Hajar says We have the keys to exit. Dilix Mahad, and Master Xohbadi can use this Heart to exit the demiplane.
Hajar turns to the Proteans
Can you do us this one service. Restore the Demiplane, give the inhabitants here time, and then leave. No one will force you here against your will. Or stay, work here to create the plane and live in your Isles of Not. I beg of you, do us this one service.
Hajar will shake Rayhan awake.
Venema Shodair, what would be required to keep this demiplane going? he asks the Wyrmskull
"We are tired of our toil / Our impatience has come to boil-!" Lahapraset began, but her aura changed from violet to green and blue as Hajar talked. "You ask, not demand, unlike the Imprisoner / you do not comprehend the effort / but with this, it will be far simpler." She indicated the Heart floating in the chamber. Her aura and the others' faded, to be replaced by tiny lightning flashes as they flew in midair.
The leader of the Proteans motioned to the others, and the serpentine forms moved with outstretched arms to the Heart of Kakishon. A wordless song in soprano came from Lahapraset's mouth, the other three Proteans matching the tone in contralto, bass, and tenor. As all four touched the Earth Seed, the stone took on a glossy appearance, their hands embedded in the material. The Heart stopped rotating as the Proteans sang, and a ripple that had started to form across the surface evaporated. Likewise, the double-pyramid chamber started to take on a cleaner, simpler appearance, the crumbled rubble of the destroyed guardians melting back into the smooth stone. The Proteans' song rose and fell as they worked.
"Well, paladin." Venema said, "Ideally the Proteans would stay and continue their work in the Isles of Not, remaking Kakishon as it wore out. I do have some extraplanar experience myself, but only as a passenger, not a maker like Nex, or knowing the ins and outs of the Planes, like a traveler." The dragon-head indicated Rayhan. "Have you made any trips on your own magic, wizard?"
Rayhan stutters I. I. I've never witnessed such power before. You see. I. I am used to the Library, research, books..... Rayhan is almost awestruck.
Rayhan collects himself visibly Mistress Shodair, I owe it to you all to try what I might.
"You still have that headband, and your book knowledge is better than anything the rest of us have." Venema assured him. While everyone's attention was on the Proteans, the wyrmskull casually floated over to Obherak's form and breathed a little more green gas on him.
"Anyway," Venema continued, coming back, "see if you can remember anything from your studies. The shaitan here have already told us that they consider the Heart of Kakishon special; as Plane of Earth natives, they can use this Earth Seed from the Plane of Earth to go back to their plane, but not with anybody else. Not unless they've traveled the Planes a bit themselves. Archwizard Nex left this Heart here after the Air Seed, Water Seed, and Fire Seed he used to make Kakishon dispersed. The Proteans," the former dragon said, nodding at the forms with their hands stuck in the floating stone, "consider this Earth Seed special too; they can repair Kakishon much faster with it. So those two facts must count for something."
"What you may not know," Venema Shodair stated to everyone, "is that our caretaker friends can't stay long here. They're going to be pulled back to the Isles of Not after a few minutes of shapeshifting for a full day. Nex designed this demiplane that way. So we either get another experienced shaitan now, or wait another day, if we still need the Proteans' help."
Your studies confirm the wyrmskull's information: with a pure piece of the Plane of Earth, denizens from the Plane of Earth can cast plane shift upon themselves as the spell.
But the Scroll of Kakishon adds a controlling factor you're not sure about.
The Scroll of Kakishon always returned someone to the Scroll's location, no matter what their native land was. Archwizard Nex designed it that way. But the Scroll was damaged by Andrathi's Trap and Jhavhul's Release. Someone might be able to force their way out of the closed demiplane, but they would need additional power, like gate.
Kakishon might be irreversibly damaged as a result of any more nonstandard planar travel.
The Proteans can provide the additional power. With their ability to handle pure chaos and mold it to their will, they can attempt to repair the damage to the Scroll of Kakishon while an earth denizen simultaneously uses their connection to the Plane of Earth to cast plane shift.
Plane shift also has its' own problems, such as not arriving exactly where you wanted to be on the Plane. The shaitan casting the planar portion would have to be very precise, or the travelers might end up on the Plane of Earth, or lost in the Multiverse, instead of where the Scroll of Kakishon is currently located.
