A Push of the Fates.... Zakhara... You Jewel!

Game Master Insnare

Zairiah checks out the ruby

Appraising (Int 13, and do have the proficiency): 1d20 ⇒ 3

Then pockets it, pending selling it or finding another use for it.

She packs everything up, and they start back to bid farewell to their hosts.

Zairiah

The group leaves the palace and makes their way to the camp.

GM Rolls

Abdalla says on the way back to the camp, "Shai'ra, I wish you success this evening identifying the items. I will tell my wife about our success. We will have a feast for breakfast before your group leaves."

You enter the Janni camp and dinner is served but without the fanfare from before, but you expect breakfast will be much more lavish than the Spartan dinner which consists of antelope skewers and pomegranates.

Nura partakes of the meal, chatting with the others about recent events. "I still think that the statue was too easy," she remarks. "I keep waiting for the other step to be taken."

Fadilah says to Abdalla, "I think that given time I can discern their features. I am sure that we will find many marvels, as befits the place in which they were found!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Fadilah thanks their hosts profusely for the simple meal of skewers and pomegranates. She picks carefully through one of the pomegranates during dinner, carefully separating the seeds from the flesh and placing them on a small platter.

"Truly you have shown great patience and hospitality," she says to the Janni. "We are humbled by your munificence, and your choice to extend such grace to simple mortals such as ourselves. I hope it would not be amiss for us to show our appreciation with some gifts before we leave, perhaps on the morrow or thereabouts?"

Ibn Taaib is contemplative during their trek back to the Jann camp, though he does take the opportunity to thank their Jann companion and champion Abdalla for his assistance.
He considers something, and asks the ladies, "That stranger you talked about, Nerim. We did not see him as we left, had we? Where have you met him?"

Ibn Taaib passes by the point where the party met the stranger Nerim.

Camp
The sheikh likewise thanks their hosts for the dinner meal, and responding to Nura.
"Each step would have done great harm," he says, nodding. "Fate smiled upon me with that hammer-like blow."

Do you agree to take the Sheikh to where you met Nerim?

Frackit, I think you have overestimated the value of these rubies. They are worth about 1,000 gold each, no more.

Nerim did not seem like he would return. Our conversation seemed final. However, over there is where we met him. He said he had been living in these ruins.

___

When they get back to their hosts, Zairiah joins Fadilah in thanking them for their hospitality.

"Could be, I am not versed in your local economy. I will leave that up to you. I do see the potential of making something beautiful with these. I may have to recut it and shape it, but I think with a little SIlver I could make a beautiful piece. Possibly a necklace of a coronet or bracelet depicting some etchings of the trials we faced to get these?" He says as he pulls out the gem and inspects it again wondering what wonderous things he could craft.

"The positive though I we are all alive, by god's grace we are alive! And honestly, if that is not enough to celebrate then I don't know what is!" The tiny gnome says as he smiles a broad smile from underneath his sun-colored mustache.

----------

Taking off his conical hat the gnome will bow in the northern fashion."Thank you so much. As a stranger in this strange land, you welcomed me into your home. At this moment I don't have much to reward you for such hospitality. Still, I shall make sure to do something to honor you." He says never raising his head until he was done speaking.

You go to where you spoke with Nerim and the only thing left is a pile of hay where you presume Nerim slept. This old warehouse is empty.

The Sheikh says, "You are welcome. I and my husband must retire for the evening, I look forward to seeing you on the morrow to break our fast."

With Ghost Narim

Nerim did not seem like he would return. Our conversation seemed final. However, over there is where we met him. He said he had been living in these ruins.

Ibn Taaib nodded slowly, observing the empty place.

Keeping his suspicions with himself, he gripped the bronze sword, and said to the empty place in a quiet voice. "Peace be upon thee, and fare thee well."

Now I'm 100% sure that was Azaltin.

With the Jann camp (Dinner)

"Could be, I am not versed in your local economy. I will leave that up to you. I do see the potential of making something beautiful with these. I may have to recut it and shape it, but I think with a little SIlver I could make a beautiful piece. Possibly a necklace of a coronet or bracelet depicting some etchings of the trials we faced to get these?" He says as he pulls out the gem and inspects it again wondering what wonderous things he could craft.

