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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 5695769" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 57 "The Performance of her Life ” (Episode Two, Chapter Seventeen - Friday, September 9, 1882, 12:00 A.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Meanwhile some eighty miles to the east, young Henry Jones has now been in the camp for a half hour and given the all clear signal. It is now time for Abby, Callum and Fish to attempt their rescue. Callum turns to Abby and Fish and says, "Okay, final briefing. Who gets what spell or potion before we set off.</p><p></p><p>"You're invisible, I'm the actress, and my friend Fish here is my trusted assistant," Abby grinned. "I have no idea what I'm going to say when I get up there. I hope I'm a decent liar." Callum smiles and says, "I am certain that you will do just fine Miss Bernhardt. Just do your best to make the accent sound Parisian French rather than New Orleans French. Not that most of these men will know the difference, the majority of French Foreign Legion recruits are actually from other nations."</p><p></p><p>"Let's hope they won't. It's not like I've spend much time in Paris. Fish, you ready?" She tapped her potion against Cal's. "Cheers." The liquid went down Abigail's through and for the first two minutes she felt nothing. A wave of nausea then quickly rolled over her followed by a lightheadedness usually associated with intoxication. The now invisible Callum says "Okay, think of the French actress."</p><p></p><p>"Ugh," Abby coughed, "You could have warned me." She then focused all her thoughts on the famous French actress. Abigail 'feels' her body transform. It does not hurt in any way, instead feeling like a soft caress or massage as each section of her body changes in size and her height slightly changes as well. Upon completion she is the spitting image of the famous actress. "This is just strange. Let's get going so I can get back into my own skin." She looked down at herself; the strange hands, the unfamiliar feel of her legs and feet. "I'm prettier than her, anyway," she muttered to herself.</p><p></p><p>"You are indeed," the invisible Callum replies. Speaking louder he says "Come along Benjamin, Miss Berhardt has the performance of her life ahead of her." Fish readies his elixir for ingestion as the party draws closer to their quarry. Having lived in New Orleans, Fish knows how to curse in French, to negotiate the best prices for goods that he finds 'fallen from a turnip truck', or to sweet-talk the bloomers off a pretty barmaid, but he knows even his best efforts are pidgin at best.</p><p></p><p>They make their way down the hill and to the series of tents forming the encampment. Callum whispers to Abby, "Over to the left, according to Henry that small stone and timber building near the largest canvas tent is where they are holding the two female prisoners. The males are under guard in an iron cell within that tent." "So we have to get into 2 places," Abby said just as quietly. "The men first I think. I'm just going to walk up like we own the place and not say much. An icy glare says more anyway."</p><p></p><p>They proceed in the direction of the tent. A quartet of French Foreign Legion guards intercepts them near the partially opened entrance and one says in French (with a rather thick Italian accent) "Halt, identify yourselves." Abby gave the man her iciest glare and finally said in French, "Me? You require my identity? I should think it would be obvious." At the man's blank stare she gave an exasperated sigh and said, "Sarah Bernhard. The Actress. This is my attaché. We will go in now." "My apologies," he replies and steps aside for them to enter. Fish looks up at the guard from lowered eyelids and smirks.</p><p></p><p>The total dimensions of the large canvas tent are fifty feet in width and one-hundred-twenty feet in length. As they enter they see that canvas walls block off different sections, with the front room being a guard barracks with five more guards, three sleeping in double-bunk beds and two guarding a far opening. Abby looked at Fish and gestured toward the two guards. They walked confidently forward. "I will interrogate," she said simply and sharply when they stopped in front of the guards.</p><p></p><p>The guards let them pass and they enter the next part of the tent. A ten-by-fourteen-foot metal cell with bars on all four sides and the twelve-foot-high roof. The cell is rather sparse, with a double bunk with two men sleeping in it and the other two seated atop wooden crates playing a game of chess. Both of the men playing chess are older and well dressed while the sleeping pair are younger and attired in more common work clothes.</p><p></p><p>Abby says loudly in French, "Well, they're being treated rather too well for prisoners of war." She then lowered her voice and said in English, "Gentlemen, my name is Abigail and I'm here to get you out of here." The older man's eyes light up at hearing that. Fish grins. He reaches inside his vest to finger his smoke grenade. He notes that the cell has two locks, the main lock being an obvious one and easy to pick, but there is also a second lock along the bottom that is of much better quality.