Elen mutters something and peeks out the mail slot.
Kamari remains vigilant and holds her rapier at the ready.
"Come on down! You're the next contestant on the point is right!"
Round 3, Init 12
AC = 25
HP = 54/84
Weapon Equipped = Good Bow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 29
HP = 99/99
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri slips free from his saddle, bidding Underfoot remain where she is. Whatever is casting magics on the floor above is gearing up its offensive capabilities, and the halfling is uninterested in riding his faithful companion up the stairs and into a faceful of avoidable pain.
Steedless and heedless, Muri makes his way up the stairs and opens the door, impatient to see what lies above...
However, you do not see the ethereal plane. It’s simply not there. The ethereal plane exists everywhere there’s primal matter. Which means this isn’t. You’re on a higher plane. In the heavens, or hells, you’re not yet sure which but you know you’re no longer on your home plane.
- - -
When Muri opens the door, you all see the creature at the top of the stairs. Kamari and Mama D may react this round. Edelmira, you can act prior to the door opening, so you don't know this yet. Sorry! :)
The door at the top of the stairs flings open and you face a creature comprised entirely of bookworms! (image). The creature is impossible to read as it stands before you, but you might know something of its physiology.
When a powerful spellcaster with a strong personality, a lust for life, and a remorselessly evil soul dies and is buried in a graveyard infused with eldritch magic, a strange phenomenon sometimes occurs. The flesh of the decaying body fats and instructs the very worms that gnaw, and these graveworms quicken not only on corruption but upon the spellcaster’s memories and magical power. The spellcaster’s very soul is consumed in this vile process, only to be split apart to inhabit each of the individual chewing worms in so many fragments.
The result is a hideous hive mind of slithering life known as a worm that walks - a mass of worms that clings to the vague shape of the body that granted it this new existence, and can wield the powers and magic the spellcaster had in life. A worm that walks retains memories of its life as a spellcaster before its death, but is not undead - it is a hideous new form of undulant life.
- - -
Round ?
Kamari floats up so that she can stab whatever might chase Muri down the stairs.
Round 1
Kort, sadly, puts away the puzzle book (or hands it back to Edelmira).
The young have no concept of strategy. He looks over at Mama D and her failure to be patient. And I guess the old can have a similar failing as well.
He will draw his crossbow as he moves, hopefully able to get up the stairs next turn.
The Night Swan takes the book back. ”Alas. Another time.” She draws her halberd on the move as she moves in and to the side of the mass of worms. ”I have always heard it said the early bird gets the worm.” She hacks at the writhing mass with her halberd.
HP: 118/118
AC: 34/14/33
Saves: F14/R14/W15 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+20[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+9[/dice] damage.
Edelmira begins a game with the major. Elen peers through the mail slot and sees... Muri strides up the stairs and opens the door! Kamari floats up the stairs and readies an attack that does not occur as yet. Mama D does something heroic! Major Kort draws his crossbow and moves. Ohalia flies up the stairs (with a 100’ move she can go anywhere!) and stabs the creature with her spear, sending a cascade of worms scattering and reforming around her attack (DR).
…she hits, but does no damage.
The creature you face, wormy, steps back and casts a spell at the valkyrie.
- - -
vs DC 23
vs DC 22
Ohalia resists the urge to become a shrew, though not by much...
Elen bolts up the stairs as soon as the door is opened and dances past Muri.
She holds her naginata menceningly at the bogus man.
Kort delays slightly to give more space to the goon squad to get up and into position.
Round 4, flying
Kamari flies the longer way to avoid an attack, but she is still able to stab the creature once. However, she finds herself disoriented by the roiling mass of worms.
Round 3, Init 12
Kort double moves up the stairs and into the room where he might be helpful.
Now that he can see the creature, he will opine on what to do.
Know (Nature) -
Discorporate (Su) A worm that walks can collapse into a shapeless swarm of worms as a free action. All held, worn, and carried items fall and its Strength score drops to 1. The worm that walks functions as a true swarm while discorporated, with a reach of 0 feet (its space remains unchanged). While discorporated, the worm that walks loses all of its defensive abilities and gains all of the standard swarm traits. It loses its slam attacks and all special abilities and special attacks, but can make a swarm attack that deals damage equal to its engulf attack. A worm that walks can reform into its true form (including equipping all gear in reach) as a full-round action as long as it has at least 1 hit point.
some Rune magics which it didn't have time to place.
