"Tell us, where do you and your companions lair? How many of you are there?" asks Fadilah.
The corsair responds, "IN Al-Gamal bay. But that is just temporary. There were 40 of us tasked with the assault then another 10 at Al-Gamal Bay to mind the ships."
The caravan leader responds, "Not paying attention is your problem son." as she turns away from you and leaves.
Just before sun rises in the morning you go to sleep and then wake up around 4pm as the sun starts to set and your camels are prepared for the trip Al-Gamel. You are given enough rations for two weeks of travel although it should take far less time.
Al-Badriyah visits you and Nudar just before you take off and says, "Thank you for taking care of this for us. Will see you in Qudra in about ten days time."
"If Fate wills it so," Nura bows slightly.
"Traps? Do they have traps?" Nabila asks suddenly.
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The Corsair responds, "Why would we have traps? Our leader of the Corsair COuncil was expecting this to be a breeze, your cook was supposed to have poisoned you all and then we would overwhelm those who were not effected. A fair warning Effendi, Akura Al-Hiyali, is not a someone to cross. Praised be Najm."
Your group wait until dusk to begin travelling, Badriyah and the rest of the Mamluks leave your home of two days going towards Qudra. You follow the 'Thieve's Route' on your map and you are optimistic you shall be near Al-Gamal in two days time.
GM Rolls
After about four hours of travel you come across an Oasis with flowers and plants in abundance.
Fadilah takes the travel time to come down from the terror of the battle, and by the time the team reaches the oasis she has settled back into her usual self.
"Why look at these flowers!" she exclaims as the oasis comes into view. [b]"What a beautiful sight. I do hope we are stopping here to rest a bit."
"We must be wary," Nabila says squinting at the oasis. "Such a place is likely to be popular with the local wildlife." Nabila checks her bow and arrows before whispering a personal prayer to Najm. She takes a deep breath and turns with a smile. "It does look pleasant though."
Nura bares her scimitar and steps carefully forward into the oasis.
Nura carefully edges her way forward, checking the whole of the oasis, so far as she is able to do so.
Nabila hangs back from Nura, about thirty feet, scanning the area with her bow and relying on her elven senses to help her detect danger.
You survey the oasis, inside the oasis is a decent size pool with drinkable water and loads and loads of plants.
Fadilah remains in the rear with Nabila, craning her head to try to see what Nura might find.
Nura does not possess Herbalism, so I think that her check is made at half-proficiency. Is that correct? In any case...
Apparently, she recalls something she once heard about whatever she found.
Nabila and Nura
You rest the day away bathing in the water of the oasis and filling up your watersking and sleep. You wake up about an hour before dusk to get your equipment and camels ready and you feel as though if you push it, you should be able to get to the COrsair camp before dawn.
GM Rolls
About 3/4 of your way to the corsair camp a crashing fireball explodes on a sand dune about 30 yards from your group and then from the other side of the a dune you see lightning that goes up and not down.
Fadilah nearly jumps at the crash of fire, then says, "This... ah... I would suspect a fight between an ifrid and a djinn, one of fire, one of air."
"Perhaps we should investigate?" Nura suggests. "Carefully."
You inch your way over to the ridge and you see a man with a bright red turban and a staff made from either wood or something else with a tiger's head decoration standing next to a miniature Ifreet.
And you also see a woman in a pair of loose fitting silver trousers a golden staff with an albatross head on it and a little gen next to hers side.
The man bellows out a loud laugh and says, "Zhasmina, do you honestly think your pawltry lightning spell can match the power of this..."
His gen clicks his heels and says, "Yes master." and he vanishes into the planes.
She laughs hysterically, "Jamal, you fool, that was just minor foreplay to what I have coming your direction!!!!"
Nura lays down and peeks over the rim of the ridge. She has no wish to draw attention to them just yet. She continues to watch the dueling sha'irs with interest.
"Incredible!" Nabila says as she takes cover near Nura and Fadilah. "We are safe here? I wouldn't want a stray lightning bolt or blast of fire to catch us by accident. But, I don't want to interrupt two dueling magicians, either."
