The Journal of Kunigonde Stoutenburgh, Gentlewoman

Roger Burton West

Newton-X

Solitude

Henry V

Sans-Newton

Napoleon Total War

C––Rome

The Roman Road

First Steps onto New Renaissance

Astral Rome

Roma Mechana and the Great Race

New Renaissance

“Yes, but six Months of theoretical Work could save us half an Hour in the Field.” – Nell

Machen

Nell: “Just on previous form, if when we see them I scream and start to bibble, this is probably a bad sign.”

Janos: So, that’s a few tentacles, then.

Mr Collins’ World

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,
Following your decision to remain at home during our latest venture across the worlds, for purposes of Study, it was put to me that I might prepare for you a Note concerning events on that expedition. Such an Account follows, which I hope that you will find convenient.
As you will recall, we had determined that a visit to the world of Mister Collins’s origin was appropriate, for purposes of reconnaissance. To protect the secrecy of our own origin point and for other reasons, we determined to travel by way of the world of New Renaissance, and when all were assembled, Balaban úr cut a passage to our house in that realm. Once there, we changed into what would, by the standards of New Renaissance, be considered subdued garb, thinking that this would likely attract least attention in another world of similar history and with a present date a mere few years later.
We then travelled by way of rail-way tunnel to the all too familiar Hampstead Heath, where Daniel was given – I hesitate to mention this, but delicacy must be subdued in the interests of the promotion of the Art and of scholarship – an item of under-clothing extracted from Mr Collins’s possession, an overly refined form of breech-clout. Applying his Gift to this, Daniel enabled up to make smooth passage to this new world.
The time there proved to be Night, and the weather to be most unpleasantly chill; a full foot of snow lay on the ground, and much more was descending. My own senses informed me that the degree of Mana was low, while Commander Hodgson’s observations lead him to suggest that the date was in December or January. (This was excellent news, in that Master Halley’s comet may be expected to return to view there in February.) Taking shelter under convenient trees, we operated the appropriate instruments and established that the "Quantum Level" of this world was of the seventh order – placing it in the zone of contention between Infinity and Centrum, with Centrum perhaps favoured.
This raised the undesired possibility of the powers of Centrum being turned against us here in short order, and the snow was already proving displeasing. Hence, we transferred to the Near Astral Realm to escape these inconveniences, and resolved to make observation for a period of one hour, curious as to whether Centrum’s minions might come into view.
In fact, none that had that look did appear, but two other persons did. They were of quite modest years, and carried neither exotic devices or tools nor evident weapons. They were, however, dressed as befitted in this weather, so much may have been concealed on their persons. They fell into what appeared to be some dispute, eventually as it seemed resolving to take shelter under the trees and watch the scene more. However, in so moving themselves, they chanced upon the tracks which we had perforce left, which terminated suddenly where we had departed that Realm.
This gave them concern, as it seemed, and they clearly resolved to depart the Heath. We followed them, surely invisible to their mundane senses, and yet they gave signs of thinking themselves watched. A modest way from the Heath, they attained a Motor Carriage to which they had access, and used this to depart at a speed which we could not emulate, even in our Astral guise.
Wishing to determine more of the world, we located a shop which was continuing to do business even at this late hour, and then a nearby alley-way, where Daniel returned us to our material presence, apparently, from his remarks, narrowly avoiding any inconvenience caused by the imprecision of his Power. We resolved that Balaban úr should serve as our agent now, and he took a modest amount of specie which we had carried from the world of New Renaissance and entered the Place of Commerce.
At this point, as he subsequently explained to us, it emerged that the coins which he bore were inappropriate to his needs. Perhaps the two worlds are divergent in subtle ways, or perhaps there had been a Re-Casting of the English Coinage at some point between the two dates. For certain, Balaban úr reported, prices were marked with the letter "p", presumably indicating pennies, rather than the Shillings and Pence we have encountered in other aspects of the English Realm across the many worlds. Furthermore, the shop-keeper, a Hindoo whose grasp of the English tongue was not entirely perfect, seemed most confused by Ur Balaban’s attempts to discuss or negotiate the matter, and Balaban úr was reduced to presenting himself, accurately but no doubt humiliatingly, as a confused Stranger from the lands of the Hungarians.
Hence, he made no purchase. However, he did at least determine from brief examination of the news-papers on display that the date was the 30th day of December, in the year 1985, and also that the shop-keeper, whatever his own beliefs regarding Religion or Ur Balaban’s nature, wished him to have a happy Christmas-time.
While all this passed, we remained in the snow in the street. Daniel found a waste-bin and extracted an empty glass bottle therefrom, to facilitate other returns to this world, the garish papers on which bottle declaring it to have held a substance, unknown to any of us, termed Tizer.
The Party thus reunited, we resolved to depart and explore this world’s position in relation to the Higher Realms. Daniel gave us passage once more to the Astral Plane, where we made expedition in the direction of the Astral Sea.
On our way there, we encountered another traveller, seemingly a mortal man by appearance, seeming healthy if rather stout of person, but dressed in some wise peculiarly, being clad in tunic and trews together of iridescent white sateeen. He bore no weapons nor signs of hostility, but hailed us fairly if in vulgar mode, saying "Howdy Strangers". We returned his salute, and he enquired what we might be doing in, as he put it, the Realm of Ideas. We informed him that we were simple travellers, and asked as to his own concerns, which he said were the Maintenance of his own Legend.
This of course suggested that he might be less mortal than he appeared, and we enquired as to his name, which he gave as Elvis Presley. Some of our number knew of this person from our visits to worlds in the later years of the Twentieth Century of our Lord, informing others of our number that Master Presley was an entertainer, by birth an American, and yet of such renown that, perhaps like Orpheus, his various occurrences might indeed cast such an Archetypical Shadow into the Astral Realm. (That century sees some strange transformations in the world, does it not, Miss Stoutenburgh?) Daniel, having heard of Master Presley and perhaps in his youth being susceptible to the mundane glamours of worldly renown, or perhaps seeking merely to impress his inamorata, requested that he sign his name upon a fragment of paper which he had about his person, by way of a keep-sake.
The Archetype seemed accustomed to such requests and amused by them, consenting willingly and asking for whom he might be writing. When Daniel gave the name Marilyn, he displayed amusement and even a little respect; it is possible that there was some confusion there regarding bearers of that name.
Venturing onwards, we came to the shores of the Astral Sea, where we were able in conference to identify some landmarks, which suggested that we might return to our own world of Newton-X, by way of an extended walk. As we made our way, though, we were distracted by other World-Pools. I exercised my trained skills of Divination upon it to full effect, learning thereby that it gave access to a realm in which both Magic and Holy Power held great sway. Venturing closer to that reality, we met a being which flaunted all the traditional and arcane aspects of a true Angel. Balaban úr shewed it the reverence which he felt to be due to such a being, kneeling before it. I however chose to preserve my calm detachment, holding that even if this was in truth a servant of the Highest Power, it was but a servant, to be respected as such. I have little training in theology beyond the minimum befitting a scholar, but my understanding is that offering worship to a being which is created to serve is greatly inappropriate. A shew of respectful dignity seemed more apt in my judgement.
We questioned the being as to its identity, and it declared itself openly to be named Brookiel, guardian of this world and servant of Michael, Archangel of War. From this and its other responses to our courtesies and inquiries, Balaban úr formed the belief that the world was one which he had visited in his past travels, and to which he refers with the words "Richard’s Grail", as there, the Duke of Normandy and King of England, Richard, is said to have discovered the True Grail while upon Crusade to the Holy Land. This unleashed such powers upon that Earth that even the bold Balaban úr has little desire to return there.
Thus, we walked on, soon encountering another World-Pool, which proved somehow less susceptible to our divinations, although we could tell that the world is not inherently inimical to human life. Venturing closer without encountering guardians in this case, we again observed Hampstead Heath. London there was, as it appeared, again in the late part of the Twentieth Century, with motor-cars upon its streets. The time was dusk, with few persons present, so we formed an intent to learn more, So Daniel opened a gate to its materiality.
It was cold but not snowing on this Earth, and I sensed a degree of mana that I am enjoined to term Normal. Our own device assigned the world a Quantum value of four, but that which Hilary had given us gave only an unpleasant screeching note, and no numerical value. I cast a spell of Sense Mana to good effect, and thus determined that the very fabric of reality here was more malleable than usual for most worlds, which explained the mana level in a way that I will be happy to clarify when we have time and opportunity for detailed scholarly conversation.
Casting about, we located a waste-bin in, some of us observed, the precisely identical place as we had found one on the world we have been told to call Shikaku-Mon. It contained a news-paper shewing a date in 1984, and making references to a person named President Formby of this land. This seemed quite curious to us, as it is rare to find an Earth where the people of England have discarded their monarchy in favour of other arrangements.
And here I must pause. I will continue my account in due course.
With the Respect Due a Sister in the Art, I sign Myself,
Antoine Nodier, Scholar

