Most of the prisoners are braught back to full health with the healing magic from Omari. They thank you all repeatedly for the release from prison and the healing. One of them has another request.
"Have you seen my daughter? She was dragged away by those awful people too." Ahmad inquires.
"What's her name?"
"Madra bint Ahmad" Ahmad replies his hope growing.
"Yes, they had indentured her as a cook. She's back in the procession a ways..."
"Well Ahmad, come with me. You can talk her out of that kitchen. Khedron will graciously provide rides to get you, and her, up and down the vertical shafts in this place..."
Omari will give Ahmad a lift to his daughter, so they can chat about career choices. While they chat, he will fetch the other cook down to the main entrance, and then go back to get Ahmad and Madra (assuming they want to come along).
Madra is shocked to see her father as freed prisoner and wants to leave immediately. Qura wasn't fond of her job anyway and is more than happy to leave.
Once back to the main entrance there are some important questions...
After Haleen talks Ohrmizd out of a janni captain gear set to wear until her own stuff somehow reappears, she starts feeling more like herself again.
"What's the situation outside and where to go with all those people?"
"Don't know to the first - we may not even be able to get the doors open. We bypassed them with wind walk coming in here. However, before we came in here, we stamped on assorted jann, abyssal constructs and gnolls. it's distinctly possible there's no organized opposition out there. As to where to go, that depends on what the situation is out there, but the first place is the temple of Sarenrae, to get the acolytes we rescued and hid in the catacombs."
"Oh, yes, the acolytes, we need to handle that" Ohrmizd says, still smiling from Ahmad's merry meeting "We cleaned up all the path from the gates to here. Our ally, Nefeshti, was set to move her army to buy us time and deal with any patrol tying to get in town or out of it"
"Any intelligent opposition must have flown away by now or be hiding, but we might find some dumb enemies out there, so be careful" Ohrmizd looks at the door "Let me open it and have a look on how the streets are. Stay right here"
With that, Ohrmizd tries to open the tower's door and checks around with the intention to reach the temple next.
"As my friends said, the temple may be the best place for you to stay. And the acolyte could have someone like you to defend them while we explore the rest of the area."
The door opens for Davashum, even though he is unconscious. Outside it is suspiciously peaceful. No battle background noise from the distance. And no one being there in sight.
"Mmmm... it almost smells too calm. But it might be the people is just hiding from all the fighting" Ohrmizd makes a sign for the others to come out "Let's hurry up to the temple"
With that, he starts walking decidedly to the temple of Sarenrae to pick up the acolytes before leading the group out of town.
The acolytes are still there and are more than willing to top up the health of Haleen and help out with what they have to get some decency to the appearance of Davashum's prisoners.
As you leave towards the gates you see Nefeshti marching her troops into the lower part of Kelmarane. It looks like the battle is over.
Ohrmizd pauses as he sees Nefeshti's troops "Well, it seems Nefeshti has already made her move" he says, glancing back at the group "Perfect timing"
He leads the group toward Nefeshti's position, making sure the acolytes and prisoners are following closely behind. As they approach, Ohrmizd motions for the turncoat, Davashum, to be presented. "Nefeshti," he calls out as they draw near, "we bring Davashum to you for justice. There's much he could tell us, and I trust you'll see that his information is... extracted. Specially about what Jhavul is doing at the Pale Mountain and where the Princess and Garavel are"
"That is great news. Is there any resistance to be expected here in Kelmarane, or have you taken care of everything?"
Nefeshti signals her 2nd in command to take Davashum off Ohrmizd. "We will make camp here in town to see who else sticks out their head. Where will we find you if we get some information about what is happening in the Pale Mountain?"
"Kelmarane should be quiet now. We took care of the main threats, though some may still be hiding, as always in these situations. The tower and the temple in particular are clean" