Well, well...looks like someone cast raise thread. Dot.
Mahath leans in to the Stalkers. We should move on; we've drawn much attention here, I am sure. Be vigilant. Whoever did take Haleen and Rayhan may be watching us even now. We need to be able to find out who took them and why. Alas, I am nothing of the diviner that Rayhan is.
Eli shouts out the house, "Stay out of my way, never come near the Sand Stalkers again!
Unusual rage seeps from Eli as he storms away from the house, people are dead and friends lost all because of this damned scroll and Eli has had enough. "This must be more of the Djinn's trickery. We need to find a eliminate that horse's arse once and for all."
Pulling out Tempest he presses his forehead to the hilt reaching out furiously with his thoughts, I know you can sense this, hear this! Zayfid desires what you compelled us to find. If you do not desire your enemy to acquire it, then lead me to him so that we may eliminate him. Do this Vardishal, or the Scroll is as good as his!
Unfortunately, Eli does not receive a response from his weapon to his impassioned pleas for help.
"Does anyone have any contacts amongst the community that would include the drow? They may be able to lead us to who hired them or supplied their brand of items." While he speaks, his voice seems calm but his eyes never leave the bundle that holds the most tangible link to Haleen he has yet to recover.
"I don't have any such contacts, but it is clear we need to regroup and plot out anew course of action. We are being spun around like a top, and need to find out who is doing the spinning, if it drew or something else."
"Curses! It seems we are holding a dud hand and and our life depends upon the pot! We need to find Rayhan and Haleena, we need to keep Zayfild from getting this Scroll, and we have no solid leads! Curses! Let's get back to Rayhad's and look for anything that can lead us.
"Agreed - we accomplish nothing out here.
The party returns to the villa and conducts an exhaustive search of Rayhan's room, which appears to have been searched thoroughly by perhaps the drow. After an hour, you discover a hidden panel in the wall by the bedside table, where you find the diviner's crystal ball.
Jameena looks expectantly at the crystal ball.
"Perhaps this will provide us with some answers. Mahath, do you know how to use it?"
Mahath nods. I have seen Rayhan use it before, though he guarded its use carefully. While I doubt I will be as proficient as my friend, I will certainly try. They may have Rayhan imprisoned somewhere protected against such detection, but I believe I can improve the chances...
I believe the crystal ball works like the scrying spell, which means belongings or even parts of him would help significantly. Mahath will check for anything like a beard comb or such that may have a hair of his. Perhaps his pillow? He will sit down and attempt the scrying once he has maximized his chances.
Mahath easily finds Rayhan's hairs on his pillow and brush. The ornate crystal ball looks quite polished, fancy, and expensive. The fine silk cloth that covers it shows that Rayhan prized it above all his possessions. The item sends tingles up Mahath's fingers as he grasps it. He now needs to harness its magic to use it properly.
Spellcraft
Mahath's grasp of magic is masterful and he quickly comprehends the crystal ball's intricacies, noting that scrying performed through it grants the wielder to also see invisible creatures. Concentrating and pushing all noise aside, Mahath mentally pictures his old friend, as the magic in the crystal ball begins to surge, forming images in its surface.
Suddenly, the image of the stoic diviner appears. He is battered and beaten lying on the ground, his mouth covered by a gag, and his hands are bound to his feet. It is clear he is in some sort of jail cell. Through the bars and within 10' of him, lying in an adjacent cell, the image of Haleen appears still breathing, unarmored and beaten as well, a cloth of dried blood covering her left hand. You hear both of their breaths, short but steady.
You can see and hear the subject and its surroundings (approximately 10 feet in all directions of the subject). You can clearly tell the area where they're being held appears windowless and is bigger than the 10' radius of sight provided by the spell.
"Well, at least we know they are still alive...can you see or hear anything that could tell us where to look for them?"
Eli watches on as Mahtah peers into the crystal orb, pacing back and forth.
