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"I sought permission and received it, Shiko-san." Mohktar responds. But he can't help but allow a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth. He did enjoy the man's humor. But the sight of the wise teacher's face removes any such notions.
Mohktar bows his exit and steps away from the yard, seeing to the replacement of his gear then heading towards the exit. The growing numbers of pilgrims sends both satisfaction and concern through his mind. Any number are innocent, but could one or two be part of this? Could they be poison come to ruin the city...to defile this most sacred of sites?
Outside, Mohktar and Shiko make their way thru the early morning crowds.
"The city faces a dire threat, my friend. You will need to decide why Irori gifted you as a warrior if not for you to use those skills for the betterment of those around you." Mohktar rests his hands on his knees and focuses his will upon the peace necessary to say his next words. "This enemy the master describes is the goddess of internal decay, the antithesis of all the Master of Masters represents. It is said that as ant colors and light disappear into shadow, so too all things vanish into hers. In her destructive mind she holds the key to the unmaking of antler things."
Mohktar levels his gaze sharply upon the ninja. "Her other aspects are well within your school of knowledge, Shiko-san. It could very well be the reason you are in Niswan. For she works in the shadows, sowing discord and instability, working like the poison we've heard about tonight to destroy from within." He feels a grim fear twist deep within his chest, but Mohktar sends his fear into the stillness. "But where her followers differ from turning methods is in this fact, they actively make sacrifices to their dark goddess; men, women, children. All is sacrifice in the service to the one who brings destruction."
"Your skills would serve the efforts to extricate these destroyers. Being able to think in the ways of shadow and subterfuge, a strength I should think."
He stops and waits, interested in Shiko's point of view.
"The how i'm unsure. There was the closing scene and some sounds. The manager came out calling for a healer and we went. But a curing spell wouldn't help, despite efforts. My friend here's the better expert in the magic."
The priestess frowns, "This was done in public? So brazen! I can scarcely believe it. It's like they're taunting the watch."
Adding to Lilly's description of the event, "It was disguised well, who ever did it seems to have made it blend into the production. I don't think anyone knows where the perpetrator was when they shot the arrow, it seemed like part of the show until we found out otherwise."
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Alwyn distractedly watches the cleric attempt to save the woman to no avail. The next question is probably to both Pratavh and Mistress Tari.
"I enjoyed the illusions of the show, but this kind of illusion is unfamiliar to me. What kind of foe uses them, are they of a divine nature or arcane? Or...."
He is grasping for the multitude of questions running through his head at this situation. Whereas Lilly is more direct - here's the sword, pointy end goes there; Alwyn wants to know what kind of sword he is going to use and then well, what are the weaknesses of the target as well as the strengths.
"Mistress Tari, do you know what group could be behind this? That knowledge perhaps will lend help in knowing the why of what is happening."
As a further question based off of Alwyn's, "Maybe more importantly, is there any group who could be behind it that have the power, money, and knowledge to do this. It isn't cheap, and it is time consuming, those combined make me think it has to be someone with a lot of connections or a great deal of power and knowledge of their own to pull this off."
Shiko responds to Mohktar with a stiff bow Mohktar-san, I will assist you with this task as honor demands. I do not forget my obligations. I go where you go.
"Oh its defiantly divine magic, one of those damnable native cults I expect.", grumbles mistress Tavi. Based on her accent you'd place her as being Varisian although she has the looks of a local. Slumping slightly she signs, "I'm not not giving up on her, but I don't see what more we can do tonight - a good night's sleep will help concentrate the mind, but frankly we need a miracle. It's not like you can just snap your fingers and we've got the festival to prepare for too..."
One of the acolytes pipes up asking, "Mistress Tavi, what about the cleansing at the end of the parade? That's more or less a miracle right?"
Mistress Tari's mouth describes a perfect O, "Dear boy I think you might be right. I don't know if we can heal her, but we can save her soul! We just need to keep her alive for three days somehow, perhaps direct life force transference might help. Yes we must try that, quickly now find the Oracle Francine, she is skilled in such matters."
