Certain Questions put to the Dragon Yothkatamonis

This document, a partial transcript of a post-mortem interrogation of the shade of the dragon Yothkatamonis by Arzufal of Vash Ossai, was found in that ruined city by a party of adventurers in 1344AK.

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Certain Questions put to the Dragon Yothkatamonis

Those parts of the document which indicate Yothkatamonis's replies to the questioning are underlined.

1. Q: Why did the Draconic Imperium support the ascent of Lord Shaper?
   A: You are mistaken - we did not.
2. Q: Why did the Draconic Imperium not prevent the ascent of Lord Shaper?
   A: The serpent eluded us until it was too late to stop them.
3. Q: Is Lord Shaper the same entity as the Seer?
   A: Yes.
4. Q: Does the general precaution of not referring to the Paragons by name apply in the case of Lord Shaper?
   A: As much as it applies in the other cases.
5. Q: What happens when the name of a Paragon is spoken?
   A: They become aware of this.


6. Q: Does speaking the titles of the Paragons share the risk of speaking their names?
   A: No.
7. Q: Does writing the name of a Paragon hold the same risk?
   A: No.
8. Q: If a Paragon were somehow restricted from acting, would the invocation of their name be as dangerous?
   A: No, but not without danger.
9. Q: What would the manner of this danger be?
   A: Psychic, and spiritual.
10. Q: Is this equivalent to the effect of speaking the true name of a god?
    A: Yes.


11. Q: Were the name of a Paragon uttered by the Anima, what would result?
    A: I can only speculate that it would be the same as were a god to utter it.
12. Q: What would be the result of a god uttering the name of a Paragon?
    A: It would most certainly attract their undivided attention.
13. Q: Would it allow their escape?
    A: I have no reason to believe so.
14. Q: Would it allow possession?
    A: Not for more than a moment.
15. Q: Do you consider the Paragons to be gods?
    A: It depends on how you define "gods".


16. Q: Do you know the names and titles of all Nine Paragons?
    A: No.
17. Q: Do you know the titles of all Nine Paragons?
    A: Not all their titles.
18. Q: Can you tell me a title for each of the Nine Paragons?
    A: Yes.
19. Q: Will you tell me a title for each of the Nine Paragons?
    A: Not of my volition.
20. Q: Knowing that should you refuse to answer of your own volition, I shall compel you to do so, and that furthermore I shall turn your skull into a chamber-pot, what are the primary titles of the Nine Paragons?
    A: Hag. Dancer. Artificer. Lich. Kraken . Liar. Magus. Mercy. Beloved.


21. Q: When you last spoke, you gave me nine titles; is the Artificer the one who is known to me as Lord Shaper?
    A: Most likely.
22. Q: Which of those titles is also known as the Seer?
    A: Artificer
23. Q: Why are there two contradictory accounts of their abilities and nature?
    A: The histories do not distinguish between the Gift and what was achieved with the Gift.
24. Q: Why were you so reticent to tell me the titles of the Paragons?
    A: You demand a great deal of me.
25. Q: What are you concealing from me?
    A: A great many things.


26. Q: What was the Gift of the Seer?
    A: Knowledge.
27. Q: What manner of knowledge?
    A: Knowledge not of any specific kind, but of how to acquire knowledge of any kind whatsoever.
28. Q: What were the primary Gifts of the Paragons?
    A: The control of fate. Limitless form. Perfect judgement. Absolute immortality. A limitless capacity for the Divine. Knowledge. Unquestionable authority. Liberation of spirit. Infinite mercy.
29. Q: What was the cost of these Gifts?
    A: That they would be their own undoing.
30. Q: What specifically, were the costs of the Paragons' Gifts?
    A: Inescapable ruin. Constant fluctuation. Endless escalation. Creeping indifference. Unquenchable hunger. Knowledge without understanding. Inevitable opposition. Material alienation. Infinite suffering.


31. Q: When we spoke of the costs of the Paragons' Gifts, what did you mean by "knowledge without understanding"?
    A: They shall ever seek the Source, yet never reach it. The answers they receive shall only breed further questions. They shall possess all knowledge, but shall never comprehend the truth.
32. Q: How was Xochehuasti able to exploit this weakness?
    A: Because the priesthood of Tichyuapatli into which she was born, and the people of Gwel with whom she associated, led her to believe that this betrayal was not dishonourable.
33. Q: By what means did this betrayal come to pass?
    A: A trap baited with a question, a prison woven of an answer.
34. Q: What actions did Xochehuasti perform that led to the imprisonment of Lord Shaper?
    A: She spoke to Lord Shaper, and to the one that she conspired with.
35. Q: Who did Xochehuasti conspire with?
    A: She has conspired with a great many people in the course of her life.


36. Q: When we last spoke, why were you so evasive about the means by which Lord Shaper was bound?
    A: Because I dislike you, and whilst I am obligated to answer your questions without lying, that is all I am obligated to do for you.
37. Q: Beyond your generally uncooperative nature, is there a specific reason why you wish to conceal that particular bit of information from me?
    A: Yes.
38. Q: Tanar's horns, can this zdu'kadtatz urghu-akhtag [lit: one who bathes in the same place that they empty themself] give a straight answer for once?
    A: I find your attempts to insult me quite puerile; I am able to speak the plain truth should I choose to, and I am able to mislead and dissemble should I choose to. You have compelled my obedience, necromancer, not my cooperation, and thus what I wish to conceal from you shall ever remain beyond your sight.
39. Q: What are you trying to achieve by this?
    A: It is my belief that sooner or later you will make an error which I am able to exploit.
40. Q: What sort of error?
    A: I am so glad you asked. For twelve years I have waited for you to ask me a question, such as this one, which would permit me to speak, by way of answer, the true name of my staunch ally, [no name is written].

Written in a different hand - "We are unaware of this entity. It does not appear to be the name of any of the Paragons. Confirm with Amanuensis Jazat-Ra'ak exactly what was heard. Interrogator Arzufal to be condemned to the engines for his incompetence"
Written in a different hand again - "Bronze Mask?"

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Type

Record, Transcript (Communication)

Medium

Vellum / Skin

Location

Vash Ossai