When you step through the portal, you are deposited in a largely-abandoned neighborhood several hundred feet from a tall golden wall. Beyond the wall's top, you can see the broken spires of some towers and empty windows of tall buildings. A gate stands in the wall, guarded by two axial monitors equipped with golden halberds. As you approach, you are hailed by the guards: "Halt. State your designation and your business within the Empty Court."
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The doctor looks at the two sentries with interest, trying to remember if he's heard anything about these denizens of the lawful planes.
Unfortunately, he does not recall much, if anything at all... though judging by their response to their arrival, he suspects these are some of the guardians that guard the area since it was cordoned off.
He steps forward, raising his voice slightly, so as not to have to get too close to the large weapons.
"Umm.. we are legally recognized representatives of the Church of Abadar, here on the trail of one of our own, who we have lost. A woman by the name of Hao Jin. Her last known location was the Empty Court, though long before it became so... well... empty."
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Heccan smiles to the sentry, glancing at Strang and Felwyn before adding: "Yes, we of course would not trouble your realm if the need were not great. I assure we shall attend our business with the utmost efficiency and add take no more than necessary from your, um, less than full domain." The sorcerer holds his smile and awaits the guards response.
"Hao Jin? Please, wait here." The guards politely but firmly ask you to wait, then one of them steps aside and is surrounded by glowing runes for several minutes.
After about 15 minutes, a flying metallic sphere about a foot in diameter with one eye, two decorative wings, and a pair of arms floats into view.
The creature floats up to your gropu and addresses you, while the guards return to their posts: "Greetings, mortals. This one is classified Eleven-Sun-Truth and represents the one classified Hao Jin in all matters before her Tribunal. I have been informed that you have business with said individual but must inform you that the one you seek is not accessible on orders of the Godmind itself. How else may this one be of service?”
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"It would appear it is sending a message to someone." Strang advises the others.
"Though not a particularly long one." He adds. "Perhaps a supervisor of some sort?"
He shrugs, clearly not sure.
"Though I suppose if we wish to find out what's going on, this is the next rung on that ladder." He adds, as he finds a spot to wait, pulling out a few tomes, and spending the time brushing up on some of his planar knowledge specific to Axis.
When the sphere eventually shows up, fifteen minutes later, he looks up, and starts to pack up the tomes.
"Oh, I think that will be for us." He says, "An arbiter, I believe. It's hard to imagine a whole species of sentient machines."
When it arrives, and immediately denies their purpose for coming, he frowns slightly.
"So she's still here?" He asks. "After all these years? I suppose that's something."
"You said Tribunal? Isn't that a court of some sort? Is she charged with a crime?" He asks the question hesitantly, not entirely familiar with such matters. "Surely she's allowed visitors."
Eleven-Sun-Truth speaks to you gently, but firmly."I'm quite sorry, but that would not be permitted. When the sorceress arrived in Axis, the Eternal City’s authorities accused Hao Jin of having captured that which was not hers, threatened planar stability, and violated cosmic laws by the ways in which she created a demiplane.
The verdict was straightforward: the destruction of the offending creation. Hao Jin offered to make things right, but clearly a mortal could not be trusted to fix this issue, particularly not a mortal with such conflicts of interest! The authorities finally made a bargain with her to preserve the demiplane, provided she offer her services to Axis and surrendering the tapestry’s foundational secrets to guarantee that she never violate the same unspoken strictures again. I was assigned as her I was assigned as her case manager, and she has upheld her promise ever since."
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Heccan's eyes perk up at the sound of a tribunal. His mind retreats to a time long ago when he argued before such bodies in the courts of Egorian. "You represent her? Well, as her legal representative, you must see to her best interest. Speaking to us is certainly in your client's best interest so, if you are to be true to her charge, you must see to it that we have an audience with her. While I am at it, did she receive a choice in her representation or are you...appointed?" Heccan uses the word appointment with obvious disdain, clearly not being a fan of legal counsel being assigned without choice.
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Dr. Strang frowns slightly, as he ponders the inevitable's words.
"If this tapestry you refer to is the same one we're here about," He finally says, still frowning. "Then it seems like it is Axis that should not have been trusted to fix the issue, and have subsequently failed to uphold their part of that bargain."