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,
Circumstance permits and impells me to continue the Note concerning events on the recent expedition from which you were absent. I continue to hope that you will find this convenient.
Our party being placed in another wint’ry circumstance, we discussed the charms of warmer garb. But how should we return home to acquire such, we wondered. In due course, we reached agreement and required Balaban úr to cut a portal to the world we term Solitude, where it proved to be both evening-time and raining. Moreover, we caught the odour of smoke, suggestive of human settlement, as we had not previously detected in the British Isles in that realm. It seemed only wise to investigate this phenomenon.
The others moved forward with due caution, while I held back, lest aid might be required in desperate emergency. They later told me that they heard voices, speaking in no language known to them, and then discovered a Clearing among the trees, which in turn proved to be the site of a pair of dwellings of the lowliest kind, mere huts. No persons were out and about, but it was clear that the inhabitants were not entirely fools, as they owned dogs which were trained to make noise when they sensed intruders, as now. A pair of sordid and lowly fellows emerged from the dwellings, but failed to detect our friends.
Young Daniel decided to slip in closer and acquire something of human artifice, that he might regain this realm with ease at later date. Balaban úr too moved closer, and he was seen. Daniel took fright at the possibility of detection, and fled, but Balaban úr stood his ground, bowing with due respect, but also casting what some seem to regard as his most Fearsome stare upon these persons.
Daniel met the good Commander, and instantly claimed that Balaban úr was taken prisoner and perhaps pressed into battle, but the Commander observed the absence of any cries of strife, and doubted this. In sooth, Balaban úr was preserving all politeness, and seeking to offer coins as a gift. The gross unsophisticates regarded this presentation with suspicion, clasping them only with the protection of a leather patch, presumably lest they burned or suchlike.
The good Commander, approaching, observed these exchanges and therefore spoke with Balaban úr, demanding to know the justice of his acts, as all of us were growing damp in the typical British weather, and leaving our coins in this place brought the risk of later discovery by other venturers across the Worlds. Balaban úr justified himself by reference to the desirability of making fair acquaintance with these persons, against future need or use.
By now, Daniel and I had met, and the Commander regained our position in a mood of wrath, proclaiming Balaban úr a disobedient servant who was expending valuable time on futile and possibly dangerous endeavours. He favoured immediate return to our own world, using our own magical resources, leaving Balaban úr to join us when his sword’s powers were restored. However, I was most curious as to what Balaban úr sought to gain from his acts, and did not feel that our time was so short as to make the desertion of even a servant and guard necessary. Nor did Daniel share our naval colleague’s sense of urgency. Hence, we stood our ground despite his ill mood.
Hence, we were still present when Balaban úr came to us, bearing the shell of some local mollusc, of some modest quality as decoration. This, he declared, was a gift from the denizens of this place, with whom his association was now passably courteous. He declared that his long experience of roving the Many Worlds had taught him the great virtue of such courtesies. He handed Daniel the shell, and Daniel evidently found his alchemically augmented senses awoken, perhaps by entire chance. It was, he declared, a valuable gift in the eyes of its previous bearer – but insufficiently worked by human hands to serve as a focus for his own Gift of gateway-opening.
We retired a little distance, and then Daniel employed that gift to transport us to the world we know as that of New Renaissance, where we once more took passage by rail-way to our local domicile, seeking a warm shower-bath each and then dry clothes. We used local devices to contact the woman Hilary, who suggested a meeting on the morrow morn to discuss our recent experiences. We also gave Master Simon Waugh Newton’s list of books that he did desire.
Refreshed, we fell briefly into discussion of schedules, and decided to remain in this place for one or two days or thereabouts, as we had assorted matters to accomplish. Daniel wished to renew his acquaintance with the girl Marilyn, his inamorata, but first, he went with the Commander, who sought to purchase a player-device for recorded sounds, for his own delight. Daniel himself acquired such a recorded sound, being the work of the mortal aspect here of Master Elvis Presley. The words of the song therein being printed on the wrapping-paper, he made study thereof.
He decided to surprise Marilyn, apparently feeling this to be in keeping with his mission of secrecy, now that he was charged to determine the Good Faith of her love. I accompanied him, feeling that his safety should be our concern, and took a seat in the nearest coffee-house that I could find to his destination, where I could read in peace while remaining alert for violent occurence. He later spoke a little to me of what passed for him.
Marilyn proved to be dwelling in a Hall of Residence associated with the University now grown up in London in this world. The porter, preserving correct proprieties, refused Daniel admittance to this Place of Women, but could inform him that the girl was not at the time present there. Daniel’s response was to wait.
His inamorata returned at around the sixth hour after noon, in company with a band of woman-friends. She proclaimed herself glad at the sight of Daniel, introducing him to her company with great enthusiasm. He presented her with the record-music and with the signature of Master Presley, claiming that his Uncle in some wise had access to the Great Musician, and she was vastly impressed.
For this, she carried him for further converse to a coffee-house – not, regrettably, the one where I awaited – and there did talk considerably. She spoke of the weather, following the customs of this country, and of her pleasure at the Tolerance of Religion in London, which is more advanced than her native Scot-land in this.
Daniel in response sought to speak to her of matters of theology, hoping to discover more of her spiritual life, with some view to discovering the likelihood of her being some manner of Spy. No doubt, this was a greatly cunning plan, but all that appeared to ensue was that Marilyn thought him a clever fellow and knowledgeable. Then, he sought to speak to her of Geography, that being her chosen course of study at the University. He proclaims that she appeared convincing. Then, seeking to disguise his intent in a cloak of misleading truth, he made jests to her that he did consider that she might be a spy. She found true humour in this, responding with jests concerning a nest of spies lately discovered connected with the great and ancient University of Cambridge.

