Reflections of the Flesh
Nineteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
"I think... I would rather leave the mask be, elder one," you say, a touch surprise by the mingled look of relief and disappointment that flashes over Jeyne's face.
Did she fancy trying her luck wrestling with the mind of an illithid to test herself? "Powers meant to trap the unwary would make for a powerful sacrifice to the gods of my realm, some of which despise the Deep Masters with particular fervor."
"Of course," Randar replies, handing the mask back. "I had not considered that means to removing the corruption, though I should have. Gods are demanding beings, but the best of them to have their worshippers' interests in mind."
Interesting... Another people without much use for the divine it seems. There is nothing of the genies' lofty dismissal to the words, however, this feels more like the genuine confusion of someone who forgot some obscure detail. You wonder if faith in the gods is too at odds with a way of life turned to self-perfection through one's own efforts or if the shifting realm of limbo is too changeable to give birth to gods that the ordered souls of the githzerai would be drawn to. Perhaps it is a bit of both, though that does beg the question of where their souls pass to in death. You doubt they would be so foolish as to let them fly upon the tides of the Astral Sea where they will.
Alas, that is not the sort of lore you can simply ask for, but there are others that are more easily posed, the basics of mind lore that do not require a master's teaching in, and of course lore regarding your common foe.
The Grandmaster is amenable, though he explains that it will take a moonturn more to translate everything to parchment and ink rather than crystal-forged memory that only Jeyne can make use of in all your realm. "For now,
these might perhaps be of some interest to you," the monk says as three pale green shards materialize in his palm.
Though Jeyne picks them up gingerly her thanks is heartfelt.
"There is one other object we recovered from the same dragon's hoard, a far less wholesome thing." You go on to describe the twisted statue as best you can even put into words about its visage. "It appears to have driven the dragon insane as well as infused the waters all around with the influence of the Far Realm. Like the mask I think it would likely be safer to sacrifice, but I wish to know precisely what it is before committing to the task."
"A wise precaution, some of the Slave Masters' relics are best kept contained rather than destroyed lest they pollute more of the world in their sundering. I shall see which of the masters of the Inner Eye can return with you to see this idol," Randar replies, leaving you to wonder if his monastery possesses some secret vault full of profane relics too dangerous to sunder. You certainly would not mind trying your hand, or more specifically the hand of the Merling King, Yss and the Old Gods at it, but that too is not a question you can ask so soon into your alliance.
Fortunately, you can do more than merely wait for the battles to come and go to prove the worth of your friendship. You speak of the Flesh Forge, both of Gogossos and Lys, careful to explain as you had in Vialesk that these complexes had very little in common with the arts of the Deep Ones and were in no way beholden to them.
"A proposal unlike any we have ever received," Silence stretches out uncomfortably as the Grandmaster considers the matter. Finally he sighs. "I must admit part of me wishes to refuse out of hand, knowing that the gith, like so many other slaves, were born in places not unlike your Flesh Forges, but that would be an affront against the Path of Reason. You do not make slaves, only beasts that might be trained to do simple tasks. Something that might serve as a long distance engine would be of use for a beginning. We are not the most skilled of engineers and not many choose to be archers."
What do you propose?
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OOC: This has to be an open vote since there are just so many possibilities for flesh-forging.