</p><p></p><p>She adds, "You'll have to have an open mind though. Let go of any prejudices you may have about the methods we're going to use.” Turning her head slightly she whispers “Fish, can we get in there?" Fish grins. He reaches inside his vest to finger his smoke grenade. Before Fish can reply and man enters the tent. Callum whispers to Abigail "That's Prosper Merimee, the French leader here on site."</p><p></p><p>The man half-smiles and says in the Atlantian language known to magic-users but not to the Englishmen in the cage, "Hello dearest student. I wish that I could say that I am surprised to see you Sarah, but alas, I am not. I feared how you would take the news of your assignment, I too was upset about the details. Come along, it is time for me to give counsel to my favorite apprentice." Ben curls his toes.</p><p></p><p>Some decidedly unladylike words passed through Abby's mind even as she smiled at the intruder. "You knew I wouldn't be pushed to the side for this." She shoved the bag she was holding into Fish's hands. Ben slings it over his shoulder. She states, "I always appreciate your counsel." The Frenchman states, "Come then, we need privacy." Callum very softly whispers "Nod if I should follow you, otherwise I will stay and help Ben."</p><p></p><p>Abby desperately wanted to nod, to not go alone with this man, but they had come here to get these people out, and while Fish could handle getting them out of the cell, she wasn't sure if he could get them out of the camp without the magic that Cal understood much better than he did. "Let's go," she said simply, carefully making sure she did not nod while trying to keep her pulse under control.</p><p></p><p>Fish takes the opportunity to examine how many posts keep the tent erect and how securely they are fastened to the floor. The flooring of the tent is a thin wood. The tent posts and stakes look to be rather long in order to provide support in the softer sandy soil. The large tent has four dozen stakes holding it in, 16 on each of the side walls, 8 in the front and 8 in the back. </p><p></p><p>Fish casually sidles up to Callum and asks him in a low voice, "Can you tell whether the tent stakes happened to be ensorcelled?" Callum replies, "They do not appear to be, but there was considerable magic on the canvas tent flaps that we entered through." Fish gives a little shrug. "Do you suspect those enchantments encompass the erections here indoors?"</p><p></p><p>Callum replies, "It is more probably that they are a means to either sound an alarm, capture people going into or out of the tent, or some combination therein. I would not be surprised if we find the same on the rear flaps as well." Fish grins a tight little grin, and replies softly, "Well then, bringing this tent down should prove a cinch!"</p><p></p><p>Back in Zakazik on the roof of the treasury, another dirigible can now be seen approaching. As it nears it begins to take up the entire sky, this vehicle dwarfing the other one in size, being between 800 and 900 feet in length. Ruby notes that while the other dirigible had small levitation plates periodically upon it for support this vessel has huge sheets of the metal devices. </p><p></p><p>Suspended from below is a two-story wood and metal compartment with three times the interior square footage as that of the other balloon. The upper story appears to be furnished similarly to the other balloon, with that level also housing the controls. The lower compartment is comparable to a naval gunship, with a massive 8-inch diameter cannon at the front. Each of the other three sides house a 6-inch cannon in the center. The two sides also each have a pair of 4-inch cannon to either side of the larger cannon. Lastly, mounted in each four corners of the vessel is a gattling gun. A team of sixteen French Foreign Legion troops man the lower level. </p><p></p><p>Watching the gunship come into view George wonders aloud. "How do they deal with the recoil in the airship? It mush make navigation very difficult not to mention make the gondola list. Still guns alone cannot protect that which someone else desires."</p><p></p><p>Apparently hearing George's mutterings, the French diplomat Passy approaches him and says, "Engineering and aviation are not my specialties, you would have to ask either of my balloonist colleagues for the finer details but I do know a few things about this special ship. </p><p>There is a recoil when the guns fire, which is why the guns are on the lower of the two stories. When they fire the floor in between the two levels moves up and down as a cushion, temporarily reducing the space in the passenger compartment by half while still keeping the balloon level. </p><p></p><p>Another unique aspect of this dirigible is the gas mixture contained within it, designed to be non-flammable, as it the outer covering over the balloon. As a result, this ship cannot achieve either the height or speed of the other craft, a necessary tradeoff in order to provide the firepower for this dreadnaught." Lowering his voice so that only George can hear he adds "But the real reason we brought this vessel here today is not for the protection and transportation of the treasure, but rather so that General Orabi can see what he is potentially up against should he decide to not honor the obligations that he has made. At an appropriate time in the near future we plan for a similar presentation to the British military."