Mistress Tari's page

Tari smiles, "That should be fine, I dare say you won't be the only one who had that idea."

Moving on a bit.

Mistress Tari meets with you in the atrium of the Temple. Two burly acolytes, Fahad and Wadi have a kind of Palaquin carriage. It consists of a heavy wooden beam they carry over their shoulders. A small litter bed is slung by ropes from the four to the middle of the wooden beam.

The acolytes seem to have little trouble carrying the emaciated bag of bones that is the once beautiful and graceful dancer, Bahni Sarr. Poultices of herbs and an incense censor can do little to mask the sickly sweat smell of corruption. He skin is waxy and covered in fine wrinkles as if she was approaching her eightieth summer rather than her twenty first.

Mistress Tari meets your eyes and tells you, "I think Bahni will last for a few hours more. Should be enough time to comfortably get to the end of the parade and enter the gate. That is as long as there are no surprises... I can follow you for a little while, and explain what's happening. Unfortunately I'm needed for the gate ceremony so I'll have to rush on ahead. I'm very grateful for your presence here, we, well all the temples are stretched to the limit on this day. As you will see the streets are lines on both sides by lantern bearers to guide the way. This is for everyone's protection, people and spirits."

Far away a great gong sounds and Mistress Tari remarks, "Well it's time. Lets do this."

You form a small protective screen around Palanquin carried by Fahad and Wadi, and head out of the temple towards the lake you visited earlier. As soon as you get close to the parade route, you realize it's as if the entire population has come to line the parade route. There are more people here than you think you've seen anywhere before, they've come in their tens of thousands. There are rope barriers lining the inner parade route with people crowded six ranks deep on either side. There is a general carnival atmosphere with many people in fancy dress. They have white outlines of bones painted onto their tanned bodies and they are wearing skull masks. Some are beautiful others hideous. Every so often alchemical fire crackers are set off and there are many sacks piled high with colored powders, confetti and water, which will be thrown over the parade as it passes.

Lining the inner pathway is a thin cordon of acolytes, each with the heavy lanterns. They look somewhat nervous since the crowd is so large it could easily push them out of the way, which would cause the event to descend into chaos.

Mistress Tari has to shout to make her self heard over the noise of the crowd, "It's always a bit like this, but the crowd is particularly big this year." Fortunately the crowd seems to be well behaved for the most part and they part to let your group through. You hear another distant gong and a hush descends over the crowd and everyone looks towards the distant lake. You see an unbroken line of lantern bearers leading back to the lake and you notice some movement near the lake.

I'd like a marching order please.

Mistress Tari beams at Pratavh, "What a wonderful idea, I think that would do her spirit a power of good! Yes there are several commercial companies, there's the United Tea Mail and the Niswan Express. They have offices in the commercial district. There is also the diplomatic corps who might be willing to help too considering all you've done for the city."

She looks at Alwyn and smiles, "Ah the parade! The biggest day in the year for us in Jalmeray. The spirits will start assembling over the Lake at day break but they won't start the procession till mid day. It usually takes just under an hour to get from there to the ocean. I'd suggest you head here early, the roads will be crowded and travel may take longer than you are accustomed to."

Mistress Tari leaves the archives with Lilly in tow and meets with Alwyn. She considers giving your weapons an appraising look, "Hmm let me think, I'm sure there's something we can do..."

After a few moments she comes to a conclusion and says, "It would likely take quite some time to arrange for permanent enchantments. But I believe I have just the thing for this mission..."

She leads the pair of you into a musty store room in a little traveled part of the complex. On a rack of shelves is a number of boxes. She looks for a particular one and asks, "Give me a hand please, this is somewhat heavy."

Inside the box is a number of neatly labelled potions...

Please sort out among yourselves who gets what, and somebody keep track please.

