Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008

[sniffles]

New Friends - and New Enemies

It was with some trepidation that Liadan broke the clay seals on the two scrolls we had received and reviewed their contents. We were still uncertain of our reception in the city of the efreeti.

The two missives proved to be nothing more than they appeared: invitations from nobles of the Caliph's court. Our host informed us that they came from two lesser princes, captains of the Caliph's army, by the names of Fasir and Loka Poshk. Unfortunately Loka Poshk's message was written in the native tongue of the Plane of Fire, which none of us could read at that point. But Fasir had written in the common tongue. His flowery message requested our presence for tea at some point within the next three days. He also recommended a specific scribe by whom we could send our response.

We did not know whether we should accept either invitation - for we presumed that Loka Poshk's message contained a similar request - and we determined that we should garner more information about these two captains before making our decision. Liadan then asked our host if he knew of an alehouse or wine shop where we might find folk likely to be familiar with these two worthies. He suggested a likely location.

The nighttime streets of the City of Brass are not as busy as those of Calimport, though similar in many respects. Finding the evening air cooler, we determined that it would be wise to don our armor. Erim then surrounded us with magics of fire protection, as that is a common hazard here. We then proceeded to the establishment recommended to us. We found that we were better armed and armored than the other guests, though not as nicely attired.

Our arrival naturally drew some attention, for most of the other guests were djanni. But as we could not understand their speech we did not know if the attention we provoked was unfriendly. There were no empty tables available and we were seated with two humans and a djanni.

Fortunately they spoke the common tongue and were not averse to conversing with us. Nekaya and Liadan took the lead in these, being the most accomplished conversationalists among our party. They made no pretense of disguising our reason for visiting the City of Brass. Our table-mates described for us several individuals they knew of as guests of the Caliph, but Osaze Mumbai was not among the names they mentioned. When Liadan made mention of him they responded by describing him as a prisoner and were amused that she had referred to him as a guest of the Caliph. But they were aware of him as a holy man, and questioned Liadan regarding what made him so admirable to us. She then proceeded to tell them the story Madu el Barake had told us of Osaze's visit to the dragon. She also told them of the invitations we had received, to which they made a curious suggestion: they recommended that we publicly burn the invitations, to draw the attention of the two captains' enemies, for they judged that both captains were unimportant and their enemies were much more likely to be worth meeting.

While this conversation proceeded, Baran and I observed something peculiar occurring at the table nearest ours. A servant had been summoned there and the patrons at the table made some remarks to him while looking intently at our group. The servant then smiled in a most disturbing manner, staring at us all the while, and hurried out of the establishment.

Though we could not understand their words, Baran is an accomplished mimic and was able to repeat what they had said to Erim, whose magic enabled him to comprehend it. They had spoken of someone named Kamaree who evidently had some interest in us. Nekaya-Re then asked our companions of this Kamaree. They explained that he was another captain of the Caliph's army and was known to have a fierce temper, but they knew little else.

We lingered for a time at the table, anticipating that the servant who had departed had gone to fetch this Captain Kamaree, but when no one arrived we at last bade our farewells to our table-mates and made our way back toward the wayhouse. We soon detected that someone was following us, flying above the streets as so many of the city's denizens are able to do. We determined that he was indeed pursuing us by making several unnecessary changes of direction, pretending to have lost our way.

Baran then turned toward the flying individual and demanded to know for what purpose he followed us. This person, who we observed was well armored and bearing both sword and bow, then alit upon the street and asked our names. Baran demanded to know his name first. He introduced himself as Thusal and claimed that his pursuit had been due to curiosity. But Erim had recognized the crest he wore as associating him with Kamaree and asked why Kamaree had sent him.

Liadan then asked Thusal what he knew of Fasir and Loka Poshk. Thusal spoke disparagingly of Loka Poshk as a captain and explained that Fasir was an administrator of sorts. He then recommended that if we wished to have any chance of seeing Osaze Mumbai we should make the acquaintance of Prince Jafar, who had charge of the Caliph's dungeons. He told us that the Prince had an interest in weaponry, particularly magical weapons. Thusal then escorted us to our wayhouse and bade us good evening.

On the following morning, Lathander granted Liadan the ability to read the message from Loka Poshk for herself, which confirmed that it was much the same as Fasir's invitation. But we determined that we still lacked sufficient information to decide how to respond. We realized that it might be worthwhile to follow Thusal's suggestion and seek audience with Prince Jafar, for it seemed much more likely that this could gain us access to Osaze than having tea with two lesser nobles who were reputedly not in good standing in the court. Liadan had also realized that we held in our keeping an item that might be of interest to the Prince: a curious blade we had found in the beholder temple, designed to be wielded by an eye tyrant by holding it in its mouth.

We made our way out into the city to contact a scribe who could write a message to Prince Jafar on our behalf. As we traveled we discovered that Captain Kamaree had evidently been spreading unflattering rumours about us. We learned that his ire had apparently been roused because the efreet that Liadan's magic had blinded was his cousin. Liadan then suggested that she might offer to heal the other efreet's blindness, but Erim remarked that such an offer might be considered too conciliatory. Instead, after having our offer to Prince Jafar transcribed, Liadan dictated a message to Kamaree in an effort to make peace with him without appearing weak or condescending.

After some hours spent examining the wares available in the city, we repaired to an eating establishment of very high standards suggested to us by our host at the wayhouse. We were the only patrons not of efreet-kind. Once again we found ourselves seated with strangers, this time two blue-skinned djinni. I had not understood the differences between all of these folk until I met these two gentelpersons. While djanni are those half of efreet blood and half of human blood, djinni are denizens of the Plane of Air. These two were servants of Minister Halashahn, ambassador of the djinni to the Caliph's court.

Our fellow guests were most pleasant and willing to converse on all manner of topics. When told of our desire to see Osaze Mumbai, they explained that they had met him at the Caliph's court and been greatly impressed by his skill at oratory. Though they knew that he had spoken for the benefit of all present, each person who heard him speak had felt as though he spoke to them alone.

They asked us to tell them of our journey to the city, for it was apparent to them that we are not ordinary folk. Liadan then regaled them with the tale of our crossing of the desert and our battles with the whirling columns of fire and obsidian. She also described our adventure in the eye tyrant's stronghold beneath the sands. When she mentioned her father they recognized his name and commented upon the quantity of heroic deeds credited to him. They in turn appeared to be most friendly toward us, and told us that they wished they could aid us in achieving our goal of seeing Osaze, though they knew not how to achieve this. They did offer their aid in gaining an introduction to Prince Jafar, however, for which we were most grateful.

Following this pleasant meal, we returned once more to the wayhouse to find a message awaiting us. This time the missive came from Kamaree, who requested that we meet him at Whitefire Gardens on the following day at noon. Erim observed that the request was stated in the tone of a demand rather than an invitation. He also noted that Whitefire Gardens is located within the grounds of the royal palace!
____________________________

Quips & Quotes:

Zora: "Are we going in fireball formation or lightning bolt formation?"
patv: "I prefer lightning bolt - it sounds faster."

patv: "Okay, I'll regret this, but I'll prepare animate rope today."
Devo: "Did you take rope trick?"
patv: "I don't have that spell."
Zora: "Because you have to know how to animate the rope to get it to do tricks."
patv: "Yeah, you have to be able to get it up before it will do it's thing."

patv: "I have darkvision to 60 feet. How close is the flying guy?"
Devo: "65 feet."

Devo: "It seems that the deeds credited to Covenant couldn't have been performed by just one man."
Zora: "Or that many women credited to just one man."

patv: "The djinni flew in by Plane. It wasn't even first class."

 

[sniffles]

The Court of Sunless Souls

As we prepared to meet Captain Kamaree in the palace gardens, we took our time to make ourselves presentable for such an auspicious visit. Liadan attired herself as a priestess of the Morninglord, with her shield polished to a high shine to reflect the rays of the sun. She had spent all of that morning saying prayers to her deity.

We inquired of our host at the wayhouse how far away the palace lay and felt it prudent to hire two carriages to transport us. It was no swifter than our feet would have been, but at the least we would arrive less weary and dusty for our appointment.

The Caliph's palace in the City of Brass is a vast structure surrounded by massive whitewashed walls. The palace proper bears a great dome of highly polished brass that glows in the intense light of the sun in Calimshan's desert. Above us we saw many flying figures, for all those residents of the city who are related to the efreeti or djinni are capable of flight, it seems, though some satisfy themselves with flying astride winged creatures or upon flying carpets.

Upon disembarking from our carriages at the immense gate, we were made to wait some little while in the heat of the sun. The Caliph's guards appeared to hold some disdain for mere creatures of this mortal realm. But at last two guards came to fetch us and escorted us through a maze of gardens to the Court of Sunless Souls, where we were to meet with our host.

