Round 3 - You detect his thoughts. He’s wondering if the fake soulstone he has will work to trick the marut. He's trying to figure out how to make it look like he left it behind or lost it somehow and the marut finds it.
Remember, soulbound dolls have their essence stored in a Soul Focus. Destroy that, and you destroy the doll. Apparently Nabil has a fake Soul Focus.
You also, faintly, hear talking from outside behind you. You doubt the doll can hear it though as he continues to focus mostly out the north door.
- - -
It’s almost certainly the Marut who’s hunting Nabil and who destroyed his home (according to the neighbors). How do you respond?
- - -
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Kamari nods to the newcomer.
"Good morning. We are authorized investigators." Kamari displays the party's warrant but does not hand it over.
"Why are you looking for Nabil and on whose authority? I'm sure you can also produce the proper documentation. If our purposes align then perhaps we can work together. If not, surely chaos ensues."
"Why are you looking for Nabil and on whose authority? I'm sure you can also produce the proper documentation. If our purposes align then perhaps we can work together. If not, surely chaos ensues."
Kort wants to keep focused on listening for sounds from inside, but also doesn’t necessarily want help. He will let Kamari handle things, however.
Perception
Muri's eyes transition from the Marut to Kamari. As they travel, they narrow and sparkle more and more. That's good. That's really good. She sounds very lawful. I didn't expect that.
The halfling's eyes return to the Marut, and rest there until it has responded.
The Night Swan also stays silent with the Major, not wanting to draw too much attention to herself. However, unlike the Major, she will focus instead on trying to read the Marut.
- - -
"Why are you looking for Nabil and on whose authority? I'm sure you can also produce the proper documentation. If our purposes align then perhaps we can work together. If not, surely chaos ensues."
”It’s good to be authorized.” it hands over its documents even as it studies yours. Its documents are more akin to your original ones. It does not have investigator documents, though it’s hard to know who has the stronger claim. Profession Barrister check for more information…
However, it goes on to say, ”As your claim supersede mine, I shall act merely in support until you are finished with the abomination. My services are yours.” It folds up its map and tucks it away. It stands quietly, looking at the half-open door intently, but making no movements or indication of further conversation.
- - -
- - -
Visible, Elen emerges from the darkness of the warehouse and shakes her head shrugging in a 'believe it or not but...' way. "He isn't here."
Oh, he's here alright.
"Thanks for sharing, but I'm still unclear if our purposes are aligned? We're new to this plane. What exactly did he do? What are your plans for him?"
Sense Motive
”Right.” Kort replies, wondering what to do about the Marut. He waits for Kamari very thoughtful discussions to continue.
Visible, Elen emerges from the darkness of the warehouse and shakes her head shrugging in a 'believe it or not but...' way. "He isn't here."
The marut shrugs, seemingly disappointed, but undeterred.
"Thanks for sharing, but I'm still unclear if our purposes are aligned? We're new to this plane. What exactly did he do? What are your plans for him?"
”It falls upon me to destroy the abomination unto Pharasma. This creature has artificially extended his own life. By his very existence, he is doomed.” he says simply as if that describes it all. Considering its fervor in the matter, you’re somewhat surprised it is willing to let you talk to Nabil first.
Major Kort can read the Night Swan spoiler in my last post.
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Muri takes a quick moment to pat Underfoot, who spots Elen emerging from the warehouse, and starts to turn away from the door. "Easy, Girl. We're speaking with the marut. We need to decide where we're going next."
"Mr. Marut, if the doll isn't here, where would you look next? Do you want to split up, so we can search with a wider net?"
Kort keeps his mouth shut, still thinking about what might transpire next knowing what he knows and not trusting himself to say much at the moment. He has a problem with authority...in that, he will follow it if he has to. He's not sure who has the authority here, and will keep quiet until he knows.
"Mr. Marut, if the doll isn't here, where would you look next? Do you want to split up, so we can search with a wider net?"
”Well…” The marut scratches its head thinking, ”I will search the warehouse.” It nods respectfully to Elen, ”No offense ma’am, but I might be more methodical than you. So I must be sure.”
It thinks some more, ”My information puts him here, so I suppose I’ll search nearby until I find another lead.” It thinks again, ”Name’s Yortraru.”
