"Select Artigas. I apologize once again for your ill treatment at Gazi's hands and your confinement yesterday."

"It was encouraging to learn that you disavow her actions. What is the usual judicial process for a subject of your King who travels to another country and there commits burglary, murder, and kidnapping?"

"Before we proceed to that topic, we have compiled a list of your belongings Gazi has released to us to be returned to you; would you first like to inspect it for missing items, for the staff may make any inquiries while we speak, so to not delay your departure should you wish to leave by the end?"

(The list has everything that was on Blai's person when he was taken that isn't currently with him. It includes all of his armor, with the pieces itemized. It includes the expired Refine Improvised Weapon stick. It does not include his mace. It additionally includes all of his in-progress translation work on the Acts of Iomedae, and his actual copy of the Acts of Iomedae.)

"She disarmed me of my weapon, a cold iron mace, which I would also like back. I don't need the stick on an ongoing basis and you are welcome to dispose of it in a manner appropriate for sticks. Other than that the list is as I would hope."

(They're serving food! Does Blai want to eat?)

"Gerise, can you send a message to Gazi about a cold iron mace?"

He turns back to blai.

"To answer your question, as a matter of law, the Kingdom of Reim does not ordinarily prosecute crimes by our subjects committed outside our borders. We do extradite criminals at the request of other nations, either by treaty, or at the diplomatic office's discretion in the absence thereof. For serious extraterritorial crimes, where extradition is inapplicable, unavailable, or expected to be unsatisfactory, Reim may exercise discretion to prosecute in our own courts, but this is rare. In both cases, Reim may declare the individual an outlaw and unwelcome within the Kingdom's borders.

"Ordinarily, if the watch received a report of a subject of Reim having traveled to, for example, Germina, burgled and abducted a subject of Gemina, and murdered a member of their local watch in the process, the report would be verified, and the individual detained and remanded to the embassy of Germina."

"A similar course of action is not straightforward in this case.

"First, Reim has no established diplomatic contact with Liscor or any state of Izril with ties to Liscor. So far, Liscor has not attempted to make contact, nor issue any demands for extradition. Even were they to do so, it is two to six months of travel between the two nations, which is a prohibitive barrier to practical extradition, as it is difficult to contain one of Gazi's power for such a duration in a purpose-built cell, let alone through multiple transfers of transport.

"Were it any other person, perhaps they would be tried and sentenced by Reim's courts, with correspondence with Liscor to ensure an outcome satisfactory to their demands.

"However, there is a second concern: which is, if the Kingdom of Reim attempts to arrest Adventurer Gazi, it would simply not succeed. Gazi is one of the most powerful rogues in the world, and while I do not believe she could singlehandedly defeat the sum forces of Reim's armies, I do believe that she would not find it difficult to escape them and do significant damage in the process."

"As it currently stands, Gazi considers herself positively disposed to me and the Kingdom, on account of her past service to us. Were I to attempt to force the matter, this would only serve to wholly alienate her, send battalions of my loyal men to their death, and permanently destroy the modicum of steering power that remains to me. Steering power which allows, for example, talking her down from pursuing you further, and requesting the return of the belongings she stole."

"I see. In that case I suppose the lawful course of action is simply to refuse to accept any benefit from her crimes, in the way I refuse to provide any, lest she be inspired by her desire to serve as your unauthorized strike team to more of them."

Orthenon spends a few seconds thinking over his response.

"If, for example, someone robbed another nation's treasury and delivered me the spoils, it would certainly be disgraceful to accept, and right to decline and demand their return." he says, "as the Kingdom would be deriving benefit to the detriment of another, and becoming complicit in the theft. However, the crime having already been committed, do you suggest that beyond setting things right, it is iniquitous to leverage the circumstances to negotiate an outcome which is better by both of our lights? I trust that Gazi is now thoroughly discouraged from trying anything of the sort again, having seen the results thereof."

