CITY OF DYNAFEL

JANUAE

Bishop Kliambala has put a bounty on my head, it appears. I was quite fortunate to have escaped capture by the bounty hunter Cyunn in Charmonde. In a moment of panic I decided to teleport here, to Dynafel, where I was trained to become an Aeon Priest.

I’ve taken it upon myself to seek out my old mentor, Narla Deshu. I am told she still resides in the Dreaming Reliquary, no doubt continuing her research in devices that work with dreams in some manner or another. The research is a vestige of the dictates of the long exiled and deceased queen that had been deposed by the presiding king’s father, Rabbar tiKalloban decades ago. It will be interesting to see how far she’s come in her research in the several years since I was last here.

NARLA DESHU

Januae! Oh my goodness, how wonderful it is to see you! My how you have grown into quite the man! How long has it been?

JANUAE

I would venture to guess nearly a dozen years or so. It is good to see you as well.

NARLA DESHU

Here, let’s sit and share a cup of hot misk.

Chairs slide out as they sit. Hot beverage can be heard being poured.

NARLA DESHU

So tell me what life has been like for you since you left Dynafel. I heard you went to work at the Durkahl after leaving Beoth.

JANUAE

Yes, I’d been working on teleportation for the last three years there. But before I go into any of that, please tell me: has there been any word of the Order looking for me, asking about my whereabouts?

NARLA DESHU

Asking about your whereabouts? No, not at all. Why?

JANUAE

Well, with Dynafel being in such close proximity to Qi, I wasn’t sure if word had reached here yet. The Order wants me brought back to the Durkahl.

NARLA DESHU

Brought back? Januae, are you in some sort of trouble? What’s going on?

JANUAE

I’m wanted by the Order. They want to use me for my knowledge and experience working with teleportation. They’ve sent a bounty hunter to bring me in, Narla. They plan on forcing me to work on developing a large scale teleportation device.

NARLA DESHU

Why would they have to force you? Do you not want to work on this device? I don’t understand. Didn’t you make a commitment to serve the Order?

JANUAE

It’s not that I’m trying to shirk my duties. They believe I am, but…

(sighs)

The thing is, I teleported away from Qi during my research and once again while being detained before Bishop Kliambala. You see, an esotery has been activated in me that causes me to jaunt away and I can’t control it.

NARLA DESHU

(after a beat)

I see. This new esotery, this was a result of your experimentation with the technology?

JANUAE

Not directly. Narla, I actually created a working teleportation device. Well, more like a teleportation cypher. I ended up taking a one-way trip to Lostrei while testing it. It was apparently powered by a midnight stone that was expended upon use, so I could not return to Qi. Some priests there performed a ritual to try to send me back, and that’s what activated this esotery in me.

NARLA DESHU

And you have found no way to reverse it yet, I assume?

JANUAE

Not as of yet. However, I was able to come here with the help of a dimension walker in the Pytharon Empire. She has a dimension walking device we’ve fashioned into a rudimentary teleporter. Interestingly enough I haven’t jaunted unintentionally since using the device. But I can’t depend on using it forever, you know. I really need to find a way to reverse this condition.

NARLA DESHU

Well, this is all very interesting, Januae, if not a bit tragic. And if I know you, this is likely a result of your impetuous nature.

JANUAE

Hey, I thoroughly researched that technology, Narla. I was simply testing it. If I had known-

NARLA DESHU

I’ve always admired your enthusiasm but you’ve always been so impatient, my boy. Nevertheless I’m sure you didn’t come here to get lectured by me like in the old days. You know my commitment to the Order, Januae. You’d be asking too much of me to shelter you from your obligation to the Order of Truth.

(after a beat)

Perhaps there’s a way I can help you. Let me show you some of the work I’ve been doing here.

JANUAE

Are you still working on the devices that work with dreams? You always found this mandate of Queen Whenith’s to be silly, if I recall. And she’s long dead now.

NARLA DESHU

Finding a way to control others through their dreams? I still think it’s silly. That hasn’t changed.

JANUAE

Then why continue this line of research? Are you working on behalf of her sons against King Noren tiKalloban?

NARLA DESHU

You know I have no interest in Iscobal politics, and Archbishop Uloq is insistent we keep it that way. But there is so much numenera here to be studied that the former queen provided us. Let me show you something I’ve been working on lately that you might find rather interesting…

NARRATION

JANUAE

Narla Deshu guides me into an area she refers to as the “dream vault”. Scores of numenera items are neatly stacked in small cubbies and shelves and in various containers, tagged with labels filled with copious amounts of information on each item. Her obsession with organization and order has not waned the slightest in the time I studied under her, a trait I did not inherit despite her efforts to instill them in me. Several cots were also arranged in tight parallel lines, with various apparatuses attached to all sides of each cot. Before I get an opportunity to marvel at all the technology that surrounds me, my former mentor hands me a ball.

