Any questioning before taking him back for the conclusion?
<Soft grumbling>
"The bride. I meant to court her for some time, but before it could come to that, this wimpy scholar of your organization is chosen to be her husband.
I couldn't let that come to pass, and i would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for you meddling foreigners."
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"Well now you can answer for your crimes to the authorities here. You lost your chance with this lady by only 'meaning' to court her... your inaction has cost you, and now you're on the verge of losing much more by the action you did take. You are a very sad individual."
Kel shrugs... "Let's take him back, turn him over to the local magistrate."
And turning him over you did. His trial and sentence are swift, and highly unpleasant.
"Ibn-Chadli, you are found guilty of orchestrating chaos and its ensuing death at the reception, by means of the release of dangerous animals. You are found guilty of stealing, forging, and desecrating a site of holy ground."
The Satrap/(sultan) folds his hands. "You are hereby stripped of your belongings, and will be enslaved, your destination is the Salt Mines of Zho."
That is a hellish place, you easily find out if talking to witnesses of the trial.
Or did he.....
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"But soft!" Spenser suddenly cries out. "No mensch shouldst ever be shackled en perpetuua! Aye, this man wert a villain, but ein villain advancing under pennon of swich love! Let his fate be one of lesser cruelty, or mayhap let him face a swift and daring end 'gainst those he most wronged in honor'd death-bout!"
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Your judgement looks wise, mylord. But this man is a sorcerer, and een without his belongis he can be dangerous.
Think about my friend's proposal, even if I don't share his reasons, I must admit than cutting his tongue put, to avoid his foul magic, and letting him fight against Spenser will be less cruel, but also lest risky
The captain of the guard, who was present at your own hearing, is heard again.
(Strong voice)
"The Satrap has spoken, his word is law.
He shall not be using magics, we have ways."
For some reason, those last words sound unnerving.
"Guards, remove this man and prepare him for transport."
With the sentence, an also falsely suspected Farendir is freed of his worries, after all, today is his official wedding day.
=============
(Chatter of wedding guests)
Master Bashir al-Mudaris, father of the bride, steps up a small stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may i have your attention please.
Our wedding had a sad reception, but the wedding of my daughter and her husband has been saved, by this fine group of pathfinder representatives. May i have the honor of having them up on stage?"
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"Verily!" Says Spenser with the aplomb of a practiced toastmaster, raising himself and his goblet high. "The malefactor hath met his mean fate, we ourselves spared by right-willed magistrate, booty enough have we procured with which we may to restore our valiant-fallen kith, we this day doth cleft a tangled wicked scheme, and blessed be, our bride and groom vaunt anew to a dream within a dream. Today's challenge art met, another Story Saved, and gods bless all the company!"
The wedding lasts for some hours more, at which the newly weds, as well as other guests and children, ask you about your adventures.
When the wedding comes to a close, each of you are given a memento as a thank you. A small glass cameo with a bright dried desert flower in it.
"Thank again you for saving our marriage. I believe my father has prepared some of the relics for transport to your organization's local headquarters."
----Later-------
The venture captain is very happy with these developments.
"Things were turning tricky, once accusations started rising.
The number of guards nearby increased. But thankfully it's been solved, well done.
The relics the priest has given us will most surely shed light on this country's history. I understand that there are private matters you wish to attend to as well, so i won't hold you up any longer."
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The mighty Lot greets the land of the living once more, and thanks the druid who brought him back by spitting in his eye. A joyful Sir Spenser takes him back to his estate in Taldor for a well-earned sabbatical. Meanwhile however, the rest of you have already been rushed to your next assignment....
Hamshanks ignored all pretense of pleasantries as he pounded into the meeting room in the Grand Lodge in Absalom. “Never time to do it right, is there? Gorum see us through this, then.”
He grunted loudly and leveled his glare at the entire room.
“Ever been to Qadira? Religion is almost a fad down there, with new cults springing up like weeds, and getting crushed just as quickly. It has been that way for centuries.
But some make a mark — on Qadira or in the Chronicles. Three centuries ago, the archdevil Moloch, preaching surrender to the desert heat, suddenly became the rage. Qadirans walked into the desert just to die just as if the heat was their paradise. The most devout sought out the hidden Citadel of Flame, where a fearsome bull-headed idol of Moloch judged them and sent the worthy to Malebolge, the sixth layer of Hell. No surprise that Sarenrae’s priests launched a mighty crusade to demolish the citadel. After two weeks, a great sandstorm swallowed the expedition—and, it seemed, the citadel and its idol. Nothing more was heard from either.
