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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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<blockquote data-quote="EternalNewbie" data-source="post: 1359520" data-attributes="member: 6489"><p>Yes. Yes you can.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Bah. Let's get something straight here. First, there are no clerics in this world. Second, warriors can't wear metal armor without making con checks for heat exhaustion. Third, everything we fight is like 4 levels higher than us. And now you're getting huffy cuz we do a little <em>tactical maneouvering</em>? Heh, no wonder nobody ever gets past 5th level in your campaign.</p><p></p><p>Alright, enough witty banter and on to the stuff that you came here for. I present, for your reading enjoyment, the final part of Chapter 2: The City of Sin.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * * * * * * * * *</p><p></p><p>Alone. I'm all alone, Khalid thought. His breath was coming in quick, short gasps and his heart hammered in his chest. The darkness surrounding him was absolute and all he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears. Then, ever so slowly, the darkness began to recede. As the feeble light from Shayla's spell began to strengthen behind the retreating darkness, Khalid saw that he was not alone. Gorak and Shayla were still there, standing exactly where they had been before the darkness engulfed them. Khalid breathed a sigh of relief that caught in his lungs as he turned around.</p><p></p><p>In the center of the summoning circle, the darkness gathered with increasing speed. Khalid felt as though he was at the center of a hurricane, as the darkness rushed past him and coalesced into the shape of a man. Suddenly, Khalid desperately wished that he was alone, and a thousand miles away from this place.</p><p></p><p>The man that appeared at the center of the summoning circle was not physically imposing. He was slightly shorter than Khalid's six feet, although somewhat broader in the chest than Khalid and dressed in an immaculate suit of Eastern origin. A jet black waistcoat covered a white silk shirt. Long black breeches were tucked into knee-high riding boots that were polished to a mirror shine. A single ring adorned his right hand, capped with a blood red ruby.</p><p></p><p>But it was not the expensive clothing that held Khalid breathless; it was the creature's face. His features would have been regular, even handsome, were it not for the inhuman cruelty etched upon them. No trace of human compassion had ever crossed that flawless face; no tenderness or mercy had ever softened the hard angles.</p><p></p><p>A devil, Khalid thought frantically. It has to be some sort of devil. The thing's eyes were blood red orbs, with no trace of a pupil, but still Khalid could feel its gaze sweep across them. He shuddered under the weight of the devil's withering contempt as it assessed each one of them in turn. Gorak and Shayla, like Khalid, were paralyzed with fear. Gorak's lips had drawn back in a feral snarl and for all his imposing size, he looked nothing more than a cornered animal. Shayla stood stock still, arched backwards slightly as though drawn up by the strings of a giant puppeteer. Her head was turned slightly, as though she was trying to look away, but she could not free her eyes from the terrible sight before her. Her hands were balled into tight fists at her sides and her jaw was clenched.</p><p></p><p>Again the creatures gaze swept across them, and Khalid felt his knees go weak as the devil's power flooded the room. Khalid could feel it, a thick and heavy miasma that coated his skin and seared his lungs. Slowly the creature raised an immaculately manicured hand and Khalid clenched his teeth, frantically trying to think of some way to avoid the inevitable. But the creature didn't cast them screaming into the depths of hell; he simply raised his hand and smoothed back a lock of his jet-black hair. With a twisted sneer on his features, the devil gave a mocking little bow, and stepped casually over the shattered boundary of the summoning circle. Without even a backward glance, the creature walked up the stairs.</p><p></p><p>Khalid breathed an enormous sigh of relief that turned into a choked gasp as the devil casually snapped his fingers on the way out of the room. With a soundless flash, three small creatures appeared in the room beside them. The monstrosities looked like tiny lumps of wax, twisted and misshapen, covered with a thick slime that pooled on the floor around them. Cruel parodies of human faces swam within the blubbery mass of flesh, their features contorted with unspeakable agony. Withered limbs tipped with three sharp claws slashed eagerly at the air around them, as the creatures rushed forward to attack.</p><p></p><p>Khalid gagged at the charnel smell that washed over him as the pitiful creatures slid towards him. Shayla was the first to shake off the devil's fear and act, hurriedly casting a spell and flinging a handful of glowing discs at one of the little monstrosities. Her eyes widened in horror as the spell slammed into the creature with no effect. Scurrying backwards, she placed more distance between herself and their assailants.</p><p></p><p>Gorak leapt forward with a roar, and slammed his cudgel into one of the fleshly little creatures, sending it tumbling backwards. It righted itself immediately however, and pressed forward, seemingly unhurt by the terrible blow. "Khalid," Gorak yelled, "what in the nine hells are these things?"</p><p></p><p>Khalid's mind frantically raced over his lectures at the White Tower, trying to put a name to the creatures, but panic drove all rational thought from his mind.* Deciding he had nothing to lose, he stepped forward and unleashed a torrent of flame and ash upon the little creatures. Like Gorak and Shayla however, his attack had no effect save to draw attention to himself. Khalid hurriedly backed away and heroically placed Gorak between himself and the three tiny devils.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes," Khalid stuttered, "ah, I believe they are the least of the devil-kin. Yes, quite. They, ah, appear to be immune to weapons and, ah, fire."</p><p></p><p>Shayla screamed as one of the little monstrosities slashed at her with its claws, drawing a line of blood on her leg. Gorak too, bellowed in pain as the other two surrounded him and began to claw at his legs and stomach. Again, Shayla unleashed a spell, this time hurling tiny lancets of glowing force and again there was no effect. Gorak swung his cudgel in a defensive arc as he tried to keep the tiny devils from swarming him.</p><p></p><p>"Khalid," Gorak growled, "how do we hurt them?"</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes," Khalid replied, "I'm not sure we can."</p><p></p><p>"Well you better think of something fast," Gorak snarled.</p><p></p><p>Khalid attempted to dodge away from the creatures, to give himself room to cast another spell and was rewarded with a stinging slash on his leg for his efforts. Forcing the pain out of his mind, he dropped a short length of rope on the ground and uttered the words to his newly discovered spell. As the rope rose into the air, Khalid called out, "Ah, perhaps now is a good time to ah, demonstrate the better part of valor, yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>Without hesitation, Shayla turned and scrambled up the rope, vanishing into the portal. Gorak snarled again, and swatted ineffectually at the creatures surrounding him. "Khalid," Gorak growled, "get outta here."