"That would be a great work of art, I am sure." Ibn Taaib says. "Which trial shall ye choose? Shall ye craft the gem into a pomegranate from the poisoned feast, a curled up lion (symbol of Azaltin's realm), into a rose of forgetfulness, or into a statue of the demoness or one of the Janni? The possibilities are truly vast."

"The positive though I we are all alive, by god's grace we are alive! And honestly, if that is not enough to celebrate then I don't know what is!" The tiny gnome says as he smiles a broad smile from underneath his sun-colored mustache.

Ibn Taaib smiles widely, and claps Frackit on the back two times reassuringly, physically expressing his camaraderie as they retired to sleep.

Ok, I think you need to identify the items unless there is something else you would like to do this evening.

Fetch spell: Identify (<= 75%): 1d100 ⇒ 36
Fetch spell: Identify (<= 75%): 1d100 ⇒ 100

Fadilah is only able to identify one of the items after dinner (the spell takes a long time to cast anyway, so that's probably for the best).

Fetch spell: Identify (<= 75%): 1d100 ⇒ 62
Fetch spell: Identify (<= 75%): 1d100 ⇒ 60

She handily identifies the other two the next morning.

Fadilah: Bronze Plate Mail 1d100 ⇒ 29,what it is 1d100 ⇒ 69, Scarab 1d100 ⇒ 84, Slippers 1d100 ⇒ 1, Short Bow 1d100 ⇒ 2 how strong it is 1d100 ⇒ 72

Fadilah is able to discern that the Bronze Plate Mail is at least +2 but you are not sure exactly how much, She is not sure what kind of scarab it is but it is magical, you get a clear idea that the slippers are Slippers of Soft Movement. The short bow is at least +2 as well, but since Zairiah was able to hit the Living Idol, you think it is at least +3.

How do I get rid of the strength damage? Will it go away with time, or do I need a specific type of healing?

Because of Agrammar's roll, it was way more mild than it should have been. You should fullly recover in 4 days time or you could have someone cast cure disease on you.

Ibn Taaib uses his 1/week lay on hands for Zairiah to remove that strength damage.

His lay on hand: Cure Disease, will half the recovery time so instead of four days it has been reduced to 2.

I will do that, then.

You wake up the next morning and there is an even larger spread of food than when you first arrived and the assorted pillows and tea services are set out for the breakfast. You have spent the evening deliberating and preparing your caravan for departure for the long trek back to Muluk.

The spread includes achichuk is a type of salad made with fresh onions, tomatoes, chili pepper, herbs, and seasonings. Manti refers to a type of boiled or steamed dumpling. These large steamed dumplings are made with spiced minced meat like ground lamb and beef, lamb fat, potatoes, onions, cabbage, pumpkin, and other vegetables.

Samsa refers to a type of savory pastry popular in the cuisine of the Haunted Lands. They’re commonly shaped like triangles and stuffed with a mixture of ground meat (usually lamb, beef, or chicken), tail fat, and spices. Meat samsa is the most common but you can find other versions as well like potato, pumpkin, or onion samsa.Soft and crunchy on the outside but juicy on the inside, this flaky pastry is a staple breakfast food.

Shurpa refers to a family of soups or stews found. They can be made in different ways and typically consist of large chunks of meat cooked in a broth with potatoes, different vegetables, herbs, and spices. Shurpa is a hugely popular soup traditionally made with lamb and thick slices of potato, carrot, onion, tomato, and sweet pepper. It’s seasoned simply with salt and black pepper and often garnished with fresh dill, cilantro, or parsley. Served with bread, this rich, thick soup is hearty and filling and one of the most beloved dishes in Zakharan cuisine.

Lamb soup is the most popular but there are many recipes for shurpa. It can be cooked in a number of ways and made with different ingredients like chickpeas, fish, or meatballs.

Like plov and shashlik, lagman is one of the most popular dishes. It refers to a pulled noodle dish. Lagman is typically served in one of two ways – as a hearty noodle stew or as a fried noodle dish. When served as a soup, the hand-stretched noodles are boiled in water and served in a rich broth made with fried meat (usually lamb or beef), garlic, onions, potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and other vegetables. It’s typically seasoned with cumin seed, salt, and pepper before serving.