</p><p></p><p>George states, "Surely the British have their own measures or counter-measures to use. Not to mention a greater desire. In the history of humanity, the fear of the bigger weapon, be it the phalanx, the bow, the lance or dirigible has not stopped wars when politicians desire the outcome. I fear the display may only encourage an arms race between the French and British. I do sincerely hope that it brings peace here and quickly."</p><p></p><p>Passy replies, "An arms race is already under weigh good sir, but for the foreseeable future the use of dirigibles is exclusive to only two parties, of which the British are not one. These were developed though a partnership between my colleague Mr. Henri Giffard and a German named Von Zeppelin, who is now making them exclusively for your country, the United States. And the American's have not had the benefit of our colleague Joseph Michael Montgolfier, who devised how to turn this vessel into the Dreadnaught that you see before you."</p><p></p><p>George states, "Oh, I have no doubt that it is, but I would not be so naive as to think that airship technology was so restricted. Still I do wish for peace among all parties, though I would not want to see anyone sign a treaty at the end a sword or a gun." Passy replies, "You misunderstand, the implied threat is not for force the signing of the treaty, but rather to make sure that both parties continue to honor the treaty after it is signed."</p><p></p><p>"If you think there is a difference then you are intellectually dishonest." replies George. "There is no functional difference and the niceties of international diplomacy that make such distinctions are in and of themselves shams and hold no more water than dear old Gunga Din." </p><p></p><p>Passy says, "Then we do not concur. Know this Mr. Eastman, we are not here to start a war but to help end one. Thousands have already perished, including innocent women and children who were victims of the British naval bombardment of Alexandria. Two armies are converging upon this location. If fighting comes here to Zakazik do you think the civilians will be spared? If this single vessel's implied threat of force can save countless lives then is it wrong for us to try?"</p><p></p><p>George replies, "Were civilians spared when the Romans sacked and salted Carthage? Were civilians spared when the Huguenots were at war? Were civilians spared when Napoleon looted his way across Europe? War is a terrible thing sir. Yet it has always through out history targeted women and children. When ever a weapon has come on stage it has been used. The Scythians the bow, the Romans the phalanx, the Spanish the galleon. </p><p></p><p>Why in the name of the gods would I assume that the French would not use a weapon they built when all of recorded history and human nature tells us otherwise? Or have the French found some measure of humanity that no other nation has? Has the Gallic race somehow succeeded in throwing off the bonds of mortality that bind us all? I think that they have not. And again sir, if you truly believe otherwise you are both ill-informed of your leaders true plans and nature and are naive. I pray that you are neither. Though I fear that your train of thought will repeat itself again and again as it has before." says George sadly and prophetically. In any case, it is not for us to wage the war with bullets or words, but to try to eek out some measure of peace, however ephemeral it may be."</p><p></p><p>Passy says, "Mr. Eastman, you speak of political leadership, as though they are the ones supporting myself and my friends. That is not the case. I am no more a representative of the French Government than you are of the United States. In fact, our group are no longer even on speaking terms with the hapless fools that currently rule France by committee. The French Government is too busy with infighting to concern themselves with foreign wars. My friends and I will not sit idly by and watch Egypt be destroyed in the meanwhile."</p><p></p><p>"Truly it matters little if you represent the actual or de facto government of France. I could name off a dozen such organizations that have enough power to function as governments. A weapon is a weapon and it can be abused by a person, an organization or a government equally easily. I do have to wonder why your group chooses to intervene here in Egypt and say not in South Africa or Aden, or even India. All locations where indigenous peoples are fighting for independence. I have to wonder about the rationale to be here, and why these civilians have such value to you. Or should I say their historical footprint." adds George with a wry smile.</p><p></p><p>Passy replies, "We are here because our colleague Mr. Champollion has spent the last half-century establishing the science of Egyptology and does not wish to see the history of those great people wiped from the Earth. Which leads me to ask the same question of you. Why exactly are YOU here Mr. Eastman?"</p><p></p><p>"Indeed, how altruistic of him. Assuming of course altruism is real and not merely social conformity pressure than defies the evolutionary fitness of selfish interest. But I am a bit of a history buff myself and am here to see the ancient wonders of the Old Kingdom. I am also considering a trek to the headwaters of the Nile recently discovered by Burton and Speke. Additionally, I am always searching for new sources of silver for my photography business. An African source would supply Europe quite well. And such an enterprise utilizing local labor would help the local economy and infrastructure." replies George. Ruby crosses her arms. "What in hades are you two talking about?"