Kakishon has been through a tremendous amount of damage. The Proteans can fix that damage, but only so far. Another planar opening through the Scroll of Kakishon or this "back-door" might be the straw that broke the camel's back. Alternatively, the planar energies might change the demiplane itself, changing it from a closed bubble into a true demiplane resting in the Astral Plane. You give the odds as fifty-fifty.
The Heart of Kakishon would never last long enough to transport every person on the demiplane to another Plane. Planar energies would rip this place apart before the last shaitan could take another eight people with them.
The Proteans have a link to the Maelstrom. (Chaos)
The Shaitan have a link to the Plane of Earth. (Order)
You need both at the same time to leave this demiplane while keeping Kakishon from destroying itself.
Yazi has an unattuned planar fork that would actually help in the process of making the plane shift to where you want to go. It would improve the odds of the plane shift spell working, at least.
Rayhan is in no hurry. He begins studying the Heart and speaking with the assembled Shaitan as well as Venema Shodair about possible plans for restoring Kakishon and escaping.
The best possible outcome for the inhabitants of Kakishon would be, of course, for a fully restored demiplane. With the Scroll damaged, only Archwizard Nex can do such a feat. Lesser mortals would need dozens of wishes to restore the plane and the Scroll, and you don't have those. With the extraplanar damage, even the Proteans are fighting a losing battle against everything returning to chaos.
The second best option would be to make Kakishon independent of the Proteans, renewing itself. Such is the case of most demiplanes created by godlings and archwizards in the Astral Plane. But Archwizard Nex wanted a private plane, and thus sealed Kakishon within the Scroll of Kakishon. The Scroll, a minor artifact in and of itself, would have to be destroyed but the demiplane linked to it set free. Can you do that from the inside?
Once again, it comes down to a roll of the dice.
After several minutes a flash of violet lightning, the same as the ones that you have seen during the journey here as well as plaguing Kakishon, ripples across the Heart of Kakishon, along with a clap of thunder. Lahapraset and her companions are violently struck away from the floating Earth Seed, their song broken, the stone beginning to rotate slowly again.
"We have done what we can / Back to Andakami we are pulled again. / Do not forget your promise of freedom / Use the Ram's Horn to call us anon!" Lahapraset said, the other Proteans growling at singed hands and fading away before your eyes.
"Remember you still need us-" are Lahapraset's last words as she disappears. The Heart of Kakishon looks fully restored to your eyes, the stone flawless in its' whorls and depressions.
--------------------
"Lord Obherak would not want to leave, and would not parley with you." Iqilma said in response to Rayhan's questioning. "I doubt he can be convinced to help you. Even now, I risk my head aiding you while he recovers. But if you are gone when he awakens, and Kakishon is his to rule unfettered, then he might be merciful."
"Well, with the Proteans back at the Isles of Not, we have time to recover ourselves." Venema the former brass dragon concludes. "If we rest a day, our spells will be renewed, and I can also make a few teleports if need be." She looked at Rayhan, Khayal, and Bartan. "Some of you could use some magical restoration. Which, as an arcane, I don't have - but I might be able to scrounge something."
----------------------
After a few hours huddled with the redheaded Iqima and the golden wrymskull, Rayhan just stared at the floating Heart of Kakishon, both awed and calculating. Lord Obherak had been taken by two female shaitan back below to an unseen chamber by this time.
The other shaitan bring cushions and oversized (to humans) chairs, if anyone wishes to sit or recline. But they offer little unless directly asked, such as for food and water.
Rayhan decides on a course of action
Mistresses and Masters he begins, drawing himself up to his full height and standing tall before the adventurers and shaitan gathered.
There is a way to save Kakishon. However...this comes with great risk. We can set Kakishon adrift in the Astral Plane, free it from the Scroll of Kakishon, where the Archwizard Nex kept it hidden. This would save the demiplane, and set the Protean free. to the Shaitan he says
Lord Obherak would of course be free to pursue...whatever methods he might see fit to rule his dominion. But, it would persist. Unlike what will happen if Kakishon is kept within the Scroll. The question is not IF Kakishon will unravel, but when. Outside of the Archwizard himself repairing the damage wrought by that thief Tamir and the Efreet Jhavhul, there is no fixing the plane inside the Scroll. Only freeing Kakishon and releasing it into the Astral Plane will ensure that it survives.