She then tuns to the party and tells them, "I sense that you wish to help. We may have need of your aid. The foul cult invested much in creating this death curse, they may try to stop us from saving her soul. She's safe enough in these walls, but she must reach the cleansing alive. Oh you don't know about the Parade of Souls do you? Its quite remarkable. All of the souls of the dead on these isles linger before traveling onto the boneyard. Once a year their ghosts march through the streets to the ocean where all mundane sins are washed away, before they step through a metaphysical gate to be judged. Its a last chance for departed relatives to see their loved ones before they pass over. It is both a somber and a joyous occasion, the ghosts by and large behave themselves although the experience of seeing so many can be frightening..."
"Wait, mistress Tavi, did you say cult? How many are there in these parts?"
At the mention of the Parade of Souls, Lilly doesn't quite know what to make of it. I guess seeing a dead relative is a good thing, but so many together? That's spirit-enslavement nirvana.
A glimmer of an idea coming to him, "We've heard there were a couple of other murders lately, one of which the victim appeared burned from the inside out by an acid like substance. I wonder if this is all related. Do you know if the bodies were examined magically or not? I wonder if we would find the same curse had been upon them. If that is the case, and this stuff is destroying the souls, I wonder if they are targeting these people to distract from a different agenda. There is a parade of souls coming, what if their true target are the ghosts making their way through the city? Maybe, what they are planning on, is to destroy the souls for some reason and are using these murders as a distraction and to test the soul destruction process. I don't know why they would want to do that, what would motivate them, unless it has to do with the gods in some way." He looks thoughtfully at Lilly, Alwyn, and Mistress Taori, "Can any you think anything?"
Mistress Tari looks troubled, "I'd heard some rumors about a serial killer the watch are hunting, but nothing about acid, that sounds gruesome. There are many strange and unusual Gods worshiped in these parts. Some of the cults worship true gods, others Empyreal Lords or stranger beings."
She considers for a moment and tells you that, "I find it unlikely this curse is widely used, we'd have heard of it before now if it was. Beside given the power of the magics involved, it's creation is likely arduous and tailored to the victim. Still the similarity between this curse and the use of acid in the others you mentioned is striking. I can only assume it symbolizes something important for those responsible. Still why go to all the effort to attack Bahni like this? Maybe, maybe this was a trial run?" You can see the priestess finds this idea deeply distasteful.
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"If your theory is correct, distasteful as it is. The play was the perfect place to attempt it. If anyone saw ghost floating through town before the Parade, would that not have been strange? Forget them shooting someone down in public with corrosive ghost arrows. But in the play all of that is acceptable, at least until the curtain comes down and the truth is discovered.
How long has the play been going on and has Bahni been the lead the entire time?
Raj answers, "We've been running for about three months, and we had only another fortnight to go before the production was going to pack up and head for Absalom. It had all been going so well! On the opening night the Thakur himself attended and was well pleased. We gave him and some of his couriers a private showing perhaps six weeks ago, after that he offered us his patronage so we could afford to operate and travel in his name."
In a small voice he adds, "I can't believe this has happened, poor Bahni is as good as dead and the rest of us are scared witless."
"Trial run? Disturbing an idea as it is, it's even more disturbing if they'd pull this off on a larger scale. But if this proves to work, which we all hope doesn't, it's be a logical follow up to make an attempt at the Thakur's life next right?"
Lilly frowns with disgust and anger.
A slightly disheveled man in the livery of a cab driver approaches, with a start you remember it's the cab driver from last night. He looks like he slept, not very well, on the back seat of the cab. Sheepishly he asks, "Mujhē māpha karanā Sirs, mujhē lagatā hai maiṁ āpa kē li'ē intajāra karanē kā vādā kiyā hai, lēkina hama jalda hī mata jā'ō agara saṛakōṁ Yolarati bhīṛa kē sātha agamya kyā hōgā..."
This one says we must go now...soon to be hard to make it back. Shiko says to Mohktar He also says you are Uma no o shiri, horses rear end for making him sleep on wooden bench.