</p><p></p><p>A man attired in a leather long coat, leather cap with attached goggles and high leather boots with woolen pants exits the dirigible. He is way overdressed for the climate, but appears comfortable. Passy states "The aforementioned Montgolfier, our balloonist." Three men exit the dirigible following him, each more sensibly dressed in white shirts and ties but no jackets, with cotton rather than woolen trousers. Two others remain inside upon the upper level of the dirigible, continuing to work. </p><p></p><p>The trio approach and the youngest are introduced as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a painter. Next is Joseph Renan, a historian specializing in Egyptology. The final man is ancient looking, walking slowly with the use of a cane. He is introduced as Joseph-Marie Jacquard. George immediately recognizes the name as the man who modernized the production of cloth through the use of automated weaving machines that followed patterns on punched cards. George also recalls from when he saw the listing of this Wizarding club that Jacquard was a founding member and is the oldest of that group, now at 130 years of age.</p><p></p><p>Louis Daguerre, the man who invented photography, had been listening to the tail end of the conversation and steps forward and says, "Ah good sir, I was curious when you would get around to discussion of our craft. Would you be interested in joining me inside the dirigible to see the photographs that were taken by it while aloft?" "Of course sir. I am most interested in how you managed to maintain enough stability in the airship during exposure of the plates." says George as he and Louis wander off with discussions of exposures, light and other technical subjects.</p><p></p><p>Ruby rolls her eyes. "How boring, all this business." She wanders over to the Princess. "So, how are things going with your man and the wedding plans?" The Princess smiles and says, "I've let the French handle most of that, and this need not be boring, come with me downstairs, the fun is about to begin." Ruby cocks an eyebrow and says slyly. "Oh really now? Let's go." She waves the Princess forward and follows behind.</p><p></p><p>Daguerre says to George, "We accomplished through a method that will not be available to you in America, we used magic. Specifically, the camera has been enchanted in such a way that the aperture only needs to be opened for a brief moment. What would take you a full minute we can do in two or three seconds." "Well, Louis, we are not in America now are we" says George with a roguish grin. "If you would be so kind I would love to see how that is done. perhaps I could bring my magical adviser to see this?"</p><p></p><p>Dagurerre says, "Certainly, I am aware that Mrs. Parker has dabbled in the arts during her youth. It is good to see that she has maintained her studies." “Excellent. Let us retrieve her then." George turns and catches Mina's eye and waves her over.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 5695769, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 57 "The Performance of her Life ” (Episode Two, Chapter Seventeen - Friday, September 9, 1882, 12:00 A.M.[/B] Meanwhile some eighty miles to the east, young Henry Jones has now been in the camp for a half hour and given the all clear signal. It is now time for Abby, Callum and Fish to attempt their rescue. Callum turns to Abby and Fish and says, "Okay, final briefing. Who gets what spell or potion before we set off. "You're invisible, I'm the actress, and my friend Fish here is my trusted assistant," Abby grinned. "I have no idea what I'm going to say when I get up there. I hope I'm a decent liar." Callum smiles and says, "I am certain that you will do just fine Miss Bernhardt. Just do your best to make the accent sound Parisian French rather than New Orleans French. Not that most of these men will know the difference, the majority of French Foreign Legion recruits are actually from other nations." "Let's hope they won't. It's not like I've spend much time in Paris. Fish, you ready?" She tapped her potion against Cal's. "Cheers." The liquid went down Abigail's through and for the first two minutes she felt nothing. A wave of nausea then quickly rolled over her followed by a lightheadedness usually associated with intoxication. The now invisible Callum says "Okay, think of the French actress." "Ugh," Abby coughed, "You could have warned me." She then focused all her thoughts on the famous French actress. Abigail 'feels' her body transform. It does not hurt in any way, instead feeling like a soft caress or massage as each section of her body changes in size and her height slightly changes as well. Upon completion she is the spitting image of the famous actress. "This is just strange. Let's get going so I can get back into my own skin." She looked down at herself; the strange hands, the unfamiliar feel of her legs and feet. "I'm prettier than her, anyway," she muttered to herself. "You are indeed," the invisible Callum replies. Speaking louder he says "Come along Benjamin, Miss Berhardt has the performance of her life ahead of her." Fish readies his elixir for ingestion as the party draws closer to their quarry. Having lived in New Orleans, Fish knows how to curse in French, to negotiate the best prices for goods that he finds 'fallen from a turnip truck', or to sweet-talk the bloomers off a pretty barmaid, but he knows even his best