Helpless against a foe immune to her magic, Mah'ysa turned to the Emkrah still held aloft by Hazreem.
"Hazreem! Make a hole!" She shouted.
Raising her holy ankh, she called upon the wrath of the Dawnflower and leveled the blaze of a Sunbeam at it.
Sunbeam shot 1 of 4:
It takes untyped damage and blind. DC22 Ref save to take half damage and no blindness.
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Hazreem maintains his whirlwind form and tosses the Emkrah about in the swirling winds.
Efreat blasts Ezer with a quickened acid arrow and readies a counterspell.
Ezer seems to ignore the acid damage, though perhaps he was just able to shake it off quickly.
Ezer glares at Pae's limp corpse and laughs, "Hah, a tasty snack for later he will make." He then looks to Efreat "Is that it? I know you have more little one!"
Bahir presses the fury of Sarenrae at Ezer. The spirit of Vardishal seems to make the paladin's attacks effortlessly strike on the unholy theurge of Rovagug. Ezer grimaces in obvious pain but continues to press on with combat.
Attack 1 hits: 52-2(frost) = 50 dmg.
Attack H hits: 37-4(frost) = 33 dmg.
Attack 2 hits: 37-1(frost) = 36 dmg.
Crit confirms: +23 dmg.
Attack 3: misses
Total = 142 dmg.
Mah'ysa casts [i]sunbeam[/] and blasts the Emkrah. It doesn't seem quite as affected as she hoped ... it must not be as ooze-like as it looks.
Initiative:
Mah'ysa
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Ezer (284 dmg)
Emkrah (39 dmg) - blinded
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Rest of Party
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Ezer begins defensively casting a spell, triggering Efreat's readied counterspell.
As a horrid magic begins coursing through his body, Efreat unleashes a wave of dispelling magic and Ezer loses the spell. Furious, Ezer rushes to the staircase leading back down.
The Emkrah again attempts to spit acid, only guessing where Hazreem might be in all this mess. The acid spit misses the druid wildly.
Efreat mutters, "Shiz'koom!" quickly and then yells "Kreash'nar!" causing five black orbs and three fire arrows to slam into the Emkrah.
*waives arms*
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With a final, vengeful blow, Bahir sinks Vardishal deep into the nephilum, who falls hard onto the ground. Any time for introspection is clearly ruined by the sudden landing of an enourmous red-colored dragon, dripping with magma, on the parapet balcony. It seems to momentarily consider breathing out a gout of molten lava upon all of you but instead speaks, "So Ezer is destroyed. Hand the mirror over to Grand Vizier now. Do not hesitate for a moment..."
Hazreem glances back to his companions and nods slowly, "Of course Master Wyrm, we shall not keep you waiting..."
Mah'ysa nodded carefully. She knelt and looked through her pack.
"Who's got the mirror then?" She whispered to the others.
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The paladin twists Vardishal in the final wound to ensure the servant of The Rough Beast is sent to his final reward and isnt feigning. With a pained expression he turns back to the others, "Is Pae...is he gone?". However, before anyone can respond the ground trembles from the massive dragon landing. To the great wyrm's demand Bahir gives a nod of respect, "We do indeed wish to give the Grand Vizier the mirror. Would the Grand Vizier consider giving us audience to present it to him?" Revealimg the mirror, he pulls it out carefully from his bag.
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The ancient dragon pauses a moment, as if considering your request, and you quickly realize that it is likely communicating with the Vizier. A few moments later, he speaks again, "Your cooperation pleases the Vizier, as you have succeeded where others have failed. The Vizier is a busy man and will not meet you in person. However, I have authority to answer your questions on his behalf."
"What is Jhavul's ultimate goal here? Why has he fled the Brass City?"
"And how can we stop him?" Mah'ysa asked.
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"Ahh excellent question for an Air Elemental,", he says to at Hazreem quite sarcastically. "Hmm, how far back to go", he pauses, " the story of the fall of the impetuous noble prince of Al-Bazan begins with the rebuffed courtship of Ymeri, Elemental Queen of the Inferno."
"Rightfully divining that Ymeri is impressed with power, especially power that could help her conquer Ayrzul, elemental lord of the earthen plane, Jhavhul sought out your world to unlock its treasures and perhaps find something to further his goals. He stumbled onto the cult of Rovagug and the secrets of a terrible spawn: Xotani the Firebleeder."
"He rose up the House of the Beast in dedication to Rovagug and amassed quite an army. He then grew mightily in power through the alarming abuse of wish magic, offering two wishes to his servants as long as their third wish was used to support his efforts to rise Xotani, whose slumbering corpse is thought to rest somewhere below the House of the Beast."