"I'm always up to learn new things," Kamari says. "I'll join you. Lead the way."
"I'll join you. Lead the way."
"Oh, I'll come too. Might be some neat warehouse technology here in Axis that I can bring back to Taldor," Kort shrugs. "I've been known to organize a few storerooms in my time. We'll see how they do things here on the plane of Order."
Kort follows along, not trying to keep quiet at all.
Elen shrugs and looks back into the warehouse. "Suit yourself!". She turns back to the Marut. "So, tell us Yortraru -- what is your source of information? Do you have other quarry?"
"So, tell us Yortraru -- what is your source of information? Do you have other quarry?"
”I ask questions, people give me answers. Neighbors, passers by, whomever I can find. I have one quarry at a time.” it says proudly.
"I'm always up to learn new things," Kamari says. "I'll join you. Lead the way."
"Oh, I'll come too. Might be some neat warehouse technology here in Axis that I can bring back to Taldor," Kort shrugs. "I've been known to organize a few storerooms in my time. We'll see how they do things here on the plane of Order."
Elen shrugs and looks back into the warehouse. "Suit yourself!".
Yortraru the marut joins you at the door, but hesitates, thinking hard. ”Are you giving me authorization to enter?” he finally asks after a moment or two of deep thought. He does not immediately cross the threshold, but waits for permission.
It obviously doesn’t recognize the owner of the warehouse, standing quietly by trying not to get in the way. It must assume he’s part of your party. The owner looks to you for an answer, not particularly wanting to get involved on either side.
"No, we're not." Muri looks at the owner, and shakes his head. "We're all going to enter the warehouse, and perform a second search, while you remain here and stay vigilant. We may manage to flush him out, but we need your eyes to keep track of anyone fleeing the warehouse while we're all inside."
Muri looks to his crew, to the owner again, nodding, before entering the warehouse, and waiting for Elen to return to the inside, where they can hopefully close the door behind them, and discuss the next steps of finding the doll, sorting out what they might be able to do between the two parties, then actualizing it.
The marut shrugs, no stranger to delay. He waits outside while the party, and the owner, enter - closing the door behind you.
Elen notes where the doll is hiding by the door.
The doll is thinking of leaving the soul stone behind and burning down the structure to try and escape. Make it look like he died in the fire. But he's torn - he doesn't want to cause that much damage, or possibly hurt anyone.
Yet his very survival is at stake.
- - -
Kort nods and heads inside to look around. He’s pleased with Muri’s actions.
Perception
He will keep his eyes open for anything that might be important.
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Elen moves away from the door to foil any eavesdropping Maruts.
”Oh, oh dear. Alright. Despite all of the noise we’ve made, he still hasn’t noticed us. I feel bad for him, he’s like a sitting duck here. He’s now thinking of burning down the place to stage his own death… Let me approach him first to disarm his fear at least… then hopefully I can invite the rest of you, and we can ask him about Taldaris and his stargazing. He’s super harmless.”
Elen approaches the doll, dancing and chanting.
”Toot-see-tus, Pharaoh of the Whales, Hails from the City of Whales”
”Tutcetus was the smallest whale ever, and yet a King like Taldaris – but among whales. I know from what you hide, maybe my friends and I can help you escape. They are here with me, presently hiding also. Would you like to meet them? Don’t be alarmed, some of them are wearing some impressive looking armor.”
Elen waves the dust her flowy garb has stirred up back down to the floor. "Oh, if it weren't for the dust, I'm sure that would have looked much nicer."
Major Kort sees a well appointed, lawfully organized warehouse. It may not be clean, but it's the most ordered warehouse he's ever seen.
The doll initially freaks out at the sudden appearance of Elen and, eventually, the party. But before he can bolt, he's enraptured by Elen's little performance.
It doesn't sink in though that you know anything about him. He whispers, "Who are you?"
The small doll is clutching a shiny pebble in trembling hands and sports a dagger on his hip, though it looks more like a butter knife. He wears no armor. He's shaking with exhaustion and fear. He looks like a stiff wind would knock him over in fact. Maybe even a gentle breeze.
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"They must use the dewey docket system around here backed up by an array of arrays. Very nice," Kort notes the shelving with some stiffness.
He will keep quiet with his storehouse musings and let others continue to enrapture the doll.