"An outcome is not better by my lights if it results in Gazi achieving anything she desired by breaking into my home, kidnapping me, and murdering my defender. I have inconvenienced her, but surely traveling to Liscor was inconvenient even before she committed herself to such a course. I do not believe this circumstance can be set right in any way other than returning me and my things all the way to my home where I may then, after speaking to the people there who may yet be greatly concerned about my whereabouts, choose to entertain a request from you or your agents for an appointment to discuss the matter in a Lawful fashion."

"The largest expense by far would have been the scroll she used, I understand to be Tier 6 scroll of [Homebound Gate] created by the Archmage Amerys, of which likely fewer than seven exist—but I see that is beside the point.

"My most optimistic outcome, this evening, was of course to convince you to stay and help my King, in return for the greatest compensation we can offer. However, my more realistic hope was to say what I can say, and offer you a long-distance speaking-stone to carry with you back to Izril, with which we would be able to communicate by voice if and only if you decide to upon consideration. Would this exceed the bounds of what you consider—Lawful? I am unfamiliar with the way you use the word, which clearly bears more meaning than I ordinarily understand it to."

"It's a custom of my home plane to divide behaviors and people into Lawful or Chaotic, and also Good or Evil. My patron is Lawful Good and I am commanded to strive toward that ideal. I believe it would be within the bounds of Law to accept such a stone, but I will not begin negotiations obviously pertinent to your King or my ability to affect his state until I am in Liscor and have sought the counsel of those I trust there. It is a great misfortune if Gazi's actions permanently impoverished this world's ability to respond to situations that genuinely call for the use of such a scroll, but it does not move me."

It will not be a good use of time to solicit a lecture on the classification system now, since that account suggests that the same answers are likely to be found in The Acts of Iomedae.

"Of course. I expect your allies will recommend against awakening my lord, as much of the world considers Reim an enemy and a threat—in addition to the impression Gazi will have made—and therefore it would be transparently dishonest to suggest that you provide consultation during your return travel. However, I do plea that you allow me at least the opportunity to present our side, once you have returned to Liscor, though of course I do not ask you make a commitment now.

"And if it would not strain the bounds of Law, may I also suggest that you observe and speak to the people of Chandrar in your travel while you have the opportunity, both within Reim and without, so as to understand the character of my King and his Kingdom from a source closer to the matter?"

"It does not seem feasible nor obviously desirable to avoid observing and speaking to people on my way back given that the journey cannot be completed with the same sort of scroll that began it."

"I meant specifically—asking them about King Flos, whether they experienced his reign, how would they feel about him coming back—but possibly I am providing more guidance than you would prefer.

"Indeed, Reim does not currently have in its possession any scroll or other magic which would deliver you to Liscor faster than chartering ordinary travel from the nations you travel through, as far as I am aware. Germina or Khelt may, but only in the capacity of their strategic reserve, which they will not lightly part with. I mentioned in my letter that I would be willing to offer a letter of safe passage, but I would caution you against using it where not needed, as not all may look kindly on Reim's endorsement.

"If you desire an escort or guard, one can be provided, but it runs the risks as mentioned, and I did not mean to appear to be impressing one on you."

"I think I can accept an escort as far as your border provided they do not attempt in the process of escorting me to win me to your cause."

"Of course. If you expect to exercise your departure today, I will send to prepare an escort of two?"

"Has there been any word on my mace?"

He looks at a servant, who slips out of view, and returns five seconds later to whisper in his ear.

"Gazi claims that she left it behind in Liscor and did not bring it with her."

"Well, that's unfortunate, as I expect that the one monstrous centipede I encountered is not the only thing that will try to kill me on my journey, but apparently it can't be helped."

"You may select a mace from palace guards' armory, if you wish. It is recommended to travel with caravans with a guard, which will often also be faster, but it is of course still wise to be armed, and caravans will sometimes allow passage for free if you contribute to security."

"My mace is enchanted."

"What are its properties? We may be able to procure an equivalent."

Not too dire, he hopes. It is difficult to justify giving away even more of their good arms, but on the margin they can part with one more if they must.

"It's the most minor enchantment you can find on a weapon on Golarion, it just strikes slightly truer and slightly harder, but it can be a substantial advantage over enough fights."