Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #79: Barking Up the Wrong Riyyh (12/2/00)
Beni has taken the long way back to his quarters, in order to check out the Narosian bathhouse.
Beni wants a glimpse of civilization even more than he wants sleep, which says a great deal about his current working conditions.
Beni notes with rapt attention the lush green of the roof encasing the structure, giving the illusion of a tropical forest, with the wood holding the panes acting as twigs.
Beni spots a flaw that might almost be a large beetle, at least to sleep-deprived and snow-weary eyes.
Beni imagines himself in a tropical paradise, far far away from refugees, construction mess, and psychiatrically marginal Farris channels.
Riyyh is standing near one end of the glass structure, discussing interior plant decorating with Racknie.
Riyyh thinks it is a bit early to be starting on that, considering they will not be able to obtain any living plants immediately, but concessions must be made to Racknie's interests.
Riyyh understands that people's personal passions are what must be used to steer them toward the goals of the Householding overall.
Racknie is, of course, brimming over with enthusiasm.
Racknie: ...and we must have several potted palms for the foyer, don't you think? They would create the perfect atmosphere. Do you suppose we might get some dates off of them?
Racknie is, of course, oblivious as to the difficulties of getting a dozen or so largeish, frost-sensitive trees imported via mule train up a path covered with several feet of snow.
Racknie: And in the cooler areas, we really ought to have artichokes.
Riyyh: I'm afraid we may be limited to local varieties of ferns.
Racknie: ...Ferns?
Riyyh: Artichokes will be nice. [kindly]
Riyyh fervently hopes that he will be gone from here long before artichokes of any variety have reached a recognizable size in the entirely unsuitable environment of the bath house.
Riyyh: And of course mosses, and small trees, and such... truly, where else would we obtain living plants here in winter?
Racknie's crestfallen reaction to the news that date palms are not available is somewhat mollified at Riyyh's obvious desire to consult with him on the matter.
Racknie perks up as Riyyh's question directs his thoughts along more practical lines.
Racknie: Of course! I know just the thing!
Racknie: I should have thought of it long ago!
Racknie rushes off, muttering to himself.
Beni drifts closer to Riyyh, now that he appears to be unoccupied.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh sighs, and turns away to....
Beni: Sectuib Riyyh! I was just admiring what your people have accomplished here.
Riyyh: Oh, hello Beni. [smiles]
Riyyh: What a pleasant surprise!
Riyyh is a little worried about what Racknie might be up to.
Riyyh remembers the time when a 5 year old Racknie introduced two live colonies of wild bees into a Narosian experimental trin greenhouse, with the idea it would "improve cross fertilization".
Beni's nager still lacks some of the subtlety of Nick's, but months of working with Farris channels have had a definite effect.
Riyyh had spent nearly three months soothing irate members whose carefully tended breeding experiments had to be restarted as a result. And they were finding bees for eons.
Riyyh therefore looks just a bit distracted as Beni approaches.
Beni: Is something wrong? You look worried.
Riyyh: No, no, nothing at all. [somewhat embarrassed]
Riyyh: How have you been? Would you like some tea?
Beni's nager ~~ soothes ~~ anyway.
Riyyh: I'm afraid the tea shop isn't quite open yet, but as you see we have a small table set up for our own use....
Beni: I would love some tea.
Beni: And you must let me know when your tea shop opens. I've been reduced to raiding Nick's supply, when I can't stand what's available any longer.
Riyyh skirts the edge of a large hole in the ground in which several Narosians are arguing about how to arrange the river stones that will be making up the walls of the pools.
Riyyh goes to a small (by Narosian standards) tea table with many mugs, cups and glasses strewn about on it.
Beni smiles at the sight.
Beni: You've created an oasis of civilization.
Riyyh: Well, [small chuckle] it certainly seems that way at times.
Riyyh has also, at other times, thought it seemed like a muddy hell hole. But that wouldn't be a very optimistic thing to say.
Beni: I'm serious. It's much too easy to forget that conditions here aren't and shouldn't be normal.
Riyyh: Yes. [agrees sadly]
Riyyh: Here are the clean containers, and the tea... would you like to help yourself, or should I choose something?
Beni: By reminding everyone that life elsewhere lacks the... primitive nature of the camps, you encourage them to improve their lot.
Beni scans the tea selections hungrily, unable to make up his mind.
Beni is out of practice distinguishing any tea characteristic other than "hot" or (all too frequently) "cold".
Beni: Oh, you choose. They all look wonderful to me.
Riyyh smiles at the praise, and begins to prepare Beni a cup.
Riyyh chooses "Nostalgia" since Beni seems to be in that sort of a mood.
Beni turns for a moment to watch the stone-laying around the pool holes.
Beni: River rock to line the pools? And such lovely colors.
Riyyh: It was available. [weakly]
Riyyh: They are doing a remarkable job of choosing the stones, though.
Riyyh: I only wish they were as enthusiastic about transporting and laying them.
Riyyh: Not that there has been any shortage of labor available, but I do dislike exploiting the poor for such demeaning work.
Beni: When it is done, your customers will think that they are bathing in a tropical river, surrounded by the jungle.
Riyyh beams.
Riyyh: Do you think so?
Beni: Yes, I do.
Beni doesn't feel it politic to point out that the illusion will be assisted by certain irregularities in the shapes of the pools.
Riyyh: Julip reports that she has nearly finished assembling the musicians.
