THE DURKAHL, BISHOP KLIAMBALA’S OFFICE

COLRED

Bishop Kliambala, I brought you a little gift.

The sound of chains can be heard as JANUAE is brought into the room

KLIAMBALA

Welcome back, Januae. Thank you guards, you can leave him with us.

Sound of a door closing

KLIAMBALA

We’ve been searching for you for quite some time, you know. You didn’t make it very easy for us to find you.

JANUAE

I suppose not, based on the fact that… well, I would assume you were merely concerned for my wellbeing, but you know, these chains…

COLRED

When you steal from the Priesthood, you can expect to be treated as a criminal-

KLIAMBALA

Colred, please. Actually Januae, we were concerned for your wellbeing. You had simply disappeared on us. For months we’ve had no idea what became of you. I’m sorry about the chains, but I’m sure you understand.

JANUAE

I suppose it is only fitting. I figured it would catch up with me eventually, especially since Lowen

was an-

COLRED

Did you really think you could evade the Priesthood forever? You do realize we have eyes all throughout the Steadfast and the Beyond.

KLIAMBALA

We received information as to your whereabouts via the Chimes of Truth. They’ve developed a pretty strong communication node in Charmonde, so once you were spotted word was able to reach us pretty quickly. Forgive us for the use of chains though, we couldn’t risk having you slip away again. The information you have is far too important to us.

JANUAE

The information… I thought this had to do with Lowen’s…

KLIAMBALA

You had designed a prototype for a teleportation device which De’auana had fashioned for you, correct?

JANUAE

Yes…

KLIAMBALA

And you had employed the device and used it successfully, had you not?

JANUAE

Well, I wouldn’t exactly say it was all that successful, considering-

KLIAMBALA

When you used the device did it or did it not teleport you elsewhere?

JANUAE

Yes, I did end up teleporting when I used the device, but I was unable to-

KLIAMBALA

So you were able to create a device that makes one teleport. And I see  you have been giving it plenty of use. We know you have been traveling about the Steadfast with it. We have an eyewitness who says they had worked alongside you in Ancuan several months ago, and we had just found you in Charmonde a few weeks back. While it is possible to travel such distances over the course of that timeframe, it is highly dangerous and rather unlikely for a lone individual to accomplish that successfully.

COLRED

And you thought you could just keep teleporting to evade capture. You’re not as smart as you think you are, Januae.

KLIAMBALA

(sighs heavily)

Colred, do you mind?

COLRED

Your Excellency, how long would he have kept this up had we not found him?

KLIAMBALA

Not for long, I would assume. The device was no longer on his person when we found him.

(to JANUAE)

Did they take the device from you when they sold you into slavery?

JANUAE

No. I no longer had the device at that point.

KLIAMBALA

When, or where did you last have it?

JANUAE

In Lostrei, the Spiritlands.

There is a moment of silence

KLIAMBALA

You mean to tell me you were able to teleport to the Spiritlands? Well, I would consider this an unqualified success! That is the entire purpose of developing this technology! Archbishop Nadret Lann will be quite pleased indeed!

COLRED

I don’t know… that doesn’t sound right. If you last had the device  in the Spiritlands how did you manage to reach Charmonde? My guess is that you’ve hidden the device somewhere. It’s only a matter of time before we find it, then-

JANUAE

(speaking under Colred)

You don’t understand. No, you don’t understand at all what happened! Please!

KLIAMBALA

Perhaps we should let him explain what happened. Go on, Januae.

JANUAE

Thank you. Yes, I did employ the teleportation device built by De’auana. When I first activated it it took me to the Spiritlands, to a place called Cheloh. But I couldn’t return here as she had essentially created a cypher for me, you know, one use then throw it away. Consequently I was stuck there. As it happened a group of priests in Cheloh performed a ritual that caused me to teleport away from there. It triggered some kind of esotery in me that makes me jaunt to various places at various times. But I can’t control when it happens or where I end up. I wanted nothing more than to return here, but I couldn’t. To be honest, you bringing me back here was the best thing that could happen.

