Mah'ysa listens and Detects Magic at the secret door.
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Mah'ysa casts Detect Magic and observes the door while Hazreem and Pae work out the details for communicating whether Pae finds any traps or not.
Mah'ysa does not detect any magical auras, nor does she hear or see anything unusual. Pae hops up on Hazreem's hand and checks out the secret niche. After a while of searching and sniffing around, Pae hops back down and scratches the signal for no traps.
Once Pae gives the 'all-clear' signal Hazreem will open the secret panel ready for anything.
Hazreem starts to reach in to grab the items, then realizes they must be magical in nature. "Mah'ysa, can you scan these items again? That safe was lined with lead."
Mah'ysa Detected Magic again on the items in question.
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Mah'ysa can sense an aura of minor transmutation coming from the potion bottle and there are no detectable auras coming from the chest.
Mah'ysa then retrieves and carefully studies the potion bottle, which has the note, "Haste", marked on it in Ignan. She quickly realizes that the magical aura is a forgery, caused likely be the spell magic aura, and can detect no other inherent aura besides the illusory one.
Hazreem shakes his head in disgust. "Looks like this is a dead end. Let's get out of here and back to Shazzathared. She might be able to make some sense of this."
Mah'ysa puts up a collection of dancing light globes for better light to read by and assists in the researching of the Spawn and Jhavhul.
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Bahir, Hazreem, and the little squirrel rogue step out onto the balcony overlooking the City of Fire. The view is absolutely stunning and becomes every moment they gaze out. Great creatures, mainly fiery red dragons and efreet, fly about on their own business while airships sail about giving them wide berth. Among the great brass galleons sailing the oceans of lava, you also see great sea creatures patrolling the waters. A scuffle between a red dragon and efreet off in the distance catches your eyes, the great beast and the genie come to physical blows high in the skies above the city. The fight breaks off for no apparent reason with each flying away in different directions. Among the splendor and magnificence, looking down on the streets below you can also infer subjugation as lesser creatures are lead about, sometimes on leashes, to fulfill their master's purpose. The juxtaposition of great beauty and great evil tears at your souls.
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Meanwhile, Mahy'sa and Efreat diligently search for any books related to Xotani or Jhavhul. After an hour or so, Mah'ysa shouts "Ha, found something! A small book simply titled, "Firebleeder". She cracks open to a passage and begins reading, ...
Smoke and ash and cinders flew from the forests charred by the Firebleeder, fires that scorched soil into dust. Vast deserts grew from lush forests in mere days. The smoke turned noon to twilight all throughout the lush mountains.
Heroes rose to the challenge and set forth to conquer the fire wyrm, but their swords were reduced to slag on each hit. After countless armies, some tens, some hundreds, and even some thousands fell to the beast's wrath, a hundred arcanists and masters of ancient magical bloodlines swore an oath as the Legion of Wands and set forth to test their magic against the nightmare.
The Firebleeder's first blast cut their numbers nearly in half; sweeping the weakest away. This bought the others time to bring their magic to the fore; freezing storms, hails of icy spears, rains of hissing water, and thunderous lightning transfixed the wyrm as bolts of force broke upon it in a furious storm.
Magma spewed from the Firebleeder's wounds, each injury gushing like the eruption of a furious volcano, and though some would fall, the wizards stood strong. Infuriated and confused, the fire wyrm summoned a blast of flame to melt the mountains and boil the seas. Yet as the abomination readied to unleash its final wrath, the wizards spoke as one, shouting a single word of arcane might that silenced all for a thousand miles, ringing off the clouds. And breaking the silence, a great cracking sounded as the Firebleeder's volcanic blood cooled to stone and the beast crashed to earth.
The Firebleeder fell, impaling itself upon a mountain made pale by the bones of the countless heroes that died that day, its hide shattering to cinders. A hundred lights glowed over its corpse by night, and to the Legion of Wands, only a dozen survived to rejoice in the victory and mourn their fallen comrades.