I confess I cannot truly think of the Caliph's gardens as such, for they lacked any hint of greenery, being made entirely of patterned stones. In this place I feel most keenly my separation from my verdant homeland in the Hidden Hills.

The Court of Sunless Souls is also one such of the Caliph's empty gardens, though I have seen no other that contains such a curious mosaic upon its floor. Before us lay a pattern in the likeness of Faerun's seven moons, with Selune at its center. But we perceived at once that the surface of the likeness of Selune was unlike the others, for it rippled and shifted with curious energies. I found it disturbing.

Evidently my companions also found this representation unpleasant to behold, for all of us avoided crossing that portion of the court in our progress toward a low table that stood on the opposite side. It seemed a very mean table to be found on the palace grounds, for upon it sat only a simple clay pitcher and cups, appearing to contain nothing but water. I should have been glad of a sip of cool fresh water in this land of unbearable heat, but some presentiment of danger kept us all from drinking.

The guards who had guided us to the court withdrew beyond a set of gates and we waited patiently for our host to present himself. But when at last the side gates opened with some fanfare, the efreet who entered did not meet with the image of a captain I had formed in my mind. He appeared rather soft of limb and was elaborately garbed in a manner not befitting a military officer.

This efreet introduced himself not as Kamaree, but as Fasir, the administrator who had previously extended an invitation to us. He told us that Kamaree had been called away on the Caliph's business and he had come to greet us to see why we had attracted the captain's attention.

Once introductions had been made, Liadan and Nekaya-Re spoke openly of our desire to speak with Osaze Mumbai. To this Fasir remarked that he had known of others who came seeking audience with Osaze, but none who had come from beyond the Pillars of Fire.

As Erim questioned the efreet on the nature of his interest in us, Baran indicated that he had heard a noise from beyond the walls of the courtyard. The main gates through which we had entered suddenly flew open, revealing a large silhouette. My eyes were so dazzled by the brilliant glare of the sun that I could see only a dark shape seemingly equipped with many arms.

Fasir appeared startled by this interruption and I heard him exclaim, "Oh, my!". He then took flight and rose above the courtyard. As my eyes followed him I saw a scarlet cloud looming above. A huge efreet, ten times my height, bent over the wall and stared down at us, wearing an unpleasant smile.

The shadowy thing that had appeared at the gate slid forward into the courtyard, revealing itself as a serpentine creature with six arms and six glowing azure eyes. Two chains depended from a collar at its neck, leading out beyond the gate into the grasp of two handlers. Then the chains went slack.

Erim murmured some occult phrases directed at the creature, but it did not react and I saw him frown with disappointment. Baran unslung his grandfather's hammer and hurled it at the monstrous creature. It struck with a mighty force. I began to move around the opposite side of the creature, taking care not to set foot on the representation of Selune. It continued to make me uneasy. The Moonbow would be sorry to see the moons she loves so misused.

The monster raised one of its many limbs, revealing that it wore blades strapped to each arm, and struck at Baran with one. Liadan ran to the center of the largest moon, heedless of its weirdness, and shouted angrily at the huge efreet overhead, "What is the meaning of this?", to which the efreet did not reply.

As Liadan stood on the strange silvery surface of the moon and began to pray to Lathander, some energies began to climb up her legs. It was as though hands reached out to grasp at her. But when she had released the magic of her prayer they retreated.

Now that the creature had shown itself a threat, Nekaya-Re rushed it with her hakra. I heard Fasir call out to us, "Best of luck to you, my friends!" as he departed. But my attention was on the creature.

Pakkin ran behind it to flank it with his spear. I moved nearer, though I had yet to draw my swords. Erim once more attempted to touch it with magic, but it seemed to resist the energies of his spells.

The gates thudded shut as the efreeti who had brought the creature closed them. Liadan came to stand to my right, crying, "This is not over!" toward the efreeti outside. She also attempted to affect the monster with magic to no effect.

Erim flew behind the monster and called out to Pakkin that it could only be harmed by cold iron, for Pakkin's spear can assume the properties of any metal. The creature meanwhile slithered forward and struck everyone but Liadan with its arm blades.

I drew my swords and attempted to destroy one arm blade, but it deflected my strike. When my following blows injured the creature's flesh, I could see said reptilian hide knitting again at once.

Liadan cried another prayer to the Morninglord and suddenly grew in stature, shining brightly and taking on a resemblance to likenesses of her god. I heard Erim recite the now-familiar phrase that grants us all great swiftness. Baran's features took on the look of cold fury I recognize so well as he struck the creature three massive blows of his hammer.

Liadan too brought her mace down on the creature with great force and I saw the monster begin to weaken. I slashed it several times with both Brimstone and Sulian, though I had chosen not to waken Brimstone's flames, expecting such a creature to be immune to them. Then Nekaya-Re stepped forward twirling her hakra once more, and the monster slumped to the courtyard floor in a heap.

Fasir, it seemed, had not entirely departed the area, for I now saw him hovering above, abasing himself before the huge efreet. I began to suspect the identity of our witness and suppressed a surge of apprehension.

Liadan was not cowed by the presence of such an illustrious audience. She turned to the efreet and said courteously but with controlled anger, "Your majesty, we request an audience with Osaze Mumbai."

For the first time the huge efreet reacted to her words, growling, "What you ask is not done" with some heat, if my feeble pun may be forgiven.

At this point the gates burst open again and another efreet in martial garb entered, whom I had little doubt was the individual we had come to meet. He flew across the courtyard with such fury that he would have run me down had I not hastily stepped aside.

Fasir, who was staring down at the creature we had just slain, murmured something interrogative about it, to which the Caliph replied that it was indeed the pet of some personage whose name I did not recognize. Having satisfied his curiosity, Fasir now appeared to consider himself dismissed and made his exit.

Kamaree then glared at Liadan and demanded that he be permitted justice by sword. To this the Caliph responded, "You may have your blood, but take it tomorrow" and moved away.

When the Caliph had departed, Kamaree fiercely demanded that Liadan be present at the same courtyard on the morrow at noon to duel him. He attempted to intimidate her with his flying about and looming overhead, but she was not awed.

Baran then remarked that it seemed dishonorable to him to use another person's pet to settle his grudge, and that it was equally petty of him to hold such a grudge against Liadan when his cousin had been bested in equal combat.

Kamaree appeared to ignore this comment at first, but when I joined my words to my friend's remarks to agree that I thought him cowardly, he was able to restrain his anger only by obvious force of will and flew away.

We took our leave of the Court of Sunless Souls then, staring sorrowfully at the representation of Selune as we did so, for we now felt certain that it held the imprisoned souls of some victims of the Caliph's tortures.

As we made our way back toward the palace gates, we were suddenly surrounded by a hot wind. Then a figure appeared, not one of the Caliph's fiery folk but one of the blue-skinned denizens of the Plane of Air, such as those we had encountered at the eating house. This one, however, was the ambassador Halashahn himself come to greet us.

Halashahn was as courteous and friendly as his two associates had been. He invited us to join him in his rooms and offered us the services of a cleric in his entourage to minister to our wounds. Though we accepted his hospitality, Liadan nevertheless extended to us her healing circle, so that by the time we reached the ambassador's chambers only Baran remained injured.

When we were seated and offered fruit and wine, the ambassador's priest cured the remainder of Baran's hurts, and Halashahn offered kindly to let us spend the night with him rather than return to the wayhouse before Liadan's duel with Kamaree. He also described for us the rituals surrounding such a duel, so that Liadan would not be accused of improper behavior.

Erim was uncomfortable with permitting the ambassador's servants to gather his belongings from the wayhouse, so it was arranged that later he would go there himself to fetch them, accompanied by Halashahn's guards in the event that Kamaree plotted some treachery.

Once this had been agreed upon, our conversation turned to Osaze Mumbai. Halashahn told us that Osaze was indeed having an effect upon the Caliph. The Caliph is very jealous of his prize, and it seems that he might fear anyone whom he would suspect of depriving him of Osaze's counsel.

We assured the ambassador that we have no wish to interrupt Osaze's mission, nor do we believe that he would permit himself to be removed from the City of Brass - but it is possible that when we tell him of Covenant's absence he may change his mind. We did not explain our own purpose to the ambassador beyond telling him that we wish to speak with Osaze on a personal matter.

Halashahn then told us a story of some interest, which was clearly connected to his own purpose in visiting Calimshan. This tale told of an army of 1,001 demons that had been formed to capture the Caliph and imprison him in a bottle. But as the demons were about to complete a powerful ritual to bind the efreet they themselves were imprisoned within an orb, which the Caliph then sealed with spells and wards in the deepest dungeon of his palace.

