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

Game Master Insnare

Zairiah waits for Iyda to explain, but if she is reluctant, or wants Zairiah's help, then she will tell the story of how they found her.

She also mentally tells Sham to be careful not to scare Iyda while she is on her shoulder.

Sham communicates, "Ok, I will try not to startle the young girl."

Iyda looks at the party for help to explain to her grandma.

Maybe we should all sit down for the story.

Once everyone is sitting to listen, Zairiah launches into the story, telling their side of how they came across a group that seemed to be following a false deity, and how they found that a werefox was using enslaved magical creatures to fool the people. Then, when Zairiah was trying to find the Zin to let them go, she came upon a cupboard where a small girl was trapped...

If Iyda wants to tell her side at any point, Zairiah lets her talk instead.

Ibn Taaib sits and listens to the fantastic story with great interest.

Frackit pulls out his journal and begins to write as he listens to the tales. He also writes about these people and what he feels. He is still a fish out of water, and someday when he returns home he will give the chronicles of his journey to others. The Realms would need to know about Frackit his journey, his friends and allies here, and the land itself.

Nura listens intently, occasionally interrupting to fill in a detail or add some suspense to the story.

Iyda explains in detail what happened to her, how Uday tricked her with sweets called Huzzuz Delight and by eating them she shrunk and had been shrunk ever since. How as much as he tried to turn her into a werefox, he was unable to because of unnatural concept of a male werefox. And how after six months of living in a cupboard your group finally freed her and have brought her home.

Later that evening, Iyda's father comes home and offers to pay you a fee for saving his daughter but has opened his home to you for duration of the trial or whatever Iyda deems fit to move forward. Mustapha (father) will press charges against Uday/Ualda in the morning and call the town guard.

Zairiah refuses the fee, but accepts the hospitality of their home.

We thank you for your hospitality, which is a gift in itself, and only wish that we could have done more for the girl. Unfortunately our attempt to restore her to her true size failed.

We do not require money for helping your daughter, but if you know of any trade goods produced here that we might be able to sell elsewhere at a profit, I am a trader and I would greatly appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

There is a special thing that merchant-rogues can do: "Buying in Bulk" (page 55 of the Al Qadim Arabian Adventures book) which is what I was shooting for by asking. Maybe our goodwill here can get us a deal on a big load of something that we can sell elsewhere to make a little money? Also, having something to sell might be a good cover as we go different places... even bad guy hideouts might be willing to allow in a trade caravan? Not saying they wouldn't see through it, but there's always a possibility if we have a good cover.

Mustapha smiles and says, "I do work for the consortium that mines tin from the mountains due south of here. I have heard there are some interesting coppersmiths in the free cities who are experimenting with the alloy of brass and bronze to weave into gold or make something extremely musical."

Frackit listens and taps his chin."All suitable metals. Also, I'd love to see the coppersmiths' work. One never knows what techniques one can learn or teach when in a new area." The craftsman always came out. he wondered a lot about the metalsmithing here in this desert land. Seems water quenching isn't a thing or even more possibilities.

The last part made Frackit perk up."Wait Brass and Bronze into gold and musical? How?"

Mustapha smiles and says, "I have heard they are making interesting instruments but I have been too busy with the mine and the foundry turning them into ingots or plates for further manufacture."

Zairiah smiles and thanks Mustapha, and when they have time she looks into it further to see if she/they can afford an investment.

You have a nice meal that evening and you meet Iyda's family and siblings. In the morning, Mustapha, Iyda and you bring Uday in front of the magistrate.

The low sandstone building worn smooth from centuries
of exposure stands out among the larger, more recent
constructions but smaller than the houses of the common folk. Statues lining the wall hold swords and scales. It is smaller than the mosque of Hajama which is directly across from the Regional Courthouse.

You wait in line to be called by the court. The are a few people suing each other over shady business deals between bedoins and farmers, businessmen and bureaucrats. After the seven cases before yours is heard and the judge has given his recommendations, your group is brought forward. The judge wears a green kaftan and an extremely large turban with a large peacock feather in the front. Mustapha's lawyer presents a lengthy scroll detailing the account of both Iyda and Uday.