Yet, what none saw was that, at dawn, the corpse twitched and stirred. An ember remained in the Firebleeder's breast.
I turned to my master and mistress and absent mindedly remarked with shock, "This isn't over I fear", and by their frowns they thought the same.
-Zuzuriel, seer to Holy Sunlord Thalachos, Herald of the Dawnflower
-----
The book appears to be a collection of many author's tales, accounts, and legends related to Xotani. After reading some of the accounts of the destructive power of this beast, it is clear that you are no match against the destructive power described in these pages, a power that can even transform the landscape of entire regions.
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Turning a few pages more, Mah'ysa finds another passage from Zuzriel. It appears to be further prophecy concerning Xotani's rebirth.
The Firebleeder's corpse twitched and fell to ash even as the last mage withdrew from the battlefield. Its outer scales and flesh cracked and shattered by the magic of the Legion of Wands, the Spawn of Rovagug lay buried beneath a mountain of ice and bones, its own adamantine-like skeleton exposed and burning heart little more than an ember. Yet the Rough Beast's blood is stubborn, and the Firebleeder's remains refused to be destroyed, refused to die, refused to admit defeat. The fire within still seethed and burned. Stone melted around them, and the corpse of the living holocaust sank into a pool of liquid stone.
Though the Firebleeder lay dead, its rage and unholy hunger knew no end. In the depths of the caverns that it created around its own corpse, the heart of the Firebleeder drew to it veins of dark fire from the surrounding land, tapping into the blood of the world and, from its depths, drawing up rivers of molten hatred. Deep below dwells the God of Destruction, buried in earth and flame. And so the heart of the Firebleeder beats strong, pumping fire forth from the bits below. Unthinking, yet created for one purpose, this undying organ beats still, endlessly seeking to draw its father forth however it can. Alive only with hatred and flame, its heart pounds, a profane and endless thrum of praise to the horror imprisoned within.
I see that someday, a mote of Rovagug's soul will rise from the cracks of his prison, breaching the surface of the world at the beckoning of the Firebleeder's fanatical carcass. And on that day, the Firebleeder will wake again, to take its rightful place at its father's side, proudest and strongest of the Worldbreaker's children."
-Zuzuriel, seer to Holy Sunlord Thalachos, Herald of the Dawnflower
---
The last vision of Zuzuriel is underlined and there are some notes jotted in the margin:
- How to awaken it?
- Created to free Rovagug himself, amazing. How to control it?
As the priestess shows the tales to the others, Hazreem hovers quietly in the air trying to absorb the details in his mind.
After a few long moments, he whistles softly. "That is some tale. Looks like Jhavul may possibly have found a way to awaken and control this...Firebleeder...this Xotani." He pauses for a moment as another thought occurs to him. "These notes about the heart of the Firebleeder, it sounds like it is describing Ymeri's Breath doesn't it? Could they be one and the same? Or was Ymeri's Breath created to counter the Firebleeder's heart...to slay him for good?" He shakes his head in frustration. "Too many questions I fear and not enough answers!"
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Mahy'sa nods and reads some more, ...
"Katapesh burns. I wouldn't say I am surprised at its burning; many cities of the desert succumb to flames. But what manner of beast is this that destroys a city from beneath?
Palaces collapse into sinkholes of fiery lava, the Dark Markets and even their magical wares reduced to ash in the dead of night, shanties and hovels have burned for days, and even the fields rumble and then ignite as burning red death spews from the soil.
Something darn big for sure. Some have witnessed its head emerge from the ground just before reducing everything around it to slag with its breath. The luckiest die quickly.
Almost everyone now is dead or has fled. Some have remained, watching ready for the beast to move on in search of new cities to destroy. The Pactmasters and the church of Abadar make ready to hoard all recoverable items of value, lest their owners one day return.
One day, in the distant memory of this ruined, charred city of splendor, Katapesh will be reborn, thrive, and fall again. Such is the cycle of all things ..."
