Jules Verne Durand

Not to be confused with the Tredegarh persona presented as Zh’vaern.

Not to be confused with Laterrans, the people of Laterre; “the Laterran” is an occasional descriptor used for him in conversation.

First known to avout as “Zh’vaern,” he appeared as a cloaked Matarrhite doyn at a Plurality‑of‑Worlds messal in Avrachon’s Dowment during the Convox. After servitors isolated the room within a grounded mesh, he cast off the disguise and transmitter, identified himself as Jules Verne Durand of Laterre (the world some call Antarct), and stated that the figure presented as his servitor—Orhan—was in fact a minder from another world.

While departing Tredegarh amid a controlled dispersal, he spent long stretches on headsets relaying information over the Reticulum; when the link was cut in transit he showed obvious relief and fatigue. Observers note his strong Orth despite having studied it only briefly by Laterran standards.

Roles and Information Shared

• Infiltration and mission: He explains that he was inserted under Matarrhite cover as part of an intelligence probe to assess whether tales of Incanters (and related powers) had any grounding. He reports that the Matarrhite concent was covertly seized, with its people kept unharmed but silenced, to facilitate the ruse.
• Factions among the visitors: He describes a bloc alliance—called the Pedestal by its members—comprising peoples of Urnud and Tro, in tension with Fthos, and says Laterre itself is divided between sympathies. He portrays the Pedestal leadership as fearful of Arbre’s capabilities and considering extreme measures. These are his statements, offered under pressure and time constraints. An opposition movement aboard the Daban Urnud is referred to as the Fulcrum.
• Travel account: Briefly outlines a tradition of inter‑cosmic voyages aboard a craft refitted across “Advents,” centering on a ship known as the Daban Urnud. He presents this as context rather than theorem, noting he is a linguist, not a theor.
• Communications debrief: During evacuation travel he is “pumped” for details via the Reticulum, at times sketching diagrams; connectivity is curtailed while moving and is expected to resume through wired links when stationary.
• Surveillance capabilities: He underscores that the Urnudans couple excellent telescopes to syndevs to sift imagery and detect decoys, reinforcing cautions not to rely on simple balloon tricks.
• Ship structure and modeling: Later, a compact description he disseminates over the Reticulum lets the Antiswarm assemble a faithful three‑dimensional model of the visitors’ ship. He describes the Orbstack as a column of sixteen half‑water‑filled spheres providing pseudogravity by rotation around a central “chimney” packed with trusswork, power, propulsion magazines, corridors, and optics; the Orbstack is suspended within a rubble shield by giant shock pistons whose outer vertices host command spaces, access tunnels, instruments, and an optical observatory.
• Interior features and protocols: When questioned, he supplies practical details: how doors and latches operate, broad cues for distinguishing among Urnudans, Troäns, Laterrans, and Fthosians, and routine safety measures. He notes the Geometers’ particular dread of fire in weightless areas and says lockers with respirators, fireproof suits, and extinguishers are spaced at short intervals. While on the hull he advised entering via the Core by first using an observatory vertex; he explained that the main telescope dome is itself a large airlock and that instruments are operated remotely over the Reticulum. At the open dome he made contact in Fthosian with an on‑duty astronomer through the hatch window.
• Lifelight and agriculture: He explains that sunlight harvested by exterior horns is routed through bundles of optical fibers to create a movable “sun” in each orb; at “night,” light is rerouted to indoor growing rooms so plants can be cultivated continuously, enabling high agricultural productivity within the orbs.
• Stance near the World Burner: As the Valers committed to a boarding run toward the World Burner, he voiced torn loyalties between shipboard factions yet stated unambiguous support for preventing the device’s use, and cautioned against introducing “Everything Killers” into the Daban Urnud.
• Standing and sympathies aboard ship: According to senior shipboard accounts, he is recognized as the foremost authority on Orth and on the avout among the visitors, and is quietly sympathetic to the Fulcrum.
• Ecba signal and symbolic exchange: Interpreting Fraa Orolo’s analemma signal as pointing to Ecba, he proposed that it would have strong symbolic value to deliver the collected blood samples there as an exchange of “blood for blood.”
• Probe volunteer and reassignment: He volunteered to accompany the capsule to Ecba but was reassigned to an operation at the Matarrhites concent; Lise went in his stead—drawing on Orth she had learned from him—and was shot while boarding the probe.

