The Forgotten God (Table 5)

Game Master Rednal

Astoroth gave a quiet chuckle at the sign. Religious conflicts were almost always caused by individuals lacking important information - or refusing to acknowledge the validity of an opposing viewpoint. "If the locals recommend it, it should be more than acceptable. And the sign indicates we won't have to worry about any fanatics trying to cause trouble - a definite plus."

"Or that it's a haven for people normally driven out..." she muttered under her breath, opening the door for you. The inside of the Inn was bright and well-lit. There was a small bar with a few people in it, but this place clearly wasn't a true tavern. In fairness, though, Cayden Cailean's mead hall was less than a mile away. If you really wanted to get drunk and have a good time, you weren't going to find a better place than that in all of Absalom - and possibly not in the entire Inner Sea region of this planet.

Closer to you was a large, well-polished desk. It wasn't ostentatious, but this place clearly did well enough to get good furniture, and a middle-aged elf looked up as you entered. "New guests? Welcome. Rooms and rates are on the wall." he said, pointing to a large poster. On it were detailed several types of rooms - it looked as if this Inn had a little bit of everything, from relatively standard chambers to some nicer suites. Nothing that, say, an ambassador or wealthy merchant would settle for, but guests were clearly being given options.

Approaching the front desk, Astoroth booked a mid-range room for himself (and whatever Kozuri wants). He didn't require anything too ostentatious, just a place to sleep. This done, he went to the bar to order something to eat. It was still a little strange to him, but he was getting used to the limitations of this body. "You hungry, Miss Kozuri?"

"MEA- I mean, don't worry." she said, thumping her chest. "I can get my own food, at least. It still feels kind of weird to rely on anyone." With that, she wandered over towards the bar - and it wasn't long before you heard the loud sizzle of some sort of steak getting cooked on a grill. Her room was rather more spartan, though - she seemed happy enough with the basics, and was clearly trying to avoid having too much spent on her.

After he's eaten, Astoroth retires to his room. Tomorrow was going to be busy, and he wanted to be sure he got enough rest.

Morning in Absalom dawned early, as it often did, and you could already hear the muted sounds of crowds on the street outside. Things sounded rather festive, actually - a common sound in this part of Absalom, given the multitude of churches that had ceremonies throughout the year. Kozuri was downstairs, chatting with the bartender and getting breakfast.

Feeling rested, Astoroth orders some breakfast for himself. "Good morning, Miss Kozuri. Learning anything interesting?" Once he's eaten, he plans to exchange is money for gems and then locate the local temple of Abadar. As the god of trade and commerce, it was almost certain that at least one of his priests possessed the ability to travel to the City of Brass.

"Sounds like some idiot is attempting the Test today." she said, spearing a bit of food and popping it into her mouth. "Could be fun if we want to go watch." After hearing your plans for the day, though, she nodded and moved over to the Innkeeper, returning a few moments later. "We'll want to go to the Ivy District." she added. "Apparently, that's where something called the 'Vault of Abadar' is, and it's the center of his worship in the city."

"The Test isn't as much fun as you might expect. Assuming the hopeful manages to cross the chasm and find a way inside the tower, one of three outcomes will happen. He'll return a mortal, he'll return a god, or he'll never return. Either way, we'll have to wait an indeterminate period of time before learning which result applies. More likely, however, you'll just watch someone plummet to his death when his chosen method of crossing the chasm fails unexpectedly." Astoroth pauses for a moment as his first few attempts at the Test flash through his mind. "Anyway, the Vault of Abadar is exactly the location I'd had in mind. It should fulfill both the moneychanging and the transport."

Kozuri nodded. Most people didn't really understand the Test - even you had no memory of what went on inside, and you'd beaten it. There was probably a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything that happened in there... but then you had figures like Iomedae, who'd been performing miracles even before taking the test. There were even more rumors and ideas than there were applicants - and every test had at least a bit of a gathering, making it that much easier to navigate the streets and head northwest to the Ivy District.

