Celebrim
Legend
The Three Wise Beasts of Qaybar
Each of the three wise beasts of Qaybar is a talking animal of great sagacity (18 Int, 18 Wis), that is accorded much honor in the city. (Each of the wise beasts is truly a legendary creature and so should be able to take legendary actions.) Each is allowed a seat at the Court of Elders, and allowed entrance to the palace of the Emir. It is not considered proper even for the Emir to deny them admittance to the court of the Emir, but they may not enter without first seeking audience and being announced. They are particularly sought out as fair arbiters to resolve disputes between masters and their beasts or pets, and customarily spoken too as peers even by those of high rank. Any attack or insult made toward the three wise beasts would be treated very much as if the person insulted or attacked a venerable and highly respected citizen. The exact nature though of the three wise beasts is up for debate. Some believe that they are genie that have voluntarily taken animal form. Others believe that they are the victims of some bizarre curse. Still others believe that they are natural animal spirits, others celestials sent by gods for the protection of the beasts of Qaybar, and others that they are simply extreme examples of the strange magic that pervades Qaybar and causes all beasts that enter into it gain the power of speech.
Mufti Littlecloud: Mufti Littlecloud is a large tawny colored desert fox. She is the youngest of the three wise beasts, having already lived at least 10 times the natural lifespan of a fox, and having been recognized as an elder of the city for six decades. She is considered the kindest of the three wise beasts, and the one most likely to produce an agreeable result for both parties. She is a 5HD animal, having all the powers of a 5th level rogue and all the spellcasting ability (but not class abilities) of a 5th level druid. She wears about her neck a gold collar with lapis luzi and garnet stones, which acts as a ring of protection. She favors the clever, the witty, and the poor and oppressed and disfavors those who are cruel to their servants or other inferiors or who got into trouble out of their own stupidity and greed. She will not rule against someone who abided by the letter of their word in order to play a trick. She is acknowledged a teacher in all masters relating to the desert, earth, and fire and is favored by fire and earth genasi as a judge. She loves mice, and bits of sweetbreads. It is well known she greatly dislikes cats of all sorts, and rules against them harshly even to the point of being unfair. She does not mind being invited to salons or banquets, and may sometimes be found amongst high society.
Mufti Yabon Al Rish: Yabon Al Rish is a large and venerable raven, whose sable feathers are now streaked with gray. He has been the longest acknowledged of the three wise beasts, having already lived at least 20 times the natural lifespan of a raven and been acknowledged as an elder of the city for more than three centuries. He is considered the most scrupulously fair of the three wise beasts, and the one most likely to consider the particulars of the law and the precedence of the collected elders. He is an 8HD animal, having all the powers of an 8th level rogue, and all the spellcasting ability (but not class abilities) of an 8th level druid. He wears a slender gold chain around his neck, with a medal for service to the city given to him by the Emir himself. He favors the truthful, the forthright, and those that give honest appraisal. He is not subject to flattery, and he cares not for the art with which a person speaks. He favors those that labor diligently, and he disfavors any who try to gain through deceit. He will not rule against those who preformed an honest service with the expectation of reward. He is acknowledged a master in all masters relating to avians, the wind, and the weather and he also has great knowledge of spirits and the undead. He likes Littlecloud as a companion, but doesn’t respect her as a judge, and they have a mild animosity as a consequence. He prefers meat that has been slightly dried by the desert wind, and the heads of cattle to eat, but prefers to sup in private. He as a great abhorrence for vultures and a great fear of cats. His brood is numerous in the city, and he can sometimes be seen lecturing a great flock of them. He suffers no vulture to enter into the city, and sometimes wars have been observed between his brood and flocks of vultures. For this reason, the soldiers of the Emir may sometimes shoot vultures as unwanted beasts, but never harm ravens. He accepts no invitations to public events, but has been known to attend funerals and is said to be friend of Vizier Attia.