When he made account of all this to us later, some of the party expressed the thought that Daniel’s great intellect defends him against normality. This I take to be English Humour. In any event, continuing his policy of befuddlement by means of truth, Daniel spoke to Marilyn of an uncle named “Isaac Newton” who travels greatly and who might take him off on travels at any moment, giving this as a reason why his fervent hope to see her again on the night of the morrow might be frustrated. They parted with, no doubt, the usual mutual expressions of regard.

On the Next day we met Mistress Hilary, who was greatly interested in our report, and dumfounded at some of the detailed elements, even though we were circumspect in some points, as seemed wise. She expressed a desire to visit the World of Sans Newton with our aid, to examine the progress of events there for herself. We gave her some explanation of matters there, forming together with her the theory that Centrum might be presumed to be promoting the Jacobites cause as a route to building an Anglo-French Empire that they could exploit. We agreed to make expedition there after two more days.
Hilary also expressed a desire to meet Master Edmund Halley, on neutral ground if we so wished. The world where his comet might soon be observed was suggested.
Hilary retired to digest our news, and we returned to the house which is our base, and had Balaban úr cut a gate to the world of Newton X, where it proved to be night-time. So we retired.
The next day, we assigned largely to the resolution of each our personal concerns, while making appointment with Master Halley in the afternoon. At that encounter, we laid further practical plans.
Later. we made some practical experiments to determine the drift rate of New Renaissance with regard to the comet world. The results of that, we will publish in due course.
Then, back to the world where we might meet with Hilary again. The savants of Infinity had offered a Theory as to why their Quantum Measuring Device might be incapable of useful action on that world where it failed us; the claim is that it places pressure on the fabric of reality itself, and where it met no resistance at all, its function was perhaps discommoded.
Then we progressed to the comet-world to make preparations for observation there in due course. This was best done outside London, we decided, as the lights of that mighty city of futurity pollute the very sky itself. We also made arrangements to have useful funds there, so we could in turn acquire clothes in the local fashion, and concerned ourselves with finding a house that would be available for rent or purchase on two worlds including this one, for convenience of our peculiar travels.
And then, we progressed homewards, to report to Master Halley, explaining the problems with cometary observation from London. Indeed, if we could somehow make shift to travel to the southern hemisphere of that Earth somehow, those observations might be greatly improved, but that may prove too hard to undertake. At this point, we also received notes from the great Sir Isaac Newton about possible explanations for that world of unstable realities, which are so wise and convincing that we will take some short while to comprehend them, I fear.
Then we made swift transit to the world we call Sans Newton, by way of those we name New Renaissance and Solitude. However, we arrived in that realm in the afternoon, in vilely pouring rain, and most unpleasantly of all, in the midst of what appeared most surely to be an encampment of a great army.
And there, I must once more set down my pen.

Sans-Newton

“We do not know how firm the Astral is for standing step-ladders on.”

Halley’s World

We began in the airport boarding lounge, in Cape Town. We all boarded together (we were after all travelling in the same cabin), but we were a little concerned to see the emigration official making some manner of notes regarding M. Briquet’s passport; we suspected that the forgery might not be perfect. There followed some discussion of the best way to get through UK Customs, if they had been warned. Antoine could try some from among his spells, but there might well be range issues involved; M. Briquet declared that he could do better, if he had his headband, so we decided to give that back, after politely pointing out to him what a bad idea trying to run away would be. Antoine cast a Trace spell on him in case he was arrested nonetheless.
In London, he worked his trick, which seemed to work well enough, despite strong resistance from the official’s mind. We sauntered away calmly.
Sir Edmund decided to stay on that world for a night, to recover from the flight and enjoy some high-tech comforts. Hilary took her leave of us. We reclaimed the headband from M. Briquet.

We then talked to him about his magic. It seemed that he built up power in advance, then released it on “casting” – an interestingly varied approach. We also discussed his other competences – the fact that he came from a high-tech world, for a start – which might be useful to the C—. He admitted to having his own objectives, of course.

Nell had received word that her family back home were attempting to marry her off once again, and vanished to resolve that problem. We three other C—ists made our way back to Newton-X with Sir Edmund, to report to Royal Society – and to deal with some paperwork of assorted kinds. The next day, we dealt with some more shipping of items through from other worlds, for purposes of profit, and with a little more accumulated business. The Commander talked to his lawyer about his prospective bride, concluding that this arrangement still seemed satisfactory.
We also sat in an outer room while Sir Edmund reported to the Society. Sir Isaac considered M. Briquet’s application for membership, and noted that his book sounded like it definitely demanded retrieving – our gaining access to it would be a condition of his joining.
So we (now once more including Nell) set out to return to Halley’s World with Briquet, and discussed travel arrangements and methods for gaining access to the vault in Paris where he stored the book. We travelled by train, boat, and train, and then by Metro to the Bois de Bologne area, took hotel rooms until the wee small hours.

While waiting, Antoine cast a Seeker spell to locate the remaining one-third part, and succeeded. Those pages were in a glass case in a pentagonal museum-type room (!), and were labelled in American English – “Book of Nu-Shen, remainder possibly destroyed...” We noted this, but decided against further investigation for now.

Early in the morning we entered the park (ignoring assorted local sordid low-lifes – our numbers provided any necessary deterrence), and cut through the worlds. The park proved equally popular with low-lifes where we arrived, but they all decided to depart from our arrival point at speed.

Then followed more waiting around, until the bank opened. Antoine accompanied Briquet, as his “business associate”. Everything went well; as we came out, Antoine put another Trace on the book (which proved magical to our prompt tests), and it went into Janos’s backpack, while we went to see the sights of this Paris for a few hours.

At this point, some unknown person seemed to be following us, but Nell drove him off with a fearsome stare as we reached the Bois de Bologne once again. We cut back through the worlds.
In our hotel, Nell assessed the book, deciding that it manifested some variant form of Hermetic magic. So Antoine used an Ancient History spell, and found it to be around 850 years old, and to have been written by an Egyptian wizard named Nu-Shen as a record of his development of ritual magic for Mind Control. 250 years later, a third of its pages were ripped away in a quarrel between two wizards over ownership. Then, it passed through the hands of many owners; Briquet stole it from the French National Archives in 1958.
We then returned to London by trains and boat, cut through to Newton-X, and delivered M. Briquet to the Royal Society, briefing him on how to deal with his new leaders on the way. Then, the Commander went off to ask her mother for Louise’s hand in marriage.