To his friends he says As for leaving, that is made simpler by the use of the Heart and the various means of planar travel. Mistress Dilix could do the deed, as could many of the Shaitan here. The Tuning Fork Yazi has kept safe would make planar travel much less hazardous. I also theorize that planar travel would be much easier if Kakishon were associated with the Astral Plane rather than the Scroll.
"I knew that would come in handy." Venema told them, satisfaction in her voice. Floating around, she said "It looks like you young ones have an afternoon and a night to heal up, organize your equipment, and prepare to go back to the Prime Material Plane! Katapesh, wasn't it? I've flown there, back in my day. A mid-sized port."
Rayhan has teleports remaining, the problem is that he can only take a couple people with him at this level. Certainly not everyone.
Khayal blinks once at Venema calling Katapesh a mid sized port. Trying to imagine what’s large one would be like. So, my friends, what is the plan? Do we rest here? I look forward to seeing my wife and I look forward to blood of fire soaking my blade.
"I am just happy to have the chance to make it home. This plane has taxed my patience."
As we are getting ready to leave, do you think there is any chance of stopping by Artel? Those swords could come in handy.
We should indeed return to Kelmerane as soon as we can. Hajar says
Hajar then adds I'll summon Mistress Mahad. She should be of help. and then he uses the genie's bracelet to summon Dilix Mahad
Rayhan will teleport Khayal and up to 2 more people to Artel's volcano, and then teleport them back.
Bartan will spend the time while the others are teleporting around doing a harrow reading on the future of Kakishon.
-> The Cyclone (Chaotic Evil, Strength)
-> The Avalanche (Lawful Evil, Dexterity)
-> The Peacock (True Neutral, Dexterity)
-> The Unicorn (Chaotic Good, Charisma)
-> The Idiot (Neutral Evil, Intelligence)
-> The Forge (Lawful Neutral, Strength)
-> The Courtesan (Chaotic Neutral, Charisma)
-> The Midwife (Neutral Good, Wisdom)
-> The Hidden Truth (Lawful Good, Intelligence)
-> The Liar (Chaotic Evil, Charisma)
The demiplane's past and present both being confused and jumbled makes sense to Bartan, but seeing the Liar in the bottom-right position causes him to take on a grave look. "I fear that no matter what we do, Kakishon is destined for destruction. I see a powerful being telling us an untruth about its nature, and this leading to the undoing of the plane despite our best efforts. I am more than ready to leave this place."
Dilix appeared next to Hajar in the upside-down chamber, the dusky-skinned woman looking around the inner room. Once she saw the floating Heart of Kakishon, however, Dilix Mahad's form changed, growing into a taller, violet-colored female clad in studded leather armor. "Home." she marveled out loud, her voice much younger-sounding than Dilix the bejeweled middle-aged human woman, reaching out towards the floating rock. "You found a piece of home."
"Yes, Dilix - and you're still playing your games, I see. How's your doppelganger pet?" Iqilma cattily responded from the North wall. Dilix quickly recovered her composure, hands dropping to her sides, where a scimitar and several daggers rested. The now nine-foot-tall Dilix snapped "Still hoping to become Obherak's concubine, and not just his servant, Iqilma?"
"Now, now, girls - let's not ruin a full night and day of truce here." the floating dragon's skull stated, coming down inbetween them. "Hello, Dilix. You've been keeping Nex's Pleasure Palace as best you could, given Jhavhul's abuse. I'm Venema. Call me Archwizard Nex's crypt keeper. Our adventurer friends found this knickknack here, and are trying to use it to get out of Kakishon. But I'm told not just any earth genie will do. Obherak is...sleeping things off, so you are next in line to aid our human friends. The Proteans are helping too. Now then, let's talk." Venema demanded.
The wrymskull and the two shaitan conferred while Rayhan took Khayal and Yazi to Artel's forge.
-----------------------------------------
Rayhan's teleport takes you just outside the second set of double doors. The heat is immediately deadly - breaking everyone out in a sweat. Yazi hears a complaining meowing from her backpack as Spooky feels the heat as well.
A nearby small creature clad in armor with his back turned to you jumps nearly four feet into the air before whirling around. With an exclamation of surprise, Farid the magma mephit nearly shouted "Customers do not teleport! Very dangerous!" Adjusting his armor, the mephit points to a white-colored rolled-up material resting against one of the armor racks. "My master worked day and night, so be appreciative! He says no more orders for a month, he has been 'inspired' to make something new! Now return what you have taken and go!"