"As long as we don't draw their attention..." says Fadilah. "But, ah, their respective genie connections mean that they will probably try to drag people to one side or the other if we are noticed."
"Well, what do you think? I can't tell if they are fighting over something or if this is a lovers' quarrel or if they're just testing their skills," says Fadilah. "Which, incidentally, seem to be far beyond mine. Maybe if someone can sneak a little closer we can find out if there's something that they are fighting over?"
Nura considers for a moment. "I would hate to leave and miss out on something interesting. My head is interested in the story behind this, but I worry if we introduce ourselves, they might forget their quarrel and turn on us!"
Nabila smiles at the other women and stands up, walking over towards the two duelists. "Pardon me, I hate to intrude," she announces to the pair. "But my curiosity gets the better of me, thank Najm." She giggles at her joke and continues, "May I inquire as to the nature of your conflict? Perhaps I can be of some assistance?"
Nura watches Nabila as she goes over the ridge. She moves to stop the other woman but is too slow. Taking a deep breath, she lays low behind the ridge with her scimitar drawn.
The Shair "Jamal" looks towards your group and says, "What do we have here? Who are you?"
Pointing her chin up and giving a wry smile, Nabila replies, "I am Nabila Al-Qut Min Najm. A simple traveler intent on investigating all of the curiosities life has to offer us, and guiding others in their pursuit of the same. Truly, I do not wish to be rude, so if this is private business, I would understand. I merely found your displays of prowess to be fascinating. You both seem very skilled."
Fadilah barely peeks over the hill, watching as Nabila negotiates with the dangerous sha'ir.
Dshasmina the shaira says, "Najm, is that the one who owes me some money? I cannot seem to remember. The Pantheon is so large you see and normally I send my Gen Suhail to visit them but... nevermind. This SHair's Duel is a part of a negotiation between the planes."
Nabila's eyes crinkle in confusion at first, then her mind reacts to the last part. "Oh? A negotiation? Between the planes, I see. Your gen can access the plane on your behalf, yes? But what sort of negotiation?"
The woman responds, "This is a way for me to prove my worth to the Djinn whom I serve. It is not my place to ask them fore it would be tantamount to stabbing myself with a rusty shamshir.
She continues, "Where is your little group heading?"
"Ah." Nabila nods, pretending she understands. "We are just going where Najm take us," she answers. She knows she is not the best liar, but is wise enough to keep things vague. "There are so many wonderous things in this world. I was wondering, however, if either of you knew anything about bandits in the area? We should not want to run afoul of theives!"
Nura peeks over the sand dune, interested that the pair have not yet destroyed her traveling companion.
The shai'r says, "I have not seen any thieves in the area but to be honest only a foolish thief would approach two shairs during a duel."
Nura readies herself to react if Nabila needs help, sliding her scimitar from its sheath quietly.
Nabila snorts, miffed at first. She regains her composure and puts on her wry smile again. "If I am starting to be a nuisance, then a thousand pardons for my interruption! I will leave you with blessings from Najm. May you always find a new mystery each dawn." She bows her head and turns to walk back towards where the others are hiding, hoping not to be ensorcelled before she can return to her friends.
Fadilah finally works up her courage and approaches from behind Nabila and Nura - not that she's any safer just by having two of her friends in front of her.
"Forgive me, noble ones," she says with a bow, "but what is the nature of the dispute in question?"
The male shai'r says, "Well, that is above our purview."
One of the shai'rs says, "Sorry to be curt, and we need to continue, is there anything we can do for you to get you on your way?"
Fadilah says, "Since it seems this dispute is outside of our purview, and there is little we can do one way or the other, it may be best if we simply step back away from the dazzling display of magic at hand. May we watch the conclusion of this duel? Perhaps I could write a poem about it later."
Dschasmina says, "If it were up to me, I would say yes but our masters would prefer to keep the results secret. It might be best if we just teleport you where you wish to go."
The Shai'rs say, "We can teleport you where you want or we can send you somewhere we want."
Nura reveals herself, leaving her scimitar in its place. "Mighty ones, we would be eternally grateful if you could transport us to Al-Gamel."