The Jackal

The Quest for Etruscan

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,
I believe that you desire an account of the initial expedition conducted by Commander Hodgson and myself to this, the latest world on the Road of Rome, for the sake of comprehensiveness of your personal records. Thus, please accept the following with my compliments.
As you will recall, you had, with Balaban úr, formed a desire to remain in the preceding world, to rest & recover & speak with our host. The Commander, though, was in a state of greater restlessness and desire for intelligence of the next realm or two on our path, and I agreed to walk on with him. Working a spell of Scrying on the next gate, I perceived a land in daylight, perhaps a few minutes after noon, traversed by a road, not "metalled" as in advanced worlds but in the old Roman mode, and at the limits of my vision, perhaps half a mile on, a small building with the look of a temple about it. I did not perceive any persons.
Thus, we passed through, I carrying a tent for shelter, Commander Hodgson a telescope for the usual purposes thereof. Another brief work of enchantment determined the presence of a Low level of Mana, while the simple device we carried declared that the Quantum Level was Three. The season had the feel of Spring, and we perceived that the road here was not one of those peculiar segments, but continued beyond the Gate behind us.
We walked on, and found the Temple or Shrine, as indeed the building was, to be a simple structure with no upper floors. It was unoccupied, with no signs of fire or other occupancy. The merest glance suggested that it was a shrine to the Founding Twins of Rome. We were most pleased, though, to see inscriptions, some in familiar Latin, some in what we surmised at once to be the script of Etruria, subject of our search. So far as we could estimate, given the formulaic nature of the Latin writing, these were matched texts in both languages.
The Commander expressed the opinion that rain might be expected soon. Desiring shelter where we might wait on the opportunity to conduct astronomical observations, we pitched our tent in the lee of the Shrine, gathered some firewood, and sat to eat the unlovely rations of the road. After we had sat a few hours in casual converse, we had a clear night sky above us, and so we made our astronomical observations, and the Commander examined his tables, identifying Mars and Venus. He desired too a sighting of Saturn to complete his estimate of the date, but that seemed set to require a wait of hours, and so we looked instead for Neptune and Uranus, and found them. Now with nearly adequate intelligence, Commander Hodgson made an uncertain estimate of a date of 55 years Before Christ. After a small sufficiency of sleep, we did find Saturn in that sky, confirming the year and enabling the Commander to estimate that the date might be late in the month of May.
We rested further, broke our fast at a civilised late hour, and then spoke together of means of determining the state of urban civilisation in this realm, resolving first to seek sight of the town of Tibur. Ascending a nearby hill with the Telescope, we found that place, developed but not overly so, with smoke rising from its fires. Through the Telescope, we perceived what we agreed was a town typical of the late Republican stage of Roman history. With neither the devastations of wartime nor many persons on the road to be seen, we concluded that this Roman Empire was in an unexceptional state.
Our next project, as we decided then, was to have Commander Hodgson work his powers of Levitation to ascend a nearby mountain, whence to make observation of Rome itself. As you will recall, we returned to the tower where you were still at rest at that time, acquiring additional ropes and notifying you of our discoveries so far.
Then, making Survey of the slope with binoculars, we planned a route for the Commander’s ascent. That consumed the rest of the day entire, so we made Camp at the base of the mountain, allowing Commander Hodgson to begin his ascent on the morning of the next day. Combining his Powers and his skill in the arts of climbing, he made safe ascent to the summit in perhaps three hours.
Rome and its environs, perceived telescopically, was in a state much as we had expected. There was, the Commander noted, significant traffic on the roads, some of it military. Exerting his vaunted sense for arcane phenomena, the Commander perceived in Rome some transient thing which he declared firmly was Blue. This inspired him to remain atop the mountain for some time, gazing more upon the City, after sending an explanatory note down to me, tied to a stone, but no other events disturbed his perception before he gave up upon that interest, and descended to the foot of the mountain once more.
As we rested. we finally encountered a person. A young goatherd, who seemed pleasant after his proletarian fashion, this fellow stated when we asked that he knew little about the road, not even knowing whence or whither it travelled. He had, he said, heard that the great Julius was out fighting among the barbarians of Gaul. More interestingly, when we asked, he freely declared that he knew Etruscans, born and bred, in person. They were, by his account, honoured citizens of the Republic, and often scholars. He was surprised at our ignorance of such matters, having taken us for scholars, and so we proclaimed ourselves to be travellers from a distant land, with a desire to have converse with Etruscan persons. A single silver coin cemented his happiness to have helped us.
We agreed to share camp and fire with him for the night, the Commander and I having both assessed him as amiable, likely honest, and unlikely to essay banditry against two armed persons. During that night, as I stood watch, I perceived creatures approaching, Recognising wolves, I cried alert and then cast personal enchantments of Night Vision & Reflexes. The Commander and the goatherd woke quickly, the one drawing steel, the other a sling, leaving us ready to respond when the creatures, gnawed no doubt by remnant hungers of winter and desire for the goatherd’s flock advanced upon us.
These were not creatures experienced in harrying men; I brought down one, and Commander Hodgson two, in large part because their attempts to bite at us led to them grasping at our blades with their jaws. The goatherd’s sling brought down a fourth, and the pack retreated in discomfort, having but maimed one goat. The Commander and I cleansed our blades of blood and privily discussed buying the carcass for transformation into more supplies for the road. Then, once more, we sought sleep, before regaining your esteemed company the next day.
With My Compliments &c., Antoine Nodier, Scholar of the Art

Divergent Worlds and the B-Axis

“You’re French and callous – let me do the talking.”

The Decan of Quantum

The Chronobahn

A small cubical purple tortoiseshell Locket. (Suspended from one Corner, and split on the hexagonal Equator.) The two Halves are held together by iron Magnets. When they are pulled apart, they remain connected by a lead Chain (leading between the inside Corners), on which is strung a green moonstone Pyramid.

The Decan of Psi

My dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,
You requested that I provide you with some brief Account of recent Events taking place while you have been distracted. There is, in truth, only a little to tell.
Following Debate concerning what might usefully determined, our Allies and Superiors agreed that Word should put about of our need for experts in the relationship between magical arts and the science knows as "Psionics", but no such could be found. Records were identified among the C—’s papers of working on the matter, but it was clearly deeply and tiresomely Faulty; it has, it would appear, been thought that the Decans of Sphandor and Ruax might in some way be implied, but no Proof existed to correspond to this obvious Hypothesis.

Hence, M. Carnot commenced experimentation on the Commander and his Abilities using the Pendulum Magic of our recent creation, pebbles from Newton-X B₁, and a deal of time. This returned some small hints of possible Relationship to the Decans of Naoth and Alleboreth; further experiments confirmed this. It proves, perhaps, that involving both in Psionic work achieves a very great deal more than either on their own. M. Carnot and the Commander extracted the makings of a somewhat worthwhile Paper from this study, and the Commander shaped himself an Amulet that augments his Power, while M. Carnot developed a refinement of the Aura spell that he asserts will indicate Psionic Potential in an individual.

