The guards nod in recognition of the name Malash and allow you to enter, although they ask you to peacebind your weapons before proceeding. "If you wish to explore the crypts, you will need permission from one of the family leaders. But they should welcome you at the celebration. We often have observers from afar."
This sprawling, high-roofed grotto is a masterpiece of inversion. Exotic trees growing from the ceiling surround a gravity-defying lagoon. The floor is gently concave and painted the indigo color of moonlit skies. A few feet above the floor, lambent spheres evoke stars, while conjured clouds drift by on unfelt winds. A cave mouth fifty feet above joins a ramp, which spirals down the cave’s perimeter, connecting midway to a huge stone door. An enormous, mithral-plated mirror is affixed to the floor’s center.
Elven nobles, guards, and servants crowd the chamber—altogether, at least 80 people are present. Clearly some big event is about to happen. Asking one of the attendees, you learn that the elves of Jinin built this astonishing grotto to honor the skies of their ancient homeland on the far side of the planet. Twice a year, when the heavens align, the three clans gather at the Court of the Ancestral Sky to observe the moon’s reflection.
The hypnotic music of a mithral flute draws the guests toward the central mirror. An imperious elf, clad in the ceremonial armor of a daimyo, greets each family by name: “To the sagacious Mata, the perseverant Ishigo, and my own brethren, the decisive Haraka—welcome to the Festival of the Fortunate Moon. Tonight, the full moon will travel from sky to sky, and those who meet its pallid eye will earn the luck of dragons. Till moonrise, tales of honor shall remind us of our noble ancestry.”
Then, as an afterthought, he adds, “And perhaps these bold
outlanders have a tale or two to share?”
With this, he turns to you and extends a hand in gesture that you may speak and present yourselves as the outside observers.
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Lore bows, as she has learned it is the appropriate manner of greeting in this land. "Thank you for welcoming us to this amazing place and the event which is about to occur here. We are deeply honored by being allowed to witness this amazing sight. While we have traveled here to look into the life of Malash of Hongal, and into the manner of his passing, I for one would love to see the rise of the moon reflected here."
"Once that is finished, though, we do seek access to the Court of the Ancestral Sky where the skull of your esteemed ancestor, the elven daimyo, Haraka Sorin resides. We have heard that Master Haraka Sorin died alongside Malash, so their lives were interwined. It is our understanding that the skull now rests here, in the Haraka family shrine. Truly we only need a momentary access to this great relic and you have my word that the skull will not be damaged or moved from its emplacement."
"As for the telling of tales, I am no specialist in such things, but I do have a story or two to tell, if you wish to hear them."
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Nixkamich bows low, and nods.
"What my diminutive colleague says is the truth - we have come on the behalf of the current incarnation of the being who was once known to your people as Malash of Hongal. He is trying to make an accounting of all of his past selves, as he tries to reach enlightenment. We know that it is a lot to task, but we would very much appreciate it if you could see your way to allowing us (respectful) access to the relic we seek; we would of course be happy to have an escort every step of the way, to ensure we maintained a proper level of propriety."
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"I believe I have a tale worthy of present company...."
Making liberal use of the prestidigitation and ghost sound cantrips to aid his storytelling, Sihir regales his audience with the tale of one of his greatest adventures, when he braved the intrigue-ridden alleyways, perilous ruins, and deep deserts of Osirion, and was briefly gifted with demigodlike powers, in the search for the legendary Diamond Sage .
"Ah yes, Malash!" the head elf says in recognition. "Now known as Bakten if my sources are correct, although not everyone here may be aware of that delicate fact. You have graced us with a great tale and your respect for our ancestors is apparent. Come, let us escort you."
The elves lead you past a few guards into a further part of the cave complex. This chamber contains the crypts of several dozen deceased elven nobles, including Daimyo Haraka Sorin, whose skull you need to examine using the candle of conveyance. The crypts are dug into the stone walls and covered with inset metal screens, allowing visitors to view the revered remains. However, seismic shifting has caused the skull of Haraka to roll out of sight.
When you make it known that you need to see the skull, which would require opening the crypt, Daimyo Haraka Kasashige hesitates and says, "This is a tangled knot of honor. When he was Malash, Bakten gave our families strength. Yet, even for his sake, can a son permit the desecration of his ancestor’s grave?" He decides the clan leaders should ponder this conundrum, and then vote during moonrise. He escorts you back to the main chamber and invites you to enjoy the celebration till then.