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Heccan furrows his brow as the inevitable describes the bargain. "What? You bargained to enslave her for eternity? Some bargain. Surely this sad state of affairs is open to negotiation?" Heccan tries to find some way past this current obstruction. "Ah, but it appears the bargain has been violated!" Heccn nods, Felwyn's words brithing a thought and perhaps a crack in the armor [b]"You say the bargain was to preserve the plane in exchange for her service to Axis, well I am here, we are all here, to state that Axis' duties under the agreement have been breached!" Heccan accents this last point with some dramatic oratory flair. "The plane is in jeopardy of collapsing as we speak and only Ho Jin has the knowledge to save it. If the deal you state is accurate, then, to preserve the bargain, you must give us access to the Ruby Phoenix...otherwise we shall peruse the documents for what remedies are available in breach." Heccan quirks a brow to await the inevitable's response.
"What do you mean about Axis not upholding its part of the bargain? I suppose if there is a pressing reason, a short interview could be arranged."
It's a bit hard to tell, but Eleven-Sun-Truth seems to have a concerned edge to its voice.
"There's no need to get so worked up about it! Mortals...always so flighty! Come, we'll meet with Hao Jin and make sure there are no dimensional abnormalities threatening the structure of the multiverse."
Eleven-Sun-Truth gestures to the guards, who stand aside. They bob in front of you and lead the way into the Empty Quarter. "Keep your wits about you. We are entering a lawless place."
A creature can notice the sensor by making a Perception check with a DC 20 + the spell level. The sensor can be dispelled as if it were an active spell.
Lead sheeting or magical protection blocks a scrying spell, and you sense that the spell is blocked.
Chabon's second attempt at dispelling the scrying sensor is successful.
As advertised, distant skirmishes are visible in the Empty Court, which Eleven-Sun-Truth identifies as angels, devils, and other beings. "They seek to gain Aroden's abandoned territory." The walk takes about 20 minutes before you arrive at the Amphitheater of the Last Azlanti, an ancient, multistory theater built into the side of a hill. The structure’s outer walls bear faded murals of Aroden’s life: his mortal life as a blacksmith, his leading of the Azlanti survivors from the ruins of Earthfall, his planar travels, his raising of the Starstone and creating Absalom, his battle with the wizard Tar-Baphon, and more. Inside, the amphitheater’s stadium-style seating partly surrounds a raised, stone stage where a small tent is pitched next to a campsite.
Near the campsite sits a female human with striking red hair, dressed in flowing robes. She is seated, and appears to be studying a collection of sketches and fragments of glass sculptures. As you approach, she looks up from her work and greets you with a courteous nod without breaking eye contact.
"Welcome, Eleven-Sun-Truth. You have not brought me visitors in some time and certainly never from my home world. What calamity has befallen Golarion that you come all the way to the Eternal City to find me? Has the Whispering Tyrant escaped his confinement? Has a new spawn of Rovagug been released in Casmaron? Or has Arazni perhaps decided to stir from her torpor and lay claim to Garund? What is the matter? I see the strain of grave news in your faces.”
Eleven-Sun-Truth answers: "Hao Jin's detention on Axis is part of her agreement that spared her demiplane. She could leave, if she wished, though it would likely mean the destruction of her tapestry." The arbiter's gears and servos rev for a moment, then they continue, "After long monitoring of her case, I believe that she also seeks to show the authorities of Axis her responsibility, proving that she is not reckless, as they once claimed."
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"You said the authorities didn't trust a mortal to fix the... what did you call it... planar instability? So who did they make responsible for doing it in her stead." Strang will ask, as they travel along.
He spends much of the walk, studying the Empty Court itself... a glimpse into the erstwhile realm of Aroden, not something one gets a chance to see every day.
__________
When they do reach the amphitheater, he is quite engrossed in his study of the place, and thus taken a little aback when it turns out they are actually in the presence of Hao Jin herself.
"Oh my." He mutters.
He smiles, and bows respectfully. "It is an honor to meet the legendary Ruby Phoenix herself." He exclaims. "We had heard you might still be alive, but until setting eyes on you now, I can't say I was entirely sure such would turn out to be true."
"I am Doctor Menes Strang. I'm afraid our reason for visiting, and the grave news we bear, is partly of your own making, rather than those other dire entities you mention." He finally adds.
"From what Eleven-Sun-Truth tells us, you have been sequestered here for well over three centuries because of the dimensional tapestry you created... and the landmarks you collected therein." He shakes his head slightly, at the enormity of that task. "But when the authorities here in Axis refused to let you fix it, it would appear no one else stepped in to do so. Now the entire thing is destabilizing and will likely disintegrate... or perhaps implode... less likely explode." He shrugs. "Cease to be, anyway. Our best guess is a few weeks, at most."