-Sand Sage of Katapesh
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Tghe paladin's demeanor grows grim as he listen's to the tale, "The Rough Beast is the greatest threat the world...no...all the planes have ever known. If we do not stop this, we could be witnessing the very end of creation. We must stop this from occurring." He says this last more to himself than anyone around him. "What of Jhavhul, is there anything that might give us a glimpse into what drives him to bring about such destruction?"
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Hearing the tales of destruction hardens Bahir's resolve and he pours through the shelves of texts looking for anything related to Jhavhul. After searching for some time, the group is unable to come up with anything specific. It seems that the genie didn't collect writings about himself. His infatuation of Ymeri is evident, though, as there are quite a few texts related to her conquests, likely a mix of fiction and truth.
Another tome, On the Gods contains quite a collection of information about various deities. The including Rovagug and his spawn. Though filled with profane art and gut wrenching rituals, Bahir manages to hold his temper enough to find some words on the spawn of Rovagug ...
"They are the greatest malignancies of the Rough Beast's inexhaustible humors, each spat forth of dread imbalance in the mighty engine of His churning wounds; Ulunat, the Unholy First, born of blackest bile; Chemnosit, the Monarch Worm, burn of deepest hunger's gnaw; Tarasque, the Armageddon Engine, born of sweat, tears, and rage itself; Kothogaz, the Dance of Disharmony, pus of raw and bursted wounds; Xotani, the Firebleeder, shaped of hot sprayed blood; Volnagur, the End-Singer, born of ragged breaths. A dozen and more horrors bear forth the soult of Holy Rovagug, each more awful than mean's feeble imagining ... yet these are the True Kings of all those living nightmares."
-Hathga-Tah the Ninshaburite, Loremaster of Gormuz
Bahir continues, "Look it gives some information on each of the dreadful spawn". He flips to Xotani, ...
"The lands of Katapesh, Nex, and southern Osirion were once much greener than those of this age, their scars of dust, burning sand, and shattered mountains encompassing centuries old evidence of Xotani the Firebleeders rampage. Dragging its blazing bulk from a massive abyss deep in the Barrier Wall, the Firebleeder writhed in pain upon exposure to the burning sun. Burrowing beneath the earth with its countless terrible limbs, its burning spines sheered great chasms across the land, sundered mountain ranges, and lit vast plains afire. By night, the horror emerged, titanic and blazing like a murderous sun, its all-consuming flames searing land and city alike, filling the horizon with enough black smoke to smother the rising dawn.
Many heroes sought to best the Firebleeder, tales spreading far of the terrible fire wyrm of Katapesh ...
"... Concerning its resurrection, as with any of the Spawn, there exist a myriad of legends that suggest the Firebleeder might, by vile means be somehow restored to life; yet in the case of Xotani, one legend surpasses all others in the frequency with which it is repeated: 1,000 wish spells spoken above its broken corpse, one for each of the wounds it suffered at the hands of the Legion of Wands. Thankfully, there could scarcely exist any way to generate or acquire such monumental arcane energies; similarly, no sane mind could conceive of unleashing such incomprehensible power with the aim of returning breath and strength to nightmarish Xotani, a creature that sages speculate was birthed with the sole purpose of searing a hole out of Rovagug's prison."
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The group basically spends the rest of the day (the city has no "night" as the oceans of lava keep everything constantly bright) skimming through tomes of the library and relaxing in the library parlor. One thing is clear, many scholars where you come from would give anything for this kind of opportunity.
At some point, Efreat comes across a book detailing some accounts of the City of Brass itself. There is talk of politics, law, caste, construction, economy, noble families ,and even on the offices of Vizier and Sultan.
Efreat does come across a brief mention on Ymeri's breath, ...
"These nigh unbreakable crystalline orbs are given to Ymeri's faithful. They are said to contain the essence of pure flame from the breath of the Queen of Inferno herself. Though they don't confer the possessor any mystical power, they are a powerful status symbol and care should be taken in dealing with those who posses such an item, lest they draw the ire of Ymeri herself..."