The celebrations leading up to moonrise last for three hours. Thick clouds pervade the cave, creating small clear pockets where the nobles congregate, regaling one another with legends of heroic deeds, then eagerly debating the finer points of honor that each tale brings to light.
- Debating Honor: Following someone else’s storytelling, anyone may attempt a Bluff, Knowledge (nobility), or Profession (barrister) check to debate a point of honor. The first one to succeed obtains a +2 bonus on subsequent Sense Motive checks against the elves of Ayajinbo.
- Non-Violent Entertainment: The elves are curious about your abilities, and welcome any non-violent diversions to pass the time. The first one to succeed at a Perform check or to cast a spell with an impressive visual effect of at least 3rd level obtains a +2 bonus on subsequent Bluff checks against the elves of Ayajinbo.
- Telling Tales: Anyone may attempt a Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility), or Perform (oratory) check to impress the nobles with a tale of honor. The first one to succeed obtains a +2 bonus on subsequent Diplomacy checks against the elves of Ayajinbo.
- Violent Entertainment: The elves enjoy watching reenactments of their own past glories. They eagerly tell tales of their people’s victories to any PC who shows interest in their history. Anyone who succeeds at a DC 20 Knowledge (history) check knows already knows one of these stories. If you plausibly stage one of the elves’ historical victories—for instance, the defeat of the rat kings of Diguo-Dashu—you obtain a +2 bonus on subsequent Intimidate checks against the elves of Ayajinbo.
- Daimyo Haraka Kasashige: Polite but indecisive, Kasashige is forever cowed by the weight of his ancestor’s legacy. The daimyo has spent decades engaged in spiritual introspection about the meeting between his great-grandfather and Malash, and feels as connected to the event as if he had witnessed it himself. He obsessively glances up toward his family’s shrine before answering queries.
- Lady Ishigo Shiori: This lachrymose lady wears mourning white, including a broad conical hat that conceals her hair. She speaks lovingly, though somewhat vaguely, about her late husband. If you ask other guests about Shiori, you learn that she lost six infant daughters, and that a yeti in the Zi Ha Mountains killed her husband.
- Lord Mata Ryuu: Lord Mata is a toothless, rambling elf reeking of sour wine. Whenever you approach him, he shrieks, “Welcome, outsiders!” as if he has forgotten who you are. His claw-like fingernails rasp against your skin as he clasps your hands in greeting.
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Lore tells her own tale of nobility after the elves have told one of their own. She speaks of the nobility of the gnomes of Varisia and how their honor, despite their own misgivings of their abilities, led them to face down the goblins of the Birdcruncher tribe and prevail against them.
Later, when speaking to the Daimyo, she listens to him intently. She draws him out to get him talk more openly about his ancestor, by asking him questions with the intent of getting him to speak more. "Do tell more please? What was Lord Haraka like? His relationship with Malash, tell me more of that please?" and so forth.
When the Daimyo is done speaking, she casts him a cheery smile and nods at his telling of his tales of his revered ancestor. She does ask him directly, "I do hope you will remember what he and Malash meant to each other when you cast your vote... as I think your esteemed ancestor's sense of honor would have led him to want this to happen."
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Know. History
Ruprecht tells of his most recent adventure, in the village of Carrion Hill, defeating an evil cult and their horrible summoned monster.
Ru tries to speak to the Daiymo as well. "My gnomish friend is correct. I think honor would dictate that we be allowed to view the artifact."
Diplomacy with the bonus from above
Insidion is content to let his more diplomatically-minded allies take the lead. However, the tiefling does add something to the conversation.
"Would it not be an honor, rather than a desecration, to keep the corpse of this honored ancestor intact? Moving the skull back with the body would ensure his eternal rest..."
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Rather excited to have an appreciative audience, Sihir works the crowd...
He delivers a brilliant one-liner on the subject of honor in response to another's story.
He tells the tale of his adventure in Osirion, and while it may be an exciting tale, what lesson is carries on the subject of honor is lost on the crowd.
He does, however, manage to make it quite spectacular with his use of his most powerful magic .
To the group, Daimyo Haraka sighs, "Our ancestors had a very good relationship with Malash. Those were the glory days for our clans. Throughout my lifetime, I have watched the clan alliance gradually erode, but I feel powerless to stop it." After listening to your aguments some more, he nods in agreement, "Yes, we must look to them as models for our own behavior. And we must retain and strengthen the ties of old by helping Bakten. Surely it would be a dishonor to deny you access to Malash's remains."
