible to arcane scanning and scrying would definitely be noted.
"Yes. Not as much as I'd like, but yes. That's… Why I'm here."
"I'm curious why you wish to employ our magicians rather than those of your own home."
Ah, well, there's the rub...
"We were employing those of my own home, but there's only one country that is really focused on magic, and their government just recalled them all. So we could either train up their replacements from scratch or go to one of the handful or worlds that also use magic. Lantern Hieronymous recommended his own homeworld over Zerox or M'arzz or… Anywhere else."
And really, even if the Atlanteans do get permission to continue serving, best to have alternates.
She nods. "Of course, I would have difficulty confirming that for. As you say, travelling between the stars using magic is very difficult."
Oh? "You actually have a way to do it? The best I could come up with was opening a portal to Hell, travelling through and then punching a hole out. I've even got good enough relations with a senior demon lord that he'd probably enable it if he got a cut of the proceeds, but I haven't had time to really experiment. Is there another way?"
Still safer than Warhammer 40k's equivalent. At least this Hell is willing to tolerate transits.
She looks taken aback. "Your education impresses me. Most visitors regard magic as a source of wonder or amusement rather than a serious technological path for an advanced civilisation. In answer to your question, yes, though we have not yet reached the point of taking our knowledge beyond the theoretical. Hell could indeed be used as you describe, but my thought is that the Dreaming would be safer."
And OL sucks his breathe in through his teeth. That might be a step too far.
I shake my head. "I've been through a dreamstorm. I wouldn't recommend it for a large inanimate object. And I don't think that Morpheus would approve of his realm being used as a shipping lane. Have you considered-?" I know that it was a Mother of Mercy induced hallucination, but from what I've been able to tell the theory is sound. "Artificially expending the worldsphere? Or artificially joining two separate ones? I had a team researching the possibility but that's been closed down as well."
A pity dolmen gates require functioning thaumospheres to connect. Imagine if they were able to develop a magical Stargate equivalent.
She leans forward. "Do you have their records?"
"Some of them, and I'd be happy to share, but I fear that I've gotten off-topic."
Yes, negotiations. Though I'm sure magical knowledge would make a good payment option.
Actually….
I raise my right hand and transmute copies of… Just about everything. Professor Sephtian's books, the Dream research, what the Atlanteans on Maltus worked out, my own notes… And deposit them on the floor.
Dangit, OL. Do you realise how much those would have been worth in trade?
"A token of my esteem, one researcher to another. I'm not sure how useful it will be to you, but I do hope that it will be some."
A couple of servants approach to gather them up as the queen nods. "I shall look forward to examining them. But as you say, to return to the topic: why do you need to replace your researchers so swiftly?"
Ah, good point. Different magical systems, they might not be able to adapt
any of it.
"We're involved in a rather large war. Using magic in certain ways has given us a very useful edge, and while I think we'll win anyway, a great many more people would die doing it."
"And I take it that those you fight are black-hearted villains?"
...You
could say that.
"My last mission against them involved rescuing people before their brains could be cut out to use as computers. Our foes -the Reach- habitually mind control and then exterminate those they conquer, while we recreate extinct species whose worlds we liberate. You can confirm that with your local Green Lantern, who should be able to access the reports we send to Oa. Or I can convey you to Maltus to speak with anyone you want there."
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. But they might only believe so much.
She smiles. "You make them sound like the most black-hearted villains in all the galaxy."
"No, that's still Darkseid and Apokolips. But they're trying really hard."
True, compared to them, the Reach are rookies.
She looks thoughtful. "Tell me, are you married?"
"Affianced." I shrug. "Sorry. If you're thinking about a marriage alliance with the Corps, ah… I'm not sure that it's a good idea. Clarissi Dox considers emotion a weakness, Illustres Xor is happily married, Senior Lantern Ragnar only cares about fighting and no one else is really notable enough."
Ah, Xor tied the knot? Good for him.
"I am more concerned with a man's character than his rank. Who amongst your fellow Lanterns stands out to you for their valour and heroism?"
"Most of my Lanterns are from a species of insectoids with seven sexes. Ah. But if you wanted me to select one as a model of heroism…"
I mean, the 'seven sexes' thing doesn't really rule that out, but I do suspect she'd like something a bit more physically
compatible.
7th May 2013
03:22 GMT
"Alan, I know it hasn't really come up before, but how would you feel about…? Dating?"
...Goddammit, OL. You'll have half of Themyscira on your ass about messing with the Dialan ship.