You receive an unusual summons to meet District Councilmember and priestess of Abadar Jostlyn Ferqyr at the Vault of Abadar in Absalom’s Ivy District. Upon arrival, Ferqyr is already waiting at the compound’s main gate flanked by two stern paladins of Abadar.
"Greetings," she says, politely and hands you an envelope containing your mission briefing along with a small satchel of handwritten documents.
"Follow me," she then says before leading the way into one of the Vault of Abadar’s subbasements where they will be transported to the plane of Axis. Ferqyr is remarkably tight-lipped. She responds to any questions with a curt apology and a shrug. She passes through several locked and guarded rooms and descends two staircases, and finally unlocks a vault that contains several small stone plinths, each containing a lockbox. Ferqyr unlocks one and carefully lifts out a golden miniature the size of a dinner plate in the shape of a circular city.
Keeper Ferqyr carefully hands the intricate golden miniature to one of the paladins beside her and pulls out and reads from a small scroll.
“The Vault of Absalom hereby contractually gives permission to the Members of the Pathfinder Society here present to make use of the miraculous powers of the Golden City of Tumen to travel to and return from the realm of the Master of the First Vault, thrice-blessed be his name. During their stay in Axis, the Pathfinders shall conduct themselves in a matter befitting their role as representatives of the Church of Abadar, and not bring ill repute upon it or any of its subsidiary organizations.”
Ferqyr looks expectantly at you, waiting for an affirmative answer from each of you.
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"Woah, bringing out the shiny knights for us. I feel quite honored!". Kal flips through the documents and briefing, his face growing more focused with each line. "Find the Ruby Phoenix herself..."
During the procession deep into the Abadar vault, Kal remains uncharacteristically quiet- catching on the the seriousness and weight of this particular moment, Kal delays a moment before offering a positive affirmation.
"Uh... Yea, we can do that"
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A flaxen-haired Ulfen shieldmaiden strides forward purposefully, her strong determined jaw slightly softened by a kindly smile, she seems highly reminiscent of the Valkyries of legend. Her silvery full-plate is adorned with small golden cherubs, close inspection reveals the angelic wings on the tiny creature are all razor-sharp. A holy symbol on a silver chain proclaims her as a follower of Ragathiel.
Outside, a snow-white warhorse with (almost imperceptible) angelic runes in its coat lazily wanders around the outside of the tavern.
"Church of Abadar? I am certain we can maintain the standards one would expect of your organisation" Forst returns the stern expression "We have a lot to achieve and need to rally support to our cause, not act like a bunch of barbarians let loose in a tavern"
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A tall human woman who was standing near the back of the group takes a bold step forward, her full plate armor scraping and clanking a little. With her helmet removed and carried under one arm, her dark blonde hair and grey-blue eyes are evident. The hand holding her helmet is missing a pinky finger. She bears a simple wooden holy symbol of Iomedae around her neck.
She brings her fist to her plated chest in a gesture of duty. "You have my word." she says in a quiet, somber voice, looking the priestess of Abadar in the eye. She has a slight Varisian accent.
She then takes a smaller step back, and looks about at the others in the group, giving a nod of professional respect to Frost.
Once she gets each person's acknowledgement, she instructs them to place a hand on the golden model of the city. As she intones the command phrase for the device, the room disappears and the device transports them to a tasteful reception room on Axis using a variation of plane shift.
not to follow the path of power and domination, but instead studied and cataloged the wonders of the multiverse, the greatest of which she placed in her personal demiplane tied to the fabled Hao Jin Tapestry.
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"Hao Jin, the Ruby Phoenix! I know her. Well, I know of her. She was a sorcerer of incredible power and the creator of the Hao Jin Tapestry, a museum demiplane in which she placed entire landscapes along with her greatest treasures. She mysteriously disappeared several centuries ago and was presumed dead until very recently. Hao Jin was a master of elemental magic who earned her title from her talent for resurrecting with ever bolder red hair whenever she died. Unlike most spellcasters of her power (such as Tar-Baphon and the runelords of Thassilon), Hao Jin chose not to follow the path of power and domination, but instead studied and cataloged the wonders of the multiverse, the greatest of which she placed in her personal demiplane tied to the fabled Hao Jin Tapestry."
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Impasha nods at Ketal's information, but it's clear she's only half-listening as she looks around the room curiously.
