Nemnosti session 2

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Summary

Marga is scouting around the upper ridge of the Pardopasu when she encounters her friends the vultures, including Eikuuruu, and learns about a freshly deposited human corpse. She travels to Istu Levunu where she discovers the recently-deposited but already decaying body of a man. She alerts Meze Hazh, who turns into a giant vulture in order to retrieve the man, who she identifies as Surgu Takovenga, a hunter from the Ghengom and brother of Ailal Takovenga. With the ulajeta sombre in support of its Warden, Nemnu Ula and Jorota Vuvrugh summon Kuspir to assign him the task of assembling a team. Kuspir's chosen group meets at the temple mausoleum and Izu questions the Ancestor Surgu. The group travels to Istu Levunu and learns that the body was deposited by a person wearing a strange red and black mask, while Alai divines the location where Surgu was killed, possibly west of Gil Hargush. Ifa, Jevai, and Kuspir meet with Ailal to discuss the circumstances of Surgu's life and death, his relationship with his sons, his revenant-induced hallucinations, and who might want to kill him. They plan to travel to where Surgu was killed and further investigate matters in the Ghengom.

Session

Session date: February 18, 2024

Negili Reckoning date: IE 768, Fikho

Prologue

Welcome, acolytes! The high hills of the Ghengom are often still cold, this time of year. Unlike our home here in Nemnosti, where the Pardopasu keeps us warm, the rocky grassy uplands give scant shelter from the wind. The high altitude and thin air make the problem worse. This time of year, in mid-to-late Fikho, you can still find patches of unmelted snow even before you get to the heights near Momichas. It has its fair reputation as a dangerous place, for those unwise enough to traverse it untrained. There are of course natural hazards such as pits and crevices, fast-flowing water during floods, and any number of strange beasts. North to the Musune forests and the ruins of Gil Hargush, there are many unspeakable things. Our friends the Ravre have lived in the Ghengom for centuries, though, and largely in peace. Akapa Sogo just a short walk away leads upward still further, to Hong Sogo against the lake, and even to Vija Sogo in the shadow of the great volcano itself. No, the Ghengom is hardly a barren place, but a place of life, and of human existence, as it has been for centuries. As part of your Courses, you will learn much about it, because the valleys can only be defined in relation to the heights. So we turn now to the vulture Marga of the Gago, born in the high hills, as she scouts along the wide ridges along the top of the Pardopasu. She is one of our guardians here, led by the great Kaifuri herself, to insulate us against the dangers that threaten us from without. Though some dangers are beyond anyone's power to stay ...

Marga discovers the body of Surgu Takovenga being eaten by vultures atop Istu Levunu

[NemnostiGM] Marga, you are on the north ridge of the Pardopasu, a barren patch looking downhill to the south towards the ulajeta. Long ago, this area served as grazing grounds for the goats of the village of Lurusiru, but that place has long since been abandoned. Now, it still has some rough paths that you and the other vultures use, but not much else.
[NemnostiGM] You have your gear, as well as the goat horn used to signal in case of danger or need of aid. Your water supplies are good, since at this time of year, all the upland streams are full of snowmelt, but the small snack you took with you this morning is long gone.
[Marga] (what am I scouting for exactly?)
[NemnostiGM] (any danger, anything of note. Usually you might do a little hunting, make sure there's no risk of a rockslide anywhere, that kind of thing.)
* Marga keeps her eyes peeled for animals/snacks
[NemnostiGM] (make a Survival to see how you've been faring)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+9
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+9 ] getting [ 2 ] which, after the modifier [ 9 ] totals [ 11 ].
[Marga] (boo)
[NemnostiGM] (no luck today, which is probably why you ate the snack you packed)
[Marga] . o O Note to self: next time bring more snacks
[NemnostiGM] It's been about three hours since dawn and your patrol is just about finished, you reckon, and you're about to head back down for a midmorning meal.
[NemnostiGM] (make a Perception check, and you can apply your wilderness bonus)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 1 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 12 ].
[NemnostiGM] (oh dear)
[Marga] (destiny please, that's ridiculous)
[NemnostiGM] (ok go ahead)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 4 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 15 ].
[NemnostiGM] Just out of the corner of your eye, high in the sky, you see your friends the ikhanne. They're heading westward across the Pardopasu, in a group, which is a little unusual.
[Marga] (any idea what that could signify?)
[NemnostiGM] (give me K:nature)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 3 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 11 ].
[NemnostiGM] (you're not really sure. )
[Marga] I wonder... Hm. Oh well!
[NemnostiGM] You're about to head back down when a friend lands beside you, startling you. You didn't even notice him.
[Marga] ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
* Eikuuruu is large even for an ikhano, with great black plumage and a reddish face. He circles overhead and lands next to you.
[Marga] Oh! Hi! :)
[Marga] Where's everybody going?
[Eikuuruu] Cra-craaa! You haven't seen it?
[Marga] nope!
[Eikuuruu] There's new carrion. It wasn't there last night but it was this morning, atop a great stone. But it's delightfully putrid.
[Marga] Oh nice!
[Eikuuruu] It's human.
[Marga] Oh, dang, I probably should check that out.
[Eikuuruu] I know I am. My wake feasts, and I go to join them.
[Marga] Have fun!
* Marga is going to go try and find this corpse I guess!
[NemnostiGM] Marga, you can see now that there are ikhanne travelling from various directions, and it's not too hard to triangulate where they're heading.
[NemnostiGM] You dash around the ridge and near to the place where the Pasu River drops down from the Ghengom into the valley.
[NemnostiGM] (roughly the location of the 2nd picture at https://rocksfall.org/wiki/Pardopasu )
[NemnostiGM] Just after crossing the river, deftly bouncing across great stepping-stones laid centuries ago, you see a low, long standing stone, centuries old. While you are no expert like Jevai and definitely don't know what they mean, you know this one very well since it is one you pass by almost every day.
[NemnostiGM] It is Istu Levunu, the Dropping Gate, an ancient sigillant stone.
[NemnostiGM] (https://rocksfall.org/wiki/Istu_Levunu)
[NemnostiGM] But atop it, you see the body of an adult male human, over and around which more than a dozen ikhanne are feasting.
[Marga] (anyone I know?)
[Marga] Oh yup, that's a dead guy alright.
[NemnostiGM] (give me a K:Local)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 13 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 21 ].
[NemnostiGM] It's a Ravre, for sure, and he looks familiar, but definitely is not someone who lives or spends a lot of time at Nemnosti. Maybe someone from one of the high hill villages.
[NemnostiGM] You can tell just from the smell that this man has been dead for quite a while, probably at least a week.
[Marga] (can I tell how he died?)
[Marga] That *is* ripe!
[NemnostiGM] (well right now he's got a bunch of vultures on him, it's a little hard. You could try to convince them to move)
[Marga] Hey, 'scuse me, can I just get a lil peek in here?
[Marga] :3
[NemnostiGM] (OK, now give me a ... sigh ... Diplomacy. And I think you have a penalty on that?)
[Marga] (I do but... does t apply to vultures? I'm stigmatized because I'm a weirdo Gago)
[NemnostiGM] (yeah that's true, never mind, just an ordinary diplomacy)
[Marga] !roll 1d20
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20 ] getting [ 8 ].
[Marga] Guys?
[NemnostiGM] The vultures are not inclined to obey your polite request.
[Marga] (is Eiikuuruu here?)
[NemnostiGM] (yes)
[Marga] Eiikuuruu? (´･_･`)
[Marga] Help?
[Marga] Please?
* Eikuuruu looks over at you, considering your request.
[Eikuuruu] Gentlevultures, our kinswoman speaks with sense. Our ancient accords require that we give her the right to a human kill when asked.
[NemnostiGM] As if a single unit, the great black raptors hop off Istu Levunu and away from their feast, standing in a semicircle around you, though clearly eager to dive back in.
[Marga] Thank you thank you thank youu!
* Marga will come give this corpse a poke then and see what she can see :v
[NemnostiGM] (all right, give me another Perception then)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+9
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+9 ] getting [ 11 ] which, after the modifier [ 9 ] totals [ 20 ].
[NemnostiGM] (and you would actually have your Eyes of the Wild bonus to that as well, as you're in wilderness)
[Marga] (so 22)
[NemnostiGM] The body is a strong man with a heavy beard, probably in his mid-forties. He is dressed, very unusually, in a plain buru, which would not normally be worn by an adult man.
[NemnostiGM] You do not see any signs of injury other than, of course, where the ikhanne have pecked away at him a bit. But he has definitely been dead for at least a week, judging from the decomposition. It is as if he were moved here from somewhere else and laid upon this stone, overlooking the valley.
[Marga] Huh. Weird.
[Marga] Alrighty then! Carrion.
[Marga] :V :V :V
[Marga] GET IT? CARRION?
* Eikuuruu looks at you, confused.
[Marga] carry on?
[Eikuuruu] Is this someone you know?
[Marga] Nope!
[Marga] I mean, he looks sort of familiar? But I dunno.
[Eikuuruu] All right. So ... you agree that we can eat him now?
[Marga] [.[
[Marga] ].]
[Marga] At least until someone else comes along ].]
* Eikuuruu hops up on the stone, then, and begins to dig in, and the others follow.
[Eikuuruu] You're going to go tell someone, aren't you. How long do we have until they come?
[Marga] Uh, I dunno... (how long would I guess)
[Marga] I sort of have to, it's my job,
[NemnostiGM] (I mean it depends how long it will be till you tell someone. Could be a couple hours before people get up here, unless you were to sound a danger alarm on your horn, which seems uncalled-for)
[Marga] Probably a couple hours?
[Eikuuruu] Very well. Thank you, Marga!
[Eikuuruu] Gentlevultures, to the feast!
[Marga] Cra-Craaa!
* Marga waves
* Marga sets off back toward the ulajeta.
[NemnostiGM] All right, you bound down the river valley with relative ease and down to Nemnosti. Soon, you are met by Meze, to whom you would give your report regularly, as she is the Master of the Hunt.
[Meze] ( https://rocksfall.org/wiki/Meze_Hazh )
[Marga] Hey Meze. There's a dead guy on Istu Levunu :)
[Meze] Pardon me?
[Marga] A corpse?
[Meze] On Istu Levunu?
* Marga nods.
[Marga] *Really* dead. Like at least a week.
[Meze] That can't be. Someone among us goes by there every day.
[Marga] Someone must have brought him, because he sure wasn't there yesterday.
* Meze looks at you, confused and alarmed.
[Meze] And that doesn't worry you?
[Marga] It's pretty creepy I guess.
[Meze] Yes, I should say so. But it's not someone you know?
[Marga] No...
[Marga] He was dressed like a bubun, or a prisoner.
[Meze] Hmm ... all right, you ready for a ride?
[Marga] Sure!
* Meze stands in the courtyard, and then, over the span of a minute, transforms into an enormous black vulture, perhaps twenty feet or more in length.
[Marga] :D :D
[Marga] (do I ride her or does she carry me in her talons?)
* Meze picks you up in her talons, surprisingly gently, and carries you swiftly up the river valley and then to the upper ridge of the valley, where Istu Levunu sits just south of the river.
[NemnostiGM] The wake of vultures scatters as Meze lands. You feel a little bad as you hadn't anticipated the swift ride upriver, so it hasn't been as long as you said.
* Meze goes over to the standing stone, still in her vulture form.
[Marga] (´･_･`)
[Meze] Oh, fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck.
[Marga] Uh ... Do *you* know him?
[Meze] I do. This is Surgu of the Takovenga, hunter of the high hills. Ailal is his sister.
[Marga] Ah... crap.
[Marga] Why’s he dressed like that?
[Meze] I don't know. It is not natural. None of this is right.
[Meze] I am not wise enough to figure this all out. We must take him back to the ulajeta and inform Nemnu.
[Marga] Do you wanna carry him and I can walk?
[Meze] I have two talons.
[Marga] Alright..
* Marga is feeling a little bad about letting him get nibbled
* Meze picks both of you up and you can think more about this as you stare into a dead man's half-pecked eyes on the short trip back to the ulajeta.
* Marga mouths "sorry buddy" to the corpse