Mufti Mordantcord: Mufti Mordantcord is the strangest of the three wise beasts, and the most mysterious. He may be the oldest of the three wise beasts, but is second in seniority. Mufti Mordantcord is a great pit viper of enormous length – at least three times the length of even a tall Jann – but exactly how long he may reach is unknown for he has been known to change sizes and no one has dared ask him to lay out for a measurement. Mordantcord first came to attention two hundred years ago, when the elders arriving at sunrise found him seated upon the benches of the Court of Elders. The sight of the fearsome viper caused great consternation and disrupted much business and the traffic of the city, and the elders demanded the patrol of the city guard remove the great beast. None of the Ogrima had the courage to come near the monster at first, and some counseled that bows be fetched to attempt to slay the creature from afar. At last seeing how the caravans piled up outside the gate, and the possibility of a riot, one Ogrima drew his great scimitar and strode forward bravely to deliver a decapitating strike. But as he did so, Mordantcord drew up as to strike but instead hissed that if the Ogrima put away his sword, then upon finishing his duties, he would receive a reward that would make him both happy and unhappy. The Ogrima hesitated and then put away his sword, and Mordantcord then disappeared down a small hole beneath the benches which had hither been little noted. When the Ogrima had finished his duties, he learned that a long time friend had died of wounds suffered when a great wain had run lose in the streets, and that he was to be promoted to his position. Thereafter, none questioned the right of Mufti Mordantcord to be seated among the elders, but few are they that dare ask for his judgment nor do any of the elders sit within 10 paces of their colleague. Fortunately, Mordantcord comes only rarely to the court, and when he does, it is always before morning.
Mordantcord is considered the most capricious of the three wise beasts, and his judgments are the most harsh. Once, after two feuding caravan masters swore to accept his judgment as binding, halfway through the testimony of one of the parties, he simply struck one - injecting so much poison the man died on the spot - and said, “You’ll find that judgment completely binding.” Sometimes in the morning a person will be found dead in the Courtyard of the Elders, having been bitten by a giant snake. They are said to have “accepted the Judgment of Mordantcord”, and the saying has become a byword in the city for those that act rashly or suicidally. Mordantcord’s tastes are not as well known as the other wise beasts, and there is much speculation on his motives. Some say Mordantcord favors jilted lovers and hopeless cases. It is said he judges more harshly wielders of magical power, those with much learning, those with cruel tongues, and those that abuse their spouses or lovers. He seems to fear nothing, and cares nothing for food as the other wise beasts. Those who wish a judgment from him must be forward and ask what he needs, for he ignores any coin or valuable as worthless. If asked for an augury or divination, his requests for payment are always the most strange, but he has an especial and unusual interest in collecting memories. Mordantcord is a 20HD huge viper, with all the abilities of an 8th level rogue, and all the spellcasting ability of a Jann Vizier.
Each of the three wise beasts of Qaybar is a talking animal of great sagacity (18 Int, 18 Wis), that is accorded much honor in the city. (Each of the wise beasts is truly a legendary creature and so should be able to take legendary actions.) Each is allowed a seat at the Court of Elders, and allowed entrance to the palace of the Emir. It is not considered proper even for the Emir to deny them admittance to the court of the Emir, but they may not enter without first seeking audience and being announced. They are particularly sought out as fair arbiters to resolve disputes between masters and their beasts or pets, and customarily spoken too as peers even by those of high rank. Any attack or insult made toward the three wise beasts would be treated very much as if the person insulted or attacked a venerable and highly respected citizen. The exact nature though of the three wise beasts is up for debate. Some believe that they are genie that have voluntarily taken animal form. Others believe that they are the victims of some bizarre curse. Still others believe that they are natural animal spirits, others celestials sent by gods for the protection of the beasts of Qaybar, and others that they are simply extreme examples of the strange magic that pervades Qaybar and causes all beasts that enter into it gain the power of speech.
Mufti Littlecloud: Mufti Littlecloud is a large tawny colored desert fox. She is the youngest of the three wise beasts, having already lived at least 10 times the natural lifespan of a fox, and having been recognized as an elder of the city for six decades. She is considered the kindest of the three wise beasts, and the one most likely to produce an agreeable result for both parties. She is a 5HD animal, having all the powers of a 5th level rogue and all the spellcasting ability (but not class abilities) of a 5th level druid. She wears about her neck a gold collar with lapis luzi and garnet stones, which acts as a ring of protection. She favors the clever, the witty, and the poor and oppressed and disfavors those who are cruel to their servants or other inferiors or who got into trouble out of their own stupidity and greed. She will not rule against someone who abided by the letter of their word in order to play a trick. She is acknowledged a teacher in all masters relating to the desert, earth, and fire and is favored by fire and earth genasi as a judge. She loves mice, and bits of sweetbreads. It is well known she greatly dislikes cats of all sorts, and rules against them harshly even to the point of being unfair. She does not mind being invited to salons or banquets, and may sometimes be found amongst high society.
