Secret Gardens [Evening 1]

[Sister Shinah]

"Here is one he shared with me recently."

"Cicada is dear to cicada,
Ant loves ant, hawks hawk;
But me the muse and song enchant.
Of this may my house be full;
For neither sleep nor spring
Suddenly appearing is more sweet,
Nor flowers to bees,
Than the presence of the muse to me."

"We were talking about the lions," she added quickly. It almost sounded romantic out of context. "That they love only their fellow lions. They tolerate us when they must, but it does not change that we are their prey."

That was extra sad now. After the accident. All too true.

Shinah considered Nirilli's words. Love? What could an animal know of love?

She considered the poem recited. Was something perhaps there?

Regardless, as her mind clicked away at the new information, Shinah split her conscious focus back to the subject of her interview.

"Quite a poem, Nirilli. Lamenting for a muse, obviously. The sort of thing one recites in memory of an inspiration, pining for one, or..." She pauses, looking quite directly at Nirilli, "After finding a muse."

EDIT: Dice roll for Lore check w/Boost (Daunting) to determine poem source.

Edit Edit 2, the revenge of the edit: Put in the correct difficulty. I did not make the roll.

Lore (Daunting) with Boost - Corrected Dice Pool

Net Successes: 0; Net Advantages: -2

[Nirilli]

Shinah considered Nirilli's words. Love? What could an animal know of love?

She considered the poem recited. Was something perhaps there?

Regardless, as her mind clicked away at the new information, Shinah split her conscious focus back to the subject of her interview.

"Quite a poem, Nirilli. Lamenting for a muse, obviously. The sort of thing one recites in memory of an inspiration, pining for one, or..." She pauses, looking quite directly at Nirilli, "After finding a muse."

"His muse is surely the Archon herself! She is an inspiration to us all. He cares for her."

"We did talk about muses. Since we had been talking about lions wanting to devour people and love and muses, it made me think about the poet and the muse. Is there a love that is devouring? Does the poet consume the muse's power? Is she exhausted by the work of inspiration? Spent in the process? But ... the very marvelous fact that the poem is recited today! So infinitely far into the future from the day it was composed. It is all the poet and muse could have wished."

"It is not the worst thing to be devoured. Service is a kind of devouring of own's life. But any job is. This life replaces all other possible lives. And, if we all must be devoured, best that it be by someone truly extraordinary and powerful, to some good end."

"I didn't think about it until now, but I think that gave me courage to stand in front of the lion. All the lions belong to the Padishah Emperor! The race is meant to prime those fit to draw his carriage one day. If I must die, there are far worse ways than to give my life to save others, while being devoured by a creature beloved to the Padishah Emperor! But it is very sad that someone took that chance from those lions. They were not hurt in the process - none did harm that would be lasting. But the Emperor may no longer consider them for the greatest of all honors. Hopefully he will still love them. This harm was not of their making."

"We need to figure out who did this terrible thing. Lady Gray suggests visiting the villages of the Zensunni competitors. Perhaps something strange happened in the days leading up to these events that would shed light on what happened and why."

[Kannon]

"Yes. Dr. Vim has found the selection of flora here to be quite interesting." She nodded. "He's shared a few insights with me, but I was hoping you would be willing to share your knowledge of the garden with me."

Salomea chuckled.

"I think there is no abbreviated version so unless you have months or years to spare as my apprentice, you'd have to be way more specific in your inquiries, Ms Gray."

[Cuyler Gray]

Salomea chuckled.

"I think there is no abbreviated version so unless you have months or years to spare as my apprentice, you'd have to be way more specific in your inquiries, Ms Gray."

"From what I have gathered, the gardens don't seem to be purely aesthetic in nature. There is beauty here, but I imagine several of the plants have more practical uses. You mentioned that the garden was required for the balm we were treated with. I am curious about what else the gardens offer."

[Kannon]

"Much else, and not all to be revealed on casual inquiry. Are you looking for any particular remedy?"

[Cuyler Gray]

There was a moment of hesitation. "You heard me mention the vision I had. I was wondering if there were ways to stimulate experiences such as that."