"The loss of all those ancient sites, if that were to happen, would be quite the blow. But when you brought them there, you brought many a resident along with them... and those residents have grown and often thrived in their new environment... such that there are now many disparate cultures and peoples living there. All of them as doomed as the buildings they live in, should we prove unable to stabilize the decay!"
"We are here in hopes you will be able to help us now." He finishes.
Eleven-Sun-Truth assures Dr. Strang that he doesn't know who is responsible for the demi-plane, as it isn't in their department. "Potential instability is a concern for all, however. I am glad that you arrived."
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Hao Jin listens closely as you explain the trouble. "But, that's not possible! Please, you must give me as much detail as you remember. While I may have been ill-advised to create the Tapestry in the first place, the enchantments woven through it were self-sustaining; it should have maintained stability indefinitely." She looks closely from one member of the party to the next. "Where is the tapestry now, and who are you? How did you know to seek me out here?" Her words are edged with concern, but not mistrust. She seems genuinely upset at the possibility something is wrong.
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"We are all members of a group known as the Pathfinder Society." Strang explains, he pauses for a moment, doing some mental math in his head. "I believe we were around back during your time in Golarion. Though certainly in the early stages of things. We are far more extensive nowadays. Our organization is dedicated to learning and exploration."
"About a six or so years back, the Society sent a group to Goka, to take part in a decennial combat tournament... named after you in fact...
that they hold there." He adds, with a slight smile. "Our entrants won, and our prize was a choice of items from one of your treasuries, I believe. That's how we got our hands on your tapestry."
"It took some time, but we figured out how it worked, and spent a great deal of time exploring the sites you had stored therein. I personally visited the tome of the Jackal Pharaoh, and the Sacred Vault... the statue looks just like you, by the way. What you did with the abyssium there... truly remarkable!"
"But things were going wrong, even then, now that I think on it. The environmental zones were already failing when we first start to explore."
"Of course, we later learned another group, less scrupulous rivals of ours, known as the Aspis Consortium, had teamed up with followers of Lissala, and repurposed one of their dormant portals to connect to a gate to the abyss you'd collected inside the tapestry. They created a backdoor, if you will.
"We took it away from them once we learned of it, of course." He amends quickly. "Before they could abuse it too badly. And later used copies of your original notes, to re-attune the tapestry ourselves, to allow for more convenient entry and exit..."
His voice trails off slightly, and his brow furrows in thought.
"You don't suppose that might have caused some of this do you?" He says worriedly. "I performed part of that ritual myself. Partly why they asked me to come on this outing, I'm sure. I'm confident I performed it correctly, as detailed in your Codex. But others have performed it since..."
He shakes his head, and indicates the satchel with all the documentation. "Anyway all of our research, and encounters, we've detailed for you, to help figure out what has gone wrong. We brought them with us."
"As to how we learned of you here... that I am not sure." He adds. "It was only a rumor we were assigned to follow up on. Given the state of things, we're a little desperate and it was the only lead we had to follow. Lucky for us, here you are!"
Hao Jin nods along at first, but her brow furrows as your explanation continues."Yes, I've heard of the Pathfinder Society. A rag-tag group of adventurers, from what I remember. Usually smelled of wet socks. You say that you have visited parts of the tapestry? What about the rest of you? How do the residents fare?" At the mention of portals, she visibly suppresses a gasp. "Backdoors?! But it's a closed system. The tapestry is a museum, not a highway! Who is this Aspis Consortium?" She raises an eyebrow at you, clearly waiting for answers, as she peruses the documents you have brought.
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Heccan looks about in genuine wonder as he spies the distant battles of the Empty Court, not having traveled outside of the prime material plane before. The normally wordy Chelaxian is unusually quiet as he attempts to find his bearings in a strange land.
Once they are brought to Ho Jin, he looks upon her with wide eyes as if he cannot believe he is actually in the presence of the ruby Phoenix. He watches and listens as Dr. Strang succinctly describes their mission to Ho Jin. Seeing her shock, Heccan tries to reassure and calm her to better help her focus.
"My Lady, truly a pleasure to be in your presence. I must say the stories do you no justice as your magnificence is more than words can bear. I know this must all come as a shock, but please take comfort that our Society seeks nothing but to preserve your miraculous construct. While we have many capable spellcasters, none approach your talent which is why we are here."
