• Sue flags down the chiefs and introduces the the kuma. "This is Torrhevat."

Dionysus The gnome looks him over, then says, "When you sneeze, do you explode?" And Mux sighs, <Welcome back, Sue.>

Sue "Tor, these are Katzehnheim, Muxiat, Moexep, Leib ..." etc. "They are all working on the ship."

Dionysus Tor ignores them. He buzzes over to the engines, "You're doing this wrong. And this is... well, this is clever, but... I need a spanner & a wrench, & a thick coat."

Sue "You know this design? Have you worked with it before?"

• Sue follows, smiling slowly.

Dionysus "This is old fashioned stuff, but not obsolete. Though the parts are well kept & older than the moons, it looks like. Where'd you get this?"

Sue "It was a gift from an organized crime syndicate."

Sue Do the other engineers understand what he's doing?

Dionysus Some of them. A few don't, but most that pause to watch him can follow along.

Sue "Listen, you've been off of the world, right? What should we be expecting en route? What should we prepare for?"

Sue Also, does Tor no longer speak Maraddonian?

Dionysus Tor considers, "Gith pirates, of course. Speed will serve us there. Fighting them is stupid. Maybe some junk in orbit." He still speaks Maraddonian.

Dionysus The effect lingered

Sue "Will this ship be fast enough?"

Dionysus He considers, "It can be fast enough. Right now, it won't move at all."

Sue "What must we do to fix it?"

Dionysus He looks around, "Get lead shielding for the engine chambers, & find some uranium. It'll be used in destruction churches, mostly their altars. Probably have to steal it. Get the whole altar if you can."

Dionysus "And otherwise, keep going as you are."

• Sue nods. "I'll see to it. The other engineers here will work with you. Tell one of the silver torches if you need me before I return."

Dionysus He nods, figures out what you mean by Torches, & gets to work.

• Sue goes looking for the death, darkness, or destruction churches.

Dionysus The latter two are very close to each other, the first is down the same street.

Sue I'll again try a graveyard and ask the keeper where a death priest can be found.

Dionysus The keeper here is an old mountain dwarf, "Eh? Priest? Well, I heard Father Decur came back, but he ain't been to the yard or the church."

Sue "Where would he go? Can you tell me where he lives?"

Dionysus He stops picking up old flowers to rub his sore back, "Aye, he used to live over near the temples. Try Willow Lane, near Temple Street. The gray house with the green trim, I think it was. Or maybe the other way aroond."

• Sue bows and looks for the house.

Dionysus It's not too far from here, a gray house with green trim, with a well tended yard. A chicken runs free in the front. The porch is recently cleaned.

• Sue approaches the front door and knocks.

Dionysus A moment later, an old man in black robes answers, "Hello?" He has a kindly face & a small pair of spectacles.

Dionysus A silver skull hangs on a chain around his neck.

• Sue glances down at the skull. "Hello. Are you a priest?"

Dionysus He smiles, "I was. I retired not too long ago. Would you like to come in, sir?"

• Sue hesitates, then enters if bid. "I am called Sue. I have a question for a priest."

Dionysus "I am Decur, formerly Father Decur. I can most likely answer your question, despite my retirement. May I offer you refreshments? I am afraid I don't have any void comestibles."

• Sue nods absently at the hospitality. "I ... first, why did you retire? Is it because the churches have closed?"

Dionysus He shakes his head, "No, because I felt my calling change."

Sue "I see. My question is, what is evil?"

Dionysus He pauses, then picks up a tray & places it before you--tea, cookies. "What is evil? Intreresting question. Let me consider."

• Sue squeezes some air onto his tea while the priest thinks, then sips carefully.

Dionysus Finally, he says, "By the dictates of my faith, the only absolute evil is undeath, but anything that ceases life prematurely or unwarrantedly is also evil. However, this leaves out much that would also be called evil by reasonable men. To know what evil is, you must know what good is as well. Intentions, means, ends, these all would matter. This is not a question easily answered, nor conclusively answered,

Dionysus I think, in any man's lifetime."

Sue "When I asked this question of a paladin of light, he said that all people should know evil by the intuition of the conscience."

Sue s/of the/of their/

Dionysus He tilts his head in consideration, "Yes, a paladin of light would probably say that. I think there is, in many people, an inborn sense of what is right or wrong, but this does not always equate to good & evil."

Dionysus "Can you tell when a situation is /unfair/, my friend?"

• Sue frowns, thinking. "Sometimes. Is unfairness evil?"

Sue "And if this sense of 'right and wrong' can mislead a person, can this self-delusion extend to the gods as well?"