Meanhile, the Commander and his Allies laboured to bring a great public scheme of Vaccination under way on our Home World. A Mundane process of Engineering and Plumbing-Work to improve the Public Drainage and reduce Noxious Effluvia also is being shaped, but the scale of the task is acknowledged to be considerable in mundane terms.
Also, we received questions transmitted to us from the Offices of Infinity, asking what, if anything, we had caused to occur to Reich-5 and its minions. Those Nazis have, it seems, proved skittish of late; their System of Logistics between Worlds would seem to have collapsed entire. We discussed the likelihoods of Mara being implicated in this convenient occurrence, or of our destruction of their Machine being a consideration.
As you will appreciate, this carried us to the second and then the third Weeks of the Month of September 1722 in our World. At this time, we have lately been informed that Magister Newton wishes Professor Einstein once more to hand, to have Converse regarding possible Implications of our own work, and so we are undertaking an Expedition to his World, to send a Telegram.

B-Stacks and Time Skew

Creation of Worlds

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,

I believe that you may have a Wish to know of what transpired after your retirement to the cellar and return to Newton-X.

Firstly, the good Commander declared that he was considering attendance at an orchestral performance, employing our new and temporary Powers to research the nature of the players’ craft. For the most part, however, we took time to use magical arts and other tests to determine more about this curious phenomenon. It proved to be “psionic” in nature, and I determined that appropriate magic could shield against it, but imperfectly, as is regrettably the nature of such interactions.

Then, we took decision to make Transition to Newton-X, whereat, you will recall, we found that you had been in communication with our leaders, and soon, a Servant-Messenger arrived from Sir Isaac, who it proved had rendered the fellow Immune to our reading of minds. Thank you, incidentally for using that spell of Aura Determination to determine that Commander had a little magic about him.

Hence, we reached that decision whereby Janos bore Myself and M. Carnot through to Rome Nil-Magia from a location in the district of Primrose Hill. As it fell out, the Reading of Minds persisted in operation on that world lacking Magic, but the range of its effect fell from around 98 yards to to about 75 yards. We perforce needed to pass an hour before moving on, but a passing shepherd caused us no inconvenience, and we noted that we could hear such thoughts as his sheep could form. You might also wish to know that it was cloudy with sunny intervals in that world; I know that every detail can be important in matters of thaumaturgic research, and I know of your Great Desire to learn all facts.

And so we passed to the world named by us Nostradamus, where we arrived in a area with some significant human populace, causing consternation among a band of folk who spoke the civilised language of France. Gentlemen among them interrogated us as to our nature and that of our Means of Travel. M. Carnot listened to their thoughts, finding that they would be content if he declared us to be serving the French Crown. He did so, to Janos’s amazement, who is aware of M. Carnot’s disdain for royalty. They asked us if our business related to the Horrors of the Levant, and we felt it politic to agree that this was the case. We again conducted a test of our transient powers’ reach, and learned that it had seemingly fallen perpetually to 75 yards.

M. Carnot then bore all we three to the world Named by our party Revolution-5, with predetermined intent when there to avoid being taken for French. We caused less confusion among the Indigenes on this occasion, having made subtler entrance, and were able to pass as philosophers with curious habits of dress. The range of our power once again proved to be 75 yards.

And so M. Carnot carried us back to the world of the New Renaissance, where we were unsurprised to find ourselves only able to eavesdrop thoughts within 75 yards, and we made shift to regain our home dwelling. M. Carnot spoke of being tempted to visit the world of Unity, although Janos and myself took this as occasion to compliment him on his Witty Ways, and instead he made a visit to the Astral Realm to investigate whether he could read minds across dimensional walls. He could not.

And so the other two of us were induced to Enter that Realm. Our new Powers had similar ranges to that which they could accomplish elsewhere, but proved very erratic and variable. Curious, we turned them upon some Astral Pools, discerning a lack of apparent sapience in the Pools themselves, but we were capable of hearing something of the aggregate minds of each world’s population with an effort. For some reason, this persuaded M. Carnot to persist in his Unwise Consideration of a visit to the World of Unity, although he proved susceptible to dissuasion. I applied my skill in Astral Divination to enhancing this new art of reading the populace behind each Pool as an aggregate mind. Successful, I confess that I found the Roar of Voices a little Overwhelming. We might be able to formulate some manner of Filter to obtain more useful results.

Also, M. Carnot essayed a Grand Survey of the Astral Realm with this power. He declared that he became aware of a vast, distant, and nebulous consciousness. This may merit further examination, although I suppose that this would place us in the tiresome realms of Theology. Further, M. Carnot contemplated espying on Infinity’s World of Homeline, but was deterred or dissuaded by our exposition regarding the Virtues of Tact and Caution. And so, We Three regained the material world, and took dinner in an Eating-House named "The Power Station," curious as to what we could determine about the thinking implicit in its proclaimed Radical Mode of Cuisine. As it proved, however, and despite an intense scent of ozone, its philosophy was that of gimcrack gimmickry, its sole true novelty being the intensive use of Ohmic Heating to no particular benefit.

In another place, I am told, the Commander had gained some ideas about how a Symphony Orchestra operates. I am sure that he finds great profit in this. Then, on finding that you had departed for some place in the County of Essex where Sir Isaac could conduct some further tests in solitude, he followed, duly finding himself in discourse with Sir Isaac, who sent him back to London to find out what more had been determined by us.

Thus it was that the next day, we all Gathered Together and were able as a band to regain the company of Sir Isaac and your good self. We reported our own discoveries so far. As you will recall, we agreed that visiting a world entirely lacking Mana evidently deletes the magical aspect from the Mind Reading effect, and thus reduces the Range of that Effect. We may be Identifying a conjoining principle between Decanic Magic, psionics, and parachronic technology. This in turn may force us to ask our acquaintances in Infinity some questions regarding that Technology.

In addition, as you will recall, because we had recalled Words spoken by Mistress Hilary, I was required to make shift to make explanation of the Philosophy of Postmodernism to all there, including Sir Isaac.

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,

Concerning further matters which may concern you despite your absence for many of them, and preoccupation during others, one might note as follows.

We were, you may recall, all in the Time-Line which we know as Newton-X, in and about that rustic dwelling with Sir Isaac. M. Carnot was desirous to conduct some Experiments with his mind-reading Abilities, applying them to animals including even social insects. He inquired of the countryman who operates the adjacent farm about bee hives, and finding that the man owned one such, applied Himself. He declares that he heard a slow mind forming the concept “INTRUDER”.

Sensing hostility, he departed the location of the hive, pursued for some little way by the swarm. Fortunately, M. Carnot has no especial vulnerability to bee-stings, and the swarm did abandon their pursuit before many yards were passed, but he did return to the cottage in some little distress. That was when, as you will recall, you were deep engaged in being evaluated by Sir Isaac, but M. Carnot will no doubt in due course wish to give you Thanks for the advice which you supplied, inducing Janos and my self to spend some modest amount of Time dousing him in such Vinegar as we could locate about the building.

