"I'd be happy to put you in touch with some civil engineers and city planners about the prospect!"

She nods.

"I'm ending my current responsibilities right now. Perhaps a month until I am entirely free. I hear you have devices to send voices over great distances? I could consult with such people sooner than otherwise with one, I'm sure."

"We do! They require electricity, but any Amentan outpost will have a way to recharge one. I'll find a spare for you."

"Thank you. That's everything I wish to talk about. Do you have any questions for me?"

"Do you think it's likely Amentans will be able to use the Wells in the future?"

"...I think with what I've seen of your science with Pon, it is not impossible. I've been trying not to think about it. It's... Troubling for people to have ephemeral souls. And I'm already shaken by the truth of stars." She sighs. "But not impossible."

"The truth of stars?"

"That they are not as eternal as I thought."

"Ah. I hope it isn't too disruptive, that information?"

"I am not going to spread it around until I have the chance to learn more. The notion of eternal stars is, if not a keystone at least a foundation stone, of much of our theology."

"Can you tell me more about that?"

"About theology?"

"Yes, it seems like it might be important to understanding your people."

"Theology is... The study of the correct way to live. Using the knowledge of the gods' legends and characteristics, what is known or thought or inferred about their designs for the world and for us, and reasoning to determine good and bad actions or thoughts. I don't hold statements about the gods to be literally true, but Firnu's key characteristic is strength and foreverness, and his aesthetic and symbol is fire, stars, and the daytime sky. From Firnu we learn that working hard, holding to your responsibilities, and patient diligence are good."

"That's an interesting approach! Theology for Amentans is also about the correct way to live, but I believe they start from different principles."

"I take it you are not a theologist, then? I am unsure if that would be green or blue."

"Theologians are green; blues in executive positions may retain them as advisors, but I'm serving as an ambassador and those typically don't."

"...What is an 'executive' position exactly?"

"Ah, someone who's centrally coordinating decisionmaking for a polity. I'm more of a relay of such decisionmaking, and an advisor to the decisionmakers where the nature of Dwellin comes into it."

"So a chief or king would be an executive position, the first-chief of agriculture would be one, but a second-chief who mostly acts as the hand and eye of the first would not?"

"Yes."

"I see. In addition to an astronomer, city planner, civil engineer, and Pon- Sata? The botanist, I think it would be interesting to converse with a theologian as well. Hardly urgent, though."

"I can get you a remote meeting with a theologian if you like!"

"I would like that, yes. I think all that's left here is learning to use the devices, which I assume someone else could show- Wait, new thought. If consulting on a city for you goes forward, I would want to use some of my money to hire Amentan teachers for classes of my contacts, plus tools and materials for practical lessons. Electricity, engineering, guns- It's hardly a secret how to make explosives and metal tubes, though you've refined them quite a lot- Do you foresee any obvious obstacles to this?"

"I'd need to talk to some people about whether we're prepared to supply guns."