Squirming Embrace (Ex) If a worm that walks grapples a foe, as a swift action, it can cause a swarm of worms to squirm over the grappled creature. These worms deal automatic swarm damage with no attack roll needed (see the table below). If a creature takes damage from the swarm, it is also subject to the swarm’s distraction ability, and must make a Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC equals 10 + 1/2 the worm that walks’s HD + its Con modifier).
Tenacious (Ex) A worm that walks gains a +8 racial bonus on CMB checks made to grapple and a +4 racial bonus to its CMD.
Also wild shape thrice a day.
No obvious weaknesses...
It'll take a little while. It's more of a spellcaster than a melee fighter, so Kamari will die slowly, gnawed with thousands of tiny little bookworm bites over time.
- - -
Round 4, Init 12
AC = 25
HP = 54/84
Weapon Equipped = Good Bow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 29
HP = 99/99
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
"Ewwwww." Muri instinctively looks up to the ceiling, worried that even more worms are set to drop on their unsuspecting heads, and he won't be as lucky or as agile as Kamari to avoid them. Watching their attacks being wriggled off, Muri decides that this creature deserves every little bit of holy energy Chaldira is fit to bestow on it, through her faithful halfling acolyte.
Underfoot barks from below, but Muri doesn't call her up just yet.
Given time, Kort will explain what’s in the spoilers above.
Edelmira GMPC double moves up to the fight. Elen double moves into the room to set up. Muri targets the evil worms and brings the power divine to do real harm to the creature. Kamari closes and swings hard, but the worms get under her skin… Mama D GMPC double moves up to the fight. Major Kort double moves into position. Ohalia summons forth divine power before stepping up to provide flank for Kamari.
The creatures attempts to summon a swarm - or rather four swarms!
vs DC 29
Alas, the surrounding party members keep it from summoning aid - this round. However, in addition to having a high DR, it also has fast healing. The arrows Muri plunged into the mass, fall out as some of the worms plug the 'hole'. (fast healing)
Round 5, flying
Kamari strikes quickly before the walking worms decide to form a new shape that will cause Kamari more trouble. She then floats back 5'.
I sure hope these things don't also explode.
-
-
The Night Swan decides to take the most direct option and jumps on top of the desk, using the momentum to propel her halberd in an overhead chop.
HP: 118/118
AC: 34/14/33
Saves: F14/R14/W15 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+20[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+9[/dice] damage.
Round 4
Kort steps closer, firing at the bad thing.
to hit; (+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
hp: 108/108
AC: 21/16/17
Saves: F9/R14/W13 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/3 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/11 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/6 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
5: 0/2 used (CLWM*0,FlStr*0)
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+15+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+15+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+10+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+5+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
”In perfect broad daylight not behind walls or waiting for the worms to come!”
Elen spring attacks to finish her statement.
for
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Round 5, Init 12
AC = 25
HP = 54/84
Weapon Equipped = Good Bow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 29
HP = 99/99
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Underfoot continues to bark from the first floor, while Muri sends judgmental flights at the wormy being, this time stepping up his rate of attack, buoyed by Elen's prismatic turn of phrase, and his direct line to target.
Edelmira misses... though she’ll have Elen’s bonus next round to assist. Elen feints and hits, making things easier for those to follow in a variety of ways. Muri lands three heavy blows, and with his divine power - plows through the DR! Kamari can’t confirm the crit (uncrittable) but she does hit twice for a little damage (+ Elen added). Mama D does something heroic! Major Kort hits twice, and clustered, manages to do a little damage as well (+ Elen added). Ohalia takes advantage of her blessings, and Elen’s boost, to try and do some damage!
The worms survive the onslaught, heal a bit, and tries to summon some fire - the swarms not being forthcoming.
vs DC 25
A long snake of fire wraps around the room the flames snake around to everyone except Major Kort, who’s just slightly too far away.
Reflex DC 22 for half
vs DC 23 - FAIL
As Muri plows arrow after arrow into the creature, the party seems to see an eyeball, floating around inside the mass of worms.
vs DC 28
Wormy shudders a moment, and then continues on as if nothing happened, though it seems to be moving more slowly… Sense motives please, if you wish (free action on your turn).