Insidion watches the remaining council members from a distance, but is unable to determine much that might help win them over.
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Lore proceeds to tell the tale of her voyage into an extradimensional tapestry where she encountered, along with her fellow pathfinders, " a group of cultists, some chain demons, tiefling warrior-mages and others, all of which were in a deep well. The party was split on different levels and each of us ended up fighting separately against a different group of foes because we sadly did not stick together. It was the hardest fought series of battles I've ever been in as Pathfinder because we did not stay and work together... yet each of us managed to battle our foes to the brink, except for the two fighting the chain demons who were hard put just to stay on their feet without their healer. Sometimes being short and slow is a slight disadvantage, so I was having trouble reaching them. But just when Eadie, my sister from another mother, was about spent, and near death, I arrived and healed her and others back to fighting strength. They slew the last chain demon who was too busy gloating over what he thought was his victory to see his doom approaching. Chalk one up for the good guys, pulling victory from the jaws of defeat!"
[dice=perform oratory[1d20+2[/dice]
The elves are all very impressed with Lore's story. While everyone is listening to the story, the party observes the other clan leaders. Shiori is speaking with another elf and it is apparent that her affectionate words are not for her husband. At this point, Shiori asks why Bakten would want access to Sorin’s skull. She claims that Bakten knows nothing of his “veiled life.” She becomes distressed, alluding to “a grave mistake.” In her haste to excuse herself, she loses her hat, revealing a head of densely knotted white hair.
Also, while watching Lord Ryuu's strange behavior, it becomes painfully obvious to the party that Ryuu is under psychic control.
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Lore giggles slightly and gives an embarrassed little bow after her tale, delighting in their appreciation of it, but she immediately grows serious again and walks closer to Lord Ryuu... she casts detect magic and tries to trace the tendrils of mental control from Lord Ryuu to the 'controller' if that can be discerned. If not, she will simply try to identify the type of magic that holds him enthralled.
After her brief interlude of spell detection, she will walk up to Lore Ryuu and try to chat with him a bit, trying to delineate the nature of the control. "Hello there, I'm Lorelendral, but everyone just calls me Lore. You can too." After her short introduction, she looks intently into his eyes and tries to disarm him with a direct question about the mental control. "So, who are you really and why are you controlling Lord Ryuu?"
Insidion watches Ryuu's strange behavior.
"We are here to help..." he says, almost completely masking his insincerity.
He looks carefully around the assembled guests, looking at each one individually for anyone that might be controlling Ryuu.
Lore, Ru, and Insidion approach Lord Ryuu to try to help him. Despite your best efforts, Ryuu panics and backs away before using teleport to leave the court. This causes quite the stir amongst the elves, although none of them blame you, as they were all aware that Lord Ryuu has not been himself for some time.
Kasashige nominates a proxy for Ryuu’s vote—a niece named Mata Mieko. She apologizes for her uncle's behavior and promises a vote in your favor in recompense.
Meanwhile Nixkamich tries to get more information from Shiori. She stares at the spot where Lord Ryuu stood just moments ago. "I once loved that man. I once observed him having a liaison with a female samsaran with hair like a black shroud. It nearly broke me and I vowed to kill the woman who stole his heart from me. Hearing that Bakten
was near enlightenment reminded me of this terrible vow and now I must make good on it by killing the reincarnation of Ryuu’s lover, if I can find her." She touches Nixkamich's arm lightly. "Keep this to yourself, will you? It is a dark secret of my life that I would not care to be spread around. You have my trust and support in your efforts to examine the remains."
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A mellifluous wind abruptly clears the grotto of all clouds. The elves place themselves around the mirror in the floor, whose surface is reflected in turn within the pool suspended magically overhead.
A ceremony as ancient as the elves of Jinin, the Fortunate Moon occurs when the full moon strikes the mirror through the cave mouth, then reflects into the pool on the ceiling. The reflection appears twice a year for three minutes only; during that time, anyone standing within 10 feet of the mirror supposedly receives good luck.
This year, Daimyo Kasashige calls for a vote from the clan leaders just before moonrise. All three leaders (or at least their proxies) vote yes. Kasashige promises positive relations between the elves of Jinin and the Pathfinder Society, and goes on to praise you as “the hands of Malash,” come to reforge the bonds between clans.