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While skimming Efreat nearly missed a passage as he is turning a page through a section on the Grand Vizier, ...
"Forged in secret somewhere in the Plane of Fire, the opulent divining mirror known as the Impossible Eye is perhaps one of the greatest treasures in a city full of the greatest treasures. Surely the Eye plays a large part in the Vizier's rise to power, and his hold on it, but how he acquired such an artifact of great power is a great mystery itself. Some even speculate secret pacts with devils, otherworldly agents from Leng, or even Ymeri herself.
Those who know well how to use the Eye don't speak much on the topic, but it Is speculated that it posses the power to call upon nearly any spell of divination, perhaps even contact agents of the gods themselves. Even beyond this, it is known that the mirror can near-safely reflect the pages of any tome without triggering the protective magics contained within, and do so in the viewers native language. The Vizier charges a hefty fee for those who seek this power, often requiring years of servitude, but for some scholars it may be worth it to read the unfathomable secrets of the universe.
It is also said that the mirror extracts a toll upon those who seek to use it, many would be diviners are left incurably rambling, mad, and soon dead of thirst or lack of sleep..."
Mah'ysa rubbed her eyes as she paused searching through the endless texts.
"It's getting hard for me to think. It is possible to rest here?" She said yawning to her teammates.
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Bahir puts down the book he is perusing and realizes he can't even remember the last ten pages of what he has read, "Ah yes, I believe we are all tired. Let us head back to Shazzathared and rest in peace there. " He takes a last glance around and mumbles to no one in particular, "Hmmm, I wonder if there is anything here about the marid princess...or even Argbadh..." Shaking off the thoughts, "...endless questions...yes, lets go."
"Yeah, I think we definitely need to rest now. Let's return to the Princess and tell her of our tales. I am sure she and Iavesk will be happy to see one another!" Hazreem replies.
"I would agree that we need to rest. My powers are nearly depleted."
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"Actually, I don't believe the princess knows me at all" Iavesk responds to Hazreem's statement. "Her family commissioned a raiding party of marid and djinn forces, no shaitan were willing to join in, to rescue her once her location had been revealed. Not that all the plans were shared with us, but I had heard an inside tip led us to strike at that exact moment in time as the palace's occupants might be otherwise preoccupied."
"Based on everything you've pieced together so far, it seems reasonable to believe that someone knew that Al-hassan was going to try and steal the Impossible Eye at that time and shared that information with the marids; surely that someone was very well paid. It indeed seemed as though we took the palace's defenses by surprise, but we terribly misjudged their strength once they organized. The guardians had powers not normal for their kind; I can only assume Al-hassan had been abusing wishcraft to bolster the defenses of the palace and his guardians. We were doing pretty well until that blasted spellcaster I mentioned before showed up with another two efreet. He is the one that must have feebleminded me."
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On the way out, Mah'ysa eye catches on another title, "Hmm, 'On the Lore of Lore', that could be interesting," she quips as she plucks in her bag.
On the lava ferry ride back to the hidden area where Shazzathared is bound she shares a passage, ...
It is not magic as you know it, not the stuff of dusty tomes and dry repetition. My stories hold their own magic, as indeed do all words. Tales unlock portals to strange vistas, where palaces rise upon clouds of thought, and faces climb from memories better recalled than truth. The tales take you where emotion feeds life and eternity passes with a breath. That my tales can touch your mind and transport your vision proves this magic; there is more to you, more to life, than the dull memory reality that so many shield themselves within. I am no artist, no scholar, but merely a messenger from a place you've yet to travel. My people are natives of that world, and through our traditions and tales, we frequently return. Let me show you the way.
-Shazzathared, Marid Princess
Iavesk smiles, Such beauty and eloquence. That is why I immediately volunteered when I heard of the marid's request for djinn assistance.
Hazreem sniffs the air and nearly gags on the stench. "It was one of the many guardians of the treasury we dispatched earlier. Although I did not realize the corpse would stink so much..." He peers down the shaft looking for any other signs of movement.
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"Wow, I hope it didn't smell that bad when you had to fight it...", Iavesk quips as you all continue on.
----
Eventually, you make your way to Shazzathared's fountain room. As you approach, you can see and hear her keeping the kobolds entertained with one of her stories,
"Within the Lion's maw lies a doom for every destiny. The lair of each dark spirit, the pit of every foulness, the womb of every vice, the Lion tastes our sins and endlessly yearns for more. From the maw springs the shadow of every flame. For every tower that pierces the heavens there rise fangs to tear them down. For every heady wine patiently distilled there drench seas of steaming spittle. For every nation rising to challenge fate there rot fields of carcasses ready to be swallowed. We live as we live, arrogant and ignorant, fearless and thoughtless, morsels who think themselves masters, pretty silently hoping to cling to their obliviousness till after the maw snaps closed."
The kobolds are transfixed and yap approvingly as she finishes. Upon doing so, she makes eye contact with you all and nods looking at Iavesk, "I see you've made new friends, and you certainly look worse for wear. What has happened today?"
Before you can respond, Iavesk bows deeply before the princess, "Your highness, I am Iavesk, and I am all that is left of the party sent long ago to rescue you. I cannot believe that I stand before you at last. From my estimate, that was a few centuries ago, though, and given that your family has not seemingly attempted another rescue they surely have little hope left. I do have little doubt that this extraordinary group of heroes before you will free you and we shall return again soon."
"Yes, my doubt in them is starting to wane as well", Shazzathared acknowledges. "I am so very sorry that others were lost in an effort to free me. It was my own carelessness that got me into this terrible mess as it was. Thank you, Sir Iavesk, for coming," she sighs, saddened. After a few seconds, she regains her composure, "What were you all able to find out today about the palace curse and how Impossible Eye is tied to it?"
Hazreem speaks up, "Well we did not find the Impossible Eye, but we still managed to find some interesting things..." He gives a brief summary of the groups discoveries so far. "So after we killed the div, we spent some time in the Library and found some tales you will be interested in..."
Once the Princess has been filled in he adds, "I have been thinking that once we have rested we should explore the Ancestral Tombs. I think we may find some answers there. That spirit we saw earlier is tied to them, I'll bet. The tombs look like they can be access from the Shrine of the Sultan, which is controlled by the Fire Cult Lizard-folk, if I remember correctly.
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Shazzathared listens intently to your story of fighting Vezzaresh, taking on a garrison of fire giants, making friends with Argbadh, recovering Ymeri's breath, fighting a fearsome Sepid div, and finding the library.
Shazz nods sadly at Pae, "I am sorry little one. Though I have many spells, I cannot dispel your condition. Surely after a night's rest you friends will be able to help though. I will try my best not to let the kobolds eat you," she snickers. Pae responds with a collection of incomprehensible squirrel expletives.
She is curious about the Ymeri's breath artifact and looks it over approvingly when you show it to her. "It is impressive to see pure elemental flame contained within. Elemental fire is not only the life blood of this plane; with air, water, and earth it makes all other life possible in the universe. Hopefully Ymeri doesn't want it back soon,", she winks.
After telling her about the Library and retelling the tales of Xotani, she grimly agrees with your assessment of the situation. "It seems that Jhavhul and maybe others are seeking a way to free Xotani for sure. You know, he used to visit me often before becoming completely infatuated with Ymeri. In fact, I only had another handful of tales I had to tell from the original one thousand before his curse that bound me here was broken, but Jhavhul stopped coming often and then stopped coming at all, presumably after his imprisonment in Kakishon. As much a monster he was, he did appreciate good story and song. If he intends to unleash a spawn of Rovagug to impress Ymeri, than surely he will try and bring it here as well. I can't fathom how even Jhavhul, powerful as his wishcraft may be, can actually control a spawn of Rovagug though."
"I have been thinking that once we have rested we should explore the Ancestral Tombs."
Mah'ysa nodded in agreement.