Dionysus He pauses, "An interesting question indeed. Unfairness is not necessarily evil, no. Not subjective unfairness, I suppose. Injustice is evil, certainly, but that's another question entirely, I think. As to the gods... They follow their natures. If such self-delusion is part of their natures, they will possess it. Or so the dogma claims. My goddess does not dictate evil or good, simply death, change, cessatio

Dionysus n... She combats undeath, & we, her servants, call this evil. We are blessed with knowing the end times for those who live, so we believe interrupting that is evil. But She does not say so directly, or so I believe."

Sue "If your church opposes evil, why is it considered a neutral sphere?"

Sue s/it/death/

Dionysus He shakes his head, "This is because of the nature of our Goddess. She does not love undeath, but allows darkness, hatred, pestilence, & many other ills to exist. She only opposes one facet of evil. She herself views the questions of good & evil with disinterest. She is Death. Death is. It does not discriminate."

• Sue nods slowly. "I see. In that case, can you tell me where I can find a priest of darkness?"

Dionysus He looks surprised, "I..." He pauses. "I'm afraid the only honest answer to that is that I cannot tell you."

Sue "Then I will continue my search elsewhere. Thank you for your time and your hospitality, reverend."

Dionysus He nods, "I hope I helped you answer your question."

Sue Is there an "evil district" in town? Or any other establishment special to darkness faith?

Dionysus There's an area around the black temples that has a higher concentration of such folk, & there's... darker parts of town, which are dangerous, but not necessarily dark faithful, though more of them are there than otherwise.

Sue I'll try visiting the black temple neighborhood and ask random passers-by where I might find a darkness priest.

Sue Well, with some educated guesses. Not totally randomly.

Dionysus Roll awareness.

Dionysus You spot a few followers in the few passersby. When you ask, one says, "Father Gaunt told us he had work at the palace."

Sue "Did he name his employer?"

Dionysus He smirks, "He said it was the Chancellor, but we weren't to tell anyone." He laughs. "What he's really up to, who knows? Probably helping some fat baron sell his soul."

• Sue bows slightly and goes to the palace, where he asks after Father Gaunt.

Dionysus Who do you ask, specifically?

Sue Palace guards. They're supposed to know who comes and goes, right?

Dionysus One of them looks at you a moment, then says to his friend, quietly, "He's one of Battisto's group?" "How many other athaks come in here?" "Right, so we can tell him?" "Probably. He's special forces. Why's he asking us, though?" "Err, Baron, he's with the others, at the special forces compound."

Sue "Others? Other priests?"

Sue "I've been on assignment. What's going on?"

Dionysus They look to each other, then go stonefaced. "Sir." is all they say henceforth.

• Sue goes to the special forces compound to investigate.

Dionysus It's abuzz with activity. Many more people around than last time you were here--lots called off duty from Kren'atan.

• Sue asks a guard about Father Gaunt.

Dionysus The guard frowns at you, "Who?" You can tell he knows who you're talking about, he's playing dumb. Varhail, the training dwarf & commander here, grunts, "Inkblot! Front & center!" He calls you over.

• Sue goes over to Varhail.

Dionysus He says loudly, "Father Gaunt & all local priests have been put under protective custody in their houses. They are out & about in town, but not allowed to work their churches until the current crisis is over. Understood?"

• Sue hesitates, then says, "Yes," before glancing around. Does he appear to be speaking only to me, or clearing things up for everyone around?

Dionysus Everyone. He says quietly, "Now shut up & come with me & I'll bring you to them."

• Sue nods silently and follows.

Dionysus He takes you deep into the compound, & down into the ground, where he brings you to a large hall with hundreds of priests, all praying. Three rooms, all huge halls, but the one he takes you to is clearly the black one. He walks to the front of the hall, where a thin spider priest is standing before an altar. "Father Gaunt, Baron Ixio--" "The Voice of the Void." "Right. Wants to talk to you."

Dionysus Father Gaunt, covered in whitened spiderweb scars, looks to you, Sue, "Very well."

• Sue notices the plague scars for a beat, then gets down to business. "Reverend, what is evil?"

Dionysus "I am."

• Sue pauses, then clarifies. "What is the nature of evil?"

Dionysus "To hurt."

Sue "Is all harm evil?"

Dionysus "Certainly, to the one that was hurt."

Sue "It evil to kill one to save the lives of two? To steal a roll from the fat to feed the hungry?"

Sue s/It/It is/

Dionysus "Of course it is evil to kill. Ask a life priest. But the latter? Is the fat man hurt?"

Sue "He is lessened, reduced. Not harmed in total, but in a small part. Is a small harm not evil?"

Dionysus "Perhaps it is only a small evil. I think it a good thing to keep a fat man from getting fatter. So I would stuff him with fat meats. But as I said, I am evil."

