I have travelled to a magical alternate universe. I have become a living artillery piece. I can move objects by the force of my will. I can dissolve things into nothing. On some days I still need my afternoon nap.

Lidija and Zora are still in the car. However, I am informed that Stjepan has done rituals for Pavol and Karolína. There seems to be universal consensus that a night drive is a bad idea and that we should depart tomorrow. So I quickly construct a long tent and a few tables and chairs.

Then I proceed to repair my car. The changes will need a few hours to percolate after the ritual. It is a ritual like I have never done before. And it is costly. Five times three to the fifth power of spirit coins. To those of you bad at mathematics: That comes out as one thousand two hundred and fifteen coins. My storage space holds something my tricorder calls „Vortex Elemental Dust“. Getting these things into contact with myself or my armour is a bad idea. The armour probably saved my life. It is worth every coin as armour alone, let alone a vehicle.

As I am done, the western sky is ablaze in red. Shadows have fallen over the land. Olutha’s voice calls out in a loud, but not alarmed voice.

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I am confronted with two people in what looks like Luke Slywalker’s land speeder, if the the engine at the end were smaller. Olutha has assumed a posture that looks straighter than usual. A bronze rank aura is clearly projected in order to be easily perceptible.

RC: A new race! An outworlder indeed.

GP: Please be calm and project your aura for identification.

RC: Believe me that I am projecting overwhelming curiosity, whether I intend to or not.

GP: Yes, I am happy to notice, but please remember that the sooner we have good contact, the sooner you can ask questions.

RC: What do you mean by that?

GP: I have skill books with of the trader language in my luggage.

OL: Priestess, I am honored and pleased to greet you here.

There is no point in giving clergy of Knowledge a status report.

I am lifting my arms and showing my hands.

GP: Before you ask, that is a gesture of peace. He is demonstrating that he is holding no weapons.

RC: Can you talk to him?

GP: Not really. Knowing facts about a language is not the same as speaking it.

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RC: What are your plans?

GP: Would you please set up the projection device, you’ll find in the chest marked with the purple triange?

GP: Ms. Lassalle, I have come because my godess needs to deal with your companions from another world. I am also happy to assist you in general to an extent. I think we might better wait for your temporary subgroup leader, as he is just getting ready to get here, asking nobody in particular what kind of shit is so important that he needs to get up with unpleasant bruises all over his body.

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The iron ranker among our visitors is setting up a projector. They know the same trick as our guests know. That means we’ll need to get ready for a language adaption session. That is odd. In fact it is suspicious. I wish I were not alone of my people here. Do all travellers carry a projection device? Is it a form of camp entertainment? Well, it allows the kind of imagery that drove a lot of internet technology on Earth, too. Except that the groups here also include women.

The bronze ranker is looking at me with a mixture of anger, admiration and amusement.

Do I need to control my aura and face better?

She is most unlikely to be a hired guard. She gave orders. And I really wish I were not alone. I am bad at reading social clues.

She is getting out of their vehicle. She steps to the projector, puts in a crystal, gets a rod out of the second pouch on her belt, inserts it into the projector and turns it. Then she hits a button and an image appears. It shows an older, bearded man. He starts talking. In my native language.

What? Do they have a projector that is so much better or do I need to suspect that they have had a hand in our arrival? In thart case do I owe them something or did they prevent us rematerializing on Earth? Later.

Greetings, vistor. I am the chief priest of the goddess Knowledge. She has sensed your arrival on this world. You have implications for the future of this world and the domain of my goddess. She is offering you an agreement concerning these areas. Her personal representative has details on them. As a gesture of good will she is offering you a skill book on the common trade language.

This has been prepared. She detected us. She knew that we do not speak the language. I would quote a famous movie, if I dared to.

I know when I am in an untenable position. That is not unusual. Most people know. I then react rationally. I do claim that to be unusual. Many people would now freak out. Is that the reason I am listening to this recording alone? Have we been under observation?

She is bronze rank. I am beat up and my biggest shot is on cooldown. Olutha would not act against her. Whatever they want is important to them. They are offering at least some reciprocity. I am folding.

The priestess is offering me a book. There is no point in delaying it. I take it and trigger the absorption. The light show is familiar. My aura sense is getting me slight curiosity and anticipation and in one case impatience. Very good, so they are also familiar with the process and things are proceeding as usual.

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As I get out of the rpocess with an aching head, I notice Dean and Pavol.

P: Welcome to our camp. I hope that you are not offended by my acting quickly. Because I now am able to speak your language, I wish to offer you our hospitality. However, because Dean is displaying signs of emotion and impatience, I wish to request from you that you listen to him immediately.

Pavol is showing signs of incomprehension. Good, the book has worked. Can I go back?

P: I have asked them to join us for tea and dinner.

DT: Priestess, may I ask what has happened to our comrades?

GP: Your leader has perished and the rest have been captured. However, Knowledge cannot tell you everything, lest you become dependent on her.

DT: Could you inform the Adventure Society?

GP: Yes, that shall be done. They will, however, also learn about the epidemic.

DT: It is real.

GP: Yes, it is.