</p><p></p><p>Khalid, never needing much in the way of encouragement when it came to self-preservation, clambered up the rope into the safety of his spell. Gorak, taking several more wounds in the process, turned and followed him immediately after, drawing up the rope as he entered. Through the transparent portal they could see the three small devils milling about in impotent fury below.</p><p></p><p>Gorak, breathing heavily, cast a healing spell to staunch the bleeding wounds on his legs. When he finished, he turned on Shayla and Khalid. "What the hell is wrong with you two," he snarled. "We agreed we were gonna leave that thing alone."</p><p></p><p>Shayla, still shaken from the ordeal, said nothing so Khalid answered. "Ah, it wasn't entirely, yes, entirely our fault Gorak. That thing in there, the first one I mean, yes, the devil, cast some sort of spell upon us. Yes, quite. Surely, you must have felt it?"</p><p></p><p>Gorak grunted, "Maybe." Then he took a deep breath, and got a hold of his emotions. "Alright, so just what was that thing."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, I'm not exactly, yes, exactly sure," Khalid replied.** "I cannot put a name to that particular devil, but I am quite sure he is powerful, possibly even one of the dukes of the nine hells. Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>"That's great," Gorak grumbled. "So what do we tell Arbaq?"</p><p></p><p>"Ah, Arbaq?" Khalid looked surprised. "Ah, nothing, nothing at all. We tell him that we found the room as such, yes, with the tube smashed prior to our arrival. Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>"You think that's a good idea, lying to him?" Gorak growled.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, I don't think you fully, yes, fully grasp the enormity of what has happened here," Khalid continued with fear plainly evident in his tone. "That thing is a devil, yes, and a powerful one at that. That summoning circle is as flawless as any I have seen in the White Tower and yet it was able to pierce boundary with its magic. The great sages and high priests are now impotent, yes, impotent. There may be no one left with the skill to confront that thing. It's going to wreak untold chaos and death upon this land before it is finished. Yes, quite. The fewer people that know we are responsible for unleashing that blight, yes, blight upon the land, the better."</p><p></p><p>Shayla was staring down at her hands in silence. In each of her palms were four bloody crescents, where her fingernails had pierced her skin. Gorak leaned over and took both of her hands in his, and uttered a few divine words. Shayla winced slightly at his touch. When he took his hands away, the marks on her palms were gone, but the fear still remained in her eyes. "So what do we do now?" she asked in a hushed tone.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, we wait, and hope the summoning ends before my spell does." Khalid replied as he squinted out into the darkness.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * * * * * * * * *</p><p></p><p>"Ah, are they gone yet?" Khalid asked.</p><p></p><p>Gorak, who was peering out into the darkened workshop, growled, "I think so. I'm gonna go check it out. He pushed the rope out and dropped down through the portal. Seconds later his head appeared in the extra-dimensional space again. "It's clear. Let's get outta here."</p><p></p><p>The trio hastily made their way back up the stairs, and out the same window they had entered. The huge mastiff that Gorak had left in the back yard to guard their exit was curled up beneath some bushes, whimpering softly. It took Gorak several minutes to coax the creature out from it's hiding spot. Once he had, they set off in silence back to their inn.</p><p></p><p>Even the bright afternoon sun did little to quiet their unrest as they pushed through the crowds of people. Khalid desperately hoped that the devil would quit the city and return to its own plane, but he knew it was unlikely. Unfettered, with no holy men or powerful wizards to banish it, the creature would have free reign. Khalid shuddered as he walked through the press of people, wondering morbidly how many of them would die in the coming days.</p><p></p><p>Back at the inn, they quickly dispatched a messenger to Arbaq and settled in to wait. After the morning's ordeal, they were edgy and tired, but no one seemed willing to be alone, and so they sat in the terraced garden, absently picking at the delicacies brought by the serving girls. Slowly, the minutes lengthened into hours, and still there was no word from Arbaq.</p><p></p><p>They stayed up late that evening, still not wishing to be parted from each other's company. Finally however, sleep drove them apart, and Khalid retired to his room to rest. Sleep was a long time coming for him, as he expected it would be. What he wasn't expecting were the dreams that haunted him. Several times during the night, he woke up, drenched with sweat and a scream on his lips.</p><p></p><p>The morning sun found Khalid at his writing desk, poring over his notes and scrolls, having long since given up the prospect of sleep. As he ventured down stairs to join Shayla and Gorak, it was evident that neither of them had slept particularly well either. Again, they settled in to await Arbaq's summons.</p><p></p><p>It arrived finally, that evening as the three were half-heartedly picking at their dinner. A man they recognized as one of the guards normally posted at the front gate of Arbaq's estate walked over to them and dropped a small scroll on their table. He waited as Khalid picked it up and read it, then turned and left without a word.</p><p></p><p><em>Meet me at the cleric's house after sunset this evening.</em></p><p> <em>- Arbaq</em></p><p></p><p>"So?" Gorak grunted.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, Arbaq wants us to meet him at the clerics house." Khalid replied.</p><p></p><p>"Well, that's unexpected," Shayla commented.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, indeed, it is, ah, most out of character, yes?" Khalid said. "Perhaps, we should, ah, be very, yes, very careful this evening."</p><p></p><p>"Are you saying what I think you're saying," Gorak rumbled.</p><p></p><p>"All I'm saying is that, ah, given the circumstances of the last few days it would be prudent, yes, prudent to take every precaution."***</p><p></p><p>That decided, the three spent a few restless hours killing time, before leaving once again for the cleric's house. As they approached the dwelling, they saw a guard lounging near the front door, which had been nearly torn from its hinges. The guard waved them inside as they neared the house and said, "Arbaq's waiting for you downstairs."</p><p></p><p>As they entered the parlor of the house, they were forced to step over a man shaped lump wrapped in a thick rug. Khalid grimaced at the fate of the previous investigator, and idly fingered his spell component pouch as they moved into the trophy room. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the stone steps into the cleric's workshop, followed closely by Gorak and Shayla.</p><p></p><p>The room was once again the source of a surprise, as for the first time the trio saw Arbaq in the flesh. He was tall, taller than Khalid, although his build was slim. He was wearing a tight black jacket with a high collar and breeches, over a pair of soft black leather boots. His onyx black hair was cut shoulder length and obscured his features as he studied something on one of the long benches lining the walls. At the sound of their footsteps he turned around. His skin, as Shayla had noticed so many weeks ago, was indeed as pure as alabaster, and his eyes, remarkably, were like blue sapphires, cold and piercing. He studied the three of them carefully, before speaking in his cultured voice. "Now, perhaps you would care to tell me what happened here."