Part 2 - Silberne Träume

[SunlessNick]

All of you have reawakened back in Berlin, to what appears a normal morning. Since Alex works with Elsie, Karl with Helmut, and Max with Louis, you are all able to confirm that the dream of the preceding night was a shared one.

Alex,Elsie comes in early for her shift at the cafe, confessing "I know they're a world away from me now, but I kept thinking I see them over my shoulder. I didn't want to be alone." Business is good, and quite a crowd comes in as lunchtime approaches - a large group of artists ask permission to push a few tables together, so they can gather as a single group. They're not just socialising either - many of them have brought in pads, and are either working or comparing existing works - the discussions are animated and fairly loud, but not heated or rowdy.

Max,Feel free to specify what film you're presently working on. Louis is one of the stunt performers (even if you yourself do your own). The morning on set is uneventful, though the studio lights feel oddly cold, reminding you of the atmosphere of Hlanith. Louis feels it too - he also pesters you for information about how the voyage is going - now he's awake, he feels like he should have gone with you, since a dream can't really be that dangerous.

Karl,Helmut seeks you out quickly at the university, looking to confirm that the dream was shared. As soon as you do, he sits down in the nearest seat, shaking his head. "Then it is either a real place, or the result of some phenomenon interacting with our brains. Or both could be the case, I suppose. If only I could remember my previous visits more clearly!"

[Philulhu]

Alex stood in his usual spot, polishing glasses behind the bar and keeping a eye on their customers. As Elsie moved in his direction to pour one of them a drink, he said to her, ”Have you ever experienced anything like that before? I mean, I’ve had dreams so life-like that I’ve woken up not knowing where the dream ended and real life began, but last night...” His voice trailed off. He wasn’t sure how to begin to explain it.

After a moment, he said, ”But you were there too! And you remember being there - you have the same memories of the dream that I do! How is that even possible?”

[HoneyDog]

Karl fiddles with his pipe, wishing that he hadn’t given up tobacco during the war.

“Perhaps others have experienced this phenomenon” he tells Helmut. “Do you think it’s worthwhile searching the university library?”

[Mr. Handy]

Max is rehearsing the final fight scene in the film Der Werwolf, in which he (of course) plays the hero, Gunther. Louis is playing the titular lycanthrope in this scene. It's even easier to hide his lack of resemblance to the actor who usually portrays the monster due to the getup he wears to appear as it. Gunther has tracked the beast to its lair, where it holds captive the lovely Elspeth, whom he will get to kiss after he rescues her. But first he must battle the werewolf in a desperate and deadly-looking but carefully choreographed combat. During a break in the rehearsal, Max fills in Louis on the voyage so far. "If you've changed your mind," he says, "the next time you're in Hlanith, you can find another ship headed for Kadatheron and catch up with us eventually. As a dreamer, you'll be allowed entry."

[SunlessNick]

After a moment, he said, ”But you were there too! And you remember being there - you have the same memories of the dream that I do! How is that even possible?”

"I don't know," she says. "But if it was real for us both, it must have been real for all the others as well. And maybe more people too."

[SunlessNick]

“Perhaps others have experienced this phenomenon” he tells Helmut. “Do you think it’s worthwhile searching the university library?”

"I good idea, but should we begin in science, psychology, or religion?" Helmut asks. "Or search for some polymath who has studied them all?"

[SunlessNick]

During a break in the rehearsal, Max fills in Louis on the voyage so far. "If you've changed your mind," he says, "the next time you're in Hlanith, you can find another ship headed for Kadatheron and catch up with us eventually. As a dreamer, you'll be allowed entry."

"I suppose anyone overhearng us must think we are discussing another film!" Louis says, as a nearby set hand looks at Max and frowns slightly.

[HoneyDog]

"Perhaps we have an expert residing here" says Karl. "I would hazard, an expert in psychoanalysis, or perhaps mythology?"

[Mr. Handy]

"You know, I could try my hand at writing up a screenplay," says Max. "It should prove to be an interesting story. It may seem strange to viewers, but I think that would be a strong selling point. It could be done in the modern Expressionist style. I could star in it too. I'd have to convince the studio to take a chance on it, but it could pay off tremendously. There wouldn't be another film like it."