"Forgive me for saying this, but did I miss the part where we were told what our mission here was?" she says in a mildly annoyed voice.
"I'm a little confused as well -- are we in Axis? Or the Tapestry? Or a part of Axis that is in the Tapestry?" she asks Ketal.
"Hopefully someone here knows we are coming." she growls more generally.
Diazepane hands Impasha his copy of the summons he received and, after she reviews, she is up to speed.
After a few moments, you arrive in a room that is tastefully decorated with ornate stone benches, tables, and chairs, that overlooks an enormous circular plaza hosting a miles-wide expanse of colorful stalls. From there waft the smells of spices, cooked meat, fresh fruits, and much more, and beings from across the multiverse are visible buying and selling all manner of goods. To the right you can see a massive gate decorated with gold- and silver-traced murals. Standing atop the wall looms a fully armored warrior made of gold and steel.
The room’s only occupant is a miniature draft horse, with dark blue metallic skin, golden eyes, and a white star-shaped patch on her forehead.
She seems quite excited to see you and when she speaks, her words come to you in the language that you are most comfortable with.
"Oh! Visitors from Golarion! Why, it must be, let me see 73 years, 4 months, 27 days, 6 hours 18 minutes and 2 seconds since we've had any visitors from Golarion here. Welcome fellow servants of Abadar, the thrice blessed. I am Esfir. How may I assist you, my brothers and sisters?"
"Oh, sorry. I just assumed because only clerics of Abadar are supposed to come here," she says apologetically.
"But...only those who worship Abadar are supposed to come here," Esfir says suspiciously.
"Tell me more about the terms used for Priestess Ferqyr to send you here."
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"Then your suspicion is understandable and you are right to question us. An agreement between two parties, for a mutually desired aim"
“The Vault of Absalom hereby contractually gives permission to the Members of the Pathfinder Society here present to make use of the miraculous powers of the Golden City of Tumen to travel to and return from the realm of the Master of the First Vault, thrice-blessed be his name. During their stay in Axis, the Pathfinders shall conduct themselves in a matter befitting their role as representatives of the Church of Abadar, and not bring ill repute upon it or any of its subsidiary organizations.”
"We gave our word that we would adhere to our contractual obligations - and that is precisely what we will do"
"So, could you kindly assist us?"
Diplomacy
"Oh yes, yes, yes, an excellent contract, excellently executed. Just keep in mind a verbal agreement is still binding, especially if there are witnesses to it," Esfir says, her tail flicking good naturedly as Frost's explanation.
"Now...who was it you were looking for? Hal Jordan? Gai Jin? No, Hao Jin, right?"
Esfir thinks for a moment. “I have heard that name, though not for some time. Come, we can investigate.” Esfir leads you to the building’s ground floor and consults a large book while turning pages with mage hand.
At last she reaches a very old entry and concludes, “Here: Hao Jin, a sorcerer of considerable power arrived 333 years ago, after which there’s no formal record of her having departed. This designation here indicates she received formal reprimand from the Eternal City soon afterward, and the last entry points to her performing research in the Empty Court as a guest of the axiomites.”
At Impasha's question, Esfir proudly explains, “There are numerous forms of accelerated transportation in Axis, including a host of gateways for public use. I shall provide you directions to the most convenient one, which should take you to within sight of the Empty Court.”
Esfir, guides them into the Eternal Emporium, along several streets, and to a small rotunda where a semicircular wall partially encloses a fountain. Seven arches in the wall each have a lantern that hangs nearby, with flames that ignite and extinguish for a minute at a time. While the flame burns, creatures periodically walk into the arches and disappear, and while a given flame is out, creatures sometimes step out from that arch. Esfir makes for the rightmost arch.
A petitioner serving as the rotunda’s custodian intercedes "Ma'am, I don't think you want to use this..."
But Esfir dismisses him with a shake of her head, her mane rippling.
"This portal doesn’t see much use anymore, but that it travels to within sight of the Empty Court,"[b] Esfir explains. [b]"Now, if you will excuse me, I must get back to my duties but feel free to call on me again should you need directsion."
The gateway you use deposits you in a largely abandoned neighborhood several hundred feet from the Empty Court.
Two axial monitors equipped with golden halberds guard the nearest entrance, and they order you to pause in your approach and explain your intentions for entering the Empty Court.
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"Keep an eye out ... we're being watched."
"I'd be surprised if we weren't." replies Impasha calmly.
