[It's a rational enough explanation, though Stephen thinks it would hold more water if people walked away from the orb looking utterly disappointed. That doesn't seem to be the case at all. Alternate theory: this is just one very confusing prank pulled on all of the Summoned here, masterminded with someone with a very odd sense of humor.]

Would I?

[It's true, Stephen is dressed like a man hailing from Thorne -- designated not only by his pin, but by his colors. That, however, is a matter of more personal tastes, ones that happen to run parallel with so much Thornean regalia.

He looks over at Viktor, a little skeptical.]

I don't know what they tell you in the- [Eying his pin] -Free Cities, but this isn't part and parcel of Thornean daily life. If there's a trick to it, they haven't told me.

[He will not tout the qualities of this confusing orb, because he has no idea what they are. Clearly, his entrenchment into Thorne's deep and terrible secrets are surface-level at best.]

Why don't you give it a go?