- - -
The worms are falling away in clumps - it cannot be long now...
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Round 6, flying
Kamari smirks as no swarms appear and a fiery threat she can avoid appears. She bops left and right doing her best impression of a hummingbird. She's about to swoop back in with Koriana's proboscis when the "snake" twists in a way a snake shouldn't be able to--but it is only a fiery magical form after all. Kamari can't see a way to avoid it until she remembers she is flying, and she can also dodge downward.
With just a few singed hairs, Kamari slips close to the wormy wonder to end it before it comes up with another trick.
-
-
Hero points - 1 used
Shield spell - used
Pearls of power - 1/2 used
Panache - full
Sense Motive
Kort notices something different about the creature, but he is not sure he cares. He might be wrong, but it's also an awful creature.
Round 5
Kort steps closer, firing at the bad thing.
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
"That will be enough of that!" Elen challenges and spring attacks again.
for
Hits: 37/84
Current AC: 30, 34 against stupid Worm
Current Saves: Fort: +12; Ref +11; Will: +8, +10 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak)
Current AC: 30 [ooc] +2 Amulet, +4 Mage Armor]
(Normal) AC: 22 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge)
flat: 18 (ring +2, nat armor +1, mage armor +4)
touch: 24 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +6, Dodge +1)
CMD = 30
WandofMageArmorCharges = 29/50
Wand of CLW: 22/50
Resolve = 8/8
Challenge = 5/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
The Night Swan is not particularly well-practiced in divining the motivations of swarms of worms, even when she is not being blasted with fireballs, so she does not notice anything, keeping up her attacks, now with Elen’s inspiring support.
HP: 95/118
AC: 34/14/33
Saves: F14/R14/W15 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+20[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+9[/dice] damage.
Round 6, Init 12
AC = 25
HP = 31/84
Weapon Equipped = Good Bow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 29
HP = 99/99
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri yips in the middle of his segment of the fire snake, and seconds later, the stairs resound with the sound of nails pawing an advance up them. Underfoot almost plows Muri over, before coming to a stop behind him.
Muri sees the eyeball, then his brain continues to see only the eyeball. Nothing about the wormy shudder rings the halfling's bells of recognition. It only hones his fixation on what lies beneath, as he sends another hailstorm of arrows.
"Eyeball... there's an eyeball under there..."
The party piles on, blow after blow. As there’s no definitive physiology, it takes a moment to determine when the creature ‘dies’ - so who landed the final blow is uncertain. But final it is.
The worms discorporate and the creature collapses into its component parts - making it hard to move without stepping on something squishy. As it does so, an eyeball flies out from amid the worms, and makes for the window. Kamari may make an AoO if she wishes before the eye disappears in the neighborhood outside.
A few items are left behind by the worm that walks including armor, a belt, some odds and ends…
Leather Armor +4
Belt of Mighty Constitution +4
Cloak of Resistance +3
Headband of Inspired Wisdom +2
Sapphires and other gems worth 2,300gp
You also get a chance to look around a bit at the large attic space where you’ve been fighting. Integrated shelves line most of this room, filled with books and scrolls of all kinds. There are some notebooks on the desk. Tall windows are open to the north, providing a stunning view of an enormous, and somewhat distant, capital district.
It’ll take some time to go through the library to get a sense of what’s here, and to read the notebooks. However, Ohalia does react sharply to the notebooks, ”That’s Taldaris’s handwriting. I’d know that cribbed scratch anywhere.” She looks around at the books and suggests, ”He always was an avid reader. This may be his home.” She glances back at the notebooks, ”Or at least it's someone who has some of Taldaris’s notebooks. Could be a fan.”
What do you do?
Whew! Elen exhales partly in outrage partly with relief when the thing flees out of the window.
Not having gotten a good look at it herself she asks, "Do you think that eye is the one we saw from the vision?"
She straightens her hair.
Elen looks around at the room and pictures what she has seen of the rest of the house and the neighborhood as Ohalia speaks.
”Taldaris!” Elen exclaims, ”Of course! That’s why everything appears to be so perfect!” Almost before finishing she shakes her head and frowns. ”No, I don’t understand. It’s like we’re inside his mind – but how could we be? I mean, if I were imprisoned, this is along the lines of what I’d want my environment to look like. I could see a King living here, is all. I mean, except for all of the intruding evil demons, of course.”