efforts are pidgin at best. They make their way down the hill and to the series of tents forming the encampment. Callum whispers to Abby, "Over to the left, according to Henry that small stone and timber building near the largest canvas tent is where they are holding the two female prisoners. The males are under guard in an iron cell within that tent." "So we have to get into 2 places," Abby said just as quietly. "The men first I think. I'm just going to walk up like we own the place and not say much. An icy glare says more anyway." They proceed in the direction of the tent. A quartet of French Foreign Legion guards intercepts them near the partially opened entrance and one says in French (with a rather thick Italian accent) "Halt, identify yourselves." Abby gave the man her iciest glare and finally said in French, "Me? You require my identity? I should think it would be obvious." At the man's blank stare she gave an exasperated sigh and said, "Sarah Bernhard. The Actress. This is my attaché. We will go in now." "My apologies," he replies and steps aside for them to enter. Fish looks up at the guard from lowered eyelids and smirks. The total dimensions of the large canvas tent are fifty feet in width and one-hundred-twenty feet in length. As they enter they see that canvas walls block off different sections, with the front room being a guard barracks with five more guards, three sleeping in double-bunk beds and two guarding a far opening. Abby looked at Fish and gestured toward the two guards. They walked confidently forward. "I will interrogate," she said simply and sharply when they stopped in front of the guards. The guards let them pass and they enter the next part of the tent. A ten-by-fourteen-foot metal cell with bars on all four sides and the twelve-foot-high roof. The cell is rather sparse, with a double bunk with two men sleeping in it and the other two seated atop wooden crates playing a game of chess. Both of the men playing chess are older and well dressed while the sleeping pair are younger and attired in more common work clothes. Abby says loudly in French, "Well, they're being treated rather too well for prisoners of war." She then lowered her voice and said in English, "Gentlemen, my name is Abigail and I'm here to get you out of here." The older man's eyes light up at hearing that. Fish grins. He reaches inside his vest to finger his smoke grenade. He notes that the cell has two locks, the main lock being an obvious one and easy to pick, but there is also a second lock along the bottom that is of much better quality. She adds, "You'll have to have an open mind though. Let go of any prejudices you may have about the methods we're going to use.” Turning her head slightly she whispers “Fish, can we get in there?" Fish grins. He reaches inside his vest to finger his smoke grenade. Before Fish can reply and man enters the tent. Callum whispers to Abigail "That's Prosper Merimee, the French leader here on site." The man half-smiles and says in the Atlantian language known to magic-users but not to the Englishmen in the cage, "Hello dearest student. I wish that I could say that I am surprised to see you Sarah, but alas, I am not. I feared how you would take the news of your assignment, I too was upset about the details. Come along, it is time for me to give counsel to my favorite apprentice." Ben curls his toes. Some decidedly unladylike words passed through Abby's mind even as she smiled at the intruder. "You knew I wouldn't be pushed to the side for this." She shoved the bag she was holding into Fish's hands. Ben slings it over his shoulder. She states, "I always appreciate your counsel." The Frenchman states, "Come then, we need privacy." Callum very softly whispers "Nod if I should follow you, otherwise I will stay and help Ben." Abby desperately wanted to nod, to not go alone with this man, but they had come here to get these people out, and while Fish could handle getting them out of the cell, she wasn't sure if he could get them out of the camp without the magic that Cal understood much better than he did. "Let's go," she said simply, carefully making sure she did not nod while trying to keep her pulse under control. Fish takes the opportunity to examine how many posts keep the tent erect and how securely they are fastened to the floor. The flooring of the tent is a thin wood. The tent posts and stakes look to be rather long in order to provide support in the softer sandy soil. The large tent has four dozen stakes holding it in, 16 on each of the side walls, 8 in the front and 8 in the back. Fish casually sidles up to Callum and asks him in a low voice, "Can you tell whether the tent stakes happened to be ensorcelled?" Callum replies, "They do not appear to be, but there was considerable magic on the canvas tent flaps that we entered through." Fish gives a little shrug. "Do you suspect those enchantments encompass the erections here indoors?" Callum replies, "It is more probably that they are a means to either sound an alarm, capture people going into or out of the tent, or some combination therein. I would not be surprised if we find the same on the rear flaps as well." Fish grins a tight little grin, and replies softly, "Well then, bringing this tent down should prove a cinch!" Back in Zakazik on the roof of the treasury, another dirigible can now be seen approaching. As it nears it begins to take up the entire sky, this vehicle dwarfing the other one