Doctor defends Hippias methods
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Dalios comments on Hippias' lack of delicacy, and the Doctor defends Hippias, noting he saved their lives.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Flustered by awkwardness and aging ego; feigns hospitality while betraying resentment
Receiving the Doctor and Jo, Dalios alternates between formal courtesy and veiled hostility, particularly toward Hippias. He couches his distrust in aristocratic phrasing and uses protocol to deflect emotional confrontation while harboring persistent doubts.
- • Protect Atlantis’s sovereignty through cautious reception of strangers
- • Assess the Doctor’s sincerity without committing trust
- • Divine favor is a myth but useful ritual
- • Political alliances with outsiders are dangerous unless controlled
Guardedly hopeful yet aware of precarious ground; speaks with measured reassurance masking potential anxiety
Standing before Dalios, the Doctor introduces Jo with formal politeness while subtly shifting the social temperature by defending Hippias in front of the king. His posture remains poised despite Dalios’ lukewarm reception and probes the limits of Atlantean courtesy.
- • Secure safe treatment for himself and Jo in a cautious political environment
- • Minimize conflict by praising a recent adversary to Dalios, hoping to build trust
- • Allies can be useful even when flawed or initially hostile
- • Protocol and respect can open doors diplomacy cannot
Modestly uncomfortable with grandeur and attention, eager to clarify her identity
Jo is swiftly offered as divine by Dalios but politely declines; she is then escorted away, leaving her conversation with the Doctor unfinished and Dalios’ skepticism unchallenged in the moment.
- • Avoid misunderstanding provoked by cultural flattery
- • Remain composed amid political maneuvering
- • Honesty is more important than ceremonial fiction
- • Personal worth isn’t tied to titles or divine comparison
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Dalios’ Terrace serves as a ceremonial stage where authority is both performed and tested. The fading light and ritual braziers cast shifting shadows that mirror the Doctor’s attempts to navigate Atlantean politics. The terrace’s isolation heightens tension as private doubts surface in a public space.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The King’s Council remains offstage but looms through Dalios’ sovereignty and his references to Hippias’ role within the Temple hierarchy. Council expectations of loyalty and protocol shape Dalios’ skepticism toward outsiders and his emphasis on Atlantean protocol.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Dalios's plea for help (Beat 930...) is answered when he welcomes the Doctor and Jo, forming a direct alliance and showing his trust in the Doctor based on their shared understanding of the threat."
King Dalios confesses his fear of Kronos"Dalios's plea for help (Beat 930...) is answered when he welcomes the Doctor and Jo, forming a direct alliance and showing his trust in the Doctor based on their shared understanding of the threat."
The crystal's indestructible paradox revealed"Dalios's plea for help (Beat 930...) is answered when he welcomes the Doctor and Jo, forming a direct alliance and showing his trust in the Doctor based on their shared understanding of the threat."
Dalios makes desperate plea for Doctor’s aid