Near the end, he might offer to sneak the doll out in his haversack to some place safer, if needed.
"We are investigators, Nabil. Lieutenant Fanalyx ran some divinations on our information, and your name came up regarding a constellation of stars that we need to learn more about. We didn't know that you would be a doll on the run from a marut, so we might need to learn more about that first."
The Night Swan sets the butt of her halberd on the ground. ”Calm yourself, doll. If we wanted you dead, we would have left you to the marut. Speak, and speak truthfully, is all we require of you.”
”Also, we’re not above helping you if we can. We are good people,” Kort doesn’t side eye anyone. ”Good people for the most part. You help us, and we’ll help you.”
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"We are investigators, Nabil. Lieutenant Fanalyx ran some divinations on our information, and your name came up regarding a constellation of stars that we need to learn more about. We didn't know that you would be a doll on the run from a marut, so we might need to learn more about that first."
The Night Swan sets the butt of her halberd on the ground. ”Calm yourself, doll. If we wanted you dead, we would have left you to the marut. Speak, and speak truthfully, is all we require of you.”
”Investigators? You don’t work for Yortraru? A constellation of stars? I’m very confused.”
The little guy shakes his head a few times to try and clear the stuffing. ”Yortraru has been hunting me because I’m a souldoll. He says that means the person whose soul I’m made from is extending their life… unnaturally.” He trails off a bit before bursting, ”But it’s not! I’m my own man! And he wants to destroy me!” He whimpers a bit, ”It’s not fair…”
”Also, we’re not above helping you if we can. We are good people,” Kort doesn’t side eye anyone. ”Good people for the most part. You help us, and we’ll help you.”
”How can you help? A marut never stops until they’ve done their job - as they see it anyway. It’s so unfair!” he shakes a bit trying to keep it together and a bit of stuffing falls out.
Muri wrinkles his nose. "You chose to become a doll? You are your own person, no doubt, but are you trying to extend your life? Or are you just cursed to be a doll?"
"Calm down, Nabil," Elen says gently "We do not work for Yortraru. If it is any consolation, he really doesn't seem to be all that eager to do this job. Do you know whose soul is occupying you? Do you know who made you? Did they make other Soulbound Dolls?"
"Which constellation do you know the most about? Why do you study it?"
Do the stars in the constellation represent soul pieces of Taldaris?
"And do explain *how* you became a doll. From there, we might find ways to aid you...or at least try to help you avoid the Marut," Kort asks, arcanely interested.
Know (arcana)
Muri wrinkles his nose. "You chose to become a doll? You are your own person, no doubt, but are you trying to extend your life? Or are you just cursed to be a doll?"
The doll takes offense, but can’t do much about it he’s so flustered, ”Did you chose to become cursed as a halfling?”
"Calm down, Nabil," Elen says gently "We do not work for Yortraru. If it is any consolation, he really doesn't seem to be all that eager to do this job. Do you know whose soul is occupying you? Do you know who made you? Did they make other Soulbound Dolls?”
"And do explain *how* you became a doll. From there, we might find ways to aid you...or at least try to help you avoid the Marut," Kort asks, arcanely interested.
”MY soul. How would I know who made me? Do you know how made you? Maybe it was spontaneous?” Those are quite heady questions for such a simple doll. It seems quite unsure the answers to existence itself. He clearly doesn’t know how he came to be crafted, or by whom.
These small, sentient dolls contain a fragment of another creature’s soul. The binding process strips most of the individuality from the soul, making a new soulbound doll an almost blank slate. Despite this process, fragments of the original creature’s personality remain.
Soulbound dolls can serve as companions, surrogate children, servants, guards, and sentries, as desired by their creators. Creators of soulbound dolls typically take care to take soul fragments from people whose personality traits the crafters wish to see in their dolls.
A soulbound doll’s body is made from wood, stone, or porcelain, with one exquisite item worth at least 300 gp to serve as the soul focus. Creation requires a soul fragment from a deceased creature that must die at some point during the creation of the doll - as a result, most soulbound dolls are created by evil spellcasters. Other spellcasters can create soulbound dolls, but if the donor soul is unwilling, they may have alignment repercussions. An unwilling soul can resist the procedure with a DC 20 Will save. Stripping a soul fragment from the dead does not prevent the rest of the soul from continuing on to the afterlife, nor does it prevent the body from later being resurrected or raised from the dead.