In this same time, the Commander was conducting Experiments in the reading of the minds of sundry animals, but deriving but small profit from the enterprise. He declares that he contemplated making expedition to a Zoological Collection, but Sir Isaac had desires to examine the Decline of the externally imposed mind-reading power with which we were all afflicted.

There was in general much Making of Notes.

This was the moment when Sir Isaac and Yourself did make Tests, and did Determine that all of us had suffered a Small but determinable transformation in the Balance Of Decanic Influences compromising our persons. It was agreed that we were glad that this had strangely not caused us to Die. It was also agreed that great Curiosity lay in the fact this temporary Transformation also Had Effect on worlds where there was no Mana. We must indeed Make Shift to acquire Intelligence from Infinity regarding other catastrophes associated with the conduct of Parachronic Sciences.

And so we did retire to that Inn for the Night. Save for Janos, who betook himself to the World of the New Renaissance to make Telephone Calls.

The Next Day, M. Carnot betook himself to The Royal Society to examine certain Notes, the Commander betook himself to New Renaissance, and I returned to the cottage, that You and Sir Isaac might make study of the anticipated Fading of the mind-power in Excruciating Detail.

Hilary, it befalls, did return the call made by Janos. She and a colleague did meet him and the Commander in a coffee-house to compare notes on Parachronic Peculiarities, and Conclusions regarding the Nature of Things begin to develop. The Commander betook himself to the Royal Society of Newton-X to research other C—ists’ misfortunes in world-jumping, by way of the knowledge of Mr Sapienza, who did confirm (among much else) that frogs do seem Most Curiously Common. Learning of this, M. Carnot insisted on raising Question regarding the species of frog, and prepared Special Implements in anticipation of future Frog encounters.

The Next Day again, Janos received a further Telephone Call. Yurek, it transpired, had lost the Mind-Power. We predicted that Mistress Hilary should follow soon enough. All this was Reported to Sir Isaac.

A curious matter among the many Discussions that took place in this time was the eruption of a surely Inexplicable Brawl of sorts between Janos and M. Carnot. Janos expressed the opinion that M. Carnot should make shift to learn more of the arts of defence of the self, while M. Carnot proclaimed himself Unconvinced.

There was also, as I am informed, discussion on New Renaissance between the Commander and Mistress Hilary about the Nature of the Power Fading. Hilary also explained what she indicated by the term "Post-Modernist" Explanations. This, she declares, is Infinity colloquialism for Ideas about the Infinite Worlds involving extreme subjectivity. For example, it is proposed that Conveyors may sometimes become lost while taking Persons into their own Imaginations. She now also wishes to run a Control Experiment, observing the Astral Sea for Spontaneous Unprovoked World Generation at appropriate Times.

In exchange for our Consideration of such Concepts, Mistress Hilary has undertaken to find Records of the species of Frog implicated in certain accidents. We, meanwhile, are all gathering in the Cottage to contemplate further Steps.

The Savoy Conference

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh, My Dear M. Carnot,

As is our custom, in the absence of Mistress Stoutenburgh, the most frequent record-keeper for our band, I am charged to present you with a brief record of recent Events pertaining to that group, while Mistress Stoutenburgh was working on her current project, and M. Carnot was enjoying the hospitality of this world’s Places of Refreshment.

It appeared to those of us working on the Current Project that it would be politic to survey the city of London in the world that we know as Italian Police or Rome Il Duce, with a view to assessing its usefulness as a location for the Proposed Diplomatic Conference. We also decided that it might be best to go there by way of New Renaissance B4, which would enable us to acquire clothing & acceptable currency first, and so the Commander took us There. It was the work of a day or two to make fit arrangements, and of another day or two to acquire another black leather coat for Balaban úr that meets his requirements. Then, we departed to the Astral Plane.

Surveying our destination London from the Astral Plane shewed us that our house was there, albeit with an occupant. So we moved through the Astral Plane to view a street nearby which proved, to our Judgement, quite Typical of London in the fourth decade of the Twentieth Century, and located a Quiet Place where to descend. The Commander took us there. Then, while he Learned The World, Balaban úr and I visited a news-agent to acquire news-papers, to wit, a copy of the Times & a copy of the Morning Star, which latter we thought to be unusually substantial for that title as we have seen it elsewhere.

It proved that the date was in September 1934, that George the Fifth was the King of Great Britain and that Mister Stanley Baldwin had become Prime Minister of that Realm - a little early as compared to his history in some worlds, we believe. More interestingly, there was a deal of Conflict reported in lands formerly part of the Russian Empire, with Comrade Vladimir Lenin still alive and leading the Communist Party, Ukrainian national loyalties run riot, and "White Russians" still in play. Furthermore, Poland had attained an unusually great extent, encompassing all of Byelorussia. Germany had no sign of that Chancellor Hitler who frequently causes so much warlike difficulty through his assertive irrationality and prejudice. Rather, Germany had a Chancellor von Schleicher.

Hence, we thought it best to acquire some Books of History and a current Atlas of Maps, and to read more. We thereby learned that the Great War of the Early Years of the century had seemingly gone very similarly to the History we have seen elsewhere, so the point of Historical Divergence must have transpired since the year 1918. On closer inspection, the Morning Star news-paper (combined with other sources) implied to us that Comrade Lenin had purged Comrade Stalin & retained the loyalties of Comrade Trotsky, but a New Russian Civil War erupted in the year 1928. That Conflict was now largely but not entirely resolved. It appeared that Western nations were sustaining some Russian States, probably to keep Communist Russia in a state of weakness. Beyond the ranks of its devotees, Communism was seen as a dangerous but inherently self-destructive Political Philosophy. Poland appeared to us to have the form of a Military Dictatorship, while Herr Hitler’s Nazi party existed within Germany, but lacked effectuality.

From all this, we came to a Significant Conclusion, viz. that this Earth and this London were a suitable location for the proposed Meeting between Ourselves, Infinity, and Centrum. We would need a Postal Address in order to create an Account with a Bank, and in order to, as the term is in some company, launder monetary funds by way of Gold and Diamonds for use here. We thus fell to a little shaping and execution of plans in order to save time later, on the assumption that those other two groups would agree to this Proposal. We retained a Suite at the Savoy Hotel, and established an Account, well filled with Funds.

We then transferred ourselves to other Worlds, and set to presenting this proposal of a Conference to Centrum & to Infinity, emphasising that this World we had selected was not accessible to either. Neither faction seemed unreservedly happy but each could see the transparent Logic of our Proposal. A pair or so of weeks were spent on shuttling letters. Centrum & Infinity agreed to some minor points of Terminology easily enough, but then became more Guarded. We fell into much discussion with Mistress Hilary of habitual Views among world-travellers of other Timelines, these creating many of the inconvenient obstacles to swift agreement.

