Hmm... You are a capable warrior too, are you not? Would you be amenable to assisting me with another errand?

---

You see, our talisman requires the use of a special ink, but we have exhausted our stores of a key ingredient for it─spiritweed.

---

The herb grows not far from here, and I would like to go and harvest some. With the recent spate of kidnappings, however, we Arkasodara travel alone at our peril.

---

Will you not come with me as my escort? I would compensate you for your troubles, of course.

---

I'm in your debt! Without further ado, let us head to Kadjaya's Footsteps. It is situated on the road which runs east of the Great Work.

I-I may simply be imagining it, but I feel as though we're being followed...

---

<gasp> Look out, Forename!

Gods, but that gave me a fright... To think that the moment I ventured outside the safety of the Work...

---

Thank the Sisters I asked you to come with me. You're all right, I hope?

---

Good, good. Let's continue on, then. It isn't far now─just through these pillars and up the rise.

And here we are─Kadjaya's Footsteps.

---

Kadjaya was a great dancer, and those who follow in her─well, you know─they come to this place to train and dedicate their dance to their ancestors.

---

A happy benefit of this is that spiritweed grows here in abundance. I will set about harvesting at once, if you would be so good as to stand guard.

---

The kidnappers aren't like to return soon, but better safe than sorry.

Yes, that would be Radz-at-Han. Hardly anyone has been allowed in or out since our troubles with the tower began.

---

The fearful citizens huddle inside the city walls, and commerce has all but ground to a standstill. I pity the satrap the trials he must be facing.

Long ago, this island was home to two tribes of Matanga─the Gajasura, and the Arkasodara.

---

When the Au Ra came to these shores, it was the Arkasodara with whom they joined forces. Together, they defeated the warlike Gajasura, forcing them to flee Thavnair altogether.

---

Peace and prosperity reigned for a time, until a clan of Hyur from the mainland decided they wanted the island for themselves.

---

It was a direct ancestor of the present satrap who arbitrated that conflict, and welded the warring factions into the nation we know today.

---

And ever since, a member of that esteemed lineage has inherited this somewhat unique position. You see, by and large, the state is run by the people, but when problems arise, it is the satrap who mediates a solution.

---

The stability provided by the satrap is what has allowed Radz-at-Han to thrive all these years.

---

And it was the satrap himself who entrusted us with this duty. We will not fail him, nor our countrymen!

What is the delay with the vessel!? I told you, I need to adjust those ratios!

I come all this way to admire one of my splendid towers, and what do I find? Fools attempting to ward off its tempering influence with magic trinkets.

---

I seem to recall a similar experiment in ages past. What was that man's name...?

---

"O" something... Oween?

---

Another body, another time. Who could be expected to remember every trivial detail...

---

Hmmm. Allowing them to construct such handy talismans would be counterproductive to my plans...

---

And yet, I find myself deathly curious. How will they manage this feat with the limited knowledge and resources at their disposal?

---

Complications be damned. For we cannot escape the nature of our souls. And I, as ever, am my own worst enemy.

I have enough spiritweed to last us a good while. Thank you for keeping watch!

---

Let us head back to the Great Work, shall we?

Forename, my thanks again for your assistance. With your help, we're that little bit closer to completing our talisman!

---

This isn't much, but please accept it as a token of my gratitude.