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, well, we entered the house through the back window, yes quite. Upon entering, we were beset upon by the ah, well, the furniture. Yes, quite. We covered a few more rooms that day, but the furniture was, ah, quite resilient, yes, quite and destroying it took a fair measure of our power. We ah, left, and returned yesterday morning," Khalid said, realizing as he spoke how silly it sounded.</p><p></p><p>Arbaq however, saw no humor in it. "Please continue," he said as he walked over to the wall near where Khalid had futilely cast his spell. Running his finger along the wall, it came away, covered in soot.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, well," Khalid stammered, trying to organize his thoughts. "We ah, searched the trophy room next, and found the passage down here. When we arrived, we found your friend, ah, well, pickled, yes, pickled in that tube over there. The ah, staff was the source of the spell animating the objects in the house."</p><p></p><p>"And then you decided to attempt to free him?" Arbaq pressed.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, well, yes, in order to ah, break the enchantment, yes enchantment on the staff. Yes, quite," Khalid replied his mind racing frantically. "Ah, unfortunately, the ah, execution was poor and we inadvertently broke the summoning circle. When that happened, three small devilkin appeared. We ah, felt it wise to withdraw at that point, and inform you of our findings. Yes quite."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed." Khalid could feel the skepticism in his tone. "Those three small devils are all that you saw?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes, quite." Khalid replied as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.</p><p></p><p>"Did you perchance find a journal down here? Achmed was a particularly methodical man and I am certain he would have kept a fairly detailed log of his experiments somewhere nearby," Arbaq asked pointedly.</p><p></p><p>Khalid, realizing that there was no chance of further subterfuge under Arbaq's unwavering gaze, produced the slim volume they had taken from the workshop the previous day. Handing it over to Arbaq, Khalid sighed inwardly. He'd had no desire to peruse the contents last night and now it appeared as though he wouldn't get the chance.</p><p></p><p>"Excellent. You may take whatever other items you wish from here, as per our agreement. You have once again performed…admirably. I shall contact you shortly to discuss your next venture." The hesitation was barely noticeable.</p><p></p><p>Gorak moved to gather up the cleric's cloak, staff and backpack. The viscous green liquid had dried to a thick crust on the items that flaked off easily when Gorak picked them up. Khalid moved over to the workbench on the far wall, and removed several potion bottles and a scroll case, which he then tucked into his voluminous belt.</p><p></p><p>As they walked back upstairs, more of Arbaq's men entered the house and moved past them, down into the basement. The trio walked out of the house in silence and had traveled some distance away before Gorak exploded. "Just what in the hell were you doing down there?" he demanded. "I thought we agreed we weren't gonna tell him nothing."****</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, that was before, when I thought he was nothing but a rich merchant," Khalid snapped back. "Did you ah, see the way he was looking around down there? He knew we were lying. Yes, quite. And he knew, ah, damn well what was going on down there. Nothing we said came as any surprise to him. Ah, yes, believe me when I tell you there is, ah, far more to Arbaq than is readily apparent."</p><p></p><p>They walked in sullen silence back to the inn and went straight upstairs to Khalid's room. There, away from any unwanted attention, they sat down to make plans.</p><p></p><p>"So what do we do now?" Shayla asked.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, I'm not certain. Perhaps we should come clean, yes, clean to Arbaq, and tell him everything. Yes, quite." Khalid replied.</p><p></p><p>"It was your idea to lie to him in the first place," Gorak pointed out.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, yes, I know," Khalid said wearily. "I'll ah, take the blame. I suggest this only because I believe that Arbaq is a lot more than a mere merchant."</p><p></p><p>"Well," Gorak grunted, "there's no point in doing anything tonight. We'll send a runner in the morning."</p><p></p><p>At first light the next day, Gorak found a messenger and sent him off to Arbaq's estate to request an audience. Khalid and Shayla ventured out into the markets to track down spell components that would allow Khalid to decipher the dweomer's surrounding the items they had taken from cleric's house. Despite the events of the last two days, there were no outward signs that anything was wrong in the city. Khalid still felt uneasy however, a feeling which persisted until he was safely locked in his room, the pilfered items arrayed before him.</p><p></p><p>That night, Khalid emerged from his room to find out that no reply had yet been received from Arbaq. He entreated Gorak and Shayla to join him in his room and locked the door behind them when they entered.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, I've spent the day identifying the various properties of the items we took from the cleric's house. First, the staff is by far the most potent item, albeit completely useless to us. In the hands of a holy man, it is capable of, as we surmised, animating objects within forty feet of the staff itself, which can then be commanded to attack. Ah, next, the backpack is a particularly useful, yes, useful item. It is magically enhanced to store far more than it appears, and never grows heavy. Additionally, all you have to do is, ah, place your hand within, and think of the item that you want, and it will appear in your grasp. Yes, quite. And lastly," Khalid continued, "the cloak is fortified with magical protections which will add to your innate ability to overcome poisons and disease, as well as baneful, yes, baneful magical effects."</p><p></p><p>Shayla gave a low whistle. "Not bad, not bad at all. So, who gets what?"</p><p></p><p>"I want that cloak," Gorak growled, then realizing he wasn't back home in his tribal camp, he continued, "that is, if nobody else minds."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, hmm, well I don't particularly care," Khalid said. "Why don't you take the ah, cloak, and Shayla can take the backpack. We'll try to find a buyer for the staff, and then you two can ah, compensate me fairly from your share. Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>Gorak picked up the olive green cloak, and flung it over his shoulders. It, not suprisingly, fit him perfectly. "Huh," he grunted, "I thought it was gonna be too long. The magic do that?"</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes quite," Khalid replied. "As for the potions, it is expensive, yes, quite expensive for me to identify them without a proper laboratory. Perhaps we can find an alchemist who can, ah, do it more cheaply than I." He handed the scrolls to Gorak. "The scroll is of divine origin, which I cannot decipher."