[Kannon]

"Possibly. What spectrum enhancer caused the original vision?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"Melange infused rum."

[Sister Shinah]

"His muse is surely the Archon herself! She is an inspiration to us all. He cares for her."

"We did talk about muses. Since we had been talking about lions wanting to devour people and love and muses, it made me think about the poet and the muse. Is there a love that is devouring? Does the poet consume the muse's power? Is she exhausted by the work of inspiration? Spent in the process? But ... the very marvelous fact that the poem is recited today! So infinitely far into the future from the day it was composed. It is all the poet and muse could have wished."

"It is not the worst thing to be devoured. Service is a kind of devouring of own's life. But any job is. This life replaces all other possible lives. And, if we all must be devoured, best that it be by someone truly extraordinary and powerful, to some good end."

"I didn't think about it until now, but I think that gave me courage to stand in front of the lion. All the lions belong to the Padishah Emperor! The race is meant to prime those fit to draw his carriage one day. If I must die, there are far worse ways than to give my life to save others, while being devoured by a creature beloved to the Padishah Emperor! But it is very sad that someone took that chance from those lions. They were not hurt in the process - none did harm that would be lasting. But the Emperor may no longer consider them for the greatest of all honors. Hopefully he will still love them. This harm was not of their making."

"We need to figure out who did this terrible thing. Lady Gray suggests visiting the villages of the Zensunni competitors. Perhaps something strange happened in the days leading up to these events that would shed light on what happened and why."

Unfortunately, the source of the poem - and any meaning that may have had - was lost upon Shinah.

Still, she took in Nirilli's words. Her fervor was certainly commendable. Truly, the Missionaria had done their work here.

Sparing a glance over to Cuyler's direction, Shinah asked, "On what basis would we visit these villages? Is there some reason the people therein would have to be an active part of what happened at the arena?"

The barb was obvious in the question. Were there, perhaps, discontent or - worse - rebels among the Zensunni?

[Kannon]

"Melange infused rum."

Salomea pouted slightly.

"Nothing like melange in this regard. All I can offer are much less impactful approximations, and with potential side-effects. We both know that there is no source of spice beside Arrakis."

She glanced at Cordana.

"I suppose the exact nature of your visions might need to be sorted out before any substance experimentation. No-one better for that than a Reverend Mither."

[Nirilli]

Unfortunately, the source of the poem - and any meaning that may have had - was lost upon Shinah.

Still, she took in Nirilli's words. Her fervor was certainly commendable. Truly, the Missionaria had done their work here.

Sparing a glance over to Cuyler's direction, Shinah asked, "On what basis would we visit these villages? Is there some reason the people therein would have to be an active part of what happened at the arena?"

The barb was obvious in the question. Were there, perhaps, discontent or - worse - rebels among the Zensunni?

Nirilli frowned. It did, on reflection, suggest a certain suspicion of her people which had not occurred to her.

"Oh no. I mean, I don't think so. I thought we might notify their families. Convey the Archon's grief. Invite them to participate in the funerary rites." Of course, she would ask the Archon first!

"They are the victims! This was done to them. As much as to the Archon."

"They deserve justice, too."

"But it remains possible they observed something of note. That they told someone something relevant."

[Cuyler Gray]

Salomea pouted slightly.

"Nothing like melange in this regard. All I can offer are much less impactful approximations, and with potential side-effects. We both know that there is no source of spice beside Arrakis."

She glanced at Cordana.

"I suppose the exact nature of your visions might need to be sorted out before any substance experimentation. No-one better for that than a Reverend Mither."

She nodded. "That's unfortunate, but understandable. I assumed that nothing would be as potent, but melange is not the easiest to get a hold of. It feels like my experience on Arrakis changed me. Or, revealed something about me."

[Sister Shinah]

Nirilli frowned. It did, on reflection, suggest a certain suspicion of her people which had not occurred to her.

"Oh no. I mean, I don't think so. I thought we might notify their families. Convey the Archon's grief. Invite them to participate in the funerary rites." Of course, she would ask the Archon first!

"They are the victims! This was done to them. As much as to the Archon."

"They deserve justice, too."

