[Excerpt from Session 0021-MOR, dated Moonday Setting, 2nd Week Coldseason, Era of Advancement 284]

 

Restorer: This restorative session will now begin. It is three of Moonday Setting, Second Week Coldseason. Calem the Restorer presiding, Mirae the Calligrapher taking notes. Good morning, and thank you for being with me. Would you mind stating your full name for our records?

 

Subject: Eltra. 

 

R: I’m sorry - I think I misspoke. We need your full name for the record.

 

S: Oh, well pardon me, then. Miss Eltra. 

 

R: You don’t have a delving name?

 

S: Is that a problem? 

 

R: No, of course not. Well, in that - 

 

S: You paused. 

 

R: I’m sorry?

 

S: You paused. When I said I don’t have a delving name. 

 

R: If I caused some offense, I apologize - 

 

S: Do you write it down? When somebody pauses like that?

 

R: Please, don’t address the notetaker directly. 

 

S: Why not?

 

S: Long pause, this time. Do they write down when you sigh, too?

 

R: Let’s try this again. Can you tell me, from your perspective, what happened this past Moonday Waning? As many details as you can remember, please.

 

S: I’d rather not. 

 

R: Look, Eltra. Miss Eltra. Should I assume you identify as female?

 

S: Is that going to be a problem?

 

R: Of course not. Our founder, the Grand Monk of the Cult of Commonality, identifies as male. We welcome folks of any gender here - including those who don’t ascribe.

 

S: That’s neat. I hear your founder got kicked out of Kalin. Something about being too extremist even for a cult?

 

R: Please, Miss Eltra. We’re getting off topic, here. We really need to know what happened this past Moonday Waning.

 

S: I went to your Wellspring, and I took some magic. 

 

R: And?

 

S: And I enjoyed it. 

 

R: Miss Eltra - 

 

S: Have you ever had it before?

 

R: No, I haven’t.

 

S: Really? Never even been tempted? 

 

R: No.

 

S: But that is why tixans come to The Commune, right? To get a little nip of the forbidden?

 

R: Some, yes. Many are here because they share the Vision of Commonality - 

 

S: Ah, right, your little Inkling cult. Tell me, what’s with the tattooing? I mean, I get the whole “share what you have” thing. Well, I don’t really get it. But I get that you get it. But why with the tattoos? 

 

R: They allow us to record our travels and the stories we hear, and present them for everyone to see.

 

S: So you take people’s stories and lives and claim them as your own? Sounds pretty selfish. 

 

R: You’re twisting my words. 

 

S: Couldn’t you just… have a robe? The Boliovorians have robes. 

 

R: The Boliovorians are racists masquerading as a religion.

 

S: Careful, Restorer… that sounded dangerously close to an opinion. 

 

R: Why did you indulge in magic?

 

S: I was curious, and I wanted some. Oh, I shrugged, by the way. In case you didn’t get that down.

 

R: Please don’t address the notetaker directly.

 

S: Come on, you’ve never wanted anything before? All this sharing you people do… you’ve never wanted to take even just a little piece for yourself? 

 

R: You’re misconstruing the Vision of Commonality. We all take what we need for ourselves. And we all provide our own services and crafts back to the community. It’s the First Law of the Commonality - those who take must give in return. It’s the reason you’re here. 

 

S: I just got here. I didn’t know I needed to work to earn my keep. I thought this was just a city of free shit.

 

R: I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you. You’ve been here for the better half of a season… you really didn’t know the very first law of our city-state?

 

S: Maybe I’m just a stupid heathen in need of punishment. Say, what are the punishments in this place anyway? You gonna tattoo me and force me to prosthelytize?

 

R: Why even come here, when it’s clear you don’t share the Vision of Commonality? 

 

S: Like I said, curiosity. You’ve never been curious before?

 

R: I’m curious about why you would come all the way out here to use magic when you could simply get some in a back alley in Kalin. 

 

S: Nice try. I’m from Alugare.

 

S: Whoa, whoa, calm down, now. I’m sure the notetaker couldn’t possibly describe that face.

 

R: If you’re from Alugare, you could have access to free magic whenever you wanted. Why did you come here?

 

S: You’re really not getting this whole ‘curiosity’ thing, are you?

 

R: Your curiosity hurt others. There are folks who gave their magic willingly to the Wellspring. You took their gift and didn’t give them anything in return. 

 

S: Yep, that sounds about right. So what are you gonna do with me? This doesn’t seem like the kind of place that would hand down a beating… is it? I mean, you are starting to look a little red in the face. 

 

R: Don’t you have any remorse at all? 

 

S: Yeah,m we get it, I’m a bad person. But what about you? You’re supposed to be a Restorer, right? You restore relationships and balance? Yet you’re getting more hostile with me by htre moment. I mean you’ve barely givenm e a chance! What if I had a really fucked-upc hildhood or something?

 

R: Ist hat what you’re trying ot tell me?

 

S: Nope, I had a perfecly healthy childhood. My Ghi was awhore and my Zhi was a drunkard. WI’ve got scruples coming out of my ears from those two.

 

R: I’m sorry. I should have let you speak your story. There are folks here who - 

 

S: Sun amd Moon, you really are willin to believe anything that fits in your picture of the world, aren’t you? It’d be funny if it weren’t so sad. My Zhi was a stromgint accountant. ANd yeah, My Ghi was a whore and they never took shit from anyone, they ahd wtiwce as muchr espect for themself as you do - damn, if you showed up asking them to share tyour bed they’d lauygh you outta the -

 

R: That is enough.

 

R: I’m making my judgment. Miss Eltra, I name you Peacebreaker. You are unfit for restoration and I sentence you to enslavement in Hondrouk. 

 

S: And there it is. 

 

R: There what is?

 

S: The selfishness. Ten minutes into an interview and you’re ready to give up on someone entirely. Not because it’s what I need, but because it’s what you want. 

 

R: This session is over. 

 

S: Hey, I’m not knocking it… it’s actually nice to know you’re an anthrid. Anthrids get selfish sometimes, and… and you can feel it, can’t you? You want something for yourself right now. I can see it in your face. 

 

S: Helluva long pause.

 

R: Yes, I suppose you’re right. There’s something I very much want to do for myself.

 

S: So… you gonna do it?

 

R: End session. Mirae, please leave the room. 

 

NOTETAKER: Restorer, I don’t think that’s the best - 

 

S: Time to leave, darling. We have some curiosity to indulge.

 

R: Mirae, leave the room.

 

[SESSION ENDED]