"Our superiors believe that traveling into the portal is weakening it, though they may be speculating. Please, I beg of you, tell us what you need from us and it shall be yours. How can we save your creation, my lady."
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"The Consortium? They're a organization that will basically do or exploit anything, or anyone, for money." Strang pipes in. "Really, not the types to care about the damage they do."
"The demon portal you transported to the tapestry, was for the realm of a demon named Areshkagal." He explains. "Portals are kind of his thing. And Lissala, she's from way back during Thassilonian times, and knowledge is her purview. I can't imagine it was too hard to connect to the demon portal with the right knowledge to back it up. Closed system or not."
"I did not run into many of the denizens myself, though, most just got there after the Consortium had started looting things." He offers, when she asks about the residents. "Though the inevitables you left guarding the Sacred Vault weren't doing so well when we came upon them. I think long term exposure to the energy from the Abysium Heart had some unforeseen side effects. The Codex was much the same."
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Chabon sketches a bow in Hao Jin’s direction. ”Illustrious Ruby Phoenix, what my comrades say is true. I can tell you from personal experience that the Ysoki of Round Mountain are doing well thanks to my intervention, and I personally punished the mastermind behind the “backdoor” into your demiplane. I actually have his spellbook right here.” And Chabon pats his haversack. ”You can trust is to have the Tapestry’s interests at heart.”
Hao Jin finishes reading through the written materials you brought, and pauses for a moment to collect her thoughts before answering you.
"Yes, I'm sure that you did all you could. And, it appears, some of your companions have paid the ultimate price to attempt to preserve my Tapestry, for which I am very grateful. Although I cannot hold the actions of the Pathfinder Society and its rivals as blameless in the Tapestry’s demise, I know that at least the Society did not commit them out of malice. In the end, responsibility for the demiplane’s condition is mine. My time here on Axis has shown me how reckless I acted when I created the demiplane. I did not fully understand the implications and long-term consequences of my actions, but what is done is done and cannot be taken back.”
She lowers her eyes and lets out a long sigh, before continuing.“If I understand you and the documents you have shown me correctly, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to save the Tapestry; it has unraveled beyond the point of repair. There may, however, still be a chance to save the places and people inside it. My memory is not what it once was, but I believe that I could perform a ritual that reverses the process I first used to transport various sites into the tapestry, thereby returning a site to its original location. In that way that site could serve as an ark to carry any plants and creatures aboard back to the Material Plane.”
Hao Jin taps her chin thoughtfully as she continues. "There are two major obstacles to this plan. Firstly, the ritual would need
to be performed on the Material Plane and reasonably close to where the structure would be deposited. That wouldn’t be a problem were it not for my exile here in Axis. If I'm to prove my dedication, self-reflection, and self-control to Axis’s authorities, I cannot leave." Here, she smiles a bit as she looks over your group. "Fortunately, it appears that the Pathfinder Society has grown from the band of scruffy wanderers and vagrants it was during my time on Golarion. A contingent of the Society's powerful spellcasters--perhaps even some of you--might be able to perform the ritual in my place.
"The second obstacle is a bit more complicated. You see, I no longer possess the memory of how to perform the ritual in question. As a part of my bargain with the authorities in Axis, I agreed to have certain of my memories and technical knowledge related to the creation of the Tapestry extracted from my mind, so that I would not recreate the same violations that offended Axis in the first place. They also provided a means by which scholars can study these experiences and innovations in responsible ways. These memories were storied in three special devices called memory engrams. If you were to return the engrams to me, I can reassemble the rituals so that someone could perform one last transposition. She sighs in resignation. "That act will likely trigger the demiplane’s final death throes, so there’s only the one opportunity to save those inside."
Hao Jin turns from your group and faces the arbiter: "I am concerned that recreating these rituals would likewise violate my agreement with Axis. Eleven-Sun-Truth, what is your judgement on the matter?"
The arbiter’s eye rotates slowly in thought before snapping back to stare at Hao Jin before the inevitable states, “In the cosmos, law is the ideal, not the absolute condition, thus requiring some interpretation from the inevitables who enforce order. Likewise in this situation, there is no one answer. How you interpret it reflects your identity as the judge.”
Hao Jin scowls in response to this non-answer and considers the ramifications for a moment.
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Dr. Strang grimaces slightly at Hao Jin's diagnoses... especially when she makes it clear that the Society is partly to blame.
