"Wonder what a country trying to get everyone to chaotic good would be like."

"I'm not sure it'd work."

"Chaotic evil works, but evil's a little - higher entropy - it might just have to do a lot of foreign aid? Normal thing to do when you come of age is grab a couple of your friends and go bother strangers next door trying to solve whatever their problems are."

"Might work."

"Lawful good would be easier, you could probably run most of it on community service norms."

"Wonder why no one's done it."

"Maybe just because Heaven sucks."

"Most countries aren't project countries. Takes kinda special conditions."

"The church of Sarenrae played a big role in setting up Osirion the way it is, which is interesting."

"Oh, what'd they do?"

"Helped the first Ruby Prince declare independence and keep it. Vouched for his bloodline, too. The church of Sarenrae was the second to recognize Osirian independence."

"Huh. Why was this an interest of theirs?"

"I don't know! I hadn't thought about it much but this conversation made me wonder if the existence of Osirion is good enough from a Neutral Good standpoint to have been worth bothering for on that account."

"It might be. They can save the better Nirvanan lawyers for the cases who're in real trouble if ninety percent of you guys skate into Axis, say. The anti-war stance can't hurt either."

"I'd be impressed with Sarenrae, if that were it. Or with whoever decided to prioritize it. Kind of broadminded."

"It seems pretty practical, at least. Osirion is stably very unlikely to act counter to Sarenrae's interests anywhere higher in triage priority than itself and this for a modest upfront investment."

Osirians look vaguely patriotic about this. They reach Saint Hadassah's.

Knock knock.

Same woman as last time. She lets Belmarniss in.

When Belmarniss is alone with Abada in the visitors' booth she produces the pastries. "Smuggled you a snack."

"Awww, sweet of you."

"Don't overinterpret it, my inn doesn't charge per pastry, but I assume they have you on couscous and water here."

"Meat on holy days. After all the prayers, of course."

"Is that so you're appropriately grateful for all the religious meddling or something?"

"I'm not sure whether they think they're bribing us or earning some charity points off us or what. Or someone compared two monasteries and the one with meat did better, could be that."