There is a pregnant pause after Lilly's prediction and then everyone starts talking at once. Eventually mistress Tari shouts, "QUIET!"
A hush descends and in a normal voice she concedes, "I fear you might be right. Obviously we'll have to let the palace know, it's possible they may want to talk to you. I think it would be best for everyone if we got some sleep. It's an ungodly hour in the morning, I'll lend you my carriage to take you back."
Behind her several of the acolytes groan. Mistress Tari, gives them aa sharp look and admonishes them, "Some sleep is a small sacrifice, the Goddess may ask much more of you some day. Besides it's not as if you're being asked to walk into that nightmare of protocol and courtesy, that's not something done on a broken sleep!"
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"I'm afraid you just might be right Lilly. No one recognized the danger during the program because we saw what we expected to see. What is the process the parade follows and when is it timed to go. I mean does the parade follow a certain route and pass, say the Thakur, certain points that could be planned for. Do the ghost carry weapons as they might once have when they were living?"
"The procession starts three days from now at dawn. The spirits gather at Waterhead lake, and then they follow the city youth to Silent Water and then head down the commercial lane, before turning onto a steep path leading to the bay. It's quite the carnival spirit not to be missed. I'll have brother Sims mark it on a map for you before he drives you home. As for the ghosts, well they look how they did in their minds eye. That's usually how they where in their prime, sometimes with weapons and armor, although mostly not since this is normally a peaceful place. Of course there's the occasional oddity with some ghosts looking like they stepped out of legend."
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"Hmmm, so weapons and armor are not unusual and the parade does follow a set path. Mistress Tari, are you aware of any unexpected deaths where the body was lost? I might be grasping at straws here but time is of the essence I fear. And I don't know of any other straws to grasp, at least that fit this mystery."
She looked confused, "I'm not sure what body you mean. I'm not normally privy to such information, you'd have to ask the watch."
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Mohktar arches an eyebrow at Shiko's words, but accepts them on face value. Although it is the obligation of each person to live up to their promises, Mohktar is nevertheless sympathetic as to the length of time the driver waited. He bows gratitude towards the hired man then boards the carriage.
He thinks along the road back about the best way to introduce the group to the dangers facing the city. It's not every day one is given the opportunity to stand against the enemy of his god. But Mohktar is confident the others will rise to the challenge in their own unique ways.
Leaning back in his seat, he presses his hands together once, then rests them in his thighs as he enters a meditative state. You've made a mistake, spinner of lies and rot, there is at least one in this city who will stand against you.
Stifling a yawn, Mistress Tari takes her leave saying, "While planning is important, so is sleep for you will not function well without it, I know I won't and I have a full day ahead... Brother Sims will meet you out front and take you to wherever you are staying."
Thinking a moment, Pratavh responds, "Well, with what I know I at least can be on the look out for it. That may or may not matter though. I will look through my spells and see if I can find something that may help."
"Thank you for your time, mistress Tari."
To take Alwyn's mind off the topic, Lilly slaps his back, perhaps a bit too hard. "Something else, what were your original intentions here, beside seeing the obvious attractions?"
"A good reason i guess. The thing i'd like to find out, is what gave me my powers and combat capabilities. I never had those when i was little, didn't even have a combat trainer. The gods play dirty games with us mortals."
The theater group arrived back in the wee small hours of the night and managed to get some sleep (spells are restored). Mohktar and Shikyomaru arrive just as he others are getting out of bed. After freshening up, the group are having breakfast on the patio. The patio boasts an amazing view of the harbor, and you can faintly hear the call to prayer on the wind.
There are a good number of tables which are all full, and there is a palpable sense of excitement for the Yolarati is upon us. The inn has provided a buffet with a mouth watering selection of food, ranging from simple cereals and multi-colored slices of exotic fruit to square little savory pasties stuffed with minced potato, carrot and exotic spices, hot and cold meats glazed with a surprisingly hot sauce, and huge slabs of still warm bread. Next to all this are several huge pitchers with various types of fruit juice, tea, coffee and several flavors of a local drink called lassi.