Tari frowns, "That is a most disturbing thought Lilly. Still from what you told me earlier it seems you and your friends have disrupted the cult's activities in Niswan. I suspect the vision relates to events in Leckumgee. Still it would be wise to take precautions, even without the cult what we are attempting to do for Bahni is risky. Most of the spirits are unaware of the mortal world, but some will sense it. Many of them will be accompanied by living family and will likely behave. Some others may be unquiet and could present a threat. The various temples are used to this and jointly ensure that the spirits end up where they're supposed to, without endangering the onlookers. The thing is, transporting Bahni along the parade root is unprecedented. I'm hoping you can help keep her safe."

She looks at Lilly hopefully.

Mistress Tari nods when Lilly says she had a vision, "There have been at least three other visions associated with the relic. The first was Elric the Brave, a Paladin of Saranrae who had a vision about 250 years ago about the black dragon Ixixatachetl who was bringing doom to the villages along the Ullawater. Legend says he fought the dragon to a standstill single handedly, although history doesn't mention either of them again. Then there was Dandak Alokar, he had a vision about one hundred years ago, relating to a great Kracken lairing in a cove far to the south. The Kracken had sunk a great many ships and had devoured countless sailors. Neither he or the Kracken where seen again."

She pauses and looks Lilly in the eye as she says, "I was the next to have a vision and well I've already described part of that. Now then we must consult the archives, and decipher the meaning..." She leads you to a very old section of the complex that you've not seen before. You feel the spidery touch of numerous wards as you walk down a spiral staircase into an underground library.

Tari whispers an arcane phrase and hundreds of eldritch lights in sconces flicker into life, displaying rank after rank of shelves piled high with books, scroll cases, maps and other oddments. She ignores most of these and takes you to a small room with the label, "Pratibandhita" There seems to be some kind of guardian floating in the air with a ethereal halberd. It bows as you pass.

[spoiler=Vudrani]Restricted[/b]

Tari puts on a pair of kid gloves and picks up an old blackened book about 1 yard square from one shelf. The book looks disturbingly like it was crafted out of human skin...

"This thing always gives me the creeps, now let me see," she flips pages until she finds something. There is a drawing of an altar out of some black material complete with manacles and in front there is a font containing some fetid ichor. "From your description I believe you saw the 'The font of corruption'. A most baleful artifact, sacred to Dhalavei and the center piece of many unspeakable rituals, including, according to this book, the creation of soul destruction curses."

She thinks for a moment and then tells Lilly, "I suspect the images you saw where the lives of innocents stolen by the artifact to power various necromantic rituals. Supposedly one can live forever if one a year they steal the lives and damn the souls of others..."

As the last of the faithful file out of the chapel, the relic is guided away by the under priests to an inner sanctum. They chant hymns morning the fall of darkness as they go.

Few people are left in the chapel and Mistress Tari approaches Lilly and lightly whispers, "Something tells me the ceremony gave you much food for thought. If you need to talk I am available at amy time, for matters spiritual or otherwise. I'm well read in the histories and traditions of this isle."

Tari normally an assertive and assured person, seems shaken by the quiet battle to save Bahni. She signs heavily, and seems on the verge of tears as she tells you, "My main fear had been the cult, but it sounds like you've dealt with them. My secondary fear is the parade itself. The spirits can be a little, unruly at times, which can be unnerving, sometimes dangerous for anyone, let alone somebody who is desperately ill. And then there is the gate itself, will that cleanse the taint? I trust it will, my head and the omens say it should but I worry there'll be nothing left of the poor girl's soul to save."

Tari sighs softly, "Physically she's doing very well, emotionally? Well it's going to take some time. She's cut up about the deaths of those around her and she still feels guilty, unworthy even of her second chance."

She pauses for a moment and then she adds, "She's been spending a lot of time with poor old Bahni. Singing to her, would you believe. Bahni's fate has got to everyone, it just seems so cruel. Still she's a fighter, I think she'll live through to the morning and then it's in the hands of the gods. Assuming she survives the parade."

She nods to Alwyn and replies,"Yes of course, I have a writing desk in the corner here. Feel free to make use of it."

It takes a while to push through the crowds and it's late afternoon by the time the cab gets to now familiar temple of Sarenrae. The novices apparently were expecting you and they usher you into Mistress Tari's spartan quarters.

