Ohrmizd stands up and throws the napkin over the table observing how Dilix disappears into her chambers "Well, it seems this meal has come to an end" the Keleshite nods to the remaining servants "It seems I touched a sore spot for your Mistress. We will eventually figure out what does it mean. Meanwhile I do not think we are invited to stay here for the night"
Once they group is again alone, or moving to a corner to comment, he tells the others "I sense no lie on her words. Still, her reaction, and the fact her goals are shadowy, makes me feel there is something strange baking here. Do you think we should push a bit harder to learn what is going on in this ruined palace?"
As the feast is over, Samuel takes Ohrmizd's cue. On his way he says "Neshari, your master's emotions are understandable. If we were to return in the future is there something she particularly enjoys. A gift? Any ideas are most welcome. I for one would like to appease her."
The shaitan's are as stoic as the royal guard of the queen and don't react.
"I do not think that is the best idea at the moment,"[B] Heshan replied. [B]"I know that you have a tendency to look into people with suspicious eyes, but we do not know of it yet. So we can keep with our manners for now."
Samuel says to Ohrmizd "A short fuse on that one. Not your best work either. Let us blow the horn and pay a visit to this Obherak. An enemy of Javhul should most certainly be a fine introduction."
"Let us not set sail immediately, rather let us find a spot to rest; I would like to rest and pray for Erastil's blessings. I would advise patience. Perhaps Lady Dilix will be of better mood in the morning. Neshari said 'you will not leave Kakishon without her aid' and she did believe it. I suspect that Lady Dilix has something important task for us and has valuable information to trade. "
"Samuel, Rayhan, you are both scholars. This Obherak is a sultan of Shaitankind and has the might to effectively opposed Javhul. Presumably, thus he was a major player in the Genie Wars. Do either of you recall any historical records about him?"
"I've never heard or read of that name before I came here. Might have to do how history is written. A war that ends with at least one side involved being taken out of reality might hamper this process. Also those interested in writing down the heroic deeds of genies might not be writing for human libraries."
"Or Javhul is so full of himself, that he doesn't allow for anyone besides him to make a name for themself."
"I still think Dilix is hiding something and we would do better confronting her" Ohrmizd says looking back at the palace full of suspicion "But alas, we have nothing so far. So we better take that rest and call the galleys tomorrow."
"Same here Rayhan. Sure Ohrmizd. Rest would be nice."
The group retreats to the hut at the pier and rests for the night. This island seems to be void of creatures trying to eat humans, at least the night is uninterrupted.
Heshan sat up from his sheet and wiped the sand off his eyes before standing up. "Alright then, let us try this again. Hopefully diplomacy will favor us today," he smiled.
On the wake up, Ohrmizd refreshes himself and takes a small breakfast. He is among the first to wake up and goes to the shore where he takes a swim to strengthen his will and ready his muscles for the day ahead.
When he makes it back to the hut, everyone is already awake "Oh, you want to try speak with them again? So be it, but I guess someone else will have to take the initiative on this foray."
The Kellid fits his robes and sets his shield ready for the fight, although he leaves the scimitar sheathed as they approach the palace, casting heroism as his only preparation "If this second visit is fruitless, we are going to pay a visit to Obherak next, ok?"
Samuel prepares his spells over coffee in a cloud of tobacco smoke. "Ready here."
As with all his companions, Omari readies himself for the day; in his case by prayer to the Horned god. With Ohrmizd declining to speak, Omari proposes "Perhaps Heshan's boyish charm might serve us well with the lady."
Upon return to the ruins of the palace, you are informed by Neshari, that her mistress is no longer interested in dealing with you.
So much for that. With a bow, Heshan respectfully left the palace before he spoke.
"So much for that." Heshan shrugged. "Is there anyone else we can talk to?"
"Not on this palace. Unless you want to skulk into the mistress room and find out what is going on in here." Ohrmizd answers Heshan, then adds "Shall we play the horn and visit Obherak?"
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Ohrmizd toots the horn. And some time later a ship arrives. A different one than the one you sent over the edge of the world. Not generally, but little details are different. Another kind of wood for the steering, different coloring of the map. And the boats helms-creature looks different.