Halashahn assured us that the tale was true, and that he knew the location of the orb of demons. The demons had been captured when they were only a single word from completing the ritual to bind the Caliph. Should someone be able to free the orb and release the demons, the Caliph would fall.

To this I felt compelled to remark that I should have no desire to release an army of 1,001 demons upon the world. Halashahn, who appears to be a being of good heart, replied with an observation that now weighs upon my heart: is it evil to risk freeing an army of demons, if setting the demons free would prevent the Caliph from unleashing his vast army upon the world?
__________________

Quips & Quotes:

Devo: "The caliph has that whole Tim Curry thing going."
Zora: "Then I laugh."
Devo: "No, not that Tim Curry - the Legend Tim Curry."
Zora: "Then I shut up."

 

[sniffles]

An Unexpected Outcome

Note: I've started recording these sessions instead of keeping handwritten notes. It seems this has caused my character journal to become much more detailed!
___________________________

My thoughts turned aside from concerns over moral issues as Re-Horakhty's fiery barque rose over the City of Brass on the following day. Liadan spend the morning praying fervently to Lathander, arming herself with his blessings against the might of the efreet captain she would duel. I had said my own prayers for her safety to Corellon at moonrise.

When the sun stood high overhead we made our way from Halashahn's quarters to the Court of Sunless Souls. The palace grounds were more populous than on the previous day. It seemed that word of Kamaree's challenge had spread, for many of his folk roamed about, staring openly at our little band as we passed them by. We did not return their stares, not wishing to be waylaid in our progress toward the courtyard.

Halashahn had not been able to accompany us, fearing that his presence might undermine the delicate negotiations he undertook, but he had courteously sent one of his aides to accompany us. This may have assisted us in proceeding through the palace grounds without impediment.

As we neared our destination, we saw that innumerable efreeti-kind were flying above the courtyard. Other creatures of fiery nature had also made their presence known. One such approached us near the courtyard entrance, a being with the torso of a man clad in metallic garments and a serpentine tail. We had fought with one of his ilk on our way toward the city. Standing near him was like unto entering a fiery forge.

This creature, a salamander from the Plane of Fire so I am told, bowed courteously to Liadan and greeted her in a hissing voice like water cast on a white-hot bar of iron. He remarked to her that his master - presumably the envoy from the Plane of Fire who had come to hire the services of the Caliph's army - was most interested in the outcome of her combat. He then wished her an interesting fight. To this Liadan replied, "Some might consider that a curse." The salamander answered, "And some might not," then bowed and sinuously withdrew.

Kamaree awaited Liadan impatiently within the courtyard. He was arrayed for battle in finely crafted armor and wielded a handsome if somewhat ostentatious sword. Halashahn had told us that this sword had a reputation for slaying Kamaree's enemies, and also that the efreet captain was known to prefer hand-to-hand combat rather than using his innate ability to fly to attack his enemies at range.

He attempted to push Liadan into combat at once, trying to goad her with his disdainful attitude. He continued to insist that she must 'pay' for dishonoring his family by blinding his brother, and ignored her words when she again attempted to convince him that she had merely bested his sibling in equal combat. But she would not be perturbed by his aggression. She calmly stepped to one side and began to summon Lathander's blessings to herself, murmuring prayers over her mace and shield.

Though she had permitted Erim to ward her against the extreme heat on route to the courtyard, she had asked him to dismiss the spell's effect and to examine her for any hostile magics before entering the area. She did not rise to Kamaree's baiting but continued to concentrate on her connection to her deity. Kamaree stood close by and stared intently at her, trying to determine what effects Lathander's blessings were extending to her.

At that moment I think that Baran, Nekaya-Re and myself all realized at once that Kamaree had an advantage in that he had not yet declared his readiness to proceed. He could continue to delay the beginning of the duel, thus causing Liadan's spells to lose their effectiveness. Nekaya-Re quickly remarked on this to Liadan, and then turned to Kamaree and asked him if he was ready to begin. The efreet disregarded her words and addressed himself to Liadan.

Nekaya-Re then demanded again to know whether Kamaree was ready, to which he responded, "The next time I hear your tongue wag, woman, it will be as my slave!" Nekaya-Re laughed, and I nearly did so myself. Liadan then pressed him to declare whether he was ready. He seemed irritated by her awareness of his attempted subterfuge. At last he stated that if she would come to the center of the courtyard, she might complete her divine preparations and then three breaths later they would employ potions, after which the duel would begin.

Liadan had been overshadowed by the efreet's not-inconsiderable stature, but she now enlarged herself so that while she was not of equal height to Kamaree, he at least did not tower over her. Her mace and shield glowed with an energy I can only describe as positive. In her shining armor she was nearly as bright as the fiery beings that looked on.

When she had completed her preparations, Kamaree then drew two potions from his belt pouch. They did not resemble the type of potion Halashahn had described as commonly used by duelists here. Liadan did not consume any potions of her own. She was already equipped with all of the magical accessories we could provide her, including two enchanted stones circling her head, one of her own and one courtesy of Nekaya-Re, and my ring that would permit her to avoid being grappled should Kamaree attempt to pinion her.

Once both potions had been consumed, Kamaree announced that he was ready and Liadan replied in kind. Kamaree lunged toward Liadan, brandishing his ornate blade. But Liadan was the swifter of the two. She surrounded herself with the warm brilliance of Lathander's aura, then sent a blast of radiance at the efreet that visibly wounded him.

Kamaree then produced another vial of liquid and splashed it on Liadan. I saw no visible effect, and the efreet appeared dismayed that nothing obvious had occurred. Liadan then surged forward, swinging her mace. It met the efreet's flesh with a bright flash of Lathander's radiance. Kamaree was staggered by the force of her blow.

Kamaree rose up from the ground slightly and struck Liadan with his scimitar, but his first blow failed to meet her. His next attacks did not miss their mark, however. He was obviously a skilled warrior. Flares of flame accompanied his strikes, though the flames seemed to wash over Liadan without scorching her. Kamaree's expression turned to a scowl.

Liadan plied her mace again twice more and followed by slamming her shield against her foe. This time her weapons did not flare with light, but lightning sparked from her shield. Kamaree was obviously dismayed by having failed to adequately assess the strength of his opponent. He drew back from Liadan, and stated, "I forfeit. Do you accept?"

Liadan accepted his forfeit, and the efreet swep rapidly out of the courtyard, rushing past Liadan to reach the gate. I pressed myself back against the wall, seeing no good to antagonizing him by blocking his path as he exited. I had little doubt that he would send his underlings against us in an attempt to regain the honor he perceived that he had lost.

The other efreeti watching above let a collective gasp of startlement at his defeat. More efreeti appeared still to be arriving, having expected the contest to continue for a greater period of time. There was a great sense of confusion.

Liadan reduced her size to its normal proportion and received congratulations from Halashahn's aide, who also appeared quite impressed by her victory. He invited us to return to the ambassador's quarters for refreshments, though Halashahn might be unable to attend us for some time. As we departed, he assured us that Kamaree's men should not trouble us, for he felt that Kamaree had issued his challenge because his men would not fight us. The efreet had expected them to have tested us, and the fact that they did not brought shame to his military unit. Because he had failed to best Liadan, they would not take his honor by besting a foe that he could not.

As we departed the courtyard we observed the salamander we had previously encountered watching us. The other denizens of the palace looked at us strangely as we passed, some of them obviously startled to see Liadan for they had expected her to be involved in the duel still. Others appeared to be making some thoughtful assessment of our party, as though we had now become worthy of their notice.

Liadan summoned Lathander's healing aura and her wounds knitted in an instant, leaving her almost as tidy as if the contest had never taken place. When we arrived at Halashahn's quarters another of his aids magically mended her clothing and removed the minor stains, making her truly appear as she had before. We were extended an invitation to remain until Halashahn's return, though it might take some time for him to conclude his business for the day.

Then Baran asked if we might have a tour of the palace, obviously desiring to make our presence further known in the wake of the duel and its unanticipated result. To this the aide agreed and we departed the ambassador's quarters.

We found that in some areas of the palace even the company of the ambassador's aide was not sufficient to give us access. We could only see the White Fire Gardens from a distance. I suspect that though we could see many different colors of flame in the fires, we were not capable of perceiving the garden's nuances as the denizens of the city could.

Among other sights we came upon aside from the gardens were sculpture gardens filled with shapes of molten brass. Numerous unusual creatures of fire could be seen following the paths about the palace structures, which are themselves impressive in their immense scale. At one point we came upon several efreeti escorting a being whose flesh seemed to be made of flames, clothing a skeleton of gold or brass. We also found a menagerie of fire creatures, and another of beasts that to the fiery folk must have seemed quite exotic, coming from climes where fire and heat were not the natural state.

