The serving girl turns out to be a gold-skinned aphorite of indeterminate gender who quickly and politely takes your order. They catch Barnette's uncertainty about what to order for the inevitable and smiles in understanding.
The inevitable nods in agreement at Barnette's question and continues enjoying the lillend's amazing performance.
A few minutes later, the waiter returns with your orders which turns out to be a lovely rose wine with notes of peach and lilac, and a small metallic cube for the inevitable.
The inevitable picks up the cube and holds it up to her head where it glows for a few seconds before putting it down on a nearby table. She thanks Barnette for cube and gives him a triple thumbs-up sign to indicate her appreciation.
After the azata finishes her performance, the kolyarut ushers you outside into the commons outside the tavern.
"So, what was it that you wish to discuss with me? But what am I saying, I haven't even introduced myself. I am called the Maker, but perhaps you already know that, given your interest in speaking to me?"
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Kramac listens quietly to the performance, leaving beak outside so he won't make a scene.
Once the performance is done, he addresses the Maker, We come to speak with you about a matter of importance. The Tapestry of Hao-Jin is nearing collapse, and we need her help to stabilize it. However, she currently lacks the knowledge to help us. She needs the memory engrams - one of which you currently possess. We would humbly request you return it for a short time so that she might help us.
Auto-aid barnette on diplomacy.
The Maker considers Kramac's question for a moment, all four our her hands reaching back and wrapping herself around the base of her neck. She then simply says: "I see."
She turns and looks out across the garden for a few seconds, then turns back to Kramac.
"I will be honest with you, mortals, the idea of giving up the engram is not a pleasant one for me. It has been a part of me for decades, and in many ways, I am no longer who I was when it was first implanted. I have fused with the device as it has fused with me, and the Ruby Phoenix's thoughts, experiences, and emotions are a part of me now. Giving up the engram would be relinquishing who I am."
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"Maker, if you have accepted Hao Jin's memories into your own persona, then you should understand the gravity of our situation. All of Hao Jin's memory engrams are required to save the Tapestry from a cataclysmic collapse, killing potentially millions of creatures. I sympathize with your situation, but we wouldn't be asking for the engram if the situation weren't so dire.
"I agree with Aquila; by accepting this engram and integrating it into your own self, you have inherited the responsibilities that come with it. Ultimately, these memories are still Hao Jin's, and the time has come that those memories are needed to save lives."
"Here in the realm of Chaldira Zuzaristan, I remind you of some of the tenants that she shares with my patron Desna: goodwill, fate, and a bit of luck. That engram holds the fate of many entities in its tiny little shape. For the good of those creatures, and potentially an entire plane of existence, we ask that you hand us the memory engram so we can save those lives." As she finishes her speech, Ruby holds out her hand to accept the engram.
The Maker shakes her head and crosses three of her arms over her chest. "No, no, no, I as an entity would not cease to exist. I am still kolyarut inevitable, and will be continued as such. But I am more than just my body and my mind. Through my intimate association with the engram I have begun a transformation that has affected me in ways that I could not have foreseen at the start. These things have become precious to me, and I do not see why I must give them up to fulfill your goals, no matter how altruistic they are."
She then turns to Ruby to answer her line in inquiry.
"I have memories of this Tapestry you speak about, if it is the demiplane which the Ruby Phoenix constructed. It's creation was a great marvel, but perhaps it was always meant to collapse. Perhaps this is what SHOULD happen. I also know that Hao Jin was disciplined because of her actions in creating the Tapestry. Perhaps it is better that it is no more."
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Kramac understands why you are not willing to give up the engram - you are scared. Hao Jin's insight has allowed you to create and evolve in ways that were unexpected. It opened your eyes to the possibilities of what you could be. But now you can continue the evolution on your own. My god, Kurgess, says all beings should strive to better themselves - to be stronger, faster, smarter, greater. You can continue your journey without it. And if you cannot continue your journey without it, then what are you? You are not The Maker, Kolyarut who has transcended what he began as to become something more, something better. You are nothing but a glorified receptacle for the Engram, a horse for a fraction of a greater being that has overtaken who you are. Kramac challenges you - prove to yourself and the world, the engram is just the spark that ignited the fire within you!
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Hmmm you do raise an interesting point, all things come to an end eventually and as you said maybe it is time for the tapestry to collapse, we dont know for sure we can stop it, but what we do know is that if we dont at least try than thousands will die and priceless treasures of ages past, history, culture and knowledge will be lost!
Barnette pauses for effect then says in a softer tone If all things come to an end, then perhaps your time with the engram has also come to an end, but maybe you can be part of saving the precious occupants of the tapestry and you could then earn an even greater experience and shape yourself in a new direction that you did not think was possible?
The Maker considers what you have said and finally nods in agreement. "I think I understand now. The engram has provided me with an opportunity for growth, but I must now strive to live without it to see what I am truly capable of."
The inevitable reaches back with two of her hands to the base of her neck and carefully open a compartment using a spiral tool she kept in a pocket of her leather apron. Once open, she pulls out the engram, which has a pyramid shape and is made of some kind of scintillating metal, and places it on a stone bench in front of her. The kolyarut's manner changes immediately. It stands up straight and looks around at everyone assembled around her. Its movements no longer have the casual fluidity they had before, and it turns around and walks off the grounds of the Hearth Grown House without saying another word.