From there, it wasn't hard to find the Vault of Abadar. Carefully balanced, the polished obsidian edifice was made of levels slightly skewed from the one below them and then again with the level above that in the opposite direction, and so on. The design gave the illusion of a precariously perched building that should topple at any moment like a house of cards. Yet, despite its appearance, it stood firm. Abadar’s symbol was deeply engraved into the outer walls and the massive, polished darkwood doors that allow entrance into the temple, and you could very literally feel his latent power infusing the place. This was both a sacred temple and a place of doing business - two things that went together better than usual, given the deity involved - and Abadar had never been your enemy. Indeed, the God of Law rarely objected to people who sought to gather information (especially when said information covered the laws of cities and helped people become better citizens). The feeling of the building wasn't particularly friendly - this was sacred ground, and to put it bluntly, you were a divine presence intruding upon it - but you were accepted by the nature of this place so long as you conformed to its rules and expectations.

Kozuri didn't seem to be feeling any of what you were - but then, she was no god, either. As you entered the main room, a well-dressed dwarf stepped forward and extended one hand. "Welcome to the Vault of Abadar. How can we help today?" he asked, voice gruff but friendly.

While the feelings were somewhat unpleasant, it was nothing that The Endless Fount wasn't used to. His constant search for information and disinterest in divine politics had always made him a bit of an outcast among the other members of the Pantheon, and he'd never been particularly close to any of the other deities. He liked Abadar well enough, as the Master of the First Vault's strong sense of bureaucracy made dealings with him relatively simple. Follow the established protocols, and you were sure to get whatever you needed.

Astoroth gave the dwarf a polite nod and returned the handshake. "Good day, sir. The two of us have business in the City of Brass and need to secure a means of safe transport. In addition, as the environs there are not conducive for the carrying of metal wealth, we'd like to make an exchange for something more hardy. We're willing to pay any required fees, of course. Are you able to assist us?"

"Planar transport? There'll be a bit of a wait. Our specialists keep their minds open so they can call up needed spells, but it takes a little time to commune with the Lord of the First Vault. Please go over to Desk 7 and pay for your passage - while the priest is communing, the clerk can help you with your exchange." He pushed on a nearby lever with his foot, and a small gate opened, allowing you into the rest of the building. After a few minutes of standing in line, you were finally able to approach the clerk at the named window, who nodded a few times.

"It will be 450 gold coins for planar transport - covering both of you, of course. How much coin would you like to convert into a more suitable currency, and would you like to purchase any additional protections before you leave, such as a casting or scroll of Planar Adaptation?" they asked once you'd finished explaining your request.

"Thank you, sir. You've been most helpful." Astoroth thanks the dwarf and heads over to the line. At the window, Astoroth hands over the required 450gp. "I'm most concerned about the heat outside the City. What protective options do you offer?"

The clerk looked you up and down, clearly making a mental assessment of your expected ability to pay. "For travelers on a budget, a hireling to cast Endure Elements on a regular basis will suffice for most purposes." he explained. "Having the spell contained within a ring is far more consistent, but rather more costly. Some travelers instead prefer Planar Adaptation, or Life Bubble for guarantees of fresh air and somewhat more comfort. We offer all of those options here, as well as at our locations within the City of Brass. Regulations require me to remind you that all parts of the city are tolerable for individuals such as yourself, and that any spells cast before you leave the city will be essentially value-less until you leave. To get the maximum worth of each spell, we suggest either hiring someone to go with you, or having the spell cast just before you leave the City of Brass."

"Thank you for the information. In that case, I think I'll wait until I'm ready leave the City of Brass before I procure one of those services. As you said, doing otherwise would be essentially value-less. Regarding money, I have slightly less than 1100gp that needs to be exchanged into a more durable form. Gemstones would be preferred, but I'll leave it to your best judgement."

1072gp, to be exact.

"Wait here, please. I'll be back in just a few minutes." the clerk said, taking the coins and heading into the back. About seven minutes later, they returned with a selection of small gemstones in a sturdy box, with notes detailing the value of each. Adding them together, there was about 1050 GP worth of jewels - a fee rate of around 2% for the conversion. The box itself was marked with the sigil of Abadar.

"This should suffice for your needs, sir." the clerk explained. "These boxes are known and trusted in the City of Brass - every gem within has a minor enchantment certifying that a Priest of Abadar has priced the gem. The enchantment lasts until one hour after the gem is withdrawn from its place - please do not remove any until you are ready to use them." he paused for a moment, checking to be sure you understood. "Is there anything else we can help you with today? If not, your transport spell will be ready in just a few minutes, and someone will come get you when they're ready." he said, gesturing to a set of nice chairs.

Astoroth nods in understanding as the enchantment is explained. "That should be everything. Thank you for your assistance." Stowing the box back in his pack, Astoroth takes a seat in one of the nice chairs.

Kozuri plopped down in the chair beside you, watching with clear and vivid interest as the largest bank of Abadar in the greatest merchant city of the Inner Sea conducted its business. There was a lot of money being moved around here, but she didn't have long to watch. A half-elf soon called out, "Party of Astoroth and Kozuri!", and after verifying your identities, showed you to a room in the back where a priest was waiting.

"Just the two of you, then?" he asked in the tones of someone triple-checking the details. After the nod, he held out both of his hands. "Please hold on firmly." he said, chanting quickly under his breath. Six seconds later, you were in a room that looked exactly the same - except for the fact that it was much warmer and the door was on the other side. "We've arrived, and you may safely let go now. Welcome to the City of Brass, and please visit us again if you have any further financial needs." the priest said, smiling and gesturing to the door.

Kozuri grabbed your arm a moment later, having let go of the priest. "Disguises before leaving." she said quietly.

"Thank you, my good sir." Astoroth says to the transporter before heading toward the door. As he walks, he activates the magic in his cloak (endure elements) and subtly shifts his features to remove the outsider traits (hat of disguise). By the time he's reached the door, he appears to be a human, and the hat has merged with the hood of his cloak. "Is this acceptable?"

Taking 20 gives me a 31 Disguise result

"Should do for as long as we'll be here." Kozuri said with an approving nod - and the two of you emerged out into the City of Brass. The first thing you noticed was the sheer heat of the place. It was tolerable, barely, but this wasn't the kind of place most people wanted to be for long without protection. After that, however?

The sky of this realm was bright red, and forked with regular streams of noiseless lightning that lent a flickering quality to the light. There was no sun - the illumination of everything seemed to be entirely natural, and this was a city of millions. Crowds passed by, ignoring you - most seemed far too interested in a market that stretched as far as the eye could see, and even without looking, you could tell that there were few things one couldn't find here... few dark desires that the genies were unwilling to fulfill. It was said that just to live in this city, one had to have wealth enough to buy entire worlds... and from the gleaming buildings, each designed to try and outdo its neighbors, to the teeming throngs and the sound of a hundred thousand people buying goods... that wasn't so hard to believe.

"You wanna browse, or should we head down to the docks?" Kozuri asked.

"It's larger here than I remember," Astoroth remarked as he took in the spectacle. "For now, I think it best to return you to your family. That's rather more important than shopping."

A smile flicked across Kozuri's face, and with a nod, she led you out into the city. Genies were a common sight here, but so were other creatures of every description, coming here from across the planes to engage in trade. The majority of genies here seemed to be buyers rather than sellers, perhaps too prideful to man a booth and haggle with people. After all, why do that yourself when you could make slaves do it instead, and punish them if they didn't sell enough? Kozuri kept her eyes down, though, clearly trying to avoid attracting attention, and she didn't stop fidgeting until you'd exited the markets nearly two hours later and came to a truly massive set of docks. "Okay, we'll have to look up the transport schedules..." she murmured. "This, uh, might take a bit."

Now that you're at the docks, you have to actually find a ship heading to your destination! You can attempt 'Gather Information' checks with a DC of 28 to locate the information. The City of Brass is Lawful Evil, however, and the docks are less safe than the market - each hour you spend trying to arrange for your passage carries the risk of an incident of some sort occurring. It is currently about 11 AM.

Diplomacy (gather information): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Diplomacy (gather information): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
How Many Hours?: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

I'll make a RP post once I know if I triggered an incident.