In time the quantity of impressive sights became too much for our senses to bear and we grew weary. As we turned our path back toward Halashahn's quarters, we found ourselves faced once more by the same salamander we had encountered outside the Court of Sunless Souls. He greeted us with a curious phrase, "Greetings of the terrestrial day to you".

Halashahn's aide withdrew a short distance while we conversed with the salamander. When Liadan remarked that the palace was impressive, the salamander commented that he had seen much greater in the true City of Brass, which lies in the Plane of Fire. Nekaya-Re then said, "Somehow I think that we would be even less welcome in the Plane of Fire than we are here", to which the salamander answered, "Not if you had the proper contacts."

Five other salamanders, some of them smaller in stature than the one who spoke with us, approached as we conversed. One of them was particularly elegantly attired, which led me to suspect that this was the envoy of whom we had heard.

Nekaya-Re then stated that to her knowledge the Plane of Fire would be inimical to our existence. The salamander replied that his people are able to care for those they invite to their realm. To this Nekaya-Re said, "I believe that we have other paths to tread that will not lead us to the realm of Fire."

"It is not my place to invite you," said the salamander. "But should you find yourself there or find a reason to go, I would highly recommend it." He then pardoned himself and departed.

Our attention was drawn to the salamander leading the group that approached us. He spoke to Liadan, telling her that never in his memory had a general of the Caliph's army yielded so quickly during a duel. He asked us to walk with him, though of course such a creature does not walk.

As we began to move again he introduced himself as Lord Fwaash, and included some honorific in his own tongue that none of us could understand. Lord Fwaash then questioned Liadan regarding our reasons for visiting the Caliph's palace. He had heard rumor of our desire to have audience with one of the Caliph's prisoners. He then told us that he sought assistance in a conflict in his home plane, requiring a force of some size or agents of some power. Liadan wished him luck in this endeavor.

Lord Fwaash then began to comment on the size of the Caliph's army and how long the Caliph had been preparing. He asked us what the outside world knew of the Caliph's army and the threat it posed, to which Liadan replied that her homeland is far away, and Nekaya-Re explained that her people are consumed by warfare of their own. I offered my own opinion that humans are most often concerned with threats they perceive as immediate, and because the Caliph's army had attacked no one yet it was not seen as such a threat.

To this Lord Fwaash then suggested that the leaders of our homelands might be interested in what we could tell them of the Caliph's army. What quantity of warriors, he wanted to know, would constitute a threat to the peoples of other lands?

Liadan and Nekaya-Re answered that it was not so much the number of soldiers he could field as his actions that would seem threatening. Lord Fwaash wanted to know if the leaders of Calimshan would be interested in what we had seen there. We explained to him that the leaders of that country would have little reason to listen to us, for we are not people of importance as such things are judged in Calimshan.

He seemed surprised that we felt we would not be taken seriously by those in power. Despite his alien origins the salamander appears to be a shrewd judge of character, for he recognized that our goals are not selfish. He then sought information regarding our purpose in desiring to speak with Osaze Mumbai. I spoke then and told him that we merely wished to convey some information to Osaze in which he would be interested, and afterward we intended to contact another acquaintance of Liadan's father - by which of course I meant the dragon, though I did not say so.

He asked us then if we would be interested in an opportunity to travel to exotic places. Liadan told him that our own affairs would not lead us to that path, and I added that we felt some sense of urgency in conducting those affairs. When he stated that he hoped soon to depart with an army, Nekaya-Re told him that we also hoped he would do so. To this Lord Fwaash commented that it was unfortunate he must deal with the current Caliph, Phereteim, for he had reason to believe that Phereteim's successor would be more amenable to lending the salamander his army and they would then depart the Material Plane for many generations of human lives.

Our conversation turned to our desire to meet with Osaze, and we explained to him as we have to others that we only wish to speak with Osaze, not to meet with the Caliph; nor do we desire to carry Osaze away from the City of Brass. Lord Fwaash then took his leave of us with the wish that we would soon see enlightenment in the matters of which he had spoken previously.

When we had taken our leave of the salamander lord, we were met by a page who informed us that Prince Jafar had invited us to meet him on the following evening.

We returned to Halashahn's quarters to find that a package had been left for us, a box of bronze sent by Lord Fwaash. We asked our hosts what meaning a gift from a salamander might have. We were told that salamanders do not ordinarily give gifts and were merely imitating the customs of other lands. The gift was evidently meant to gain our goodwill. Liadan opened the box to find that it was filled with red sand, on which lay two very large and handsome rubies and a ring of rare red gold. Erim determined that the ring radiated a strong magical aura, imparting to the wearer the ability to withstand the heat of flames.
____________________________
Quips & Quotes:
Jubilee: "I'm not gonna stop and chat with the salamander. He makes the room all stuffy."

sniffles: "She shall taunt him (Kamaree) until he behaves foolishly!"
Jubilee: "I think he's already behaving foolishly."

Devo: "If you want to keep using 3.5 broken spells, that's fine."
Jubilee: "At least until 4.0 comes out. Then you can only use 4.0 broken spells."

Jubilee: "You want us to have a tour of the palace when Zora & patv aren't here?" (both players were unable to attend this session)
Devo: "Yeah, you don't see anything of interest."

Jubilee: "I'm trying to figure out how to gain the Caliph's respect so he'd grant us an audience, but I can't really figure out how. Maybe if we killed and ate some puppies."
sniffles: "Maybe if we killed and ate some djanni or something. I don't really want to eat djanni, though. They'd be too hot."

Jubilee: "I'm not going to start fights with people just over being evil."
sniffles: "You're not playing your paladin right!"

 

[Hedrin]

We did not return their stairs, not wishing to be waylaid in our progress toward the courtyard.

We stoop to keeping their stairs. We might need them to go up a level.



Hedrin (plays Liadan in the game.)

 

[sniffles]

No comments from the peanut gallery!

And for anyone who's interested: the actual combat with Kamaree only took 2 and 1/2 rounds to resolve!

 

[sniffles]

A Momentous Evening

Author's note: I'm now inserting the quips & quotes in the text where they occurred, but they're s-blocked.
------------------------------

As we remained in the ambassador's quarters awaiting his return, our relaxing sojourn was interrupted by commanding voices from the antechamber. A group of heavily armed efreeti entered the rooms and took up positions throughout Halashan's residence, paying no attention to us.

These guards exchanged words with Halashan's aide, but they spoke in the tongue of their native plane and only Erim could comprehend their words. He reported that some mention was made of a privilege having been revoked, a statement that sounded rather ominous to my ears.
[sblock]Zora: "Are they talking, like, buffet privileges?"[/sblock]

Halashan's aide approached us and explained that it might be wiser if we repaired to some other location. We thanked him and quickly took our leave of the ambassador's rooms. A palace servant was summoned to guide us to the gates.

Having no better place to turn our steps toward, we returned to the inn at which we had stayed our first nights in the city. Fortunately space was still available there. We found that as we passed through the palace and down to the inn, we were met with looks of appraisal or appreciation more so than we had been previously. It seems that Liadan's reputation has spread.
[sblock]
Jubilee: "All these evil people make me uncomfortable."
Devo: "That's about 98% of the population."
Jubilee: "I know. And I can't smite them!"
[/sblock]
On the following day at the appointed hour we took carriages to the palace once again. During our journey we observed an increase in the number of djanni in uniform performing military maneuvers. It is impressive to see these beings flying in formation - but knowing what is purportedly the Caliph's intent in forming such an army, the sight is also disturbing

We were led by a servant through the palace's many passages to the sumptuous rooms of Minister Jafar. I was surprised that we were permitted in the prince's presence fully armed, but I suspect the many alcoves lining the chambers were occupied by concealed guards.

The prince's quarters are ornately decorated with gold and stonework of rare quality. We were conducted into the prince's audience chamber and summoned to a dais, where the prince sat on a throne-like seat. One of his guards stepped forward and announced him with a long honorific in the language of fiery creatures, which of course I could not understand. Liadan then introduced all of the members of our group.

He is taller than most of the efreeti I have seen thus far, as well as less condescending in manner. He greeted us pleasantly and with a certain enthusiasm, confiding that he was restless and looked forward to our meeting. Liadan responded by saying that she hoped our visit would amuse him and our gift would be looked upon with favor.

When Liadan had presented him with the beholder blade, he appeared to be pleased with the gift and encouraged us to tell him how we came to possess the item,inviting us to walk with him as the tale was recounted. Liadan began the story, and completed it with Nekaya-Re's assistance. Baran, Erim and I merely followed along in silence as the prince strolled through his quarters, nodding and asking many questions about the narrative.