The target is chosen and the boat leaves. Around a small isle, and towards a larger one that is shaped like a crescent moon. At the midst of it lies a bay and the boat rows far into it until it again lands at a pier with a hut.
Khandelwal’s shoreline and the area around the hostel are green and pleasant, with groves of fruit trees and palms interspersed with flowering shrubs and vines, and inhabited by monkeys large and small, as well as fisher birds who also frequent the reedy inlets and tidelands at the water’s edge.
Samuel says "Magnificent." as the island comes into view. He leans over to Ohrmizd. "Regarding Dilix..." He leans in and whispers
"Not on this palace. Unless you want to skulk into the mistress room and find out what is going on in here." Ohrmizd answers Heshan, then adds "Shall we play the horn and visit Obherak?"
"Well then, Obherak it is then. But I mislike this, we are blundering around here without any knowledge of the actual conditions. Javhul clearly has an army of efreets; we saw that. Presumably Obherak has a army of Shaitan's to match him, if Dilix was right and telling the truth about the balance between the factions... Is this Khandelwal a city or a palace; well, we will find out. But Ohrmizd, be polite, rather than Sarenrae's hot needle of inquiry. I do not particularly want to fight an army of Shaitan; one hurt poor Khedron more than enough. "
****
Once the boat is a fair distance at sea, he asks Rayhan and Samuel, "The oracle said to activate the earth seed, we need to get a creature of elemental earth to merge with it. I am not sure what that would do to said creature, and I doubt the Shaitan know either. Thus we cannot expect them to cooperate with such a request; it might be suicide. Do either of you have a magery that could be used to bind and compel one of the Shaitan that live in this place?"
"Well, I see neither city nor palace, nor immediate sign of Obherak. Perhaps we can find something investigating the hostel?"
Ohrmizd smiles "We will figure out things on time"
The Kellid points to the big bowl at the south-east of the island "What if we start our inquiries on that area there?"
"It would be better than nothing. Maybe the next people would be glad our last group did not go so well," he shrugged with a smile.
Ohrmizd nods and smiles. If no one else has a different suggestion, he starts moving towards the bowl in the southeast of the island "Good! Let's get us moving!"
If it has expired by when the group is approaching the bowl, Ohrmizd will renew his heroism spell.
Moving inwards you find that the island is green only at the coast. The heart of the island is a desert. And a large one. Sand as far as the eye can see.
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Moving inwards you find that the island is green only at the coast. The heart of the island is a desert. And a large one. Sand as far as the eye can see.
"Ok, it will be nice to be off of boats and on my own feet for a while - Maybe it was the trip over the waterfall at the edge of the world, but I don't think I like boats."
9 rank +4 wis+4 racial
L0 (4) : Guidance, Detect Magic, Stabilize, Light
L1 (4+1+1) Bless(domain), Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Protection From Evil, ???
L2 (4+1+1) Featherfall (domain), Burst of Radiance, Burst of Radiance, Lesser Restoration, Silence,???
L3 (3+1+1) Fly (domain), Invisibility Purge, Sand Whirlwind, Dispel Magic, ???
L4 (2+1+1) Summon Monster IV (domain), Freedom of Movement, ???, ???
L5 (1+1) Beast Shape III (Domain, animals only), Breath of Life
"Ah! Desert!" Ohrmizd looks at the sandy ground once they get away from the coastline "I almost feel back home"
The Keleshite traces an imaginary red line through his mental map and starts to wade towards the west so they can see the other side of the island, then deep into the bowl.
Omari will offer prayers to Erastil in support of Ohrmizd's land navigation; we might just need them...
Located in a sandy valley surrounded by a ring of badlands high enough to block the sand-tides of Khandelwal, the rocky escarpment that rings the Golden Bowl is visible from a distance of a mile when a traveler stands atop a dune. If they are paying attention and are not blind. In case of the party, they notice it from a mile away.
"It looks like we do no have far to go now." Heshan's eyes can tell him at least that as much. "So who do you think we will find down there?"