</p><p></p><p>Gorak studied the scroll intently for a few minutes, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Healing spells. Two of 'em, of moderate power. I'll hang on to these, since you two can't use 'em."</p><p></p><p>That piece of business taken care of, the three settled in to wait for Arbaq's reply. A day passed with no word, and then another. Khalid began to get nervous as the third day passed with no word. Gorak and Shayla too, were restless and edgy, eager to be doing anything but sitting at their inn, watching the hours roll past. Finally, on the fifth day after they had sent their request, a small boy ran up to their table in the common room and said, "Master Arbaq wants to see you all, right away."</p><p></p><p>Pushing plates of half finished food away, the three stood up and walked out into the early morning sun. They reached Arbaq's demesne in short order, and were admitted without delay. The elderly chamberlain led them through the now familiar halls of Arbaq's mansion to his grand meeting hall.</p><p></p><p>Khalid was again disappointed, as the room was devoid of women this time as well. Gone too were the silken screens which had hid Arbaq from them. Instead, Arbaq was seated on a high-backed chair at the far end of the room. He was dressed all in black once again, and sat with one leg crossed, leaning forward slightly, his elbow propped up on the armrest of the chair, and his chin cupped in the palm of his hand. He watched them approach wordlessly, their footsteps echoing through the spacious hall.</p><p></p><p>When they had finally arrived before him, Arbaq spoke. "Well, to what do I owe the honor of this visit."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes," Khalid began nervously, "I'm ah, afraid that we weren't quite honest with you, when we ah, described what transpired in Achmed's house. Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed." Arbaq replied flatly.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, it was, ah, my idea, I'm afraid," Khalid continued.</p><p></p><p>"Well then, it is only you who shall lose his head over it." Arbaq said, no trace of emotion in his cultured voice.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, well, you see," Khalid stammered, tensing himself up for a hasty retreat.</p><p></p><p>Arbaq leaned back, "Relax, Khalid. That was a joke."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, yes, quite amusing," Khalid muttered. "In my, ah, defense, I had thought you nothing more than a common merchant. Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p>"A reasonable, albeit false assumption. Tell me now, exactly what happened."</p><p></p><p>Khalid told the story as it had actually occurred, with Shayla and Gorak filling in the details that he missed. As Arbaq listened to the tale, his expression became grim. When they had finished, he spoke quietly. "That certainly explains a few things. Now, before I tell you what I have learned, we must reach another understanding. While you are working for me, I expect you to be completely honest with me."</p><p></p><p>"And you'll do the same for us?" Gorak rumbled.</p><p></p><p>"Indeed. Now I will tell you what I know. I have read Achmed's journal. The creature that appeared before you was indeed a devil, named Vestalt, and a quite powerful one at that."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, quite," Khalid agreed.</p><p></p><p>Unperturbed by the interruption, Arbaq continued. "Foremost among his portfolio is the sin of greed, which explains why a number of rather prominent merchants in the city have turned up dead in the last few days. Just yesterday one of the merchant princes was beaten to death in broad daylight. The night before that, one unfortunate fellow took a midnight stroll out a third story window, on to a rather pointy sundial."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, it would appear that he is, ah, working to consolidate his power quite quickly. Yes, quite." Khalid remarked.</p><p></p><p>"Indeed. The city it would seem, is no longer safe. Pack your belongings, we leave for Gem-Sharad in the morning." Arbaq ordered.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, Arbaq, there is still that little matter I have to deal with in Gem-Sharad," Khalid said hesitantly.</p><p></p><p>"I have not forgotten Khalid, but you will be safe enough on my estate there, for a few days at least. The next task I have for you three should take you out of the city anyhow, but we will discuss that when we reach Gem-Sharad."</p><p></p><p>The trio returned to their rooms and began to pack up their belongings. Khalid took the opportunity to visit the baths one final time after dinner and fell asleep early, in anticipation of the long days ahead.</p><p></p><p>The next morning, they returned to Arbaq's estate before the break of dawn. The compound was in a flurry of activity as servants made ready for the journey. Khalid eyed the five heavily laden camels that were picketed in the courtyard somewhat suspiciously as a large man came over to greet them.</p><p></p><p>"I am Jalaal, caravan master for Arbaq ibn Asadel. Blessings upon you, my friends," Jalaal greeted them as he bowed low. He was tall, although not as tall as Khalid, and broad of shoulder although he lacked Gorak's thickness. His bronze skin shone in the first rays of sunlight that broke the eastern horizon. Like Gorak, he was wearing a vest that left his muscled chest bare, and a pair of billowing pantaloons tucked into calf-high riding boots. His black hair was trimmed close, and his moustache was oiled into delicate curls at the tips. A tiny arrowhead goatee graced his chin, and when he smiled, which seemed often, his white teeth gleamed in the sun. Shayla eyed him up and down appreciatively, and Khalid disliked him instantly.</p><p></p><p>"I'm Gorak, this here's Khalid, and that's Shayla. Good to meet ya." Gorak rumbled.</p><p></p><p>"Come, come, we are almost ready to leave. You have ridden camels before, yes?" Jalaal asked. Getting no response, he continued, "Ah, well it is very much like riding a horse." He paused. "You have ridden horses before yes?" Seeing nothing but blank stares, Jalaal smiled broadly. "Ah, well then, you put your foot here, and simply hoist yourself up, like so." He practically leapt into the saddle, and the huge beast rose to its feet. "Simple, no?" he grinned down at them.</p><p></p><p>They had just finished receiving Jalaal's quick lesson on camel riding when Arbaq walked out of the main house. It seemed unusual to see him in anything other than black, but today he wore a sand colored travelling robe. He sported a broad brimmed hat, and his hands were covered, leading Khalid to believe that his aversion to sunlight had not been entirely a ruse. He mounted the camel easily then paused to sign one more document before urging the beast to its feet. Looking back over his shoulder he said, "Let's not waste any more time. I am eager to be away from here."</p><p></p><p>They traveled without incident through the streets of Shalazar and reached the road to Gem-Sharad before midmorning. As they traveled, Khalid found himself drawn into conversation with Jalaal. Despite his initial reaction, he found it impossible not to like the man, who was always quick to share a laugh. They traveled easily through the fields and vineyards surrounding Shalazar and by the time they stopped for siesta, had left the signs of civilization behind.