Nemnu and Jorota meet with Kuspir and assign him the task of assembling a team

[NemnostiGM] All right, a day or so passes as the body is brought to the temple and prepared.
[NemnostiGM] In the aftermath of the discovery of the body of Surgu, there is deep empathy and mourning for Sister Hush, who, though sometimes stern, is always kind to the young acolytes, so many of you have fond memories of Ailal from those early days.
[NemnostiGM] As is often true of traditional Ravre, Ailal wears a plain buru as mourning garb until her brother's remains are interred, to signal her absence of personhood at this time of weeping.
[NemnostiGM] To anyone's knowledge, it has not yet been decided where he will lay. But it is far too late for any hope of revivification, and so he will rest as an Ancestor now, forever.
[NemnostiGM] Kuspir, the evening of the day following Marga's discovery, you are summoned to meet with Nemnu Ula in Her chambers.
* Kuspir will go to meet with her
[NemnostiGM] You head up to the meeting and are greeted at the door by Jorota Vuvrugh, Nemnu's former apprentice and now Her Preceptor in charge of the courses at the ulajeta.
[Jorota] Kuspir.
[Kuspir] good evening
* Jorota 's pure black eyes seem even blacker than usual.
[Jorota] The Carver has asked me to attend this meeting. Well ... I insisted.
* Kuspir nods
[Jorota] I need you to understand.
[Jorota] Folazh and I were acolytes together. Thirty-five years we have been friends. She is, to me, a sister. This is too much for her to bear. The Lady is going to demand action. And she has forbidden me from taking it myself.
* Jorota is composed, but you sense a deep rage within her.
[Kuspir] Why?
[Jorota] She tells me it is because She needs me here, to protect Her, to protect the acolytes, against whatever this is.
[Jorota] But I believe it is because She knows that I would have no mercy on whoever did this. And perhaps She thinks you would.
[Kuspir] She thinks this is a threat?
[Jorota] She does. And so should you.
[Kuspir] I don't know enough about what happened to make such conclusions.
[Jorota] And that is probably why you have been chosen for this task.
[Jorota] So I will make this clear to you now. Take a lesson from your Pillar, who is an ancestor of Surgu. He would never allow such a slight to stand, on this ulajeta, on his kinsman, on the Lady Herself. This is a matter requiring exacting justice. And if you are not prepared to do so, I will.
[Kuspir] If I find that to be the case, have no fear - I can do what needs to be done. But I need to know that it's the right thing.
[Jorota] All right. I accept that.
[Jorota] Let us go in, then.
* Kuspir nods
[NemnostiGM] You enter the chamber, followed by Jorota.
* Nemnu is wearing a silver-grey altala bound around the waist by a great leather and copper belt on which seemingly hundreds of tiny fefrir are linked.
* Kuspir salutes her with a fist against his chest.
[Nemnu] Medimur, come, approach. Sit by me.
* Kuspir will come to sit where instructed
[Nemnu] Sit and listen, my beloved acolyte.
[Nemnu] I have no organs. I sit passionless in this body. And yet I rage for my beloved Folazh, for her children, and for all who love her. And I rage at the thought that this was done for a purpose, to be seen and found by us, though for what end I cannot say.
[Nemnu] I have spoken with many on the matter already. To ask them: who shall I ask to take on my burden? Who shall serve as my organs, as my instrument?
[Nemnu] My Aikesh tells me that you can be spared from your ordinary duties for a time. And so, Kuspir-who-is-Medimur, I come to you.
[Nemnu] (Aikesh is Rubo, who is in charge of the stoneguards)
[Kuspir] What do you need me to do?
[Nemnu] I charge you with the task of assembling a group to assist you in this task: to identify who it was who killed Surgu of the Takovenga, and why, and why his death was presented to us here at Nemnosti as a cat presenting a trophy to its master.
[Nemnu] I have spoken to Hojon-who-is-Taishukh and he assures me that your children shall have all the care they need, of course, at the iftibal, if your mission should take you afield.
[Nemnu] Do you have thoughts as to who you may need to aid you in this?
[Kuspir] I would need a Voice, who can let the dead give his testimony.
[Nemnu] That is so.
[Kuspir] As well, I am no source user, so someone who is skilled in that would be a help. And.. where he was found, it is a stone of power, so maybe Jevai should be included?
[Jorota] A good choice.
[Jorota] Perhaps also a mystic, though.
* Kuspir nods
[Kuspir] The one who found the body, Marga, may have insights as to the circumstances where he was left.
[Kuspir] She saw him before any others, and before he had been moved.
[Jorota] While she left the body to her vulture friends, she did at least have the sense to tell Meze right away.
* Kuspir nods
[Nemnu] Yes, a vulture from the high hills would be useful. Surgu was from the uplands.
[Kuspir] And, if it is that we need to talk with people to see what they know, I would like Ifa to come. I trust her more than any to be good with people.
[Jorota] Perhaps both Ifa and Izu then?
* Kuspir nods
[Nemnu] I will permit it, though that is many from your branch of the family to care for.
[Nemnu] Any others?
[Kuspir] I think it would be prudent to have one who is Ravre, but I don't know who would be good to pick.
[Kuspir] Is there someone who knew the man, but not so close as his sister?
[Nemnu] I do not know. There are not so many of the Ravre here who are young, and fewer still from the high hills.
* Kuspir nods
[Jorota] Khorond is much too young.
[Kuspir] if there is none who is suitable, then perhaps we can simply talk to some of the elders.
[Nemnu] You may, of course, speak to whomever you want. And if you identify more to assist you, I will permit it if I can.
[Nemnu] Because this may be a threat to the ulajeta and to me, I will keep my closest and nearest advisors in my embrace, as much as I can.
[Kuspir] Do I have your authority to act on this matter, in what ways are needed?
[Nemnu] You do.
[Nemnu] If you need treasures, my Pavavi will provide them. If spells and knowledge, my Chonosh will come to your aid. Wealth shall be made ready as needed.
[Nemnu] The one thing you may not have is time. For inasmuch as we might be willing to tolerate slow justice for Surgu, this message sent by his killer, for what else can it be, suggests a willingness to kill again.
[Kuspir] If we are able to find who did this, should we try to capture them for questioning or should justice be done swiftly?
[Nemnu] You must use your judgement. If there are things to learn that can only be learned from a living person, then choose that path.
* Kuspir nods
[Nemnu] But as an Ancestor much can be learned, without fear of deception.
[Kuspir] I will do what I can, Lady.
[Nemnu] I trust in you, Medimur.
[Kuspir] Thank you for this honour.