Mahath speaks aloud of what he sees, describing it in as much detail as possible.
Is there anything unusual about the bars? Are they made of an unusual metal? Does it look like an old prison; is the mortar around the bars well aged? What material is the floor, walls and ceiling made of? Is it perhaps larger stones that we may recognize the top part of the building? Does the jail look makeshift, like it was added in later to this building, or does it look like it was constructed to be a jail?
Mahath speaks aloud of what he sees, describing it in as much detail as possible.
Is there anything unusual about the bars? Are they made of an unusual metal? Does it look like an old prison; is the mortar around the bars well aged? What material is the floor, walls and ceiling made of? Is it perhaps larger stones that we may recognize the top part of the building? Does the jail look makeshift, like it was added in later to this building, or does it look like it was constructed to be a jail?
The bars look to be of normal rusty iron metal. It does not look like a prison, more like a room that was converted to hold prisoners. The room's walls and floor are constructed of grey stone bricks. During your perusal, you count 2 hooded guards who come to feed the prisoners at different times (bread and water) or reprimand them when they're too loud. The guards appear human and carry scabbards with scimitars and leather armor. No other distinguishing features can be seen.
By the dustiness of the place, the lack of windows, the cobwebs in the corners of the room, and the sound of the guards climbing up and down stairs as they exit or enter the room, it is safe to assume this "prison" is underground.
Still furious at the events that have taken place this day Eli paces, then suddenly moves close to look over Mahath's shoulder, "Let me see!"
"I cannot see anything distinguishing. They are probably underground, but I am at a loss as to how to narrow down the search further."
Eli tries to use the crystal orb but unfortunately, it proves too complex for him to use and he has to rely on Mahath's second hand descriptions and thus, is unable to determine anything more than the information already relayed.
Now that Mahath has used it once, he will find it much easier to manipulate its magic in the future. Fearful of attack in the night, the party sets watches to protect themselves in Rayhan's villa. The night passes and morning soon comes to the adventurers. As breakfast is being served by Rayhan's servants, you realize that Jameena has not been seen since last night. When you go to her room, you find a note written in the paladin's handwriting that reads, Got a summons from my Temple, will be back soon.
As you relax to eat breakfast at about 9:00 am, there is a knock at the door and you are surprised to see Quzman is back and at his side is a holy man of Sarenrae.
Eli starts the night fueled by anger, anxiously pacing throughout his watch and then tossing and turning as he tried to get some sleep. His mind raced with everything that has happened since arriving in Katapesh, the Scroll, Zayfid, Tamir and the other interested parties. Quzman gone, and now Jameena slipping of to the temple before dawn has him irritated. Heleen and Rayhan are in trouble and to many have already died. For what? Eli's anger has subsided, but in its place is apathy and uselessness.
When the sound of the door reaches his ears, he quickly leaps to his feet and draws Tempest and moves to the window while signaling Ty and Mahath to be ready. After a peek, "Quzman's back and I think Bahiyy is with him." With a sigh of relief Eli sheathes his blade and rushes to the door, "Quzman my brother you are back in less than day, how is that possible? And where did you run into Bah....wait you are not Bahiyy." Eli's guard goes up agian and his hand moves to the hilt of Tempest once again, ready to draw should the stranger be another enemy. "What is going on?"
Halim bows deeply, as a servant would, and speaks in a slow, calm voice. "Greetings, brother. I am Abd al Halim, servant of the Dawnflower. I was summoned by the paladin Jameena. I was told I might find her here."
Suspiciously Eli says, "You say she summoned you, where is your proof?"
"Forgive me, I have mispoken. Jameena has been summoned by the priesthood of Sarenrae. When she failed to appear, I was sent to collect her here. Would you kindly direct me to her, brother?"