Mufti Yabon Al Rish: Yabon Al Rish is a large and venerable raven, whose sable feathers are now streaked with gray. He has been the longest acknowledged of the three wise beasts, having already lived at least 20 times the natural lifespan of a raven and been acknowledged as an elder of the city for more than three centuries. He is considered the most scrupulously fair of the three wise beasts, and the one most likely to consider the particulars of the law and the precedence of the collected elders. He is an 8HD animal, having all the powers of an 8th level rogue, and all the spellcasting ability (but not class abilities) of an 8th level druid. He wears a slender gold chain around his neck, with a medal for service to the city given to him by the Emir himself. He favors the truthful, the forthright, and those that give honest appraisal. He is not subject to flattery, and he cares not for the art with which a person speaks. He favors those that labor diligently, and he disfavors any who try to gain through deceit. He will not rule against those who preformed an honest service with the expectation of reward. He is acknowledged a master in all masters relating to avians, the wind, and the weather and he also has great knowledge of spirits and the undead. He likes Littlecloud as a companion, but doesn’t respect her as a judge, and they have a mild animosity as a consequence. He prefers meat that has been slightly dried by the desert wind, and the heads of cattle to eat, but prefers to sup in private. He as a great abhorrence for vultures and a great fear of cats. His brood is numerous in the city, and he can sometimes be seen lecturing a great flock of them. He suffers no vulture to enter into the city, and sometimes wars have been observed between his brood and flocks of vultures. For this reason, the soldiers of the Emir may sometimes shoot vultures as unwanted beasts, but never harm ravens. He accepts no invitations to public events, but has been known to attend funerals and is said to be friend of Vizier Attia.
Mufti Mordantcord: Mufti Mordantcord is the strangest of the three wise beasts, and the most mysterious. He may be the oldest of the three wise beasts, but is second in seniority. Mufti Mordantcord is a great pit viper of enormous length – at least three times the length of even a tall Jann – but exactly how long he may reach is unknown for he has been known to change sizes and no one has dared ask him to lay out for a measurement. Mordantcord first came to attention two hundred years ago, when the elders arriving at sunrise found him seated upon the benches of the Court of Elders. The sight of the fearsome viper caused great consternation and disrupted much business and the traffic of the city, and the elders demanded the patrol of the city guard remove the great beast. None of the Ogrima had the courage to come near the monster at first, and some counseled that bows be fetched to attempt to slay the creature from afar. At last seeing how the caravans piled up outside the gate, and the possibility of a riot, one Ogrima drew his great scimitar and strode forward bravely to deliver a decapitating strike. But as he did so, Mordantcord drew up as to strike but instead hissed that if the Ogrima put away his sword, then upon finishing his duties, he would receive a reward that would make him both happy and unhappy. The Ogrima hesitated and then put away his sword, and Mordantcord then disappeared down a small hole beneath the benches which had hither been little noted. When the Ogrima had finished his duties, he learned that a long time friend had died of wounds suffered when a great wain had run lose in the streets, and that he was to be promoted to his position. Thereafter, none questioned the right of Mufti Mordantcord to be seated among the elders, but few are they that dare ask for his judgment nor do any of the elders sit within 10 paces of their colleague. Fortunately, Mordantcord comes only rarely to the court, and when he does, it is always before morning.
Mordantcord is considered the most capricious of the three wise beasts, and his judgments are the most harsh. Once, after two feuding caravan masters swore to accept his judgment as binding, halfway through the testimony of one of the parties, he simply struck one - injecting so much poison the man died on the spot - and said, “You’ll find that judgment completely binding.” Sometimes in the morning a person will be found dead in the Courtyard of the Elders, having been bitten by a giant snake. They are said to have “accepted the Judgment of Mordantcord”, and the saying has become a byword in the city for those that act rashly or suicidally. Mordantcord’s tastes are not as well known as the other wise beasts, and there is much speculation on his motives. Some say Mordantcord favors jilted lovers and hopeless cases. It is said he judges more harshly wielders of magical power, those with much learning, those with cruel tongues, and those that abuse their spouses or lovers. He seems to fear nothing, and cares nothing for food as the other wise beasts. Those who wish a judgment from him must be forward and ask what he needs, for he ignores any coin or valuable as worthless. If asked for an augury or divination, his requests for payment are always the most strange, but he has an especial and unusual interest in collecting memories. Mordantcord is a 20HD huge viper, with all the abilities of an 8th level rogue, and all the spellcasting ability of a Jann Vizier.
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