in size, being between 800 and 900 feet in length. Ruby notes that while the other dirigible had small levitation plates periodically upon it for support this vessel has huge sheets of the metal devices. Suspended from below is a two-story wood and metal compartment with three times the interior square footage as that of the other balloon. The upper story appears to be furnished similarly to the other balloon, with that level also housing the controls. The lower compartment is comparable to a naval gunship, with a massive 8-inch diameter cannon at the front. Each of the other three sides house a 6-inch cannon in the center. The two sides also each have a pair of 4-inch cannon to either side of the larger cannon. Lastly, mounted in each four corners of the vessel is a gattling gun. A team of sixteen French Foreign Legion troops man the lower level. Watching the gunship come into view George wonders aloud. "How do they deal with the recoil in the airship? It mush make navigation very difficult not to mention make the gondola list. Still guns alone cannot protect that which someone else desires." Apparently hearing George's mutterings, the French diplomat Passy approaches him and says, "Engineering and aviation are not my specialties, you would have to ask either of my balloonist colleagues for the finer details but I do know a few things about this special ship. There is a recoil when the guns fire, which is why the guns are on the lower of the two stories. When they fire the floor in between the two levels moves up and down as a cushion, temporarily reducing the space in the passenger compartment by half while still keeping the balloon level. Another unique aspect of this dirigible is the gas mixture contained within it, designed to be non-flammable, as it the outer covering over the balloon. As a result, this ship cannot achieve either the height or speed of the other craft, a necessary tradeoff in order to provide the firepower for this dreadnaught." Lowering his voice so that only George can hear he adds "But the real reason we brought this vessel here today is not for the protection and transportation of the treasure, but rather so that General Orabi can see what he is potentially up against should he decide to not honor the obligations that he has made. At an appropriate time in the near future we plan for a similar presentation to the British military." George states, "Surely the British have their own measures or counter-measures to use. Not to mention a greater desire. In the history of humanity, the fear of the bigger weapon, be it the phalanx, the bow, the lance or dirigible has not stopped wars when politicians desire the outcome. I fear the display may only encourage an arms race between the French and British. I do sincerely hope that it brings peace here and quickly." Passy replies, "An arms race is already under weigh good sir, but for the foreseeable future the use of dirigibles is exclusive to only two parties, of which the British are not one. These were developed though a partnership between my colleague Mr. Henri Giffard and a German named Von Zeppelin, who is now making them exclusively for your country, the United States. And the American's have not had the benefit of our colleague Joseph Michael Montgolfier, who devised how to turn this vessel into the Dreadnaught that you see before you." George states, "Oh, I have no doubt that it is, but I would not be so naive as to think that airship technology was so restricted. Still I do wish for peace among all parties, though I would not want to see anyone sign a treaty at the end a sword or a gun." Passy replies, "You misunderstand, the implied threat is not for force the signing of the treaty, but rather to make sure that both parties continue to honor the treaty after it is signed." "If you think there is a difference then you are intellectually dishonest." replies George. "There is no functional difference and the niceties of international diplomacy that make such distinctions are in and of themselves shams and hold no more water than dear old Gunga Din." Passy says, "Then we do not concur. Know this Mr. Eastman, we are not here to start a war but to help end one. Thousands have already perished, including innocent women and children who were victims of the British naval bombardment of Alexandria. Two armies are converging upon this location. If fighting comes here to Zakazik do you think the civilians will be spared? If this single vessel's implied threat of force can save countless lives then is it wrong for us to try?" George replies, "Were civilians spared when the Romans sacked and salted Carthage? Were civilians spared when the Huguenots were at war? Were civilians spared when Napoleon looted his way across Europe? War is a terrible thing sir. Yet it has always through out history targeted women and children. When ever a weapon has come on stage it has been used. The Scythians the bow, the Romans the phalanx, the Spanish the galleon. Why in the name of the gods would I assume that the French would not use a weapon they built when all of recorded history and human nature tells us otherwise? Or have the French found some measure of humanity that no other nation has? Has the Gallic race somehow succeeded in throwing off the bonds of mortality that bind us all? I think that they have not. And again sir, if you truly believe otherwise you are both ill-informed of your leaders true plans and nature and are