Round 5
Kamari remains where she is and stabs several times at the brain with her scarf-enhanced blade.
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#/# daily uses remaining
Panache 6/6 - 1 gained this round
Arcane Pool 3/3
Pearl of Power 1/2
Swordmaster's Flair blue scarf 0/1
Koriana's blade gemstones
White - Magic missiles 1/1
Pink - Mind-affecting spells 1/1
Black - Negative energy 1/1
Green - Poison 1/1
Prepared Spells
Level 0 (4 per day)
Dancing Lights
Daze
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation
Level 1 (3 per day)
Shocking Grasp
Shock Shield - used
Shield
Round 5, Init 9
Underfoot keeps Muri company on the first floor of the Postmaster's Abode, waiting for the all-clear echoing from the second floor of the Postmaster's Abode.
The Night Swan steps aside to give Kamari a clear lunge line. She hacks at the brain three times, just happy that it is no longer invisible.
HP: 102/127
AC: 34/14/33
Saves: F14/R14/W15 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 3
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+21[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+9[/dice] damage.
Elen drops its dexterity and swats the flat footed brain carving out a little wobbly bit at the back. Major Kort manages a hit with Elen’s +6, and does more damage too. It all bypasses DR as well as a bonus. Kamari manages three hits, and one a crit! The brains did not expect that! Wobbly, but still standing, it watches as Edelmira, though she only hits once, smacks it out of this world - its four legs jerking about in the air as it lies on its back bleeding out. Muri keeps watch for further shenanigans, though none occur.
You search around, and check the vortex dragon. It is indeed dead, its brains eaten out by the devourer who then puppeted its body around. The devourer is wearing a ring of mind shielding and a ring of protection +3.
There are, of course, other items of value - owned by the dead postmaster who’s home you’re in, or by the dragon, who lost its life today also in the service of the post office. I'm assuming you don't steal those.
"Uh, is there some way to question this, or shall I coup de grâce?"
"Also, that ring is of interest to me, I think I could use it."
"No, go ahead. No reason to keep it suffering." Kort will opt not to save the bleeding brain, and mourn the loss of the vortex dragon. He will help examine and pass about the magic items, and then turn his attention to the dead mailsperson.
"Maybe the Postmaster has something on him? I'll check while you search the upstairs?" Kort will cast Detect Magic and see if he can figure out what has been going on here. He will search the postmaster and also try to figure out cause of death.
Heal
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Glad for the Major's return, Muri moves to the stone mound protecting the corpse of the Postmaster, and the Postmaster's mostly unsinged bag of correspondences.
Another flick at the Ring, and a small doorway opens in the side of the Wall of Stone, allowing access to both body and bag.
Kamari examines the poor Vortex dragon.
"Was it dead before the thing took over? How did it get in the body? Could this happen to any one of us?" Kamari wonders aloud as she tries to understand what occurred.
"How long had that thing been in control?"
Elen smashes her Naginata onto the exposed brain severing what life remained from the world.
The wall of stone protects the postmaster’s body and mail from the flames of the dragon and the Major's curiosity - before Muri makes a passage.
The postmaster’s body has a wand of gentle repose with just 4 charges left. Oh, and no brain. Likely the cause of death. Apparently the intellect devourer had been living in the postmaster for quite some time. Probably back to the time when the postmaster made uncharacteristic errors you guess. But the devourer learned, and blended in, but to what end?
The mail gives some clues. There are examples of forgeries - practice documents. There are sensitive letters that might be used for blackmail at the very least - and likely useful secrets to sell to the highest bidder. And of course you’re now sure the postmaster placed the letters with the yellow seal in various mailbags.
The intellect devourer has been a powerful ally, but to whom? It’s clear there are orders coming from someone else. Someone higher up the food chain. Someone who also must have warned the devourer - for it fled just before your arrival. Perhaps you’re being watched…
Kamari will further learn, likely from the Major, that intellect devourers kill their victims and can shrink in size to fit in the brain cavity. A messy business.
Kort explains about small brains, and how the devourer might even subsist on the smallest of half-elven brains.
"Wow, we still have a lot of questions here. We didn't find our answers at all. Have we checked the rest of the building yet?" If not, Kort will give the place, top and bottom, a thorough search.
Perception
Elen smashes her Naginata onto the exposed brain severing what life remained from the world.
