As Hajar is hugged by the huge fire elemental, it shows quick reflexes as it shifts its' grapple with the human to one hand, striking out against the others with its' free hand.
But the combined attacks on the elemental are too much for it, and it succumbs to oblivion at the last. Hajar is dropped from the grapple.
ROUND FIVE
Init:
A bright light, like a bonfire, comes from the chamber to the West.
Hajar lands nimbly enough.
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Let’s get some of Hajar’s healing light and then press the attack.
Through the archway you see a towering fire elemental that looks like a dragon made of flames. "ZITHIC!" the creature roars, like a forest fire.
The ring on your hand, the minor ring of fire resistance, grows hot, and you hear a voice in your head.
Hear and heed me, mortal. The ring on thy finger is not some minor magic, but something far more powerful. Prove thy worth, and defeat this elder fire elemental in single combat, and thee will receive a reward greater than thy need. Fail, or let thy companions aid thee, and thou will lose this boon for a lifetime or more.
An elder fire elemental. Very rare. Only seen in the deepest reaches of the Plane of Fire. For it, and a tribe of fire elementals to be here, they all must have been trapped here for centuries. Unlike the previous fire elementals, this creature could be as smart as a human.
"It is an elder! We should try to reason with it. I would hate to destroy an ancient creature just out of misunderstanding."
Despite what he says, Bartan knows the creature is deadly, and uses his pearl of power to recall his snowball spell.
Coldtooth stepped forward. "Elementals of fire understand Ignan, sometimes speak it. Ignan is our language." he stated.
"We would very much like to speak to him. If you are willing to translate, that would be wonderful."
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Rayhan and Hajar together can speak to the creature. Hajar's got the diplomatic skills, Rayhan speaks the language.
Hajar introduces himself and the party
Most Esteemed Being. I am Hajar Nar Jundi, Abbott Protector of Kelmerane and Servant of the Dawnflower, may her name always bring blessings. These are my companions. This is the most Noble and Beautiful Yazi. Here is the Gambler Bartan Harrowborn, a spell slinger of repute. This, is the dancer Nasir al'Shahaadi, she has wooed many hearts and is the talk of a thousand tongues. This, is my brother, the Most Valiant Warrior Khayal bin Haleen. Finally, we have been joined by the Most Esteemed and Learned Sage Rayhan Xohbadi. he gestures for everyone to bow low.
We seek not to quarrel with one so powerful as you, we seek only exit from this place and to return to our own lands. The Efreet Jhavhul threatens all that we hold dear, and we will stop him in his mad quest to serve the Rough Beast and awaken the Firebleeder.
The elder fire elemental looks like it is listening to Rayhan, but at the mention of "Jhavhul", its eyes narrow and the creature repeats "ZITHIC!". Its' flames grow hotter as the fire elemental paces around the larger chamber, as if daring anyone to enter.
"It's mad. Insane." Coldtooth opined from behind the adventurers.
Khayal calls forth the spirit of his blade once more. I will take him alone. He says solemnly before entering the larger chamber.
I will not allow you to die Brother. No honor is worth that. Hajar says flatly.
It will not be death for me. I can not stop you from intervening when you feel you must. But I ask you to hold off as long as you feel you can.
With those words Khayal dashes into the room swinging his kukri into the massive being of fire.
Khayal has become one with his blades. They seem to flow through the air in a spinning dance. Each swing precisely and instinctively placed in time and space.
<=== rerolling with reliable strike
Khayals thoughts do not become lost amongst the blades. Feelings of some sorrow take him and this being has done nothing to deserve death in his eyes. Not yet. Defeat does not mean death, Khayal switches to the sides of his blades.
<===rerolling with reliable strike
Khayal charges, getting in the first blow. The azer mercenaries begin singing a low song, like the sizzle of meat in a frying pan, pounding their warhammers into their fists for tempo.
The dragon made of fire fought back.
"Shahdokt Brethren! You! Kill!" the elder elemental screamed at the smaller human as it circled him in the large room.
The fire dragon continues to circle Khayal, but looks to be making for the other adventurers outside the room.
Knowing that he must defeat the creature soon, Khayal turns his blades once more. But stops if the creature falls.
Khayal finds his blades have little effect when he tries to stun the elemental.
Its' flames flickering in and out, the elder fire elemental moved through the archway, striking at the others outside. "Kill!" the living fire crackles.
Khayal charges it down with one more attack.
The fire dragon winks out, its' fire extinguished at last.
The azer cheer the human warrior.
Thou hast earned the reward. You hear in your head. Grieve not for such creatures, as their plane will simply spawn more each cycle. In thy future thou mayst challenge or charm such creatures, and thou hast gained magic spells as those of the Arcane Art and the Divine Gift who specialize in fire. How they are used is decided by thee. But thee are now affected like similar to thy prey, and thy protection is not absolute.