Hits: 84/84
Current AC: 30, 34 against stupid Worm
Current Saves: Fort: +12; Ref +11; Will: +8, +10 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak)
Current AC: 30 [ooc] +2 Amulet, +4 Mage Armor]
(Normal) AC: 22 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge)
flat: 18 (ring +2, nat armor +1, mage armor +4)
touch: 24 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +6, Dodge +1)
CMD = 30
WandofMageArmorCharges = 18/50
Wand of CLW: 22/50
Resolve = 8/8
Challenge = 5/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
Muri tucks his wand into his belt pouch as effortlessly as he pulls arrows, before mounting up, and patting Underfoot on her nape, reassuring her that he's at full strength. The two trot around the room, stopping first as Underfoot locates center mass on the mound of worms, and relieves herself in a most unladylike manner.
"I don't get it. We still don't know where we are, like really where we are, only what things look like." Muri clicks his tongue, and Underfoot spirits him down the stairs and to the front door, where the halfling dismounts, and tries to open the front door.
Kort gives the evil eye the evil eye and tries to identify.
Know (Dungeoneering)
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Kamari tries to shish kabob the eye.
Kamari refreshes her shield spell while she is thinking of it.
Hero points - 1 used
Shield spell - refreshed
Pearls of power - 0/2 used
Panache - full
Kamari casually whips her blade around and skewers the pupil in mid air during its flight. Still on her rapier, it’s not going anywhere and seems to have ‘died’. It was critable.
I’ll get Muri to the front door in a moment, just want to give everyone a chance to react post-combat a moment longer.
You think it might be an Hyakume. A NE Large aberration.
Hideous and corpulent, with numerous eyes dotting their bodies, hyakumes are mystics of malevolence. They steal and collect the memories of other intelligent beings to increase their own knowledge.
No further information at this time, though you may re-roll should you ever see such a creature in the flesh.
- - -
While he waits for others to heal up, the Socratic Kort will identify the magics and take nothing for himself. He will also take a few moments to examine the notebooks and the papers for something others might have overlooked.
Perception
"Well, let's look around and make sure we haven't missed anything." Kort will examine the area again, then join Muri at the door.
Kamari peruses the books for anything interesting but feels too uncomfortable in the place to linger for long.
Major Kort fires up the detect magic no doubt and scans the library. One book in particular stands out - A tome of leadership and influence +1. However, this text is annotated in the margins by Taldaris himself, improving upon the magics of the text to provide a full +2 to charisma for the reader!
As I mentioned though, it’ll take some hours to investigate the library to see what’s there, or to read through the notebooks. However, you don’t have that much time now.
Muri, ever impatient, ignores the texts and rushes out the front door to find an elegantly groomed walkway leading to a well appointed road. There are a number of other dwellings nearby, all just as perfect, though each slightly different.
He sees a creature approaching the house, directing several others to fan out and surround the building. As this lithe humanoid moves, its flesh shimmers and wavers, temporarily breaking apart into motes of shimmering light before reassembling again - almost like breathing.
Stewards of ancient, colossal cities on lawful planes, axiomites represent the fundamental search for order. According to their own history, the first axiomites sprang from the raw mathematical underpinnings of the cosmos long before the first gods began to stir—they are personifications of a primordial reality made flesh in an attempt to understand itself. New axiomites are formed from souls much like celestials or fiends, with spirits drawn across the planes to one of the axiomites’ humming crystal monoliths, emerging later as purified creatures of law and theory.
- - -
The creatures she commands are likewise unusual. These look like mechanical centaurs. Golden, clockwork wings sprout from their back, and their arms end in barbed chains. Four move to secure the perimeter, and two join her toward the front door, looking menacing.
Zelekhuts are bounty hunters and executioners all rolled into one. They seek out those beings who continually evade justice - either through active flight, or through power and station - and bring law and justice to the multiverse’s most notorious fugitives and criminals.
- - -
She does not appear to notice Muri in the doorway if he wishes to close it.
We’re not in rounds, but do place your positions on the map please and keep your actions to a few rounds of activity at best - depending on what Muri does.
Kamari, no longer flying, steps up next to Muri and looks out the door.
"Oh, I've read about those since I started dabbling in magic," she whispers.