I noted that my friends carefully avoided speaking the name of our guide Khai or telling where he came from, and remained circumspect about certain events that had occurred in the eye tyrant's subterranean stronghold. It chafes me to practice subterfuge, but it is unwise to be too open in this place.
[sblock]
Devo: "One of the guards is carrying the mouth sword."
Jubilee: "I hope he doesn't trip!"
[/sblock]
As we progressed through the prince's apartments, we came to a chamber wherein he displayed his collection of exotic weapons. The prince had cleverly timed our arrival at this chamber to coincide with the conclusion of our tale.

His collection is quite extensive, displaying items from many different parts of the world, and likely even from other planes of existence. He has possession already of a weapon such as the one we had presented to him, but it is in poor condition by comparison to our gift. Part of the blade had been obviously repaired. Among the other weapons he showed us appeared a blade that had belonged to a paladin of Torm in Liadan's estimation. It emitted a slight humming sound when the prince approached it. When Nekaya-Re asked how he came by it, the prince told her that it had been recovered long ago after its wielder had sacrificed himself to rescue another person from another dimension.
[sblock]
Devo: "In a crystal case you see a bastard sword that clearly is associated with the church of… stalling until I find the name."
[/sblock]
Liadan then asked the prince if his collection contained any items dedicated to Lathander. The prince showed us to a dagger of the variety that may be sheathed on the inner face of a shield or buckler. The blade was clearly associated with the Morninglord, but the grip did not appear to be original to the weapon. Sadly he had no knowledge of the blade's origin.

We were then invited to join the prince for refreshments. He led us to another chamber, which like all of the rooms in the palace was out of proportion to our size, though the custom of sitting on cushions rather than chairs alleviated this difference of height somewhat. We were served an assortment of exotic fruits and mulled wine.

When we had expressed proper appreciation of his collection, our conversation turned to the system of justice which he administers here. Then the prince broached the subject of our presence in the city and our reason for coming to this place. Liadan expressed our desire to speak with Osaze Mumbai, carefully avoiding any remark that might lead the prince to believe we intend to attempt a rescue - for Prince Jafar is after all the Minister of Crime for the Caliph's court.

The prince was most courteous, but he wasted no time in informing us that he believed our goal to be unattainable. But we did not relent in our determination to seek an audience with Osaze. Erim asked if there was any manner by which we could gain the Caliph's favor in order to gain our desire. To this the prince stated that he could think of little we could offer, but perhaps if we remain patient we might find an opportunity, for the Caliph is subject to capricious moods.

At this point the Star Ruby we had acquired was brought forth by Baran and displayed for the prince's appraisal, for we hope that this item will attract the Caliph's interest. Jafar agreed that this might be worthy of the Caliph's attention, but that it must be presented at an opportune moment, else the Caliph might see it as a bribe and take offense. The prince then offered to bring it to the Caliph's attention himself. No doubt this will benefit him as much as ourselves, but we will chance this if it will improve our likelihood of gaining an audience.

In the course of this discussion, the prince happened to mention that it is he who is the most likely successor to the Caliph. I should not have taken note of this had I not recalled Lord Fwaash mentioning to us that the Caliph's successor would likely be amenable to removing the efreeti army to the Plane of Fire for many lives of Men.

Prince Jafar confided to us that it would be unlikely we would have an opportunity to gain audience with the Caliph in less than a week's time, which appreared to us to be quite satisfactory. Our chances of meeting Osaze appeared to have drastically improved.

We then parted company with the prince, expressing our gratitude to him for his assistance, and made our exit from the palace once more.
[sblock]
Hedrin: "Can we get a doggy bag?"
Zora: "We all leave quickly and tell the waitress that Pakkin is paying for dinner."
[/sblock]
As a servant escorted us toward the gates, Baran murmured to us through our enchanted rings that we should be doubly on our guard, for we had now revealed that we are in possession of an item of great value. Erim argues that we need not have sought Jafar's aid in gaining access to the Caliph. He believes we could merely have mentioned the jewel to the prince and he would tell the Caliph of its presence within the city.

We began to discuss whether we ought to seek out Halashan and inquire as to his status. Erim is also convinced that it was our presence that led to the djinn ambassador's apparent difficulties. The rest of us are not so certain, but we elected not to approach Halashan's quarters and instead continued our progress toward the gate.

Another servant then approached our guide, who came to a halt. This second servant then announced to us that an invitation had been extended to us to dine with the Caliph! Shocked and startled, we accepted without hesitation - except perhaps for Erim, who appeared reluctant.

The servant escorted us then to a section of the palace we had not visited previously, where we were conducted to a pair of suites even more opulent than any chamber we had visited. We were offered the services of a palace tailor to provide us with suitable attire.

As the servant explained to us at what time the gong for dinner would sound, I experienced a curious sensation, which I recognized as the residue of some magical effect. I resisted an attempt by some person to intrude other thoughts upon my own. The servant then informed us that he had been asked to tell us that tonight was not a night for presentations. Baran appeared rather confused by this. Nekaya-Re was obliged to ask him to wait until later so that she might explain the intent of the servant's statement.
[sblock]
Zora: "What does he mean by 'tonight's not the night for presentations'?"
Jubilee: "He said not to bring the laptop and the Power Point. It's not time for that kind of presentation. The caliph hates family video slide shows."
[/sblock]
Erim asked then if someone might elaborate upon the appropriate customs of the court, to which the servant replied rather disdainfully that someone would be sent to us for this purpose. When the servant departed, Nekay-Re explained to Baran the meaning of the servant's advice.

Then an efreet who appeared quite aged entered the chamber, accompanied by several humans - among the few we had seen within the palace proper. The tailor asked each of us many questions regarding our preferences in clothing, which he directed his human assistants to take note of. When he had concluded these interviews, the garments appeared at once. I realized that Erim had told us on our arrival in the city that efreet are capable of granting the wishes of other beings. It appears that they maintain human servants of their own for the purpose of making wishes that they may grant! What a curious culture.

A courtier had also arrived to explain court etiquette to us, and we were advised that we would not be permitted to wear any type of armor unless we were members of a recognized military organization. Baran was rather put out by the thought of leaving his armor in the room, for he has long worn an enchanted ring that permits him to sleep whilst wearing his armor and he feels most comfortable in its embrace. But he was persuaded that for this occasion he must make an exception to his customary attire. He also learned that he must make exception to his usual lack of need to eat or drink.
[sblock]
patv: "I just say I'll take whatever he (the tailor) thinks is appropriate."
Devo: "So the Princess Leia slave girl outfit?"
patv: "I don't think anybody would want to see that."
Zora: "I just don't look."
Hedrin: "I can blind everyone in a line."
Jubilee: "Everyone form a line!"
Zora: "You're aiming too high. I jump up."
[/sblock]
Once we had bathed and dressed in our new princely garments, we took our leave of Pakkin, whom we had determined would do better left behind, and followed more servants to an antechamber to meet the Caliph's other dinner guests. Naturally for this occasion we were obliged to leave all weapons behind, even daggers. Nekaya-Re even chose to have Sunshine remain behind to avoid giving offense. We were each announced as we entered by the names and titles we had given to the courtier.
[sblock]
Jubilee: "Did I get something to match my feathered blue cloak of charisma?"
Devo: "No. But you could have it refitted."
Jubilee: "No, I don't want to make the tailor mad."
Devo: "He can do it three times a day."
Jubilee: "What, he can get mad three times a day?"
[/sblock]
We found ourselves amid a group of efreet - no other guests were representatives of our kindred, nor of any sort of being other than those native to the Plane of Fire. Ambassador Halashan was conspicuously absent. We spread ourselves about the room, observing that Lord Fwaash was the only guest present with whom we were already acquainted. The murmur of many voices was loud, for the size of the efreet causes their voices to carry further than those of less massive creatures.
[sblock]
Zora: "I'm going to stand at the edge of the room and hate people."
Hedrin: "Rock's all about the hate."
[/sblock]
I stood beside my friend Baran while Liadan and Nekaya-Re made a circuit of the room. It became apparent that Lord Fwaash was casually slithering toward them. They paused to converse with the salamander noble, though I could not quite make out their words. They confided later that Fwaash again brought up the topic of visiting the Plane of Fire. The salamander appears to be quite interested in garnering our cooperation.