"Was afraid of that." He mutters.
But when she starts to talk about how to possibly save those trapped inside, his look gets more dour.
"Haven't you been proving your dedication for over three centuries already?" Strang says, surprised. "And they still wouldn't let you out to fix a problem they were supposed to be keeping an eye on? What kind of penance is that?"
The look he gives Eleven-Sun-Truth is rather pointed.
"It would be a honor to perform these rituals in your stead, should it come to that." He adds, turning back to Hao Jin. "Though it would seem first we must locate these engrams."
His face gets thoughtful as he ponders the process that must be involved in creating such things.
"Do you know where they might be?" He asks. "I lose track of things I put away three days ago... I can't imagine three centuries would make them easier to find."
Hao Jin looks thoughtful at Dr. Strang's comments about her service in Axis.
Eleven-Sun-Truth responds: “There are three engrams of note, which are part of a more extensive library system. One engram stores a portion of my client’s creative innovation, and as an experiment, authorities in the Adamantine Forge granted it to now somewhat…” Eleven-Sun-Truth scowls with disappointment. “…eccentric inevitable in order to explore new inevitable-forging techniques. That inevitable frequents the domain of demigoddess Chaldira Zuzaristan in its downtime."
“Another engram contains elements of my client’s magical theory, and it is in the Stylite.” The arbiter winces and looks skyward before pointing to a floating building miles away. “There. You should just be able to present your credentials and be done.
“The last of the engrams I suspect she would need pertains to my client’s childhood and their first death. It was last checked out by Yakomo, an Iroran acolyte. Given the hour, I expect him to be busy with religious devotions for several hours yet, after which he would likely return to his home just outside the Serene Circle, Irori’s realm.”
The arbiter then produces several small electrum badges for you to wear, each marked with the same three vertical lines surrounded by a border of unevenly spaced dots. "These should help others recognize that you are acting as Hao Jin’s advocates in recovering the engrams, though the badges serve more as identification, not as signs of absolute authority; it is still up to you to convince the current holders to let you borrow the engrams."
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Heccan smiles as he receives the badge from 11-Sun-Truth. "Me?? I mean, um, us, as part of Ho Jin's legal team?? Position excepted. I shall even waive my normal exorbitant, but thoroughly justified, fees. The publicity alone will keep me in coin for years! Once I tire of Society life that is." The Chelxian barrister pins the badge on his well kept robes and smiles in satisfaction.
"Do not fear Ho Jin, we shall return these engrams to you shortly. I am confident these guardians will pose little resistance to the greater good. If they do, well, we have our methods."
"Shall we see how a demigoddess spends her leisure time?"
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"Have to start somewhere." Strang replies, as he examines his own proffered pin. He glances up at Heccan and smiles. "Might as well be there."
He glances back at Hao Jin. "We were being scried as we entered the Empty Court... and our superiors mentioned many attempts to do the same while gathering the information to find you. There might be other interested parties in the area. You might want to be on the alert."
His gaze goes to the floating structure far over head. "How does one get up there... the Stylite was it?"
The arbiter floats a little higher while proudly responding, “As the foundation of order itself, Axis is an expanse of districts and departments, each connected to key partners by means of myriad forms of public transportation and sets of portals. I can provide you clear written directions.”
Hao Jin grins at Dr. Strang's warning. "Your concern is touching, Pathfinder, and much appreciated." You get the feeling that she can handle herself pretty well. "You should be careful as well! Eleven-Sun-Truth, will you escort the Pathfinders out of the district, when they decide to leave? The streets and buildings sometimes switch places when you aren’t looking. I still haven’t figured that out,” she mentions off-handedly.
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Chabon has quietly been building a rage within as he processes what has happened to Hao Jin. "What kind of advocate are you, Eleven-Sun-Truth? Your client remains imprisoned for hundreds of years and you rip memories from her mind and prostitute them out to clients across Axis?! That is not justice, but a perverse abuse of power.” Chabon spits on the ground in disgust.
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Heccan cannot help but smirk at Chabon's chiding. "I appreciate your sentiment Chabon, but I always defer to the counsel of record. They are usually privy to facts not known to the public and for all we know, Ho Jin's situation could be more dire than any of us realize. Then again... Heccan whispers to Chabon almost conspiratorially.."I probably would have done better." Heccan straightens and offers Eleven Sun Truth a grin. "Whenever you are ready counsel."
