At least there's always Milliways.
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"Slavery." He looks grim. "Aside from institutional slavery, the imperial laws are rather forward-thinking in a lot of ways, but it's hard to overlook that."

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"Oh, I know some other people who don't like it either. Forward-thinking in what ways?"

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"Gentle initial penalties aimed at reducing recidivism! And elected seats of power. Not all our rulers were elected in the United Kingdom."

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"Huh. How did you choose them if not by election?"

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"We didn't choose the House of Lords - the kings and queens did, and in time immemorial the royal family came to power though innate nobilty and grace and the favor of God, or so it is told. More likely it was force of arms and winning a succession war."

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"I don't like that way of choosing a government."

Mahan steps inside and looks around Milliways.

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It's a lot emptier than it was a few hours ago! There are people looking over the shrinking pile of crates in the backyard, and a handsome and bespectacled man painstakingly pronouncing random words in Hari while staring at a book.

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"Okay, what, why is your Hari so much worse than his?" Mahan asks, brandishing a ring.

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"-Oh. Hello. That would be the translation effect I ran into, Milliways is... Strange. I managed to get around it by piecing together a dictionary and grammar guide with illustrations that include writing in the pictures, I can keep it from automatically translating those. Neither of us actually know Hari yet, though I intend to learn. Kenneth Powers, I'm a linguist, nice to meet you. You're from Har, I assume?"

He holds out his hand for a handshake.

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Handshake!

"...You're friendly. And you look nice. Yeah, I'm from Har, I'm Mahan the death mage."

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He blinks. "I look nice? Thank you? Oh, a death mage. I'm sure we'll have work for you sooner or later. We bought some antibiotics but those are not perfect, and there's viruses too..."

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"Everyone always has work for me eventually. You could have work for me sooner than later, I can speak Hari with you."

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"Oh, that could be helpful... Though we're all collectively somewhat poor, being refugees."

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"There's work to be done! If Valanda hasn't given you suggestions yet I can."

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"There's lots of work we're planning on doing for ourselves, too. I spoke to him but not about work that we could do in Har. I'd appreciate suggestions!"

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"There's people who'd love to learn your language, we need a lot of things built, not a lot of essi want to immigrate but when there are some they'll need to hire people with hands or force magic."

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"Teaching English to foreigners is an honorable tradition among linguists strapped for money." He smiles wryly. "I think we'll be good at building - and 'having hands' isn't much of a skill, you mean running errands and arranging things for them and such?"

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"Sure, and carrying things and helping if they have trouble opening doors or packages or anything."

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"It sounds boring to me but shopkeeps have to do things like that and work is work. Perhaps someone can invent a door that opens when a button is pressed, or when something large enough approaches."

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"Is that something they had where you're from?"

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"No. But we have automata, I think the principles could translate. Though I'm no engineer."

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"How do you make automata?"

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"I'm no engineer, sorry. Something involving intricate complexuses of gears and rods and clockwork."

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"Are the engineers as friendly as you?"

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He raises one eyebrow. "I didn't know I was being particularly friendly? Well, they're going to be busy over in New Dover for the next three months, I think."

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