Unless explained to them, a spellbound doll might never know about its origin.
- - -
"Which constellation do you know the most about? Why do you study it?"
”Are you kidding? Just as the Ethereal Plane is a conduit for emotion and dreams, so too is the Astral Plane a matrix for powerful thought. As extraordinary creatures perform extraordinary acts recounted in extraordinary tales, the general public’s conception of these figures imprint on the Astral Plane, creating an echo of that hero’s greatness known as an astral legend.”
”Most astral legends appear as minor constellations easily missed against the Astral Plane’s other stars. When a medium reaches out to a spirit, though, the legend resonates with power. Those are the best!”
He seems to lose track of his worries for a moment as he discusses his passion for what passes for astronomy on the Astral Plane. He rambles on a while and your eyes glaze over a bit.
”I was working on one minor constellation that disappeared when the marut started hunting me. Very strange really, a constellation disappearing. I wrote many other astral astronomers about it, but our conversations stopped sort of. Well I’ve been on the run a while too.”
"Exactly how long have you existed, Nabil? Do you know anything of your soul-donors?"
...
"And this 'minor' constellation was associated with whom? What could make it disappear? If the public's conception creates the constellation, then could a change in perception eliminate that constellation?"
Kamari looks about for the Marut, not confident he will continue to wait outside.
”What is your fascination with astrology? How long have you had it, or do you know how long you’ve been alive? As one taken with the stars, surely, you recognize the patterns of celestial aging?” Kort switches tack as something doesn’t make sense.
The party continues to badger the poor man about his very existence, like he was some sort of lab animal.
"Exactly how long have you existed, Nabil? Do you know anything of your soul-donors?"
”I dunno. I sort of stopped counting. I don’t know my birthday, so the years would just sort of roll on by. Something over a hundred certainly. No.” He seems annoyed by the question, but the underlying panic prevents it from bubbling up to the surface.
"And this 'minor' constellation was associated with whom? What could make it disappear? If the public's conception creates the constellation, then could a change in perception eliminate that constellation?"
”A minor constellation called the ‘Lion Knight’. Taldaris. You wouldn’t know him, but he was very big in a world called Golarion. See, that’s the thing. They shouldn’t be disappearing. I reached out to some of my astronomer friends by mail, and we were having a spirited conversation, when I got a letter and then the marut started chasing me.”
”What is your fascination with astrology? How long have you had it, or do you know how long you’ve been alive? As one taken with the stars, surely, you recognize the patterns of celestial aging?” Kort switches tack as something doesn’t make sense.
He goes off on a bit of a tangent about the wonderousness that is staring into the sky at night and piecing together the histories of powerful cultures. Fascinating! A living history.
”Sure, I mean I understand celestial aging, but these stars were being killed. Like someone was plucking them. I was saving up to go out there, see for myself. A sort of holiday.” He looks glum, ”A very expensive holiday - and now impossible!” he adds as he looks out the little crack in the door next to him.
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The Night Swan pauses in surprise, then lets out a mighty laugh. The founder of Taldor, the emperor worshipped as a god, is a minor footnote as far as the universe is concerned. That is the first bit of news she has enjoyed since coming here. ”Friend, I think our interests are aligned. We are from that little world called Golarion, and we seek none other than this Taldaris. Any help you can provide in doing so would be a great boon to us.”
"Yeah, maybe we can take you back there, too. We have a lovely estate where you can stargaze without that marut around," Kort backs up the Night Swan.
"Did you chose to become cursed as a halfling?”
Muri finds further reason to wrinkle his nose, but the halfling doesn't pursue his facet of the interrogation, as he sees the little's reason is threadbare. He also begins to sympathize with the marut waiting outside.
"We're talking with Nabil like this is the only time we'll be able to. We shouldn't be asking for help, we should be providing it. And I don't know if we can. That marut looks powerful, and Nabil tells us it's not going to stop chasing until it's caught its prey. What are we going to do here?"
Kamari finds herself liking the entity even if she isn't quite sure what to make of him. Kamari looks at Nabil, looks at her satchel, looks at Nabil, shakes her head.
"Who were these other astronomers with whom you were discussing the constellation's disappearance? Where can we find them?"
In case we don't manage to get you out of here, remains unspoken.
