What about the pharaoh of Osirion, who raised him from the dead and is maybe an aspect of Abadar? (He seemed like a person to Urtho, if a very impressive one.) What sort of ruler is he? 

He's an exceptional diplomat and negotiator. Osirion has been prosperous. It's not widely known Osirion backed Aroden in the Chelish war, since Osirion usually stays out of wars, but they sure came out of it in an advantageous position.

He worked with Ma'ar, then. Did they seem to get along well? 

They're quite close, yes.

Do they think the pharaoh might have a biased perspective of how much Ma'ar has reformed since the time Urtho knew him, if they're friends now? 

Their impression is that the pharaoh was not sure of him initially but then Abadar offered to take him as His servant and Ma'ar accepted, which couldn't have happened if Ma'ar wasn't suited in his soul to Abadar's service, gods can't be wrong about that sort of thing.

- Wait, Ma'ar has sworn service to a god? Urtho is baffled, that doesn't sound like him at all, he defied all the gods' precepts before.

Well, it seems like the Velgarth gods aren't very good? Ma'ar (he goes by Leareth now) said they'd assassinated him over things like inventing the printing press. Abadar likes progress and cities and thinks people ought to be rich. So maybe Ma'ar just needed a god worth trusting in.

Interesting. That...does sound like something Ma'ar would approve of. Something he and Ma'ar would have agreed on, even. 

...Velgarth's loss of knowledge during the Cataclysm included the printing press? Urtho is genuinely kind of emotional about this. That's awful. 

It sounded awful! And the gods didn't want to let a flourishing society like Tantara arise again because they were worried that was what had led to the Cataclysm. Abadar is of course also opposed to things that might lead to Cataclysms but He thinks it's possible to exercise more fine control than that.

That's so sad. He thinks Abadar must be right; there have to be better ways. Even if he can sort of understand the gods' fears about it, it sounds like it was very very bad. 

Urtho thanks them for answering his questions, and says he needs some time alone to think. 

They are happy to leave him alone for that!

He paces back and forth in his lovely, luxuriously appointed guest room, in the palace where he's been treated wonderfully by everyone. Which doesn't mean that much about the rest of the country, of course, he's no longer that naive, but - the researchers seem happy, and not like they need certain answers to appease their superiors, which he thinks is a good sign. 

Eventually he calls a servant and says he would like to speak with the pharaoh, if that's possible, he understands if he's too busy. 

An appointment can be arranged later that afternoon! He should learn the protocols for interacting with the pharaoh; they are explained.

Urtho will pay careful attention to their explanation and follow them fastidiously. 

The pharaoh sees him, expresses delight that he's settling in so well, invites him to sit. "How are you finding the palace?"

"It is wonderful! Thank you for asking. Your researchers are all brilliant people, I enjoyed speaking with them very much." 

"Thank you! I know they've been delighted by the chance to study magic from another world. I'm told they're all very jealous and trying to find a way to give people Gifts who aren't born with them."

"Unfortunately I know of no such way. But perhaps mages will wish to move to your world, and then if they marry and have children it will be in the bloodline." 

"Maybe so."

Urtho nods, smiles. He swallows. "Anyway, I wished to speak to you because–" He bows his head. "Knowing what I do now of his actions here, I think that perhaps I misjudged Ma'ar even from the beginning, and - wronged him badly. I...knew it was a gamble, I feared I could not afford any other path, but...in the end it seems the world could not afford the path I did choose. And I am told you are close with him, now, and he is sworn to the service of your god, so - if I am to live and work here, I - should try to make that right by him, or else it will be very awkward." 

"He would be very glad to speak to you, if you wish to speak with him. 

And I think you're right. I think it was a - hard mistake to avoid. He is a dangerous man, you weren't wrong about that. But there are other things that are more important to what he is, I think."

"...Such as what? Who - do you think he is, now, at the core? I saw a young man who - cared too much, too fiercely, and I feared it blinded him to the true consequences of his actions. But - he is older now." 

"I think he cares just as much, and is not blind anymore to the consequences of his actions, and still - accepts them, more often than someone else might. I think in Velgarth he didn't consider himself to have much opportunity to choose Good tactics over Evil ones. It's been a change for him, being here, where the forces of Good are powerful allies. But I think - he always wanted to have Good allies. He is willing to compromise for it. He just has to believe that the course he's on will fix the world, or at least stands the best chance of the available courses. We have a Good god who sees the world that way, and I know he asks her for moral advice, sometimes."

"Really! Does She let anyone speak to her in that way? I would never, ever have pictured Ma'ar as the sort of man who would pray for moral guidance, and I understand that he serves your Abadar anyway, not Her."