Eleven-Sun-Truth leads the way through the Empty Quarter. After a few minutes of travel, he pauses to address you again: "I have a favor to ask of you. As you are already acting as her advocates, I hope that you might lend your unique mortal perspectives in interpreting Hao Jin’s past actions, her present disposition, and her future potential. Although a host of outsiders have analyzed Hao Jin’s dossier, they approach her deeds with certain biases. Not only do you have a unique perspective as members of the Pathfinder Society—some of the only creatures to have interacted with the tapestry demiplane’s inhabitants in centuries—but you might interpret some of the memories stored on the engrams through your own mortal lenses." The arbiter pauses to gauge your reaction. "I would like to schedule interviews with you once they’ve secured what they need and sent it to your superiors. I do not need a commitment from you right now, I merely ask that you think on the matter. If you care that correct action is taken with regard to Hao Jin, it might be helpful."
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Heccan listens to 11-Sun and brings a curled knuckle to his chin as he thinks on the outsider's proposal. "A fair request Eleven-Sun. I will think upon it once we have had a chance to review the information stored in the engrams. I certainly understand, and more so appreciate, you trying all available means to put your client in the most favorable position. On that point our goals coincide."
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"So you've had hosts of folks look at the paperwork... but not one has bothered to actually look into the dimension itself?" Strang says, still not quite believing that level of bureaucratic incompetence. "I do not think 'biases' is the right word."
"And I'm still baffled as to why they'd have to steal some of her childhood memories for any of this." He adds, thoughtfully.
"Rest assured, we will be happy to offer input... though at this point, some of it might contain a few biases itself."
Eleven-Sun-Truth doesn't seem to pick up on Chabon's sarcasm. "Thank you, mortal. I thought it was an ingenious plan. I appreciate your willingness to share your insight."
To Dr. Strang, the arbiter explains, "This is one of the problems with Hao Jin's creation. As her plane is an aberration, there was no inevitable to assign to it. If the collapse of the demiplane threatens the larger structure of the multiverse, a team will be dispatched to minimize the damage to reality."
Eleven-Sun-Truth accompanies you to the portal network. "I must attend to other duties, but I will meet back up with you here when you have recovered the engrams."
The travel portal deposits you on a side-street a short distance from the Hearth-Grown House. The narrow alley is crowded with petitioners, all of whom seem to be heading for a single destination: a large, wooden gate in the twelvefoot-tall hedge wall that surrounds Chaldira’s divine home. Past the gate is a large, grassy common area surrounded by numerous large and inviting structures that look like the homey country taverns found in Golarion’s more peaceful hamlets and towns. A singing voice accompanied by string instruments and flutes can be heard from within.
Inside, countless chairs and tables are arranged in this large room around a central stage upon which sits a lillend azata singing a wistful song while accompanied by an unusual collection of natives of the Great Beyond playing an assortment of string and woodwind instruments. The air is thick with sweet tobacco smoke and the smell of good food and drink, while the audience of largely remade petitioners watches the singer with obvious enthusiasm. “Pretty good, eh?” whispers a metallic voice just to your left. “Emelliana the Muse, that’s the singer, she only comes here to the House when she visits Axis. It’s the only place she’ll perform! Everywhere else is too stuffy, she says.” The figure is an unusual ivory-colored kolyarut inevitable with two additional attached arms and is currently leaning against the back wall of the room watching the performance. Covered in dozens of small cuts, scrapes, dents, and scorch marks, she is wearing a leather apron long enough to be a skirt and is tapping her foot to the music.
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Chabon shares what he knows about the Hearth-Grown House:
"The Hearth-Grown House is a series of connected apartments, feasting halls, gambling parlors, inns, and courtyards that constitute the unofficial domain of the halfling deity Chaldira Zuzaristan, demigoddess of battle, luck, and mischief. The Hearth-Grown House is tucked into a small corner of Abadar’s domain of Aktun. The House is a place of refuge for her followers, petitioners, and anyone else who needs a break from the unchanging perfection of the Eternal City. Abadar tolerates the gambling at the Hearth-Grown House as a necessary evil: when taken to excess it can hurt society, but in general it provides much appreciated relaxation and stimulates the economy."
Chabon visibly relaxes on entering this more convivial environment.
Upon the whispered words from the kolyarut, Chabon turns and replies, after taking in the scene. "You look like someone who can't quite leave work at work. Mind always at churning? Clearly you are an artisan, but of what products?"