I can't fathom how even Jhavhul, powerful as his wishcraft may be, can actually control a spawn of Rovagug though.
"Could a device already exist that could do such a thing?" Asked Mah'ysa.
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"I have heard the tales of countless artifacts, but nothing that could control a being of such raw chaos, power, and hatred such as a spawn of Rovagug. Shazz's face shifts as if in thought, Jhavhul's wishcraft is very strong, though, so anything is possible. Whether some control would be part of his final wish to awaken Xotani, or perhaps he's had someone wish an artifact capable of doing so, who can say. Maybe worse, what if he has no plans at all to control Xotani? But rather seeks to let him free Rovagug and bring and end to all things..."
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"You look pretty exhausted. Let's eat and rest", Shazzathared offers. At this the kobolds cheer heartily. Between Shazzathared and Iavesk, they are able to conjure up quite a feast for you and the kobolds. You are able to add some of the wine you found in the cellars held by the salamanders as well, to which Shazz and Iavesk nod approvingly.
Shazz continues to entertain everyone with a classic love tale of street urchin who is able to charm the daughter of a noble pasha with the help of three wishes from a noble djinn, whom the urchin later frees with his third wish.
After telling the story, Shazz speaks up, "Sir Bahir and company. It is quite clear that you are on a path of destiny that few ever tread. Few could even fathom the horrors that await you. I have no doubt that you will break this curse and hunt down Jhavhul, and I can only hope you succeed before Xotani is unleashed upon your world. I originally had no doubt of your motives, and now I cannot doubt your ability as well after taking out a Sepid and a legion of fire giants as well. I will grant you use of my yearly wish, especially since it could mean getting us all out of here more quickly."
"I am not sure how familiar you are with proper wishcraft. There are those like the Efreet and some Shaitan that encourage the wisher to wish for the stars so that they may twist their wish and bring misfortune about them. The Marid and the Djinn are generally more forgiving and cautious. You may ask for anything, but be warned that anything too powerful will likely simply fail. Sometimes a lesser aspect of the wish will be granted instead. Sometimes the wish will be twisted on its own into something undesirable. I have little power over this process as I do not seek to twist and corrupt wishcraft like the Efreet do."
"Also, when an extraordinarily powerful wish is attempted, whether it succeeds or fails, an area of wishwarp can sometimes result. This is an area of polluted magic and twisted reality, and the primary effect can be spell failure, magic item failure, and other such things. I think we would like to avoid that happening here. I will advise you if I think your wish has a high likelihood of failure and you can decide to proceed or not."
"In general, here are some things that have a good chance in succeeding...
"So those are the types of things that will cause little trouble and I have the power to weave the fabric of reality to do. Of course, you may attempt to wish for anything even beyond this and we can see what happens"
"Other much more powerful ideas would be like specific race changes, gaining permanent magical abilities beyond those that can be made permanent as the spell, changing the course of events, undoing event that are not recent, and the like. I may not even attempt to carry out things along these lines if it seems like certain trouble.
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The paladin rubs his chin in thought, "We have been discussing the fact that we will not have time to exchange our...acquisitions so that we are better equipped to face Jhavhul. My concern is that if we use the wish while we still cannot escape this prison we might be dooming someone else to languish here with us. My thought is, for example to wish for someone capable of immediately exchanging our goods for what we need."
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I definitely think something like this could work. If you appraised the items and wished for an even exchange in some form of currency, I believe I could easily make that happen. However, as a friend I have to ask, what are you going to do with the gold if you can't make it to a market? Why not just negotiate to use the marketplace here before being sent home, assuming you recover the eye. There is likely no item that cannot be found within the walls here...
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With a surprised look, "You mean take advantage of the Brass Cities markets?! I hadn't even considered that a possibility." He laughs at himself as he shakes his head in bewilderment, "I had thought to run off straightaway to face Jhavhul but your suggestion is a good one! I was hoping that a wish might allow us to both sell and buy from someone, but your idea allows us to use the wish for something else entirely....or at the very least add to our wealth."