"I think there is something we are not quite seeing yet." With the intelligence-boost, Leareth feels as though he can almost see and touch the shape of that confusion, a negative space just on the edge of his awareness...

He leans in to skim through Mahdi's notes, searching for the exact quote - it's one she must have said before he was kidnapped, he wasn't there for it.

"'He is very clever,'" Leareth reads off, "and he will not speak to me, here, he has turned his back on all the servants of all the gods–" He breaks off, again going very still. "That is the line that you thought was a reference to Rahadoum. Right? And Rahadoum is the country that we think is planning an invasion of Cheliax..." 

"Yes."

"And you said I would get along well with them. I am wondering, now, if that is not an accident. If - if Aroden's method of immortality had any resemblance to mine, then he would have been able to come back, when his body died. Maybe even if he died as a god." He glances around at the others. "Could you tell me more of the history of Rahadoum." 

"The banning all the gods started about eighty years ago. They were caught up in a civil war same as Cheliax, after Aroden's death, and eventually the faction that came to power was one that claimed that no gods could be trusted and all churches were - instruments of their will - they made a contract with some exceptionally powerful devils who murder all divine spellcasters within their borders and destroy all consecrated places and do nothing else.

Cheliax claimed the southern tip of the Arch of Aroden from them in a war a long time ago. They've been recruiting mercenaries and they won't say what the work is but Hag - um -"

"Telcar. You can still call me Hagan."

"Prince Telcar thought they were recruiting to take back the Arch of Aroden. Was there anything in particular -"

"Cared a lot about discipline off the battlefield, so they're thinking they'll be claiming populated territory. And probably - a population they think of as their own people, currently in enemy hands, rather than as the enemy -"

Leareth shivers slightly. "I founded an empire once. Shortly after our Cataclysm, trying to piece together the remnants of civilization... I did not contract with devils but I took some - equally ruthless - measures. I banned all religious orders and temples, because the servants of gods kept assassinating me. Another me might be even more inclined to do so, if he had been a god, betrayed and murdered by the other gods..."

Leareth is visibly unhappy.

"This is a rather speculative guess," he says finally, "but - I would wager that the local instance of me is there. Trying to rebuild, to carry on his work. It seems like what I would do, in that position. But he must be very sad." 

"Lots of people would flock to him. If he said he was Aroden. He must have some reason not to say so."

"Well, if he doesn't know which gods betrayed and murdered him and he's a squishy human now he probably doesn't want to tell them that he's still around."

"...I wonder if Abadar knows. If not, we should perhaps not enlighten him." Leareth is still looking down at his hands. "I ought to find him. Offer my help - something... It might be better to do so once I am at all oriented to this world, though. I do not think it changes our immediate short-term priorities." 

"I think probably Abadar doesn't know." He points back at the notes. "you will be safe in Osirion; it is the land of Abadar, who loved you.' Past tense. And then again a bit later: 'Abadar loved you, and you will be safe here even if he recognizes you, and I think he may not.'

My best guess would be that Abadar is not one of the gods that betrayed him - that wouldn't make sense anyway, we're in favor of there being an Age of Glory - but that He doesn't know - I mean, if Aroden hasn't even told Iomedae -"

"Who is Iomedae?" 

"Four humans have passed the Test of the Starstone and ascended. The most recent was Iomedae. A paladin of Aroden. Lawful good - paladins have to be. They were closely allied, as gods, He mentored Her. She took up some of His clerics, when He died - not most of them, I think there are limits on how many clerics a god can create and He was more powerful than She was - 

- maybe She does know and is keeping it quiet but her clergy aren't permitted in Rahadoum either."

Thoughtful look. "You said four. Who were the others?" 

"Aroden was first, of course. There's Norgorber. Neutral evil god of crime and assassinations. Most people consider it kind of confusing that He passed, but He did. He has a domain in Axis, and is allowed there as long as he follows the law while he's there. And Cayden Cailean. He was a mercenary unemployed because of his propensity for getting into fights with his own side if they were out of line, and he was, uh, drunk, and did the test of the Starstone on a dare. He's chaotic good."

"How odd. Was Aroden able to choose which humans who attempt the Starstone succeed, or was it thought to be some sort of objective measurable? Those are not obviously allies I would choose, if I were a god - then again, I have formed instrumental alliances with some dubious people in my world, and I expect I am missing a great deal of context here." 

"No one really knows how the test is set up, and whether Aroden or some combination of gods including Aroden has any role in choosing who succeeds."

The Fox's Cunning wears off, quite abruptly; it feels like the world is a little slower and clumsier and harder to fit into shape.

Leareth misses it already. 

"I feel that was quite productive," he says. "Any other decisions or preparations to be made before we - do this?" 

"What are we doing? Asking the pharaoh to consult Abadar on getting us back to Velgarth? Tracking down Aroden in Rahadoum to - do you have a quick way to convince alternate universe versions of you that they are you -"

"I was thinking to do the first, and take more time to plan the second. Since I have never until now considered the problem of how to convince alternate versions of myself that we are the same person, well, versions of." 

"We should brief you on protocols for meeting the pharaoh, which are numerous and horrible. Might make sense for Van to skip it and just, uh, rest in a guest room with some rotation of us."

Glance at Vanyel. "I think that would be best." He folds up the papers of notes so far, gets out a new page. "You can go ahead and explain the protocols." 

Vanyel half-watches them tiredly, without comment, before lying down and closing his eyes again. 

The pharaoh of Osirion rarely leaves the Dome, the carapace of an enormous beetle - "I guess while we're sharing all our terrifying secrets I should mention that it's not actually the carcass of the beetle, as widely understood; it shed this carapace when it got too big for it. It's sealed beneath the earth. We just hope it keeps."

The beetle prevents scrying, teleportation, divination magics, and communications across its walls; the inside also has lots of other magics on it, meant to make it difficult for casters not authorized and trained by Osirion to operate; they should plan on mostly not using magic. The guards will require them to confirm under a Truth Spell their peaceful intent towards the pharaoh and everyone in the Dome and their understanding that the use of magic for combat is not permitted even in self-defense.

The pharaoh is a god, and visitors prostrate themselves when they see him; they may not look at him, or sit up, or speak to him, without his permission. If they try to stab the pharaoh or do unidentifiable magic in his presence they will almost definitely be murdered about it. 

Hagan looks so unhappy.