Chorus Unveils Riva's Multifaceted Nature
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Chorus and its archetypes explain their ancestral attunement and functional roles—the Scholar/Artist's intellect and poetical leanings cut off at Riva's motion, while the Warrior/Adonis claims Riva's passion and honor—demonstrating the Chorus' disciplined control and the layered complexity of Riva's voice.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Synchronized yet with emerging individual expressions
The Chorus functions seamlessly as an extension of Riva's will, though individual members display distinct personalities. The Scholar/Artist's poetic interruption and subsequent silencing demonstrate both the system's sophistication and its rigid control.
- • Faithfully translate Riva's thoughts and emotional intent
- • Maintain ceremonial discipline despite personal quirks
- • Their centuries-old role is vital to meaningful communication
- • Unity in translation creates superior diplomatic outcomes
Curious but cautious, balancing respect with the need for mission clarity
Picard diplomatically engages with Riva and his Chorus, seeking to understand their communication method while maintaining Federation protocol. He displays curiosity tempered with cautious respect, turning to Troi for insights when the situation grows unfamiliar.
- • Establish a productive dialogue despite unfamiliar communication methods
- • Gauge Riva's suitability for the Solais Five mediation
- • Unorthodox methods can still be effective if approached with open-mindedness
- • First contact protocols must be maintained even in unusual circumstances
Alert and slightly wary of the unconventional situation
Worf maintains a protective stance throughout the encounter, reacting instinctively to Riva's sudden outburst. He stands guard ready to intervene if necessary, while professionally assisting with transportation protocols.
- • Ensure the safety of the away team in unfamiliar circumstances
- • Maintain security protocols despite unusual communication methods
- • Unconventional situations require heightened awareness
- • A warrior's duty includes protecting during diplomatic engagements
Intrigued and flattered by the attention, while professionally assessing the communication dynamic
Troi engages deeply with Riva's Chorus, particularly the flirtatious Warrior/Adonis. Her empathic abilities allow her to perceive the genuine affection and complex dynamics between Riva and his Chorus, serving as an emotional translator for Picard.
- • Interpret the emotional and psychological dynamics of Riva's communication system
- • Facilitate understanding between Picard and the unconventional delegation
- • Non-verbal communication can reveal deeper truths than words alone
- • Cultural openness leads to better negotiation outcomes
Confident in his methods yet testing the boundaries of this new interaction
Riva commands attention through silent authority, studying each Enterprise officer with penetrating appraisal. His sudden outburst ('Speak to me!') serves as both a test of Picard's diplomacy and a demonstration of his uncompromising communication needs.
- • Establish dominance in the communication dynamic
- • Ensure complete adherence to his mediation protocols
- • Others must adapt to his communication methods, not vice versa
- • The Chorus system represents the superior form of mediation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Worf activates the communicator to arrange transport for the expanded party back to the Enterprise, marking the conclusion of the diplomatic encounter and highlighting Starfleet's technological edge.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Though they are physically on Ramatis, the entire interaction is framed by the looming crisis on Solais Five, with Picard emphasizing the urgency of their mission throughout the encounter.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"Picard's captain's log and the order to divert to Ramatis directly set the away-team meeting that produces the ritualized assembly where the story's central mystery (Riva and his Chorus) is introduced."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The revelation on Ramatis (Riva's deafness and Chorus' function) is carried forward and reiterated during shipboard introductions, maintaining continuity of how the crew must understand and interact with Riva."
"The revelation on Ramatis (Riva's deafness and Chorus' function) is carried forward and reiterated during shipboard introductions, maintaining continuity of how the crew must understand and interact with Riva."
"The revelation on Ramatis (Riva's deafness and Chorus' function) is carried forward and reiterated during shipboard introductions, maintaining continuity of how the crew must understand and interact with Riva."
"The revelation on Ramatis (Riva's deafness and Chorus' function) is carried forward and reiterated during shipboard introductions, maintaining continuity of how the crew must understand and interact with Riva."
"The revelation on Ramatis (Riva's deafness and Chorus' function) is carried forward and reiterated during shipboard introductions, maintaining continuity of how the crew must understand and interact with Riva."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
"The ritualized arrival context immediately leads to the Chorus's explanation and the critical revelation that Riva is deaf and uses the Chorus as his voice."
Key Dialogue
"WARRIOR/ADONIS: 'Artists tend to ramble, they live too much in the future, they neglect the moment. I am Riva's libido. I am his passion. I am the anarchy of lust. The romantic—the ... lover. Also, I am as he.'"
"SCHOLAR/ARTIST: 'I am the scholar. I represent the intellect. I speak in matters of judgment—philosophy—logic. Also, I am—the dreamer. The part which longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art.'"
"CHORUS: 'My Chorus is so attuned—they can "hear" my hands and translate to you. It is a relationship which has developed over centuries—their ancestors provided the same service to my ancestors.'"