OSSAM’S TRAVELING MENAGERIE AND SOARING CIRCUS

JANUAE

I still itch ever so slightly after my run-in with those creatures from last night’s jaunt. Once I was able to considerably reduce the misery from that experience I was rather delighted in being able to make myself jaunt. However, it would not have been possible without the ganch and the controlled environment of the quiet wagon. Eventually the goal will be to learn how to still my mind without the use of the herb, which will indeed be a challenge. Following that I will need to learn how to jaunt outside of the optimal conditions of a quiet environment. Yeri believes that could take months if not years to learn. I don’t have that kind of time, so I will learn what I can while I’m traveling with this circus.

As we while away the time before the carnival opens on the second day, Yeri arranges me to meet with Heth Narhaa for some defensive training before I make another attempt at jaunting this evening.

HETH

So, you’re the nano Yeri told me about. They said you are in need of some training. What kind of combat skills do you have?

JANUAE

Only the most basic. My father taught us all how to fight when we were young.

HETH

Let’s see what you got then.

JANUAE

Um, I know I’m no match for you. I’ve watched your performance and I know I wouldn’t stand a chance against you in a fight.

HETH

Don’t worry about that. I just want to see what you can do. Go ahead. Come at me.

JANUAE goes to swing and misses. He attempts to land two blows and a kick and is parried by HETH at every turn. He then goes for a head butt and clearly cannot connect.

HETH

Maybe you’d do better with a weapon?

JANUAE

I’m not as well versed in the use of-

HETH

Here. Try this short sword.

HETH tosses JANUAE a sword. JANUAE attempts three swings, a thrust, and an overhead swing but does not even come close to connecting

HETH

Basic. Enough to ward off some thugs, maybe you could scare away a not-so-hungry ithsyn. What else can you do?

JANUAE

(slightly winded)

That’s it. That’s about as good as I can do.

HETH

I thought you said you were a nano?

JANUAE

Actually, I’m a… yes, I’m a nano.

HETH

Then you should have some sort of esoteries you can employ, should you not?

JANUAE

I… I don’t know.

HETH

You must. Have you no special defensive abilities, like the ability to float or mental onslaught or something?

JANUAE

Well… I discovered I can create a force with my hands.

HETH

Well then, let’s have a look.

JANUAE thrusts his hands forward and HETH actually grunts with the force of energy being pushed into her.

HETH

There you go! Nice! Did you forget you could do that?

JANUAE

I must have.

HETH

Well we should be able to hone that skill. I wouldn’t advise you depend on that though, as it appears to have fatigued you a bit. We’ll work on that so you will become less fatigued, but that will take some time.

JANUAE

I’m afraid I don’t have the luxury of time.

HETH

You don’t have the luxury of not learning what I can teach you as long as you’re working with Yeri to develop this jaunting skill you’re after. I think you have enough basic defensive skills to survive anything your size or a slight  bit larger but I imagine you’ll need more than that to withstand whatever you meet on your journeys. And I’m betting you have another esotery or two in you. It’s just a matter of discovering it in whatever time we have to work together. For now, let’s work on your fundamentals.

JANUAE

I continue working with Heth Narhaa in the morning until she felt I’d done enough for the day. I decide if I can lay down for a few hours I can have enough energy to deal with whatever I encounter on my next jaunting exercise later today. I only wish I’d remembered that force esotery when I was dealing with those itchy spray creatures last night.

I enter Yeri’s wagon to find some old man going through her things. I’m far too tired after my training to have any hope of besting him. I instead try to startle him with the element of surprise.

Hey! What do you think you’re doing?

YERI

Crail! You startled me? I’m just putting away some things! Do you mind?

JANUAE

Your things? This is Yeri’s wagon! You would do best to drop whatever it is you have and leave, or I’ll have to-

YERI

Oh, worlds. I forgot. Calm down, Lost Nano. I’ll explain.

JANUAE

Lost Nano? Who are you?

YERI

Please, sit down so I can explain.

JANUAE

I won’t sit down until you tell me-

YERI

Sit down, Januae.

Pause

JANUAE

Your voice… wait… you…

JANUAE sits

YERI

You get it now.

JANUAE

I see it now. Your shoulders and chest… broader, harder facial features, the curves are gone, but, you look like…you still…

YERI

Look like me? That’s because I’m still me.

JANUAE

How did this happen?

YERI

It just happens. Much the way you can’t control your jaunting, I can’t control my gender. I’m a woman for awhile then I’m a man for awhile.

JANUAE

Is that… is that why you’re here?

YERI

With the menagerie? Let’s get something straight… my gender shift is not some circus act, Lost Nano. I’m here because I like to travel, I like the variety and unconventionalism. I would have had a nice comfortable way of life in the upper echelons in the machine city of Nihliesh, but a boring way of life. Life with the circus is never boring. And with my prophetic skills I can offer my services to the towns we visit. These are my people here, Januae. This is where I belong.

JANUAE

I didn’t mean to offend when I asked-

YERI

I know you didn’t. I’m sure you’ve not met anyone like me. Very few have.

JANUAE

I suppose we do have that in common, having a condition neither of us can control.

YERI

That’s where we’re different. Unlike you, I don’t call this a “condition”. This is a part of who I am, not a condition that must be corrected or cured. I suppose there are many who would not feel at ease with this experience but it’s all I’ve ever known and it’s always felt natural to me. But for you jaunting doesn’t feel natural, it’s like it doesn’t belong to you. Perhaps that’s what keeps you from being able to control it, eh?

JANUAE

If that were true you would be able to control your condi- er, your shifts, wouldn’t you?  You’re telling me you’re okay with not being able to control when you change gender?

YERI

I am. The fact that my gender doesn’t remain static has had no significant impact on my life. Maybe my love life on occasion… more accurately, my sex life, getting someone to stick around through my changes… but for you it’s not about the lack of control. It’s about the jaunting, it’s about having no grounding, no stability. It’s not the fact you can’t control it that is the affliction for you. It’s the jaunting itself.

Pause

JANUAE

That may be so. I lived a stable life as an Aeon Priest in the Durkahl, conducting my research, minding my own business. Now…

YERI

Now you have to deal with situations over which you have no control. As well as people.

JANUAE

People?

YERI

You’re a bit misanthropic, Lost Nano. I wouldn’t label you as a people person.

JANUAE

I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m… well, I suppose there’s some truth to that, too.

YERI

Well then. I suppose there’s the matter of your jaunting instruction we need to discuss now, isn’t there?

JANUAE

Yes, Heth Narhaa has agreed to work with me on combat skills for when-

YERI

Of course. What I’m referring to is the payment for my services. If me being a man now has affected your willingness to maintain our arrangement, you will have to find ways of earning some shins, you know.

JANUAE

You seem to be able to read me like a book in some ways, while in others you barely know me. We can maintain our arrangement as it is, I assure you. Whatever gender you happen to be has no bearing on that.

YERI

Well… isn’t this a rare delight for me! Usually my shifts end any dalliance I might be involved in at the time. And with that out of the way, shall we?

JANUAE

Certainly, but I really could use a nap after my training with Heth Narhaa. I’m sure you’ll be grateful if I can recover a bit of energy.

YERI

Indeed I will. When you wake, I’ll be ready and waiting.