Picking up the engram, Ruby's vision momentarily grows blurry as she is transported to another place and time. In the vision, she sees Hao Jin, hair a deep red and appearing younger than when you met her in person as she quietly watches a young man working at a loom. As the man’s hands flicker over the threads and slowly weave a tapestry into being, a smile creases Hao Jin’s face and her own fingers begin to mimic the young man’s movements while trailing glimmering lines of eldritch energy. Hao Jin watches carefully, her fingers moving in measured cadences. As the light dims, Hao Jin leaves, but she returns again, and again. Ruby experiences months of Hao Jin’s careful study of the tapestry weaver, and feels the mental weight of innumerable calculations as Hao Jin plans her own magnificent tapestry.
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Ruby's conscious returns to the present as she blinks a few times after the vision. "Amazing. Hao Jin learned to create the Tapestry using magic by mimicking an actual weaver working on a loom. Quite incredible..."
She takes a few minutes before registering what Aquila has asked her. "Ah, yes. I suppose they could. The devil was already in that library when we started our mission, which would justify the position of The Liar in the center row. And The Lost could represent the inevitable, but it was in a future state, and it seems the creature had possession of that engram for a rather long time..." She ponders these facts for a moment. "It is possibly one way to interpret the cards, but I'm a bit skeptical. We still don't know who's been trying to keep an eye on us while we're here; I suspect their role in the cards is yet to be determined."
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The Lost could represent the inevitable, but it was in a future state, and it seems the creature had possession of that engram for a rather long time..."
"Well, it did look a bit lost without the engram. a lost of identity was what you said right?"
"I still think harrow reading is a bit weird, but that's coming from me and I talk to birds and trees!" the halfling adds with a smile.
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Kramac has always though the harrow was more a tool to force one into introspection. The cards mean many things to many people.
Kramac is sure the mystery person will make themselves known soon. We have one engram left to secure before our task is done - if someone bearing us ill will is also interested in the engrams, they will likely make their move soon. Be wary!
Having acquired the second engram, the group heads back toward the Travel Portal. Hundreds of petitioners are still milling about the Hearth-Grown House after the lillend's performance, most of them discussing the show in hushed in awed tones, or else singing snippets of their favorite tunes.
You eventually make your way through the crowd and following Eleven-Sun-Truth's directions, reach the neighborhood on the edge of the Serene Cirle, the domain of Irori. The architecture here is rather simple yet elegant, with long flowing lines, oval windows, and hundreds of plots of flowering trees and plants giving off a calming scent.
Arriving before the home of Acolyte Yakomo, you are about to knock when you hear a noise coming from inside.
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Zwei looks at Barnette with a surprised expression and then nods seriously.
Huh. That will work quite well.
He then stands at the door, ready for it to be opened,and taps Lark twice.
"Remember that certain creatures can see through invisibility, but not through objects, so sneaking is still a smart thing to do!" Aquila whispers to Zwei
The house has only small windows high on the second floor, but the sounds seems to be coming from the ground floor.
Kramac finds that the door is locked or barred and puts his shoulder into the door ( ), but it doesn't seem to budge.
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Someone is in trouble in there! We must get through! Unless someone can unlock this door, Kramac will take it down!
If nobody steps up to attempt to open the door, Kramac rears back with his adamantine cestus, and will attempt to punch through the door above the lock, hoping to be able to reach around and unlock/open the door through the hole.
Kramac breaks downs the door with his weapon, revealing a small chamber within that holds a single tied and gagged petitioner dressed in loose robes similar to those worn by the other inhabitants of the area.
The petitioner smiles as you free him from his bounds. He stands up and briefly collects himself while smoothing out his clothes.
"Thank you very much for the rescue. My name is Acolyte Yakomo and you must be agents of the Pathfinder Society, yes? Someone is looking for you."
"I was visited about two hours ago by an elven woman of your world. A sad thing that seemed quite ... troubled would be the best word. The elven woman seemed to be carrying the weight of far more hardships than even an elf's long life could justify. While I am not pleased that I appear to have been drawn into a conflict between you and this woman...” Yakomo pauses for just a moment. “Perhaps all is happening as it should. I find that is often the case in this city. Regardless, the woman seemed to know you would arrive. She bade me tell you that you should seek me out in the Serene Circle. Given what I saw of her magic, I expect she was being quite literal and waits there in my guise even now.”"
Yakomo nods at Barnette's comment. "Yes, she said she needed it for something else, and who was I to deny it to her. I hoped it would relieve her burden, but now I'm not so sure."
He then turns to you, a look of puzzlement on his face. "But what is it that you want with her and the engram?"
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Yakomo nods at Barnette's comment. "Yes, she said she needed it for something else, and who was I to deny it to her. I hoped it would relieve her burden, but now I'm not so sure."
He then turns to you, a look of puzzlement on his face. "But what is it that you want with her and the engram?"
"We need the engram so Hao Jin can safely undo her tapestry and make sure the locations within are safely returned to Golarion."
Yakomo gives Aquila a puzzled look. "Ah, I'm afraid I am not too familiar with that portion of Hao Jin's biography. I have not been studying the engram for a very long time."