"We were talking about your vast abilities. I think the most useful one could be creating the resting and hiding place, and we wouldn't need that during combat, so it's probably fine if it takes a minute to prepare it. Dr Kynes, how long until our destination?"

"Probably one thumper or less."

"In hours?"

"Four or five, depending on how tired He gets."

Who is 'He'. Is the Sandworm an avatar or incarnation of a god somehow???????? And what do they mean by 'four or five'??????

Oh he should clarify how Rope Trick works.

"I can create a hiding place that will last for six hours, but it needs to be attached to a piece of rope or some other kind of thick string. The rope should be hidden, because anyone that pulls on the rope can access the place. However, anything or anyone inside is undetectable from the outside – only the rope is visible."

"Could we hide the rope under the sand?"

So that doesn't really work, but it's possible they have some tools that could make it work, and also he doesn't want to directly contradict the archdruid's companion in front of them.

"When I cast the spell, one end of the rope will be fixed in position and can no longer be moved. Where the rope is determines the opening to the space – think of it like a trapdoor. We could hide it in the sand by burying it, but this means that the opening would open into sand."

"We could bury a tent into the sand, put the rope there, get from the tent to the opening, collapse the tent. But then it would be annoying to get out, as you said. Well, hopefully we won't need it."

Conrad nods. He has a complicated relationship with hope.

"So. We haven't had a lot of time to talk so far. Tell me more about yourself! You said you came from a world called Wound or something?"

"My world – the planet – is called Golarion. I was born there, in the country of Cheliax. I am – was – part of its military. We were deployed at the Worldwound, which is a portal to the..." no word for Abyss "...dimension of conflict, from which pour out lots and lots of evil creatures that have to be prevented from escaping. Many countries contribute to its containment."

"Never heard of Golarion either. Which House controls it?

A permanent portal... " would make the Guild obsolete! "How was it created? Pity yours leads to somewhere inhospitable, but if the technology to create it hasn't been lost..."

"...no one House controls Golarion. Um...Cheliax is ruled by House Thrune, Mendev by Queen Galfrey...I'm not sure what Lastwall's doing...but in any case all of those are only in the continent of Avistan. I know even less about the the other continents like Tian Xia.

Areelu Vorlesh, a...um...a very smart person, claims credit for creating the Worldwound. I don't know whether she is capable or willing to create permanent portals to other places. There is another permanent portal I know of, but it's also connected to an equally inhospitable place. I know somewhere in...I think Osirion? Or one of its neighbors? There is a portal that connects to the...dimension of death."

He also wants to ask questions but doesn't know whether it's impertinent of him to.

"Must be quite the scientist this Vorlesh. Maybe we could see if she's willing to work for us. Well, it will have to wait until we can get any form of interplanetary communications back.

You've never told me the story of how you got to that corridor. Were you with the Sardaukars and suddenly decided you preferred my company? Why were you dressed so heavily?"

Oh, 'scientist' is the word for archmage. After thinking about the word in his head with Tongues for a moment, it makes sense. He doesn't know whether 'scientist' is also an appropriate word to archdruids.

He himself has no idea and thinks that trying to explain it would...make him seem crazy...and in some cases it is wise to only give the minimum amount of information to answer the questions given. It is one of the pieces of advice Damian gave him which he uses frequently. He might regret it...do druids have Detect Thoughts?...but that's Future Conrad's problem.

"I have never been affiliated with the Sardaukars. The Worldwound is very far north, and it is very cold."

"... ok, fair, but. How did you get from Golarion to Arrakis?"

How to answer this question.

"I died, and when I woke up I was in the room with you."

"Uh."

Ok. He doesn't want to tell the truth. Well, Thufir will probably find the answer. If he's still alive.

"One of your abilities?" Not that he'd believe him, but it's always interesting to see how people contradict themselves.

In what sense? Resurrection, or interplanar transport? Well, he neither has any revivification spells nor Plane Shift, so resolving the ambiguity isn't necessary.

"No."

"Well, try not dying again before I save your ass first. I don't like having debts." Plus you're good with the sword, and Lord knows they could use any help they can get.

"If you just arrived on Arrakis, you must have a ton of questions. I have answers! Not necessarily right answers, but definitely answers!"

OH GOOD he can ask questions now!

"I will try."

Ah, that plus the other mention confirms that this planet is named Arrakis. Most likely the planet. It could be just – the region.

"Arrakis is controlled by a single House? How is it that one family can control the whole planet?" Well, it could be a family of scientists. Or...what's the word for sorcerer? The Thrune family has sorcerous blood.

"Up until yesterday I would have said that it is controlled by House Atreides, but I fear the answer today is that it's House Harkonnen again. The fuckers. A family controls a planet because the Emperors wills it so, and because we have our armies. And the atomics. Not to be used but to remember the others that they can't mess with us too much if they don't want their capital to become a flaming crater.

To control a whole planet you can be like the Harkonnens, and just try to grip it with an iron fist, quelling rebellions as they pop up, but letting the fine sand escape from your hand, or like we did - with actually good laws that make the people understand you care about them."

Ah. So Conrad was, essentially, helping to stop a coup.

Conrad is a perfect soldier devoid of political opinions and so will not comment on the policies of the Harkonnen or the Atreides.

"What about Arrakis makes House Harkonnen want to contest the claim House Atreides has on it? Is the Emperor planning to intervene?"