Incident Check - 1-15, something happens: 3d100 ⇒ (51, 81, 17) = 149

Things were a little tense towards the end, but after three hours of moving through the docks, talking to people, and visiting offices, you finally found a vessel that Kozuri declared was going in the right direction. It was a fairly small skyship, captained by an Efreeti and crewed by humans, and the big red genie let out a laugh as he heard your story.

"I remember that raid!" he said, crossing his arms and nodding as he floated above the deck. "Ain't many around here who were fond of the city, but no devil gets to just attack our plane and get away with it. Get on, get on! If your story checks out, I'll take a favor from the old man in lieu of payment. If not..." his grin widened slightly. "You'll owe me full fare. Climate-controlled cabins are marked by blue doors - keep 'em shut unless you're going through." the genie said, waving you onboard.

"How long will the journey take?" Astoroth asks as me heads to one of the climate-controlled cabins.

"'Bout three days." the Captain said, glancing over and smiling widely. "We're a wee bit bigger than the Material Plane, so you have to cheat a bit if you want to get anywhere at all in your own lifetime. Please keep all appendages within the boat - we won't find you again if you jump out." With that, he turned to his crew and started barking orders - they moved with the smooth, easy efficiency of people who knew exactly what they were doing.

If you'd like, you can simply enjoy the trip - or talk to the Captain, the crew, and/or Kozuri along the way.

Astoroth spends the trip doing one of two things: contemplating and analyzing what he's learned about his situation, and chatting with Kozuri and the crew.

From the crew, he'll stick to standard tourist-type questions to find out more about the Plane itself. He's also curious about local news, as it's been quite some time since he was last here.

At an opportune moment, he initiates a conversation with Kozuri. "Only a few days until you're home. What's your uncle like? Do you have any other family?"

"The devils murdered my parents when they attacked. My uncle has a few kids of his own, but I don't have any more close family." Kozuri explained, not seeming especially bothered by the question - but then, she'd had decades to come to terms with what had happened.

Finally, on the last day of your trip, you eventually saw a glimmering blue sphere hovering in the air - and your ship hurtled towards it at full speed. As you passed through, the temperature dropped more than forty degrees, ending near eighty by standard reckonings - and you could hear yelps as people adjusted to the sudden change, as well as a laugh from the captain.

The inside of the sphere was... different. For most of the trip, you'd been traveling over white sand, but this area actually had green plants coming out of the ground, as well as numerous pools of water. The skyship tilted downwards a few moments later, splashing down into a small lake and ultimately coming to a rest next to a normal-sized dock. By the time you reached the docks, a welcoming party had arrived - a diverse group of humans, ifrit, and fire genies, headed by the largest and most powerful-looking genie you'd ever seen. Kozuri swallowed nervously as she stepped forward, and the genie let out a cry of surprise, briefly setting his entire body alight before darting onto the ship and embracing her so tightly you could hear her bones cracking.

"Kozuri! We thought you dead!"

"Saved by... friend... here..." she managed to gasp out, patting his arm in a clear gesture of submission. His grip loosened just enough to allow her to breathe (which she did with a look of immense relief), and the massive genie turned to regard you for a few moments.

"I feel this will be a most interesting tale." he said, setting Kozuri down and extending one hand. You weren't a small person, but the average efreeti was twelve feet tall, and this one was even bigger - his hand alone was considerably larger than hours, but he seemed accustomed to dealing with smaller people. "I am the Emir of this dominion, Rashad. I'd give the full introduction, but... those who have saved my family are like kin themselves. Come, come!" he slapped your back - hard enough to send you staggering forward - and pointed to a palace of white stone that you could see about three miles away from the docks. "Today calls for a feast, and I will not accept refusal!"

"I'm Astoroth - *grunt*" His introduction is cut short (along with his breath) by Rashad's back slap. He does manage to nod in acquiescence and follow the welcoming party toward the palace.

The genie seemed confident that the sordid little details of trade would be handled, and led you onto a large carpet waiting just off the docks. The moment all three of you were on it, the carpet jerked forward of its own accord and shot through the air, arcing through the sky and coming to a stop just in front of the building. Rashad pushed open the doors and waved you inside, smiling broadly.