She steps forward to address the axial monitors in a clear voice..
"My greetings to you. We are an embassy of the Pathfinder Society from Golarian, here looking for the sorceress Hao Jin. We have reason to believe she performed research at this location. May we have your permission to enter and speak with someone about this matter?"
The two pause. "Wait while we summon the proper authority," one of them commands.
One of them finishes a sending spell and then waits.
...and waits.
...and waits.
About 15 minutes later a harried arbiter inevitable, a flying metallic sphere about a foot in diameter with one eye, two decorative wings, and a pair of arms, arrives through the nearby gateway.
“Greetings, mortals. This one is classified Eleven-Sun-Truth and represents the one classified Hao Jin in all matters before her Tribunal. I have been informed that you have business with said individual but must inform you that the one you seek is not accessible on orders of the Godmind itself. How else may this one be of service?" he states.
"Oh yes, a great crime. Hao Jin was convicted of having captured that which was not hers, threatened planar stability, and violated cosmic laws by the ways in which she created her demiplane," Eleven-Sun-Truth dispassionately explains.
"The verdict was that her creation would be destroyed.
"She offered to make things right, but her request was denied. A mortal clearly could not be trusted to fix this issue, particularly not a mortal with such conflicts of interest.
"In the end, she bargained to preserve the demiplane, offering her services to Axis and surrendering the tapestry’s foundational secrets to
guarantee that she never violate the same strictures again.
"She is secluded here in this abandoned portion of Axis, which was once the realm of Aroden, so that she will not be distracted from her duties."
Eleven-Sun-Truth pauses for emphasis. "She very certainly is not doint any research related to her unregulated demiplane."
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"Eleven-Sun-Truth, I would not dispute the punishment given to Hao Jin. I think from what I know of the situation, your people have acted correctly."
"However, I must tell you now that our organization, the Pathfinder Society, is in possession of the Tapestry demiplane, and our best scholars assure us that it is days from utter collapse, which would be a death sentence to all those trapped within. That is why we are here, and that is our purpose-- we wish to prevent this catastrophe."
"It seems to me, mortal though I be, that speaking to the creator of the demiplane would be the best place to start for whoever wished to help avert this disaster. How do you suggest we proceed?"
"Oh, a matter of dimensional stability directly involving Hao Jin? Right this way! Right this way!" Eleven-Sun-Truth bustles.
"Open the gate," he commands the Axial Monitors.
"Follow me!" he says much more politely to the Pathfinders as the gate is opened and he starts inside.
"I must warn you, however that Aroden's realm has become a rather lawless place since his death," he cautions the group.
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"See that faint distortion in space and light? That indicates that a scrying sensor is in place nearby, focused on our group."
Impasha looks about at the indicated area, but doesn't really see what Ketal is noticing, but she nods nonetheless.
"I don't think the axiomites would bother with secret surveillance -- they seem pretty open about their vigilance. Magical scrying may represent other eyes."
She says this last bit meaningfully, to indicate she's thinking of a specific entity.
As advertised, distant skirmishes are visible in the Empty Court.
Eleven-Sun-Truth seems a bit embarrassed "You can see angels, devils, and other beings fighting to claim territory here as their own."
During your walk, you can ask questions of Eleven-Sun-Truth, and the walk takes about 20 minutes before the you arrive at the Amphitheater of the Last Azlanti, an ancient, multistory theater built into the side of a hill.
The structure’s outer walls bear faded murals of Aroden’s life: his mortal life as a blacksmith, his leading of the Azlanti survivors from the ruins of Earthfall, his planar travels, his raising of the Starstone and creating Absalom, his battle with the wizard Tar-Baphon, and more. Inside, the amphitheater’s stadium-style seating partly surrounds a raised, stone stage where a small tent is pitched next to a campsite.
Nearby sits a woman that you have previously only seen in pictures and heard descriptions of, the legendary Hao Jin, who is studying and sketching several dozen broken sculpture pieces made of throneglass, a magically hardened glass associated with certain ruined cities in Azlant. She looks up with curiosity as approach and greets you with a courteous nod without breaking eye contact.
“Welcome, Eleven-Sun-Truth. You have not brought me visitors in some time and certainly never from my home world. What calamity has befallen Golarion that you come all the way to the Eternal City to find me? Has the Whispering Tyrant escaped his confinement? Has a new spawn of Rovagug been released in Casmaron? Or has Arazni perhaps decided to stir from her torpor and lay claim to Garund? What is the matter? I see the strain of grave news in your faces.”