Kuspir brings the team together in the mausoleum and they speak to Surgu

[NemnostiGM] All right, Kuspir, you can go and assemble your team.
* Kuspir will do so
[Jevai] (How much time have I got to prepare ;p)
[NemnostiGM] (that's up to Kuspir I guess)
[Kuspir] (I was told to act quickly so probably not a lot - but if you tell me you need more, we can do that?)
[Kuspir] (I could get you first and give you the length of time it takes me to find everyone else ;)
[Jevai] (cool)
[Jevai] (just trying to determine what spells I can ready that might be useful)
[NemnostiGM] (OK, Jevai, let me know what you would like)
[Jevai] (I assume I have some that I usually have on hand prepped but can swap some out)
[Ifa] (So Kuspir is coming personally to get each of us? (though not rped out or anything))
[NemnostiGM] (I assume so, yes. Presumably spells relating to this kind of investigation would require special preparation)
[NemnostiGM] (yes, he'll get each of you)
[Ifa] (kk)
[Kuspir] (I would let you know what we're doing and where to meet, the basics)
[NemnostiGM] You assemble in a small chamber within the Mausoleum, which is where bodies are prepared and where many less-honoured Ancestors are now stored. The actual funeral rites take place in the main temple, Taldafta, but this is where all the preliminary work takes place.
[NemnostiGM] Voice Ingo, the high priest, has of course been informed of what you are doing, and to give you wide latitude within the bounds of decorum.
* Ifa will arrive at the appointed time, having made sure she's dressed for travel/a hike if necessary.
[Kuspir] The Lady views this as a message, or indeed a threat, sent to us. We should treat it with caution.
[Marga] Wow he looks a lot better now!
* Ifa gives a small smile at that.
[Ifa] If this is a threat, wouldn't the threatening party want us to know who it was from?
[Kuspir] Let's first try to find out what he knows about the circumstances of his own death, or the person who caused it, if such can be learned.
[Jevai] (I at least want a hieghtened awareness if I can - I think calm emotions is on my usual list tbh ].])
[Ifa] Otherwise it's a bit vague, isn't it?
[Kuspir] I think She feels that they will act again, unless stopped.
[NemnostiGM] (Jevai, you can, if you want to make a roll to lodge it)
* Ifa nods.
[Kuspir] It could be that they thought their message would be evident - maybe it is, if we know more about the circumstances.
* Alai is in her new Khobesku with scrollwork and dark grey Juskai with a fur trimed Ezasta, a small leather bag at her belt, and a variety of bracelets on.
[Ifa] Well, hopefully he'll have some answers.
[Izu] Is there anything specific you wish to ask?
[Marga] Uhh... who killed him?
* Marga suggests helpfully
[Kuspir] How did he die, what was he doing before he died, who killed him, or if he doesn't know that, was there anyone he would think has a reason for killing him?
* Kuspir suggests
* Izu nods. I will try to get as much as possible, however I can only ask three questions. If you need more, I suggest we ask Ingo to help us.
[Kuspir] Let's ask those three, and then we can decide if we require more after that?
[Izu] Very well.
* Ifa gives her brother an encouraging smile.
* Alai will consume some fos and cast detect magic greater.
[Alai] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 20 ].
[NemnostiGM] (ok, that will be fine)
[Kuspir] If his answer to how did he die reveals other information, like who killed him, or that he clearly doesn't know who it was, we can decide on a different third question then?
* Marga pulls out a bag of trail mix and starts eating
* Izu nods.
[NemnostiGM] Alai, there are no magical auras lingering on this individual from the last several days.
* Izu will place a hand on the corpse and begin praying.
[Izu] Surgu Takovenga, dearest ancestor... speak with me please.
[NemnostiGM] Izu, you draw on your connection with the Ancestors and feel him in readiness to answer you.
[Marga] *crunch crunch*
[Izu] How did you come to meet your death?
* Ifa will make an interrogative expression and gesture towards Marga and her trail mix.
* Izu tries to ignore the crunching behind him.
[Marga] (w) I'm hungry!
[Ifa] (Ifa was trying to ask for some)
[Marga] (ohhh)
* Marga offers the bag for Ifa to take some :v
[Surgu] I was sleeping in my tent when I was awoken by a deep pain throughout all my bones. I awoke and I saw ... or I thought I saw ... a figure with a black and red mask. Then the figure pointed at me again, and ... that is all. But perhaps it was all in my mind.
* Ifa takes some, gives Marga a "we're being bad" guilty smile holding up a finger to her lips, then tries to eat the trail mix as quietly as possible.
[Izu] That is... not what I expected.
* Jevai will consider that - could be spells, for sure, and does themask ring any bells?
[Izu] I could ask what the mask looked like in more detail.
[Kuspir] He doesn't sound too sure about it.
[Izu] No.
[Alai] When and where?
[Kuspir] I think it would be good to know when this was - and where.
[Jevai] yes, where was his tent?
* Kuspir nods to Alai
* Izu will turn back to Surgu
[Ifa] (q, to Jevai) The bone pain thing, that's a spell, right?
[Jevai] it could be
* Ifa frowns, taking another bite of the trail mix.
[Izu] Where were you sleeping when you met your end?
[Surgu] I was in the hills between Hong Sogo and Gil Hargush, hunting.
[Ifa] (q, to Marga) Is that significant?
[Marga] (q) It's kinda near where I'm from...
[Marga] (is there another significance?)
[Izu] Perhaps we should ask who knew he would be there.
[NemnostiGM] (not that you are aware of, Marga. There's lots of weird shit up there near the old ruins.)
[Kuspir] one question left. Perhaps to ask if anything strange happened to him in the few days before his death? maybe he saw something or did something out of the ordinary.
* Jevai nods to Kuspir
[Izu] Very well.
[Izu] Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen to you in the last few days before your death?
[Surgu] My life is full of unusual sights. Since my rebirth, many strange visions appear to me, every day. I can never discern which are real and which are not. In those days, I believed I was being followed, but that is not unusual - for me.
* Izu frowns slightly.
[NemnostiGM] The connection with the Ancestor fades as Izu repeats Surgu's final response.
[Izu] Perhaps this time he really was being followed.
[Jevai] hmm.
[Kuspir] I see... we have some places to look, then. To find his camp site, and to look at the stone where his body was found.
* Alai will cast detect poison on the corpse
[Ifa] (Do we know if he had any enemies or anything?)
[NemnostiGM] (ok make your roll)
[Ifa] (Which of those two is closer?)
[Alai] (its a cantrip)
[NemnostiGM] (so it is)
[NemnostiGM] (no poison)
[Alai] There iz no lingering magic on the body, nor any poison... but time would have faded any magical residue.
[Kuspir] (how long would it take us to go to those places, assuming that we need to search around a bit for his camp)
* Kuspir nods to Alai
[NemnostiGM] You can get up to Istu Levunu reasonably quickly, though not as fast as Marga can alone, since she can run up the river valley pretty well.
[Kuspir] Thank you for looking.
[NemnostiGM] Looking for the camp will be much more difficult and arduous, possibly taking you away from the ulajeta for a longer time, and of course that assumes you can even find it at all.
[Kuspir] (so would it make sense to go to Istu Levunu today, and then tomorrow go look for the campsite?)
[NemnostiGM] (yes that would be fine, and you could talk to anyone else here at Nemnosti who you thought was relevant. But the only one here who actually knew him well was Sister Hush.)
[Kuspir] (let's talk to her before we go, then)
[Izu] Marga. Ifa. This is a sacred place. Please try not to... crunch... quite so loud.
[Izu] The dead ask little of us save our respect.
[Kuspir] Before we go to Istu Levunu, let us talk with his sister. She might know more about his 'strange visions' and whether anyone might have reason to want to harm him.
* Kuspir looks to Ifa
[Marga] Sorry! You can only eat nuts so quiet
[Jevai] She might know about something that we can use to search for his camp
[Alai] This iz planned... body held long enough to make sure he no return and any hint of cause of death shrouded.
[Ifa] (To Izu) No disrespect was meant, and Marga has had a trying day. Certainly our ancestors understand nerves.
* Kuspir nods to Alai
[Marga] Oh yeah, he was real juicy.
* Ifa nods at Alai's statement as well.
[Kuspir] Yes, at the very least, it was planned to keep the killer from being easily found.
* Izu sighs but says nothing more.
[Kuspir] The mask the figure he saw wearing - does that mean anything to any of you? a red and black mask?
* Alai ponders... does it?
[Ifa] (Does it? Also, would it be possible to roll re: the known enemies thing? Clan rivalries, etc. )
[Jevai] (yeah earlier questions stand :p)
[NemnostiGM] The red and black mask is too vague a description to mean anything to any of you directly. It isn't some common Ravre or Khutu thing.
[Izu] Anyone can make a mask. The killer would have known we would ask Surgu about them.
[Izu] They wanted us to know that he was killed, but not by who.
[NemnostiGM] (you can roll K:local to see if any of you know anything about Ravre politics in the high hills, but everyone except Marga and Jevai will have a very hard time)
[Ifa] True, but it sounds more...elaborate than simply hiding identity.
[Marga] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 16 ].
[Jevai] more practical
[Izu] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 15 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 23 ].
[Ifa] If they just wanted to hide their face, they could have wrapped a mebel or pacha differently.
[Ifa] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 14 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 24 ].
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 16 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 26 ].
[Kuspir] !roll 1d20+5
* Lan-werk rolls for Kuspir: [ 1d20+5 ] getting [ 13 ] which, after the modifier [ 5 ] totals [ 18 ].
[Alai] !roll 1d20+12
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+12 ] getting [ 4 ] which, after the modifier [ 12 ] totals [ 16 ].
[Jevai] elaborate, or distracting.
[NemnostiGM] OK, Marga, Kuspir, Alai, you know nothing.
[NemnostiGM] Izu, you don't know much yourself, but you do know that the priest up in Hong Sogo, Sumasi Zipizmo, would probably know. He's probably the one who revived Surgu, frankly.
[NemnostiGM] Ifa, the Takovengas are great warriors and hunters - in fact, you'd all know that the big statue of the Captain, Fezef Takovenga, commemorates Nemnosti's greatest stoneguard, who also is Kuspir's Pillar. But they don't have any bitter rivalries with other Ravre groups that you know of.
[Izu] Perhaps we should speak to Sumasi Zipizmo. I believe he was probably the one who raised Surgu the first time.
[Marga] Oh yeah, that guy!
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] That would make sense, I think.
[NemnostiGM] Jevai, you know that the Takovengas are from Vija Sogo, across the Ghengom from Hong Sogo. Vija Sogo is where the Chuchurus also have their iftibal, such as it is, and Faja-dur still lives there. Eng-dur never said anything about the Takovengas in particular, to your recollection.
[Alai] I would see where body found, soon, if anything remains there to be sensed.
[Jevai] I don't think there's any particular tensions with his lineage, but they're from across the Ghengom
[Ifa] Then we should be on our way, right?
* Ifa says in response to Alai.
[Kuspir] Okay. Let's go do that first, and we can talk to his sister afterwards.
[Marga] Okie dokie! :)
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] This will give her a little time, at least.