After some while a servant announced that dinner was served and we were conducted into a vast, opulent dining room occupied by a tremendously long banquet table. We were not seated as a group at the table, but found that each of us had an efreet seated beside us. This made for somewhat uncomfortable dinner conversation, for the efreet appeared unwilling to speak anything other than their native tongue, and it is obvious they consider creatures of the Material Plane beneath their notice.
[sblock]
Jubilee: "I'm waiting to smite the guy next to me if he takes the last morsel I want."
[/sblock]
The caliph arrived, accompanied by several female efreet, whose like we had not seen before. The other guests bowed but did not rise, and I followed their example. The Caliph then clapped his hands and announced that the meal should begin. The servants surged forward to offer various viands. The Caliph also announced that in the presence of outlanders it was permissible to speak in the human tongue.
[sblock]
Devo: "The caliph has some female efreets with him."
Hedrin: "Efreetas."
Devo: "Six efreetatas."
[/sblock]
The meal was made up of a variety of exotic dishes the like of which I have never encountered before. I shall not endeavor to describe them here. In truth I have forgotten what most of them were, though Liadan and Nekaya-Re questioned one of our neighbors about the cuisine.

The Caliph spoke, and I turned to attend his words as the courtier had advised. He looked toward the far end of the table, and I followed his gaze. Another human attired as a servant had entered the chamber, an older man who moved somewhat stiffly as though suffering from some injury or perhaps the effects of advancing age. He bowed toward the Caliph, to which the Caliph responded by saying, "This lowest of my servants. Make yourself useful."

I realized with a shock that this must be Osaze Mumbai.

 

[sniffles]

Danger at the Dinner Table

Following this recognition, I found it difficult to keep my mind on the dinner conversation or on my food. Nor could I keep my gaze from straying to Osaze as he passed along the opposite side of the broad table. Baran reminded us on more than one occasion to be wary of attracting the Caliph's attention, but my interest would not be denied. My task was made more difficult by the indifference of my neighbors, who appeared to elect to converse with one another mind-to-mind rather than speak to me or my friends.

Osaze bowed deeply to the Caliph, then moved to serve the individual seated nearest his position. It appeared to me that Osaze was most pleased to be acting as a mere table servant to the efreet. He behaved as though this occupation gave him the utmost contentment. I have never before seen a man who seemed so at peace.

But he spoke no word as he conducted his service, merely smiling and nodding when Liadan addressed him, and gesturing toward her silver hair to indicate his recognition of her relation to Covenant.

After some little while of this silent acknowledgement by Osaze, the Caliph appeared irritated. For a moment I wondered if perhaps Osaze's silence was by his own choice, to teach the Caliph a salutary lesson in self-restraint. The Caliph, with growing ire, berated Osaze for mistreating his guests, though I could not see how his behavior could be interpreted thus. The efreet threatened then to have the holy man beaten for impertinence.

I felt the eyes of many of the guests upon us at that point, and a strained silence descended upon the table. The Caliph seemed most displeased with Osaze, and perhaps somewhat disappointed, as though something did not meet his expectations. Then two guards began to approach Osaze.

Liadan rose, bowing politely toward the Caliph. Prince Jafar spoke to the Caliph, remarking that the Caliph's behavior was upsetting his guests. Liadan bowed once again and resumed her seat. I began to suspect that the Caliph was a being who could not master his own feelings and let his subjects suffer his whims.

Phaereteim glared at Liadan for a long moment with great distaste and a certain petulance. He then became most solicitous of us. He turned to Osaze and told him that he removed all geases and restrictions from the holy man, asking Osaze, "Am I not generous?"

To this Osaze replied, "A farmer who gives a sheep to a neighbor whose flock he has slain is not generous. Yet he has still done the right thing."

The Caliph glared at Osaze for a moment, then turned to look toward my friends and I. He told us that he saw no danger in permitting us to leave, and that we should conclude our business and depart before it became inconvenient. He gave us his permission to ask our questions of Osaze.

Though I was troubled by the thought of being obliged to speak with him in such a public manner, Liadan did not appear to suffer such fears. As soon as Osaze indicated that he was now able to converse with us, Liadan explained to him that Covenant and his companions had not been heard from for half a year, and we wished to gain access to her father's journal to learn more of what it was that he sought and why.

[sblock] Devo: "Osaze says he's glad to meet the daughter of his best friend."
Hedrin: "I was wondering if he'd know."
Devo: "It's the hair."
Zora: "And her father's propensity for fooling around with women."
patv: "That diary is really a little black book."[/sblock]

Osaze then replied that Liadan should be capable of accessing the journal in the same manner that her father could. She explained to him that we had already seen Madu el Barake but had not been able to view the journal. Osaze held her hands for a brief moment and told her that she should now be able to reach the journal.

The conversation then turned to information that Osaze would have given to Covenant had they met before Covenant's departure to seek the dragon. He told us that in the history of the Gauntlet of Dawn, it had been charged with energy of light by a Soldier of Light, which we knew to be how certain servants of Elishar are called - Nekaya-Re is one such servant herself. As it seems Osaze is also.

Nekaya-Re then told him of the old blind man we had encountered in Arrabar, who is also such a servant of Elishar. When Osaze had heard this he was pleased that the old man still lived.

He then imparted to us a verse which he had learned, which may be of import to Covenant's quest. I transcribe it here:

Four of blood
One of sight
Did fill the dawn
In all sun's light

He explained that the Gauntlet might also be filled with light by gods of light such as Re-Harakhty or Lathander himself. Nekaya-Re told him briefly of our visit to the Twelve Hours of Night. Osaze then recounted to us that according to a story he had discovered, the Gauntlet is bound to a chain, or a chain to the Gauntlet, though he can make little of this information at present.

He was even more perplexed by another passage, which he told us he believed we would use ourselves rather than seeking to pass it on to Covenant.

Three hands against the Shadows
Who strike from below against heart and magic
Stand still, locked away with a terrible purpose
Defending the dread not-sword
From gate's opening and triumphant return.

He emphasized carefully that the words he spoke were "dread not-sword" and not, as we had previously heard, Sword of the Dreadnaught. This was quite a revelation to all of us. As I considered this, Osaze told us that Covenant's quest had become far more important with the rising of the Shadows such as those we had encountered in Arrabar.

[sblock]Zora: "Okay, so it says, 'blah blah against we're boned, blah blah, we'll never understand this, blah blah blah boned screwed we're so boned blah blah.'"

Devo: "Osaze says, 'Your father is a great man. What he did, he did for the light.'"
patv: "That's what he tells all his girlfriends."[/sblock]

Liadan explained to Osaze that we next intend to visit the dragon to determine what has become of Covenant and his companions. Osaze warned us that the dragon would not be pleased with visitors. He then wished us good fortune in our endeavor, and turned toward the Caliph as though listening to something, though the efreet did not speak aloud.

It became apparent that our conversation was at an end. Our fellow guests began to converse more freely, though they had returned to speaking in their native tongue. Their glances often turned toward my companions and I with greater interest than they had previously shown, but they did not address their words to us.

I found the remainder of the dinner unnerving, for the Caliph continued to watch us with great interest, smiling to himself in a manner that disturbed me. I attempted to distract myself from my discomfort by listening to the tales of the only female efreet seated there, an adventuress of some sort who had been invited to dine after having presented some ancient relic to the Caliph. I pray that my friends will never let me prate on so about my own deeds.

Osaze made one more circuit of the table before we parted, and I spoke with him briefly of my beloved Erendis, whom he knows. I confessed to him then that I feared I should not see her again until we meet in the halls of Arvandor. His faith heartened me.

We took our leave when the other guests retired to another room to hear an epic poem recited. Once we had returned to the rooms where Pakkin awaited us, we prepared the gem to be sent to Prince Jafar - though Baran was doubtful that it was wise for us to give the gem to the prince, wondering if perhaps it might serve us in some future endeavor. But we had made an agreement to present the gem to Jafar, and I agreed with Liadan that perhaps his good will might also serve us in some future endeavor.

We dressed in our ordinary garments and prepared to leave the palace, resolving to return to the inn, gather our possessions, and make our departure from the city with all speed. But before we could make our exit from the palace we were approached by one of Lord Fwaash's associates seeking an audience.

The salamander offered us a different means of egress from the Caliph's lands: safe passage through the Plane of Fire. But he sought for us first to listen to an offer of employment.

[sblock] Devo: "The salamander offers you safe passage through the Plane of Fire."
sniffles: "But at what price?"
Devo: "He'd like you to attend a meeting."
Hedrin: "He has these condominiums he'd like to talk to us about…"[/sblock]

Though we were concerned that the capricious Caliph might send his men in pursuit of us, we declined the salamander's offer. As Liadan described it wisely, we feared that our philosophy and theirs would come into conflict. The salamander insisted that this would not be the case, but we none of us felt comfortable accepting service among the creatures of Fire. Liadan bluntly told the salamander that we did not trust his kind, thanked Lord Fwaash for his offer, and the discussion was ended.

When we had given the gem to a servant to deliver to Jafar, we left the palace. Many eyes seemed to follow us as we made our way to the gate. It appeared to me that the number of guards had increased, but they made no move to delay us. I wished greatly that I was astride Aratan, speeding out of the city at a full gallop.