Elen steps up to the limbed brain quietly, and carefully inflicts a lethal wound. She shrugs.
”No point in maiming.”
She pores over the letters, looking for the Seal of the Eye if she finds any making note to whom they are addressed.
”We need to find who is conducting all of this! Let’s check our remaining clues. Didn’t Fanalyx say something about a Shinigami?.”
Muri dismounts to handle several of the letters personally, trying and mostly failing to make himself useful. When it becomes apparent they're readying for departure, the halfling does his best to scoop up the paperwork, figuring they have an obligation to return the post to the post office.
"Drop this off, then off to the next, I agree."
Kort explains about small brains, and how the devourer might even subsist on the smallest of half-elven brains.
Poor Kort. He's not even safe from these things.
Kamari assists in the search and trying to discern any patterns in the mail.
"Who are these letters addressed to? We can likely eliminate them as prime suspects, although they might be collaborators."
You search the building, but find little more. The postmaster lived frugally, even more so recently. She had a good eye for art though, and some fine works cover the walls - some of them expensive.
You find no clues here though - the devourer kept all incriminating materials at the office apparently. Probably had a man-sized safe just for the purpose.
The remaining letters are addressed to several dozen people in different jobs. From the forgery samples you can piece together that a wide variety of information was being disseminated. False reports, true reports never delivered, blackmail - the works.
It’s still Rova the 30th, a Sunday. It’s only about 3pm so you have some daylight ahead of you still if you want to use it.
Here’s the list (link) of leads again. You’re half way through #1 (you could still travel to the astral) and #3 is undone (but next). The rest are all still unclear, or done for the most part.
So, as a reminder, Fanalyx noted earlier that undead almost never appear in Sayashto. However, you have ascertained that the appearance of the one in the vision matches that of a shinigami - powerful and macabre heralds of death native to Axis, who often work alongside psychopomps (the agents of law).
You can spend the rest of the afternoon gathering information on the shinigamis, and to see if there are any in this district that match your description if you wish. Such a task will take you until, approximately, supper - but you could seek out more afterwards.
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The Night Swan brings the dead intellect devourer along, stuffed in something like an empty sack, as the physical evidence would be quite useful to have. She also imagines suddenly dropping the corpse of a dead brain with legs in front of the villain when they find them might make a suitably dramatic j’accuse. And she loves a good taste of drama.
”I think the shinigami lead is a good one to follow next.”
Kort walks stiffly around the building, hoping he missed something and disappointed that there aren't more answers here.
"I really thought there would be something to bring this altogether, but it seems like a dead end. It's very...very...weird."
Kort finally nods to himself and looks at the Night Swan.
"I think you're right. Shinigami it is, but maybe we should go on the morrow?" he looks around as he ponders how he might help.
Know (Planes)
"I did a working paper on what the Taldan Army might do if a shinigami appeared on the battlefield. Let me tell you what I know..."
LN Large outsider (extraplanar, lawful)
Feared as truly impartial and merciless harbingers of death, shinigamis are relentless in their pursuit of dispensing quick and just deaths upon those who would seek to disrupt the delicate balance of life. Unlike other, more sinister bringers of doom, shinigamis do not take pleasure in their work and do not seek to impose suffering—although there are exceptions. Some individuals, aptly described by their kin as “rogue shinigamis,” subscribe to either more merciful or more despicable forms of execution, and are either lawful good or lawful evil. Victims who have had their lives spared by kind shinigamis praise the angels of death for their clemency and willingness to listen to the victims’ plight, while other dastardly survivors have successfully cheated or bribed their way out of death by manipulating credulous or less honorable shinigami. A shinigami is 9 feet tall and weighs 130 pounds.
DR 10 chaotic and silver
Their special attack is Destroy Soul (Su). A shinigami possesses six gems in which it encapsulates souls with its soul bind spell-like ability. These gems are only useful to the shinigami that owns them, and if the shinigami dies, the gems are destroyed as well. As a standard action once per day, a shinigami can hold up a gem that currently contains a soul and crush it, permanently destroying the soul within and releasing a 30-foot-radius burst of negative energy that inflicts 1d6 negative levels on all creatures in the area of effect. A successful DC 30 Fortitude save reduces this to 1 negative level. The soul destroyed in the process of using this ability can only be brought back to life by means of a miracle or wish spell. This is a death effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
They have no particular weakness, but their weak save is Reflex.