</p><p></p><p>That night, they pitched camp shortly before sundown and Jalaal began to cook a savory stew, which improved Khalid's opinion of the man enormously. As they sat around the campfire, enjoying the meal and chatting amiably, Khalid began to relax somewhat, letting the tensions of the last few days flow away. Then suddenly, he leapt to his feet, his stew spilling on the desert sand as a sound reached his ears.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, is that what I think it is?" Khalid stammered, his eyes wide.</p><p></p><p>Shayla groaned as she rose to her feet. Gorak too, stood up and stretched his neck from side to side, popping the vertebrae in his back. "This," Gorak growled, "is getting to be a habit."</p><p></p><p>A long, low howl rent the still night air and was joined by a second, from somewhere behind them, towards Shalazar. Khalid turned and looked at his two companions. "Yes, quite."</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * * * * * * * * *</p><p></p><p>*I've yet to make a planar knowledge check, even on simple stuff.</p><p></p><p>**And failure #2 on Knowledge [Planes]</p><p></p><p>***Heh, I was really worried that he knew what was going on, and was going to have us killed. You develop that level of paranoia after playing in a few of Galeman's campaigns...</p><p></p><p>**** Heh, what actually happened here was that I made the plan, and then completely forgot about it 5 minutes later when we actually talked to Arbaq...I covered it well tho <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="EternalNewbie, post: 1359520, member: 6489"] Yes. Yes you can. Bah. Let's get something straight here. First, there are no clerics in this world. Second, warriors can't wear metal armor without making con checks for heat exhaustion. Third, everything we fight is like 4 levels higher than us. And now you're getting huffy cuz we do a little [I]tactical maneouvering[/I]? Heh, no wonder nobody ever gets past 5th level in your campaign. Alright, enough witty banter and on to the stuff that you came here for. I present, for your reading enjoyment, the final part of Chapter 2: The City of Sin. [CENTER]* * * * * * * * * *[/CENTER] Alone. I'm all alone, Khalid thought. His breath was coming in quick, short gasps and his heart hammered in his chest. The darkness surrounding him was absolute and all he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears. Then, ever so slowly, the darkness began to recede. As the feeble light from Shayla's spell began to strengthen behind the retreating darkness, Khalid saw that he was not alone. Gorak and Shayla were still there, standing exactly where they had been before the darkness engulfed them. Khalid breathed a sigh of relief that caught in his lungs as he turned around. In the center of the summoning circle, the darkness gathered with increasing speed. Khalid felt as though he was at the center of a hurricane, as the darkness rushed past him and coalesced into the shape of a man. Suddenly, Khalid desperately wished that he was alone, and a thousand miles away from this place. The man that appeared at the center of the summoning circle was not physically imposing. He was slightly shorter than Khalid's six feet, although somewhat broader in the chest than Khalid and dressed in an immaculate suit of Eastern origin. A jet black waistcoat covered a white silk shirt. Long black breeches were tucked into knee-high riding boots that were polished to a mirror shine. A single ring adorned his right hand, capped with a blood red ruby. But it was not the expensive clothing that held Khalid breathless; it was the creature's face. His features would have been regular, even handsome, were it not for the inhuman cruelty etched upon them. No trace of human compassion had ever crossed that flawless face; no tenderness or mercy had ever softened the hard angles. A devil, Khalid thought frantically. It has to be some sort of devil. The thing's eyes were blood red orbs, with no trace of a pupil, but still Khalid could feel its gaze sweep across them. He shuddered under the weight of the devil's withering contempt as it assessed each one of them in turn. Gorak and Shayla, like Khalid, were paralyzed with fear. Gorak's lips had drawn back in a feral snarl and for all his imposing size, he looked nothing more than a cornered animal. Shayla stood stock still, arched backwards slightly as though drawn up by the strings of a giant puppeteer. Her head was turned slightly, as though she was trying to look away, but she could not free her eyes from the terrible sight before her. Her hands were balled into tight fists at her sides and her jaw was clenched. Again the creatures gaze swept across them, and Khalid felt his knees go weak as the devil's power flooded the room. Khalid could feel it, a thick and heavy miasma that coated his skin and seared his lungs. Slowly the creature raised an immaculately manicured hand and Khalid clenched his teeth, frantically trying to think of some way to avoid the inevitable. But the creature didn't cast them screaming into the depths of hell; he simply raised his hand and smoothed back a lock of his jet-black hair. With a twisted sneer on his features, the devil gave a mocking little bow, and stepped casually over the shattered boundary of the summoning circle. Without even a backward glance, the creature walked up the stairs. Khalid breathed an enormous sigh of relief that turned into a choked gasp as the devil casually snapped his fingers on the way out of the room. With a soundless flash, three small creatures appeared in the room beside them. The monstrosities looked like tiny lumps of wax, twisted and misshapen, covered with a thick slime that pooled on the floor around them. Cruel parodies of human faces swam within the blubbery mass of flesh, their features contorted with unspeakable agony. Withered limbs tipped with three sharp claws slashed eagerly at the air around them, as the creatures rushed forward to attack. Khalid gagged at the charnel smell that washed over him as the pitiful creatures slid towards him. Shayla was the first to shake off the devil's fear and act, hurriedly casting a spell and flinging a handful of glowing discs at one of the little monstrosities. Her eyes widened in horror as the spell slammed into the creature with no effect. Scurrying backwards, she placed more distance between herself and their assailants. Gorak leapt forward with a roar, and slammed his cudgel into one of the fleshly little creatures, sending it tumbling backwards. It righted itself immediately however, and pressed forward, seemingly unhurt by the terrible blow. "Khalid," Gorak yelled, "what in the nine hells are these things?" Khalid's mind frantically raced over his lectures at the White Tower, trying to put a name to the creatures, but panic drove all rational thought from his mind.