The party visits Istu Levunu and examines the scene where Surgu was left

[NemnostiGM] You head up to Istu Levunu. You'll take the long way, which involves going downriver to Hertu, then up and around through Akapa Sogo, and then to the valley's edge where the standing stone lies.
* Marga whistles a jaunty tune
[NemnostiGM] (you can see it on the map I just linked - you guys just don't have the ability Marga has to just climb right up the river valley)
[Jevai] (not without advanced planning ;)
* Ifa hums along.
[Ifa] (How long is that trip?)
[NemnostiGM] It still doesn't really take that long, no more than a couple hours as long as you're willing to be a bit winded by the end of it, if you aren't very hardy.
* Jevai assumes she is familiar with the stone itself and can look it over to see if there anything different
[NemnostiGM] You are at the great ancient stone, Istu Levunu.
* Izu is definitely breathing hard by the time we get there.
* Kuspir will look around for anything out of the ordinary
[NemnostiGM] (you can make a roll, Jevai ... uhh, let's say K:arcana)
* Ifa gives Izu a "You okay?" look.
[NemnostiGM] (anyone else can make a Perception or Survival roll to survey the general area)
[Jevai] (I'll dislodge my heightened awareness for this too)
* Ifa will also look around, though she doesn't have anything in particular to look for.
[Marga] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 18 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 29 ].
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+14
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+14 ] getting [ 2 ] which, after the modifier [ 14 ] totals [ 16 ].
[Alai] !roll 1d20+6
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+6 ] getting [ 17 ] which, after the modifier [ 6 ] totals [ 23 ].
[Kuspir] !roll 1d20+12
* Lan-werk rolls for Kuspir: [ 1d20+12 ] getting [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ 12 ] totals [ 20 ].
[Jevai] (-_-)
[Alai] (and I'll also recast greater detect magic)
[Izu] !roll 1d20+14
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+14 ] getting [ 19 ] which, after the modifier [ 14 ] totals [ 33 ].
[Ifa] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 11 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 19 ].
[NemnostiGM] All right, Jevai you don't see anything out of the ordinary with Istu Levunu. It appears as it should, as far as you can tell.
* Izu will also quickly investigate for haunts... just in case.
[NemnostiGM] (ok Alai, make your roll for your spell)
[Alai] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 19 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 30 ].
[Ifa] (Oh, yeah, is that separate roll?)
[Ifa] (The Haunt search, I mean)
[NemnostiGM] Yes, you have to make a separate Perception check
[Izu] (Ah, ok)
[Izu] !roll 1d20+14
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+14 ] getting [ 2 ] which, after the modifier [ 14 ] totals [ 16 ].
[Ifa] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 17 ].
[NemnostiGM] All right, to the best you can discern, Alai, no spells have been cast here in the past, what, 4 days, is how long your spell will check back?
[NemnostiGM] Certainly the body was deposited here less than 4 days ago, so no magic was involved in doing that, and no apparent magic rituals or any such thing.
[NemnostiGM] Izu and Ifa, there are no haunts that you discern in this immediate area.
* Kuspir will ask Jevai a question
[Ifa] (q, to Izu) I don't feel anything unquiet, do you?
[Kuspir] What is this stone's significance? I mean the carvings on it.
[Izu] (q) No, I don't think so...
[Jevai] an excellent question - it's very old, and its originial meanings are not known today
[Ifa] (q) Better than the alternative. He's at rest and in the Mausoleum.
[Alai] No magical traces... carried here then.
[NemnostiGM] Jevai, I'll let you give me a K:arcana, but it won't be an easy one.
[Izu] (q) It's not Surgu I was worried about.
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+14
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+14 ] getting [ 11 ] which, after the modifier [ 14 ] totals [ 25 ].
[Ifa] But is *has* had significance before, yes?
[NemnostiGM] You don't know exactly anything more. The only one who might would be Giri.
[Ifa] (q, back to Izu) You're worried something did this to him, rather than someone?
[Alai] Marga, you find signs of passage, besides ours?
[Jevai] it has significance now, as a stone of age and reputation, but it is... dormant.
[Izu] (q) It's possible. Unlikely, though.
[Ifa] (q) You may still be right. Just because something left him here doesn't mean it would still be present.
[Jevai] Giri might know more, I could ask him. Downward, too, but I don't think I can ask her.
[Marga] (I got a 29 on it)
[Ifa] Dormant?
[Ifa] That implies it could be, ah, woken up?
[Jevai] Alai's spell would have told us that
[Jevai] if it were the case
[Ifa] Would have told us it *could* be woken up, or that is *has* been woken up?
[Jevai] if it had been
[Ifa] I mean, you two are the experts, I'm just trying to make sure I understand the full situation.
[Ifa] If it helps, neither Izu nor I sense any haunt activity, which is something of a concern, at least.
[Jevai] The stone is unchanged.
[Kuspir] (I'd also like to look around the area more broadly - circle out maybe up to 500 m away or whatever and just see if I see anything else - tracks or drag marks or anything that might indicate where the body came from?)
* Ifa nods.
[NemnostiGM] (hold on, I have to give Marga some info, she rolled 29 on her Survival/Perception and knows about this shit)
[Kuspir] (ok)
[Izu] This is a long way from where he was camped. A long way to take a body. Especially for one person.
* Jevai looks to Marga. "could you ask the vultures if they saw how the body came to be here"
[Ifa] (to Marga) Did the ikhanne...that thing. What Jevai and Izu said.
[NemnostiGM] Marga, your inspection of the area reveals that there is only one unexpected set of footprints made within the past few days. Obviously there are twelve or so vultures, one giant-ass roc, and your own footprints, but you can also see one set of additional footprints that you think were made by a human, that approach the stone. They're a couple days old, which fits what you know of the
[NemnostiGM] timeline.
[NemnostiGM] But there is no sign that a body was dragged, or even carried awkwardly.
[Ifa] (Steve, when people examined the body back in the Mausoleum, would there have been any indication the body had been rendered bubun?)
[Izu] If not with magic, how did they bring him here?
[Marga] THey just said it wasn't here yesterday, and then it was...
* Jevai nods, then looks at Izu
[Jevai] no, we kno o=no spells were cast *here*
[Ifa] Would they have marked a random single person walking along?
[Jevai] that doesn't mean magic wasn't involved
[Izu] Mmm.
[Marga] There's... one set of extra footprints, from a couple days ago, but no sign they were carrying or dragging anything big.
[Kuspir] Ifa, can you tell if he was made bubun? He's wearing the buru... maybe someone commanded him to walk here himself.
* Alai goes to the tracks Marga has identified.
* Alai casts Residual Tracking
[Kuspir] (or I guess, was wearing.. I don't know if he was still wearing it when we saw him)
[Alai] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 16 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 27 ].
[Jevai] do the tracks coime here and then leave?
[Ifa] That's what I was thinking, but there wasn't any indication he'd been rendered bubun.
[Ifa] It *would* explain a lot of this, though.
* Kuspir nods, frowning slightly
* Jevai asks for clarification
[Marga] (yeah, do the tracks leave?)
[Ifa] If he were killed and rendered elsewhere, then commanded to come here.
[Izu] If he was, then a hand must have been involved.
[Kuspir] but he would not have been so...fresh, then?
[Ifa] Though, hmm, Marga...you described him as "juicy"?
[Marga] Oh yeah. *real* juicy.
[Ifa] So, definitely *not* rendered.
[Izu] We should speak to those who knew him. They may be able to tell us more.
[Ifa] Hmm. It would have made a fair bit of sense, otherwise.
[Ifa] Or, at least, offer some explanation.
[Marga] Ikhanne wouldn't even want to eat a bubun.
[Ifa] I would be inclined to say they'd make poor eating, yes.
[Ifa] Is there more we can discover here? More divination, perhaps?
* Ifa looks to Jevi and especially Alai at that.
[Jevai] yes
[Ifa] Great! How can we help?
[Jevai] take a breath, have some patience
[Ifa] (q) Sorry, I was just trying to help...
* Izu puts a hand on your shoulder.
* Ifa does her best to maintain her usual affable smile.
[Jevai] of course, but there is no sense in rushing through this
[Ifa] (q) I wasn't trying to?
[NemnostiGM] Alai: The track was made by an individual of indeterminate gender, medium height and build, wearing a black and red mask. The mask looks like this: https://rocksfall.org/wiki/File:Mask1.jpg
[Marga] Anyone want some jerky?
[NemnostiGM] The individual is carrying a human corpse.
[Alai] (seeing the mask, does it have any meaning?)
* Kuspir will accept the offer of jerky, sure
[NemnostiGM] (the mask does not have any meaning to you)
* Ifa glances at Marga and shakes her head, stepping away to look around again, but staying within earshot.
* Marga passes him a piece :)
[Kuspir] thanks
[Alai] Body carried here, man with mask.
* Jevai nods to Alai
[Izu] A man?
[Marga] They must have been strong... the steps don't falter at all,
[Jevai] can you show us what it looked like?
* Alai will create a minor illusion of the image she saw
[Jevai] there's spells for strength
[Jevai] or to lighten a load
[Alai] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 16 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 27 ].
[Marga] Gosh what *can't* they do
[Izu] They must have had magic. No one could carry a full grown man this distance through the hills.
[Ifa] (Do the clothes or anything else about the figure look familiar to any of us?)
[Jevai] I do think it likley he was killed with magic
[NemnostiGM] Nothing really seems familiar, no.
[Izu] This gets stranger the more we learn.
[Marga] He didn't look beat up or anything when I saw him
[Marga] Just slightly... pecked
* Izu sighs.
[Ifa] What he said happened sounded...internal? If anything.
[NemnostiGM] Ifa and Izu, I'll let you make a roll each to see if the mask looks familiar.
[NemnostiGM] Just roll.
[Marga] Yeah. Bone hurting.
[Ifa] (Like, just a regular d20, no modifier?)
[Jevai] (Steve do I know any spells that could kill like that? Not leave any physical traces on the body? or that could 'make your bones hurt'? I forget if I did already roll on that :p)
[Izu] (What kinda roll?)
[NemnostiGM] (just a d20, I'll add your modifier)
[Izu] !roll 1d20
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20 ] getting [ 17 ].
[Ifa] !roll 1d20
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20 ] getting [ 2 ].
[Jevai] if his bones had been actually damaged it would be evident'
[Ifa] (Come on Izu...)
[NemnostiGM] Izu, you think you might have seen something like this in a book at the ulajeta, but you're not sure where. Ifa, you have no idea.
[Izu] I... I've seen that mask. Or something like it.
[Kuspir] Let's head back to the ulajeta before it gets too late - maybe we can talk with his sister tonight. Then, depending on what she might say, we can go looking for his campsite tomorrow, or go seek elsewhere if we learn anything else that makes more sense than trying to comb a huge area for his tent.
[Kuspir] oh?
* Kuspir looks over at Izu
[NemnostiGM] (Jevai, make a K:arcana if you like)
[Kuspir] Where?
[Izu] I don't know. Somewhere in my reading. I will need to consult the library at the Ulajeta.
[Ifa] So more to check on when we get back.
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+14
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+14 ] getting [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ 14 ] totals [ 23 ].
[Kuspir] All right - you can do that tonight if you prefer? We don't all need to talk to her - it might be better if we don't, so it's not so overwhelming for her.
[Izu] Yes, I am not the best with... people.
[Alai] Let me try divination for camp...before leave. Since we are here.
[NemnostiGM] (while you can't think of too many spells that affect the bones directly, you certainly can think of any number of spells that would cause massive damage without leaving a mark or trace. Honestly the list would be long)
[Ifa] Oh, that'd be *really* useful.
* Alai will attempt to cast Divination on the location of Surgu's tent
[Alai] !roll 1d20+11
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d20+11 ] getting [ 6 ] which, after the modifier [ 11 ] totals [ 17 ].
[NemnostiGM] OK, roll for backlash.
[Alai] !roll 1d100
* Lan-werk rolls for Alai: [ 1d100 ] getting [ 34 ].
[Jevai] (caster loses control of bladder -_-)
[NemnostiGM] Alai, unfortunately you have lost continence in the effort to produce the great incantation.
[NemnostiGM] Now my turn to roll 1d100, for the spell
[NemnostiGM] !roll 1d100
* Lan-werk rolls for NemnostiGM: [ 1d100 ] getting [ 48 ].
[NemnostiGM] All right, Alai, so your question is what?
[Marga] ooo...
* Marga badly pretends not to notice the accident
* Ifa will take off her cloak and offer it wordlessly to Alai.
* Izu will turn discretely away.
[Alai] (where is the tent that Surgu died in?)
* Jevai can probably clean her up while she's casting with a slate spell ;p
[NemnostiGM] Alai, from within, you feel the Abyss churning. This is no mere lighthearted waving of the hand. The answer speaks to you in a resonant voice from the depths:
Ashes lie where once a man lay. Follow the shadow of the dead tower at dawn and you shall find it.
* Alai repeats the above in Luetkan, then comes out of the trance
[Alai] Help yes? Ah less so.
[Jevai] what did you learn?
* Alai looks at herself, stands up and strips off her Khobesku.
[Alai] Ashes lie where once a man lay. Follow the shadow of the dead tower at dawn and you shall find.
* Kuspir turns around to not look :p
* Izu blushes and then also turns around.
[Jevai] (or I guess I can't just clean you up with a slate spell ;p)
[Jevai] Hmmm...
* Jevai looks to Marga
[Alai] (I assume it happened right at the end)
[Jevai] The dead tower? One of the ruins?
[Alai] (now you can help:))
[Jevai] (Is that a K:local?)
[NemnostiGM] (K: history would be better)
[Jevai] (welll I have that too)
[Ifa] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 18 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 28 ].
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+12
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+12 ] getting [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ 12 ] totals [ 19 ].
[Marga] (I don't know shit for histpry)
[Marga] !roll 1d20+2
* Lan-werk rolls for Marga: [ 1d20+2 ] getting [ 2 ] which, after the modifier [ 2 ] totals [ 4 ].
[Marga] (see?)
[Izu] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 17 ].
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 11 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 21 ].
[Jevai] (thatb second roll was for the prestitigitation ;p)
[NemnostiGM] OK, let's just say Ifa knows.
[NemnostiGM] Ifa, you certainly know that atop the great ruin of Gil Hargush there still stands a mighty tower, long abandoned. Years ago it would have been a watchtower during the Khutu-Taizian wars and at the end of the second war, in 414-415, Gil Hargush was abandoned, though it was never razed.
[Ifa] Maybe it's referring to the watchtower at Gil Hargush?
[Ifa] That's a dead tower, at least...
[NemnostiGM] (I mean, the reason it obviously makes sense is that Surgu reported being between there and Hong Sogo)
[Kuspir] It could be that.
[Kuspir] We can look at that area tomorrow.
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] So, west of Gil Hargush? That would be in the 'shadow of the dead tower.'
[Ifa] And fits with everything else.
* Kuspir nods
[Izu] What of the ashes? A campfire?
[Marga] Sounds like!
[Kuspir] That's good thinking, Ifa. Maybe the ashes are the remains of his tent, if they burned it...
[Ifa] Or just his campfire.
[Ifa] Like Izu just said. :/
[Ifa] It's not likely to be as literal as directly in the shadow, right?
[Izu] One never knows with these things.
[Jevai] she said follow the shadow
[Jevai] I aklsi suspoect Kuspisis right
[Jevai] (sorry Jevai had a stroke)
[Jevai] I also susoect Kuspir is right.
[Jevai] if there is ashes where he once lay, that doesn't sound like just a campfire
[Ifa] That they burnt his tent?
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] Well, that gives us more to spot, at least.