Ohrmizd looks at the bowl from atop the dune, covering himself from the sun rays to avoid being dazzled "Well, whom else but Obherak himself and his tribe of earth elementals?"
"Although it might be they are already below our feet listening to us as we walk and talk." the Keleshite shrugs then resumes walking forward towards the bowl "Who knows. Perhaps we find an ancient dragon. Or some defenseless being needing a rescue."
"Are we going to walk straight into their camp? Who is doing the talking when we meet with the first people of their kind? And what are we asking for?"
"We are running out of options for allies here and I don't think we can afford to lose another one."
Omari pipes up: "I agree with Rayhan, this is something to approach cautiously and have a plan for. Let's circle the bowl as we talk, and see what we can see as we make a plan."
He begins to walk around the crater, keeping his eyes peeled...
9 rank +4 wis+4 racial
and puts in his two pennies about what we want: "What we want is to be able to go home... From what we have learned so far that means using the protean's Entropy Pool or the the Earth Seed. The proteans want us to commit genocide... We know the Earth Seed lies below this crater and is presumably under the control of Obherak and his Shaitans. To use it, we will need to get 'an earth elemental to merge with it'. I will note the Shaitan's are creatures of elemental earth. So what we want to find out from them is what is their price for the use of the Earth Seed to send us home?"
"Hmm... I suppose they do not know that is how they can escape, or else they would have done so long ago," Heshan inquired. "I think we should test them on how they feel about getting out before telling them how to do so."
Samuel tries to recall what he knows about Shaitans.
He scans the area with Omari mentioning what he can make out.
"I had the feeling Obherak wants to rule over Kakishon and the proteans are in the middle. If they wanted to escape, I guess they would have done so with Javhul's army." Ohrmizd shrugs nodding at the good points made by the other more careful members of the party "We just go there, talk with them, and see what is our way forward. If they end being irredeemable, well, we always have the proteans as a way out..."
Everyone but Omari are too busy squinting their eyes to see clearly. Omari notices already from afar some stone statues sitting at irregular intervals on the rim of the bowl.
Only when Omari points the statues out, Ohrmizd is able to spot the structures "Oh, strange. Are those statues or the shaitans themselves?"
The Keleshite tries waving a hand at the apparent statues and essays his best of smiles.
"That would be something. You may never know if a statue is actually a being spying on you." There was only one way to find out, and that would be to follow the inquisitor towards the structures.
"Well, if no one else has anything to add, that's what we want from this discussion: To find out from them what is their price to use the Earth Seed. Once we have that, we make our excuses and leave. We talk over what we will do next once we are in private, after we know there price."[b]
Omari turns to Rayhan and Jafar [b]"Have your studies taught you anything about how to peaceful contact with Shaitans? With humans I would start with a truce flag, but for genies I am wondering if they have their own symbols?
"That is assuming they know what the Earth Seed is and how to use it" Ohrmizd offers Omari while keeping his waving at the statues.
"Not sure... it seems they are not reacting Heshan... perhaps it is time to go there and check" the Keleshite begins the ascend to go and check the statues more closely.
The statues take to the air with flaps of their bat-like wings and come in loose formation at the group.
Turns out they were reaching after all. Heshan stood in place and waved. "We hope that we can come to a peaceful conversation. Why don't we have a chat?"
The conjurer steps to the back of the group. "Perhaps we should spread out a bit."
The conjurer steps to the back of the group. "Perhaps we should spread out a bit."
[dice=perception] d20+12
[dice=sense motive] d20+5
Omari steps backwards and to the side, giving him a clear line of sight (and shot). He gestures to Khedron, saying "Ready, wait for it", and then addresses Ohrmizd "You wanted to talk to them, I'd suggest being both quick and polite."
Ohrmizd quickly reacts casting heroism and shield of faith as the statues take off flying towards the group.
"We will try out. But be ready for a more than probably fight."
Heshan follows Ohrmizd's lead by casting Mage Armor on himself.
Everyone recognizes the creatures once they take to the air. It's gargoyles. Half a dozen on them approach and fly over. They turn and circle the group a few times, then they fly back and swoop into the bowl.