Episode description[edit | edit source]
In a matter of weeks, thousands of Kesh hollows will slide down the icy hills of the Verglaz Taiga, weapons raised and spirits on fire, as they charge an Apostolosian line. It will be the start of a new, bloody offensive, a spark that will light the moon aflame, drawing every Stel on the moon into the sort of open conflict that has not been seen in this region since the Principality first conquered it.
But that hasn’t happened yet. Today, Clementine Kesh awakes in her bed, sun shining through her windows, with a choice to make. Where will she and her “team” of incarcerated soldiers go next?
This week on PARTIZAN: DESERT SQUIRE - VANTAGE
///Operation Dossier\\\[edit | edit source]
//Organizations\\[edit | edit source]
The Church of Received Asterism: The most widely practiced faith in the galaxy, and one of the earliest major organizations in the Divine Principality, created at the beginning of the Miraculous Millennium, over 3000 years ago. Teaches that Divines, the immortal machines and mechs that helped establish the Principality's hold on the galaxy, reflect the best aspects of the state itself. The divine Strength, in other words, is like a living flag of the Principality's own strength. Organized as a central church, led by a religious leader named a “Cycle,” whose will is enacted across the Principality by their many “Songs,” who rule worlds, star systems, or sometimes entire constellations. The Church of Progressive Asterism: Created as the teachings of the prophet Logos Kantel grew in popularity 1000 years ago, and made a secondary state religion in order to prevent a large schism. Teaches that Divines are true embodiments of their names, and that the citizens and states of the Principality should look to them as guiding stars. The Divine Strength, in other words, is a reflection of strength itself, or maybe "god's strength," and we should aspire to make our strength look like the divine's. Unlike Received Asterism, there is no single central church, but hundreds of smaller sects, schools, and cults, each devoted to individual Divines, grouped sub-pantheons, or otherwise adjusted beliefs. Disciples of Logos: A small sect, technically of Progressive Asterists, who believe that Progressive Asterism itself operates under a misunderstanding of the prophet Logos Kantel’s words. Membership spans Divinity, but remains miniscule in size compared to even other Progressive Asterist sects. The Church of the Resin Heart: A Disciples of Logos church on Partizan which claims to be the true inheritor of the prophet’s religious mission. The “resin heart” in question is a 3-foot large object pulled from the sea 400+ years ago and displayed as a relic by the Church. The Friends of Gur Sevraq: The name given to the current membership of the Church of the Resin heart, who follow the teachings of a new prophet, Gur Sevraq, who has reportedly performed a number of miracles. They teach the value of and need for open communication between regular members of the principality, and dream of a galactic-communications network which would allow people to send messages between worlds in a matter of seconds or minutes instead of days, weeks, or months. The Shepherd’s Crook: A sect inside of Received Asterism which began soon after the founding of the church as a collection of monks who provided safety and service to then-new colonies… in exchange for wealth and power. Though their extortionist tendencies (and military might) was reined in by the central church, they remain a group focused on local communities rather than central bureaucracy or dogma. They’ve also become the home of the Sovereign Immunities, an elite rank of political advisor which carries the freedom to speak directly when others would be censored and which is offered a high degree of diplomatic immunity. Lambic House: A group of beer-brewing monks who both operate a brewery and manage a sizable civilian settlement deep in the mountains of the Pique Ridge. //People\\[edit | edit source]
Logos Kantel (they/them): The prophet who, it is said, brought life to the once barren moon of Partizan. Gur Sevraq (he/them): Current leader of the Church of the Resin Heart. Reported miracle worker. Secretly has possession of the Divine Future, which gives him startling prescience and the ability to imagine futures outside of the confines of the hegemonic and imperialist world around him. Leading the pilgrimage down the Prophet’s Path. Alise Breka (she/her): Guest lecturer at Verglaz University and Author of popular Renegade Hearts pulp series, which tells stories of daring and romantic Hallow pilots. On Partizan to research her next book, partly by interviewing the imprisoned pirate Exeter Leap. Aleel Verdicate (she/her): Current Song of Partizan, making her the de facto head of the Church of Received Asterism on the moon. The Blossom (he/him): The Lambic House is just supposed to make beer, sell it around the world, and keep people happy. But with each keg delivered by the sect’s Abbot of Provision, the Blossom also serves a short, populist whisper. Avar (they/them): The Friends of Gur Sevraq are often idealistic and naive about the world. But Chief of Security Avar, who was stationed at Westhaven for years and fought against Fort Icebreaker before finding their way to the faith, knows that the path to heaven is treacherous. Partner of Ryrira and parent of one child, M’reb. Ryrira (she/her): Quartermaster of the Church of the Resin Heart and Avar’s partner. Mother of one child, M’reb. //Places\\[edit | edit source]
The Prophet’s Sea: A massive ocean that dominates the center of most maps of Partizan. It is said that the sea was made by the prophet Logos Kantel in their first miracle, after walking the length of its radius and climbing a set of hills that would soon become islands. The Prophet’s Path: An autonomous region to the west of the Prophet’s Sea, south of Apostolosian territory and north of Stel Orion. These dusty badlands are dotted with small villages, farms, and other settlements. Its furthest, most western reaches are untouched by Kantel’s miracle. In order to celebrate the millennial anniversary of Logos Kantel’s arrival, the Church of the Resin Heart is travelling a pilgrimage on the route the prophet once took. The Isles of Logos: An independent nation built by the followers of the prophet Logos Kantel’s around their very first church. Though only a small handful of islands in the Prophet’s Sea, the Isles keep a standing defense force that rivals any individual unit of the Major Stels. Pique Ridge: Territory controlled by Stel Nideo on Partizan. East of the Prophet’s Sea, comprised of a mountain range which surrounds a vast, low bay. //Things\\[edit | edit source]
The Divine Vernacular: A Stel Nideo Divine which allows those loyal (and blessed) to communicate instantly, at distance. A power some say is more powerful than even the sharpest spearhead. The Song’s Rings: Disguised as rings, these devices allow the Song of Partizan to listen in to any use of Vernacular’s network. //Additional Notes\\[edit | edit source]
Rapid Evening’s Objective: Escort the pilgrims on their journey from the point of their start to the point of their seabound departure at the eastern coast of the Prophet’s path. If Gur Sevraq’s life comes into serious danger, rescue them and extract back to Cruciat. Secondary Objective, as delivered to Sovereign Immunity: Secure Gur Sevraq regardless of his condition.