No meal can ever be complete without plov, plov is the most famous dish in Zakhara. It’s a socially and culturally important food that Zakharans are abundantly proud of. Traditionally prepared in a large cooking pot, plov is commonly made at home as a family meal or in larger quantities to celebrate holidays and special occasions like weddings.

If you like meat dishes, then you need to try shashlik. It’s one of the most popular dishes and refers to a version of shish kabob that’s consumed in many countries throughout Zakhara.

Shashlik is traditionally made with lamb but it can be made with other types of meat as well like beef, chicken, and venison. Meat rolls made with ground beef or fatty beef (or lamb) are common, as are skewered and grilled chicken legs. For a truly memorable experience, then you may want to order grilled skewers threaded with horse meat.

Whatever it’s made with, shashlik skewers are typically threaded with just meat or with alternating pieces of meat, fat, mushrooms, and vegetables. If you prefer vegetarian food, then you can order grilled skewers of just potatoes, vegetables, or mushrooms as well.

There is also a large spread of dried nuts and fruits sprinkled with sugar and honey.

Zairiah enjoys the potato samsa and eats some shashlik, complimenting their hosts on the delicious food. She also gathers some of the dried nuts and fruits to eat as they travel.

After the meal, Zairiah brings forward the items they have selected, and accompanies Fadilah as they go forward to offer guest gifts before departing.

At the previous meal...

Paritosh, with no fanfare or showmanship, grabs a sharp knife and a wooden spoon and proceeds to peel a couple pomegranates with the practiced art of a professional pomegranate eater.

------------------------

Paritosh makes sure to try each of the rich dishes, unsure of when will be the next time that he get such a fine meal.

Zairiah and Fadilah walk up to the Sheikh and with the bronze plate mail armor and one of the rubies. Abdalla smiles at you and whispers, "I am glad you did not give her the slippers, she does not like the color purple."

Zariah is internally relieved, because she had considered just that, but she smiles knowingly, and offers the gifts.

Frackit asks the camp if there is a journal, pen, and ink at the camp. As he asks around he then eats. As he does when he gets the journal and materials in hand, begins to write down some of what he had experienced. He does so in Chondathan, the Common of Faerun.

' I came to the lands far south of Shaar and even further than mythical Harulaa. I found myself in a vast desert but was rescued by a pair of men who lead me to a ruined city. This city was the home of Genies! It was strange and completely different than what I am used to.'

' At the camp I met with stalwart adventurers, much like the ones from home. I aided these adventurers using my magic and unique skills. I was not intracal to the deeds, but supported where I could. So far I think this is a wonderful land with wonderful people. Let's hope by the time I return home, I can fully embrace not only my kinsmen but tell them of the wonderful people here in these Southern Lands of TOril'

After that, he would set the gem in front of him and begin to sketch out what he would need and what the piece would look like. He decided on a Lion's head carved from the ruby, It would be set in a silver pendant with smaller pieces of the same ruby, one representing each trial they passed. The necklace would be a task, but one the Gnome was looking forward too Once he got the materials.

The Sheikh stands up and says to the party, "My husband has informed me about your actions while clearing out the palace of Azaltin and we thank you for your gifts, you may go in peace."

She then looks at Fadilah and in Jannti(Djinni)

Feel free to retcon any conversations with the Jann

Around noon breakfast has wrapped up and you leave the gate of Al-Anwahr and you follow city wall before you make your way South-westward toward Ganam the town where you can return Iyda to her family and Uday can be tried for his/her crimes against Iyda.

GM Rolls

You travel well into the evening and you decide to set up camp for the night.

When they stop, Zairiah, instead of helping to set up, heads over to talk to Uday/Ualda.

Greetings. I understand that we have tried to kill each other in the past, and so conversation might be strained, but if you can bear it, I would like to talk with you.

I have only heard your story from others... the Zin and Iyda, who we freed from you. However, I have recently been thinking about what to do with you, whether to allow Iyda's village to put you on trial, or whether to heal you of your lycanthropy. (Or whatever it is called if it is a fox instead of a wolf) but I do not know your desires in this.

