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Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3667940" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>The Court of Sunless Souls</strong></p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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 <em>Brimstone</em> and <em>Sulian</em>, though I had chosen not to waken <em>Brimstone's</em> 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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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."</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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? </p><p>__________________</p><p></p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes</strong>:</p><p></p><p>Devo: "The caliph has that whole Tim Curry thing going."</p><p>Zora: "Then I laugh."</p><p>Devo: "No, not that Tim Curry - the <strong>Legend</strong> Tim Curry."</p><p>Zora: "Then I shut up."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3667940, member: 30035"] [b]The Court of Sunless Souls[/b] 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 [I]Brimstone[/I] and [I]Sulian[/I], though I had chosen not to waken [I]Brimstone's[/I] 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? __________________ [B]Quips & Quotes[/B]: Devo: "The caliph has that whole Tim Curry thing going." Zora: "Then I laugh." Devo: "No, not that Tim Curry - the [B]Legend[/B] Tim Curry." Zora: "Then I shut up." [/QUOTE]
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