"They might not be too thrilled with our spontaneous natures, but they're not evil at least. It's an extra-planar posse, but they shouldn't be looking for us--I hope. If things do go bad, look out for their..."
Kort moves down to where he can welcome the visitors.
Know (Planes) -
Know (Planes) -
"They might not be too thrilled with our spontaneous natures, but they're not evil at least. It's an extra-planar posse, but they shouldn't be looking for us--I hope. If things do go bad, look out for their..."
Muri nods, then rubs his left heel stirrup alongside Underfoot. The two of them advance onto the walk, closing the distance to the newcomers.
"Hello there! We are new here. We thought we were going to speak with Taldaris back in his tomb, but we failed. And now we're here. Do you know where 'here' is? You probably do, and we'd really like to gain our bearings. Oh, and we just fought inside, but only to defend ourselves." Muri feels a tickle behind his eyes, his old self dying to speak in white lies, while his new self has more respect for himself than that.
Elen awaits by the threshold of the door to see how things might progress.
She is pretty sure the chance is high that they will be perceived as lawbreakers.
”Please excuse, but can you say when the mail will be posted in these parts?”
Diplomacy auto aid.
- - -
- - -
"Hello there! We are new here. We thought we were going to speak with Taldaris back in his tomb, but we failed. And now we're here. Do you know where 'here' is? You probably do, and we'd really like to gain our bearings. Oh, and we just fought inside, but only to defend ourselves." Muri feels a tickle behind his eyes, his old self dying to speak in white lies, while his new self has more respect for himself than that.
”You must be the off-plane presence.” the lead woman says mostly to herself as she looks down on Muri. The metallic centaurs bristle for battle but watch the woman for their lead. She seems to particularly eye Ohalia, though she makes no overtly hostile moves. ”You are on Axis, in the Sayashto district, in the home of impariut inevitable Taldaris. I am Lieutenant Fanalyx.”
Ohalia harumphs, "I thought I smelled something," she murmers.
”Please excuse, but can you say when the mail will be posted in these parts?”
”Here?” she considers a moment, ”Mid-morning. Perhaps 10 o’clock.”
”I’m sure you have further questions.” she holds up her hands as if to block them, ”But I have a few first. The first of which is, how did you come here? Did you plane shift? If not, describe in detail what happened. And your names please.” She efficiently takes out a notebook and pencil.
- - -
One question for each five you beat the DC.
Monarchs, dictators, governors, and mayors may rule under the pretense of sustaining lawful civilization, yet those who abuse their power or harm their people undermine the foundation of government. To the forces of Axis, these bad actors represent a threat to cosmic order and a means by which the chaos of uprisings and revolution can take hold. The mortal agents of lawful deities are responsible for encouraging responsible governance; where they fail, an impariut must intervene.
Each impariut is a stern counselor sent to reform a powerful leader, guiding that figure toward sustainable policies that maintain order. Unlike many inevitables that care only that the universal order is upheld, impariuts exhibit slightly more patience and flexibility, knowing that an iron-fisted response is as likely to trigger riots as a negligent regime. As a result, impariuts are capable diplomats and teachers, equally proficient with incentives as with unflinching punishments.
- - -
Know (Planes)
Know (Planes)
Kort grunts, remembering things from an old book he read. He will relay what he can to the other party members of the spoilers above.
”We’re on Axis, then? Interesting.”
1d20 + 23 + 2 + 1d8 + 3 Know (Planes)
1d20 + 23 + 2 + 1d8 + 3 Know (Planes)Kort grunts, remembering things from an old book he read. He will relay what he can to the other party members of the spoilers above.
”We’re on Axis, then? Interesting.”
Mama D absent mindedly smiles as Muri make polite conversation. She knows very little about Axis, at least until The Good Major fills her in.
"That *is* very interesting. Not exactly what we were expecting, but an extra planar jaunt is quite something."
Muri sizes up the axiomite, feeling very familiar with a powerful entity approaching them in a position of authority. Not unlike when the valkyrie approached them with her own minions. Speak plainly, and she'll join us, too.
"My name is Muri Daybreaker. I'm from Golarion. And in Golarion, I'm from the Taldor part." The halfling points at the old man. "He'll tell you how we got here." Muri nods from Kort in the direction of the axiomite, encouraging the Professor to get on with explanations and apologies.
Huh.
"Mid-morning. Perhaps 10 o’clock.”