Ifa, Jevai, and Kuspir discuss how best to approach Ailal

[NemnostiGM] All right, you return to Nemnosti where you can continue your research.
* Ifa will seek out Ailal/Folazh/Sister Hush wherever she would be at this time.
[Kuspir] (I'll go with Ifa and.. who else? to talk to Ailal, but I want to talk to whoever's going with us first)
[NemnostiGM] (all right, in some sort of quiet/private place I'm assuming? It shouldn't be hard, and I"m confident she's been told to expect you. Everyone knows, or will soon, that you have been assigned this task.)
[Jevai] (I could go, I at least know her beyond the ulajeta, but not super well personally, so idk how useful that connection would be, other than that I'm ravre)
[Kuspir] Before we go talk to her... I just want to say - be cautious. It isn't that I don't trust her, but we should take care in case she is connected to this matter. Either that she is responsible or knows who is, and could warn them. So let's not tell her more than we need to. I want to find out what her brother's situation was, if he had any known enemies or people who might want to hurt him.
[Ifa] (That might be helpful on its own, plus Jevai's smart and can ask good questions)
[Ifa] You think she would do something like this to her brother?
* Vess (~vesscpe589630e09e0d-cm589630e09e0b.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) has joined #Nemnosti
[Ifa] I thought they got along well enough.
[Ifa] (Unless I'm mistaken in that...)
[Kuspir] I don't really know enough about him to say. But I think that if the killer is someone she knows, they could also try to get information from her about our investigations.
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] I see.
[Kuspir] Let's just be careful about what we reveal.
[Jevai] I think... it is possible, and we should consider, that this is not a personal matter at all.
* Alai (~vessec2-15-222-244-68.ca-central-1.compute.amazonaws.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 189 seconds )
[Jevai] if this was intended to target Nemnu Ula or the Ulajeta, perhaps he was the target that was available to send this message
[Ifa] Wrong place, wrong time?
[Jevai] mm.
* Jevai nods
[Kuspir] It's possible.
[Jevai] People in the High Hills have been on edge for a while
[Ifa] If that's the case, though, who or what was wandering the Ghenghom looking to send a message to the ulajeta and randomly murders someone to do so?
[Jevai] According to Auntie Nakah
[Ifa] Right, but wouldn't they strike at someone more associated with the ulajeta if so?
[Jevai] hopefully that is somethighn we can learn. But a message is only good if it can be interpreted
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] That's my concern. If it's a message, it's...poorly translated?
[Jevai] maybe
[Ifa] Could it have ritual purpose?
[Ifa] With the stone and all?
[Jevai] maybe?
[Kuspir] It was picked deliberately, not just a convenient place to leave the body.
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] just becuse we don't junderstand the messsage it doesn't mean no one does
[Ifa] Of course, but if it was meant for Nemnu Ula, but it's not interpretable by her, it's...at the very least sloppy.
[Jevai] it doens't have to be addresssed to her to be a threat to her or to this place
[Kuspir] The Lady seemed to take it as a threat and seemed more than usually angry...
[Kuspir] So it's possible she did interpret more of its meaning than we are able to.
[Ifa] So it's possible she knows what it means and...yeah
* Ifa frowns.
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] Well, we don't always understand her ways, but...
[Ifa] Shall we?
* Kuspir nods
[Jevai] yes.
* Ifa will have one last thing on the way.
[Ifa] You said the Ravre have been upset, and the stones are or were boundary markers, right?
[Ifa] Could it be a message to stay out of the Ghenghom, maybe?
[Ifa] Stay out of Ravre business or something like that?
[Jevai] the stones have different functyions. some are boundary markers. With Istu Levunu, it is so old, we really just don't know what its original function was.
[Ifa] The weird thing with that would be why kill a prominent Ravre to send that message? Though his sister is here with us.
* Ifa frowns more, considering.
[Kuspir] We can keep it in mind.
* Ifa nods.

Ifa, Jevai, and Kuspir speak to Ailal about her brother's life and death

[NemnostiGM] It's never too hard to find someone at the ulajeta, especially not someone as prominent as Sister Hush. You track down Ailal sitting in the Statue Garden outside, next to the great stairs over the Mausoleum building.
* Ifa puts on a genuine, if practiced, sympathetic face.
[Kuspir] Sister... I am sorry to disturb your grief.
* Ailal is still wearing her mourning buru.
[Ailal] Ah, hello, Kuspir.
* Ailal manages a thin smile.
[Kuspir] We have been asked by the Lady to seek answers about your brother's death, and we have some questions that you may be able to help answer.
[Ailal] Jorota told me you might come. And Ifa, Jevai, you are also helping?
* Ifa nods.
* Jevai nods
[Jevai] Yes. We will do our best to find answers.
[Ailal] It is good to have so many friends, at times like these. One of the blessings of life at Nemnosti.
[Ifa] Our deepest sympathies, Sister, and please rest assurred we will do all in our power to discover what happened.
* Ifa will sit next to her and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
[Ailal] Surgu had a very difficult life, and his suffering is thankfully now over.
[Ifa] That, at least, is a small blessing.
* Jevai nods, and will sit nearby also
* Kuspir will also sit down so he isn't the only one looming here
[Ifa] (Just to make sure I get this right before I speak, he'll be interred here at the Ulajeta, right?)
[NemnostiGM] (you're not sure, but it seems likely)
[NemnostiGM] (he's certainly here now, under the care of the Voices, and you don't imagine they're hauling him up to Vija Sogo)
[Ifa] And he will rest here with and for your family, at the least, I would think.
[Ailal] That is my intention, and I do not think the hengi of my clan will object.
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] So he can provide guidance and aid in the future. Now, it falls to us to illuminate the path behind.
[Ailal] What can I tell you?
[Ifa] I know your brother was known as a skilled warrior, a stout defender of his home. Do you know if he had any particular enemies? Repeat run-ins with the same bandit or something like that?
[Ailal] Because of his condition, he often preferred to spend time alone. When you are alone, you can just assume that every voice is an illusion, he would say.
* Ifa gives a small, sad smile at that.
[Ailal] Bandits ... I don't know. I know that Cascade and their group do go up into the high hills from time to time, but I never heard of any trouble.
[Ifa] I'm glad he found some peace in his solitude.
[Jevai] Do you know if there are particular routes he followed on his hunts, or places that he frequented in particular?
[Ailal] I don't know if he had a close relationship with his son, lately.
* Ailal shakes her head.
[Ailal] I don't know about hunting routes, that kind of thing.
[Ifa] Did something happen between him and his son?
[Ailal] No, but ... Bazuz is not a peaceful young man. He serves as a lieutenant to the Snapping Dog.
* Jevai nods
[NemnostiGM] (Jevai, you certainly know who that is. Ifa and Kuspir, you might also, because Tocha of the Gago is notorious)
[Jevai] I see
* Ifa frowns.
[Kuspir] Can you speak more about his condition? He experienced hallucinations?
[Ailal] Yes, he saw and heard things that no one else did, since becoming a revenant.
[Ifa] I'm sure that was difficult, for him and your family.
[Ailal] I will admit that I was not always close to Surgu, in those years. I retreated into my work here.
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] do you know anyone he was close with?
[Kuspir] He had two sons? Who was the mother?
* Ailal looks downward.
[Ailal] Bazuz's mother died a long time ago. As did Desam's ... during his birth.
[Kuspir] Ah.
[Ailal] Desam lives in Bemneskoma.
[Jevai] (can I perhaps sense a motive here? Is she upset about this, or something else?)
[NemnostiGM] (sure)
[Ifa] !roll 1d20+9
* Lan-werk rolls for Ifa: [ 1d20+9 ] getting [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ 9 ] totals [ 17 ].
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+8
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+8 ] getting [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ 8 ] totals [ 17 ].
[Jevai] ahhh..
[NemnostiGM] (it occurs to you that it wouldn't be ordinary, though of course not unheard of, for a father to keep in touch with his corpseborn son)
[Kuspir] !roll 1d20+12
* Lan-werk rolls for Kuspir: [ 1d20+12 ] getting [ 3 ] which, after the modifier [ 12 ] totals [ 15 ].
[Ifa] Did Surgu keep up with his Desam at all?
[NemnostiGM] (if there's something else, none of you rolled well enough to know)
[Ailal] He did, from time to time. He was proud of both of his boys. I think he always regretted not being able to be a good father to them.
[Ifa] Well, it sounds like he did all he could. That's plenty of reason to be proud.
[Ifa] Though...Surgu wasn't particularly fond of Bazuz's associates?
[Ailal] I think he regretted that Bazuz fell in with the Gago. But that may be me, projecting.
[Ifa] Oh?
[Ailal] You know, Marga is very lucky to have gotten away from there.
[Jevai] mm.
[Ifa] She *is* pretty great.
* Jevai says, wth a complicated look on her face
[Ifa] Was Surgu vocal in his concerns?
[Ailal] None of this sounds like Tocha's business. When Tocha kills someone, he rips out their entrails and laughs in their face.
* Jevai nods
* Ifa nods concession to that.
[Jevai] thie is too complicated for it to be something he is behind.
[Ifa] Well, fortunately or unfortunately, it sounds like Surgu had no other enemies?
[Ifa] I mean, that's good in general, he was well-liked, but, for us to find out why what happened to him happened...
[Ailal] If he did, I don't know of them.
[Kuspir] Where did he stay when he wasn't out hunting?
[Ailal] He would stay at the Takovenga iftibal from time to time. Have you ever seen it? It is astonishing. Built of great tusks and animal horns.
[Jevai] (Have I?)
[NemnostiGM] (Jevai, definitely yes, Vija Sogo is where the Chuchuru are from, though they have a shit iftibal that is basically a barn. Ifa and Kuspir, no.)
[Ifa] Perhaps we will get a chance to see it. Another small blessing in the face of this terrible business.
[Jevai] it is very impressive
[Kuspir] Have your kin been told about his death?
[Ailal] They have, yes.
[Ifa] Should we prepare space for visitors? I can get started on that.
[Ailal] Thank you, yes, there will be some coming.
* Ifa nods, gives her a small smile, and reaches over to squeeze her hand reassuringly.
* Ifa gives Kuspir and Jevai a "anything else?" look.
* Kuspir shakes his head slightly
* Jevai considers
[Kuspir] Thank you for taking time to talk with us. We won't disturb you further tonight at least. If we have other questions that come up, we may come back but it wouldn't be for a day or more.
[Ifa] Please know we and all of the ulajeta are here for you and yours in this terrible time, Sister. Please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything we can do to help.
[Jevai] I did have another quwstion now, if you don't mind
[Ailal] All right.
[Jevai] I know you have mostly been here at the Ulajeta, but have you heard of anything happening in the hills that may have made it more dangerous for him to go out at this time?
[Ailal] I know there have been rumours up in Vija Sogo that there have been scouts from Taizi coming across the border, being more aggressive than in the past. But I don't know if that is what you mean.
[Jevai] Well, that is soemthing we hadn't heard yet, at least. Thank you.
* Ifa gives Ailal another sympathetic smile and will stand to go.
* Ifa takes her leave with the other two presumably, but stays with them for the moment.

Ifa, Jevai, and Kuspir discuss what they have learned and what to do next

[Ifa] (Once away from Ailal) (q) So, what do we think?
* Jevai will go with the others
[Kuspir] It's probably good Marga wasn't there.
[Kuspir] But we should ask her if she knows this young man, Bazuz.
[Jevai] she doesn't travel home much
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] Will it upset her if we need to head that way, do you think?
[Jevai] That's hard to say
[Jevai] It's complicated.
[Ifa] Right.
[Jevai] SHe doens't have illusions about her father, but she still holds affection for him. BUt she understands that others don't...
[Ifa] Well, we have more to follow up on before that becomes an issue, and it sounds like we're all agreed that, if he's at all involved, it's indirectly at worst.
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] Though clearly we should talk to Surgu's sons.
[Kuspir] Well, we'll see what we can learn tomorrow. If we visit the campsite and look around there, maybe there will be some other path that leads us onwards.
* Jevai nods
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] I'll see if I can talk to Upward
[Kuspir] About the stone?
[Jevai] yes
* Kuspir nods
[Ifa] That makes sense.
[Kuspir] Maybe Izu will find what he was looking for in those books, too.
[Ifa] I'm sure my brother is enconced in his books. I'll bring him some food and settle in to help with that research...after I go prep rooms for Surgu's family.
[Jevai] also, I now I've said that we can't now forsure yet whether it is personal, but I think that his affliction meant that he was more susceptible to a death where he was stalked, and caught unawares
* Ifa pauses at that.
[Jevai] but they woudl have needed to know that about him
[Ifa] More susceptible to a death?
[Kuspir] Maybe. At the least, he was a person who was often isolated, which they wouldn't need to know about his condition to know that about him.
[Jevai] his sister said that he preferred to be alone because he could assume anythig he heard was a hallucination
[Ifa] Ah, making it easier to sneak up on him, right.
[Jevai] he thought he was imagining being followed
[Jevai] yes
[Jevai] when he was the person in the mask, he wasn;t sure if it was real, even having been woked in pain as he was
[Ifa] He was, sadly, an easy, isolated target, poor man.
[Jevai] yes
[Ifa] But, still, to what end? Clearly, more than simple robbery or what have you.
[Jevai] but hopefully we can learn more tomorrow
[Kuspir] Get some rest tonight, there will be a lot of walking tomorrow.
[Ifa] Right! On that note, I should get on...all the things I need to do. See you both tomorrow!
[Kuspir] Good night.
[NemnostiGM] Until next we gather by the firelight, young acolytes ...