"But it remains possible they observed something of note. That they told someone something relevant."

Shinah had erred. Self-castigation would have to wait, but she recognized at that moment that she was out of practice when it came to conducting interviews with those outside of the Sisterhood.

Firstly, there was often little productive reason to play the "good cop" among a group of hyper-aware female spice addicts who conspired as easily as they drew breath. Present company, however, was not that. A different tack would be called for here; the "bad cop" might well be counterproductive.

"Yes, quite so. Conveying the Archon's beneficence to the people of the village. Quite right and just in this time. Naturally, being a people seeking justice, they would volunteer what they have seen and know to us."

[Nirilli]

Shinah had erred. Self-castigation would have to wait, but she recognized at that moment that she was out of practice when it came to conducting interviews with those outside of the Sisterhood.

Firstly, there was often little productive reason to play the "good cop" among a group of hyper-aware female spice addicts who conspired as easily as they drew breath. Present company, however, was not that. A different tack would be called for here; the "bad cop" might well be counterproductive.

"Yes, quite so. Conveying the Archon's beneficence to the people of the village. Quite right and just in this time. Naturally, being a people seeking justice, they would volunteer what they have seen and know to us."

Nirilli nodded.

"It's what I would have wanted if I'd died today. It would be harder to find my family, since they are barge-bound, and could be anywhere on the river veins. But someone could have tried."

"And it takes understanding. Grief must be carefully balanced. The bakka carries too much already. We could find them celebrating, doing their two joyful songs, for every sad one already sung. I plan to sing four happy songs to these plants before leaving the garden to make sure I have not sung too heavily."

Lady Gray's song was definitely sad!

Pankratos's song was somewhere in the middle. But it conjured sadness, thinking of the lions as predators, and how people consumed each other's lives.

"Smiles bring blossoms, you know?"

[Kannon]

She nodded. "That's unfortunate, but understandable. I assumed that nothing would be as potent, but melange is not the easiest to get a hold of. It feels like my experience on Arrakis changed me. Or, revealed something about me."

There was an interest. "That may will be true. Are you looking for spiritual guidance in this regard?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"Perhaps. Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm looking for. A better understanding of who I am, I suppose."

[Sister Shinah]

Nirilli nodded.

"It's what I would have wanted if I'd died today. It would be harder to find my family, since they are barge-bound, and could be anywhere on the river veins. But someone could have tried."

"And it takes understanding. Grief must be carefully balanced. The bakka carries too much already. We could find them celebrating, doing their two joyful songs, for every sad one already sung. I plan to sing four happy songs to these plants before leaving the garden to make sure I have not sung too heavily."

Lady Gray's song was definitely sad!

Pankratos's song was somewhere in the middle. But it conjured sadness, thinking of the lions as predators, and how people consumed each other's lives.

"Smiles bring blossoms, you know?"

"I did not." Shinah replied, her tone more flat than cold. "There was not much in the way of blossoms in my experience."

Or smiles, the Bene Gesserit left unsaid.

"What grief would the bakka be carrying, that they would need to sing the songs in the numbers that they do?"

[Nirilli]

“The bakka – the weeper who mourns for all mankind – has filled the marshes of Harmonthep from her weeping. May it not drown today."

"She..." she hesitated and then dropped her voice to a whisper.

“The weeper cries because there is imbalance. La, la, la, she cries. She cries because the wanderers suffer. She cries when the wanderers suffer."

"But also, she cries because she has foreseen that the planet itself will not outlast our memory of her. Wanderers, she warns, this cannot be your last home. This is not the promised land. This is not sihaya, the paradise to come."

“The next migration will happen when it will happen, in God’s time, and on God’s plan, but we must be as ready as we can be. But that it must come… That is ijaz. Prophecy that cannot be denied.”

[Kannon]

"Perhaps. Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm looking for. A better understanding of who I am, I suppose."

"To endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe..." Salomea mused, recalling something. "Deserts have a way of messing with us. I suppose understanding what is that you saw must come before understanding where it could be coming from."

[Cuyler Gray]

"Which may require seeing more." she suggested. "Acquiring melange for my own purposes is beyond my means. So, I am interested in other methods."