As you enter she says, "I'm so glad you answered my calls about Ban..."[b] Her voice trails off as she sees the wounds you've sustained. [b]"Oh goodness! What has happened to you?!", she asks, voice heavy with concern.

She claps her hands and several novices come running and she instructs them, "Ḍyūṭī cikitsakōṁ lāyēṁ!" and they run off.

At the Temple of Saranrae

Looking at Lilly, as if for the first time, Mistress Tari replies "Ohh you saw that did you?! You have sharp eyes indeed, although if half the things I've heard are true I shouldn't be surprised. The theology is complicated but you have the gist of it. We can be glad the girl's spirit wasn't tainted, if she had been of a foul disposition you'd have noticed a darkness instead."

You follow Mistress Tari though the maze like warren of the dormitories and the acolytes gently put Pradip down onto a bed. "I know you will want to talk to her, but I imagine she will sleep for some time, and when she wakes she'll be as weak as a newborn. She may find events upsetting, but know this she wanted to return."

A runner hands something to Mistress Tari, and you see her examine an official looking letter with an impressive wax seal. With a shrug, she hands it to you saying, "This appears to be for you."

The letter is made from a single perfect sheet of pure white vellum, elegantly written in Veranti with a flowing hand. Holding it up to the light, you notice a watermark of the Thakur's head in profile. The very same that graces the local coinage.

Replying in the common toung, Mistress Tari smiles at Lilly, "Divinations are often ambiguous, this one was quite the opposite. Please follow me to the amphitheatre and place her on the altar."

You follow Mistress Tari through the gate and you realize that what you had assumed was the temple was in fact a dormitory. The temple proper is outside, open to the air so that the altar may catch the first morning rays. This makes sense for Sarenrae is known as the Dawnflower after all.

You file into the amphitheatre which is somewhat eerie at night, form the acoustics you get the sense of being in a large space yet only a small pool of light is visible where the acolytes are bearing torches.

Lilly places the fox girl on the altar as requested and several acolytes cover her with a cloth as they efficiently disrobe and wash her body before dressing her in a novice's shrift. A soronorus chant starts as the acolytes start softly chanting hymns prsising Saranrae.

Mistress Tari takes Lilly aside to tell her, "The vision had several other details, some of which I'm not at liberty to describe, but this you must know. A little over nineteen years ago I had a vision of such clarity I remember it today. It was foretold you would come here with the girl over your shoulder. It was firtold she would be given a second chance. It was foretold you would be asked to perform a service tomorrow. Its not my place to instruct you one way othe other but I will ask you to listen to the request with an open mind. You should know that what they will ask will place all of you in mortal danger. It was foretold that not all of your party would be keen to help, but all of you will be needed if you are to succeed."

She pauses for a moment before suggesting, "Nothing is going to happen till dawn. I suggest you get some rest if you can. You can stay here tonight, one of the Acolytes will wake you in time."

Mistress Tari herself opens the door for Lilly and tells her between yawns, "I'm impressed by your fortitude young lady, don't you ever sleep? Ah I see you have the fox girl as the omens said you would. Come in, we have a busy night ahead. We must cleanse her body in preparation for the dawn..."

Stifling a yawn, Mistress Tari takes her leave saying, "While planning is important, so is sleep for you will not function well without it, I know I won't and I have a full day ahead... Brother Sims will meet you out front and take you to wherever you are staying."

She looked confused, "I'm not sure what body you mean. I'm not normally privy to such information, you'd have to ask the watch."

"The procession starts three days from now at dawn. The spirits gather at Waterhead lake, and then they follow the city youth to Silent Water and then head down the commercial lane, before turning onto a steep path leading to the bay. It's quite the carnival spirit not to be missed. I'll have brother Sims mark it on a map for you before he drives you home. As for the ghosts, well they look how they did in their minds eye. That's usually how they where in their prime, sometimes with weapons and armor, although mostly not since this is normally a peaceful place. Of course there's the occasional oddity with some ghosts looking like they stepped out of legend."