KLIAMBALA

(after a few beats)

While it would have been nice to have the device to study, all is not lost. We have your knowledge of working with teleportation, as well as your experience in doing so. You’ve shown that a teleportation device can be developed that would allow us to reach the Spiritlands. Now that you’ve returned to the Durkahl we can immediately get to work on creating a multiple use, large scale version of the device. Once we have that built we will be well on our way to launching Pope Durranet’s crusade.

JANUAE

No.

KLIAMBALA

I beg your pardon?

COLRED

(simultaneously)

What do you mean “no”?

JANUAE

We can’t launch that crusade. The Gaians aren’t what you think they are.

COLRED

Who do you think you are? How dare you question the orders of the Bishop, and the Amber Pope’s initiative! You think you are so clever Januae, but you are an arrogant man who uses careless and sloppy means of research, who deals with less than reputable selace merchants in order to-

KLIAMBALA

Colred! That’s enough! Please leave us.

COLRED

Your Excellency, how can you sit there and-

KLIAMBALA

Leave us!

COLRED

As you wish.

A door is heard closing with COLRED’s exit

KLIAMBALA

Januae, is there something you learned about the Gaians while you were in the Spiritlands? Do they have some powerful technology in their possession that could-

JANUAE

No, no. Nothing like that. Pope Durranet claims that the Gaians are planning to launch an offensive against the Steadfast, but that is not at all the case. They hardly know about the Steadfast, much less the Papacy. These are simple people that believe there are spirits that reside in all things. They call on these spirits to aid them in helping one another. They even tried to help me return home when they had no cause to do so. So to answer your question… yes, I learned much about the Gaians. I learned that they are a peaceful people with no knowledge of the Papacy, or even of the Steadfast.

KLIAMBALA

So you did not observe or hear of any plans to launch an initiative against the Kingdoms? No plans to cross the Cloudcrystal Skyfields and invade Navarene from the north?

JANUAE

They hardly know of anything beyond the Cloudcrystal Skyfields. I believe in my heart of hearts that the Steadfast is under no threat from the Gaians.

KLIAMBALA

Interesting. That is very enlightening. Thank you for sharing that, Januae. That is certainly something Nadret Lann would be interested in learning.

JANUAE

I’m glad you’re going to convey that to him. It would mean all the trials I’ve endured over the last few months will not have been in vain, knowing that I’m helping to prevent a crusade that would have resulted in innocent lives being lost because of a misapprehension-

KLIAMBALA

Do you really think Pope Durranet is going to call off his crusade?

JANUAE

Well, once he learns that the Gaians…

KLIAMBALA

Whether or not the Gaians have plans to move against the Kingdoms is inconsequential. Relations between the Nine Kingdoms have always been tenuous at best. Having a common enemy to bring them together is His Highness’ best hope of keeping the Kingdoms united.

JANUAE

So… the crusade is merely a tool of propaganda to-

KLIAMBALA

A strategic initiative to ensure continued peace between the Nine Kingdoms of the Steadfast. I hope you can see the greater good in this. I need to be assured we can count on you to-

A melody like the chant of the Veilwardens is beginning to come in

JANUAE

No! These are innocent people! I will not help the Amber Pope cut down innocent people simply to carry out some propaganda-

KLIAMBALA

You will help us build the technology to reach the Gaians or you’ll- what are you doing?

JANUAE

I’m not controlling this! I don’t know what’s-

KLIAMBALA

I’m ordering you to lower yourself back down! Stop your ascent, Januae, or-

JANUAE

I can’t! I- can you hear that?

KLIAMBALA

Guards!

JANUAE

Calaval’s Eyes! The Ustiliator!

KLIAMBALA

What in the prior worlds- what is that?

(there is a moment of stunned silence, then JANUAE begins to fade)

No, no, no! You’d better not disappear, Januae! You’d better not-

(in frustration as JANUAE finally fades away)

Januae! Januae!