A number of rumors seem to be doing the rounds:
Like the previous night, Lilly looks excited by the wonderful things she could eat, which she'd normally never could. A grape from her plate is already gulped down when she takes some of the other fruits.
Lilly overhears some of the rumors, lacking probably more, she chats with the people before and after her in line at the buffet.
Back at the table she shares it with the others.
"I heard the Thakur is going to be absent for the 1st time in ever, from festivities." *munch piece of bread* "It seems there's three more deaths at the hand of the acid killer. That's some seriously disturbed person. Plus the incident with the actress is covered as an 'error during performance' and the next number of shows are canceled."
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Whether distracted by lack of sleep or the gravity of the news he has to share, Mohktar is unable to reckon the words spoken by the other guests. But as he takes his refreshment he looks to the others and says, "We have much to discuss, my friends. A conversation best had in the privacy of our roo..." His eyebrow arches at the mention of an incident. "Something amiss occurred last night?"
Shiko observes the room around him, this place is getting him on edge.
Today Shiko doesn't leave the Daisho, his paired swords, in his room. He carries them openly, katana on his left hip and wakizashi on his right. He tucks a few throwing stars into various areas of his clothing.
This place is accursed, we should go back to Absalom, is a much better place.
Coming down, distracted by something, he gets food and sits down next to Lilly to eat. He looks at the others, "Have any of you seen Hirati this morning Lilly, she never came out this morning but I know she's here somewhere, probably up to something."
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the night before
The gods play dirty games with us mortals
"maybe, maybe you're right but then again maybe they gift us with what we need in our time of need."
the next morning at breakfast
Alwyn is much refreshed and his sombre trouble attitude of the night before has passed. The ever present smile back in place.
Alwyn is able to confirm hearing many of the same conversations as he moved through the room. To Mohktar's request he explains what happened the night before.
"Have any of you seen Hirati this morning Lilly, she never came out this morning but I know she's here somewhere, probably up to something."
"Now that you mention it, i did wake up myself, no chatty 'wakey wakey'. I hadn't opened the window, does she enjoy a game of hide and seek?"
Lilly knows something, and maybe she's in on it.
Mention of hide and seek could be a coincidence?
Pratavh looks at Lilly and groans, "Oh no, she probably went invisible and slipped out when you did. This isn't..." About this time there is a loud crash from the kitchen area followed by yelling and a blib of jam floating along just below the ceiling from there, Pratavh puts his face in his hands and groans.
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Mohktar listens intently to their description of the night's events; from the curtain drop to the poor actress to the visit at the temple. "Such focused evil, predatory and precise..." He waits for them to ascertain Hirati's location and suggests they retire to the suite.
Once there, he sits in the lotus upon the floor of their room as the discussion continues.
"I am...aware of the evil this city faces. Shiko-san and I have gained wisdom at the Houses of Perfection...a dark wisdom indeed." He sighs smoothly, an exhale of doubts and an inhaling of focus. "What you describe of this woman's affliction is the precise manner in which a particular cult works. The figure they worship is the antithesis of the Master Irori. A goddess of internal decay, a three-headed woman with ebon-black skin and blue-black hair. Six arms, in which she holds a temple sword, a noose, a black glass orb, and a sealed scroll. One hand bears her symbol on the palm, while her last hand is outstretched in a beckoning gesture of mysticism."
"The city faces a dire threat, my friends. It is said that as all colors and light disappear into shadow, so too all things vanish into hers. In her destructive mind she holds the key to the unmaking of all things." Mohktar gestures out towards the patio to their suite. "She relishes well-planned espionage that leads to the devastation of enemies, the sowing of discord that breaks families, and the corruption that topples empires. A place such as this...the rumors we've heard...the fallen actress.... it is all but obvious who seeks to destroy this place from within...who seeks to set rot into the city's veins."
Mohktar presses his hands together before him, focusing his will inwards as he utters the name from a tranquil core. "Dhalavei."