"But, are they smart?" Elen asks the Major. "I don't want to try to figure out what we're dealing with if it is going to backfire and shock my brain."
"Oh, nevermind me. I'm pretty confident we're just going to have a conversation when we find the shinigami we are looking for."
Either in the morning or that afternoon depending on what the group would prefer, Elen starts making some inqueries around town.
Underfoot finds her stride alongside Elen, while she makes her rounds investigating the shinigami, either for word of its haunts, or a sense of its intents on Axis. The halfling astride the malinois doesn't interject often, just enough to be Helpful.
"The way the Major describes them, it sounds like the shinigami might be easier to talk to, compared to the marut. Oh! Someone should check on the doll. That's if we get one of the good shinigamis, of course."
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"Oh, nevermind me. I'm pretty confident we're just going to have a conversation when we find the shinigami we are looking for."
"Assuming his brain hasn't been eaten."
Kamari reminds herself that the Vortex dragon was already dead before they attacked its body.
Such a waste.
"Well, if we suspect I should be able to spot that. But yes, Muri -- first lets go somewhere private and check on Nabil. I can loan him my ioun stone and my copy of Asiic Isamov’s 'Underpinning' triology."
Elen and Muri, possibly with others, spend the balance of the afternoon hunting around for news of shinigami in the district. One name quickly floats to the surface - Qarit. With a little help from Muri, Elen is able to learn that Qarit frequents a yacht shop called Pakhtil’s.
The namesake proprietor Pakhtil is an industrious azer who prides herself on brewing the freshest yasht in the district. Although every street corner in Sayashto has someone serving yasht, the oldest yasht shop in the district is Pashtol’s having served yasht every year for the last 800.
A proud and hardworking race from the Plane of Fire, azers traditionally toil in their bronze and brass fortresses, always ready for their long, simmering war against the efreet. Azers live in a society where every member knows their place. Born into a particular duty, usually the trade of their father or mother, an azer continues this task their entire life. A caste system further keeps azer society in line. Nobles, ruling without question, wear decorated brass kilts as their symbol of caste, while merchants and business proprietors wear stout bronze. Copper kilts designate the working class, made up of servants, artisans, and laborers.
Azers look strikingly similar to one another to the unfamiliar eye. They are 4 feet tall, but weigh 200 pounds.
- - -
You’ve heard that long lines form at Pashtol's every morning during the rush. It’s now supper and perhaps time to retire for the day. Yasht is generally a morning drink, so Pashtol’s is likely not open now. Your information suggests Qarit is a regular.
You head back to your rooms to prepare for dinner, and take advantage of the privacy to let out poor Nabil. He’s a little frightened, and unsure about what’s going on at first. After all, he was in what’s basically a sensory deprivation tank for most of the day. But he comes around quickly enough, and is thankful for the reading material and light to pass the time.
He asks what progress you’ve made and if there’s anything he can do to help.
Kort tags along with the diplomatic efforts to find a lead.
Know (Planes) -
"There is not much happening yet, Nabil. A false trail or two, and now we follow up on another lead. Soon...soon, I hope we will be off this plane and back home where you can observe the stars from a new reality," Kort offers.
He will then turn his attention to the matter at hand.
"Do we wish to follow Qarit for a bit of time? They might lead us to the psychopomp we seek? Or we can go directly interrogate."
"I think we can approach it directly. We're still acting like investigators, and it will respond to that. It's visiting a yasht shop openly." Muri drifts off on the last sentence, trying to understand how Axis mixes such strange beings in such mundane settings.
"I'm up for following or confronting. However, I think we shouldn't confront him at the shop. He might be more tight-lipped in such a public and crowded place.
Elen, slightly confused by the Major responds, ”Oh, I too figured we would just meet Qarit at Pakhtil’s and have a friendly face to face with them, but to what ‘psychopomp’ would you be expecting them to lead us?”
Azer have no DR, though they are immune to fire. And if you shake their hand for too long, they're so warm blooded, you may take damage from the heat. This extra damage flows through any metal they're touching as well.
It’s the morning of Lamashtu 1, a Moonday. You get up to a hearty breakfast, and continue to plan for the day. Nabil is thankful for whatever information he gets, even if it isn't much. He has put his faith in you. He really has little choice. He thanks Elen again for the text and light and heads back into Edelmira's pouch, his button eyes looking at you as you close the lid.
