Mah'ysa examines the tripartite reredos with fascination.
"Look at this! This radiates strong Divination magic. I think this must be used to scry somewhere else in this structure. Hm. I wonder how to work it..."
She points at the fountain.
"This is likely a projection of somewhere else."
Mah'ysa fiddles with the object, trying to get it to work for her.
Had to look up what a reredos is :)
Mah'ysa sets to tinkering and fiddling. Drawing on her experience with such magics, she tries different methods of activation, eventually turning to arcane words and phrases. Not really sure how or if she activated it, but the bronze fountain in front of the reredos quickly fades out and is replaced by a bronze image of a body laying on the ground. The body is about the same size, shape, and position as the one you found in the chamber to the south of this one.
As Pae tinkers and says the same arcane word as Mah'ysa, the bronze body on the ground quickly fades and it is immediately replaced by a large, bronze humanoid with bronze horns and jutting tusks hanging upside down from the ceiling high above by a pair of bronze chains.
Hazreem walks over to the others, an interested look on his face. "That is a neat trick there. Do you think you could use it to find this Princess? She is supposed to be around here somewhere."
"Working on it!" Mah'ysa replied.
She tried adjusting the flanking pieces, uses a Touch of Good.
The large humanoid hanging upside down quickly fades away and is replaced instead by a group of bronze humanoids standing with their backs to you, one of them being rather small in stature.
It takes only a moment before you realize that this new group of bronze figures are in fact you. As one of you turns to look back at the others, their bronze counterpart also turns at nearly the same time. When you instinctively raise your arm, your bronze self raises their arm. When you try to move towards yourself, your other self moves away from you until it eventually disappears as it crosses the edge of the effect's area.
Efreat ponders the result. "You searched for the princess and it showed you us. Could she be imprisoned in the device? Perhaps we search a few things before attempting to destroy the device. See if you can move the device through the passage ways and thereby map this place."
As the sorcerer tries his hand at activating the device, he manages to get the scene to change from the current room to another place filled with a scattering of bronze debris all over the floor. It looks like pieces of equipment, weapons, and assorted odds and ends including a large, bronzed, rolled-up carpet.
With a little more focus, this disappears as well and the scene changes back again to the large fountain. Within the fountain, strings of bronze strands rise from the top and arc around to the basin below. Suddenly, movement catches your attention as a humanoid head rises from within this basin, a female head with flowing bronze hair. The feminine looking head looks about, cocking her head as if listening intently to something.
As you watch the bronze woman in the bronze fountain, something new catches your attention. A small bronze cat has just walked up to the fountain and the woman within rises up slightly, resting her bare arms on the edge of the fountain. She appears to start conversing with the feline and the cat's tail rises high up into the air in response.
Mah'ysa frowns as she studies the new image. Then she turns and looks around for Spooky.
Hazreem watches the scene unfold with an interested look on his face. He eyes the bronze feline closely but does not say anything.
Looking behind, you don't see Spooky anywhere.
Mah'ysa turns back to squint at the image again.
"Uh, does that cat look like Spooky to anyone else?"
Hazreem turns to regard the priestess with a bemused look on his face. "It does to me..." He turns to face the feline, "Right?"
The bronze cat doesn't seem to hear you.
Returning to the hallway, there is no sign of the cat. As everyone else begins following, the Paladin turns right and heads towards the next chamber.
This chamber is dark, save for a single flickering lamp on the north wall. All of the room's other lamps have gone out. It is hard to tell after all that oppressive heat, but this chamber does not seem to be as hot as the rest of this place.
A scattering of debris covers the floor. It looks like pieces of equipment, weapons, and assorted junk. A nice looking carpet is rolled up and is leaning against the wall in the corner. The brass walls are decorated with imprints of humanoids wreathed in flame, sitting upon prayer mats and bowing toward the exit to the west.
The exit to the west draws your attention as you hear the sound of water coming from that direction. Carefully stepping through the piles of stuff, you make your way to that side and through the opening.
The tinkling sound of falling water and a cool spray of refreshing mist are surprising features of this large 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 is slowly drains away, causing the gas lamps to flicker in the moisture-laden air.
Resting within the basin is a large woman, her skin and long-flowing hair the color of the sea. Her attention was initially on a tiny feline on the ground that has its paws upon the side of the basin looking up at the woman, but as you enter both of them turn to look up at you. The woman rises and steps back at your presence, towering many feet over you. In a timid voice, she first speaks in Ignan, but quickly switches to Common. "Hello. Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here?"
Mah'ysa thinks of what she knows of genies (with a Touch of Good).
"This looks like a Marid." Mah'ysa muttered to her companions.
Cautiously, Mah'ysa approaches the large lady marid with a friendly disposition.
"I beg your pardon for the intrusion milady." Mah'ysa opened, giving a graceful courtsey.