Kasashige assures them that he will open his father’s tomb immediately after moonrise. As the elves gather closer, it is clear that not all of them are happy about the decision made by Kasashige and the other leaders. Some of the younger elves seem to have qualms about trusting outsiders such as yourselves. Some of them start to jostle each other for better positions closer to the mirror, claiming that this or that clan is unworthy of the blessings.
Finally, one reckless elf jostles Kasashige and he falls, shattering the mirror before it can reflect the moonlight. Reacting to this disgraceful act, Kasashige stands up angrily and declares the
clans’ alliance severed. "Come," he directs to you, "let us take care of your business before they cause further damage and harm."
He leads you to Sorin’s crypt in the Haraka Shrine and helps open it, lamenting, "Bakten would weep to see his greatest deed undone."
This chamber contains the crypts of several dozen deceased elven nobles, including Daimyo Haraka Sorin, whose skull you need to examine using the candle of conveyance. The crypts are dug into the stone walls and covered with inset metal screens, allowing visitors to view the revered remains. With the metal screen removed, you can reach back to retrieve the skull of Sorin.
Once you access the crypt, you can hold the candle of conveyance next to Sorin’s skull. After you move the candle next to the skull, in a few seconds the candle glows blue, indicating that Bakten has finished his remote examination. "I must return to the clans and see if I can hold the peace. When you have finished, you may show yourselves out. I apologize again for the disgraceful behavior you saw in there from the upstarts."
In the crypt, you also observe that a simple stick in the crypt has been infused with psychic energy from the elven skull. It now functions as a wand of mindlink (15 charges). There is another stick in the crypt that now functions as a wand of thaumaturgic circle (5 charges).
There are two other connected shrine to represent the three clans: Haraka, Ishigo, and Mata. Having already explored the Haraka shrine, you move to the shrine of the Ishigo clan. The chamber contains the remains of the Ishigo clan, including Ishigo Katsu, Shiori’s late husband. A central monument bears an epitaph, written in Elven, to Shiori’s six daughters, all of whom died in infancy, according to the text on the monument. The monument’s base is carved to resemble a bladed tree.
The Mata family shrine is much simpler. This shrine is unlit, but ambient light from the other shrines gives it a dim level of light. Inside you find a loose stone concealing a scroll of contact other plane that seems to have been hidden here recently.
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Lore looks on aghast as the mirror is broken. After her initial shock, her eyes tear up and her chin quivers, she is simply overcome by the loss and horror of it's breaking. She follows, crestfallen, into the crypt, too upset to be joyous at the outcome of the vote or their journey into the vault.
By the time the candle turns blue, she is no longer weeping but her eyes are still wet with tears, and her cheeks streaked with their passage. She breaks down in tears again as she hears what the epitaph on the monument reads... "Oh, how heartbreaking. Poor woman, to lose all one's daughters in infancy..." Not having a flower to leave at the base of the monument but feeling the need to leave something in tribute, she takes out her drawing pad and charcoals and draws a rose in full bloom... she rolls up the drawing and ties the roll closed, and places it reverently at the base of the tree-shaped monument.
"I... I'm ready to leave now."
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Nixkamich nods to Shiori.
"I understand what it is like to lose the one we love. I will do what I can, but remember: 'An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind' - a cycle of violence without end. The greater sentient is the one who seeks to break the cycle."
"We should probably take what we find... I am concerned that the scroll was placed here recently; could that mind-controlled Lord Mata be involved? If so, why?"
"I agree," Insidion says to Nixhamich. "A scroll to contact another plan...recently placed, could spell trouble."
The tiefling looks around at the the others. "What now?"
As you prepare to leave the court, two upstart scions approach them. They seek to reward the party for their fragmenting influence upon the clans. They offer you a +1 mithral nine-ring broadsword, plus a suit of elven chain, and they promise to remain supporters of the Pathfinder Society after they have “washed away the old blood in Ayajinbo.”
---
Your next assignment takes you to a farming community called Dallo in the western panhandle of Wanshou, about 80 miles from New Oppara. Wanshou is a cursed and superstitious land, although the influence of the nation’s kraken tyrant, Zhanagorr, is mercifully distant in this region.
Haunted eyes peer out from the doorways of ramshackle bamboo huts. Dallo’s squalor is apparent, but as its denizens trickle out to gather in the grubby village square, another source of anguish starts to suggest itself in the wounds borne by numerous villagers. Many in the throng wear bandages across their chests, and some are missing hands or feet.