I know that even when something is done to us against our will that sometimes it becomes who we are, as when we are children and we are taught of adult dreams and as we grow we become those dreams in part because that is what we are taught. The ways in my country, with a woman having many husbands, they are looked at as unnatural by some, but because I am from that country, other ways seem bizarre to me, and I aspire to build both a trading empire and a home that reflect the values that I was taught by my parents and by Zann the Learned, who I also learned of through them.

So it may be with you. The things that I see as curses may have become blessings in your eyes. Also, it may be just in the eyes of Zann to remove your choices as you removed the choices of others. But it may also be just to free you to try to live the life you would have lived if others had not forced such radical changes in your life, or to count your punishment as already suffered because of what was done to you, and your enslavement of the Zin as a just recompense for their interference in your life. I do not know the mind of Zann.

However, if it is my choice, and Zann does not have another fate in mind for you, then I would like to try to right the wrongs of your past and find you a place where you can start again. I would hear your thoughts. When we removed the cursed belt, was that a relief to you, or was it a loss? If Zann grants you the choice, would you be cured also of your lycanthropy, or do you value what you have gained more than what you have lost, and prefer to remain as you are?

Feel free to tell me any other thoughts or desires you have as well. It may be only a conversation, but it may also be that Zann has compassion on you and guides me in this, so that your fate may be determined by the illumination of additional knowledge.

Ibn Taaib reaches out to Mahara, and relays to him their findings of Al Anwahr as he promised. When the caravan sets out south-west, he is contemplative and mostly silent, but keeps an eye out for the caravan's companions.

Uday/Ualda looks at her chained self and says, "Well, it has been awhile since I have been in feminine form. I almost miss being Uday. I am conflicted, I have been coping first with being made a vixen for over one hundred years and then the zins' trick made me masculine and Uday. Even if you were able to cure me of my Fox Gift, I probably won't survive very long anyways. My body would wither and I would be dead within a fortnight. "

She then says, "I think the belt was preventing me from being able to make Iyda a Werefox. She seemed like a very friendly girl and I could have taught her the ways of the Vixen."

Mahara the mystic nods his head at the Sheikh and says, "I thank you for your information. Mayhaps, you can pray with me this evening."

Ah, I did not know that staying in that form was essential to your extended life span. That is good to know. Are you sure that it works that way? I thought it might just allow you to live out your life normally, and you would start aging again perhaps, but not rapidly so.

Yes, Iyda is a nice girl, but she does not want to become a Vixen. I know that you had no choice when you were changed, but would you deny her one?

Interesting. Depending on what happens, we may need to put that belt back on her, if it is what was preventing her from turning others.

Ibn Taaib nods to Mahara, and says, "I would like that."

He then seeks out Paritosh, and introduces the two, "Paritosh, this is Mahara. It was he who healed thee from thy sickness."

The sheikh considers the set of elven lamellar with interest, testing whether it compares in weight to the armor he used in combat, weighing the two tentatively.

Mahara to the ladies looks like he does not look as emaciated as he did when you first rescued him from the werehyenas says, "Paritosh, would you like to join us in prayer, as well?"

The Crystal man walks up to the Sheikh and says in Chun,

Frackit while in the caravan rode on whatever cart carried the gear. As he sits and observes he writes. When they stop Frackit takes a stroll about the camp.

" By the Watchful Protector, I am glad my backside gets a rest from that journey!" The gnome walks about checking on everyone. As he makes his rounds he finally settles near the fire and pulls out a leather mat and sets out his tools. As he does he places the ruby in the center and begins his meticulous work. Slowly working with the ruby, seeking to make it smaller and able to work a lion's face on one side.

Gem Cutting: 11 - 1d20 ⇒ 11 - (2) = 9
Artistic Ability: 13 - 1d20 ⇒ 13 - (10) = 3

The Crystal man walks up to the Sheikh and says in Chun, "Were you the slayer of the evil Sultan? You have his sword."

"Nay," he says, shaking his head and marveling respectfully the man's shape. "King Azaltin was not in the ruins, only a man named Nerim who has since disappeared."

Now that Sham has come back out of hiding, Zairiah starts wearing him around again like before... if he wants to come along, of course.

She sits down in front of Ualda/Uday, waiting to see if she has anything more to say in answer to her question, trying to get to know her a little before they have to decide her fate.