Solos

Jevai and Alai discuss the investigation, and gossip about Kuspir

* Jevai will knock on Alai's room on her way back from questioning Ailal
* Alai opens the door. She is wearing a cream coloured loosely hanging dress, and her hair is damp and hanging straight.
[Alai] Yes? Oh Jevai. Come, come.
* Alai will beckon her in
* Jevai smiles
* Jevai comes in
[Jevai] One thing I do like about having to prepare all my spells in advace - privacy for source mishaps ;)
[Jevai] have a nice bath?
* Alai nods, finding a comb for her hair.
[Alai] I touch the foundation of creation... small price, now and then.
[Alai] Got what we needed, eh?
[Jevai] Yes, it was well done
[Alai] Got Izu blush too... so extra.
[Jevai] I'm not sure what we'll fnd tomorrow
[Jevai] hah, that's not hard
[Alai] Ailal say much? I'm thinking no.
[Jevai] She did, actaully
* Jevai will sit on your bed, making sure she's not crusing any dreses or whatnot
[Alai] Oh? Deep family foe? Never suspected.
[Jevai] I don't know how useful it will be, but we may have some things to look into depending on what we find tomorrow
[Jevai] no, not that
[Jevai] he was very much a loner, because of his visions, but he has....two? sons.
[Jevai] The older one keeps company with marga's dad. I don't think I need to tell you what that means.
[Alai] Such happy people.
[Alai] They should be more like Marga.
[Jevai] MM. Hopefully we won't need to go and talk to him.
[Alai] So not likely man in mask, that son.
[Jevai] No.
[Jevai] The other one is corpseborn
[Jevai] But they were still at least somewhat close
[Alai] Sad, but not mean murderer.
[Jevai] they knew their relation?
[Jevai] no, I don't think it was him, either
[Jevai] Where woudl he have learned the magic?
[Alai] Ah, but thread in weave to others, if pulled.
[Jevai] it could be
[Jevai] Ailal also sait that there are rumours of Taizian scouts in the hills recently
[Jevai] more than usual, more aggessive than usual
* Alai pulls her combed hair up through a brass hoop and pins it with two bone pins.
[Jevai] it could be something else
[Jevai] We'll see what we can tomorrow, but I think we will have to do some asking around in the hill communities for more details
[Alai] Ifa will ask nice, and I growl till they talk. Fun.
* Alai sighs
[Jevai] mm, maybe. They might talk to Ifa, they might talk to me or Marga.... If we have to go to Hong Sogo, though...
[Alai] more walking... I'd conjure horse if not beast of infinite torture.
[Jevai] we coudl take horses, it might be easiein some places, but they may not be able to go where we need, anyway
[Alai] Goats sure footed. We need trained goats.
[Alai] also taste better.
[Jevai] I wudln't want to wrange a goat bg enough to carry a person
[Jevai] (wrangle)
[Jevai] I'm trying to figure out what I shoudl prepare for
[Alai] How so? Just travel or defense?
* Alai sits folded legged on her stool, facing Jevai, leaning in.
[Jevai] I meant for magic
[Jevai] YOu're a much better diviner than I am, I will leave all of that to you
[Jevai] but oif we do enounter this masked person? Or Taizian scouts?
[Jevai] or if we do have to go to Hong Sogo
[Jevai] but maybe it will be better to focus on things that will ease travel
[Alai] Hold magics works most foes without training.
* Jevai nods
[Alai] other enchantments make smooth the talks...try those.
[Alai] you could just charm everyone we meet, but not long term good plan.
[Alai] help?
[Jevai] no, not so much
[Jevai] I mean, charming veryone, no so much, but those are good suggestions, thanks
* Alai smiles
[Alai] we try duel sometime... give you practice.
[Jevai] hah! I don't think that would be very fair fight. maybe if I get to pick the spot ;)
[Alai] why not? After this mess all done and gone, eh.
* Alai leans back wrapping her arms around her and tilts her head
[Alai] (herself)
[Jevai] well, we'll see.
[Alai] Ill get wine for after, make fun.
[Alai] Did Kuspir say where he go after talk with Ailal?
[Jevai] I think he was going to go get some rest, so maybe back to the I=iftibal?
* Alai nods a little, head still tilted.
[Alai] Do you know if She asked him to bring me?
[Jevai] I did.
* Alai eyes betray her disappointment.
[Alai] I see. Thank you.
[Jevai] He came to me because of the stone
[Jevai] He did want a mystic, but you were the clear choice...
[Jevai] I know, it is not as exciting if *I* think of you ;)
[Alai] You know thats not it... I haven't spoken to Her, since I return.
[Alai] Deep ocean blue... men like that.
[Jevai] ahhh...
* Alai hops up and starts to rumage through her closet
* Alai finds the dress with a tight fitting high neck and wide flowing skirt.
[Jevai] which men? now? Not Kuspir?
[Alai] Any man. Off balance is best when dealing with.
* Alai winks
[Alai] If I am to talk with him, best be soon before he sleep like stone.
* Jevai nods
[Alai] help me change?
[Jevai] Of course ^-^
[Jevai] Just be gentle with Kuspir okay?

Jevai talks to Giri and learns more about Istu Levunu

* Jevai will look for Giri after she's finished with Alai, probably trying his office first
[NemnostiGM] Giri has an office, if you can call it that, on the second floor of the Carver's Hall, near where most of the mystics have space as well. You steel yourself in preparation for the disaster you expect to find behind the door.
* NPC-1 is now known as Giri
[NemnostiGM] You hear muttering from behind the door, clearly Giri talking to himself.
[Jevai] Upward?
[Giri] Hmm,who? Pebble?
[Jevai] yes! Are you busy?
[Giri] Ah, no, come in!
* Jevai will do so, glancing around the room
[NemnostiGM] You open the door, which pushes some books and papers aside as you enter. The scene before you is worse every time. It is as if a localized weather system has landed specifically in Giri's office, leaving everything around it untouched.
* Giri frowns, looking down at the detritus.
* Giri then looks up at you and smiles.
* Jevai sighs, and will pick a few things up, knowing it is hopeless, but also not being able to stop herself
[Giri] Well, no matter! Hello, Jevai.
[Jevai] Hello ^-^
[Jevai] were you working on something?
[Giri] Oh, you know, just exploring a rivulet in the great stream of reality. Nothing important.
[Giri] Have a seat!
[Jevai] Tell me if there is anything I shouldn't touch, I'm just going to pick up some of these poor books
* Giri points in the direction of one of the more seat-like stacks of books.
* Jevai gives him a pained yet bemused look
[Jevai] I'm okay.
[Giri] Sweep always used to say one day it would all collapse in on me.
* Jevai looks around some of the more teetering towers
[Giri] But I tend to think that it has its own Coherence.
[Jevai] She may yet be proven right, all the same
* Giri laughs.
[Giri] So, wee stone, my sister tells me you are on a Mission.
[Jevai] I am yes. What all has she told you?
[Giri] Not so much. Of course everyone heard about Ailal's brother.
[Giri] Even I'm not that oblivious
* Jevai asks, giving up on the books and deciding that she can at least try and... order? some of the paper? scattered across the room -_-
* Jevai nods
[Jevai] So you know where he was found?
* Giri nods.
[Giri] Istu Levunu.
[Jevai] yes.
[Jevai] I know it is an old stone, but not much about it beyond that. I was hoping you might know more
[Giri] Yes, well, I'll admit it is not often a lodging about which I am asked or that I have any concern. Long dormant.
[Giri] Still, I am sure there must be something here about it ...
* Giri starts undoing the work you just did, as if randomly looking for things.
[NemnostiGM] (make a Dex check)
[Jevai] (check or save)
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+1
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+1 ] getting [ 2 ] which, after the modifier [ 1 ] totals [ 3 ].
[NemnostiGM] (it's Pathfinder, it's the same thing, just a d20+ your Dex modifier)
[NemnostiGM] You are definitely struck by a toppling stack of papers and books as they collapse doorward as Giri pushes them aside.
[Jevai] ah!
* Giri continues, oblivious to your plight.
[Giri] It might be there ... yes, there, by your right hand, perhaps six inches deep?
* Jevai whimpers but will check bfore she disentangles herself
* Jevai will sit on the floor and try and straighten this up somewhat
[NemnostiGM] (give me a Perception)
[Jevai] at least the standing stones don't *usually* fall on anyone...
* Giri laughs uproariously.
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 15 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 25 ].
[Giri] Well, you know, they do call it the Dropping Stone, or the Falling Stone, or the Stone of the Drop ... among other names.
[Jevai] oh?
[Giri] But really, it is the Gate of the Drop
[Jevai] who is 'they'?
[Giri] Oh, you know, the usual authorities.
[Giri] Like that one in your hand.
* Jevai looks at what she has managed to excavate
[NemnostiGM] You see a small, thin book, perhaps more like a booklet, ten or twelve pages.
* Jevai will take a closer look
[NemnostiGM] You open up the book to see a short manuscript essay by someone named Kalurga Nemni, and then, on the inside cover is attached a folded piece of parchment.
* Jevai will see that that is, and then skim through the essay
[NemnostiGM] The essay is a fairly workmanlike description of Istu Levunu, giving an account of its basic form and its history. It seems to have been written between 100 and 200 years ago - by which time, it was already inert.
[NemnostiGM] (give me a K:History)
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 4 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 14 ].
[Giri] So that is just a small little thing. I am sure there is more somewhere, but I have no idea where.
[Jevai] (What's the parchment though)
[Jevai] Can I borrow this?
[NemnostiGM] You open up the parchment and see a well-done line drawing of Istu Levunu.
[NemnostiGM] (give me another Perception)
[Jevai] (is there any difference between its appearance now and on the drawing?)
[Jevai] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Jevai: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 3 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 13 ].
[NemnostiGM] You do note that today, Istu Levunu is buried a little further in the earth, perhaps a few inches more.
[Jevai] is the stone itself dropping?
[Jevai] do they all do that?
[Giri] Well, that's hard to say. They can, of course, depending on the soil. And while it's not quite at the edge of the Pardopasu, one can imagine that one day it might erode away and simply fall into the valley.
[Jevai] I know the land does build up, but still
[Jevai] Did I tell you about the time we found Tetavai Ikhanne?
[Jevai] there was only about three feet of it above the ground, I don't know if we would have noticed if it hasn't been for the vulture
[NemnostiGM] (I don't know, did you?)
* Giri listens intently.
[Jevai] (let's say it never really came up before)
[Giri] Well, there are surely far more stones lost to the earth than we will ever be able to record.
[Jevai] mm.
[Jevai] Ddo we know how it gots its name?
[Jevai] Istu Levunu I mean
* Jevai flips back through the essay to see if it is mentionned
[Giri] I believe that Kalurga argues, somewhat persuasively considering that she must have just been a student at the time, that it was named because that is where the river drops into the valley.
[Giri] As if it is a gate to the lowlands, a stone marking the end of the Ghengom.
[Jevai] hmm.
[Jevai] Do people still see it that way?
[Giri] Frankly, I don't think most people think of it much at all.
[Jevai] so, who would?
[Jevai] Sigillants...
[Jevai] maybe, even then, it is a dormant stone
[Giri] You don't think that whoever did this is a jasinam?
* Giri seems offended at the idea that a sigillant could have done this.
[Jevai] I don't know
[Jevai] But they picked that location to leave the body.
[Jevai] and I certainly *hope* it wasnt because they were consultng hundren year old volumnes buried in your offic
[Giri] What are people saying about that choice?
[Jevai] I don't know, I was out all day investigating the site.
[Jevai] that's a good qustion though
[Jevai] have you heard abyting? Did your sister say anything?
[Giri] She thinks that for someone to kill someone close to one of us, then let them rot for a week before depositing them just overlooking the cloister is meant as some sort of message, or warning, or threat.
* Jevai nods
[Jevai] I think that's a reaasonable assessment
[Jevai] but they would have to know us fairly well, to think of all these things
[Giri] It sounds that way.
[Giri] You don't think that someone here was involved?
[Jevai] I hope not.
[Jevai] I don't think its the case, but.... we know very litte
[Giri] Nemnu can get somewhat agitated about that sort of thing.
[Jevai] I don't really blame her
[Jevai] you havent heard about any other strange happeing around here, have you?
[Giri] Strange in what sense?
[Jevai] unexpected things, perhaps
* Giri shakes his head.
[Giri] No, but I don't always pay much attention.
* Jevai winces, then looks around the room
[Jevai] mm.
* Nary_phone is now known as Kuspir
[Jevai] Fair enough.
[Giri] If it does have something to do with Istu Levunu, there are so few people who would have any knowledge or interest in it.
[Jevai] who might they be?
[Jevai] just in case.
[Giri] Well ... Eng-dur might have. Saza, surely not, ... right? Maybe one or two others, from the other side of the mountains?
* Giri shakes his head.
[Giri] I think it would be someone here at Nemnosti, if anyone, but they're all Ancestors, so hardly likely to be murderers.
[Jevai] its a little trickier as an Ancestor
[Jevai] I did think about asking Sharusilla what she might know, but I won't have time right away
[Giri] I wish I could be of more help, Pebble.
[Jevai] YOu have been, thank you.
[Jevai] But can I hold on to this just in case?
* Jevai sts, hefting herslf up off the ground, booklet in hand
[Giri] Yes, of course. Probably best that you do.
[Jevai] (asks)
[Jevai] thank you.
[Jevai] (I think we are good there)
[Jevai] (Jevai will giev the book a more careful read through, but idk if there is much more to glean from it0
[Jevai] (you can tell me :V)

