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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8550760" data-attributes="member: 7030144">Session 91 (December 7, 2017)Tar-Skard 31Kit goes to meet with the Chancellor of the Basilica, her counterpart in the Curia. They share a cup of tea. Kit begins a conversation about professional courtesy, and the need to set up people who will keep an eye on the church—the Chancellor responds that she must be concerned about the heterodox, which Kit confirms. Kit suggests a network of church caretakers, beggars, little old ladies—people who have reasons to be around the church, but would not be noticed.Chancellor: "It is said that the Patriarch has his network of people in the Holy City. But they are limited within the City. For us to establish a full network would require the approval of the Curia, but that’s only if it has a full approval and a budget. If it’s unofficial and doesn’t cost any money—say, caretakers who are already on the budget and little old ladies who do not need any funding… that could be done."Kit recommends looking to recruit people with psionic power.The Chancellor asks if they know that Alistair is likely to be declared Protector. "These titles are largely honorary, but they are important. They dangle candy in front of the faithful, and they also provide influence among the bishops.""Do you have analysts?""Oh yes. You see my secretary? You see me? We are the analysts.  I propose that if we are to do these things, we set up a direct conduit for teleportation of information that can be sent to you on no more than a daily basis, for you to teleport analyses back."It will take some time to find people to watch even the cathedrals, let alone the parish churches. But there are several hundred on Khamista that should be watched, as well as on Zest’qua."You are aware of the Delwan heresy? A group of not very well organized troops near the Shadowline, who had lost their officers, wiped out a village, believing it to be tainted, and accidentally offered them as a sacrifice to a chaos power. I’m not sure it’s not connected to the other heresy we’re dealing with, and when it was suppressed, it was fought to the last man."One of the catpeople on Zest’qua is a powerful paladin of Glor’diadel. He has been keeping an eye on things. It disturbs me that there has been no push near Delwan, but perhaps they are distracted by the newly retaken Kingdom belonging to Paranswarm."Kit agrees to put a bunch of her people on watching the churches and Delwan as well.(The Chancellor leaves clear notes (in code) in his office recording the plan.)The Chancellor responds about other possibly corrupt hierarchs. "We have the Archbishop of the Guard Cities and Life, and I cannot accuse him in open council of possibly being a traitor, though we are aware of what is going on in Life. He is not too bright, and he has been here for years, so he may simply not know what is going on."Kit suggests the idea of a loyalty test. "What sort of man is he?""He is very fond of his own opinions. He’s not arrogant; he knows his limitations. But he is fond of his own opinions, and he is close to the underground people. Hasn’t been home in fourteen years.  If your liege permits, I will tell him that your liege wishes to question him."Kit comes back and tells everyone. Alistair agrees to talk to the Archbishop.We mock up a document for a loyalty test—it’s the Archduke approving a grab of a high-ranking person of interest at the Guard Cities, that he won’t be able to resist reporting back if he’s corrupt.The Archbishop arrives.  He shows no interest in the loyalty document, making no effort to see the rest of it, even when left alone with the document briefly."Are you aware of any difficulties in the Kingdom of Life?""Rumors reach me, but not many people at home speak to me. My branch of the family does not rule in Life itself, but the Guard Cities.""Do you find the work challenging?""Oh no.  I have a very nice, very efficient assistant; I was very worried about when he might be recruited away.  I might have to devote more time to administration and less to my painting.  I make devotional artwork, you know.  I always found that more interesting than canon law, but my family insisted that I could be an archbishop, so here I am."They tell him about the corruption in Life. He seems genuinely appalled, but also thinks that it might be an opportunity for his brother to be advanced.He’s clearly innocent. Alistair suggests to him that he might want to retire to a monastery, where he could pursue his art. It’s very sad.[cont'd]</blockquote>

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