If she answers, she asks a few more questions about her life as a Vixen, what she wants out of life, why she was pretending to be a deity, etc.

Uday/Ualda says, "You do not seem to understand, it is almost a compulsion for the survival of our species."

Sham says, "Uday isssss evil!" and sticks out his tongue at Uday.

Qasim the crystal man says in Chun, "That blade might be dangerous because I may have turned Sultan Azaltin in to a monster."

Nura sits with her scimitar and asks, "Jimar, would you object to being the subject of a spell that would reveal more about you?"

Jimar says, "I only want to quench my thirst for blood. Less stone please."

Qasim the crystal man says in Chun, "That blade might be dangerous because I may have turned Sultan Azaltin in to a monster."

The sheikh considers the sheathed sword, and says, “Why do you think so?”

@DM: According to the history book, this sword was carried by all the kings of Al Anwahr, correct?

The book is a ridiculously big, to read it in its entirety, you would need to spend a lot of time reading it.

I do that after prayer, focusing on the conflict between Amakim and Azaltin, as well as finding references to the dancing sword. Whenever I find myself free, I read it as well (such as when resting but not sleeping).

A compulsion. I see. So, you are unable to change? To become less of a danger to others? Are you able to restore Iyda to her normal size? Why did you shrink her?

Zairiah pets Sham and tells him to shush for now. She's trying to have a conversation. Mentally, she tells him to talk to her this way so that it doesn't interfere.

Uday looks at Zairiah and says, "At first when I was a girl, I wanted to escape but the magical powers and the desire to procreate are strong. I appreciate what you are trying to do but if you are going to bring Iyda back to her home. I won't resist."

Hmm. Is your male human form fertile? Could you father children and fulfill that creation urge another way, or is the compulsion only to make another werefox? And, as far as creating a werefox, couldn't you find someone who really wanted that, as opposed to kidnapping someone? I'm sure there are people who want that... there are all kinds of people in this world.

I appreciate that you won't resist judgement, and if that is what you prefer, then I can leave you to your thoughts, but I'd like to help if I can. And I'm asking if you can restore Iyda to her proper size. I am not sure how shrinking fits in with what you were trying to accomplish.

Ibn Taaib nods to Mahara, and says, "I would like that."

He then seeks out Paritosh, and introduces the two, "Paritosh, this is Mahara. It was he who healed thee from thy sickness."

The sheikh considers the set of elven lamellar with interest, testing whether it compares in weight to the armor he used in combat, weighing the two tentatively.

Apologies! Being 6 time zones away from home, I kept hitting the sack early each night, and no real time to post!

Paritosh bows briefly, "I am humbly in your debt Mahara. Thank you very much for your assistance in my predicament. I believe then that I must owe you a life debt for the saving of my life."

Uday says, "You would not happen to have grabbed the wand that was hidden inside my coffee pot. You have a Shair. A dispel magic spell could work. I guess."

Mahara nods and says, "That shan't be necessary."

Zairiah was thinking of something dramatic to try to help Ualda, but she seems a lot dumber than she expected, and uninterested in cooperating. Maybe it was a ploy, but either way, she says

Well, thanks for talking to me. It sounds like we'll need to have a trial in Iyda's village, but if you have anything else to say before then, just tell someone to come and get me.

She walks away, asking Sham silently

>Can you read people's souls? Do you know that she is evil, or are you just saying that from past observation? She's been through a lot.<

She checks to see if there are other things that aren't finished in the camp set up and belatedly pitches in to help.

Sham says telepathically, "Ssssomeone who getsss revenge on another who looksss ssssimilarly to the one who hurt you, issss evil. He alssso wass very mean to ussss while we were under hisss sssspell."

The party goes to sleep with the party member and an NPC on guard duty.

GM Rolls

The next morning the party wakes up and pack up their things and make their way.

I am going to need a Direction Sense check

Do I make any headway towards studying the book?
Also, what is a direction sense roll? I didn't find that skill and would have chosen it.

Direction Sense (Wisdom 13, no proficiency): 1d20 ⇒ 4

It is one of the general proficiencies, not the ones specific to a class.

http://people.wku.edu/charles.plemons/ad&d/nonweapon.html