Kuspir talks to Rubo Keronaf about the investigation

[NemnostiGM] Kuspir, you can find Rubo while he's doing his regular duty at the West Gate.
* Giri is now known as Rubo
* Kuspir will approach him
[Kuspir] Any sign of trouble?
* Rubo is one of the largest people at the ulajeta, one of the few people who towers over you.
[Rubo] Not until you showed up!
[Kuspir] Heh
[Kuspir] Do you have a few minutes to talk?
[Rubo] Yeah, sure.
[Kuspir] I'm working on the death of Sister Hush's brother.
* Rubo nods.
[Kuspir] Got some folks together to help. But it's strange.
[Rubo] I wouldn't have recommended you if I didn't think you could do it.
[Kuspir] Thanks
[Rubo] The beard makes you look like you know what you're doing.
[Kuspir] Is that all?
* Rubo laughs.
[Rubo] Nah, of course not.
[Kuspir] Have you heard anything about spies from Taizi coming over the border?
[Rubo] Spies? No, haven't heard that. Why?
[Rubo] Have you?
[Kuspir] Sister Hush mentioned it. I hadn't heard anything about it other than that.
* Rubo considers.
[Kuspir] It could just be rumours.
[Rubo] Spying on us?
[Kuspir] I don't know.
* Kuspir shrugs
[Rubo] This doesn't seem like the kind of thing the Pretender's spies would do.
[Kuspir] I agree, but I figured I should mention it.
[Rubo] Your team behaving?
[Kuspir] More or less. They're doing fine.
[Kuspir] Have you heard anything about other tension in the high hills?
[Rubo] There always is. I'm not from there, but my wife is.
[Kuspir] Anything particularly lately, though?
[Rubo] But you know, we usually let the vultures handle anything that high up. We are the shield so they can be the spear.
* Rubo considers.
[Rubo] I really don't think so.
* Kuspir nods
[Rubo] You could always ask Bem. Her folk are Ravre.
[Kuspir] Yeah.
[Kuspir] We have to head out early tomorrow but if I happen to see her before then, I will.
[Rubo] Still, the high high hills are a weird place, weirder even than most Ravre tolerate.
[Kuspir] How do you mean?
[Rubo] Well look ... you know how, like, the Lady teaches that you go up and you go into the past, or something like that?
[Kuspir] Mmhmm.
[Rubo] Well maybe that's so and maybe it isn't, I don't know, I'm just a country bumpkin. But what I do know is that the air gets thin up there, messes with your mind.
[Rubo] I know you need to go there - it is what we need. But it's not a fit place.
[Kuspir] I'll be careful
[Kuspir] One more question and then I'll let you get back to your busy schedule here.
[Rubo] See that you do. Braidworthy will beat me stupid if you come back all gimpy.
[Rubo] Sure, what is it?
[Kuspir] You ever see a red and black mask? Does that mean anything to you?
* Rubo shakes his head.
[Rubo] Not that I can remember.
[Kuspir] Okay. Might be nothing.
[Kuspir] I'll talk to you later, brother.
[Rubo] If you think it's something, trust your instincts.
* Rubo nods.
[Rubo] Until feet fail, kid.
[Kuspir] Until feet fail.

Jevai and Ifa discuss Istu Levunu, revenants, and the strange mask

* Jevai will step outside for a bit to clear her head, and spot Ifa sitting down in the statue garden
* Jevai will give a little wave and come over
[Jevai] hey Ifa
* Ifa is sitting on a stone bench, mostly just taking some time to herself.
* Ifa smiles and waves, patting the bench next to her.
* Jevai will come sit
[Ifa] Hey Jevai. Taking in some night air?
[Jevai] yes, brifly, anyay
[Jevai] I need to go to bed so I can get up extra early to prepare
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] I'm glad I ran into you though
[Ifa] Oh?
[Ifa] Did you need something?
[Jevai] Not personally, per sey
[Jevai] I was just talking to Giri about the investigation
[Jevai] I wanted to ask him about the stone, i case there was something I was missing about it
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] That makes sense.
[Ifa] Was he able to help?
[Jevai] I think so.
[Ifa] I mean, I kind of get the impression you didn't miss anything, just there's plenty we don't know.
[Ifa] Oh, that's good! What'd he say.
[Jevai] The thing is - there's not some secret meaning to it. It is an old, dormant stone, that probably most people spend a thought on. What is important is, hmm...
[Jevai] maybe it is where it is located, above the Ulajeta, marking the bounday of the Ghemgom... but to even think of it in that last way, is kind of obscure.
[Ifa] Okay...
[Ifa] Obscure how?
[Jevai] but leaving the body there immediately gives it meaning, you see?
[Jevai] Oh, I just mean, it is something that was written in a tiny loittle essay written 100 years ago and buried in a stack of papers in Giri's office
[Ifa] Ah, okay.
[Ifa] And, when you say leaving the body there gives it meaning, I'm assuming you mean beyond just that's where his body was and that is itself important.
[Ifa] Putting a body on that stone, that act has meaning, and invests meaning to the stone.
[Jevai] yes
[Jevai] but its like... you can wear any kind of mask to hde what you look like
[Jevai] it can be very plain
[Ifa] Right. If they just wanted to hide their face, they could have worn a scarf or a rag or what have you.
[Jevai] when you chose one that's red and black that's also creating meaning
[Jevai] yes
[Ifa] So do you have some sense of the meaning of all of it, or is that what we're still working on?
[Jevai] So I think maybe its a bit... just for the show? I will be interestedto see if your brother finds anythingin the library
[Ifa] I can guarantee he'll spend all night looking if I don't make sure he gets *some* sleep.
* Jevai smiles
[Jevai] I know that feeling
[Jevai] that has definitely been me
[Ifa] Well, you're both good at that.
[Ifa] Finding things out, or knowing how to.
[Jevai] well, I try, That's Alai's specialty though.
* Ifa nods.
[Ifa] I feel like they put together a good group for this, me aside. But I can do what I can to help you all do what you do, so I guess that's good enough.
[Ifa] Hopefully Izu will find where he saw the mask before.
[Jevai] No, you are definitely important to this.
[Jevai] This is what I was going to ask you - is if you can try and get a sense of, hmm, what meaning people *are* making of this?
[Jevai] what are the rumours? What has this started?
[Ifa] Oh! Hmm. I feel like that's...more long term?
[Ifa] But I catch your meaning.
[Jevai] yes
[Jevai] maybe after tomorrow we will have everything resolved... but maybe not
[Ifa] I can do what I can to keep my ear to the ground here in the ulajeta, and from people visiting, but I feel like this will be...bigger than that?
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] Ritualistic posing of a body, at the border of the Ghengom, a Ravre man no less...
[Ifa] That's going to have ripples beyond our little pond. Or, uh, fault lines? I know we're more supposed to stick to stone metaphors. ;)
[Ifa] Though the Courses has the river thing, so...
[Jevai] its definitely more my idiom ;)
* Ifa shrugs and smiles self-deprecatingly.
[Ifa] Faults it is. :)
[Ifa] In any event, I just worry this will stir things up, which, I suppose may have likely been the intent.
[Jevai] of coure it is
[Ifa] Well, it's the most *likely* one. We really can't rule anything out, I would think.
[Ifa] But, yeah, probably incendiary intent.
[Jevai] The way Giri put it - they killed someone close to one of us, let them rot for a week, and left the body overlooking this place
[Ifa] And, for that matter, Surgu was...well, I can't say he was *harmless* - he was a skilled hunter and warrior - but he had no ill intent towards anyone in particular, really.
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] Murdering him...it's really awful.
[Ifa] Poor Ailal.
[Jevai] I amm hoping we will get some more insight into whether he was targeted deliberately or if it was chance, but it sfeels like the former. My intution says that ti was the former, that whosve did this planned carefully all their actions, including their target.
[Ifa] Well, *I* trust *you*, so if you trust your gut, I do too.
[Ifa] Do you think it was just to start something, or might there be some broader plan or specific reason why Surgu specifically, and/or why that stone?
[Jevai] I think him because he was vlnerable, because his perception of reality was comprimised by his visions.... at the least. I think the stone becusw it wudl stand out in people's minds. It makes a better story.
[Jevai] I do think there is more to this, though.
[Ifa] So we need to be on the lookout for more...chapters, let's say?
[Jevai] the other thing that I can't decide if I think it is important, is that he was shoror
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] Well, at the very least it's important in that it left him vulnerable to attack.
[Ifa] But I get that you mean more than that.
* Jevai nods
[Ifa] It just...it makes me angrier at whoever did this, because Surgu *was* vulnerable.
[Ifa] He was dealing with enough.
* Jevai nods
[Jevai] I understand
* Jevai sigsh
[Jevai] I really should go sleep
[Ifa] Do you think his Kind is important to the story they're trying to tell, or something else?
* Ifa smiles sympathetically at that.
[Ifa] Sleep is good. You need sleep to live.
[Jevai] I don't know. I don't think it is something that woudl occue=r to most people to consider, though.
[Jevai] the Kind part
* Ifa nods.
[Jevai] I've just been thinking about them recently.. My Borther, Your sister... :/
* Ifa 's face falls, a rare downcast moment.
[Ifa] Yeah...
[Jevai] mm.
[Jevai] :/
[Jevai] on that cheerful note though. I do need sleep to live ;)
[Ifa] Right.
[Ifa] Right!
[Jevai] Probably so do you and Izu?
[Ifa] I should go make sure Izu follows suit, too.
* Ifa chuckles.
[Ifa] Yeah.
* Jevai nods
[Jevai] Take care of yourself too, girl ;)
[Jevai] I'll see you in the morning
[Ifa] Get good sleep!
* Ifa smiles and will go off to make Izu go to bed.