Khayal returns the borrowed +1 dagger to the master smith and thanks his assistant for his efforts. It pleases me much to have these blades back in my hands. Perhaps, after times calm down, I shall return for further upgrades. Your master is quite skilled indeed.
Upon their return to the others, Khayal takes out his blades and smiles twirling them a bit through the air. Taking the blade and running it along his arm he shows its sharpness, cutting some hairs. Smiling, he knicks his thumb on the knotch and sheaths one. Taking the other in his hand he whispers to it, turning it into a belt, which he drapes across his shoulder. We have a task to complete.
"Right." Venema Shodair said. "My turn to do a quick trip. Now everyone behave, or it's sleep gas for everybody when I get back."
The wrymskull disappeared in a teleport.
Brother Hajar, do you mind asking your god’s favor and binding our wounds while we wait. It seems that a night’s rest was not enough to fully heal them.
Artel also gave us this clothing, though it seems a bit restrictive, it may be useful against severe heat.
At that comment, Dilix comes over and talks to the now-shorter humans. "I was going to add before we attempt this procedure that I wanted to tell you more about efretti as a race. Jhavhul is no exception: he loved the heat and fire, and hated cold and free water. But as a wish-granting genie he undoubtedly has magical protection against cold-based attacks. His wishes always benefited him, not the wisher. His pride also means he rarely thinks he can be overcome; but his goal to raise the Firebleeder and obtain his heart's desire means he will have every contingency planned for. Jhavhul cannot fight a war this time and raise the Firebleeder, so he will stay in the shadows, and be hard to find, letting his efretti lieutenants and janni and human slaves do the fighting for him. So each obstacle you come across will be a delaying hindrance, not a valued member of Jhavhul's army. Remember that."
With those words, the female shaitan began conferring with Rayhan about the upcoming series of arcane actions with the Heart of Kakishon.
Hajar will indeed minister to his allies ailments.
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Venema -pops!- back into place, and immediately flies away from Hajar, whose helm starts to glow again. "Not too close, that aura hurts." you hear the wrymskull say to everyone. She drips water from her bony skull all over the floor.
Venema flies over to Nasir, opening her dragon jaws and depositing a rolled-up sack into her arms. "Here ya'go, sweetie." the old brass dragon tells the dancer. "When you didn't visit Kirhosk's lair, I knew you might have missed his treasure. That old dragon turtle was so greedy he'd scour the seabed for trinkets before they fell off the edge to the Proteans. I grabbed this bag and scooped up as much treasure as I could. So you've got some coin and stuff, as well as about eight hundred pounds of seawater in here! Don't spend it all in one place."
The sack has all the looks of a bag of holding.
- assorted coin, like platinum pieces, gold pieces, and silver pieces
- eight emeralds
- one large diamond
- everburning torch (in waterproof bag)
- jade ring fantastically carved to resemble two entwined serpents with small rubies for eyes
- golden bracer with a relief image of dragons in combat
- a thick rod with a red paint motif
- small clear decanter
- four flat eight-inch-long iron bars, each with a small button on one end and a weapon loop on the other
- a deck of playing cards (in the bag with the torch)
- more salty water than you can think of
Rayhan comes over with Dilix in tow. "We are ready, I believe." she tells everyone. "Summon the Proteans."
"Indeed, we appreciate your help, ancient one. That diamond, in particular, may come in handy."
<- This one interests Bartan in particular.
Rayhan determines with a few minutes of study that the cards are a deck of illusions, and the red-colored rod a rod of flame extinguishing. Khayal's bag is a bag of holding type I, while Nasir's bag is a Type III.
Bartan is a big fan of that deck of illusions.
There's a lot of seawater in that bag, but Bartan guesses that there's at least 500 pp, 1,200 gp, and close to 10,000 sp swirling around. The emeralds look around 1,000 gp each, that diamond has to be more than 1,000 gp, the jade ring could be 1,200 gp, and the golden bracer should be more than 300 gp.
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"Before we leave you, great earth-based creatures, I have need of a tool that I can use to crush diamond. Would you happen to have something of that nature that I might be able to purchase from you?"