"The djinni Nefeshti felt the tears in the fabric of your world caused by Jhavhul's abuse and amassed her own army, led by her 5 Templar generals, most of whom you have met in some way now," he pauses an looks at Bahir's sword. "After much strife, Nefeshti's lover managed to trap Jhavhul into the demiplane of Kakishon, of which you freed him in a measure of stupid curiosity."
He looks at Bahir now, "The disgraced Prince has resumed his former work and you can find within or beneath the House of the Rough Beast, where this all started, and where you have already been. He has figured out how to block my master's divination now, likely through wishes, and so I can only speculate."
Looking at Mah'ysa, "It won't be easy servant of the Dawnflower. If the rumors are true, he is likely close to his goal now and Xotani may soon be free to destroy your world. He is stronger, his armies are stronger, and he has amassed quite a few defenses. You should seek allies and conduct as direct attack as possible. While powerful, the prince will still die like any other, and I do caution you to finish the job. Simply banishing him back here or binding him will only delay his plans for a time."
He looks at the mirror, "I do entreat you to use the Eye if you would like. I can show you how. It will reveal whatever you wish to see."
Hazreem shrugs in irritation here. "We did not mean to free him! Anyway, you mentioned there maybe allies...those who are fighting the efreet's forces." He turns to look at the Mirror, "Can the Eye show us where they are?"
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The dragon opens his maw and magma seems to ooze from his jaws, hissing as it hits the brass floor, "Yes, the mirror could show you these things if you willed it. However, I can also say that the djinni general Nefeshti fights his forces as we speak. Others ... you seem to have already met. This battle will not be won with armies; don't bother with your Pactmasters of Katapesh, as they have cowed to the Efreeti Prince in exchange for hope to be spared. Pffft," he hisses, "it is a stupid hope."
Efreat bites his lip, "Haleen....show me Haleen. She was left behind when we where taken into Kakishon."
Kainatın 3-cü gözünün sirri ilə mənə qeybi göstər'" and peer into the unseen.
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Efreat places his hand upon the mirror and commands it to show him Haleen. He is a bit taken aback as the mirror quickly engages him in a battle of will.
After a few moments, however, Efreat's sheer strength of desire to see Haleen again wins out and all goes black for him. Slowly the reality around him shimmers and remakes, and he finds himself back in Kelmarane.
It is an oppressive hot day and he and other women and children are lined up. Something isn't quite right, why is everyone shackled? Efreeti, salamanders, fire elementals, orcs, and knolls, all parade about, as in smug arrogance. Kelmarane has fallen! No, not again.
A crack of the scorpion whip flashes before Efreat’s face. ”March, human scum!” a dog-like voice barks out from the gnoll taskmaster. The women and children march along the path. Days go by, Efreat and the others are parched, near exhaustion, near death. Only meager drops of water and scraps of bread every so often keep you going. Meanwhile, the gnoll and orc guards freely help themselves of the wine, fruit, and other delights. How long can you go on? What fate is this?
Near total exhaustion, you reach a familiar place: the entrance to the House of the Beast! At the gates, a well armored efreeti steps out and halts you all. ”You insolent fools”, he yells out, drawing his sword. You feel the end is here, but are surprised when the large falchion severs the head from the gnoll taskmaster in the front. The other guards step back. ”Were you not told that these were personal guests of the Master?” He swishes the blood off the falchion and steps forward. ”Were you not told that these were to be taken care of?” With a quick strike, another guard goes down. The remaining guards cower. One in the rear breaks off and runs, but a huge boulder thrown from somewhere strikes him down.
The efreeti turns to Efreat and the others. ”Forgive me. I will have a word with the captain in your village. You were to be treated as guests of the master. Your escort should not have been left to the dogs and pigs. Come. I insist.” As you step into the fortress, you hear the dying screams of the remaining escort.
Patrols of fire giants, efreeti, and other familiar creatures roam the top level palace, but it seems that isn’t your destination. No, you have been led back down to the elaborate garden area underground in the palace, a juxtaposition of green and life in this place of death. Four monoliths shaped as scowled heads oversee this garden. You remember this place. The stream. The almond trees.
An azer steps forward and cuts your bonds. The efreeti open his powerful arms, “Drink, eat, refresh yourselves. I am told this is a place of beauty for your kind.” The children whimper and cling fast, even to other strange women, who embrace them as their own. Some of the women, even Efreat, warily sample the waters and lush nuts and fruit. It seems fine and the children join in as well.
”With my regrets, I must say that this is not your final domain. Where we go next is dangerous, do not stray far.” The efreeti leads you to a circular stone room and pulls out some sort of bone. The sigils and runes about the room flash blood red and a portal of flame opens. The azer guard brandishes a wand and begins casting a spell on each person. Efreat instantly feels much more comfortable in the heat. He motions you all to step into the flame, ”It will not hurt you.” He states as he disappears first into the inferno.