The judge a man of at least 80 strokes his lengthy grey beard and says, "Hmmm, are they any witnesses who refute the charges against Uday, hmmmm, most peculiar?" looking at a Werefox in combination form.

The sheikh grooms himself the next morning as his daily ritual, and attends the court proceedings with curiosity. Deigning to stay silent, he is interested in the account and dispute between Iyda and Uday. A miniscule woman suing a Werefox would be a great story to his tribesfolk whenever he returns to them.

I do not wish to refute the charges, but I do ask for some leniency from the court. Uday, who was born Ualda, was taken against her will and made a werefox vixen and then tricked into wearing a gender change belt, which, perhaps appropriately, prevented her from passing on the admittedly questionable gift of being a werefox. Her dream of having a child when she was human was lost and she turned to the only thing left to her... tricking someone else as she had been tricked, even though the belt stymied even that desire, thankfully for Iyda. I agree that she must pay for her crimes, but if there is a way for her to repay the community in another way besides death, I urge you to consider it.

Fetch spell: dispel magic (<= 55%): 1d100 ⇒ 35
Dispel magic power: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Fetch spell: dispel magic (<= 55%): 1d100 ⇒ 35
Dispel magic power: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Fetch spell: dispel magic (<= 55%): 1d100 ⇒ 80

Before heading to their next errands, Fadilah tries again and again to dispel the magic from Iyda, but is still unable to do so.

The judge strokes his beard and says, "It is interesting that you bring this concept up. Ganam is a town fiercely devoted to the God, Hajama. The God of bravery. Self control having a moral code and following said precepts are above all else. It has been brought to my attention about this person bearing false witness and pretending to be him/herself a false deity which is an utter affront to not only us, the people of the tent city and the Pantheon of the Land of Fate. This werefox is a manipulator of others and it seems to this court that it is not that the Evil Eye has been placed upon this Ualda but rather Uday is an agent of the Evil Eye and needs to pay for the crime perpetrated against the people, the innocent child Iyda her family and our community. What happened to Ualda by being turned into a vixen is horrid. However, instead of stopping the cycle of evil she chose to further said cycle. So, I have decided to be lenient insofar we will not be taking her life but she will be enucleated for being an Agent of the Evil Eye and as recompense for the abduction of Iyda she will be sentenced to hard labor in the tin mines for 1000 and one days, which will commence after her eye has been removed. Her crimes against the Grand Caliph and the usurpation of his power will be decided by a different court. In name of the Grand Caliph Khalil Al-Assad Al--Zahir, may he reign One Thousand and one years!, 18th of his line, Master of the Enlightened Throne, Worthy of the Gods, Scourge of the Unbeliever,
Defender of the Faithful, and Confidant of Genies, this judgement has been deemed appropriate and the sentence will be carried out by his humble servant, Sotenre in his 35th year of service in this capacity!"

A scribe who had been writing since the sentence had been read aloud hands the judge a parchment with a quill and it is signed by the judge.

He then turns to the party and says, "If you choose to not be present when the convict is blinded in her left eye that is understandable."

Any reactions?

Paritosh nods at the wisdom and leniency of the verdict. He had seen harsher punishments among his people for crimes many would consider far less. The girl still lives, after all.

Backing up to the camel purchasing process at Trusty Timur's. Paritosh will have chosen his own camel from the lot.

Desert riders are excellent judges of horseflesh (or camel flesh, as the case may be), and they are capable of bringing the best out of a mount. Members of this kit always judge the quality of a mount correctly; no proficiency check is required. Further, under a desert rider's expert care, a mount improves one level in quality—in just two weeks following the purchase. (See Chapter 6 in the DMG for definitions of quality. A nag becomes broken-down; a broken-down horse, average; an average mount, high-spirited; and a high-spirited mount, a charger.) This benefit lasts only as long as the horse remains in the desert rider's care. Thus, a desert rider may sell an "average" horse, which in a week reverts to its original broken-down stage in the hands of others. Such occurrences contribute to the belief that desert riders are unscrupulous. No mount can be improved more than one level above its original quality. Hence, if a desert riderpurchases a mount directly from another desert rider, this benefit does not apply.