Once you enter the village of Dallo, you are approached by a crowd of villagers, including Yuzana and Arkar, the only locals who speak Common. Yuzana is a middle-aged human woman and a zealous follower of Malikeen Heartsong, the beatified version of Bakten’s former incarnation. "Greetings in the name of the glorious Heartsong," she says as you approach. Arkar is a younger man who is a skeptic who claims Malikeen was no goddess. He rolls his eyes at Yuzana and speaks over her. "Hello and welcome. What can we help you with?"
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Lore looks around at all around her, and tears well in her eyes as she sees the devastating damage and wounds on the villagers... "Oh... my.. this is too much... what happened here? Please, gather around... closer... " She appeals to the two who speak common to translate for her and once all are within 30 feet of her, she channels to heal, hoping to close any open wounds on them, though she weeps at the missing limbs she cannot restore.
"May Sarenrae's light bring you some relief at least."
Insidion looks at the wounds the people have suffered and tries to determine what might have caused them.
"You come in search of the history of Malikeen?" the woman Yuzana asks. "You must be angels! I can tell by your actions and your association with the saint."
Arkar interrupts, "Saintly you are in your gestures, at least, and we can grant your request, surely. You have already done more than we would ask of travelers in our land. Come, we will show you to the stupa atop the dam."
The two leaders show the way to the relic you seek. Ahead an earthen dam nearly 80 feet wide interrupts a river in its decline from the Zi Ha Mountains. A reservoir forms to the west. To the east, cliffs overlook the dam’s shallow runoff, which feeds a field of rice paddies before curving south. A clay dome, topped with a 20-foot spire, crowns the dam’s platform. Roads lead north into the mountains and south into the village of Dallo.
You move across the dam with Yuzana and Arkar to the stupa. This tranquil temple features a humble altar bearing a clay statue of a child surrounded by candles, offerings, and relics. Faded murals cover the walls and ceiling. Some of you feel a sense of serenity as you near the holy place.
First, a tattered scroll, written in Minkaian, contains the proverbs of Malikeen Heartsong.
There are also many interesting murals in here.
Finally, beneath the statue rests a bamboo bassinet shaped like a wheelbarrow. The villagers claim this is the cradle of Malikeen.
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Nixkamich smiles serenely as he feels the holy aura wash over him.
"This is definitely a holy place. The holy aura functions as a Hallow spell, with the additional benefit of suppressing the damage reduction of evil outsiders. This effect extends beyond the walls of the stupa onto the surface of the dam, to a radius of 20 feet from the altar."
Likewise, he notices the series of Samsaran icons.
He then moves forward, and reveals Bakten's candle, waiting patiently for the Samasaran to finish his analysis.
"You never actually said what was happening around here..."
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Sihir frowns as he looks at the "cradle." "Um...do you know where this relic came from? Who provided it?"
With his quintessentially Wayang talent for visualizing the unseen, Sihir has very little trouble piecing together the scroll.
"Well this is interesting. It says here that when the incarnation Malikeen appeared mysteriously near this village, she was found paralyzed from the neck down...and here she says it is the product of...'the evisceration of the life before.'"
Though Insidion recognizes the samsaran figure with the red eyes, he does not see the other details his companions discuss.
"You never actually said what was happening around here..."
Arkar clears his throat. "Ah, we were actually hoping to ask for your favor in that. We have been beset by an enemy greater than us: brutal magical creatures which descend from the mountains at night."
Yuzana nods and whispers, "The talons of envy. That is what our folk call them. They are dark always. Hard to see. Horns and talons. Certainly not of this world."
Arkar continues, "They come from the north road at midnight, from the mountains. They cross the dam and then the village. They make you slow, then make you still, then they take your parts. You feel their talons but you cannot scream; that is what the victims tell us when they pass."
Yuzana gives her interpretation. "Heartsong gave us a dam, made our fields grow, and made us strong. They evy our fortune and test our faith, which is why we call them the talons of envy."
While they are telling you these things, you note that the flame of the candle still has not turned blue; a clear sign that the cradle is not a true relic.
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A look of revulsion crosses Nixkamich's face.
"These things paralyse you, and then harvest body parts whilst you are still alive, leaving you maimed and spiritually crippled? How horrible! I can't speak for the others, but even if we were not here for another purpose, I would certainly want to assist you with your problem."
He frowns when he notices that the flame has not changed colour.
"Are you sure that this is the 'true' relic? The flame should have turned blue, suggesting that this is a fake... I am not suggesting that you are deliberately trying to deceive us, of course; after all, I could understand if you were simply being cautious, and protecting the true relic against possible theft..."