The inside of the building was - perhaps unsurprisingly - fit for a king. Luxurious carpets covered the floors, couches and tables had been arranged with elegant precision, and artwork covered the walls. No picture was larger than a truly massive, original painting off to the side that showed a genie, a human woman, and a young girl with horns on her head. Kozuri stopped walking for a moment, then wiped her face furiously with her sleeves before almost running forward to catch up with her uncle.

Rashad himself simply made a brushing motion with both hands, and many objects flew to the sides of the room, replaced by a large table and sinfully comfortable chairs. One clap of his hands later, the table was covered in a literal feast, and the genie sat down at the head of the table with a smile. Two plates, complete with utensils, appeared to either side of him. "Tell me everything." he said, waving for you to sit down. "I knew Kozuri had vanished when the devils attacked, but no more than that." Kozuri nodded, but kept her explanation brief - highlighting how she'd been taken, strung up in a cage (Rashad's expression at that point was dark enough to make you very glad you had no devil blood in your current body), and ultimately left alone... whereupon she started causing trouble for the devils, and the huge genie grinned, his mood visibly lightening.

Still, your own role in the matter had hardly been small - and Kozuri looked to you to explain your own actions and what you'd seen.

"I was conducting research in the city when a shadowy figure contacted me. It claimed to be trapped and needed my assistance. In return, I was promised a reward. After I agreed, this figure directed me to a Sarenrite shrine where I discovered a hidden entrance to an abandoned museum owned by an adventuring group known as the Pathfinder Society. After dealing with the various denizens dwelling within, I located a magical item that I had been told would be of use during the rescue." Astoroth took a moment to retrieve the Lifesphere from his pack.

"As I exited the area, the city was rocked by a minor earthquake, and massive pillars of flame began shooting into the sky. Naturally, I went to see what was going on. A panicked gentleman informed me that an Infernal Engine powering the city was malfunctioning and responsible for the destruction. When I offered to look into the problem, he allowed me to become an authorized holder of the contract for the Engine - thus permitting me to bypass several of its wards.

"After shutting down the cooling chambers and ending the destruction, I made my way farther into the complex and through the many Infernal guardians. At its heart, I found Miss Kozuri. Once she informed me of the true nature of events, I ended her contract, and she was freed. Everything was done legally, so there should be no repercussions from the devils. After leaving the city, we traveled here."

He recounted the events calmly and evenly without unduly dwelling on his accomplishments. Giving a detailed blow-by-blow of everything he'd fought would only sound arrogant. Omitting the part where he died and came back was also wise, as it would only lead to questions that he didn't wish to answer at this time.

Rashad was smiling at the start of your story, and laughing by the end. "My niece spent decades causing trouble for them, and you helped her bring down the whole thing on their heads, eh? Serves 'em right!" he said. With a smile, he rested his chin on one hand and looked at you. "Well, may it never be said that our family doesn't pay its debts. What is it you wish for, Astoroth?"

Astoroth furrowed his brow in thought. "Due to the machinations of my enemies, large parts of myself have been taken from me. I wish to know the locations and specific methods of recovering the lost portions of my soul."

Kozuri looked on, interested, as Rashad closed his eyes and focused. The very air around him shimmered slightly, as if reality itself was a little less certain. When he opened his eyes again, they were shining with a brilliant red light. "Interesting... very interesting. However, I can only sense one piece - if there are more, they must be shielded somehow. Would you like me to retrieve it for you?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much. Possibly more than you realize - although I'm not sure what you have seen."

That's pretty much how I figured it would go, but it was worth a try. XD

The massive genie reached out his hands, then grasped the air in front of him - literally grasped it, holding on tight to something that wasn't actually there. Then, with a loud cry, he heaved backwards as hard as he could. As he did, you could see space itself briefly shattering before the natural order of the world reasserted itself... and a single page matching those of the Book of Truths drifted down onto the table. Despite his high body temperature, Rashad was sweating, and shivered slightly.

"Many protections on that one." he said, picking up a towel and wiping his face. "Thought I was going to-" he broke off, staring, as the Book of Truths rose of its own accord and flipped open. The page on the table shot into it, attaching seamlessly to the inside of your tome as if it had always been there - and knowledge, glorious knowledge, flooded your mind.