"Thank you. I guess either it was picked up already, or we're here early by almost a day -- but we can't be..."
~~~
Puzzled, Elen puts her finger to her jaw pensively while others fill in the travel details.
So this is Axis? You do not look like constructs. Is Axis full of constructs? I can understand constructs being here, as for how the Major has described Axis -- but worms and eyeballs? Do you have many of those around here? We are off-plane presences, but maybe you also detected the worms and eyeball."
"Well, we got here in a dimensionally whimey sort of way." Kamari also looks at the Major for assistance.
"Yes, worms and flying eyeballs seem much more out of place than us. Speaking of impariut inevitable Taldaris, might we have an audience."
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"He'll tell you how we got here."
”How we got here? Well…I’m really not too sure. You see, we were trying to stop the chaos of a challenged monarchical throne by rogue elements who hang on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society. If there’s ever gonna be any progress….”
…and Kort will explain about the ritual.
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”How we got here? Well…I’m really not too sure. You see, we were trying to stop the chaos of a challenged monarchical throne by rogue elements who hang on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society. If there’s ever gonna be any progress….”
…and Kort will explain about the ritual.
She listens politely to the old man whine as he gets warmed up, and makes notes when he describes the ritual and result. ”Interesting. I’m no planar expert, but it sounds like something went wrong with the ritual, but the planar magics pulled you here, instead of pulling Taldaris to you.”
She shrugs, ”Or maybe he was pulled to you, and he’s sitting in his crypt in this TAL-dour you speak of.” she struggles with your home a bit but continues smoothly, ”I’m authorized to search this building as there has clearly been battle and other… shenanigans.”
She answers your questions as she walks through the building, examining the evidence and taking your statements.
So this is Axis? You do not look like constructs. Is Axis full of constructs? I can understand constructs being here, as for how the Major has described Axis -- but worms and eyeballs? Do you have many of those around here? We are off-plane presences, but maybe you also detected the worms and eyeball."
”No,” she smiles, ”We are not full of constructs.”
She looks at your blank stares a moment, and her helpful citizen persona kicks in as she talks lovingly about her town.
”First-time visitors expect some parody of order - a precisely tuned machine world where the slightest disturbance sends the whole array into a death spiral. Make no mistake, those tourists could find what they’re looking for in the clockwork matrices of Stelti-3 or the tireless Adamantine Crucible, but even the lawful purpose that drives these sites includes hundreds of safeguards and fail-safes.”
”These visitors forget, though, that the Eternal City is exactly that: a city. And Sayashto’s one of its most iconic districts. It’s where the smell of clean canal water mingles with the grassy warmth of the yashtoma fields, cut through by the scents of perfectly pressed drinks from the nearby cafes.”
”It’s a home full of fresh faces, new ideas, and personal drive. It’s also a home where, no matter where you’ve gone or for how long, everything’s where you left it. Above all, it’s a vibrant urban hub that embodies law’s greatest gifts for all to enjoy.”
"Yes, worms and flying eyeballs seem much more out of place than us. Speaking of impariut inevitable Taldaris, might we have an audience."
”Quite so. Worms and flying eyeballs are quite unseemly. You did well to best them. I expect there will be some sort of commendation, but who knows. Maybe you’ll be arrested for disturbing the peace.” She laughs at her little joke. ”You will need to register with immigration however,” she adds more seriously.
”This is Taldaris’s home. I do not know him, and so do not know if his absence at this time is mysterious or normal. He might be out to lunch for all we know. I suggest, after immigration, you find lodgings and spend the afternoon in the district. Meet me at the police station tomorrow, ask anyone they’ll direct you, say nine o’clock? I’ll have some answers for you then.”
”Please do not leave the district until we’ve had our chat. No running away on me now.” she smiles.
Kamari rewards the lieutenant with a brief smile for her joke before inquiring about directions to immigration.
After that, she'll ask, "Once we've had our chat tomorrow, how can we return to Taldor? Which way is the exit from this world? Surely it's well marked in such an orderly place."
Kamari looks around to see if any nosy neighbors are peeking out of their windows thinking they might know what happened to Taldaris.
Kort pauses to take in all that has been said.
"Are there any places here where we cannot go? I would hate to walk in some place where we might be unwelcome. Of course we will strive to be here tomorrow for the meeting discussing our immigration," Kort asks and reminds.