"Were you headed somewhere safe or are you just on the run? We could come back for you when we're ready to leave this plane, but I'm not sure about keeping you safe outside of here."
The Night Swan listens to Muri’s concerns and considers them. ”Surely there is some protocol for dealing with complicated situations in which a ‘criminal’ is also an important witness and source to another matter?” She has less than zero faith that such protocols would exist for the benefit of the accused, but rather that with all inevitables’ strict and narrow focuses, they must come into conflict at some point, and a place of pure law would find unmediated conflict with itself antithetical to its existence.
Elen nods, agreeing with the Night Swan. ”Well, I don’t know. Seems like we need Nabil if we’re going to activate the mantle –and if my suspicions are correct it means something is off either with fate or time or planes or the Universe or … something. Those purple flabby hands and yellow eyeballs – accusing US of meddling when it is actually the other way around…
Perhaps the marut can be persuaded that Nabil’s time is not quite over and maybe we can make it worth his time to stay his hunt. But how?”
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”Friend, I think our interests are aligned. We are from that little world called Golarion, and we seek none other than this Taldaris. Any help you can provide in doing so would be a great boon to us.”
”So you know Taldaris? Cool. I dig his mane.”
"Yeah, maybe we can take you back there, too. We have a lovely estate where you can stargaze without that marut around," Kort backs up the Night Swan.
”But how will I avoid the marut?” the little creature wails, clearly no match for the giant outsider.
"We're talking with Nabil like this is the only time we'll be able to. We shouldn't be asking for help, we should be providing it. And I don't know if we can. That marut looks powerful, and Nabil tells us it's not going to stop chasing until it's caught its prey. What are we going to do here?"
Poor little Nabil nods.
"Who were these other astronomers with whom you were discussing the constellation's disappearance? Where can we find them?”
”Oh, just some friends in astronomy. I have their addresses and such, we used to communicate by mail.”
"Were you headed somewhere safe or are you just on the run? We could come back for you when we're ready to leave this plane, but I'm not sure about keeping you safe outside of here."
He frowns and shudders a little. It’s clear he’s just on the run and has no particular plan. ”I do have a spare soulstone...” he holds up something shiny but trails off without a solution.
The Night Swan listens to Muri’s concerns and considers them. ”Surely there is some protocol for dealing with complicated situations in which a ‘criminal’ is also an important witness and source to another matter?”
The little guy doesn’t understand the laws for or against him. He had considered going to a barrister, but that’s when Yortraru destroyed his home and he fled into hiding.
"Perhaps the marut can be persuaded that Nabil’s time is not quite over and maybe we can make it worth his time to stay his hunt. But how?”
The doll wails, ”I’ve tried reasoning with Yortraru, but it’s like talking to a wall. A punchy wall! I’m screwed!”
An option in addition to what's already been discussed. Profession Barrister would tell you a lot - after all you're in a world bound by law. But none of you have that. You can always spend a few gold and hire someone, but the marut is going to search this place as soon as it gets permission, which is likely not too long after you leave you suspect. It probably has profession barrister the lout...
Kort will try to size up the doll, and also verify whether it breathes or not.
As a construct the doll does not breath. He sighs piteously perhaps, but does not require oxygen to survive.
"Alright, if we are to smuggle him out, let us at least stir the dust some more to remove any trace of him being here, and to make the appearance of having thoroughly searched the place."
Kort will ask the doll if it minds being smuggled away in his 'sack, and make sure it knows that it is completely safe in the 'sack where it can begin to chart the Astral stars, but leaving it might mean discovery or worse.
"...and eventually we may get you back to our lands, where we can deny the Marut rights of search, and therefore you might be protected for as long as you stay there."
"Smuggle me out?" the little doll looks up in hope, "You'd do that?"
He peers into Major Kort's handy haversack, "Looks awful dark in there..." Never the less he'll climb in while Elen makes the place look well searched.
When you've completed your ruse, you exit the building to find Yortraru no where around.
Where do you go to talk to the doll about astronomy or next steps?
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The Night Swan holds up a finger. ”If we are smuggling a small doll, let me handle it. My pathfinder pouch has an extradimensional space and cannot be detected as magic.”
The poor doll is just happy to be getting out. He'll climb into the smaller, but possibly more secure, space.