You have acquired the [Know Secrets] Divine Ability. Benefit: At a cost of 2 MP, the deity can learn information about a creature - such as (but not limited to) its class levels, hit points, secrets, whether or not it's lying about something, and goals - just by looking at it. This ability is similar to the legend lore spell, except that it delivers instant results and the subject is allowed a Will save (DC 10 + the deity’s Intelligence modifier + the deity’s divine rank) to avoid the effect. As you have not regained the full power of a deity, you cannot learn everything about a creature - just what appears in-game. When using this ability, note three things about them you want to know. This can be used to uncover information you might normally have no way of knowing... and who knows what the effects of that might be? Knowledge is very dangerous if acquired carelessly...

Cool! I'll definitely enjoy making use of this ability. XD

Astoroth's body sagged as he closed his eyes in an expression of pure bliss. Part of him had finally come home, and he could finally begin to once again see the hidden. While his work was far from over, he took time to fully enjoy this fraction of his regained power. Soon, he knew, he'd be able to share this knowledge with those who needed it. But not yet. It was not time. He still needed more....

After almost a full minute, the Endless Fount opened his slightly-glistening eyes. "Thank you."

Kozuri and Rashad were both just looking at you - Kozuri a little more slack-jawed than her uncle, who had the advantage of far more experience in dealing with strange and unusual forms. Two things at once were visible to you - for the genie, one of the views appeared to be him as he was, except even more so... larger, nobler, and simply greater. In that one moment of clarity, it was easy to see why he was the leader of a town infused with the divine energies of Nirvana.

As for your companion? She was rather more interested. Half of her body looked human, the other half pure white fire. You could see the way she actually shared some of your talents for brawling, and the latent potential of being a cleric that she'd never managed to tap into. Visible to your gaze was the way that she was much like a living saint of sorts - and that actually declaring her faith would one day start a trial of sorts for her... and, deep within her, you could even see the awe she felt at what had just happened, the revelation that you were clearly far more than a normal man.

The visions stopped bombarding you a moment later. You weren't whole yet - not with so many pieces still missing - but you were far more than you'd once been, and your divine energies were unquestionably stronger than they'd been before.

Congratulations on reaching Tier 2 of your mythic power!

As this newfound knowledge flooded his mind, Astoroth's demeanor changed drastically. The emotion he'd been showing vanished, and he gave his companions a calculating stare. Almost immediately thereafter, he gave a minute nod - his decision made. "I sense that you have questions." Astoroth made direct eye contact with both Kozuri and Rashad. "I propose an exchange of information - with the caveat that anything disclosed must remain between the three of us."

"We're more the type to sell information than exchange it." Rashad said, finally smiling. "One word of advice, though - knowledge can be valuable, sometimes more than people know. Are you sure your information is something that should be said?"

Astoroth returns Rashad's smile. "Knowledge is valuable, indeed - especially if you're the sole holder. Although I've always preferred to share it with those who truly need it. For the time being, however, suffice it to say that I would give much for more of those pages. Information regarding the protections you mentioned would also be helpful. It would greatly help with my ... research."

The genie considered for a moment, rubbing his chin with one hand. "Even a genie's wish has its limits." he eventually said. "We can do many things, but there are times when it can take many wishes to accomplish one thing... and other times, there is no amount of power that can cause something to occur. For example, even if every genie on every plane were to simultaneously wish for a god to be brought down to mortality, or for an artifact to lose its powers, our efforts would fail - there are things our magic simply cannot do. I don't know how or why, but when I sought out what you asked for, there was only one I could obtain. The others cannot be reached by wishes, nor the miracles of the gods. This is the kind of protecting they have."

"They say a man can be judged by the quality of his enemies. It seems we must rate you very highly indeed." Rashad added thoughtfully. "Would you like to keep my niece with you? She transferred the debt she owes you to me when she offered you my help as payment for your aid, and I am most curious to hear how your journey will proceed. I can assure you that she'll be very helpful."