I don't what a "stout" camel means, but wherever that falls on the scale, in 2 weeks, Paritosh's new camel will be stout+

Zairiah had been thinking of trying to save Ualda from all of this, but she agreed with the decision on many levels. The vixen was unrepentant, and so there was no use sticking her neck out in her defense. Zairiah would have been satisfied with forcing her to wear the gender change belt again, so she couldn't turn anyone, but they had turned her over for judgement and it was too late to turn back now... Maybe she was a hypocrite, because she would likely be happy to watch Yodfah being blinded, but she wasn't up for a philosophical debate today. She didn't want to watch Ualda being maimed, so she frowned and walked away, back to the camels to get ready to get away from this place as soon as possible.

About an hour after Zairiah leaves the hall of justice, Mustapha and Iyda meet her outside and by the caravanserai and he says, "I would like to gift your caravan food and water for a month's worth of desert travel and 100 pounds of tin ingots and 25 pounds of tin plates. These should help set up trade between Ganam and one of the Free Cities that is tasked for making bronze. Thank you once again for rescuing my daughter and hopefully we can get her returned to her natural size. Blessing upon you and the Loregiver for helping my family."

The sheikh rises from the courthouse, and seeks out the judge to thank him personally for his service and praise his wisdom.
“Pure wisdom is the attainment of true believers, great qadi [judge]. I, Sheikh Ibn Taaib of Banu Ghurab have witnessed the righteousness of thy judgment, and applaud thee for showing both strength and mercy. Truly dark times are upon us when such foul sorceries roam our lands.”

The judge strolls with the Sheikh and says, "Judgement must be swift and just. Sometimes magnanimity is prudent and othertimes not. Once my missive is relayed to the Grand Caliph, may he reign 1000 and one years, it is with great interest I await what he would like to see done to Ualda in regards to usurpation and posing as a deity. He may send for her to be brought to Huzuz poste haste or have her serve out her sentence in the mines and brought to him after the proscribed 1000 and one days. I was appointed while his father was still with us and he would definitely have summoned her to court for trial as soon as he had heard word of such treachery."

He then looks at the Sheikh and says, "By the Loregiver, I wish you luck on your journeys."

Nura chooses not to attend the blinding. She had seen many men and women blinded in battle, but to watch it being done intentionally, however justly, is more than she can bear.

Fadilah, likewise, is glad to simply close the book on this sordid chapter, and has no interest in watching someone else's suffering.

She follows after Zairiah. "Zairiah! I was thinking of going to the market for a gourd of fruit juice. I thought it might be a refreshing way to wash the taste of all this bad blood out of my mouth. Would you like some?"

Zairiah pauses, and then accepts Fadilah's offer.

Some fruit juice would be nice. And I should go bargain for some tin from the mines as well, but my heart isn't really in it right now. Maybe taking a break will get my brain working again.

If they see Nura come out as well, she will invite her along too.

Zairiah, Fadilah and maybe Nura walk to the market where they are selling a decent amount of good considering the size of the town. There are sellers of apricot, quince and apple juice.

The sheikh nods to the judge, and says, “Thank you, great Qadi. I would seek your counsel should you design it fitting.”

Ibn Taaib then speaks of the crisis facing his people, of the caravan of the dead, and the need for a holy man to lift the curse over the desert in which his people live.

The judge says, "If you are looking for assistance in this endeavor, you could always talk to the Imam of the Mosque of Hajama in town or consult with a holy man from one of the bigger cities. You could go to Hiyal or one of the Free Cities to the west."

Frackit just observes. He records the proceedings and the punishment. He feels it a bit harsh, but then he hadn't done much with Judge and jury back home.

Ibn Taaib thanks the judge, and goes off to seek the imam of Hajama.

Nura will join the ladies in their quest for the fruit of the vine.

Paritosh stays with Sheikh. Having both saved the others life at least once, they were now bonded as brothers in Paritosh's eyes.

Zairiah gets some apricot juice.

Paritosh and the Sheikh make their way across the plaza to the mosque of Hajama. You enter the antechamber and the imam wears the colors of Hajama, he wears robes the color of midnight blue. The old man has a dyed black beard that extends almost to his belt.

He says, "Welcome to the House of Hajama, my sons, how may I help you?"