Quzman wanly smiles as he steps forward, "It has been a confusing day, my brother, with conflicting calls of duty that is for sure." He grasps Eli's hand in greeting while gently guiding it away from the hilt of his sword. "Thankfully, the Lady has been gracious enough ease my troubled heart. She came to me in my dreams, and showed me the faces of the SandStalkers...including poor Dumah and our long lost Kyra.", bowing his head and sighing as he thinks of his lost friends.
Quickly wiping the thought from his mind, Quzman looks up and takes in everyone in the area, "On my way back into town, I stopped by the temple to pay my respects, and offer thanks for offering clarity when my mind was uneasy. This priest, Abd al Halim, approached me in the temple looking for Jameena. As I was planning on reuniting with her here, he accompanied me."
Eli grasps Quzmans arm, but keeps his focus on the stranger.
"Well she is not here, she answered your summons and if you are not there to greet her I am sure she will be cross with you. Jameena has more important things to do right now than deal with temple politics. There are kidnapers and conspirators that must be dealt with, urgently." Eli is short, curt and none to friendly to the priest on the door step.
Suddenly he turns and dashes across the villa to the room Jameena had claimed leaving Quzman and Abd al Halim standing there. Shouting to the others as he goes, "Something is wrong! Mahath, scry that cell again see if Rayhan and Haleen are alone. Ty check the house see if anything different is disturbed. Quzman, I am glad you are back, check the grounds. I think Jameena may have been taken!"
Eli doesn't wait to see if the others react, but flings open the bedroom door and begins his own search, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He also studies the note to see if anything with it is amiss.
Ty turns without a word and begins searching the house. He nodded toward the servant of the Dawnflower as he passed, and patted Quzman on the back.
He had learned to suspect anything was possible after everything he had seen, so he did a careful search of the premises.
Perception
Quzman's eyes take on a flinty gleam at the prospect of yet another missing friend, and quickly moves toward the door to check the courtyard for any possible clues. Pausing for a second on his way out the door, "Revered elder, I am sure you will find food and drink in the dining area through there. We can discuss more of Jameena once we determine where she has gone.".
The party looks through the villa, Jameena's room, and the surrounding grounds but nothing seems amiss. The note is authentic and in the paladin's handwriting. Her bed was slept in and her armor and weapons are not in her room so you assume she put them on before leaving.
Eli returns to the main room, the note tightly clenched in his hand, "Everything seems in order where she slept and all her gear is gone. Now we need to see what Mahath can divine with Rayhan's crystal ball. " Eli turns to the mage expectantly waiting an answer to Jameena's location.
Mahath peeks in his crystal ball and tells the party he still only sees Rayhan and Haleen, not Jameena.
"It would appear that she is indeed recalled by her temple. A pity to be sure, but I don't think they would have done so were the need not genuine."
"If she is not in the cell, can you scry her somewhere else? She wrote this note can it not help you locate her?" Eli shoves the paper at Mahath with hope, or maybe desperation in his eyes.
With a hint of impatience, Mahath accepts the note from Eli. Then he pauses. ”A moment.” He goes to the room Jameena was sleeping in and collects a few stray hairs from her pillow. ”This will be even more effective.”
Returning to Rayhan’s scrying room, Mahath takes the crystal ball and puts it to work once more. After a few long moments, with his gaze locked onto the sphere, he speaks in a distant voice.
”A man… Tell me where the real scroll of Kakishon is. Who among your band of degenerates carries it? Tell me or I will cut you into little pieces and mail them to your friends, church and all you care about. “
”I can’t see anything, but I hear fisticuffs. Wait, she is alive! She is saying “I’ll tell you nothing. Show me your face, coward. Untile me and face me like a warrior.” Mahath pauses, his eyes searching intently. ”Now he’s saying Father will be disappointed by your answer. Then we’ll do this the hard way…” Mahath stops. ”It is dark there; I cannot see anything. The conversation is mostly stopped. It is just… persuasion now.”
