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It was supposed to be a low-risk mission just dipping their toes back in the water. And of course it's not. There's wraith there and they have to run. The manage to dial fine, they even manage to get to the gate but as they're jumping through several wraith shots hit the gate and something goes strange. The normally smooth passage of the wormhole twists alarmingly and it's normal teal green shifts to a much more menacing red. And when they're finally spat out. They certainly aren't back at Atlantis.
SGA-1 finds themselves at the site of a demon summoning
first_chair
"Circling back to Runessmithing if it's so much more stable than other ways of using magic is there a reason only the Dwarves use it?"
from-the-land
"It's only permitted to a specific clan, the descendants of the ancestor who invented it, and they swear oaths never to teach it to anyone else when learning. Also it takes their characteristic excess of precision to be safe but we'd probably try anyway if they let us."
first_chair
"Well that's inconvenient. I might be able to figure something out if I had examples to work from but if that will get them swearing oaths of revenge it might not be worth it."
from-the-land
"If you can actually learn without a teacher... I can't say they'll be happy, but they would be unlikely to declare a grudge. They do sometimes sell or gift runework to men, most of our greatest heirlooms are dwarf runesmiths returning favors owed. Best get one to explain dwarfen religion before trying, though. They worship their oldest ancestors as gods, missing but still out there living in material form somewhere."
first_chair
"I admit I don't see the connection there but I can learn etiquette if that's what you mean."
from-the-land
"I don't, really, understand dwarf religious practice, but runesmiths are both clan and priests of Thungni and that probably matters to how much they'd be offended."
not_so_golden_retriever
"Can you ask around and see if there's someone who does know more? Or I guess a dwarf that does if they wouldn't be likely to be offended by the question?"
from-the-land
"I can try, but I wouldn't be too optimistic. I don't think we have any flatland dwarfs in Erengrad and humans usually get confused by it; if it was important I'd want to be able to ask questions."
not_so_golden_retriever
"That makes sense. I suppose any more detailed talk should wait until our quarantine period is finished. On a lighter note is there anywhere around the city you recommend visiting?"
from-the-land
"Frosthome, definitely. About as far away as you can get from here, in the city, but a living tower of ice is worth seeing. Probably the grand market, and maybe the Garden of Ursun."
not_so_golden_retriever
"Those all sound interesting. I assume whoever will be escorting us will know where all those are?"
not_so_golden_retriever
"I'll look forward to the trip then. No rush on the exact timing I expect you have other responsibilities."
from-the-land
"My work is much like war. Short bursts of enormous stress and danger punctuating long periods of waiting. I might get pulled away suddenly if another investigation picks up a lead, but for the moment you four are my top priority."
not_so_golden_retriever
"Ah, that makes sense things were more like that in some of my previous assignments. What time would be good tomorrow then?"
from-the-land
"I won't be far off, an hour or two past dawn would work fine. Or later if you'd prefer."
not_so_golden_retriever
"How long is that from now? Cold climate tends to mean short days or else really long ones."
from-the-land
"It's late spring now, so that's, oh, nine hours, maybe ten?* It's Mesyavoyny**, about fifty days until the summer solstice. The last night where it got totally dark was a week ago, but we don't start needing to close the shutters at night for another three weeks***, and we're not far enough north that the sun stays above the horizon even at the solstice."
*It's just about sundown now.
**'Month-of-war'
***A week is eight days and the year is four hundred exactly. For the benefit of readers and possibly also characters who picked up the language through Stargate Nonsense.
not_so_golden_retriever
"I think a bit later would be better then, it's been a long day but I don't know if we'll get to sleep promptly."
from-the-land
"That's fair enough. I'll come by later in the morning, then. Should I leave you to it?"
not_so_golden_retriever
Everyone seems to have finished eating at this point. "I think so, apologies if there's a point of manners I'm ignorant on here."
from-the-land
"I'm sure if providing a house to foreign strangers but not letting them leave except under guard was common, we'd have etiquette of hospitality for it, but no, thankfully that's too rare for you to offend anyone. I'll see you tomorrow."
not_so_golden_retriever
And once he's left Sheppard switches languages again and talks to his team. "Rodney, you're coming with me tomorrow, assuming that's alright with you and Ronon. How about you try to settle down soon I know you're not the best with early mornings. I'm pretty sure Teodor isn't going to double cross us but he's also not in charge so I want to keep to the buddy system."