Frackit will after he watches and records go with Paritosh and The Shiek to the temple. He stayed behind them observing and writing. The gnome would need to know more about this land and its gods. Ibn was a good teacher but still, he would need to figure out the whole story. As well as how to navigate the world.

The sheikh asks the Imam about what he can do to help out his tribe in the Eastern desert. The Imam says, "I will send out a fast rider to Huzuz to the Grand Caliph and also to Hiyal and Wati to gather some holy men to put down this undead menace. If that is what you wish me do."

Feel free to ask him for some other stuff

You spend the next evening with Iyda's family giving Fadilah another chance to dispel the spell.

Is there anything else you would like to do in Ganam before we move it forward?

Paritosh would very much like to find a good riding camel to replace poor Jamal.

Timur has riding camels too, they may not be good.

Paritosh makes his way to Trustworthy Timur's and he see the owner of the Caravanserai and he says, "Well my friend what can I do you for? Are you looking for a horse or a camel? Do you need one to ride or to transport goods?"

Paritosh makes his way to Trustworthy Timur's and he see the owner of the Caravanserai and he says, "Well my friend what can I do you for? Are you looking for a horse or a camel? Do you need one to ride or to transport goods?"

The sheikh asks the Imam about what he can do to help out his tribe in the Eastern desert. The Imam says, "I will send out a fast rider to Huzuz to the Grand Caliph and also to Hiyal and Wati to gather some holy men to put down this undead menace. If that is what you wish me do."

Ibn Taaib thanks the imam, gratefully relaying his prayers and best wishes.

When he leaves, he turns to Paritosh and Frackit, who extended their friendship to him for no material gain.
“My heart swells with gratitude for thy kind assistance, Paritosh and Frackit. Perhaps my people will be indeed saved, though I do not deem my quest to be over yet. I intend to assist where I can at least until I assist the blessed ladies to deliver the holy water to the Grand Caliph. I will relay and reaffirm my people’s loyalty to him, and should there be any failure to lift the curse, I shall be prepared to return quickly or seek more assistance. What do you plan yourselves?”

I am going to move it forward, Fadilah, feel free to roll for the dispel spell again that will happen before the group leaves. Paritosh will be able to buy a riding camel, he can negotiate for a good price which we can do retconically.

The next morning you have a hearty breakfast with Iyda and her family. As he had promised, he has loaded your camels with enough food and water to last you for a month and you leave Trustworthy Timurs out his main gate knowing that you can follow that trail for half a day before you need to break to the North-east towards the Weeping Desert and your way back to Muluk.

GM Rolls

Around noon time you stop for a short lunch and fill up on water.

Can I get a Direction Sense or Survival Roll

Ibn Taaib was thankful for the breakfast, and expressed as much.
During their journey, he reflected on the empty scabbard of the bronze scimitar he found. Now he carried two empty scabbards, and only his tribal sword remained with him.

When they stopped for noon, he milked his camel and fed her ground date cores, and observed the trail.

Survival 14: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Perfect result

Direction Sense (<=14): 1d20 ⇒ 3

Fadilah, don't forget to roll for the dispel spell again, just in case we can help Iyda before we go.

Frackit ate well. He however kept quiet as he wasn't exactly a part of freeing Lyda or capturing the now maimed and enslaved Ualada. He wrote and pondered making notes. This 'Land of Fate' was intriguing. It was also incredibly strange and kinda harsh.

Frackit during travel is sweltering at lunch he will eat and then look to casting a special spell for sheltering himself from the heat.

Your group moves off of the trail moving in a north-westerly direction. You are fairly certain you are going in the correct direction. The desert here is sandy with limestone hills nearby.

GM Rolls

After about three hours moving in that direction you can start to see mountains off in the distance. Off to the right about 50 yards you can see an oasis with what looks like coconut trees and what looks like a decent sized amount of water.

Zairiah approached cautiously, hoping to gather some coconuts.

Zairiah and the group approach the oasis cautiously. There are coconuts in the trees and the water in the oasis seems calm surrounded by the reddish dirt surrounding it. Your camels plant their mouths into the water drinking the soothing cold stream. Next to the water are two coconuts that have holes at the top.

Do you climb one of the coconut trees?