Halim turns to face the rising Sun and lifts his face up to feel its full light. His lips move subtly and his right hand clasps an exquisite golden holy symbol of Sarenrae hanging around his neck on a chain.
After a moment of this, he turns to the group and announces, "Such darkness you speak of, with kidnappings and conspirators afoot. The Dawnflower's light will shine through me to reveal the evil doings of these enemies and cleanse them. I swear by the Sun that you shall have my loyalty and service until this shadow of evil is banished." At that he bows very deeply, again as a slave would.
"Is there any sort of magic that would tell us where the images you see in that crystal ball are actually happening?"
"Pleased to have you with us, Halim. I'm Tyronel...your goddess has blessed this group many times. Any servant of hers is a friend of mine."
"'Father'....I would push all-in that he is referring to Father Jackal. It seems all our troubles start with him. " Eli's anger seems to shift from frantic to committed, "Well maybe it's time we finally face this terror. I say we head back to Dogtown, and let the word out we are looking for him. I am sure in no time at all we will have an audience with that son of a motherless hyaena." Eli checks his gear once over and heads towards the door, "Quzman, Ty do you want to come with me? Mahath? I know that this Jackal fellow is the one Haleen owed money, Dumah was trying to raise the funds to clear her debt. Now is your chance to avenge him and find her. Halim, you are welcome with us if you wish, but know it will be dangerous. Several people have already died because of the plotting and scheming of this Father Jackal and the Templars of the Five Winds. I do not know what each of them desires, but it seems all of them desire the Scroll. Let us go get Jameena, Haleen, and Rayhan and end this crime lords reign of devilry once and for all and let him know what it means to cross the Sand Stalkers!"
"Father Jackal has certainly proven to be a thorn in our side, hasn't he? I can think of nothing better than treating him as a pincushion. You know I'm in, Eli."
Mahath gets a lock of Jameena’s hair from the brush in her room and uses the crystal ball to scry for her. As he concentrates on the images, that only he can see, he gasps in horror. ”I found her, I think. She’s in a completely dark room and it is clear that she is being beaten and tortured by a male." Mahath starts reciting the conversation as he hears it... "B+@!~, tell me where the real Scroll of Kakishon is! Who among your band of degenerates carries it? Tell me or I will cut you into little pieces and mail them to your friends, church, and all you care about!” Jameena screams back, "F%~~ you! I'll tell you nothing! Show me your face, coward! Untie me and face me like a warrior, you a$$hole! May Sarenrae curse you!" The male voice roars in anger, "Father will be disappointed by your answer. Then we do this the hard way! Tell you what? You fight for your goddess so much, right? I'll stop beating you when your goddess shows up to stop me." Mahath’s face contorts in anger and horror as he looks into the pitch blackness and listens. ”By the gods, he’s beating her mercilessly. All I hear are her screams of pain.” A few minutes later, ”I think he stopped, she must have fallen unconscious. Right before he left, he said, ”I guess Asmodeus trumps Sarenrae! I’ll be back to pick up where we left off when you regain consciousness. This is not over by a long shot." Then he left.
Halim turns to face the rising Sun and lifts his face up to feel its full light. His lips move subtly and his right hand clasps an exquisite golden holy symbol of Sarenrae hanging around his neck on a chain.
Halim's spell reveals a resounding yes but both weal and woe will be involved.
Quzman growls slightly at hearing Mahath's vision. Turning to Eli with a flinty look, "This Father has crossed the Stalkers one too many times. I believe it is nigh the time we put this dog down. The gall to kidnap and assault one of the Dawnflower's holy knights in such a manner...it's like a viper sticking its head into a mongoose's den. It's asking for retaliation." He turns and stomps towards the front of the compound to clear his thoughts and wait the rest of the group.
"Perhaps if Rayhan were here, he could use his powerful divination abilities to track them down. Alas, my focus has been elsewhere in my studies and I do not approach his level of mastery. I agree with Eli that more mundane methods may be needed to flush him out."