Efreat steps forward and is consumed by the flames that do not burn. You are suddenly standing in a warm cavern. The volcanic tunnel before you seems to split into 3 directions. A salamander dressed in obvious arcane vestments steps forward to the efreeti and they exchange some words. He then turns to you, ”You will now be magicked away to the quarters for the master’s honored guests. This stay can be as pleasant or unpleasant as you choose to make it. Who knows, you may even gain his favor and a wish or two. I myself was not always an efreet," he smiles, bows, and steps back through the portal of flames.
It is too much to take in … what does that all mean?
Efreat feels his body moving forward without him. As his body steps forward, he sees her, Haleen! She is sad but resolute and she joins hands with the others. She turns, to where Efreat is standing. Almost as if she knows he is there. How could she? This must have all already happened? She gives a half smile and turns away again. The salamander utters some words of magic and the group disappears.
Reality begins to fade again. Efreat feels like he is shaking. Why is he shaking? Suddenly he becomes aware of is surroundings.
Bahir and Mah’ysa are shaking him by his shoulders. Efreat looks around, as if just waking from a sleep and sits in exhaustion.
The magma dragon steps forward, ”Are those the answers you sought little one? hissss another dripping of magma hits the brass.
"Is there anything else you wish to know? The Vizier would like his mirror back soon."
Hazreem is about to reply to the dragon , when Efreat's collapse brings him his undivided attention. Hovering over the sorcerer he murmurs a quick spell of restoration here banishing the fatigue.
"Have you learned what you need to know my friend?" He addresses Efreat in a concerned voice, "In your eyes I can see time grows short. We must be off this plane soon!"
Turning to face his companions he adds, "I see no more reason to delay further. Let the Vizier have his rightful property back."
He turns to face Aliya here, "You are free to join us, if you wish, as we do battle against Jhavul."
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"Hmm", the dragon ponders. "The templar queen, probably. As for Jhavhul, the prince's unabashed abuse of wishcraft is become a blight upon reality and existence. I guess that he is probably quite defended in every way possible now, especially from divination. But, I am told the Eye's power has no equal."
He looks to Efreat."Ask your friend about the wisdom of such things. I've never used the mirror."
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Aliya slowly moves up to Hazreem, fighting off the dragonfear. She gives the wondrous creature a slight bow and turns to Hazreem. "I am no warrior Hazreem and I have missed out on hundreds of years of life. I will return home when I can. However, take this." She hands Hazreem an emerald hair comb. "You can use it as a focus to reach me later. I will tell my court, if it still stands, about what is going on and perhaps they may help."
"I see no more reason to delay further. Let the Vizier have his rightful property back."
Mah'ysa hesitated, but couldn't really think of anything more. Reluctantly, realizing she no doubt would kick herself for not asking something obvious later, she nodded assent.
Efreat is emotionally and physically exhausted after the vision fades. While he wishes to smile, it is replaced by a grim look. After being healed, he stands "We need to be away. Haleen is being taken to Jhavhul. Katepesh has fallen. More and more people are being taken to assist with the wishes."
Glaring at the dragon after its question, "We are done with the mirror."
Mah'ysa sneezed...
Warily, the magma dragon eased forward and gently picked up the Impossible Eye.
With a snap, Aberzjerax unfolded his wings and leapt into the air. Wings beating, he soared hundreds of feet into the air and turned, flying deeper into the metropolis known as the City of Brass. It takes less than a minute before he is lost to sight beyond dozens of tall buildings deeper in.
From this cupola, you take in a breathtaking vista of the City of Brass spreading out below, almost like a detailed map in miniature.
The other balcony looks out over the Sea of Fire, an endlessly surging, burning ocean that leads out into the wilds of the Plane of Fire.
Then...
A few bare minutes later, you see a strange rippling in the air around
Bayt al-Bazan; it appears and then fades, and suddenly the sounds of the surrounding City of Brass magnify and an oppressive spiritual weight that you didn’t even notice is suddenly lifted!
Down below, you hear sudden voices raised in exultation, and you see many of the denizens you've met along the way here, fire giants, efreeti and others, streaming out of doorways far below.
The exodus of the rest of the palace’s trapped inhabitants into the streets below is swift, and in less than 10 minutes, all those who wish to leave the palace have done so.
Hazreem sighs in relief as the dragon proves as good as his word. Gazing out over the vista of the City of Brass he loses himself in the sheer wonder of the place.
Turning to face Bahir and the others as he shifts back to his human form, stretching his legs here. "Now that we are freed I suggest we proceed to Katepesh as quickly as possible! We need to speak with Shazzathared who may know of the way."
Making your way down through the strangely empty complex to Shazathared's prison chamber, you find the marid princess jetting around the large fountain excitedly, kicking up a large spray of cool water around it.
"The prison, it is weakening! I can feel it!" She exclaimed as you approached her.