Sounds like two votes for going to Pashtol’s, one for maybe watching the shinigami for some time, and two abstentions. So we’ll get some yasht!
Clearly, at one time, Pashtol’s might have been just one small shop, but it has grown into the neighboring buildings and now takes up nearly a whole block. It kept the look and feel of the spaces it claimed, so there are rooms with overstuffed couches and, maybe after a few steps up or down, another room set more like a diner - in yet another, something more midcentury. Each space is also carefully designed to be spacious yet have a few cozy spots here and there with more privacy.
Still, even in the maze that is this yasht shop, Qarit is easy to spot.
This emaciated, robed humanoid wields a scythe made of bone to match the skeletal wings that protrude from his shoulders. This scythe is currently resting against a haphazard bookshelf in one corner of Pashtol’s while the humanoid is reclining in an enormous high-backed chair done in a faded maroon.
As you approach, he gently places a saucer atop his cup of yasht - due to the cultural taboo of drinking yasht with strangers. He smiles thinly, ”You seem to be looking for someone. And it seems, perhaps, you have found someone.”
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Muri dismounts and approaches Qarit, doing his best to keep the death's head comfortable where he reclines. The halfling extends his hand, offering to shake a shinigami's hand.
"Hello, Qarit? We've been searching for a shinigami such as yourself, and we don't want to take up your time if you're not Qarit. Nice to meet you. My name is Muri, and these are my colleagues..." The halfling offers names and faces for Qarit-hopefully to associate, before continuing. "We're investigators. And we're from Golarion. We're investigating an inevitable by the name of Taldaris." Muri pauses on the name, giving the shinigami a chance to connect it to any memories it has.
"We tried to speak with Taldaris from Golarion, in order for him to bless the passing of the rightful claim of rulership in the land given his name, Taldor. There's also a dog named Taldogis, which feels sort of silly, right? It's not the best name, but the dog is good, and his master is even better. We're hoping that if we find Taldaris, he'll be able to give her, Princess Eutropia, his blessing, and she can assume the throne over her competitors." Muri scrunches his right cheek.
"This may sound weird to you, but we were performing a ritual so we could talk with Taldaris, when it went bad, and we were dragged here, to Axis. We think it's because the magic did its best to bring the two sides of communication together, but Taldaris wasn't as easy to move as we were."
Muri scrunches his left cheek to match. "While we were being pulled through space, we think we saw something that looked like you in a big and confusing vision, drinking from a mug. We mentioned it to the lieutenant here, who suggested we look for someone of your kind, because it's really rare here on Axis."
"I'm only a novice when it comes to magic and religion, but I've learned enough to know that there are connections, and that the ritual, the vision, you, and Taldaris are tied together, somehow. Do you know Taldaris? Maybe before he became an inevitable? Or maybe you only knew him after death, because you're associated with death?"
"We think that something has happened to Taldaris. We have his Ring, and we're hoping to use it to try and cast magics to locate Taldaris, because we don't think he's finally released himself from his existence. And we've seen some ugly things here on Axis which leads us to believe there's been foul play. I suspect that Taldaris has either been kidnapped, or he knows he's in danger, so he's done his best to hide away from it. Either way, we need help, and we ask you humbly if you'd be willing to give us any information that will lead us to finding what happened. To Taldaris."
"While we were being pulled through space, we think we saw something that looked like you in a big and confusing vision, drinking from a mug."
As you approach, he gently places a saucer atop his cup of yasht - due to the cultural taboo of drinking yasht with strangers.
"Oh. yes," Elen giggles a little nervously. "In the vision I took you for an actual skeleton, but then I thought that was silly because why would an actual skeleton need to drink anything -- wouldn't it go right through? But no, of course not. So glad to see it's just you drinking the very best yasht ever -- Pashtol's. It really is the best, isn't it? It's the perfect temperature and everything. Of course, since you are busy here enjoying it, we could come back when it is more convenient if you would be willing to entertain us with all of this Taldor business."
Kort listens in, happy to engage, but sees that Elen and Muri are doing just fine.
Muri shakes the man’s hand and finds it bony, but firm and warm. He confirms he is Qarit, and listens to the story Muri lays out. He considers Elen’s offer of delay, but smiles and speaks, slowly telling his own tale.