"I am Abbess Mah'ysa Alandir, out of Kelmarane." She gestures to her companions. "This is Master Efreat, this is Sir Bahir, this is Brother Hazreem, and this is Master Paellat.
" As to why we are here, well to make a long story short I and my companions, the Protectors of Kelmarane, were captive in a pocket dimension when we escaped and found ourselves in this burning hot maze. Along the way we have heard rumors of a captive marid princess. Might you be her?"
The cleric's words seem to calm the marid's uneasiness. She moves back towards the edge of the fountain's basin and speaks in a more relaxed tone, almost melodic.
"Yes, I am Shazathared, daughter of a line of rulers long gone from the Realm of Water. I am glad you have come, children of the Mortal Realm. Long have I languished in this place. 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. Jhavhul was his name, and he called upon mighty magic of the ancients to imprison me within this fountain. He 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."
She seems saddened as she mentions her own kind.
Hazreem strokes his chin, lost in thought; the words uttered by the beautiful marid causing his brow to furrow. "Jhavhul, eh? Yeah we have a score to settle with him. As for this...Ymeri, do you have any idea what happened to her? Or what she looks like?"
He turns to the others and mutters softly, "So I wonder who is in the other fountain we saw earlier, that bronze one."
Mah'ysa mutters back to Hazreem.
"Wasn't that just an image of Shazathared here? Like a crystal ball; a remote picture of here?"
To Shazathared:
"Yes your highness, we are familiar with Jhavhul. To make a long story short, he and his army lost a battle centuries ago near Kelmarane and were imprisoned in a pocket dimension. Mere days ago, we were tricked into trading places with him, releasing him and his army and imprisoning us. We eventually found our own way out, but found ourselves here in this hot maze. We are currently trying to find a way out. I don't suppose you know of a way?"
She answers the druid first. "Ymeri is one of the Elemental Lords. I have never actually encountered her, and I am glad for it. She leads those from this plane in war against my kin. Jhavhul always talked about her about how one day they would be together and would rule this realm together. He was always trying to impress her with elaborate gifts and demonstrations of his power. I assumed that since he was no longer visiting me that he had finally succeeded and was with her. You are the first to come since then except those mindless creatures of fire that thought I was a goddess and worshiped me. I was able to communicate with one of them, who called himself Zithic, but he refused to believe me insisting that I was some sort of deity. So I have not heard anything about what has been happening outside of this cursed place."
She turns to Mah'ysa and responses in kind. "While I know little of this place of brass, 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 theft has brought down the curse that traps us all here. What it is I cannot say, other than that its 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. Free me, and you shall be richly rewarded and gain the eternal friendship of the Marid Court."
Hazreem nods in response to her answers. "Yeah, those fire elementals who worshipped you had to be dealt with. As for this Ymeri....I know I do not want to meet her in my lifetime!" When she mentions the artifact, his eyes light up in understanding. "We have also heard of this artifact, from one of many spirits who are trapped here with us. He called it the 'Impossible Eye'. Anything you know of it would help us to find it easier."
Her eyes widen at the mention of the Impossible Eye. "Then it was the Impossible Eye that was stolen. Even in my realm I have we heard of this artifact, a cherished and valuable item kept by the Grand Vizier right here in the City of Brass. It is a powerful magical mirror that allows those who have mastered its usage to perform great feats. I've heard that you can ask the mirrors questions and it will respond, allow you to see elsewhere in the world, even across planes. They say it can predict the future as well."
She pauses with a thought. "But I do not know of this spirit you speak of. If such a spirit exists, it has chosen not to serenade me with any of its riddles."
She brightens as an idea comes to her mind. "If you promise me that you will seek out this Impossible Eye and destroy it or take it from here so that this curse is lifted, I will grant you my yearly wish. I have not granted a wish in many centuries, I don't expect anyone else to come along in the next year, and you seem worthy of it."
She smiles sweetly at the paladin's suggestion. "If only it was that simple. But my wish power can only be used if wished by another and unfortunately my magic is not powerful enough to undo the binding spell that holds me here."
Hazreem nods, "Yeah that makes sense, seeing as how you are still here. Still we do thank you for that boon...few mortals are so blessed with such." He sighs looking upwards at her, "Unfortunately, your wish and ours are one and the same: freedom. We need to find the Eye first, then we can talk of rewards. There is one favor we would ask of you, a place to rest and recover for the evening. Finding you here very nearly cost us our lives and I fear to press on while we are so taxed."
He turns to the others. "Perhaps we can check the other room after we are rested. The scrying device may show a way out of these vault, at the very least."
"It is not much, but you are welcome to stay here and keep me company. The moisture in the air from the fountain tends to keep them away. You all do look dreadfully tired. I'd love to tell you one of my stories or sing you a song while you rest."
