D&D 5E [5e] QL's Al-Qadim Game

[Quickleaf]

For you guys joining in [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] and [MENTION=6803188]VLAD the Destroyer[/MENTION], how do you see your PCs being introduced to the party?

Currently, Najiyah and Akilah are advisors to the Sheikh of Tajar. They have escorted Kaniel who has been sent by the Mamluks of the Valiant for his knowledge of the High Desert, on orders from the Grand Caliph to "send your best."

Who would Ankabut "The Spider" be introduced to them as? Would she part of the envoy from the Grand Caliph, albeit disguised? Someone appointed to their caravan by the Sheikh of Tajar, without realizing who she really is? A simple hireling (or so she says)?

Would Salahuddin be an envoy to Qaybar sent by the Grand Caliph? Or even the djinn (and if so, how does he come to audience with the Sheikh of Tajar)?

 

[Shayuri]

A simple hireling is an easy and effective way, sure. Another possibility would be for the Soft Whisper to pull some strings with the clergy of Hakiyah, and get her assigned to our cleric as an acolyte or assistant or something similar.

Probably no need to keep calling her 'the spider' either. According to Google, "ankabut' actually already means that.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

I'll have a better idea once my backstory is complete but I can see Salahuddin being sent by the Djinn. Not sure how he gets a audience with the Sheikh. Perhaps my familiar saw or heard something that needs to be shared with the Sheikh.

 

[Quickleaf]

A simple hireling is an easy and effective way, sure. Another possibility would be for the Soft Whisper to pull some strings with the clergy of Hakiyah, and get her assigned to our cleric as an acolyte or assistant or something similar.

Probably no need to keep calling her 'the spider' either. According to Google, "ankabut' actually already means that.

That works perfectly! It seems very in line with the sort of character [MENTION=6814006]Thateous[/MENTION] has going with Vizier Akilah, who I believe is sort of an ethoist Cleric of Order (to use the Al-Qadim terms) -- in other words, someone responsible for holding down the fort, spiritually speaking, on the home front. A ceremony and prayer leader respected in the community. Just the sort of person who would get an acolyte/assistant assigned to her "by mandate of High Priest Imam Kerim, of the Mosque of Hakiyah the Honest in Huzuz."

Which I guess means you'll need a cover identity to start with?

Though it bears pointing out that Akilah, as a hakima (truth domain cleric) with the observant feat and special abilities for sussing out a person's true identity, is very hard to deceive.

I'll have a better idea once my backstory is complete but I can see Salahuddin being sent by the Djinn. Not sure how he gets a audience with the Sheikh. Perhaps my familiar saw or heard something that needs to be shared with the Sheikh.

Hmm. I mentioned Qaybar, City of the Jann, that migrates the Inner Planes and Prime Material Plane... Maybe the order it planeshifts in goes Earth > Water > Air > Fire > Prime. This means political turmoil is common, and the djinn may wish to reassert their foothold in the city, recover secrets stashed in Qaybar now that the city is on the Prime, or perhaps force efreet-sympathizers to relinquish their lingering grasp of the city's political/economic structure. Plus, there'd be a goodwill mission to prevent any of the lingering efreeti elements from harming the surrounding desert tribes.

Of course, sending a djinn would be a bit obvious and draw too much attention. So they appoint Salahuddin.

Easifa, your familiar, while retrieving a spell for you might have "overheard" (shamelessly eavesdropped) of stolen treasures being delivered to the efreet by white-robed mages, treasures taken by bandits plaguing the High Desert routes near Tajar. And that information could be your entrance to Sheikh Ali al-Hadd's court at Tajar?

 

[Shayuri]

Well, it needn't be wholly a deception. Assisting him is one thing I'm doing there. I just have some, uh, side activities as well.

As long as he doesn't ask, "Hey...are you an assassin by any chance?" then there's no need to lie.

Besides, I'll almost certainly have to come clean with the party at some point. Once I go all River Tam on a bunch of fools, it'll be hard to go back to my meek, subservient persona without raising a few eyebrows.

 

[Thateous]

If you're assigned to me as a protector it would be far less suspicious. You just have to be careful as my passive insight is 19 and lies make my ears ring...

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

 

[Quickleaf]

The Brotherhood of the True Flame is recruiting...

Now we just need a slogan...

"Fight fire with fire. Join the Brotherhood!" Well, that sort of encourages splinter factions, doesn't it?

"Zakhara - it's not called the Burning World for nothing!" Mmm, yes, a bit overdone, I agree.

"Burn things and take their stuff!" I think that one is already taken by adventurers...

"It's not a party till we get this fire started!" That's a fraternity; we're a brotherhood.

"Join the Brotherhood. Feel the burn." Are we advertising venereal disease?

"You're mother told you not to play with fire. We're not your mother." Better. Still not quite there.

[SBLOCK=More recruited to the Brotherhood...]
The Burnt Mage
The Lustful Blaze
The Killing Flame
The Fiery Rose
Ali al-Lazan, The Inferno
Anatexis, He Who Commands the Volcanoes, Melter of Stone, Prince of Lava (provisional mephit membership)

A greedy merchant rogue who should have known better
Khaizuran, a tasked genie
Monstrous humanoid mercenary forces (The Brotherhood is equal opportunity, like all Zakhara, and includes humans in the "monstrous humanoid" description)
[/SBLOCK]

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Okay I have my background mostly complete. I think I need a little more but not sure what. What does everyone think?