[Philulhu]

Alex sighed and put the glass down on the bar. ”Well, we were there. And Max and Karl...” He shook his head. “It makes no sense to me. Do you think it’s going to happen again? I got the impression it had happened before but this was the first time that I was really conscious of it.”

”And we’re somehow able to manipulate things there, just by thinking about them...” He shook his head again. He couldn’t get his head around it.

[SunlessNick]

"Perhaps we have an expert residing here" says Karl. "I would hazard, an expert in psychoanalysis, or perhaps mythology?"

The most prominent psychiatric foundation the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, founded by Dr Emil Kraepelin - Kraepelin himself lives in Munich, but you can find an institute a short way outside Berlin. Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung are famous of course, but they live in Switzerland and London at the moment.

Scholars of mythology and history can be found at the Ethnological Museum on Königsgrätze Straße.

Academic books on all these subjects can be found at the Prussian State Library, to which you both have access.

For physics, you have no lesser colleague at the Academy than Albert Einstein, Nobel Laureate in quantum theory and architect of the theories of relativity. Although you yourselves are well versed in the subject, so what he can add may be limited.

[SunlessNick]

"You know, I could try my hand at writing up a screenplay," says Max. "It should prove to be an interesting story. It may seem strange to viewers, but I think that would be a strong selling point. It could be done in the modern Expressionist style. I could star in it too. I'd have to convince the studio to take a chance on it, but it could pay off tremendously. There wouldn't be another film like it."

"You should do it!" Louis exclaims. "Just don't cast me as an, erm, duelist."

[SunlessNick]

“It makes no sense to me. Do you think it’s going to happen again? I got the impression it had happened before but this was the first time that I was really conscious of it.”

”And we’re somehow able to manipulate things there, just by thinking about them...” He shook his head again. He couldn’t get his head around it.

"I had the same feeling. I think it will- Oh!"

At her exclamation, you can see one of the gathered artists holding up a sketch to show the group. You can see it from the bar, and it strongly resembles Hlanith, specifically the streets near the Manticore's Feather. Several of them are responding with scorn - you hear one saying "Expressionism is on the way out. The New Objectivity is the future of art" - which a few other patrons also greet with scorn. The debate still seems good natured for now.

[Mr. Handy]

"Don't worry, I'll cast you as a character much like yourself," says Max with a wink, already embracing the idea. "I wonder if we could get Fritz Lang to direct. I've worked with him before, and he'd be perfect for this."

[HoneyDog]

"Let's check the library" says Karl. "Look for any references to the places we visited and heard about."

[Philulhu]

Alex stepped out from behind the bar and approached the table so he could get a better look at the painting.

”That’s interesting,” he said to the artist, trying to keep the tone of his voice neutral. “Where did you paint it?”

[SunlessNick]

"Don't worry, I'll cast you as a character much like yourself," says Max with a wink, already embracing the idea. "I wonder if we could get Fritz Lang to direct. I've worked with him before, and he'd be perfect for this."

You're called back for the next take.

OOC,Max's Acting 65. Rolled 1D00: 08.

The thought of writing a screenplay must be good for you, because you're on fire. The director thanks his lucky stars that the cameras were rolling despite it being a rehearsal, and means to use this take in the film itself.

On the next break, Louis rejoins you and asks what the story will be. "Kidnappers like the Dotherites?"

[SunlessNick]

"Let's check the library" says Karl. "Look for any references to the places we visited and heard about."

OOC,Karl's Library Use: 60 Rolled 1D100: 30

Unfortunately both psychology and mythology are replete with volumes focussing on dreams. However, consultation with one of the librarians reminds him of a book that has been consulted recently - thus it's fresh in his mind - a German translation of a French book, Les Domaines de Rêves, which roughly translates as "domains of dreams." The book is not available to be loaned, so it's still in the library. He's happy to get it for you.

[SunlessNick]

”That’s interesting,” he said to the artist, trying to keep the tone of his voice neutral. “Where did you paint it?”

"That's the strange part. I painted it in my sleep two nights ago. Too many new cocktails at the nightclubs, vielleicht."

"No wonder," replies the champion of New Objectivity. "True art should show the real, not dreams."

[HoneyDog]

Finding an hour to spare before lunch, Karl opens the book and begins to read.