"Dhalavei, Dhalavei...hmm"
A little while later there's a knock at the door, "Lady, Gentlemen - I hope you've been enjoying your stay? Transportation is going to be a bit trickier today, but might I recommend a trip up to the High Holy district? It's the focus of festivities today and it will be quite the spectacle. Of course if you have any alternate destinations in mind we'd be happy to help arrange it."
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About this time there is a loud crash from the kitchen area followed by yelling and a blib of jam floating along just below the ceiling from there, Pratavh puts his face in his hands and groans.
Alwyn has a good laugh while patting Pratavh softly on the shoulder. "You know you can't keep out of trouble all the time, it's just not in her nature."
later inside the room
"Mahktar, Da-Dalevi, no, Dhalavei, that's it, doesn't sound like your friendly neighborhood goddess. What have you gotten us into my friend. Weren't we supposed to be coming to visit the temples and gods of your grandfather? My Osiriani ruins just have regular run of the mill gods and traps. Not soul eating ones, any ideas on what to do with yours" The smartalec in Alwyn has come to the surface, making light of a dangerous situation
"A trip to visit the High Holy District sounds interesting. Did any of you want to go elsewhere?"
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"I think the best thing would be for us to stay together." Mohktar spares a brief grin. "Although my impetuous for journeying here was just that, Alwyn. It would seem Irori has other plans."
He looks to the others. "While we are there, the Maurya-Rahm is close to hand. It seems the tribulations have been hard felt in that district."
Thinking hard at Hirati, Get your scaly backside to the room NOW. Pratavh follows his friends to the room to continue the discussion.
"Interesting, a destroyer goddesses cult, looks like maybe my hypothesis was wrong." Listening to the discussions and largely just taking it all in, Pratavh nods agreement with going to the High Holy District. He looks at the smug looking Hirati, "If I thought it would do any good I would put a leash and a bell on you." Hirati, in that way that cats and dragons share, ignores Pratavh as though he doesn't warrant her notice.
Shiko shrugs his assent I wonder just how Holy a place a be?
"I didn't have specific plans as of yet. But if that district is the main focus for festivities, i'm up for it."
Chakari organizes you another carriage up the hill to the High Holy District. This time it's slow going, the roads are choked with pilgrims, still nobody seems to mind for it's a beautiful day and there's a general carnival atmosphere. The locals who are normally quite reserved have thrown off their inhibitions and are wearing robes that were once white, but are now smeared with a myriad of colored dye. You witness the crowds of Vudrani citizens rub multi-hued powders on each other’s faces and yell exuberant, joyful blessings. Elaborate illusions of rainbow patterns, flowing auroras, and sparkling bursts fill the sky or liven otherwise blank walls. Laughing children splash each other with dyed water. The air is a heady cloud of fragrant flavors, and sounds of music and celebration are all around. Mouth-watering delights are generously available, as well as large mugs of thandi, a local drink, to wash them down.
As you get closer to the temple heart, the press of crowds gets so great the carriage can't make any head way. The driver tells you, "Maiṁ māphī cāhatā hūm̐, lēkina maiṁ ghōṛōṁ kē sātha ēka cōṭa kē jōkhima kē binā kisī bhī karība nahīṁ mila sakatā. Kē rūpa mēṁ vē spooked hō rahī hai. Maiṁ āpa paira para jānā hōgā ḍara laga rahā hai."
You're a couple of blocks away from the main temples. Do you want to get out and try and press through the crowds on foot, or would you prefer to ask the driver to take you somewhere else?
Whatever you decide, you overhear snatches of excited conversation from the crowds.
"Interesting, it seems that the watch is cordoning off a large section of the Surakpor, I wonder what that is about." Hirati looks at Pratavh resentfully, "Where did you hear that? I didn't hear that so you couldn't possibly have heard it." she turns her head up condescendingly, "If I couldn't hear it there is no way that you could." Pratavh looks at her, "Well maybe if you would keep your claws and mind out of trouble you would have more room to hear things in." She glares at him and decides he isn't worth her time anymre, though she doesn't object to his scrathing around her wings.
Speaking to the driver, "चालक, जहां यहाँ से Surakpor है?"