We also found cause to confer with Privatdozentin Noether concerning optimal methods for dealing with certain pressing problems, which caused her to express a desire to confer with Herr Einstein. We took it upon ourselves to inform her that the version of Herr Einstein who was In Play in these matters was that from her world. She wrote him a carefully worded letter to establish communication with him, and the Commander took it to an appropriate Posting-Box.

She expressed the opinion in these discussions that the supposed Two Quantum Limit on interworld interactions was in fact a Delusion, and declared that it might be appropriate to raise the possibility in the planned Conference, in the Abstract at least. The interaction of this Possibility with what we know of the world Shikaku-Mon raises especial concern.

In time, the Indirect Interactions between representatives of Infinity and Centrum bore fruit. We were pleased to observe that the two sides could begin to formulate methods for the Prevention of the Known Problems with their technologies. They agreed that they shared a Theoretical Basis for a safe Projector-machine. This would need to be tested, and Hilary proposed a Schedule for that. Centrum desired to send the same two people as had previously Experienced the Astral Plane; Infinity would send Hilary, with Phil as a bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Herr Einstein visited Privatdozentin Noether, and A Great Deal Of Mathematics Ensued.

At the Time of the Test, Janos brought the Centrans by way of Sans Newton; the Commander brought the Infinity two. We were not Unduly disconcerted when Flamefang manifested. The test involved observing in, as Hilary phrased the concept, shifts, to avoid loss of effectiveness through the sheer tedium of apparent success.

After what we judged to be around Four Hours in which nothing befell, the Commander carried Hilary down to the Material Plane to make a Telephonic Communication, then brought her back by way of Winter-1. No more happened for some hours after that. Those of us who needed to, slept, and Watches were arranged on All Parts with Appropriate Discretion. The Commander once again took Hilary to Instruct her Party to Continue through the night. During that visit, she had a Chance Encounter with Herr Einstein, who she recognised. She now seems bemused by the implications.

There were Still No Disasters through the Night. After all the baguettes brought from Various Places were finished, all parties agreed that we had Statistically Plausible Results. Centrum took this as Reason to agree to the Proposed Conference, while Infinity announced that they could agree if Centrum agreed. The Agenda, it was determined, will be kept, in essence, open, with Small Representative Contingents in the First Cases. The proposed Quantum-2 Venue was acceptable to Both Sides.

I might also mention that Hilary has admitted that dealing with the C— without Disaster has brought Credit to the British Arm of Infinity. She quite overtly sought to determine the Geographical Centre of Centrum, receiving in reply vague generality, but with mention of Terra Australis.

Yours &c. &c.,
Antoine Nodier

• To establish a Modus Vivendi to allow co-Existence without excessive Conflict while other Matters progressed.
• Centrum having given valuable Information, the Superiors of Smythe desired some Recompense.
• Hilary proposed formal diplomatic Recognition and the Exchange of Ambassadors, the latter Concept not being one in current Centran Practice; Smythe desired References not from Worlds under the Control of Infinity, and we started to consider these; this Situation was complicated by there being no Quantum mid-Way between the respective Home-Worlds. We considered that Newton-X might reasonably be included as a Party to this Arrangement.

• Balaban úr raised the Matter of Spheres of Influence, and Identification, to be considered further on the Morrow.

The Pearl-Bright Ocean

My Dear Mistress Stoutenburgh,
As you appear to have been briefly distracted by some trivial phenomenon this last brief period, I can, as you wish, supply you with a brief memorandum of events for insertion into your journal for future reference.
As you will recall, we decided to move onwards from our converse with the spell-entities Curse and Bless, and after you had most generously prepared breakfast, we set to that procedure. We determined to set out in the direction of Anoster, Decan of the Unknowable, and there was a little discussion of procedures. Janos’s singing induced a helpful wind, especially when I contributed poetic vocal elements of appropriate classical rectitude.

However, after a little sailing, we found ourselves slowed and beset by seaweed, and indeed seaweed of an unfamiliar type, which was prone to a wriggling motion, and which seemed consciously intent on delaying us. We found a channel through at first, but were much impeded, and the weed began to mound up in such a way as to make it harder for us to reach the inner shore.

M. Carnot cast a spell of Hawk Vision, which enabled him to see at least one Trapped Ship. Not wishing to share its fate, we made shift to press on. Also, looking toward the outer edge of the Sea, we observed that its colours appeared to have changed, the sand having faded from azure to white.

And so we sailed on, hoping to enter Less Hostile Regions. In time, evening fell, and so we turned for the outer shore, in which direction progress was feasible. The white sand there seemed to be pure quartz, as we found when we had drawn the boat up. We made camp and set watches, but the Night passed without excitement - or dreams, as we consciously noted when we gave it thought and discussion. We employed magics of Essential Food in the morning, but found the results less Satisfying than is the norm. Nonetheless, it sufficed, and we Sailed onward.

We anticipated that we would thus be approaching the realm of Harpax, that is of Vegetation. But before that, as we Sailed on for a while, we noted Signs of others who had failed in Attempts to reach the Inner Shore. As we discussed this, however, more pressing concerns impinged upon us. A vast Tentacle, some five metres or so in thickness, reared upwards from the Water with evident Hostile Intent, lunging to wrap itself around our boat. Balaban úr responded with his customary admirable despatch, attacking it with his blade and scoring great gashes in its flesh. I then applied the necessary substantial thaumic energies to cause it to Spasm, reducing the threat it offered to our craft, and the Commander used the power of his mind to bombard it with a veritable Salvo of stones. The creature clearly recognised that we were best not Trifled with, and departed the scene.

The shore we could observe as we then advanced was, we noted, wildly variable in Colour, albeit with a theme of green. There was, nonetheless, much less seaweed about, so we turned for the Inner Shore, which proved to be Verdant in the extreme. We sailed onward after a little discussion, looking for anything Interesting. The Commander made close observation with his Spy-Glass, and reported an absence of animals. What we could all discern was a strong, appealing verdant aroma. Also, after a while, on the shore, wild vegetation gave way to Fields, although with no Persons tending them.

And yet, by evening, despite that absence, we were pleased to observe a cove with a small Harbour, Houses, and a Boatyard. We landed, and encountered the manifestation of the spell to Shape Timber, which in that place exerted its powers, for whatever reason, to cause Boats to be made. We told it of our quest to learn new languages, and of our recent Adventures, and it professed itself Impressed at our Deterring of the the betentacled creature, which for the most part carries the day in Encounters on that sea. The spell also Offered to see to the Strengthening of our Boat; we accepted, at which it declared that it would call for its compatriot, Essential Wood, while warning us that there would be a Fee.

It went about this mission, while we looked about the houses, noting the presence of a plethora of architectural styles. The spell returned with its promised companion. Essential Wood set its price at some new intelligence concerning Wood, and the Commander was inspired to respond by demonstrating his Violin. The Spells seemed Interested, departed briefly, and returned with a new Bow, which the Commander declared to be smooth-stringed and fine for its purpose.
We were then invited into a workshop, where the Spells created a new violin. The Commander declared it fine, though not to the standard set by Maestro Stradivarius.
We then returned to our boat, with which the Spells tinkered, rendering it proof against leaks. They then offered us Dinner, a meal entirely Vegetarian in composition but very Hearty. We collected some seeds and such for future examination, and departed.