JANUAE

(to NARLA DESHU)

What is this?

NARLA DESHU

It’s a ball.

JANUAE

What does it do?

NARLA DESHU

It rolls. It’s just a ball, Januae.

JANUAE

Then why are you-

NARLA DESHU

Take a look at it. Study it.

JANUAE

Okay.

(beat)

So-

NARLA DESHU

No, don’t hand it back to me. Don’t rush through this like you’re wont to do, Januae. Really study it. Take note of the weight, the size, the color. Keep in mind the texture of the surface. Get to know it well.

JANUAE

(after several beats)

Okay, I think I have it. Now what?

NARLA DESHU

Alright, come on over here. Go ahead and put the ball in that wire basket, then sit down on this cot. Grab the pair of goggles hanging there.

JANUAE

What goggles? I don’t see-

NARLA DESHU

(sighs)

Look with your eyes, Januae. Okay, there’s that pulsing cylindrical object hanging over the cot, right? Okay, hanging from that is that twisted synth cable, and hanging on the end of that are the goggles. There you go. Now put those on. Good. Now lay down on the cot. Don’t worry, I’m going to do this as well.

JANUAE

Okay, so now what? Do I just… Narla, I don’t know about this. The light patterns… are… making me feel… funny…

TRANSITION MUSIC

JANUAE

Where are we? What is this place. I feel strange… this place feels like… something about this place is off.

NARLA DESHU

That’s because you’re asleep. We are in a shared dream, Januae.

JANUAE

A shared… I’m dreaming right now?

NARLA DESHU

Yes. Look at how things around you change so easily. Try lifting yourself off the ground.

JANUAE

You mean jump? Like this… wait, I’m floating! Look at this!

NARLA DESHU

Yes. These are things one can do in the dream state, right?

JANUAE

Fascinating! Is this the result of your research?

NARLA DESHU

Just one aspect of it. Now come back down. Good. Here, take a look at this.

JANUAE

This is the ball you handed me in the dream vault.

NARLA DESHU

Yes. Is it exactly as you remember it?

JANUAE

It is…

NARLA DESHU

Now this is the beauty of dreams. You know how in dreams things work differently than in reality? How things can change in the dream realm where they stay static in reality. Think of an aspect of this ball you want to change. Just one aspect. Something simple, like its color.

JANUAE

I want it to be blue.

NARLA DESHU

Just like that. See?

JANUAE

Indeed! Easy enough to do from within a dream…

NARLA DESHU

Now take the goggles off.

JANUAE

But I’m not wearing-

NARLA DESHU

You are now. This is the dream realm, Januae.

JANUAE

Ah, so I am. Okay then…

(after a few beats, groggily)

Oh, wow… so that was a dream.

NARLA DESHU

(also a bit groggily)

Yes. Now when you’re ready get the ball out of the basket.

JANUAE

Alright…

(gets the ball)

What? The ball is blue now…!

NARLA DESHU

And what color was it before?

JANUAE

A grayish color.

NARLA DESHU

Do you see the implications here, Januae? It is not perfected yet, but in the dream realm objects can be manipulated to a degree. How would you like to try a more profound application of this experiment?

JANUAE

Perhaps, though I need to be mindful of my current situation with this bounty hunter. What do you have in mind?

NARLA DESHU

Go find your teleportation cypher. Bring it here. We can use the dream realm to alter it to the state where it once again has a working midnight stone. You have a strong familiarity with the device. I believe we might be able to-

JANUAE

I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Narla, but making that cypher functional again won’t help to resolve my jaunting affliction.

NARLA DESHU

Perhaps not, but it is something you can give to the bishop. She wants the working technology, right? Maybe she won’t be so inclined to hunt you down if she has the working prototype. There are plenty of Aeon Priests at the Durkahl who would be delighted to continue that research.

JANUAE

Hmm… I suppose there is merit to that idea. Get the technology to her before the bounty hunter finds me. I will go back to Jargolamis then jaunt to Lostrei, see if those Veilwardens can give me back my cypher. Thank you, Narla. I’ll return soon with the cypher. I appreciate your willingness to help.

NARLA DESHU

I’m glad I can help in a way that still serves the Order. I will see you soon, Januae.

(after several beats, as Januae is still there)

What’s the matter? Is something wrong?

JANUAE

I’m… I’m not jaunting back. Something’s wrong… oh no! The vest! I expended the charge when I last returned to Shoum’s abode! I didn’t recharge it! Now I have no way of getting back to Jargolamis!