Astoroth smiled. "You have spoken frankly with me, Emir, and I thank you for that. It is true: my journey is a long and dangerous one, but having a traveling partner would be much appreciated. 'Two are better than one, for if one stumbles, the other can pick him up.' However..." he looked at Kozuri. "The offer you extend toward me is one that I cannot choose to accept or reject. That decision must rest with your niece." He paused briefly. "Miss Kozuri, While I would greatly appreciate your help, you've been forced to walk a path that is not of your choosing for far too long. If you wish to remain here and reconnect with your old life, I understand completely. It's rare indeed for someone to get the chance to regain something that has been lost to them for so long. If, instead, you choose to journey with me, I can only promise that it will be interesting and, perhaps, informative." Done speaking, he waited patiently for the girl's decision. There were, of course, more options than the two he'd laid out, but those were the two most obvious.

"I passed the debt to my Uncle, knowing he could ask things of me in return. It was my choice, and I take responsibility for my actions." she said, looking at you. "Besides, my parents are dead - aside from Uncle here, there's really not too much that's here for me. Besides, going on a trip sounds like fun. I've, uh, had enough of staying in one place for awhile. Had enough of boredom, too." Kozuri grinned slightly, though it wasn't hard to tell that getting over being captive for so long was going to take her quite awhile to get over.

"It's settled, then." Rashad said, clapping his hands together and smiling. "Now, then - let us feast!" he gestured to the food on the table, and without further ado, began to dig in.

Astoroth returned the smile as he nodded in assent. Kozuri had already proven her tenacity and intelligence, and his recent flash of insight had shown the vast potential lying dormant within her. She would be a worthy companion. (and the Living Saint Mythic Path is a particularly-interesting one, by the way)

Astoroth ate heartily. Although he no longer required this means of sustenance, it was important to show hospitality (as well as keep up appearances). Plus, the food really did look quite good.

You might wanna double-check the numbers and items and such in your alias. ^^ Enduring Armor should be +5 down in your special abilities list, for example, and I believe Tier 2 gives you 7 mythic power/day instead of 5.

The rest of the day was almost a blur for you, as Rashad treated you to the full hospitality of the efreeti. The entire village was festive once they heard about what was going on, and your companion spent a good portion of the day greeting people and telling (and retelling, and retelling again, and retelling some more...) the story of what had happened. Finally, with a booming laugh, your host showed you to an almost sinfully comfortable chamber, allowing you to pass the night in peace and safety... the most you'd known since waking up. This place, at least, was truly safe for you, and that might have been why you were able to sleep late and wake up feeling completely refreshed.

After a light breakfast, Rashad showed you outside again, where the sailing ship had turned around and been loaded with a number of different products from the efreeti village. It seemed that passage back to the City of Brass (and from there to Absalom) had been negotiated for you... if you wanted to head back that way, of course.

Ah, I'd changed my profile spoiler and statblock but missed the Special Ability section. I'm still getting used to your preferred profile format. ;-)

This had been a very pleasant break, but it was time to get back to more important business. Book wouldn't repair itself, after all, and the more time he wasted indulging in mortal pleasures, the worse the universe would become. He hadn't come across any reference to a god/dess of information, and that meant there was a gaping void in the Pantheon.

Making sure he'd gathered all his equipment, he turned to Kozuri. "It's time to go. We have much to do."

"Indeed we do." she said with a grin, gesturing for you to lead the way onto the ship. The return journey was much like the trip there, with the Captain and a crew behaving in a noticeably more friendly manner now that payment had been received and your bona fides as a friend of a trading partner proven. At last, though, you were returned to the sweltering heat of the City of Brass, your disguise helping you to remain innocuous. The bank of Abadar wasn't very far away - but this was one of the greatest cities in all the planes, and if there was anything you wanted to do here, now would be a good time. Otherwise, it was back to where you'd come from.

Turning to Kozuri, Astoroth asked, "Are there any libraries here? As you're aware, I'm searching for anything that might help me locate more pages for Book."

Kozuri shook her head. "Not in the Grand Bazaar." she said. "Many of the nobles have private collections, of course, and they sometimes sell access for a day and a night to scholars who can afford it, but you're not going to get in unless you have a lot of money, a lot of magic to trade, or the desire to sell yourself into service for a year or so." she explained. "And there's no guarantee you'd even come close to finding what you're looking for - assuming anyone's written about it at all."