The Boat, we found, now rode differently, but not in a Worse sense, being stiffer. Passing on toward the realm of Axiopheth, we noted the Coasts becomes less verdant and more rocky, and these rocks were dark. Also, the Winds died down as we progressed. Balaban úr proclaimed the belief that a specifically Astral nature was implicit in that rock, and M. Carnot declared that he sensed similarly – a distant astral potential. As we rowed onward, we determined that the Mana level here was detectably Normal save that it was High for purposes of Containment – appropriate for the Decan, it seemed.

We also found that we were all growing notably tired from the labour of Rowing, which made us cautiously glad to observe what seemed like to be a stone jetty – though not one of worked Stone. We paused at this jetty, and went ashore. There, our ears discerned a distant weeping. M. Carnot and I determined to investigate, walking inland a way. There, we encountered a Dark-Haired Lady, who we recognised as the Lady Amael, Aethyr of that Decan. Given its nature, we thought it politic to make a polite withdrawal, finding ourselves a little wearied as if by imprisonment as we went.

And so we departed the Shore Of Imprisonment.
Yours &c. in the C—,
Antoine Nodier

Return to q, r and φ

Remarks by M. Antoine Nodier, Philosopher of the C—.

One has recently noted that the most excellent records kept by one’s Fellow Philosopher Kunigonde Stoutenburgh, one’s associate in the Cabal, have suffered an arbitrary lacuna, despite her presence at certain Events of Minor Interest. Pausing only to remark that Careless Experimentation in the Resonances of the Decans Anostêr and Sphandôr may have Most Inconvenient Effects, one feels obliged to interject certain Remarks to those same Records.

At the time of these Events, our Party had recently Descended from higher regions of the Astral Plane, bearing the Overheated Machine of the creation of M. Carnot. Discussion ensued as to how that Machine might be enhanced to achieve the desired effectiveness. M. Carnot appeared notably willing to perform Extreme Operations with his Machine, although the proposal of fuelling an Enhanced Version with the Burning Bones of his Enemies was felt to be injudicious.

Other options for moving in this Peculiar Dimension were discussed. M. Carnot believed he might be able to employ the Decanic Power of Ouare to Reinforce the Necessary Enchantment on his Machine. M. Balaban suggested that spells of Flight might be preferable, but M. Carnot adhered to his own idea with Devotion. Hence, a journey to Florence on Annio’s World, that he might learn the Art and Science of Engraving, was suggested (that World being chosen simply because Art is Greatly refined there). M. Balaban agreed to accompany M. Carnot in That Place, albeit after Journeying Thence by Means of a partially different itinerary, as he desired himself to practice the Arts of Swift Astral Travel. The Others of us each had our own Ideas as to what we needed or could best learn next. While the Commander travelled to Vienna on the World of Napoleon Total War to visit M. Beethoven, I returned to our Home to master some additional Spells.

M. Balaban, I deduced from Later Discussion of his Experiments, became somewhat lost en route to an intended Rendez-Vous with M. Carnot on the World of New Renaissance, visiting the Adriatic Sea, and having to Navigate by a Method of Successive Approximations, entering the Material Realm in Milan and taking a railway-train to Florence, whence the Two undertook the final step in their Travel. When they both attained their Destination, M. Carnot was also somewhat Distracted by an encounter with M. Leonardo da Vinci, who proved, as it appeared, here to be a Member of The C—, of Indeterminate Rank. Introduced in Conversation to one or two Decanic Symbols, M. da Vinci declared the Intent to Deduce the others from First Principles, while Discussing a Resonant thirty-six-sided workshop which he proposed to construct for his own Use. Later, known Local Officers of The C— proved somewhat unnerved when informed that M. Leonardo was a fellow member, of which Fact they were unaware, and Nervous that he might manifest Unfortunate Abilities and Intervene injudiciously in the War then and there Taking Place.

Meanwhile, I am informed, the Commander made payment for Lessons in the local dialect of German-Austrian on Napoleon Total War, and then made further study of Playing of the Violin with a group of Musicians of that city.

Atlantis, Plural

• M. Carnot would pour out rare and valuable Wine from around the Mediterranean;
• I would ignite expensive Oils, and make a Shew of Shapes in the Fire;
• Balaban úr would fight a Bull (and this implied that we would make two Trips, since it could not be concealed during our Visit to Minor);
• Commander Hodgson would fly and pour Purple into the Harbour;
• M. Nodier would teleport to the top of the Statue in the Harbour, attract Attention with a Sound of Thunder, and throw out Dust of Gold.

The Commander and Hilary (we were told) planned to gate to New Renaissance, fly to Vienna, jump to Newton-X, head up to the Astral Plane, walk to Napoleon Total War, and drop down to materiality after checking for observers.
Which all went well enough, but they were a little concerned when, on arriving on the Astral, they met a dragon looking at another nearby pool. It was smaller than Flamefang, but still a dragon. The Commander ventured a “Hello?”
The Dragon proved to speak Latin, and responded to Cabal recognition codes. It said that it was looking for a world “associated with Newton-X” where all the people vanished, leaving plentiful treasure for the taking. The Commander disavowed knowledge, and the dragon evidently didn’t spot a certain amount of evasion...
So the pair strolled to Napoleon Total War, arriving in the early morning. Along the way, in conversation, Hilary let slip that Infinity is working on B-axis-related equipment, but progress is slow as yet.
They walked into Vienna, look for somewhere to stay. They also picked up some gossip, including musicians grumbling about Beethoven. Hilary visited the hall and acted outrage at the management in order to get the heating fixed, and achieved some verified success at this, while the Commander played the violin with some local acquaintances.

Meanwhile, the rest of us wrote up the Ambassador project, then headed up to the Astral Plane and employed Janos’s Astral Speed. We completed the journey without too much trouble, arrived in Vienna, and rented a house with staff.

Climbing Olympos

We are obviously going on the unsupported word of gods here, but… [Nell]

Some Months Later

Dear Isaac, Nell, Janos, Eugene, Antoine and Nicolas,
I expect this to be my last message to you, but I could be wrong.
I have spent considerable time examining the history of the universe and the works of the first demiurge, and the explanation for the some of the strangeness of nature is straightforward. The previous demiurge, born in a time when humans had very limited understanding of nature, had been overwhelmed by human developments, and was making things up, without a plan. I speculate that he may have felt plagued by scientific investigations, and sought to turn humanity to other interests.
It is, however, possible to reconcile the laws of nature, within the Decanic Theory of Everything, and I have managed to do this. The laws that will be discovered in time do not contradict existing observations, and God has indicated his approval of them. A clue: start by extending quantum mechanics to a background-independent form.
Thank you for selecting me for this work, and for helping me with it. You have the favour of the demiurge.