naive. I pray that you are neither. Though I fear that your train of thought will repeat itself again and again as it has before." says George sadly and prophetically. In any case, it is not for us to wage the war with bullets or words, but to try to eek out some measure of peace, however ephemeral it may be." Passy says, "Mr. Eastman, you speak of political leadership, as though they are the ones supporting myself and my friends. That is not the case. I am no more a representative of the French Government than you are of the United States. In fact, our group are no longer even on speaking terms with the hapless fools that currently rule France by committee. The French Government is too busy with infighting to concern themselves with foreign wars. My friends and I will not sit idly by and watch Egypt be destroyed in the meanwhile." "Truly it matters little if you represent the actual or de facto government of France. I could name off a dozen such organizations that have enough power to function as governments. A weapon is a weapon and it can be abused by a person, an organization or a government equally easily. I do have to wonder why your group chooses to intervene here in Egypt and say not in South Africa or Aden, or even India. All locations where indigenous peoples are fighting for independence. I have to wonder about the rationale to be here, and why these civilians have such value to you. Or should I say their historical footprint." adds George with a wry smile. Passy replies, "We are here because our colleague Mr. Champollion has spent the last half-century establishing the science of Egyptology and does not wish to see the history of those great people wiped from the Earth. Which leads me to ask the same question of you. Why exactly are YOU here Mr. Eastman?" "Indeed, how altruistic of him. Assuming of course altruism is real and not merely social conformity pressure than defies the evolutionary fitness of selfish interest. But I am a bit of a history buff myself and am here to see the ancient wonders of the Old Kingdom. I am also considering a trek to the headwaters of the Nile recently discovered by Burton and Speke. Additionally, I am always searching for new sources of silver for my photography business. An African source would supply Europe quite well. And such an enterprise utilizing local labor would help the local economy and infrastructure." replies George. Ruby crosses her arms. "What in hades are you two talking about?" A man attired in a leather long coat, leather cap with attached goggles and high leather boots with woolen pants exits the dirigible. He is way overdressed for the climate, but appears comfortable. Passy states "The aforementioned Montgolfier, our balloonist." Three men exit the dirigible following him, each more sensibly dressed in white shirts and ties but no jackets, with cotton rather than woolen trousers. Two others remain inside upon the upper level of the dirigible, continuing to work. The trio approach and the youngest are introduced as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a painter. Next is Joseph Renan, a historian specializing in Egyptology. The final man is ancient looking, walking slowly with the use of a cane. He is introduced as Joseph-Marie Jacquard. George immediately recognizes the name as the man who modernized the production of cloth through the use of automated weaving machines that followed patterns on punched cards. George also recalls from when he saw the listing of this Wizarding club that Jacquard was a founding member and is the oldest of that group, now at 130 years of age. Louis Daguerre, the man who invented photography, had been listening to the tail end of the conversation and steps forward and says, "Ah good sir, I was curious when you would get around to discussion of our craft. Would you be interested in joining me inside the dirigible to see the photographs that were taken by it while aloft?" "Of course sir. I am most interested in how you managed to maintain enough stability in the airship during exposure of the plates." says George as he and Louis wander off with discussions of exposures, light and other technical subjects. Ruby rolls her eyes. "How boring, all this business." She wanders over to the Princess. "So, how are things going with your man and the wedding plans?" The Princess smiles and says, "I've let the French handle most of that, and this need not be boring, come with me downstairs, the fun is about to begin." Ruby cocks an eyebrow and says slyly. "Oh really now? Let's go." She waves the Princess forward and follows behind. Daguerre says to George, "We accomplished through a method that will not be available to you in America, we used magic. Specifically, the camera has been enchanted in such a way that the aperture only needs to be opened for a brief moment. What would take you a full minute we can do in two or three seconds." "Well, Louis, we are not in America now are we" says George with a roguish grin. "If you would be so kind I would love to see how that is done. perhaps I could bring my magical adviser to see this?" Dagurerre says, "Certainly, I am aware that Mrs. Parker has dabbled in the arts during her youth. It is good to see that she has maintained her studies." “Excellent. Let us retrieve her then." George turns and catches Mina's eye and waves her over. [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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