As the call connected, a head and shoulders appeared on the telecom’s flatscreen display. The man staring back at me was both elven and Amerind, with ears tapering to delicate points and traditional braided hair. He wore what looked like an honest to gods fringed buckskin jacket and had the stem of a long, small-bowled pipe between his teeth. He blew a thin stream of white smoke out the side of his mouth as he spoke. "Good day. Professor Ironfeather speaking."