Thou mayst only pass on this ring to another of thy blood, lest thy heroism be lost and the challenge begin anew, once per generation... the voice says, fading away.
Your ring of minor fire resistance has become a ring of elemental command (fire) .
Everyone feels a humid breeze in the swiftly cooling chamber and alcoves, coming from the West, from another room beyond. There is also, faintly, a soprano voice on the wind. Words that you hear but don't understand.
Wait. said the dead Templar. I have heard those words before. Where have I heard them?
Khayal looks to his brother. That was close and his brother was wise. Sometimes Khayal’s audacious tendencies get the better of him, this time it worked out, but it could have gone the other way. Instead of a smirky smile he gives his brother a solem nod of his head.
Hajar does some healing.
Khayal is fully restored.
Hajar gives his Brother a frown, but Khayal knows that look. It's got a fair measure of pride there too.
Hajar heals himself
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Bartan marvels at Khayal's bladework. "Friend Khayal, that was most impressive. Remind me to stand near you if lady Yazi is ever unavailable as a beautiful human shield." He winks at Yazi.
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Khayal gives a nod to Bartan and Yazi as well with perhaps the hint of a little smile.
He stands still as Hajar brings forth healing light for the better part of a minute. The pain of the fight being soothed away. He looks down at the ring during this period and asks it mentally, What should I call you? I am Khayal bin Haleen of Kelmarane.
With his wounds healed Khayal will take a moment more to gather his breath. The adrenaline still pumping through his blood. His breath and thoughts gathered, he moves west into the next chamber.
You receive no further instructions from the ring, just a nonverbal feeling of acceptance.
You'll have get Bartan or Rayhan to explain a ring of elemental command, fire to you as far as spells, saves, and abilities. Otherwise, you'll be working blind. As long as no one else wears it for 24 hours you'll be fine with the ring's contract.
As the adventurers pile in behind Khayal, something beautiful greets them. The tinkling sound of falling water and a cool spray of refreshing mist are surprising features of this chamber. At its center stands a large fountain, its basin composed of fire-glazed porcelain inset with lapis lazuli and its central font constructed of marble of the purest white. A jet of cool water gushes into the air and falls back into the basin where it slowly drains away, causing the gas lamps to flicker in the moisture-laden air.
Coldtooth exclaimed something in Ignan from the rear, repeating himself with "Impossible!" "Do not like. Too wet." another fire-dwarf complained.
The fountain in this room is an extreme oddity in the City of Brass, where water is scarcer than jewels. Coldtooth and the other azer look around apprehensively, covering the flaming parts of their heads with their hands, trying to keep the mist from harming their living fire.
Vardishal speaks in your mind. Those words...they came from The Songs of Shazathared. She was a renowned singer of tales who was a legend from my time. But she and the marid padishahs from the Plane of Water disappeared centuries ago. Is this magical fountain a memorial to her?
I sense someone else is here. the Templar warns.
Someone else is here. Hajar warns, lifting Tempest.
Bartan follows Yazi toward the fountain, carefully inspecting the water to see if it seems safe to fill waterskins from, but when Hajar warns that there is someone possibly hidden here, he reaches for his cards instinctively.
At Yazi's words the water in the pool stirs, and out of the water itself arises a humanlike form. Coalescing into a lush feminine figure, with long tresses going down her back, her female charms barely covered in veils capped with gold beads and pins, her limbs and waist slender, and a face like a princess, what stood before the adventures was a masterpiece of adult desire in blue-green skin, deep blue eyes, flamboyant eyebrows, and pearlescent teeth.
The azer look on dourly, grumbling, one crying out "Marid! Marid!" in awe.
A marid, or genie from the Plane of Water. The most powerful of all the genie races, they are said to possess the strength of the ocean's currents and teeth made of pearl.
A small percentage of marids can lay claim to nobility. Noble marids are often called shahzadas, and have the power to grant wishes.
Like the shaitan genies and efreeti you have met, this blue-green genie stands taller than a man, but in her case it makes her presentation all more sensual.
"I must thank you for defeating the elementals." the woman says in a melodious soprano voice as she looked over the adventurers and azer, her hands moving as she talked. "But who are you? I sense genie-kin weapons on you, and more." the last was directed at Hajar, and with half-lidded eyes the female genie added "If the name Shazathared is still sung on the tides, then know there are many who would pay for my...ransom and safe return." The last was given in a deep breath that stretched the veils across her generous torso nearly to the breaking point.
Among the legends of singers, dancers, and captive women winning their freedom with storytelling is the prominent marid princess named Shazathared. Her Songs of Shazathared are priceless in some countries, and worth lifetimes of study if an original can be found.