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Impasha has only one question for their guide.
"Is it known here how Aroden died?"
*****
On coming to the presence of Hao Jin, Impasha brings her fist to her chest and makes a curt, formal bow of the head.
"My greetings to you. I am Impasha Relenne, a poor servant of Iomedae, and like these others here a representative of the Pathfinder Society, the current custodians of your Tapestry."
"The Tapestry demiplane is collapsing. Our scholars believe it will happen in a matter of days. We've come to seek your help in stopping this." says Impasha simply.
"That is a question not even we know the answer to," Eleven-Sun Truth replies somberly.
*****
Hao Jin looks in surprised dismay tinged with a hint of guilt at Eleven-Sun-Truth as Impasha reveals the Pathfinders' reason for being there.
"How? The tapestry should be stable. Unless someone did something to the method of entry and exit.
"All those people! And those places I went through the trouble of preserving! It's all still in there, isn't it? It's all going to be lost!"
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Impasha turns and signals for the satchel of evidence to be turned over.
"This is a collection of the evidence and clues our scholars and agents have uncovered about what is happening. The Pathfinder Society has done what it can to slow the collapse and rescue what it can from the demiplane. But we need your help."
"I should tell you as well that although we come here openly and with only good intentions, we believe that other interests are attempting to scry upon us, and may seek to thwart our efforts."
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Kal feels immediately more at home as their travels lead into the now chaos and entropy of Aroden's abandoned realm. "Even the godly realms devolve without expending energy on maintenance.", he says out loud to no one in particular. The remainder of the travel he remains primarily observant but not conversant.
After allowing Impasha and Diazepane engage with the Ruby Phoenix, Kal offers some small addition to the conversation.
"The tapestry itself is a work of genius. I have been many times, and always leave in wonder of its creation. I have reason to suspect that much of the damage has been intentional from forces opposed to the society. The same who likely seek to thwart us, even here. We ask for you to help, in whatever way you can, in stabilizing this. What do you need from us?"
Hao Jin's nostrils flare and her eyes widen as she hears about people opening their own portals into the tapestry. She takes the satchel of documents and starts rifling through it quickly, but pausing to slowly review some of them.
She holds up a finger imperiously to shush anyone who tries to talk during this time.
Her mouth is tight and her eyes are still flashing as she puts the final document down with a sigh.
“Although I cannot hold the actions of the Pathfinder Society and its rivals as blameless in the Tapestry’s demise, I know that at least the Society did not commit them out of malice. In the end, responsibility for the demiplane’s condition is mine. My time here on Axis has shown me how reckless I acted when I created the demiplane. I did not fully understand the implications and long-term consequences of my actions, but what is done is done and cannot be taken back.”
She lowers her eyes and lets out a long sigh, before continuing.
“If I understand you and the documents you have shown me correctly, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to save the Tapestry; it has unraveled beyond the point of repair. There may, however, still be a chance to save the places and people inside it. My memory is not what it once was, but I believe that I could perform a ritual that reverses the process I first used to transport various sites into the tapestry, thereby returning a site to its original location. In that way that site could serve as an ark to carry any plants and creatures aboard back to the Material Plane.
"There are two significant obstacles to me performing the ritual. The first is that the ritual would need to be performed on the Material Plane and reasonably close to where the structure would be deposited. That wouldn’t be a problem were it not for the fact that I have committed to remaining in Axis, as I prove my dedication, self-reflection, and self-control to Axis’s authorities.
"Fortunately, it seems the Pathfinder Society has grown in the centuries since I last heard of it, and a contingent of powerful spellcasters might be able to perform the ritual in my place.
"The second obstacle is far more significant. I no longer knows how to perform certain parts of the ritual. When I bargained with Axis to preserve the demiplane, I allowed select memories and technical knowledge to be extracted from my mind. They've been preserved on devices called memory engrams, these memories not only ensure that I can’t recreate the same violations that offended Axis in the first place, but they also provide a means by which scholars can study these experiences and innovations in responsible ways. Were the engrams brought back to me, I might reassemble the rituals so that someone could
perform one last transposition. I suspect this process would trigger the demiplane’s final death throes, so there’s only the one opportunity.
