"Oh, it is, it's been tried and it is very horrible."

"So we may be stuck not just with a slave race but with one with 1802 sensibilities about what that means."

"Well, if they've been around forever and currently suit 1802 wizards very well presumably they weren't very off for 1456 when it was 1456?"

"Don't think so. So there's that."

"But it's not clear exactly how they adapt to the times..."

"Yeah. With a little bit of lag, at least." Sigh. "How much of a problem is it going to be for relations with other societies, if we get a reliable way of contacting them..."

"...people in 2179 care about elephants and you might get conscientious objectors but human nature hasn't fundamentally changed and you can probably present a really compelling economic case for believing what you say about how house elves work."

"Okay. The Elves think they should probably sneak into Revelation, lightleap into the star system somewhere, meet people and trade tech and so on. And see how that goes before 1802 contact with all its complications is attempted." 

"Yeah, Arda/Revelation might not be a smaller values gap but it's one where the fussier society has more warning..."

"I told Maitimo I thought it was adorable that they let the furniture angel be visited in prison by people who think serial killers are great and he looked so appalled at me. Anyway, yes, more warning and no mind control anywhere to be seen."

"Oh, the Elves do have mind control, it just only works on oneself and only if one is an Elf. Or an orc or a Maia or a Vala I guess."

" - I missed that -"

"Oaths work on mental states."

"Yikes."

"And even the ones that aren't directly about them get all compulsive if you try to change your mind."

"I am glad they existed so there was a way to end the war but that's kind of horrifying. - you can use magic to make an Unbreakable Vow but if you break it you just die."

"That's not particularly unbreakable. Especially if there's not even a warning condition for being about to break it."

"I think there is. Not sure, it doesn't get much use. Not a dark spell exactly but definitely a typically ill-advised one."

"Rather, yes."

"I'll tell them they can draw up their eighty page meet-2179 briefing documents."

"Sounds fun."

"I am envious of their resources. Wouldn't trade them for anything, though."

Nod.

Hug. "Let me know about the Poppy Gardens inquiries."

"Will do."