You notice Spooky has leaped to the edge of the fountain and is leaning down, busy lapping up the water from within the basin. She doesn't seem to mind. "The fountain's magic keeps the water pure and replenishes its supply."
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"That would be...most pleasant and welcome. Perhaps we can return your kindness with some stories or songs of our own. The Ra....Mah'ysa has a beautiful singing voice in her own right. There is a wish I have Princess Shazathared but it is not one that you can grant." The paladin turns toward Mah'ysa, "I...reached out to the Dawnflower after we fell off the ship and fell through the blackness. I have never been more frightened in all my life but having you in my arms changed that for the first time. You gave me strength....resolve....and you lit my way through the darkness. I made a promise to myself and The Dawnflower right then and there if we should survive to see the light..." The paladin drops to one knee in his long white chasuble and tunic, with several of the depicted sun images in red and gold thread partly burned away by the recent fiery battle, "Mah'ysa Alandir, the flowering flame in my heart, in this oasis in front of our friends and Princess of the Watery Realms Shazathared I pledge myself to you and ask for your pledge in return." The paladin pulls out a ring...
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Pae spends the duration of the conversation just gazing at the Marid princess..she is to him the most exotic female he has ever had the pleasure of meeting.
He is caught totally off guard by Bahir's declaration even though he had deduced the Paladins love for his lady a long time ago.
"What..huh..whu...oh..well it's about time"
Hazreem, who had been resting on one side of the fountain allowing the water's flow to relax him, leaps to his feet with a shocked expression on his face. He quickly embraces the paladin, "Bahir! I am overwhelmed with happiness for you! You certainly deserve the Dawnflower's blessing and She has blessed you most abundantly with her Dawnflower!"
He releases the paladin, an embarrassed look on his face, as he realized one minor detail...the priestess has not officially said yes yet (although she could just be stunned for the moment...)
The marid princess breathes in with a huge smile on her face, "Oh the stories I'll be able to tell", she says more to herself than anyone present. She seems to be on the edge of her basin waiting for the cleric's response as Bahir pulls out a magnificently crafted ring that shines in the light of the flickering lanterns. It appears to be forged from the same material as your new flint steel blades.
Mah'ysa stands there frozen with astonishment.
"Bahir! I..." She stutters.
Wonder, terror, anger, delight, all flit over Mah'ysa's face; and for a moment you think she is going to run away.
"I, I cannot give you..." She starts.
She throws herself in Bahir's arms.
"I cannot give you what you already have. Yes of course!
"I knew, I knew when I thought that creature had cleaved you in twain and my own heart felt split. I knew. And no ring, no wish can match what I have in my arms right now. Every girls dream, my very own shining knight..." She kisses him at this point.
When she comes up for air, she glances at the marid.
"Ah, no offence your highness."
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The paladin returns the kiss with a soul searing one of his own as his usually guarded emotions overwhelm him, "Where my lady would you like to have the ceremony? No rush is needed, we have all the time we are finding our way back to Katapesh and Kelmerane to decide." He reluctantly releases the half-elven woman and looks toward the marid, "Yes, I think a story would be most welcome right now." He'll go get the aforementioned nice carpet leaning against the wall of the previous room and setup a nice resting area for Mah'ysa. It should give some relief from the hard stone floor.
....After some time the discussion about where to go next comes up, "How do we find the Impossible Eye? Where do we go from here?"
Efreat nods at Mah'ysa's response to Bahir. "Perhaps I can set the mood a little bit. Ven'floz'eaze'kree!" As Efreat turns in a circle, the walls, floor and ceiling take on the appearance of standing on a cliff overlooking the sea. The sound of the waves slightly crashing on the ground reminds you of home. A gentle, cool breeze comes across your face. The only thing remaining is the fountain with the Madrid. "My gift to you all. It is not real but will give us comfort for a short time."
The Princess takes the current setting and situation to tells one of her tales, the tale of two mortal beings who lived near the ocean. They were both attracted to each other but dared not tell the other....
The rug that Bahir pulls from the other room is beautifully and intricately made and seems to be in really good condition. Unrolled, it is 5 feet by 10 feet in size and is perfect for the two love birds to sit on and stare into each other's eyes.
After the group has settled down for the evening, Hazreem returns to the scene of the battle with the Get and retrieves the musical harp. "I think you you like this, Princess." He says to the marid lady.
"We may have a better chance in using the bronze....reredos thing to see it can help us find a way out."
Efreat bows to the Madrid Princess, "Does my image please you? Are you aware of the scrying reredos in the other room? Can it find the impossible Eye?"
With everyone else searching the passages, Efreat moves back to the scrying reredos. Focusing his energy he commands the devise, "Show me the Impossible Eye."
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