Hex Crawl 23 #21: Eyes and Ears of Pazuzu

Two hexes north and one northeast of Alakran.

We can treat this featureless dry plain as the "base" for the Pazuzu cult's spy quasit, similar to Leetakh's pet (hex #10). This one likes to take the form of a flying beetle when not invisible, and answers to Kokumo (hex #20), who is very discreet about the existence of his valuable asset. The quasit's roam rating is also A2, meaning it can be found up to two five-mile hexes from this spot, day or night.

 

Speaking of Kokumo's demons, it is around here that he sent the much larger and more visible vulture demon Chuzema on an aerial recon mission on behalf of the Band of Bronze's campaign against Leetakh. The campaign log's account, I believe, will speak in general to the hazards of treating with maliciously literal entities.I should note that the quasit was actually a dimwit rather than just acting that way, and so did not bend Kokumo's orders quite so cruelly.

***

After the rite, Kokumo consulted the visitors on the exact wording of the commands by which he would bind the demon after his tablet spell fixed it in place and commanded its attention. The first five commands would be binding. In case of contradiction the demon would respect them in the order issued. Eventually, they came up with this:

THOU I BIND THEE FIRST TO DO, FOREVER, NO HARM OR TRICKS UNTO ME
AND SECOND TO DO, FOREVER, NO HARM OR TRICKS UNTO THOSE I SAY ARE MY FRIENDS
AND THIRD TO ONLY HARM THOSE I SAY ARE MY ENEMIES
AND FOURTH TO OBEY MY COMMANDS, COMPLETELY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND FIFTH TO MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM RECEIVING OR OBEYING THESE LAWS AND COMMANDS GIVEN BY ME

[...]

At daybreak, Chuzema's master brought it forth from the cave and acquainted it with timekeeping by having it sing along to the twenty-minute long mantra of Pazuzu. Then a set of instructions was carefully prepared for the demon, viz.:

"Fly upwards and southeast, either until you see some non-friend gnolls, until you see some dust or smoke that is probably made by non-friend gnolls, or until the time needed for one of those chants passes. Do not make yourself known to the non-friend gnolls. Just look for them, find them if you can, and come back."

Chuzema flew up immediately on hearing the charge and had to be controlled by further verbiage. Then it flapped southeastwards, growing more and more distant until its form was but a speck in the air, five miles away. Concern mounted as, after the length of the chant had passed, it did not return, but instead changed course to the south, swooping low. After several more minutes had passed, it could be seen heading back. Kokumo interrogated the fiend when it landed.

"Did you see gnolls out there? How many?"

"Yes Master, I saw fifteen gnolls."

"Why did you not obey the command to come back after the time of the chant?"

"Oh Master, I saw what I thought were gnolls, but I had to be sure, so I came closer. I was following your command to find them."

Kokumo realized that although the five commandments implanted by the magic tablet would be followed with precedence given to the earlier of them, verbal orders issued afterwards in compliance with the commandment of obedience would be followed with precedence to the later ones. And "find the gnolls" indeed had been issued after "return in the stated time."

He thought for a moment. "Chuzema! Speak truthfully to me! Did you have words with the gnolls you found?"

"Yes Master."

"What did you say?"

The demon ducked its long neck, but could find no way to subvert the command.

"I told them that the cult of Pazuzu was coming to attack their village, with fifteen cultists, fifteen gnolls, some wandering soldiers, and sorcery."

"What? What did they say?"

"They only ran, south."

"Thou detestable pigeon! Why did you disobey my command to not make yourself known?"

"Master, they saw me in the sky, flying as you commanded, so I was already known to them."

Dasypus the armadillo-man drew himself up indignantly. "But you have broken the command not to harm us! By telling our plan to the enemy, you have given them the means to cause us more harm than if we had surprised them!"

"O Master," said the demon to Kokumo, "I am but a simple vrock and not so clever as this small one. As I understand it, to harm is to damage a being or take away its freedom. If you wish me to refrain from any action that could in the future be the cause of harm to our friends, please, command me so."

Kokumo noted a cunning gleam in the black orbs of the demon's eyes and did not rise to the bait. He uttered some emphatic phrases in the Abyssal tongue, at which Chuzema only clucked and rocked back on its claws.