Shepard grimaces a bit at the question but it's out there now admonishing Rodney won't help.

"As far as I know there are no books on the Waystone Network on this continent, beyond maps of where we believe the important waystones are, which is not something I should share with you until we're very sure I'm not giving Chaos new infomation. Books are expensive and books on magic typically kept very private because self-taught magicians usually get corrupted by Dhar one way or another. I can probably get a copy of Winds, Ice, and Beyond, that's what most crown agents on the cultist front read to get a handle on the basics. ...Male magic-workers are illegal in Kislev, but it's unlikely any of you three have the necessary talent anyway."

"I'd appreciate that. Do your people have printing presses? Those usually make books cheaper. Especially with movable type."

Of course this is where Rodney is going. This is... probably fine. It's not like he's explaining how to make nuclear bombs.... again.

"I'm familiar with the concept but I don't think anyone's gotten a reliable design yet; some Imperials have been trying recently."

"I know a thing or two but I haven't personally worked with any. They're outside my core specialties."

"If you're interested in trying to build one here I'm sure I can find some trustworthy artisans to help; I think books being common enough to afford them even in the villages would be good for people."

"Books are great. I can't promise I know how to make it perfectly but I'm willing to try. The price of books would also depend on how expensive paper and ink are though."

"Neither's cheap to make, but enough that we were paying attention to the idea. Anything else we should try to speed up on inventing?"

"Internal plumbing. You seem to already have covered sewers which is very good, that helps a lot with cutting down on disease but internal plumbing is even better. I guess it's the kind of infrastructure project you might not be able to afford though."

"Yes, that's about cost. Kislev City, the capital, has plumbed most districts, and the richer houses have it here in Erengrad, but we haven't been able to do much more. A few cities in the south are more thorough; in their capital and their main university city, supposedly it's everywhere that's built legally. I don't think we can afford to match them unless we get another generation without an Everchosen attack. ...Or maybe after one, if the cities need rebuilding."

"That makes sense. Do your people know about the importance of washing their hands after doing dirty activities like working with raw meat?"

"...Not as any kind of principle. Cosmetically, obviously. What's the result?"

"It's possible this isn't entirely true for you since you have that... uh god of pestilence but on the worlds we've visited before most disease is caused by incredibly small organisms which damage the body in the process of breeding inside you. Washing your hands can wash those organisms away and by doing so stop diseases from spreading."

"Hmm. It is commonly said that all disease and deformity originates from Chaos, and most doctors are less useful than a priest. But I have heard of a ...mechanical perspective, that supposedly works, from the far south. Only in the last century or two, and it hasn't spread quickly because no one trusts doctors or surgeons to choose their own rules. I can at least bring it to the attention of the Cult of Salyak; she's specifically a goddess of healing and mercy, and they run pauper's hospitals. I think they'll find out safely, if anyone can."

"Yes, well, I hope that helps. For the same reason it's important to make sure that the place where the sewers lead to isn't a place people get water from. I'd hope that was just common sense but from our own history it seems that it wasn't."

"...Probably you mean something more complicated than 'don't drink fouled water.' Distance along a shore? I think it's generally noticed that it's probably better not to take drinking water downstream of someone's sewer, but that doesn't mean no one does it. Here it empties out into the bay, at least."

"It's a matter of concentration. So the farther along the stream and the smaller the portion of the fouled water is to clean the safer it is. There are ways to treat fouled water that kill the organisms in it but I don't know exactly how they work. Where Sheppard and I come from it's an entire field of study. Boiling water will generally render it safe but that's a lot of work to do for every bit you choose to drink, alcohol can also have the same effects but I don't remember exactly how strong a drink needs to be for it to be basically safe."

"Those parts we know, though if there's a principle underlying them I suppose that might be useful. ...The size of the fouled portion being relative rather than absolute would be surprising, possibly for supernatural reasons; I've seen substantial reservoirs made diseased with a fairly small contamination we didn't catch in time. We might be able to do something with the knowledge nonetheless."

"The body is the best place for the microorganisms to breed but it isn't the only place and so especially for still water it's possible for a relatively small contamination to breed into a much larger one."

"I don't know what's in them but we do carry tablets intended for treating small amounts of water for use in the field. My survival training suggested boiling water instead if possible though, both because it was supposed to be more effective and to conserve supplies."

"We'd appreciate a look at them, probably, but if it's a specialist matter for your people, and none of you know any of it, I wouldn't say it's a priority. I don't know offhand who I'd want to look at it, unless we asked the dwarfs."

"Fair enough, I'm not actually sure what other technologies would be helpful. I'm fairly familiar with the history of weaponry on my world but that's something I'd want to wait to share until we know each other better. I'm also not sure how applicable it would be to the battles you're fighting. We didn't have magic when we were using the sort of guns I saw you holding earlier and I imagine that changes what is and isn't useful."

"Yes, that's understandable, though I'm very curious about the design of your guns, with the small bore and tall stock and all. Against most enemies our weapons are much the same as against other ordinary men; for others, mostly daemons or half-ascended Chaos worshipers, blessings or symbolic significance can have more impact. Winged Lancers pass down their arms over the generations and this makes them, probably, a little bit blessed, and so their charge is more effective against daemons than a new man's lance. The same with the Ursunite bear riders, and the Ungol's family bows, and so on. Cannon hit harder, of course, but something about the nature of daemons sort of throws off the damage as being contrary to their nature, like they are a story that only consents to be ended in certain ways."

"That sounds frustrating to deal with." He wonders if Wraith stunners or Ronon's particle Magnum would get around that. He doesn't see a reason why the firearms would.