Dionysus He leans in, "Of course, that is a lie. I would dangle fat meats before him & make him beg, until he did the vile things I wanted, & then I would make him fatter."

Sue "When I asked a paladin of light of evil, he said that an evil act performed to a good end, or even with good intentions, are forgivable, or can even be good. Do you agree? Would you forgive a small good in favor of a greater evil?"

Sue s/are/can be/

Dionysus "I do not forgive. I use good intentions & good actions to achieve evil ends, when it suits me. In the end, if the ends are evil, the means are as well. Evil is deceptive. You will know it only when it reveals itself, & then, it will be too late to stop it."

Sue "He also said that he can sense evil. Can you? Can you sense evil now?"

Dionysus He laughs, "I can do better than that. I can see souls, which show the whole tapestry of the individual, every good, every evil."

Sue "Can you see mine?"

Dionysus His eyes go completely black, & you sense Quaigor recoil, but not back down. "No. Your God is unphaseable within your mind, for now."

Dionysus "Mine own could dominate there if you let him." He smiles.

• Sue frowns at the sensation. "No. Reverend, do you know of any here who worship magic?"

Dionysus He looks to Varhail, "I believe there are witches in one of the chapels down here." Varhail grunts, "Aye, this way, inkblot."

• Sue bows to Gaunt. "Thank you, reverend." He goes with Varhail.

Dionysus Gaunt bows back, low.

Dionysus Varhail leads you into the neutral chapel, to a woman with a circle drawn around her & a bucket of water before her. Varhail growls, "Mistress Lioth, Baron Ixioj would speak with ye." She looks to you, "Hello, Baron."

Sue "Hello, Mistress, is it? You worship the goddess of magic?"

Dionysus "Both of them, & the mother of the moons are part of my cycle, yes, Baron."

Sue "The moons? I am preparing a voyage to the moons soon. But I have sought you to ask what evil is."

Dionysus She frowns, "Evil is an illusion, Child of Void. It is an unnaturality within our realm, something that does not belong, must be purged. Evil is that which consumes without creating."

Sue "How can you determine what does and does not belong?"

Dionysus She looks at you, "Those of us who do belong can tell when we see that which does not."

• Sue thinks about that. "It is a matter of intuition? There is no other way?"

Dionysus She sighs, "I was trying to make a point, but /not being part of that which belongs/, you have missed it."

Sue "Ah. You are saying that void is the essence of evil, yes?"

Dionysus She shakes her head, "The world is magical. You are not. You consume without creating. You nullify the essence of this realm."

Sue "What if void could be used to create? Or to heal?"

Dionysus She scoffs, "Then it would no longer be void." And within you, She is vile, blind, & hideous. Were she not within a sanctum, I would reach through you & delete her. Be glad I need you are a loyal & true vessel, Voice, for my rage is only contained by my regard for you.

Dionysus s/I need//

• Sue smiles. "I see. I think it is best that I continue my search elsewhere."

Dionysus She smiles angrily, "Yes."

Dionysus Varhail grunts, "C'mon, inkblot. Any others you wanna talk at?"

Dionysus He sounds a little cold & stiff himself, as if she offended him, too.

• Sue hesitates, then shakes his head. "No, thank you for your help. I should get back to the band now. We have a performance scheduled by Lord Argent."

---

Dionysus The next day, they are all on ship discussing the setlist before the ball. Enter when you like.

Sue At various points throughout that day and the next, Sue would address Quaigor, either in private, or within his mind.

Sue "What is evil?"

Dionysus Misuse of the void.

Dionysus The corrupting power of magic.

Sue "Magic is not natural? Where does it come from?"

Dionysus The Manaheart, as void comes from the Void. It is natural, but it is not /good/.

Sue "What makes it evil?"

Dionysus It destroys the void.

Sue "Can it be directed to useful ends without destroying the void?"

Dionysus A pause. This happens. That does not make it good. That which harms Me is evil.

Sue "What uses of void are misuse?"

Dionysus Those that are designed to hurt void itself, save in the execution of traitors & blasphemers.

Sue "If void is not evil, why is void considered a black or evil sphere?"

Dionysus My birth was to two who were evil, so I am cast in the same realm as they.

Sue "Is that not an injustice?"

Dionysus _I felt so at one time, but to place me with those who are 'neutral

Dionysus ' would be to align me with the foul magic Goddesses._

Dionysus And as time wore on, I learned the scorn of the so-called 'Good' deities.

Dionysus My siblings stand in the shadow of evil, so I will stand with them, for they have shown me true acceptance.

Sue "The white gods lack mercy while the black gods are loyal?"

Dionysus My siblings are accepting. They do not spurn me for my being.

• Sue is depressed and confused for a while, but has no more questions for now.