Bridging the gap between Fantasy and Philosophy

(Note to current readers: the Introduction post has been updated with a “How to Read” paragraph explaining the format and shorthand of the comic.)

People Are Starting to Suspect the Inquisition (page 2)

First panel

The scene from the last page continues – Jenny, Tarith, and Galen are standing next to each other.  Donal is visible in the background stretching.

Galen: “What do you mean by ‘breathable air was not required?’”

Jenny: “Some of the realities we encounter are a bit more… metaphorical”

Tarith: “Don’t worry, we’re not going into one of those.”

Galen: “How can you be so sure?  I thought we didn’t get that kind of information.”

Second panel

Donal appears to be balancing upside down on one hand in the background

Tarith: “We don’t, at least not directly.  But there’s a fair amount you can tell from who gets picked and who doesn’t”

“For example: Stanley, Moris, Frank, and Josephine are all absent, so technology isn’t likely to come up.  Keth and Grunewald are out, and it’s a training run, so we probably won’t have any really bizarre stuff.  I’m here, so magic is likely to come up, but Llarena and Frank aren’t so it’s a bit iffy.  Grunewald and Reggie are missing, so diplomacy is less likely.”

Third panel

Donal is maintaining the previous pose, but has raised himself to being supported by a single finger.

Jenny: “Basically you look at broad specialties and if one of them is completely unrepresented, you know it’s probably not going to come up.  We do a lot of guessing, but the predictability goes way down the more focused you get.”

“Technology is pretty big field, and we’ve got four people who specialize in it, so the absence of all of them is a fairly clear sign.  In the opposite direction, Tarith and I are the two history experts of the team, but that’s a more focused specialty so it’s more likely to be a coincidence.”

Fourth panel

The view has swung 90 degrees and zoomed out.  Donal is in mid flip to return upright.  On a raised platform in front of everyone, a door in a large silver sphere opens with a hiss.

Electronic voice from offscreen: “Gate capsule ready.  You may begin boarding”

Jenny: “That’s our cue.  Let’s go!”

Notes: The Rousai don’t like to give out more information than is absolutely necessary.