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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mikeawmids" data-source="post: 7948999" data-attributes="member: 6776411">Chapter Nineteen: The Scholar's VillaArchmage Rayhan resides in a modest, three-storey villa perched on a cliff overlooking the Obari Ocean. When the party arrive, they find their camels stabled nearby and Garavel waiting to introduce them to their esteemed host. The archmage greets them in a lavish reception room decorated with expensive silk rugs and overstuffed divans. Paintings on the walls depict scenes from the many planes Rayhan has visited  on his extra-planar exploits.The archmage is a tall, bald man wearing sky blue robes and the stern expression of a patient - but disappointed - tutor."Here you are at last. Well, better late than never. No, no - I don't care to hear your excuses, lets just get this over with. Over the last fifty years, countless frauds and forgers have claimed to have found the fabled Scroll of Kakishon, each imitation poorer than the last. The only reason I have agreed to see you at all is because Almah requests it. I have known the princess a long time. For that, I will grant you five minutes and the promise not to report you to the Pactmasters when this scroll turns out to be a fake."Nadiyya hands the relic over and Rayhan performs a cursory examination."Hmmmm. Well it's certainly old enough, or has been artificially aged to appear so. Where do you claim to have found it?""In the Tomb of Shirak, beneath The House of the Beast." Misfar answers. He is feeling a little starstruck in the presence of such a formidable wizard."Hmmmm. A curious detail. Some historians name Shirak as a servant of the ifreeti warlord Jhavul and even speculate she would have been present at the final battle between Jhavul's army and the Templars of the Five Winds - who I am to understand you claim to have met.""We have encountered two djinn claiming to serve Nefeshti," Misfar confirms."Kardswann was alright," Nadiyya adds, "But Zayifid was a bit of a prick. He's also after the Scroll, by the way - as well as the One Source guild here in Katapesh.""In a ruined monastery outside Kelmarane, I communed with the spirit of Vardishal," Zain rumbles, "He told me where to find this cool axe."Zain presents Tempest for inspection. Rayhan frowns thoughtfully."Hmmm. This is either the most elaborate hoax yet, or you may have stumbled upon something truly wondrous. Let's take a look inside."With painstaking care, Rayhan unfurls the ancient scroll. A single rune has been inked onto the parchment, staggering in its complexity. Looking at it for to long causes a dizzying sense of vertigo. The archmage grows even more excited, tracing the contours of the labyrinthine glyph with his finger."Long ago, there were two rival sorcerers called Geb and Nex. You've likely heard the names, the lands they ruled over are still recovering from the fallout of their many battles. There are few things in this world more devastating than a feud between wizards.Nex created his own private demi-plane, an unassailable sanctuary where he could retreat and recover his strength before his next battle with Geb. Several scholars - myself foremost among them - speculate this demi-plane also served as a secure vault for all of Nex's most storied artifacts.Nex called his sanctuary Kakishon and if I am correct, this scroll is the only existing way of reaching it.""Kardswann told us that Jhavul's power was sealed within the scroll," Misfar says, "We assumed that was why everyone was after it.""It's certainly possible that some fragment of Jhavul's power is contained within the relic," Rayhan muses, "There is evidence that Nex occasionally used Kakishon as a prison for his enemies."My friends, I apologise for doubting you. The authenticity of this item is beyond question. If it is your intention to open the way to Kakishon and explore its wonders, I  can help you. This is undoubtedly the most complex rune I have ever seen, but I can decipher it, given time. You are welcome guests in my home for as long as you care to stay."Alternatively, you could auction the relic off to he highest bidder. I trust that I've impressed on you the value of this artifact. You could all become unimaginably wealthy, but you would be forfeiting the chance to experience the wonders of Kakishon first-hand."I will leave you to discuss among yourselves. Please take as long as you need. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and your decision should not be made in haste."Though she will not admit it to her companions, Nadiyya is desperate to learn more about the ifreeti warlord Jhavul. She votes to visit Kakishon.Being Curious, Misfar cannot pass on the opportunity to explore another world, he also votes to visit Kakishon.Zain has two goals in his life; to serve Sarenrae and find/free his mother. He doubts either objective will be fulfilled in Nex's private party plane. He votes against visiting Kakishon."What if we help you find your mother first?" Nadiyya suggests, "It's going to take time for Rayhan to decipher the scroll anyway and we can look for information in the meantime."Fuk votes yes. He doesn't really understand what's going on, but he kinda' likes not being by himself all the time and wants to stick with his new friends.The decision is made. The party will stay in Katapesh and search for Zain's mother, while Rayhan labours to unlock the secrets of the scroll. TBC</blockquote>

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