”For more than ten millennia I have pursued dangerous fugitives - despoilers of the natural world, and those unnaturally overdue for death. About six thousand years ago, news of an unstoppable warlord brought me to the eastern shores of the Inner Sea.”
”I expected to find a blood soaked general and despoiled landscape. Instead I found a thoughtful prince who responded to me not with fear and iron - but with philosophy. We spoke at length, and I determined he would not bring ruin to the world, but rather some measure of peace. That was Taldaris.”
He taps a crystal vial around his neck idly - a dried lily?
- - -
He pauses, lost in the past for a moment.
Know (History)
Kort nods, finally seeing an avenue for him to help.
”And tell me, was it you who gifted him the three lilies? Or did that happen before or after he met you?” Kort noses in, trying to figure out the when of things.
Kamari takes in Muri's succinct recap of events and Qarit's interesting but not exactly helpful response in terms of finding Taldaris.
Perhaps the Major has a plan with his line of questioning.
"For more than ten millennia I have pursued dangerous fugitives - despoilers of the natural world, and those unnaturally overdue for death..."
Muri nods, respectfully listening and not answering, as he wonders what Qarit would think of the Nabil-Yortraru conundrum. He considers asking, but he's not the best at phrasing hypothetical questions.
"We spoke at length, and I determined he would not bring ruin to the world, but rather some measure of peace. That was Taldaris.”
"Yes, that he is -- was. But that is just the trouble. We don't know if he has moved onto the afterlife or if he's imprisoned somewhere by some chaotic evilness. I mean -- if he had just moved on -- you'd think it would be easier to contact him if we could find any part of him. Instead -- performing the ritual all that transpired for us was this bizzare vision, and we found ourselves here. Can you please tell us anything you might know about his passing?"
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”And tell me, was it you who gifted him the three lilies? Or did that happen before or after he met you?” Kort noses in, trying to figure out the when of things.
”Oh, you know the story? I’m afraid it was twisted by time, as many things are. He gave me the lilies. He thought it was very funny, in a poetic sort of way. And it was. But I digress.”
”After Taldaris’s death and arrival in Axis as a petitioner, we reunited and became close friends. We regularly met over the centuries, debated, and shared news - even shared yasht. Oh, since he’s an inevitable he’s been rather more absent, yet we maintain a camaraderie.”
”It has been a few years I guess since our last meeting, not so long a time as it may seem to you mortals. I expect Taldaris is busy on some crusade or other. His work is very important to him. But perhaps you have something other to say about that, judging from your countenance and story so far.”
"Yes, that he is -- was. But that is just the trouble. We don't know if he has moved onto the afterlife or if he's imprisoned somewhere by some chaotic evilness. I mean -- if he had just moved on -- you'd think it would be easier to contact him if we could find any part of him. Instead -- performing the ritual all that transpired for us was this bizzare vision, and we found ourselves here. Can you please tell us anything you might know about his passing?"
”Oh, I don’t think he’s dead. I’d be surprised. It’s hard to take out an inevitable. Hence the name. Still, it’s not impossible, though it would be a shame.”
He tries to piece together what you’ve told him and shrugs, ”I am certainly an ally of Taldaris and so fitting in your vision. That ring won’t get you too far though I suspect. Being metal and stone. Even if he’s had it a while. Here.” He takes off his amulet, a large one - which makes it quite substantial considering his size. He opens the crystal and removes three dried lilies tied together with human hair.
”This will help. It’s Taldaris’s hair. When he had any.” he chuckles at the joke. ”Take this to the security services. They have exceptional diviners. With this, you should learn something useful I’m sure.”
He offers you a few wisps of human hair.
Muri smiles with gratitude. "Thank you, Qarit. We have been running down several parts of that vision with the help of the lieutenant, and I think this is one of the clearest gains we've found chasing down the leads." Muri doesn't take the hair himself, figuring those who hold the dearest things will take this as well.
"Qarit, if I can ask you- are you still pursuing fugitives? Or can shinigami hang up their scythes and enjoy existence after they've finished their duties?"
Kort seems genuinely interested in the correct history, as he intends to be a notable history buff as part of his retirement should he ever get around to actually retiring and not running around the planes on aching knees.
”Ah! Thank you for this! It will be helpful,” Kort notes approvingly. ”Do you wish these items returned? They seem to have sentimental value at the very least.”
