Corare Sea, coast of ghan

Chetena

Well Ureeo, are you pleased with how well your device works?

Ureeo

Actually, it was a group effort by the entire semblage, Your Excelle– er, Chetena.

CHETENA

Yes, the semblage worked on it as a whole, but you’re the one who knew what specific numenera was needed to make it detect and salvage ships like these.

Ureeo

I was pretty sure it would find any wreckage on the sea floor but I wasn’t sure if it would be able to bring up a ship that big!

CHETENA

It’s a caravel, so that’s quite impressive.

UREEO

Thank you, Chetena. What are the odds we’ll find numenera in it?

CHETENA

We’ll know soon enough, once Thafti has finished searching it.

UREEO

Better her than me. If there’s an angry quallfin or a giant eel on it I don’t think I’d stand a chance.

CHETENA

They’re much less menacing when out of the water, trust me. But yes, that’s why it’s better to have a glaive search it than an Aeon Priest or one of our deckhands. Better safe than sorry.

UREEO

I couldn’t agree more.

Thafti

Chetena, look there! Someone’s in the water! Get the boom over to them!

THAFTI

A little further… there. Drop the rope.

Chetena

(yelling out to the person overboard)

We’re sending a rope over to you! Grab onto it!

THAFTI

Grab the bloody rope!

ThaFTI

That’s it!

(to CHETENA and UREEO)

Now pull him up! Quickly!

Thafti

Worlds, was he in that ship we pulled up?

CHETENA

Sir? Sir? Can you understand me?

(beat)

What is your name, sir?

CHETENA

Ureeo, get him some fresh water. He’s going to feel horrible if he’s taken on a bunch of sea water.

Ureeo

Right away, Your Excellency.

Ureeo

Sorry. Chetena.

Chetena

Sir? Can you understand me? What’s your name? Do you know where you are?

Januae

Octopus… caught me…

THAFTI

He encountered an octopus? No good can come of that.

Chetena

Why would an octopus try to catch him? They usually can’t be bothered with humans. Far be it for me to understand the mind of an octopus, though.

(to JANUAE)

What is your name?

Ureeo

I think he fell unconscious.

CHETENA

It appears so. Sir, can you hear me?

Thafti

(shaking JANUAE)

Hey, wake up. Wake up!

CHETENA

Easy, Thafti. This man clearly has suffered some sort of trauma.

UREEO

What’s wrong with him?

THAFTI

He’s unconscious, obviously.

UREEO

No, I mean, why’s he look so strange? It’s like I can’t quite focus on him.

Chetena

He does look a bit… out of phase, now that you mention it. Hello? Sir? Can you hear my voice?

Januae

(barely coherent)

Where am I?

CHETENA

You’re on the Coral’s Rest, a vessel belonging to the semblage of the City of Bridges. I am Archbishop Chetena here with my wife, Thafti, and one of my Aeon Priests, Ureeo. Can you tell me your name?

JANUAE

Januae.

Thafti

What were you doing out in the water? Were you exploring that sunken vessel there?

(beat)

Sheesh, this guy has no idea what’s going on, does he?

Ureeo

Is he going to survive?

Chetena

I don’t know. He’s clearly in shock. I suspect whatever’s causing this phasing is messing with his system.

Thafti

Yeah, he doesn’t look good. I’m not sure if he’ll make it.

Ureeo

What’s going on with him? Why’s he look like that? You said he’s out of phase or something?

Chetena

Yes. Like the side effects of an esotery gone wrong, perhaps.

THAFTI

Or a cypher gone wrong. Probably trying to use one to breathe underwater or some foolishness. Cyphers should be best left alone by anyone but Aeon Priests.

CHETENA

Januae, we’ll take care of you best we can. Alright?

JaNUAE

Chetena… watched you save… someone. I was a boy…

CHETENA

Saved someone… when you were a boy? That would have been a few decades ago.

Thafti

You can’t possibly remember that. I think the man is delirious.

CHETENA

No… that’s right. I did save a little girl that fell overboard on a fishing boat. I’d forgotten all about that. He must have been on that boat.

(to JANUAE)

Were you on that boat when I rescued your sister all those years ago?

(beat)

Januae?

UREEO

I think he passed out again.

ThaFTI

What are we going to do about him? He’s probably not going to survive. We need to put him out of his misery or throw him overboard.

CheTENA

No! There is a slim chance he can survive this. We’ll keep an eye on him. If his fever breaks by morning and he’s still with us we’ll know he’s going to live.

Ureeo

And if it doesn’t?

Thafti

Then he’ll die.

Chetena

More accurately he’ll probably just phase out of this dimension, at this rate.

Ureeo

Is there anything we can do for him in the meantime?

CHETENA

We’ll just have to watch him throughout the night.

Thafti

Even if he survives, what kind of life will he lead? How can anyone live like that?

Ureeo

What do you mean?