* Deciding he had nothing to lose, he stepped forward and unleashed a torrent of flame and ash upon the little creatures. Like Gorak and Shayla however, his attack had no effect save to draw attention to himself. Khalid hurriedly backed away and heroically placed Gorak between himself and the three tiny devils. "Ah, yes," Khalid stuttered, "ah, I believe they are the least of the devil-kin. Yes, quite. They, ah, appear to be immune to weapons and, ah, fire." Shayla screamed as one of the little monstrosities slashed at her with its claws, drawing a line of blood on her leg. Gorak too, bellowed in pain as the other two surrounded him and began to claw at his legs and stomach. Again, Shayla unleashed a spell, this time hurling tiny lancets of glowing force and again there was no effect. Gorak swung his cudgel in a defensive arc as he tried to keep the tiny devils from swarming him. "Khalid," Gorak growled, "how do we hurt them?" "Ah, yes," Khalid replied, "I'm not sure we can." "Well you better think of something fast," Gorak snarled. Khalid attempted to dodge away from the creatures, to give himself room to cast another spell and was rewarded with a stinging slash on his leg for his efforts. Forcing the pain out of his mind, he dropped a short length of rope on the ground and uttered the words to his newly discovered spell. As the rope rose into the air, Khalid called out, "Ah, perhaps now is a good time to ah, demonstrate the better part of valor, yes, quite." Without hesitation, Shayla turned and scrambled up the rope, vanishing into the portal. Gorak snarled again, and swatted ineffectually at the creatures surrounding him. "Khalid," Gorak growled, "get outta here." Khalid, never needing much in the way of encouragement when it came to self-preservation, clambered up the rope into the safety of his spell. Gorak, taking several more wounds in the process, turned and followed him immediately after, drawing up the rope as he entered. Through the transparent portal they could see the three small devils milling about in impotent fury below. Gorak, breathing heavily, cast a healing spell to staunch the bleeding wounds on his legs. When he finished, he turned on Shayla and Khalid. "What the hell is wrong with you two," he snarled. "We agreed we were gonna leave that thing alone." Shayla, still shaken from the ordeal, said nothing so Khalid answered. "Ah, it wasn't entirely, yes, entirely our fault Gorak. That thing in there, the first one I mean, yes, the devil, cast some sort of spell upon us. Yes, quite. Surely, you must have felt it?" Gorak grunted, "Maybe." Then he took a deep breath, and got a hold of his emotions. "Alright, so just what was that thing." "Ah, I'm not exactly, yes, exactly sure," Khalid replied.** "I cannot put a name to that particular devil, but I am quite sure he is powerful, possibly even one of the dukes of the nine hells. Yes, quite." "That's great," Gorak grumbled. "So what do we tell Arbaq?" "Ah, Arbaq?" Khalid looked surprised. "Ah, nothing, nothing at all. We tell him that we found the room as such, yes, with the tube smashed prior to our arrival. Yes, quite." "You think that's a good idea, lying to him?" Gorak growled. "Ah, I don't think you fully, yes, fully grasp the enormity of what has happened here," Khalid continued with fear plainly evident in his tone. "That thing is a devil, yes, and a powerful one at that. That summoning circle is as flawless as any I have seen in the White Tower and yet it was able to pierce boundary with its magic. The great sages and high priests are now impotent, yes, impotent. There may be no one left with the skill to confront that thing. It's going to wreak untold chaos and death upon this land before it is finished. Yes, quite. The fewer people that know we are responsible for unleashing that blight, yes, blight upon the land, the better." Shayla was staring down at her hands in silence. In each of her palms were four bloody crescents, where her fingernails had pierced her skin. Gorak leaned over and took both of her hands in his, and uttered a few divine words. Shayla winced slightly at his touch. When he took his hands away, the marks on her palms were gone, but the fear still remained in her eyes. "So what do we do now?" she asked in a hushed tone. "Ah, we wait, and hope the summoning ends before my spell does." Khalid replied as he squinted out into the darkness. [CENTER]* * * * * * * * * *[/CENTER] "Ah, are they gone yet?" Khalid asked. Gorak, who was peering out into the darkened workshop, growled, "I think so. I'm gonna go check it out. He pushed the rope out and dropped down through the portal. Seconds later his head appeared in the extra-dimensional space again. "It's clear. Let's get outta here." The trio hastily made their way back up the stairs, and out the same window they had entered. The huge mastiff that Gorak had left in the back yard to guard their exit was curled up beneath some bushes, whimpering softly. It took Gorak several minutes to coax the creature out from it's hiding spot. Once he had, they set off in silence back to their inn. Even the bright afternoon sun did little to quiet their unrest as they pushed through the crowds of people. Khalid desperately hoped that the devil would quit the city and return to its own plane, but he knew it was unlikely. Unfettered, with no holy men or powerful wizards to banish it, the creature would have free reign. Khalid shuddered as he walked through the press of people, wondering morbidly how many of them would die in the coming days. Back at the inn, they quickly dispatched a messenger to Arbaq and settled in to wait. After the morning's ordeal, they were edgy and tired, but no one seemed willing to be alone, and so they sat in the terraced garden, absently picking at the delicacies brought by the serving girls. Slowly, the minutes lengthened into hours, and still there was no word from Arbaq. They stayed up late that evening, still not wishing to be parted from each other's company. Finally however, sleep drove them apart, and Khalid retired to his room to rest. Sleep was a long time coming for him, as he expected it would be. What he wasn't expecting were the dreams that haunted him. Several times during the night, he woke up, drenched with sweat and a scream on his lips. The morning sun found Khalid at his writing desk, poring over his notes and scrolls, having long since given up the prospect of sleep. As he ventured down stairs to join Shayla and Gorak, it was evident that neither of them had slept particularly well either. Again, they settled in to await Arbaq's summons. It arrived finally, that evening as the three were half-heartedly picking at their dinner. A man they recognized as one of the guards normally posted at the front gate of Arbaq's estate walked over to them and dropped a small scroll on their table. He waited as Khalid picked it up and read it, then turned and left without a word. [I]Meet me at the cleric's house after sunset this evening.[/I] [I]- Arbaq[/I] "So?" Gorak grunted. "Ah, Arbaq wants us to meet him at the clerics house." Khalid replied. "Well, that's unexpected," Shayla commented. "Ah, indeed, it is, ah, most out of character, yes?" Khalid said. "Perhaps, we should, ah, be very, yes, very careful this evening." "Are you saying what I think you're saying," Gorak rumbled. "All I'm saying is that, ah, given the circumstances of the last few days it would be prudent, yes, prudent to take every precaution."*** That decided, the three spent a few restless hours killing time, before leaving once again for the cleric's house. As they approached the dwelling, they saw a guard lounging near the front door, which had been nearly torn from its hinges. The guard waved them inside as they neared the house and said, "Arbaq's waiting for you downstairs." As they entered the parlor of the house, they were forced to step over a man shaped lump wrapped in a thick rug. Khalid grimaced at the fate of the previous investigator, and idly fingered his spell component pouch as they moved into the trophy room. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the stone steps into the cleric's workshop, followed closely by Gorak and Shayla. The room was once again the source of a surprise, as for the first time the trio saw Arbaq in the flesh. He was tall, taller than Khalid, although his build was slim. He was wearing a tight black jacket with a high collar and breeches, over a pair of soft black leather boots. His onyx black hair was cut shoulder length and obscured his features as he studied something on one of the long benches lining the walls. At the sound of their footsteps he turned around. His skin, as Shayla had noticed so many weeks ago, was indeed as pure as alabaster, and his eyes, remarkably, were like blue sapphires, cold and piercing. He studied the three of them carefully, before speaking in his cultured voice. "Now, perhaps you would care to tell me what happened here." "Ah, yes, well, we entered the house through the back window, yes quite. Upon entering, we were beset upon by the ah, well, the furniture. Yes, quite. We covered a few more rooms that day, but the furniture was, ah, quite resilient, yes, quite and destroying it took a fair measure of our power. We ah, left, and returned yesterday morning," Khalid said, realizing as he spoke how silly it sounded. Arbaq however, saw no humor in it. "Please continue," he said as he walked over to the wall near where Khalid had futilely cast his spell. Running his finger along the wall, it came away, covered in soot. "Ah, yes, well," Khalid stammered, trying to organize his thoughts. "We ah, searched the trophy room next, and found the passage down here. When we arrived, we found your friend, ah, well, pickled, yes, pickled in that tube over there. The ah, staff was the source of the spell animating the objects in the house." "And then you decided to attempt to free him?" Arbaq pressed. "Ah, well, yes, in order to ah, break the enchantment, yes enchantment on the staff. Yes, quite," Khalid replied his mind racing frantically. "Ah, unfortunately, the ah, execution was poor and we inadvertently broke the summoning circle. When that happened, three small devilkin appeared. We ah, felt it wise to withdraw at that point, and inform you of our findings. Yes quite." "Indeed." Khalid could feel the skepticism in his tone. "Those three small devils are all that you saw?" "Yes, quite." Khalid replied as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "Did you perchance find a journal down here? Achmed was a particularly methodical man and I am certain he would have kept a fairly detailed log of his experiments somewhere nearby," Arbaq asked pointedly. Khalid, realizing that there was no chance of further subterfuge under Arbaq's unwavering gaze, produced the slim volume they had taken from the workshop the previous day. Handing it over to Arbaq, Khalid sighed inwardly. He'd had no desire to peruse the contents last night and now it appeared as though he wouldn't get the chance. "Excellent. You may take whatever other items you wish from here, as per our agreement. You have once again performed…admirably. I shall contact you shortly to discuss your next venture." The hesitation was barely noticeable. Gorak moved to gather up the cleric's cloak, staff and backpack. The viscous green liquid had dried to a thick crust on the items that flaked off easily when Gorak picked them up. Khalid moved over to the workbench on the far wall, and removed several potion bottles and a scroll case, which he then tucked into his voluminous belt. As they walked back upstairs, more of Arbaq's men entered the house and moved past them, down into the basement. The trio walked out of the house in silence and had traveled some distance away before Gorak exploded. "Just what in the hell were you doing down there?" he demanded. "I thought we agreed we weren't gonna tell him nothing."**** "Ah, yes, that was before, when I thought he was nothing but a rich merchant," Khalid snapped back. "Did you ah, see the way he was looking around down there? He knew we were lying. Yes, quite. And he knew, ah, damn well what was going on down there. Nothing we said came as any surprise to him. Ah, yes, believe me when I tell you there is, ah, far more to Arbaq than is readily apparent." They walked in sullen silence back to the inn and went straight upstairs to Khalid's room. There, away from any unwanted attention, they sat down to make plans. "So what do we do now?" Shayla asked. "Ah, I'm not certain. Perhaps we should come clean, yes, clean to Arbaq, and tell him everything. Yes, quite." Khalid replied. "It was your idea to lie to him in the first place," Gorak pointed out. "Ah, yes, yes, I know," Khalid said wearily. "I'll ah, take the blame. I suggest this only because I believe that Arbaq is a lot more than a mere merchant." "Well," Gorak grunted, "there's no point in doing anything tonight. We'll send a runner in the morning." At first light the next day, Gorak found a messenger and sent him off to Arbaq's estate to request an audience. Khalid and Shayla ventured out into the markets to track down spell components that would allow Khalid to decipher the dweomer's surrounding the items they had taken from cleric's house. Despite the events of the last two days, there were no outward signs that anything was wrong in the city. Khalid still felt uneasy however, a feeling which persisted until he was safely locked in his room, the pilfered items arrayed before him. That night, Khalid emerged from his room to find out that no reply had yet been received from Arbaq. He entreated Gorak and Shayla to join him in his room and locked the door behind them when they entered. "Ah, yes, I've spent the day identifying the various properties of the items we took from the cleric's house. First, the staff is by far the most potent item, albeit completely useless to us. In the hands of a holy man, it is capable of, as we surmised, animating objects within forty feet of the staff itself, which can then be commanded to attack. Ah, next, the backpack is a particularly useful, yes, useful item. It is magically enhanced to store far more than it appears, and never grows heavy. Additionally, all you have to do is, ah, place your hand within, and think of the item that you want, and it will appear in your grasp. Yes, quite. And lastly," Khalid continued, "the cloak is fortified with magical protections which will add to your innate ability to overcome poisons and disease, as well as baneful, yes, baneful magical effects." Shayla gave a low whistle. "Not bad, not bad at all. So, who gets what?" "I want that cloak," Gorak growled, then realizing he wasn't back home in his tribal camp, he continued, "that is, if nobody else minds." "Ah, hmm, well I don't particularly care," Khalid said. "Why don't you take the ah, cloak, and Shayla can take the backpack. We'll try to find a buyer for the staff, and then you two can ah, compensate me fairly from your share. Yes, quite." Gorak picked up the olive green cloak, and flung it over his shoulders. It, not suprisingly, fit him perfectly. "Huh," he grunted, "I thought it was gonna be too long. The magic do that?" "Ah, yes quite," Khalid replied. "As for the potions, it is expensive, yes, quite expensive for me to identify them without a proper laboratory. Perhaps we can find an alchemist who can, ah, do it more cheaply than I." He handed the scrolls to Gorak. "The scroll is of divine origin, which I cannot decipher." Gorak studied the scroll intently for a few minutes, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Healing spells. Two of 'em, of moderate power. I'll hang on to these, since you two can't use 'em." That piece of business taken care of, the three settled in to wait for Arbaq's reply. A day passed with no word, and then another. Khalid began to get nervous as the third day passed with no word. Gorak and Shayla too, were restless and edgy, eager to be doing anything but sitting at their inn, watching the hours roll past. Finally, on the fifth day after they had sent their request, a small boy ran up to their table in the common room and said, "Master Arbaq wants to see