The janni looked almost crestfallen, forced to abandon his fawning so quickly and for such a short errand. He had only managed to get so much of Rohini's arm, and the buttering-up phase hadn't quite been passed.
"That's truly all I am needed for?" he sighed, placing a hand with admittedly long fingers and nails over where a human would have a heart. "You wound me, madame, to think I would deny you... ah, but parting is to be such sweet sorrow, and our time has yet to be filled with the richness I have come to covet. Come, let us at least discuss your payment in private-"
His intentions may be less than pure. In fact, you'd suspect this janni is... a bit desperate.
"We can discuss it right here. And besides, you're barking up the wrong tree as it were. I can tell you she isn't interested."
The outsider puffed up like some form of offended peacock.
"Now, now; this is a matter in which the lady should speak for herself."
He tried to push back into his pose of initial dignity, pulling his his right hand in front of his face as he coughed.
Jann have incredible immune systems. He shouldn't be coughing.
"Cough-buzzkill-cough,"
Rohini waves Talon away. "He's quite right, Talon. I don't need you speaking for me. I understand quite well where he's coming from and take no offense at his most reasonable suggestion. One as well formed as he should well expect that most women he encounters would be interested in his company. I'm only sorry for his sake that I have pledged all my passion to my Mistress."
Turning to the Janni: "Yes, I'm afraid that's the only request we need make of you at this time. We may need to return to this place later, but my understanding is that, while you can take us away from here, you cannot bring us back. As for the matter of your payment, I'm open to discussing the adequacy of our offering -- although considering the simplicity and security of the task, I thought it adequate -- and I keep no secrets from my companions. I hope we can proceed soon, because all of us are quite exhausted and the distressed state of our companions weighs heavily on our minds. I can tell that you're a much more light-hearted sort than we are, and I trust that you won't have any trouble finding others more disposed to joviality once we reach Golarion. I'm sorry that we aren't much fun."
Haka smiles at the situation, then recalls how eager he is to leave this place and return to Katapesh, if only briefly.
"You alright? I didn't know Janni could get sick."
"Oh, my dear, I wish that were so, but your initial offering merely served as your fishing lure and was expended in bringing me here. As lovely as you are, I still require an incentive... Though your task is hardly a dangerous one."
He smiled again, his teeth somewhat pointed, but otherwise human.
"I might not even exact a price in monetary worth, you know... A lock of hair, a dashing performance, a story, a kiss..."
Something about the way he said it showed a definite preference for the last thing.
The janni sent a sideways glance to Talon and chortled in his small victory.
"Fine, my good man."
"Yes, of course, I understand. A dashing performance we can certainly provide. Our companion Haka Thunderfoot is known far across the material plane for his ability to delight."
"I meant from you, dear lady-," the outsider began before looking to the rest of the group. For a moment, his eyes lingered on the azata longingly.
"But someone else will have to do. Very well; bring forth your Haka."
The janni straightened his robes and took the pose of a thoughtful maharaja, stroking his chin.
Kanthuun sighs, hands scrunching his chin, dreaming of the abilities to move between the planes with a snap of the fingers. He glances at the shivering Hanethes and the wide-eyed, shuddering Drovya and purses his lips.
"Perhaps a song about our adventures, Haka, such as they have been," he comments dryly.
Rohini is happy to fade back a bit from the Janni's attention and let Haka take over.
... Nonetheless, Rohini brandishes her flute and provides some color and expressive notes to accompany Haka's performance.
Apparently inspired by the desperation of their circumstances, Rohini performs masterfully.
She also provides Haka a bit of luck on his roll.
As Rohini begins to play, and all eyes turn towards Haka, the tensions of merely existing in Abaddon begin to slip away from him. He looks about confidently, then finds a flat rock, just a few paces across, that emerges from the muck enough to serve as a stage for his performance.
In this muddy, limited space, he begins to dance. His small figure moves in space, his feet stamping out a beat and blending with Rohini's beautiful flute music. Though he does not act it out in pantomime, the emotions in his dance, the fear and courage, the loss and strength, all serve to tell the tale of some of their adventures in Abaddon. His companions find themselves reliving some of their recent past - the musical battle atop the pillar in the grotesque library, the attack on Hanethes by the urdhefan, the chaos of separation and uncertainty as Drovya and Han were first wracked with their yet-uncured insanity. It is not easy to perform or watch, but the performance contains great cathartic power. It helps Haka better understand some of what he has suffered, and as he finishes his dance and bows before the Janni, he hopes it has helped his friends as well.
The janni does have a few lecherous surface thoughts, but he is also plagued by worries about what his brother is doing on the plane of fire. Well, for as long as that thought stays before it's ended with thinking about how steamy the women must be down there. All thoughts shut down with the introduction of the music and dance, however, with the exception of a pleased "whoa".
With the music of Haka's stamping and Rohini's flute, Hanethes lifts his voice with a wild glimmer in his eye.
"Round the world and home again
That's the sailor's way
Faster faster, faster faster
There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a–blowing
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a–glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing
Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing."
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Once Han does his poetry during his moment of clarity, Talon promptly knocks the half elf out.