Despite our apprehension, when one of the djanni approached us we paused to speak with him. He asked us if we needed a carriage, then told us where we could meet two carriages a short distance away. The wait seemed long, but no one approached us as we waited and after a time the carriages did arrive to carry us to the lower city.

As we arrived at the inn, Baran employed his ability to contact others over long distance to notify Khai that we would be returning to him. We arranged to meet him where we had last seen him. Though it was night, we nonetheless bade the innkeeper farewell. He had already prepared our belongings for our departure.

We asked that the carriages carry us to the edge of the city and proceeded steadily toward the field of fiery pillars. Erim prepared us to resist the rigors of the desert by cloaking us all in an enchantment to protect us from flames. I felt a sense of comfort beneath the light of the moons, though only the red moon was fully in view, casting a blood-tinged light upon the shifting sands.

As the pillars of flame drew nearer, Baran heard something approaching from behind us.

[sblock]Zora: "Now I roll crap!"
sniffles: "Don't roll crap - roll dice, please."[/sblock]

Twenty efreet flew toward us, garbed as soldiers. They surrounded us. The dark sands lit with the sun's rays as Sunshine emerged from within Nekaya-Re's bag. Nekaya-Re called out to them, asking why they approached us.

The efreeti began shouting and brandishing their halberds, obviously attempting to cow us. They began to fire bolts of flame at us. We stood our ground, declining to engage them - though in truth we were not well-equipped for combating flying creatures. Fortunately Erim's spell meant that their flaming bolts did us no harm.

After a few moments, we turned away without response and continued our journey. We proceeded without haste, ignoring the efreeti and their taunts. Baran encouraged us to stay close to him and I felt a sense of inner strength from my friend that fortified my resolve.

Our pursuers were evidently satisfied that we were leaving and lost interest in attempting to attack us. But they continued to follow us for a short time, until we had almost entered the field of pillars. Then they ceased following and returned to the city.

Baran was able to use our previous experience among the pillars to best advantage and we passed among them with relative ease, dodging the attacks of the obsidian pillars and their flaming neighbors and avoiding the gusts of wind that threatened to carry us off. It was not long before we found Khai awaiting us at the peak of a dune.

Praise Corellon, now we may continue to seek my beloved.

 

[sniffles]

Return to Calimport

Our return to Calimport was no less dangerous than our journey to the City of Brass. But without tumbling into the eye tyrants' lair it was far less eventful and I will not chronicle our minor travails here.

As we neared the city walls, Khai announced that he would go no further. After a brief handclasp with Baran, he took his leave of us and vanished into the dunes.

Liadan was eager to avail ourselves of an inn after our many days in the desert. I must confess I too looked forward to some measure of comfort that did not involve heat and sand. It was a pleasure to divest myself of the desert garb I had worn for so many days.

Once we had refreshed ourselves, I repaired to the temple of Lathanul to reunite myself with Aratan. I had not realized how much I missed his company until he was in my presence. To my joy he was well and hale, as were my friends' mounts. The priests had cared for them admirably. It is my hope that I will not need to be separated from him again until his brief life comes to its natural conclusion.

Once I had assured myself that my brave steed had not forgotten me during my absence, I rejoined Baran and we accompanied Nekay-Re to the temple of Elishar. We arrived to find that the temple's fortunes had improved while we were away. Though the crowd of supplicants was by no means large, previous to our departure the temple had boasted of few adherents other than the aged high priest Sutan and his family. Now a number of other folk gathered there to celebrate Elishar's light, and the temple walls had been newly whitewashed to reflect the rays of the hot desert sun.

[sblock] sniffles: "The temple of Lathanul doesn't need any remodeling."
Devo: "The gold is only an inch thick on the walls!" [/sblock]

Nekaya-Re happily greeted the high priest and his children and was introduced to two new acolytes who had taken service in the temple before the dawn service began. Sutan appeared to be somewhat infirm and his son Horace performed the ceremony in his stead. After the service the members of the congregation came forward to greet Nekaya-Re and accorded her much respect.

Sutan showed concern when Nekaya-Re told him of Osaze's relationship to Elishar and his current mission in the City of Brass. The concept of sainthood is foreign to me, but I concur with their assessment of Osaze as a living saint.

[sblock] Devo: "Nekaya was the fire that revitalized the temple."
sniffles: "We didn't start the fire."

Jubilee: "Nekaya's not that bossy, Mr. Task Leader."
Zora: "Task Master…"
Devo: "…bater…" [/sblock]

Liadan sent a message to Madu el-Barake to advise him of our return and seek an appointment during which she could attempt to access her father's journal. Madu responded immediately that he was delighted to hear of our arrival, and that he would welcome a visit from us at our earliest convenience. Having arranged to meet him for dinner, we prepared ourselves and took our mounts for a pleasurable ride to his manse.

Our dinner was much smaller and more intimate than our previous dining experience with Madu. We told him in detail of our adventures in the desert and what we had experienced in the city of the efreet. Madu was naturally concerned to hear of the state of the Caliph's army, and asked that we be willing to relate our tale once again to persons of influence of his acquaintance, to which we readily agreed.

Madu had also made some steps toward seeking the release of the elven warrior whose armor I had purchased before our departure. He had succeeded in finding someone who could speak with this man, and had learned a startling piece of information: it is Ruathar Allienthe Mi'Lamber, one of the heroes of Evereska, and he came to this land in search of my wife!

Affairs must be dire indeed in the Hidden Hills if Ruathar has come so far to seek Erendis. It pains me that I cannot go at once to the aid of my homeland. But the information Osaze has given us, and that which is held within Covenant's journal, lead me on another path. I still shall protect my home, but I cannot do so by standing sentry among the great trees.

Sadly Madu has been unable to persuade the slave master to release Ruathar into his care. I would that I could free him myself, but it seems that mere gold is not sufficient, nor would it be right to slay the slaveholder, no matter how offensive I find his deeds. Madu has assured me he will continue to seek some means of releasing Ruathar from his onerous bondage.

When we had dined, Madu escorted us to Osaze's room so that Liadan could open the compartment wherein the holy man kept her father's journals. When she had opened the wards that protected the compartment, she found within it several items of clothing, her father's tattered journal, and a glowing crystalline vial of liquid.

[sblock] Devo: "You see a worn blue fabric bundle."
Patv: "Does it have a red S on it by any chance?" [/sblock]

The tiny vial proved to be an item of interest, for when Nekaya-Re laid hands upon it she suddenly began to weep. For some moments she would not respond to us and seemed lost in a deep sorrow.

[sblock] Devo: "Nekaya starts crying."
Jubilee: (pretending to cry) "I failed my Will save. I never fail my saves." [/sblock]

Baran gently took the vial from her hand, but it did not affect him in the same manner. When she had recovered her composure she explained that she was convinced that the liquid within the vial was composed of the tears of Elishar.

Once the journal had been removed from the compartment, Liadan replaced the other items and attempted to restore the wards, but found that she was unable to do so. Nekaya-Re attempted to assist her, also without success. Baran then made an effort to contact Osaze by sending him a mental message to ask how the crystal vial should be disposed of or the wards restored, but his effort yielded no reply.

Liadan began to peruse her father's journal, finding it to be filled with a great variety of materials, some scribed by her father and others by Osaze. It will take her some time to determine what writings are of most import to our mission.

I confess I am curious as to what mention the journal may make of my beloved. I miss her so fiercely that any mention of her will bring joy to my heart.

[sblock] Devo: "Elishar's sitting around wondering why nobody ever calls."
Hedrin: "Maybe now that the temple's up and running again he can get some bars on his cell phone." [/sblock]

As Liadan was unable to restore the wards on the compartment, Nekaya-Re wished to give it into the care of the temple. Baran fears that the temple lacks sufficient defenses to protect it should any effort be made to remove it. He believes that it is better in Nekaya-Re's care. I wondered aloud if perhaps Osaze wished for us to remove the vial and did not mention it because he did not wish for the efreet to hear of it.

[sblock]Zora: "I'm not sure about having such a powerful thing (the vial) less well protected."
Jubilee: "But we don’t really know if it does anything besides make paladins cry."
Zora: "That in itself is awesome." [/sblock]

Liadan then wisely suggested that prayer would be the best method by which to determine the fate of the vial. Nekaya-Re accepted responsibility for the vial for the moment. In the even that Osaze should return in our absence, she placed an explanatory note in the compartment.

Madu offered us lodgings for the evening, but Liadan and Nekaya-Re declined so that they might hold a prayer vigil at the temple. They then made their way to Elishar's fane. I lingered for a time to speak with Madu of Ruathar's situation. My friends, faithful as always, have assured me that they will do whatever they can to aid me in setting him free. I only hope that we will be able to do so before we must make our farewell to Calimport.