Traits and Practical Constraints

• Linguist and interpreter: Chosen for Orth proficiency; earlier, his speech and dining customs led observers to treat “Zh’vaern” as a Matarrhite. During flight he alternates between speaking and drawing, but tires as the debrief extends.
• Medical interpreting: On board the Daban Urnud, he serves as interpreter between Arbran and Laterran medical staff during recovery care for the Arbran contingent.
• Diet incompatibility: Arbran enzymes cannot digest his provisions, and he cannot metabolize local food. Remaining Laterran victuals were gathered for him; he sometimes eats local bread for fullness but relies for nutrition on Laterran supplies. He expects compatible food to be available aboard the Daban Urnud.
• Diet aboard ship: Once on the Daban Urnud, he has access to Laterre‑compatible food and eats readily.
• Technical grasp: When introduced to suit‑integrated upper stages intended for independent ascent and maneuver, he immediately recognizes the design concept and operating logic, aiding discussions about how the gear will be used in orbit.
• Launch tolerance: During the ascent he was more affected than most, becoming disoriented and incoherent, but recovered with rest and care.
• Atmosphere acclimatization: After time on Arbre, he can tolerate its air without assistance; shipboard explanations attribute this to acclimatization over a week or two.
• Phrases and mannerisms: Uses “Say zhoost” as a brief expression of approval.
• Core‑temperature transponder: He does not retain the swallowed core‑temperature transponder (he reports vomiting it), which led to misleading suit readings and necessitated attention from Suur Vay. Within the cell, some avout voice theories about hidden payloads associated with such devices; these are presented as in‑group speculation, not established fact. Fraa Jad is similarly noted as not carrying one.

Relationships and Affiliations

• Lise: He identifies the deceased woman recovered at Orithena as his wife, Lise. He states they had no children and grieves her loss.
• Orhan: Publicly revealed as his minder from Urnud (not a Matarrhite servitor). A concealed wireless transmitter was taken off him after the room was shielded.
• Convox leadership and doyns: Speaks directly with senior avout and Sæcular guests at messal to deliver warnings and context about the Geometers and their internal politics.
• Traveling companions: After Tredegarh he departs with a mixed cell under military escort and trains alongside avout including Erasmas, Fraa Jesry, and Lio. He also confides in Sammann and works with him on communications.
• Suur Vay: Provided calm field care in orbit, tending both him and Fraa Jad until they stabilized.

Current Status

After helping to gain entry via the observatory dome, he remains aboard the Daban Urnud. As Arbrans receive medical care in shipboard facilities, he assists as an interpreter for treatment and debriefing, and is in good health.

Recent Activity

• Ceremonial interpreting: During opening ceremonies held in an Urnudan meeting orb, he served as Orth interpreter from the translators’ booth above the Laterran pavilion, directing the Arbran delegation to gather by the water and later announcing the next phase. When the Edharians sang a Requiem as Lise was borne to the Laterran side, he briefly ceased interpreting and colleagues attended to him before he resumed.
• Remains protocol: Explained that the four fallen Valers have been preserved and will be entrusted—undisturbed—to the Arbran delegation as part of the ceremonies, after arguments to treat them as biological specimens were rejected by Arbran diplomats.
• Transit guidance: Issued blindfolds and sickness bags and coached the group on ascending toward the Core to reduce Coriolis effects; identified himself at a security terminal and handled exchanges in Urnudan to facilitate access between orbs.
• Interpreter capacity: By his own account, he is the only visitor available with similar Orth fluency for formal duties during these events, and extended work left his voice hoarse.
• Orb orientation and access: While leading transfers toward Orb Four, he noted that Orb Four is Urnudan and that Orb One houses senior Command; he cautioned that its residents rarely venture out and compared them—by temperament and isolation—to the Thousanders.
• Mourning: Before public proceedings, the Laterran pavilion admitted Lise’s coffin so he could have a private moment with her.