The outsider swayed to the music, losing himself to it and having much of the emotions there in start to seed until Hanethes’ jarring-but-skilled reprisal of something that gave the gm nightmares in her youth presented itself. It was at this point, Rohini’s senses discovered, that he truly gleaned any of the desperate situation the adventurers were in. Before that, he had merely labeled Haka as “sensitive”.
He winced at the brutal blow that knocked the rogue into unconsciousness, as well. However, he was thoroughly impressed with the culminated performance. Quite so. He put his elongated hands together and clapped for five seconds, the sound only slightly different from the hands of man.
”That was magnificent, indeed. Dear woman, diamond of the mire, you and your Haka performed beautifully. As did your… friend-thing… with the malady, though I’ll admit to being less than enthusiastic to listen to that again.”
He clasped Rohini’s arm again. ”Dear lady, know that you and your small companion have equaled the works of my master’s court. Perhaps I should spirit you away with me, hmm? Have you take a break in the grand palace of Drakganeries in the Plane of Air? Mmm…. Judging by your face, perhaps now is not the best time. Come, come, and take your comrade’s hands, limp or no, and brace yourselves.”
Nyota made a point of clinging to Talon for dear life whilst her sister kept Drovya and Hanethes’ hands in a vicegrip for fear of theirs. The familiar exhilaration abounded as the adventurers had lift off. This shift was by far less gentle than the one had at the touch of the pendant. There were more noises of all sorts… not all of them intelligible, but it almost sounded like they were at the epicenter of some well-used street. Kanthuun caught a glimpse of what might have been another janni with four people clinging in a similar fashion in the fog.
The party felt the sun on their skin before they landed in what was definitely a body of water. Salty mist snuck into their mouths and noses before the element itself. It was disorienting to land in this way, but it became immediately apparent that the heroes would have to swim or drown due to the lack of ground beneath their feet.
You’re in the ocean. The water looks clear.
There’s land about a mile to the south… you can see that faint line in the horizon.
The janni rose from the waters and reached down to grab the cleric before cursing loudly as he disappeared. The task, after all, was complete, though hardly in a way that was going to cement his reputation as helpful.
The deadweights of Drovya and Hanethes would be the largest challenge in this arena. Someone had to do something, and quickly.
As soon as she feels the sensation of water, Rohini casts fly and yells, "Kanthuun, do your rope trick!", but not before flashing a lovely smile at the Janni, as if to says thanks and don't worry we can handle it...
If necessary before she casts, here are swim checks with a bit of luck:
The second is enough to keep her floating...
"I think I see land about a mile that way!", pointing to the south.
(heavily encumbered)
Illyata immediate shouldered the unconscious Hanethes, leaving Drovya to some other capable hands.
Haka hits the water spluttering and spitting, What in the hells? Some payment for my performance, this! Dropping a desert lad into the drink!
As Haka tries to sort out what is happening, his darkwood buckler floats off his back and bobs to the surface, the light wood making it a useful thing to hang onto for a moment. In spite of his lack of experience, he's able to stay afloat - but has his doubts about swimming a mile to the land Rohini has spotted.
Already encumbered by his portable fortress of armor, Talon grabs Nyota and Han and swims back to shore.
Rohini will hover above the swimmers and dangle a silk rope for them to grab onto, so they are not at risk of drowning. Once everyone has a hand on the rope, she will slowly move in the direction of shore, not so much pulling them as just providing a secure support for their own efforts.
Kanthuun smiles and tosses out a small feather from his quiver. It rapidly unfolds into a gleaming white boat with a prow reminiscent of a swan's graceful neck, the sides of the boat resembling great folded wings.
"All ashore who's going ashore?" he says, and clambers in.
The swan boat made its way to the rocky shores of the nearby island with everyone in tow, thus avoiding much of the nonsense and risk of drowning that would be faced otherwise. The way over was punctuated by the jumping of fish.
Once the shore drew closer, the party could see the remains of a massive shipwreck just under the water's surface in the clear water under the noonday sun.
The island truly came into view to reveal a skyline with cliffs to the west and the silhouettes of trees.
Once they were closer, it was made apparent that the trees had something a bit off about them. They were blackened.
There weren't any birds about, either.
Once the swan boat beached, the trees could be seen with more detail (especially those close to the beach). They were charred and at least somewhat covered in glass, shimmering above the sand that started where the rocky beach stopped.
A ruined mosque loomed in the distance, its grand minaret cracked.
This is likely the Isle of Black Palms, an accursed place which is part of Valkur Isle. Neither Katapesh or Nex are thrilled about claiming it, however, as a rare Black Jinni supposedly roams its reaches. Supposedly, no one who has ever ventured here has ever returned.
Nyota furrowed her brow even as Illyata got to work pulling Hanethes out of the boat.
"We're still here.... It's better, but I don't like this place, either..."
Her eyes film over and she takes a few steps onto the rocky shore before retreating back to help Talon bring Drovya onto the beach.
"Funny, I could have sworn..."
"What is it?" Talon asks as he drags himself and his unconscious allies up onto shore.
"I felt something on the beach. Something... evil. It's gone, though..."
"We'll deal with it later when it attacks us in the middle of the night. Where are we? I don't think we're anywhere near Katapesh."
Rohini does move ahead of the boat to get to shore before the spell runs out, and she attempts to get some sense of the size of the island and the prominent features of the island (buildings, etc.) from the air.