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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6975245" data-attributes="member: 20323">[SBLOCK=Salahuddin]Though he is versed in Elvish, and vaguely understands the translation akashta bariyat likely refers to some sort of construct or elemental, such urns were not encountered in the Citadel of Ice and Steel. As least one thing Salahuddin can be certain of - the urns are not the works of genie-kind.Easifa also returns to Salahuddin with news exchanged telepathically, Alas, my master, I was unable to see inside the book to verify whether or not it was the genuine article. It has not been opened even once behind the auction house platform. And just when I tried to open it, I found it swept out of reach in a series of most unlucky events... At the very least these cretins are treating it with a modicum of respect such magical lore deserves.[/SBLOCK]In the background, several bidders argue vociferously as the obsidian rainbow skull is sold for 275 dinars (gp) to a tall beady-eyed man representing the interests of the merchant Fahad al-Zakir. As the commotion dies down to disgruntled murmurs, the announcer presents a worn dark leather journal he calls the "Traveling Spellbook of Akdam." The bid starts at 350 dinars (gp)...[SECTION][ALIGN=LEFT]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c4/30/b3/c430b3a17a63c87a8015b4b78bd645fc.jpg[/ALIGN]"Within the Badu al-Kabir," answers Jina in a quiet voice after a moment's hesitation, fingers twirling the rim of her palm wine glass vexingly. Trade secrets are a merchant's only upper hand in the cutthroat markets of Tajar, and she only reluctantly parts with hers. "A tribe of elves used to roam the Badu al-Kabir, so the stories go, who learned how to hide their valleys from the eyes of warring sheikhs and sultans. Only ruins remain of their settlements. My best finds of antiquities were southwest of Hakim Oasis and northeast of Murr Oasis, where the magic used to hide their valleys eroded in time."The smoke from Najiyah's lamp is lit, and Jina arches her brow with practiced reservation. She has seen dozens of cheap parlor tricks from every manner of liar and cheat, after all, but this is something else. With Jina leaning forward over the table to speak in confidence and the new item being brought out onto the auction floor, her guards scarcely notice the illusion...or perhaps unexposed to its scented smoke they do not notice it. "You think I'll be impressed by smoke and poetry..." she begins haughtily, but her voice quickly trails off."Dangerous tales? Yes, yes of course," she agrees with a perplexed expression fading into bewilderment. Her voice is slow like honey. "The raiders were tall, either the most robust of men, jann, or some other tall race. They wore dark black abas (robes) and kaftans (tunics) and wielded scimitars and bows. They raided my caravan near Hakim Oasis before we reached Qaybar. It was a trap, for they lay in wait for us throughout the oasis, or so it seemed, emerging silently as if from the date palms and pools of water itself. They did not have strength of numbers, but they struck hard and fast. My men claimed that the raiders were as strong as ogres and seemed to glow from underneath their abas (robes), and we sustained many losses before we routed them. Thereupon, they fled into the desert twilight in every which direction, their tracks swallowed by the wind."[/SECTION]</blockquote>

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