First stop this morning was the Pathway Compliance office, where I met the Pathways Officer for the Overrun area, Desi Park.

Elyr elected not to come with me into the office, instead they wanted to spend some time on the bridge its self. Apparently being near water is comforting and they said they needed to consult the Sodality about something.

The office was very similar to the riverwardens offices I have seen in the past, and actually Desi confirmed that the Overrun riverwardens do use the same office, and that she had until recently been one of them. I asked what she (and the DoPC) was doing that the riverwardens, she claimed it was their role to “Instigate the formalisation and regulation of the trade and exchange routes across Valenor”. It sounded a little bit like she was quoting from a book or possibly her training.

I tried to get to the bottom of what that actually meant, and brought up what the Eldran river merchants were saying about them having to take standard route each day, and she said that yes this would now be the case, any merchant, trading outfit or delivery service would be required to take designated routes and and any variation would have to be formally requested. When I asked why she said that standardised routes would be more efficient in the long run and it would be easier to inspect the cargo when necessary.

When I mentioned the adjustment of the trade routes to avoid nesting birds and eroding banks she claimed that a standard route plan would allow them to have a better idea of where to reinforce the banks and the wildlife would be encouraged to make homes in quieter places. I am not sure about this, but when I mentioned that none of this had been necessary, she was adamant that the whole thing would be more efficient.

It was quite a frustrating conversation to be honest. She was adamant that everything would be better but couldn’t really answer why it needed changing. I got the feeling all the way through the conversation that she was quoting a lot of things from orders. It felt unsettling and prickly, which was amplified by the presence of synthetic skein tech in the office.

After I left the office I met up with Elyr and we talked through what I ha learned. I told them that I am worried that this seems to be forcing the river to work in a way that suits them rather than a way that suits everyone. As we stood and watched the water, I felt calmer than I had all day. I think the river reflects the resonance. When I said as much to Elyr, they looked at me in that indecipherable way again, and said they can feel the resonance adjusting to the flow of the water. I think they balance each other and each makes the other stronger.

I don’t really know why I think that, but I can feel regulating the river feels as wrong as the standardisation of the resonance. Elyr pointed out that like the rivers, the resonance likes to find its own way.

The more I find out the I am getting more and more unsettled by this bid to standardise things. I was hoping to find answers, but I suppose I was also hoping that I would like them.