Beni: ...Musicians now?
Riyyh: Well, musicians were part of the plan all along. [somewhat surprised at Beni's reaction]
Riyyh: Julip is very passionate about the healing powers of soothing music.
Riyyh: And of course, it requires many musicians to cover so many hours of operation, so she has had quite a time finding enough suitable ones.
Beni: I haven't been to a concert since leaving Capitol! What sort of music will they be playing?
Beni: ~~ eager ~~
Riyyh: Background music, of quiet varieties. Quite primitive styles, really, if you want to examine it closely, but appropriate enough to the setting.
Riyyh: Wood flutes, gitars, zheng, the like.
Beni: How lovely. I can hardly wait.
Riyyh: It is simply astonishing how many instruments were brought to the camps, and how many more were built here by the unemployed.
Beni sobers at the mention of the (at least temporarily) unwashed masses.
Beni: Yes. About those unemployed....
Beni sips his tea, using the pause to ensure that no one is listening in on their conversation.
Beni notes that the other people in the greenhouse are busily occupied, and decides that he can speak freely.
Beni really ought to know the Narosian mindset better.
Beni: I understand that the Gen soldiers still haven't left? The ones who had the illegal guns?
Riyyh: I'm afraid so.
Riyyh: Although the guns have been seized by Mr. Birch.
Riyyh: I am ever so grateful for his quick response.
Beni: Mr. Birch has them? Not Controller Arat?
Riyyh: Why, yes.
Beni: So they are still under the control of the out-Territory Gens?
Riyyh: Well, yes, I suppose they are.
Riyyh considers Mr. Birch an eminently more responsible party than Sgt. Edka.
Riyyh: But it is really much better this way than before, don't you think?
Beni: Well, perhaps. But if matters get complicated, wouldn't Mr. Birch be inclined to support his own government against ours?
Beni: Surely you have heard the rumors that they might have additional aspirations in this area, beyond Dam construction?
Riyyh: It does seem a bit far-fetched....
Riyyh doesn't sound 100% convinced of this.
Beni: I've been working with Snake, among the illegal Gens. There are a disturbing number of them who are basically healthy young men, who ought to have been able to find work elsewhere.
Beni disregards for a moment the purely economic problem of job availability.
Beni: So why are they risking death here, where there are no jobs for them?
Beni: It makes me wonder if they aren't employed after all.
Riyyh frowns uneasily.
Riyyh is of course incapable of truly holding his own emotional course in the presence of a Donor of Beni's caliber, but it is true that he's had these thoughts himself.
Riyyh: I confess such thoughts did play a small part in my proposal regarding the Gens.
Riyyh: Although any good that might have been done by gathering them will be negated if IDAS continues to insist that they have freedom to come and go at all times.
Riyyh can see IDAS' point regarding the Gens' rights as human beings, but then again there is the problem that if they are an invasion force, collecting them in one place with total freedom to come and go simply makes their job easier.
Beni: ...Freedom to come and go? But if they are Gen troops, and if they have weapons hidden....
Riyyh: A troubling thought.
Riyyh hands Beni a steaming cup of Nostalgia.
Beni accepts the cup with a pleasure that somewhat counteracts his apprehension.
Beni: Thank you.
Beni sips delicately.
Beni: I can't help thinking that if anyone knows the truth of the matter, it's Sergeant Edka.
Beni: I don't suppose that there's any way he could be questioned about it?
Beni: With a channel present to keep him honest?
Riyyh: Wouldn't it be a bit obvious to put such a visible leader in place?
Riyyh: I can't help but think if such an invasion was planned, and with such care that it could go undetected this long, that they would be more cunning about public appearances.
Riyyh: Why, Edka may be only a diversion.
Riyyh may be averse to confronting Edka again for reasons of his own, of course.
Beni: I doubt they could have foreseen he'd elect to reveal his stock of illegal weapons. But even if he is a diversion, his skills would be crucial to any attempt to conquer the Dam site.
Beni: And there is the question of why he hasn't left, when he was supposed to be gone by first snow.
Riyyh: It is worrisome.
Riyyh: But what to do about it? I confess that I have considered the problem, but I do not see what we might do that would not be worse.
Beni looks at Riyyh thoughtfully.
Beni: Arat can't act as if there was anything to the rumors; he's a Tecton official, after all.
Beni: However, your own status is much more ambiguous.
Beni: And you have more than enough sensitivity to determine whether Edka is hiding anything.
Beni: Perhaps you might have an informal chat with him?
Riyyh: Oh my, no.
Riyyh looks quite embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Riyyh: I couldn't possibly.
Riyyh is surprised Beni hasn't already heard all about the confrontations between Edka and Riyyh.
Riyyh isn't just objecting because he knows such an encounter would hardly be informal; he also isn't keen on being subjected to more bed rest by his members.
Beni: Riyyh, I know you've had unfortunate encounters with the man. However, that would give you a perfect excuse to talk to him about your apprehensions, without appearing to accuse him of anything. Under the guise of a friendly attempt at personal
Beni: reconciliation, as it were.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh's difficulty is that he has no interest in a reconciliation. He does not find himself in this position very often.
Beni: If they are are up to something, even a little bit of advance notice would be of great help.
Riyyh: You may be right.
Riyyh has never been accused of failing to equivocate when pressed.
Go on to Episode #80: Ripe for the Picking
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