Heirs to the Burning Thrones

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

--Most noble, radiant, and magnificent Azizah, most regal, majestic, and glorious Malika, I am called Shalah, the Flower of the Hidden Oasis, and you see me before you, standing behind your most wonderful daughter. I have word from Marid, so will you accept my Mindlink so that we may speak privately? For I do not wish to interrupt my true love, Samira, as she speaks with you aloud.--

Of course you may speak to me, lover of my daughter. And may I say she has made a most magnificent choice Malika's voice comes back to Shalah, and her expression does not change in the least.

“So be it, Mother,” Samira replied softly before hiding her face from all by giving her mother another hug. She hid her face cause it bothered her greatly that her mother, her own flesh, fire, and blood, would chose someone else rather than the daughter she had never had a chance to know but then it dawn on her that her mother had never been much of a mother, “I’m happy for you Malika.”

Breaking the embrace Samira walked away as she briskly replied to her love, “Shalah, you may speak to Malika about the deal.”

"Please, do not think I do not want to be with you! I am... it is hard to explain. I am a nymph, a creature of magic and fire, of passion. Romantic love comes more easily to me than maternal instinct. Perhaps instead of young child and wise mother we can be what we truly are, mature woman and magical creature," Malika says, reaching out a hand towards Samira.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Despite the approval of both Samira and Malika for her to speak, Shalah does not want to interrupt this new wrinkle, her heart aching for Malika and hoping that the nymph can regain her daughter's love, a comparable situation to Shalah's own earlier that night*

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Samira: Flamekissed Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt: Unfettered/Rogue/Seductress)`

* Samira’s orange eyes narrowed as she turned to her mother, she had listened to her mother’s excuses but she had found little reason in them. *

“You forget mother, what fuels your passion also fuels my anger. Your thoughts towards me where brief, being nearly forgotten before they arrived, and quickly replaced by thoughts of Marid… I don’t care what you offer, I know it will never be enough for me.”

* Without father ado Samira takes of Shalah’s crown and tosses it at beloved’s feet and walks off. *

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Shalah's eyes widen in horror as she gazes at this unexpected and piteous tableau, slowly welling with tears as she dusts off her circlet and replaces it on her head, holding her hand up softly for Samira to stop, but realising that the retreating half-nymph not only can not see her, but wouldn't care if she could.

*Something awful must have happened to Samira since the two had last been together, something involving her fight with Nadeeda, for the other girl had taken on not only the two hidden daggers of her bitter rival, but also many of the worst qualities of the spoiled, egocentric harem girl whom the other two had once despised. The old Samira, back when Shalah was still in the harem, still had a moody streak, but recently she has been consistently lashing out at those who love her over petty and misplaced jealousy whenever she was not made out to be their only concern in the world...*

*Even though her own eyes are filled with tears, Shalah uses the power of her circlet to safely approach Malika in an effort to comfort the other woman.*

"I am so sorry, Malika...I don't know what has come over Samira, but if it makes you feel any better, I don't think that you are a bad mother...she has lashed out like this at me recently as well...We had a traumatic experience long ago when I escaped from the harem, and it charged my dagger with the kind spirit of a harem girl who was killed while attempting to escape...it is possible that Samira has been influenced by the spirit of the hateful girl who once owned those daggers now in her hair..."

"But enough of bad news and weighty words. Your love with Marid need remain impossible no longer. I have spoken directly with Kadar on your behalf, and I managed to use my non-unconsiderable skills of persuasion to convince him to accept the love that the two of you share with open arms. As we speak, Marid and my associates approach the oasis, allowing the two of us to go first so that Samira could speak with you alone..."

