D&D 5E Al-Qadim Moving Through the Flame

[Quickleaf]

Harun sits at a tree and begins examining the sphere.

OOC: Not sure which check to do, so I'll just leave this here, and we can add whatever modifiers to it. 2

Salahuddin looks to Sinjin.

"Please assist them in removing the creature from the water."

The Sha'ir turns his attention back to the sphere and studies it, he had studied many wondrous items in his time with the Djinn. As a Sha'ir he specialized in magical prisons. He needed to know how to trap and bind the elemental might of Geniekind. Though this was not Genie made it still seemed like a prison of some kind used to trap perhaps the hydra they just vanquished. But could the device give a hint if his hypothesis was correct. And if it was could he find who or what might have built the thing. Salahuddin turns the eldritch sight given him by his patron on the sphere focusing to see any magical auras that might be present.

OOC: Using Eldritch Sight (Detect Magic) on the sphere to see if it is or was magical. If it is I will focus on the aura to determine the school. I will use Arcana to see if I can glean anything from the sphere from my teachings with the djinn and my training. Arcana check on sphere: 1d20+5 8.

Harun has never seen equal craftsmanship to the sphere; the knowledge of metal-working to weave together brass serpents without melding them together - each a separate part meant to articulate - was a level of smithing at the very pinnacle of what Zakhara's craftsmen could achieve. This was made by a master, and judging by the patina and unusual style, it appeared quite old.

While it bears a vague resemblance to a genie prison, the one thing Salahuddin can be certain of is that it is not the work of genie-kind. What peoples or culture it originated from, however, is unknown to him. When viewed through Salahuddin's eldritch sight, the sphere radiates faint traces of conjuration magic that are rapidly fading; for the magic to linger even after the sphere's use suggests it must have been potent conjuration indeed.

 

[Ancalagon]

Lal takes the scrap of cloth - "this is important", nods to Amina and returns to the main camp and lends his considerable strength to the task of pulling the Hydra out of the oasis. He also uses his ring to assist the swimmers.

Whe he has the time, he confers with the others. "Amina found a body nearby, dead about 3 weeks ago. Human, middle aged, clearly as desert dweller who had stopped here to rest. He died of a heavy slashing weapon - a talwar maybe. Interestingly, his back was scortched as if he had been attacked by a fiery spell. We know that this hydra breathed fire, but the other wounds don't match, so I am thinking a spellcaster was involved. Someone burried him, but missed this"

Lal presents the scrap of rust-red cloth

"This doesn't match the rest of his clothing, and I believe he took it from his attacker. Are there not spells that would allow you to use this scrap of cloth to trace back the rest of the garment where this originated?"

"His sword was gone, so perhaps the same could be done with his scabbard. He did bear a dagger with the word "Sarraf" on it... "

 

[Quickleaf]

By the time Lal Qalandar and Amina return to the pond, the combined efforts of the group have brought the hacked-and-hewed corpse of the hydra to the dry sand under the moonlight. Husam, wiping himself of hydra's blood, is clapped upon the back by several of Ajan's men who aided in the endeavor. Nimar's rogues pant against the rocks, starting to open the waterskins they just filled at the pond and having second thoughts. Vizier Akilah finds a small blood blister forming on her palm from working the ropes along with Sinjin, who boisterously intersperses anecdotes of his adventures against the wind-walkers and terrible puns about the hydra.

"It seems seven heads were, in fact, not better than one," he smirks merrily as he undoes the rope from about the hydra's tail. After a moment's pause another dry joke is fresh on the tasked genie's lips, "An amphisbaena has one lucky head and one unlucky – but only unlucky heads here."

Harun and Salahuddin, having examined the broken brass sphere, have rejoined the party to hear Lal's description of the corpse.

 

[Matthan]

OOC: Would Husam (or any of us, really) recognize the name 'Sarraf'?

 

[Shayuri]

Amina peers at the sphere curiously, then at the slain hydra. Magic, surely, to contain such a thing within so small a case.

"I think only powerful sorcery could have done this. Such a monster would be very hard to keep ahead of."

Without batting a lash she went to hover at Akilah's side then.

"Are you uninjured, honored one?"

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: I thought about that [MENTION=20005]Matthan[/MENTION] but no one has a background feature / backstory that suggests they spent a lot of time passing through desert oases or would know NPCs residing at a caravanserai. Normally, "do I recognize a name?" would be a background question or maybe a proficient History check or something... Akilah is a noble w/ ties to Tajar. History & Religion proficiency. "Amina" is an urchin w/ ties to Soft Whisper holy slayers. Salahuddin is genie-touched w/ ties to courts of the djinn. Arcana & Investigation proficiency. Husam is a soldier w/ ties to Tajar. Harun is a desert rider - so potential there - but he swapped out his background feature for the sa'luk ability to mouth off to nobles without repercussions. Lal Qalandar is a hermit...who has traveled a bit...*maybe* Lal Qalandar has passed through? Religion proficiency.

 

[Ancalagon]

OOC: seeing how half my contacts are desert people and I specifically mention travels at caravanserai in my character history, so I feel comfortable with making that roll

Religion check to see if I know meaning of word: 1D20+3 = [15]+3 = 18


Lal narrows his eyes and rubs his beard carefully. "Wait a minute, I remember something... I was helping guard Akbar Al-Badu's caravan, we had at the Hamid oasis eating dates, when this traveler came in with this peculiar tale... how did it go..."

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: Sounds good [MENTION=23]Ancalagon[/MENTION]! Sorry I forgot that part of your background! "Sarraf" may refer to a family or tribe that handles payments/tithes for a caravanserai, especially if that caravanserai developed along a pilgrimage route and the monies went toward whatever temple was most closely associated with the pilgrimage site. Jambiyas are curved daggers that typically are passed down through families. For "sarraf" to appear on such a personalized tool likely indicates that the dead man's family adopted al-Sarraf (or something similar) as their surname.

 

[Thateous]

---

Akilah pats some dust off her clothes as she addresses Amina, "I am uninjured, save a small blister from handling the rope. What of you? " she then takes the red cloth from Lal to examine it.

[sblock=Prepared Spells]
1: Cure Wounds, Bless
2: Hold Person, Silence, Zone of Truth
3: Mass Healing Word, Revivify, Remove Curse
4: Banishment, Locate Creature, Divination
5: Greater Restoration, Scrying, Mass Cure Wounds
6: Word of Recall, Heal[/sblock]

 

[Quickleaf]

The torn russet red cloth is thin and gauzy, linen woven from flax most likely. It could have been part of a sash, veil, or headdress. There's no identifying ornamentation.