Born in the City of Wands Salahuddin grew up under the tutelage of his father Hamid Al-Qadib. His father is an instructor at the University of the Sand and a competent Elementalist of the Covenant of Sand. Salahuddin was not a studious child. It was not that he was not smart or capable he just did not care for his father’s passion. This was a disappointment for Hamid who envisioned his son rise through the ranks of the University. As his father pushed him to grow up and meet his potential Salahuddin continued to shirk his studies. Instead he would explore the city and the catacombs beneath.

It was in these catacombs that Salahuddin's life would forever change. In a dusty and forgotten passage he found a door. It was made of steel and ice formed the frame and it was calling to him. Being a boy of only ten, curiosity took over. Salahuddin opened the strange door. Blinding light shone through the door and without looking back he stepped through. He was hit by the cold and the wind. Unsure of where he was and unnerved by the wind he turned to head back and nearly stepped of a ledge into nothingness. The doorway was gone. He looked in disbelief for a minute and slowly backed away from the edge. Scared now, Salahuddin turned and began searching for some way home. He searched futilely until he walked into a open air market filled with Djinn. Salahuddin opened his mouth in shock and promptly feinted. When he came too he was in a silk clad room. Sitting near the bed was a genie valet. He smiled at Salahuddin and pointed to a tray with food and drink and then disappeared. Minutes later a Djinn floated in and smiled. She informed Salahuddin that he was in the Citadel of Ice and Steel and was an honored guest of Great Caliph Husam al-Balil ben Nafhat al-Yugayyim. Salahuddin was told to dress and prepare himself for an audience.

Salahuddin was escorted to the central Court and brought before the Grand Caliph. Held aloft by buffeting winds he was questioned by the Grand Caliph and his court. Salahuddin explained about the doorway and how it seemed to call to him. A murmur ran through the court like a breeze when the doorway was mentioned. At the end of his tale the Grand Caliph and his court entered discussions in their strange language. To the young boy hanging in the air in front of them it sounded like a hurricane. Several minutes later he was addressed again. The named him Alrriah Yusamma, the Wind Called. The doorway he had found was an ancient artifact ‘The Door of the Four Winds’. It was said to appear to those who will be important to the Grand Caliph and bring them to his domain. I was to remain an honored guest until the Grand Caliphs Viziers could determine why the doorway called me. Salahuddin was to stay with his current host Caliph Fatima ibn Zaida Mistress of the Northern Gale.

Salahuddin was tutored by his new guardians. He was taught about genie society and culture. Saladin was schooled in the genie tongue. Once he had mastered these things he was given access to the Citadel with the assistance of the Genie Valet that was always by his side. His host, the Venerable Fatima ibn Zaida, grew fond of him. Salahuddin was not sure if this fondness was for him personally or the prestige being his host brought her. He spent ten years as honored guest.

It was ten years to the day that Salahuddin had appeared in the Citadel that he was brought before the Grand Caliph again. It was decided that Salahuddin was to be trained as a Sha’ir. He would swear to Great Caliph Husam al-Balil ben Nafhat al-Yugayyim, the Master of the Clouds and Son of the Breezes, the Commander of the Four Winds, Defender of the Heavens, Prince of Birds, Storm of the Righteous, and Master of the Air. He would be Salahuddin’s patron and the man would be the Great Caliph’s will in the prime material plane. Salahuddin would become Caliph Fatima ibn Zaida consort and she would teach him in the ways of the Sha’ir. Salahuddin had no choice but to accept or remain on the Plane of Air for the remainder of his life.

After more years of study with his new consort he learned the secrets of the Sha’ir. He was finally deemed ready to return to the Prime Material. Before Salahuddin left the Venerable Fatima spoke with him. She told him to listen to the wind. It would bring him his masters will. She also said that the doorway would appear again one day. It would reunite Salahuddin with her and return him to the Great Caliph in a time of need. She then kissed Salahuddin on the cheek and his vision went white. He heard the wind rush by and what he thought was Fatima calling him his love and then he felt the heat of the desert. He was standing in the streets of Qadib twenty years from the day he left.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

A couple questions about the Gen spell feature. In the sub-class it states that I can get a spell up to the level I can cast. As a warlock I can cast up to 5th level spells through slots. Does this limit the ability to only 5th level spells? Or can I have it find a 6th level spell and then cast that as my Mystic Arcanum?

Also wanted to have some Gen spells added to my known spells. Can I do this and what are the restrictions?

 

[Quickleaf]

Terrific background As a DM, I love when the plot hooks just leap off the page!

I should have enough of my adventure notes down to start Friday probably.

A couple questions about the Gen spell feature. In the sub-class it states that I can get a spell up to the level I can cast. As a warlock I can cast up to 5th level spells through slots. Does this limit the ability to only 5th level spells? Or can I have it find a 6th level spell and then cast that as my Mystic Arcanum?

Ah good point. That's going to be tricky to word right. But the intention is that the spells found by your gen are added to spells known/spell list, so it could be used to gain access to a non-warlock spell for Mystic Arcanum.

Though I'm thinking we'll use the optional sidebar about requesting forbidden magics, since that is more true to the original AD&D sha'ir.

Also wanted to have some Gen spells added to my known spells. Can I do this and what are the restrictions?

No restrictions. You're playing 11th level PCs, so plenty of chances for that over your careers thus far. The only caveat would be requesting forbidden magic – probably the easiest would be for you to tell me the spells you want to start knowing that were retrieved by your gen. I'll double check that they're not forbidden (and if any are, we can incorporate any complications arising into your background/the ongoing story). Then you'd check off that number of gen-fetched spells against your limit. And be good to go!