Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 3849196" data-attributes="member: 812">Another Fine Mess: 16Survey of Ornamental Details Found in the Fountain of KingsThe Impact of Kishak Hegemony on Calégrian Monumental TraditionsThe Fountain of Kings: A Mythological ArchitectureNevid rubbed at his eyes and pulled the next book off the stack next to him. Across the table sat Arrafin, looking nearly as exhausted and red-eyed as he, poring through an immense tome bound in iron strips. Around them rose stacks of volumes and scrolls that they had been perusing all day, seeking hints to the mystery of Farouk ibn Zaoud, the legendary Naridic warrior and constant companion to the great king Suelekar Ben Azan.Any literature that referenced his death mentioned that he was buried beneath the stones of the Fountain of Kings, the great public square in front of the Emir's palace in Al-Tizim.Nevid pushed his chair back and stretched. He and Arrafin had arrived at the Tallal University Reading Room early in the morning and it was now well past noon. The great high vaults of the library, carved with representations of Naridic scholars and artists, drew his tired eyes upwards. Quiet conversation rumbled in from the courtyard where students, young and intent and serious, gathered to debate the news that the Kishak army was only a day or so away.Arrafin noted Nevid's lack of attention. She took the opportunity to slip another of Madame Yuek's scrolls into the pages of the huge history volume she was pretending to read. The spell formulas tantalized her with promises of power and domination."We should track down those merchants. Their good word will be crucial."Arrafin blinked."What?""When the Kishak army takes the city, if we have Kishak friends we might stand a chance. They'll probably execute half the city."Arrafin's mouth dropped open. She stared past Nevid's shoulder."I think we have bigger problems, Nevid.""Bigger than execution?""Turn around.""No."As Arrafin's attention seemed fixed on a point just behind him, Nevid sighed, braced himself and turned around."I found ye, lad. Ye brought me out o' there and I thank ye. Thank ye, lad. I like ye."Nevid's mouth dropped open as Kaley, the ghost woman from Castle Dannockshire, drifted forward and pressed up against him."Ye'll no leave me again, will ye now?""Oh, no."*****"A spike. In his head.""Yes. Apparently it's blue.""The spike in Nevid's head is blue?""So she says."Arrafin shrugged and Elena shook her head, looking around at the rest of the group.It was good to have Isaac back, his solid presence somehow reassuring. Especially since Arrafin seemed obsessed with finding a dead man, Etienne had disappeared and Nevid could no longer be separated from his new insane girlfriend."She seems nice enough. Crazy, but nice crazy."Elena frowned at Isaac's comment and leaned forward, lowering voice, even though Kaley never seemed to pay any attention to their conversations."Isaac, she's dead. She's, I don't know, a ghost.""Kani said she was a spirit.""Speaking of crazy and not so nice.""Okay, spirit. Anyway, she's not, you know, normal. A lot. She says Nevid has a blue spike in his head. She followed it."Arrafin, Isaac and Elena all studied their friend carefully. Nevid sat, looking very uncomfortable, on a cot with the Shaeric girl Kaley pressed up against him. She had her eyes closed and rested her head on his shoulder, apparently oblivious to all else."Nevid? Any theories?"The young Saijadani just shook his head at Elena's angry question. Elena scowled and was about to ask another question when Arrafin spoke up."Maybe it had something to do with whatever Kani was laughing about. Remember?""Yeah, Madame Who-In-The-Heck said something about a soul, right? Complicated souls?""Right. She said Nevid's soul was not entirely his own. She said... an aspect of what he carried had nostalgic value for her.""Which means what?""I don't know. But maybe next time we see her we can ask."Elena and Isaac stared at Arrafin. Even Nevid managed a quizzical expression."What? Kani gave us this rod, right? So we could call on her if we wanted."Arrafin's friends continued to stare. The Naridic girl held up the crystal rod Kani had given her."What?"Isaac recovered first."Arrafin, if things ever get so bad that we think having the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life show up is a GOOD idea, I hope I'm already dead. I don't ever want to see Madame Yuek again. Ever.""She was nice to us. She kept her word.""Arrafin. Vampire. Eats people. Did you see that little girl she had? She is evil. Evil evil evil evil evil. Evil.""Is everything just black and white for you? Evil this, good that? Look at what's going on right here in this city. We've got an army outside that's slaughtering innocent people but fighting the invaders. You, Isaac, you just spent two days building a trap to slaughter a bunch of Kishak kids who probably just want to go home. How many people are going to die because of you?""I thought you wanted to fight the Kishaks?""I do. I just. Maybe everything isn't as simple as we sometimes make it out to be. People are complicated."The door to the inn room opened and Etienne and Zuleika stood there."Hey guys. The Kishaks have been sighted on the North road."Arrafin jumped up."Are the Crimson Host attacking?"Zuleika spat and laughed harshly."Those bastards ran for it as soon as they saw the reds coming. They're long gone."Etienne interfered before Arrafin could get her outrage voiced."And Sharina al-Sharina beni Howetait wants to see us."Elena chuckled sourly."Now who's complicated?"*****Even Elena smiled at the spectacle of Arrafin and her father exchanging obscure historical references, completely ignoring the fact that the most powerful woman in the Narid was waiting to see them.The Khadisan had taken up court in the Mullaham and a steady stream of visitors filed in up the front steps and into the great domed hall, tiled in white and blue, where she sat.The guards, visored and stern, waved them forward and Elena and Isaac just pushed gently on the chattering historians, guiding Arrafin and Reyhan forward without disturbing their conversation. Zuleika, Etienne, Nevid and Kaley followed."Out! Abomination! Send it out!"The Khadisan's sudden shriek startled all of them, even Arrafin and Reyhan looking up at where the woman stood, pointing at their approaching group. Heads turned to see Kaley standing, pale and frightened, shaking under the sudden scrutiny. The Shaeric girl clutched at Nevid's arm, terror on her face."What's wrong?"Arrafin turned to the Khadisan."What is it? She's. She's harmless."The stern woman warrior's glower never softened."It may not approach. It defiles this place with its unclean presence."Nevid nodded to his friends and guided Kaley back the way they'd come, ignoring angry stares and mutters.The Khadisan settled back on her throne."This time tomorrow, the Kishak army will be destroyed. I will take my army into the desert and await the final confrontation with the Tyrant's Shade. I understand that you people intend to travel to Al-Tizim.""Khadisan, what just happened? Why did you send Kaley away? What is she?"The older woman regarded Arrafin balefully, but relented enough to answer."The Voice of the Wind has spoken to me, Arrafin al-Fasir beni Hassan, and it tells me that I am to deliver the desert from its oppressors. It has shown me the many paths of the future, and in all paths the treachery of the spirits is constant.""What are spirits, exactly?""They are deceivers. No spirit may enter my presence, lest they desecrate my sacred communion with the Voice of the Wind."Eager to end the conversation, Isaac stepped forward."Was there something you wanted us to do while we're in Al-Tizim, ma'am? A message or something you wanted delivered?""We have supporters in the great city, of course. We have a list of names you may contact upon your arrival there. Destroy this list before you leave here.""Okay.""I will face the Tyrant's Shade, and I will destroy him, and drive his armies from the desert. The thirst of the desert is never satisfied."Even Arrafin and Reyhan joined with every other Naridic person in the vast chamber in repeating the Khadisan's last sentence. It seemed only Isaac, Elena and Etienne were silent."The thirst of the desert is never satisfied."Isaac and Elena shared a sour look."This is not going to end well."</blockquote>

Verification