Muri smiles with gratitude. "Thank you, Qarit. We have been running down several parts of that vision with the help of the lieutenant, and I think this is one of the clearest gains we've found chasing down the leads." Muri doesn't take the hair himself, figuring those who hold the dearest things will take this as well.
”It’s always nice to deal with professionals isn’t it? Do speak to your lieutenant. They can, with enough proof, move mountains.”
"Qarit, if I can ask you- are you still pursuing fugitives? Or can shinigami hang up their scythes and enjoy existence after they've finished their duties?"
”Oh dear yes. Who says duty and enjoyment can’t go hand in hand?” he grins the grin of the satisfied.
”Ah! Thank you for this! It will be helpful,” Kort notes approvingly. ”Do you wish these items returned? They seem to have sentimental value at the very least.”
”Oh dear yes. I’ve kept that hair now for something close to six thousand years.” He keeps the lilies, he’s just giving you the hair - to be clear. ”I’ll have it back when you’ve found Taldaris, or stray from that task.”
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Muri looks at his own hand, stretching the bones under the skin. He looks at the shinigami's hand again, and commits the present encounter to a deeper part of his memory. It starts to set in that they are speaking to the same humanoid that ancient Taldaris engaged, and a quiet awe eddies in the halfling's heart.
"So, Qarit. I know we have things to do, but you've seen a lot. Have you met Pharasma? What is She like? And is death like what happened to us? Getting pulled from Golarion to another plane, where we keep going for awhile? Can shinigami die? Do they want to die, after a long time? We heard that inevitables do that, sometimes. They grow weary, if I remember right." Muri looks to his companions, hoping they're alright with his querying an immortal.
"Ok, so. I know I can't understand things completely, but you marked Taldaris for death, because you thought he would destroy the world, so does that mean that our world has beings that try and prevent evil people from ruining things for the rest of us? Who told you Taldaris was a problem, and did you go back and tell them they were wrong? Do you sit down with everyone you need to judge, or is your decision final before the encounter?" Muri almost stops, but strikes upon one last thing.
"Oh! I've never met a psychopomp. What are they like?"
The Night Swan nearly scoffs as the shinigami speaks on the emperor’s great virtue. What peace did those who died to his armies feel? What cultures were trampled? The worst people always speak philosophy in polite discussions over tea. It means nothing. That a creature of the afterlife could so foolishly believe that evil is so easily spotted on its perpetrators only confirms her belief that nothing worthwhile comes from these creatures. The evils that haunt her are not rampaging warlords or demons, but those genteel murderers who think that performing a little grief means something to the dead. The blood of empire is fine as long as you come up with a sad philosophical musing afterwards. She would spit if her mouth was not covered.
Her emotions get the better of her and she begins to open her mouth to speak, but Muri takes up the free moment first, and her better sense regains control. None of them would understand, certainly not here.
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Kamari says little as the rest of the party draws out what is needed from Qarit. She does have one inquiry though.
"You said his work was very important to him. Do you know anything about that? Was there a particular cause he was supporting or an adversary he opposed?"
Kort leans in to better hear answers to the very good questions being asked.
This might be an entire re-writing of established Taldan lore right here. Interesting.
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Muri opens the floodgates. Qarit, as you may have guessed from his history, is a philosophical warrior. He’s happy to do his duty and crush the opposition (generally those who have illicitly extended their lives - especially undead which is odd considering how he looks), but he prefers a long conversation about the nature of his work.
During the discussion he answers Muri’s questions, and follow up questions, in depth, and often with little stories to punctuate his points. He’s a smooth talker (+34 diplomacy!) and intelligent enough to string the facts together in a reasonable way so it’s not just story time at the yasht house.
He has, unfortunately, not met Pharasma, and someday he will die a horrible death at the hands of some enemy - or he’ll subside into Axis, becoming one with the plane and expanding it’s power. He remains somewhat reticent about his superiors, saying simply that you’ll have to talk to them about their jobs and motivations. He does not like to speak of others.
He does deal with psychopomps on occasion - usually those who have failed in their duty. Someone he has to step in and resolve. After all, they are bureaucrats, not creatures of action.
You spend most of the morning here, once you get him going.
"You said his work was very important to him. Do you know anything about that? Was there a particular cause he was supporting or an adversary he opposed?"
”Oh he could be doing anything at this point. He tended to work rebellions and uprisings - quashing or encouraging depending on the needs of law” He considers and shakes his head, ”I don’t know what he might be working on now.”