Until ten days ago, that is. Sandstorms regularly scour the Qadiran highlands, and this time they emptied an entire valley of dunes. Poking out of that valley, visible only to those soaring above — such as a flying Pathfinder wizard — was the lofty spire of a fortress: the Citadel of Flame, presumably.
Hopefully we are the first to learn about its reappearance, and we need to act fast. The Decemvirate doesn’t expect any trouble, so they’re sending you. But I do expect trouble — who knows what’s infesting that citadel? Get in there fast and find that idol — it could be the key to the entire cult. It’s likely statue-sized, maybe as big as me, and should have a bull’s head on it. And for Gorum’s sake, be careful!”
Now, after a swift voyage to Sedeq, capital of Qadira's slave and spice trades, and a tiring trek through the endless Qadiran dunes, the sun beats down on a maze of red slickstone, with delicate arches and towering columns called hoodoos dotting the landscape. Somewhere within this expanse lies the Citadel of Flame and within, the idol of Moloch.
The path descends through a maze of cliffs, opening into a slot canyon of smooth red stone surrounded by towering hoodoos. At the far side, two hoodoos carved into enormous bull-headed men leer down on the canyon, while those nearby look like stylized flames. To either side, the canyon walls rise steeply in a series of rough ledges to the clifftops above. Brass doors on a massive wall of baked gray mud can be seen through an arch at the far side of the canyon.
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When you are waiting, a figure in airid clothing comes walking around a corner.
"It was supposed to be around 'ere somewhere."
He takes notice of you, and pulls back the hood as he comes closer.
A green haired half elf, with yellow irises in black eyes puts up a hand slightly.
"Friens, i will assume? You don't look like dem bandit types, and dat scaled man is wearing too shiny an armor to even be one, non?"
The path descends through a maze of cliffs, opening into a slot canyon of smooth red stone surrounded by towering hoodoos. At the far side, two hoodoos carved into enormous bull-headed men leer down on the canyon, while those nearby look like stylized flames. To either side, the canyon walls rise steeply in a series of rough ledges to the clifftops above. Brass doors on a massive wall of baked gray mud can be seen through an arch at the far side of the canyon.
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It looks you find the newcomer, Vassago.
Of course we're friends, and pathfinders. You are welcome to join us in the expedition to my native country. Thre's some customs you'll find a little uncivilized, but it's a great place, full of open spaces where you can feel the touch of distant and exotic lands...
Keera looks happy again, and she comes with another roc, it looks similar to Alacorta, but only to those who can discern one bird from another. I have just come from carrying Alacorta's body to the place where he born and since then he's been following me.
From what I understand of its trills it's a relative of Alacorta and thinks he has to "take his place in the tribe", but I'm not sure. We're familiarizing with each other.
--------------After Kennji informs us about what we can find------------
WEll I can give you some protection too, just ask for it.
Yes, that also is for you "Relative". And don't shake your head that way, I know you doesn't like that name, but you doesn`t like anyone
Sure enough, as soon as Sele and Kenji reach the center of the valley, they are set upon by two human-sized fire elementals that were hiding behind the hoodoos!
Vassago
___________
sexy elemental
___________
Keera
Kel
___________
far-out elemental
___________
Chyras
Sele
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Before heading down into the danger zone, Kenji will pause and look at Keera and the new Roc with a little smile. "I'm glad you are no longer alone in the world, Keera, though of course as a Pathfinder, you rarely are anyway, but still, a new companion to join you is a fine thing. He looks young, but I guess he will fill out and be as fine as Alacorta in time." He gives the new roc a little bow... "Does he have a real name yet other than 'Relative'? 'Relative' in Tien is Xiangdui.. you could use that as a name, or just Xiang for short. It's as good as any if he doesn't have one of his own."
Then he trots down after giving the newcomer a little nod. "You'll have to introduce me to your other new friend after we deal with this situation." He says to Keera, not realizing that Chyras didn't come with the druid.
An especially humanoid-looking fire elemental proves quicker than all others...
...and slams into Sele hard!
sexy elemental
___________
Vassago
___________
Keera
Kel
___________
far-out elemental
___________
Chyras
Sele
Kenji
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Of course we're friends, and pathfinders. You are welcome to join us in the expedition to my native country. There's some customs you'll find a little uncivilized, but it's a great place, full of open spaces where you can feel the touch of distant and exotic lands...
"I've not been in de desert before, impressions 'ave been dull when traveling alone."
Ahh, greetings Chyras!", Vassago extending his hands to the new Pathfinder. "We've dressed as nobles, but bandits would be offensive, senor.
Chyras shakes Vassago's hand in return.
"It would be, if i said you would be well dressed bandits.I've not yet seen dem dressed well before, after all."
Chyras, Kenji doesn't dislike you, he's just not very sociable.