THAFTI

Look at him. If you can, that is. That somewhat translucent effect. Can you imagine going through life like that?

UREEO

You mean he’ll be stuck like that?

CHETENA

Possibly. If he survives we’ll put him on the next ship to Qi. The Aeon Priests at the Durkahl are the finest students of numenera of any place in the Steadfast, if not the entire Ninth World. They may know of a way to reverse that condition.

Januae

Durranet… stop… Durranet.

CHETENA

Yes, Januae. We may be able to stop the phasing. Though I don’t think Durranet himself will be able to see you.

JANUAE

No… no… no! Can’t! No…

CHETENA

Januae, you need to settle down!

ThaftI

His fever’s getting a hold of him. Ureeo, help me restrain him!

Januae

You have to… please… listen…

Chetena

Januae! Relax! We’re going to try to help you!

Thafti

Ureeo! Hold onto him!

Ureeo

I’m trying!

Januae

No… No!

THAFTI

And there he goes. Yeah, I don’t think he’s going to make it through the night.

Chetena

Well we need to look after him nonetheless. This poor, poor man. You’re going to be alright. Just stay with us.

THAFTI

You don’t know that, dear.

CHETENA

(sternly)

He’s going to be alright.

Mulen, Iscobal

Cormetnet

I have looked into your background, Cyunn, using my resources and connections to verify some of your history. I was able to confirm you were an Entun Glaive in Ancuan before the organization dissolved. Nasty business, that was.

CyUNN

You have no idea what I had to go through in that time. The choices I had to make.

CORMETNET

Yes, well. I was also able to confirm your standing contract with the Order of Truth. I imagine that must have been quite a lucrative arrangement. What happened there?

Cyunn

Let’s just say the Order does not honor their agreements, Cormetnet. My last contract stipulated that I get paid despite the bounty’s condition.

They suddenly decided they would have preferred the bounty to have been alive when I brought him in, which was unfortunately and unavoidably not the case. Thus they reneged on the contract. The bounty’s death was not even by my hand!

CORMETNET

That’s a shame. I figured the Order would honor their agreements, if anyone would.

CYUNN

I was out a rather sizeable sum. I could no longer in good conscience continue working for them.

CORMETNET

I wouldn’t think conscience ever came into play in your line of work.

CYUNN

Well, discretion certainly does.

CORMETNET

A bit of dark humor, don’t mind me. Now rumor has it you tried to get work with the Marish Clan in Qi. Is that true?

CYUNN

I tried, yes. I was hired to do a job for them which I carried out successfully. At least they paid me for my work.

CORMETNET

From what I’d heard you were looking to take on a regular position with them to do their wet work. Were they not happy with the work you performed?

CYUNN

Dietha Marish was pleased with the results of my work. Let’s just say the methods I choose to employ to get the job done are not in alignment with her philosophy. Did she elaborate on that?

CORMETNET

I don’t have any contact with her or her clan. Though ours is a clandestine organization we don’t associate with organized crime, neither here in Mulen or in Qi. The Masked Legion serves at the pleasure of Queen Thera tiKalloban to protect the kingdom from those who would wish to unseat her and the King from their thrones.

CYUNN

Such as the Sarromeres.

CORMETNET

Such as the Sarromeres, yes. We deal with countering and thwarting their efforts in subterfuge and assassinations. We quite often find ourselves up against the Cold Grasp. I’m sure you’re quite familiar with them, considering the lines of work you’ve engaged in.

(beat)

Tell me… why is it you chose to work for The Masked Legion as opposed to the Cold Grasp? I would think they might be a better fit for your particular skillset.

CYUNN

Possibly, but unless I’m mistaken, an organization that is under the purview of the royal house of Iscobal would be much better funded than a den of thieves. To be quite candid, it’s all about the shins.

CORMETNET

Totally understandable. Though you can’t expect us to pay as well as the Order.

CYUNN

Of course.

CORMETNET

Well, then. Let’s see what you’re made of. Rather than put you up against the Cold Grasp right out of the gate, I’ve got a specific job for you.

A thief that goes by the name of Netlien has stolen an artifact from the mayor of Rachar, who happens to be very good friends with the king. His scouts have reported that she is here in Mulen. Due to the nature of this particular artifact, she no doubt has plans to sell it to the Cold Grasp. You are to retrieve this artifact so it can be returned to the Mayor.

CYUNN

Sounds simple enough.

CORMETNET

Oh, and Mayor Terrhvyss is beyond livid with this Netlien woman. His request is that when you take back the artifact you also take her life. Retrieving the artifact will yield a half payment. Taking out the thief will yield payment in full.

CYUNN

I assure you, I will be able to accomplish both.

CORMETNET

Good. Once that is complete we’ll talk about bringing you on as a member of the Masked Legion.

CYUNN

You let the Mayor know he will pleased with my work. I believe you will be as well.

CORMETNET

Talk is cheap. Go on then.