you all, right away." Pushing plates of half finished food away, the three stood up and walked out into the early morning sun. They reached Arbaq's demesne in short order, and were admitted without delay. The elderly chamberlain led them through the now familiar halls of Arbaq's mansion to his grand meeting hall. Khalid was again disappointed, as the room was devoid of women this time as well. Gone too were the silken screens which had hid Arbaq from them. Instead, Arbaq was seated on a high-backed chair at the far end of the room. He was dressed all in black once again, and sat with one leg crossed, leaning forward slightly, his elbow propped up on the armrest of the chair, and his chin cupped in the palm of his hand. He watched them approach wordlessly, their footsteps echoing through the spacious hall. When they had finally arrived before him, Arbaq spoke. "Well, to what do I owe the honor of this visit." "Ah, yes," Khalid began nervously, "I'm ah, afraid that we weren't quite honest with you, when we ah, described what transpired in Achmed's house. Yes, quite." "Indeed." Arbaq replied flatly. "Ah, yes, it was, ah, my idea, I'm afraid," Khalid continued. "Well then, it is only you who shall lose his head over it." Arbaq said, no trace of emotion in his cultured voice. "Ah, well, you see," Khalid stammered, tensing himself up for a hasty retreat. Arbaq leaned back, "Relax, Khalid. That was a joke." "Ah, yes, quite amusing," Khalid muttered. "In my, ah, defense, I had thought you nothing more than a common merchant. Yes, quite." "A reasonable, albeit false assumption. Tell me now, exactly what happened." Khalid told the story as it had actually occurred, with Shayla and Gorak filling in the details that he missed. As Arbaq listened to the tale, his expression became grim. When they had finished, he spoke quietly. "That certainly explains a few things. Now, before I tell you what I have learned, we must reach another understanding. While you are working for me, I expect you to be completely honest with me." "And you'll do the same for us?" Gorak rumbled. "Indeed. Now I will tell you what I know. I have read Achmed's journal. The creature that appeared before you was indeed a devil, named Vestalt, and a quite powerful one at that." "Yes, quite," Khalid agreed. Unperturbed by the interruption, Arbaq continued. "Foremost among his portfolio is the sin of greed, which explains why a number of rather prominent merchants in the city have turned up dead in the last few days. Just yesterday one of the merchant princes was beaten to death in broad daylight. The night before that, one unfortunate fellow took a midnight stroll out a third story window, on to a rather pointy sundial." "Ah, it would appear that he is, ah, working to consolidate his power quite quickly. Yes, quite." Khalid remarked. "Indeed. The city it would seem, is no longer safe. Pack your belongings, we leave for Gem-Sharad in the morning." Arbaq ordered. "Ah, Arbaq, there is still that little matter I have to deal with in Gem-Sharad," Khalid said hesitantly. "I have not forgotten Khalid, but you will be safe enough on my estate there, for a few days at least. The next task I have for you three should take you out of the city anyhow, but we will discuss that when we reach Gem-Sharad." The trio returned to their rooms and began to pack up their belongings. Khalid took the opportunity to visit the baths one final time after dinner and fell asleep early, in anticipation of the long days ahead. The next morning, they returned to Arbaq's estate before the break of dawn. The compound was in a flurry of activity as servants made ready for the journey. Khalid eyed the five heavily laden camels that were picketed in the courtyard somewhat suspiciously as a large man came over to greet them. "I am Jalaal, caravan master for Arbaq ibn Asadel. Blessings upon you, my friends," Jalaal greeted them as he bowed low. He was tall, although not as tall as Khalid, and broad of shoulder although he lacked Gorak's thickness. His bronze skin shone in the first rays of sunlight that broke the eastern horizon. Like Gorak, he was wearing a vest that left his muscled chest bare, and a pair of billowing pantaloons tucked into calf-high riding boots. His black hair was trimmed close, and his moustache was oiled into delicate curls at the tips. A tiny arrowhead goatee graced his chin, and when he smiled, which seemed often, his white teeth gleamed in the sun. Shayla eyed him up and down appreciatively, and Khalid disliked him instantly. "I'm Gorak, this here's Khalid, and that's Shayla. Good to meet ya." Gorak rumbled. "Come, come, we are almost ready to leave. You have ridden camels before, yes?" Jalaal asked. Getting no response, he continued, "Ah, well it is very much like riding a horse." He paused. "You have ridden horses before yes?" Seeing nothing but blank stares, Jalaal smiled broadly. "Ah, well then, you put your foot here, and simply hoist yourself up, like so." He practically leapt into the saddle, and the huge beast rose to its feet. "Simple, no?" he grinned down at them. They had just finished receiving Jalaal's quick lesson on camel riding when Arbaq walked out of the main house. It seemed unusual to see him in anything other than black, but today he wore a sand colored travelling robe. He sported a broad brimmed hat, and his hands were covered, leading Khalid to believe that his aversion to sunlight had not been entirely a ruse. He mounted the camel easily then paused to sign one more document before urging the beast to its feet. Looking back over his shoulder he said, "Let's not waste any more time. I am eager to be away from here." They traveled without incident through the streets of Shalazar and reached the road to Gem-Sharad before midmorning. As they traveled, Khalid found himself drawn into conversation with Jalaal. Despite his initial reaction, he found it impossible not to like the man, who was always quick to share a laugh. They traveled easily through the fields and vineyards surrounding Shalazar and by the time they stopped for siesta, had left the signs of civilization behind. That night, they pitched camp shortly before sundown and Jalaal began to cook a savory stew, which improved Khalid's opinion of the man enormously. As they sat around the campfire, enjoying the meal and chatting amiably, Khalid began to relax somewhat, letting the tensions of the last few days flow away. Then suddenly, he leapt to his feet, his stew spilling on the desert sand as a sound reached his ears. "Ah, is that what I think it is?" Khalid stammered, his eyes wide. Shayla groaned as she rose to her feet. Gorak too, stood up and stretched his neck from side to side, popping the vertebrae in his back. "This," Gorak growled, "is getting to be a habit." A long, low howl rent the still night air and was joined by a second, from somewhere behind them, towards Shalazar. Khalid turned and looked at his two companions. "Yes, quite." [CENTER]* * * * * * * * * *[/CENTER] *I've yet to make a planar knowledge check, even on simple stuff. **And failure #2 on Knowledge [Planes] ***Heh, I was really worried that he knew what was going on, and was going to have us killed. You develop that level of paranoia after playing in a few of Galeman's campaigns... **** Heh, what actually happened here was that I made the plan, and then completely forgot about it 5 minutes later when we actually talked to Arbaq...I covered it well tho ;) [/QUOTE]
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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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