Alai and Kuspir discuss the investigation, then she propositions him

* Kuspir is on his way home
[Alai] Stoneguard Kuspir? May we have moment to talk?
[Kuspir] Certainly, is something wrong?
* Alai steps from where she was waiting, dressed in a deep ocean blue Altala, high necked and tight fitting, but opening up to a loose skirt.
[Alai] No, not wrong. Just about today. Is that agreeable?
* Kuspir nods
* Alai moves to walk with him
[Kuspir] I hope it's not too much trouble for you to help with this.
[Kuspir] I'm sure you are busy.
[Alai] Trouble, no. It went well, yes? Good leads?
[Kuspir] I think so.
[Alai] My aid? Useful, yes?
[Kuspir] Yes, definitely.
[Alai] Jevai said it was she who asked me to join.
[Alai] (for me)
[Kuspir] She suggested it would be good. I appreciate it.
[Alai] But..."She" never mentioned me.
* Alai says She in such a way leaving know clue as to who is being referred to
[Kuspir] No, She didn't.
[Alai] No, of course not.
* Kuspir glances down at you to see what expression is on your face.
* Alai has a flat look, that hides... annoyance or frustration.
[Kuspir] Are you having trouble with Her?
[Kuspir] Something bothering you?
[Alai] My talents... exactly what you needed for this task. I showed that. Why not even mention, suggest me?
[Kuspir] I can't say. But the Lady didn't suggest most of the people in the group. She let me choose.
[Alai] Is not your worry, you have important task. Gain any new insight from Ailal?
* Alai stops the pair having arrived at thier destination.
[Kuspir] She talked about his family - his sons.
[Alai] neither likely masked killer?
[Kuspir] I don't think so, but we'll probably have to talk to them.
[Kuspir] She also mentioned some rumours about people coming over from Taizi.
[Kuspir] Don't know if there's anything to that.
[Alai] Events point to familiarity with the region. Allied to Taizi?
[Alai] We find more tomorrow at camp.
[Kuspir] It's possible. If we can find the camp.
[Alai] Good lead, Marga's skill. We find.
* Kuspir nods
[Alai] If we get closer, may be easier to divine location as well.
[Kuspir] Well... If you have any ideas, we'll try them.
[Kuspir] No stone left unturned
[Alai] Always thinking.
* Alai points to her head.
* Alai tilts is slightly
[Kuspir] That's good
[Alai] Can be... much.
[Kuspir] Well. This is my home. Should get some rest before tomorrow, it'll be a long day.
[Alai] What I do, not easy. Is cost.
* Kuspir nods
[Kuspir] I appreciate your help.
[Kuspir] You should get some rest too.
[Alai] I will... I need to settle first... cost you see. You could help, but I know you have duty.
[Kuspir] Help?
* Kuspir looks puzzled
[Kuspir] Do you need a snack or something?
* Alai looks at him and touches his arm and shakes her head.
[Kuspir] Oh. Uh... I'm married.
[Alai] I know your story. Small walls, here.
[Kuspir] Mm.
[Kuspir] You're a nice girl but I'm not... Uh. Not available.
[Alai] We have shadows in us... but I see this is not the time for such discussions.
[Alai] Tell Her, if you see her, that I was helpful. Please.
[Kuspir] Of course.
* Alai pulls and turns away
[Kuspir] I'll see you tomorrow, Alai.
[Alai] Yes, in the morning.
* Alai turns and looks back at him
[Kuspir] Sleep well.
[Alai] I will find a way to do so.
[Alai] I can take care of myself.
* Alai gives a sly smile and walks off
* Kuspir blinks and heads inside.
* Kuspir will write to his wife and let her know that he might be away for a few days depending on how things go.

Izu and Ingo research the mask and find the name Gunuremai in a book of Hulti folktales

[NemnostiGM] Izu, you're sure you've seen a mask like this somewhere in a book. But figuring out how will be tricky. You read a lot, after all.
[NemnostiGM] You're pretty sure that it would have been something in the temple library, as opposed to Nemnu's magical libraries - you're just not enough of a Source expert for that to be likely.
[NemnostiGM] But you also know that you are still new to this, and that others, like Voice Ingo, know much more than you about such things.
* Izu will approach Ingo when he can be located
* NPC-1 is now known as Ingo
* Ingo can be found in the library pretty readily, overseeing a group of acolytes who are doing some transcriptions of prayers.
* Ingo sees you as you come in and nods.
[Izu] Greetings, Master. Are you able to spare a moment?
[Ingo] Yes, of course. Carry on, novices, while I speak to Voice Izu.
* Izu will step out of the room with him if possible.
* Ingo steps away with you, trusting in the aura of reverence/fear that will prevent the youths from misbehaving.
[Izu] (Or somewhere that will not disturb the acolytes)
[Ingo] You have been out investigating?
[Izu] We have. And what we have found is only more questions.
[Ingo] Oh? Tell me.
[Izu] When I spoke to Surgu he told me of a mask assailant while he was camped somewhere Hong Sogo and Gil Hargush. It is troubling in many respects. his person was alone, but managed to bring his body all the way to the stone without aid. They were either very strong or had magical aid. But the mask is what troubles me more. I believe I may have seen it before.
[Ingo] You saw the mask?
[Izu] I believe so. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly where. I believe it may have been in my studies here. A black mask with red lips and red markings. A red circle between the eyes and four more on the forehead.
[Ingo] I was unclear. You saw the mask when you were investigating?
[Ingo] Or Surgu described it to you?
[Izu] Oh. No. Alai saw it with scrying and drew it for us.
[Ingo] Ah, I see. Hmmm.
[Ingo] It does not sound like a local mask, of the sort that Ravre might wear.
* Ingo considers.
[Ingo] Can you draw it for me? If we look together, perhaps we can find it.
[Izu] Certainly, I will draw what I remember.
[NemnostiGM] (I'll let you make a Craft:Sculpture to draft it, since it's a representation of a 3-D object anyway)
* Izu will retrieve some paper from the library and draw a sketch of the mask.
[Izu] !roll 1d20+10
* Elanya rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 20 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 30 ].
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 19 ].
[Ingo] Ah! The shape is very notable. You hadn't mentioned that.
[Ingo] How would you describe that shape?
[Izu] Mmmm... One never knows what details will be important.
[Izu] A teardrop, perhaps?
[Ingo] Yes, that's it!
[Ingo] A drop.
* Ingo nods eagerly
[Ingo] But where would we have seen it?
[Ingo] Come, come!
* Ingo practially pulls you along, more excited than you would normally ever see him.
* Izu grins to see his mentor so animated
[Ingo] I think now that you have drawn it so well, it seems familiar to me too.
[Izu] You have seen it too, then?
[Ingo] Perhaps, perhaps.
[Izu] Tell me, Master, is there a page in this library you haven't read?
* Izu grins
[Ingo] Oh yes, more than a few.
[NemnostiGM] You go into the room of the library that has historical texts in it and Ingo starts diving into various books.
[NemnostiGM] You can do the same.
* Izu will eagerly do so
[NemnostiGM] (hmmm, what to make you roll)
[NemnostiGM] (we'll say K:History)
[Izu] !roll 1d20+10
* Lan-werk rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 10 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 20 ].
* Elanya rolls for Izu: [ 1d20+10 ] getting [ 16 ] which, after the modifier [ 10 ] totals [ 26 ].
[NemnostiGM] You search for a while. Ingo has gone into some of the old Imperial texts. You are over in the section dealing with mythology, narratives, and chronicles.
[NemnostiGM] It takes a while, and Ingo is growing increasingly frustrated, and you can even hear a few muttered curses under his breath.
[NemnostiGM] You have a pretty good sense of books you've read and those you haven't, so you pass by some of those you know you've never encountered. One of the advantages of having read less than Ingo, you think to yourself.
[NemnostiGM] Finally, you turn a page ...
[NemnostiGM] ... and it is there. Or ... you think it is?
[NemnostiGM] The book is called The Retelling of Lies. You vaguely remember reading it. It's one of the old books of stories from the time of the Great Purge, now hundreds of years ago.
[NemnostiGM] It is a kind of manual or handbook of folktales that was produced by an anonymous Voice, to aid in the discovery of the Old Folk by the tales they tell to children around campfires.
[Izu] (Where does the mask appear?)
[NemnostiGM] And there you remember why you noted it at all. In the margin there is drawn a strange little character who looks like a demon, in red and black, with a teardrop-shaped mask.
[Izu] Ingo... Master... I think I found it.
[NemnostiGM] The tale it is annotating is about a kind of demon or spirit of vengeance.
[NemnostiGM] And underneath the figure, written in the old shorthand script, are four characters: GU-NU-RE-MAI.
[Ingo] Oh?
[Izu] It's not from the book at all... It's an annotation. Perhaps that's why my memory was so vague.
* Izu will bring the book over to him.
* Ingo examines it with interest, flipping back and forth across a few pages ahead and behind the place as well.
[Ingo] Hmm, well spotted, I think. The resemblance is clear.
[Izu] Do you know what those characters mean?
[Ingo] I do not. Perhaps the creature's name, or type? Perhaps the name of the scribe.
[Izu] Gunuremai...
[Izu] A demon of vengence...
[Izu] That does not bode well, I think.
[Ingo] If it is an actual beast, not of human Kind, then I do not know of it. But this is a book of stories and tales, and what you saw sounded like a person in a mask.
[Izu] Someone invoking the demon for revenge, perhaps.
[Ingo] Revenge on whom, and for what, I wonder?
[Izu] The book is about The Purge... perhaps there are those that have not forgotten.
[Ingo] That is worrying.
[Izu] Mmm.
[Izu] It's a lead, at least.
[Izu] As you say, at least it seems to be a human threat.
[Ingo] Are you going to tell the Lady this yet, or wait until you know more?
[Izu] I will tell Kuspir first. It is his investigation.
[Ingo] That is wise.
[Izu] Thank you. I am indebted for your help.
[Ingo] Have no fear, young pupil. I will not tell the others that you spent more time paying attention to doodles than to the ancient texts. In this case, it was time well spent.
* Ingo smiles, exhausted like you from hours of reading.
* Izu smiles.
[Izu] Well, one never knows which details will be important.
[Ingo] When you are done with this, join Junu and I for dinner. He will be very impressed with your drawing.
[Izu] Thank you, that would be excellent. I have not seen him in a little while.