There is a pregnant pause after Lilly's prediction and then everyone starts talking at once. Eventually mistress Tari shouts, "QUIET!"

A hush descends and in a normal voice she concedes, "I fear you might be right. Obviously we'll have to let the palace know, it's possible they may want to talk to you. I think it would be best for everyone if we got some sleep. It's an ungodly hour in the morning, I'll lend you my carriage to take you back."

Behind her several of the acolytes groan. Mistress Tari, gives them aa sharp look and admonishes them, "Some sleep is a small sacrifice, the Goddess may ask much more of you some day. Besides it's not as if you're being asked to walk into that nightmare of protocol and courtesy, that's not something done on a broken sleep!"

Mistress Tari looks troubled, "I'd heard some rumors about a serial killer the watch are hunting, but nothing about acid, that sounds gruesome. There are many strange and unusual Gods worshiped in these parts. Some of the cults worship true gods, others Empyreal Lords or stranger beings."

She considers for a moment and tells you that, "I find it unlikely this curse is widely used, we'd have heard of it before now if it was. Beside given the power of the magics involved, it's creation is likely arduous and tailored to the victim. Still the similarity between this curse and the use of acid in the others you mentioned is striking. I can only assume it symbolizes something important for those responsible. Still why go to all the effort to attack Bahni like this? Maybe, maybe this was a trial run?" You can see the priestess finds this idea deeply distasteful.

"Oh its defiantly divine magic, one of those damnable native cults I expect.", grumbles mistress Tavi. Based on her accent you'd place her as being Varisian although she has the looks of a local. Slumping slightly she signs, "I'm not not giving up on her, but I don't see what more we can do tonight - a good night's sleep will help concentrate the mind, but frankly we need a miracle. It's not like you can just snap your fingers and we've got the festival to prepare for too..."

One of the acolytes pipes up asking, "Mistress Tavi, what about the cleansing at the end of the parade? That's more or less a miracle right?"

Mistress Tari's mouth describes a perfect O, "Dear boy I think you might be right. I don't know if we can heal her, but we can save her soul! We just need to keep her alive for three days somehow, perhaps direct life force transference might help. Yes we must try that, quickly now find the Oracle Francine, she is skilled in such matters."

She then tuns to the party and tells them, "I sense that you wish to help. We may have need of your aid. The foul cult invested much in creating this death curse, they may try to stop us from saving her soul. She's safe enough in these walls, but she must reach the cleansing alive. Oh you don't know about the Parade of Souls do you? Its quite remarkable. All of the souls of the dead on these isles linger before traveling onto the boneyard. Once a year their ghosts march through the streets to the ocean where all mundane sins are washed away, before they step through a metaphysical gate to be judged. Its a last chance for departed relatives to see their loved ones before they pass over. It is both a somber and a joyous occasion, the ghosts by and large behave themselves although the experience of seeing so many can be frightening..."

The priestess frowns, "This was done in public? So brazen! I can scarcely believe it. It's like they're taunting the watch."

Stung, the acolyte scurries away to fetch the Priestess. A few minutes later the oaken doors are thrown open, spilling a blueish light onto the cobblestones.

The door reveals a beautiful woman wearing a shift emblazoned with Saranrae's symbol. She seems half asleep with her hair in dissaray, but the moment she spots Banhi she snaps to and rushes over. She gasps, "How long ago did this happen?! The wound has putrefied..."

Somebody explains it happened just hours ago and she mutters a most unladylike curse. Grabbing her holy symbol, she tries a series of increasingly powerful healing magics, including one that caused an overwash of holy power that left your ears ringing. To her dismay, the wound only closes slightly.

Sweat dripping from the exertion, the priestess complains bitterly, "This is beyond me. Holy Saranrae can hear my prayers but all but a trickle of power is blocked. This poor poor girl, it would require a miracle to heal her."

She beckons one of the acolytes over and tells him, "Get a litter so we may move her and fetch wine of poppy. We can at least make her passing comfortable."

She then turns to the party and demands, "How did this happen? Tell me everything!"