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
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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)