"I'm also concerned that recreating these rituals would likewise violate my agreement with Axis," she looks to Eleven-Sun-Truth for official clarification.
The arbiter’s eye rotates slowly in thought before snapping back to stare at Hao Jin before the inevitable states, “In the cosmos, law is the ideal, not the absolute condition, thus requiring some interpretation from the inevitables who enforce order. Likewise in this situation, there is no one answer. How you interpret it reflects your identity as the judge.”
Hao Jin scowls in response to this non-answer and considers the ramifications for a moment.
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"Your agreement with Axis isn't an agreement on behalf of other third-parties - we are not contractually bound in any way either implied or explicitly vis-a-vis performing rituals that may or may not involve demiplanes or rampaging kobolds. We are not asking you to recreate any ritual, merely provide us with an artistic interpretation of what the ritual might look like, and should that interpretation or facsimile appear similar to any real place or persons it would be completely coincidental, and such interpretation is provided by you - free of charge - for novelty value only and not for actual use"
"We would be interested in seeing what your contractual limitations are"
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“... In the end, responsibility for the demiplane’s condition is mine. My time here on Axis has shown me how reckless I acted when I created the demiplane. I did not fully understand the implications and long-term consequences of my actions, but what is done is done and cannot be taken back.”
Impasha's face softens noticeably toward Hao Jin at this humble acceptance of her culpability. She nods a little. "Our lives are essays in morality, and none of us are faultless in our choices. To accept responsibility for our failings and to atone in good faith is a credit to our spirit. You have my respect, Hao Jin." she says in a gentle, friendly voice.
"Your agreement with Axis isn't an agreement on behalf of other third-parties - we are not contractually bound in any way either implied or explicitly vis-a-vis performing rituals that may or may not involve demiplanes or rampaging kobolds. We are not asking you to recreate any ritual, merely provide us with an artistic interpretation of what the ritual might look like, and should that interpretation or facsimile appear similar to any real place or persons it would be completely coincidental, and such interpretation is provided by you - free of charge - for novelty value only and not for actual use"
Impasha's brow knits as she listens to Frost's essay in legalese. She seems dubious on the whole, but says nothing to gainsay her.
She turns to the Arbiter after Frost finishes. "Surely our first priority should be to do whatever we can to save the people trapped inside the Tapestry. They are innocent of any wrong-doing, and may in fact be the victims of sabotage by powers beyond their control."
"It seems to me that we have to attempt this ritual, somehow. I'm sure the arcane scholars of the Pathfinder Society would be able to attempt it if we can only retrieve these engrams and bring them to Hao Jin so that she could instruct us in how the ritual is to be properly performed. Do you not agree Eleven-Sun-Truth?"
"I believe you're right, Impasha," Hao Jin concludes. [b}"The lives of the demiplane inhabitants outweigh my current trials but I'm not willing to give up my confinement or service so I will strike a balance. I will help you recreate the ritual if you can bring the engrams, but I will stay here in the Empty Court."[/b]
It is hard to tell, given his unusual physiology and psychology but there may be a hint of respect for Frost's legal interpretation from Eleven-Sun- Truth.
He neither objects nor approves of the solution determined, instead
producing several small electrum badges for you to wear, each marked with the same three vertical lines surrounded by a border of unevenly spaced dots.
"These should help others recognize that you are acting as Hao Jin’s advocates in recovering the engrams, though the badges serve more as identification, not as signs of absolute authority. It is still up to you to convince the current holders to let you borrow the engrams," he says.
"Any questions I can answer?"
"Certainly. “There are three engrams of note, which are part of a more extensive library system. One engram stores a portion of my client’s creative innovation, and as an experiment, authorities in the Adamantine Forge granted it to now somewhat…” Eleven-Sun-Truth scowls with disappointment. “…eccentric inevitable in order to explore new inevitable-forging techniques. That inevitable frequents the domain of demigoddess Chaldira Zuzaristan in its downtime.
“Another engram contains elements of my client’s magical theory, and it is in the Stylite.” The arbiter winces and looks skyward before pointing to a floating building miles away. “There. You should just be able to present your credentials and be done.
“The last of the engrams I suspect she would need pertains to my client’s childhood and their first death. It was last checked out by Yakomo, an Iroran acolyte. Given the hour, I expect him to be busy with religious devotions for several hours yet, after which he would likely return to his home just outside the Serene Circle, Irori’s realm."