Her! you hear the dead Templar whisper. After my mistress, the one genie I never expected to find! A treasure lost among the Planes!
+18/19
Rayhan sucks in his breath and bows very low, scraping the ground almost.
Mistress. Please allow me to apologize for our rude entry. he gestures furiously at Hajar and hisses at the others to "put their weapons away" and "be respectful"
How could we, such low mortals, assist such a glorious and wonderous being such as you O Great Shazathared, Singer of Songs and Beauty of Ages. Rayhan says
Hajar puts away Tempest and says Mistress. Please forgive our offense. We are seeking an exit from this place. If you wish to leave, we will of course assist you.
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Immediately enthralled by the otherworldly woman Yazi was about to let her coquettish lips run wild once the Marid finished introducing herself but once she mentioned her predicament the Mercenary immediately sobered up. "Wait, you've been trapped here? How would we go about freeing you?" she says without hesitation.
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At the non-hostile replies, the blue-green woman released some of the tension in her face, and replied, "Many of your lifetimes ago was I tricked and abducted by the efreeti prince who would now be consort to Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno of the Plane of Fire. Jhavhul was his name, and he called upon the mighty magic of the ancients to imprison me within this fountain. I cannot leave, and am trapped here until the efreeti's contract is fulfilled or broken. Jhavhul wanted me first to entertain him, but as his lust for Ymeri grew, his interest in me waned until, finally, he ceased his visits to me altogether. I know not what occurred, but Jhavhul has not returned in these many centuries, and I long for the companionship of my kin. The fire elementals who found this place and made it their den were too stupid to understand my plight."
“While I know little of this palace of brass," Shazathared continued, "I do know that somewhere within it lies a source of immeasurable power — a potent artifact hidden somewhere in the palace above our heads whose thief has brought down a curse that traps us all here. Have you not felt it? What it is I cannot say, other than that its scrying presence feels like a malignant, choking algae on the surface of a spring pool. Find this source and either destroy it or have it taken from this place, and I feel that the curse upon this realm will be lifted. And with it, my prison shall be weakened enough for mortals to affect it in their usual way. Free me, and you shall be richly rewarded and gain the eternal friendship of the Marid Court.”
Shazathared smiled, her perfect teeth dazzling the others in the room. "I know little of Jhavhul's palace - the efreeti teleported here and returned the same way after each of my stories. He did warn me never to attempt to leave this chamber, lest it mean my death. Not that I could! But now that you are here, I can offer you solace while you search for the artifact of power. I have native spells to create water, and heal, and identify any magical objects you find. I can even entertain you."
The tall woman bent down, stirring the fountain's waters with one flawless arm and hand. "If anyone wishes for a bath, it has been a very long time since I have seen anyone but the brutish elementals. Unlike some of my kin, I do not mind mortal companionship." she said suggestively, her hair swirling as the madrid tilted her head.
The Get of Ibis, the dead Templar hissed in anger. It was not a mistake, a monster forgotten to time. The wyrm is known for hunting down genie-kin, and also eats elementals. If Shazathared had ever left these rooms, she would have been its' prey in a matter of moments, and even the fire elementals could not have protected her. Jhavhul left nothing to chance.
The azer make harrumph-ing noises, and Coldtooth announced gruffly "We will go back and guard the entrance. Someone said something about a secret door in a wall? There are still places to search before we can secure these chambers." The other fire-dwarves nod their heads vigorously and turn to leave, their living fire starting to make sizzling noises in the humid spray of the fountain.
We've slain the Get of Ibis. Hajar says to the Marid Princess.
Next we will find the artifact and weaken the bonds that hold you here against your will Mistress.
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Bartan, in awe at the genie's beauty, bows low. "My lady, as much as I, and several of my colleagues here, would enjoy bathing with you, we do not yet deserve such a prize. Let us find and deal with this artifact, and then we may be even fractionally worthy to be graced with your physical presence."
Bartan felt it was important to say all this BEFORE Yazi jumped in the pool, which was almost inevitable otherwise.
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Already in awe of the marid's magnificent sensuality, Nasir's breath catches as she realizes who stands before them. "Princess Shazathared, it is the greatest of pleasures to be in your presence. The legends of your beauty fail to do you justice."
There are many who would pay a Shah's ransom to learn but the smallest fraction of the Songs of Shazathared, my lady, and to....indulge in a bath with you.....would be a pleasure remembered for a lifetime." she says breathlessly giving Yazi a look that reflected her own. "We would gladly accept such a wondrous offer, though Bartan is right. I would certainly enjoy the experience far more, knowing that we hand secured your freedom first." the dancer says breathlessly.