It’s near lunch on Lamashtu 1, a Moonday, before you’re finished with Qarit. Oh, happy to converse further as well if you have specific questions.
"Qarit, if I can ask you- are you still pursuing fugitives? “Muri looks to his companions, hoping they're alright with his querying an immortal.
Nabil? Elen’s spirit looks at Muri impatiently wondering what he’s after, and shrugs at him in exasperation for she knows it is not within her spirit to stop him. Her body however remains completely motionless.
Elen sighs and activates her mask as the others talk, and as Muri mentions psychopomps.
This one is quite the smooth talker.
’”Oh he could be doing anything at this point. He tended to work rebellions and uprisings - quashing or encouraging depending on the needs of law”
”Anything? Really? Because, I can’t think of a better cause to him than the Kingdom he started back on Taldor – and yet – for some odd reason we’re summoned here instead of him being summoned there. Not to mention odd cults and vacuous … followers thereof. I know you have seen much, and some things may have shifted your focus – but carefully think – are you sure there is not nothing you can see from all that time that might be of some relevance here?”
Muri has never considered death a bureaucracy. Now he's learning that shinigami have superiors, and sound superior to psychopomps, and don't always get to speak to or meet the Lady of Graves. It makes death a little less... mysterious. The halfling is not sure that's a satisfying conclusion to draw from speaking with, for all practical purposes, an angel.
Muri respectfully concludes his part of the conversation with Qarit, wondering how accessible the shinigami might be in the future.
...
In possession of an actual body part of Taldaris, Muri suggests that the group make haste, and return to Lieutenant Fanalyx. Who knows what may happen to the hairs, if they tarry.
”Anything? Really? Because, I can’t think of a better cause to him than the Kingdom he started back on Taldor – and yet – for some odd reason we’re summoned here instead of him being summoned there. Not to mention odd cults and vacuous … followers thereof. I know you have seen much, and some things may have shifted your focus – but carefully think – are you sure there is not nothing you can see from all that time that might be of some relevance here?”
The shinigami thinks a bit, ”It is hard for those who have had past lives to revisit them. That way lies stagnation and, often, death. When Taldaris came here after death, he struggled to let go of Taldor. He even left rituals behind, like the one you used, so he’d remain tied to his country.”
”But he realized he could never move forward, into his new life, so long as he was tied to the past like that. Other than the ritual you performed, and maybe one or two others like it, he slowly severed all ties with the land he built. So he could build something new.”
”He succeeded too. He started a petitioner and became a powerful inevitable. A rarity. Other than what he might feel obligated to do by ritual or tradition, I don’t think he would involve himself with Taldor today.”
”I do not know magic well, but I know the planes. I cannot say why you were summoned here instead of him being summoned to you - as the ritual presumably suggests. If he’s imprisoned, they’d likely lock him in dimensionally too. So he couldn’t move. Could a powerful enough ritual bring you to him then? I don’t know, but it seems reasonable on some level - and fits the facts at least. If it’s possible at all.”
”Did you do the ritual well? Maybe you made an error. One that changed the way the magic worked. Here again, sorry, I don’t know, just guessing. Or maybe some higher power intervened in matters. I think you’ll find that happens a lot.”
You can glance around the room too, and will notice no secret doors, illusory or invisible eavesdroppers loitering close by, etc.
Oh, though the spell allows you to see into the ether, that of course doesn’t work here. There is no ethereal plane in the higher planes. Leave the plane and you’re in the astral instead.
- - -
Qarit is polite regarding future visits. But at least he doesn’t say no.
You find a finer establishment (befitting your nobility) nearby for food as Pakhtil generally just does sweet or savory pastries. After lunch you have the rest of the day. You could talk to Nabil some more and perhaps plane shift to the stars to investigate further, or you could take the evidence you’ve accumulated so far, which is ample, and report to the Lieutenant of Police, hoping it’s enough to move forward.
Or something else I’ve missed?
Kort wonders if what Qarit is saying about the ritual makes arcanic sense.
Know (Arcana)
* * *
If there is nothing else for Qarit, Kort will suggest returning to the lieutenant and seeing if they have enough for a tracking ritual or the like to be executed.
”Yes, I agree. Let’s report back to Fanalyx. While she’s following up on what we found maybe we can finally head for the stars!”. She turns to the Shinigami. ”Thank you for your time and the hair, Qarit,”