Though my lord Corellon is not of the sun, as the moon reached its zenith in the sky I lent my prayers to my friends' efforts in seeking the gods' advice. Let all of our patrons show us the way.

 

[sniffles]

Behind the scenes

We have another session scheduled for tonight. Our devious GM, Devo, has imparted the following information to us via email. I've made a few judicious edits.sniffles
------------------------------------
Over the coming days, the group have the opportunity to gather and compare what
you know of Covenant's quest with the prophecy snippets they've heard.
Between their conversation and access to some of Covenant's journal, they are
able to piece together quite a bit. (Information missing from the journal
leads them to believe that what they have is not a full copy, just some
highlights.) Reading through the Journal, it is obvious that Covenant did
not understand the depth of Elishar's involvement in all of this.

They gather at the temple of Elishar to piece it all together, and Horace
insists that they use the Inner Chamber (the prophecy chamber) to hold their
discussions. He hopes that a place devoted to knowledge of the Sun God will
help in their understanding.

Below is some of the prophecy they've been given. Below that is the whole
story, as they understand it now. They're getting close to true understanding!



Prophecy snippets
-- "My sword shall be your Dreadnaught, Shaper of your Destiny"
-- "The Iron-Bound Hand shall not bear the Sword, but the Heart it once
protected, shall"
-- "The Hand that Bears the Gauntlet shall not Bear the Sword, but the head
it once protected, shall"
-- "The Sword that Cannot Be Held"
-- "Light guards what shadow must not have. But the Light must take what the
Light defends, lest shadow win all."
-- "Seven and Seven and Seven again, seven to proclaim it, seven to fail.
Seven to accomplish where others but wail."
-- "Seven and Seven, Five and Five, proclaim the Birth, find Him Alive"
-- "Seven of Seven, born in the light; five of five, shadows they fight; One
from the seventh, one of the five; five in the shadows, one found alive"
-- "Light of blue, light of gold; fire red, half-moon gold; splintered
light, fighting bold; lost remembrance, gods foretold"
-- "dark city sky return fire plague five travel shadows sword shadow
engage"
-- "The Light shall be lost in a shadow storm of mortal magic. The gods but
one will undo the damage, but
-- "When mortal hands take what to the gods belong, the first gods will be
lost. By act of the first gods here, all but one shall be found. Mortal
hands bearing immortal gifts shall restore the last."
-- "shadows rise and greatness falls from the shadows of greatness will
shadows fail"
-- "Shall not call it a war of shadow and light, but of light and light;
when soldiers of light turn one on another, shadows prevail until a single
light calls"
-- "...must overcome all of night, in the course of one sun..."
-- "servants of gods, friends of the stars, glory will find the nameless
shapers of destiny in caverns of deepest shadow"
-- "delivered in the gloved hand of bittersweet discovery; fortune and
glory, ally turned against ally, and one shall die"
-- "Three Hands against the Shadow, who strike from below against heart and
magic, stand still, locked away with a terrible purpose, defending the Dread
not-Sword from gate's opening, and triumphant return."

End of the Tale -- (from the burried "temple" above Camber)
-- "Striking heart and magic from below. We who remember the young god's
Promise came here to this place."
Start of the Tale:
-- "The legacy of the Dawn Bearer is put here, in it's truth, for the
remembrance of all. The pagan ramblings that existed here before have been
recorded and placed in the Solaris Vault. We begin now with the Truth."

"Through the Dawn, the Messenger strides. the DawnStrider, child of Radiant
Emergence. And this One, Renewed, shall be welcomed in all of the Houses of
the Sun. For when the Day arrives, when the Time of Shadows Lifting comes to
pass, the Golden One, the Messenger, will end all things"


From Tyrion Sinistral's sword:
"Injustice! Constructed by immortal artefact, not divine.
This question cannot be answered by cosmic being,
For this place is hidden from cosmic sight;
Mortal eyes must find the way.
Spirit and form sundered one from another.
Great injustice to the Elf Lord, who has not collected his due.
Greatness is measured in deed and intent, And only in the Shadows of
Greatness will you find your answer."



The Reveal:

The Sword of the Dreadnaught may be Elishar's sword, reportedly thrown out
into the world to protect his faithful while he was away. It is said that
the Sword cannot be held, though, so perhaps it is not a real blade.
Regardless, prophecy says that the Sword will defend against a great evil --
a great shadow that falls over the world.

That shadow seems to be the return of the Shades. They were once great
wizards who ruled the now-fallen empire of Netheril. Their ancient enemies,
the phaeretim, were a three-armed race of beings that lived below ground.
They attacked from below, spreading disease and weakening magic itself.
Arguably, their involvement lead to the city of Shade being cast out into
the Plane of Shadow. Now, thousands of years later, that city has returned.

We next move half a world away, where the Imaskari have pierced the veil
between worlds to capture hundreds of thousands of human slaves from another
realm. The Mulan. For better or worse, though, these people had gods.

In the same moment, Elishar was brought into this world and cast out again
as he followed his lost peoples. Supposedly, he and the Mulan under his care
are still alive, lost, or locked away from this realm. An obscure piece of
prophecy says that the Dawnstrider will walk out of Elishar's realm, and
behind him will be all creatures of Light. Another says that the Sword of
Elishar is a gate to where he now resides.

There were some who believed in Elishar, but were not lost. Those of the
Mulan who truly believed in Elishar tried to keep his faith active in the
world and prepared for his return. The strongest of these were called
Soldiers of Light, and bear within themselves Elishar's light.

Four brothers, perhaps the original Soldiers of Light, set out from ancient
lands. They created a temple in what is now called the Cloven Mountains,
where they captured all of the light in their hand and held it for a day and
a night. This let many evils into the world. This light, or the vessel that
contained it, is referred to as the Gauntlet of Dawn, and is a necessary
component to finding the Sword of the Dreadnaught. How it is to help,
though, none now know.

Once they had the gauntlet, the four brothers were at odds as to how to
continue. They went their seperate ways. One came to Calimport and built
another temple to Elishar, which is where you stand today. It is said that
when these four brothers parted ways, they each created a different faction
within the Soldiers of Light. Over the centuries Elishar's true wishes have
been re-interpreted by these various factions. Osaze, for example, is a
Soldier of Light (though he considers that to be a lesser title behind
priest of Lathander), who has tasked himself with removing evil from the
world so that they will not contribute to the Final Battle. Nekaya, on the
other hand, seeks to keep Elishar's light in the world while looking for the
lost god.

The Gauntlet of Dawn went north, where it was lost for many years. (A ruined
temple in Cormyr was connected to the temple in the Cloven Mountains.
Perhaps this is where one of the brothers ended up?) The Gauntlet turned up
again in hell, in the treasure trove of a duke of the lower planes. When
this duke decided that he did not want to rule in hell, he fled to a place
where he could live the rest of his days in privacy. This duke was
Sussurathrax, the abyssal dragon. Osaze heard of this great evil slumbering
under the realms and went to him to convert him away from evil. He was held
by the dragon an questioned endlessly. Covenant heard of Osaze's
imprisonment and went to rescue the great man. Between the two of them, they
converted Sussurathrax away from evil, but they were told never to return.
The great dragon would give up his evil ways, but wanted nothing more than
his privacy.

Many years later, Covenant was deep into his quest to uncover the Sword of
the Dreadnaught. He had heard that the Gauntlet of Dawn would lead to the
Sword, then learned later that the Gauntlet was part of Sussurathrax's
hoard. Gathering his friends together one last time to finish his quest, he
went to speak to the dragon. He hoped to trade a powerful artifact for the
Gauntlet, knowing that Sussurathrax wanted his privacy, but believing that
he could convince the dragon of his needs.

Covenant and his friends have not been heard from since.

You know from the journal that scrying of any type does not work on the
dragon nor on his demesne. Teleportation and planar travel are likewise
barred somehow. The knowledgeable amongst you might reason that any who were
imprisoned within the halls of the dragon would be completely unreachable
through magic. If it were some artifact that kept sight from piercing that
realm, then perhaps it is powerful enough to even block a god's vision.
Assuming such a thing is possible, then perhaps the artifact that keeps
interplanar travel from happening is keeping the souls of the dead from
reaching their final destination. (See Tyrion's prophecy.) That is a thought
too horrifying to contemplate, though.

Covenant's journal hints that he knows how to find the Sword of the
Dreadnaught, but thinks that the Gauntlet of Dawn is key to it's recovery.

 

[sniffles]

Note to readers: Comments welcome! I'd love to hear what you have to say about all the information I just posted. I know much of it is new to you - some of it was new to me, too!

sniffles