Rules of Engagement: Do not allow yourselves to be identified as members of Stel Kesh. Do no harm to the people of the Church, unless it is necessary in the securing of Gur Sevraq.
Contents[edit | edit source]
Opening[edit | edit source]
“
AUSTIN: Clementine Kesh, it is the morning after Cymbidium’s wake, and your face is lit by the sun as a servant pulls open the curtains in your bedroom. Before you can even protest, a tray is placed on your lap, and the steam that rises from it carries the smell of a posh and hearty morning breakfast to your nose. As you gain your bearings and look down, you can see that the tray also holds a silver platter, on which a pair of envelopes rest, both embellished with metallic trim and sealed with your mother’s official emblem. Each envelope also features a trio of very simple ideograms, symbols that convey complex meaning despite their plainness. On the first envelope, there's a fist, the reverse side of a coin, and a shipwreck, which you would wager means that it carries a mission about retrieving some sort of secret information about the destruction of Past. The other,which features icons of an iron gate, the flame of a candle and the simple curve of a hill, is certainly about protecting some vulnerable people on their way somewhere. But, and maybe this speaks to a deficiency of knowledge, you aren't really sure who exactly on Partizan qualifies as ‘vulnerable people’. Which envelope do you take?
JACK: I think Clem leans forward and takes the second envelope.
AUSTIN: As you pick it up, the servant takes away the platter with the other letter, and, when you open the letter that you chose, first the seal, and then the metallic trim, begin to burn very slowly—almost like a fuse. And as it does, the sizzling of the fire coalesces into bright, clear sound. It's as if it's a record that's destroying itself as it plays. And the sound it makes is the sound of your mother’s voice.”
“
Do you know the Church of the Resin Heart, Clementine? They also go by the Friends of Guv Sevraq, or the Disciples of Logos, but- whatever you call them, they're a small and devout sect, which traces its lineage back to the founders of Progressive Asterism. And they say that this month marks the 1000th year since the Prophet Logos Kantel first arrived on Partizan and brought life to this world. As part of their millennial celebration, the church’s leader, the often-mentioned Sevraq, will lead pilgrimage across the Prophet's Path, from its barren western wastes to its tropical eastern coast, where they will take a ship to the Isles of Logos for the final ritual.
We have good intelligence that this pilgrimage is being targeted by a house of Stel Orion. The Disciples have recently added a pair of Hollows to their armory and will provide additional ground security, but two machines and a few rifles cannot protect a caravan of hundreds from a determined Stel. However minority the progressives are in Stel Kesh, theri freedom to pursue their beliefs is paramount to the accord of divinity, and this particular congregation's historical significance grants it serious import, all to say nothing of Gur Sevraq’s particular value. They say he does miracles, you know?
You will secure their safety, and you will do it without being identified. We cannot send you as open escort. Your presence, if discovered and tied to Kesh, will further Apostolosian's hostilities in the region. But if you can protect the pilgrimage until it reaches the sea, you will be doing the Principality a great service. And if you find that you cannot protect it, you must do this at least: extract Gur Sevraq from the fray and bring them to a secure location here, in Cruciat. If you have further questions, try to answer them yourself. If, and only if you cannot, I'll be in the North Gallery.”
“
AUSTIN: And just like that, the rest of the envelope goes up in smoke. Like flashpaper.”
Plot[edit | edit source]
This month marks the thousandth anniversary since the prophet Logos Kantel performed his miracle creating the Prophet’s Sea and terraforming Partizan, and the Disciples of Logos are setting out on their annual pilgrimage to walk the Prophet’s Path. Immediately after Cymbidium's wake, Clem accepts a job from Crysanth: defend the Prophet's Path pilgrimage without being identified. At the same time, Sovereign Immunity's orders are to secure Gur Sevraq by any means necessary.
During the wake, Clementine helped Exeter Leap steal a box of rings. In conversation with the novelist Alise Breka, she tells Leap about the powerful rings of the Divine Vernacular, which allow Nideo diplomats to communicate over long distances. He plots to steal one of the these rings from the Song, Aleel Verdicate, a high ranking member of the church of Received Asterism who will also be on the pilgrimage.
Clem and SI join the walk on foot, in disguise, while Millie, Leap and the toughs are on overlook. Gur leads a speech where he declares their divine duty is to move beyond the Principality and toward true freedom. After a few days, everyone has settled in, but the Perennial Wave is high. Millie notices blips on her sensors: a strange sandstorm up ahead that seems to be adjusting its course to the walkers.
New Beliefs[edit | edit source]
- Clem:
- Sovereign Immunity wants me to succeed so that he can get out of prison.
- SI:
- Million is a delight; I simply must show her to the whole universe.
- Leap:
- Million can draw attention, and drawing attention is useful.
- Millie:
- Clementine is better suited to ballrooms than battlefields.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Austin Walker
- Sylvia Clare (Ver'Million Blue)
- Keith J Carberry (Exeter Leap)
- Art Martinez-Tebbel (Sovereign Immunity)
- Jack de Quidt (Clementine Kesh)