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"But... she doesn't want me... I just, I never expected to see her again, and Marid was coming, and he wants to marry me, and I... I didn't know what to say or do!" she says, sobbing tears of fire. The phoelarchs tighten their grip on their weapons. "Why?" she screams after Samira. The fire fountain behind her flares up into the night sky. "I killed your father with my inexperienced love, and I did the best I thought I could for you! I gave you to your father's people! I never thought I'd see you again! You comd to me when I least expect it and you want me to drop everything in my life to join you? Why?" she screams.

~~~

*In the desert, Tariq flings his hand at the creature, sending five darts of light to impact against it. Jibril follows it up with a powerful missile of cold that hits it dead center. There's a moment of dead silence, then the creature explodes into frozen dust. A quick examination of the area reveals nothing but a few dry bones.*

*You finish making your way to the fire oasis. As you top the ridge, a huge fountain of flame pours from the earth, and smaller gouts sprout at intervals from pyramids of stones. A couple of small fire lizards curl up around the pyramids. Two men with red-gold feathers growing from their heads and arms, phoelarchs, phoenix-kin, stand guard with falchions next to the fire fountain. They're obviously agitated, and the source is immediately clear. Samira is stalking away from an enraged fire nymph, as Shalah attempts to calm her. Marid gasps and begins to run towards the nymph.*

Initiative:
Tariq - 22
Cala - 21
Jibril - 18
Abdul, Tarek - 15
Suhayb, Omran, Dun Pudding - 11
Nafeesa - 6

Tariq does 22 point of damage to the pudding. Cala delays. Jibril does a total of 58 points of damage to the pudding, putting it at -53 hit points. It dies a horrible death.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Its alright, Malika," Shalah whispers gently, "Soon Samira will come to her senses and treat you with the love that a mother as kind and self-sacrificing as you, tearing away your only daughter from your life for her own safety, so truly deserves. And look! Here is Marid--here is your love!"

*Watching for Marid's approach and ready to protect him should he enter a danger zone, Shalah nonetheless uses her next action to reach out with her heart and soul to the Fire Nymph, attempting to improve Malika's mood by letting her feel a touch of Shalah's own kind and loving confidence that Samira will break this odd funk, that Marid and Malika will find their place together, that everything would work out for the Fire Nymph.*

[OOC: Shalah manifests a maxed-out Endowed Telempathic Projection. If Malika's mind unconsciously resists the comforting Projection, then she can try a DC 27 Will Save to resist its effects]

 

[Keia]

Jibril A'Mussan PPs: 84/128, HPs: 88/88, AC: 29, Init: 18

Jibril was pleased with the efficiency and coordination the heirs displayed in the defeat of the desert threat, informing them as such, "I am most pleased at the might and prowess you, my esteemed companions have displayed . . . but I fear we must be even better on the road ahead . . . there appears to be some trouble."

'--Shalah, most esteemed one, this is your humble advisor, Jibril, --' Jibril thought, seeing if Shalah was still in there. '--We approach even now and Marid rushes forward, is it safe or should I try and detain him?--'

Jibril tried to keep pace, but he did pace to prepare against the possible heat he may endure.

[OOC: Energy Adaption, 100 minutes, 20 energy resistance - all types]

 

[Rystil Arden]

--Esteemed Jibril, while now may not be the best time--or perhaps it may; I cannot be sure how Marid's arrival will play out or if my attempts to calm Malika's troubled heart take root--it will be fine. I see Marid and I am prepared to protect him if he gets too close. Best not to hinder young love, after all.--

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Samira: Flamekissed Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt: Unfettered/Rogue/Seductress)

* Though Samira could her mother anguished screams she chose to ignore them. Instead she chose to sit down upon a small cropping of rocks not far from her feet and fringe disinterest as she listened closely to make sure Shalah would be all right. Samira did her best to hold back her tears. It was suppose to be perfect, her escape from the harem, Shalah’s return, and finding her mother but over the last few hours everything had just gone wrong… Shalah had gone behind her back, her mother wanted to love another more than her own daughter… *

* It was too much to bear and Samira’s tears traced her delicate cheeks… *

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Tariq took in the scene before the fountain, and could not help but to roll his eyes at what he saw. Samira walking away from an angry fire nymph? Wonderful. This was supposed to be a simple task— escort the merchant’s son to his true love. Yet for whatever reason, Samira thought it was more important to get there before everyone else, and possibly ruin their chances of success with whatever she had said to Malika. For a moment, he wondered if Samira had done this on purpose, to ensure that she and her lover were the only ones who were chosen to rule. He would not put it past the selfish brat to do such a thing. Still he tried not to let his thoughts show in his expression as he followed closely behind Marid, intent on protecting him from whatever might attack him.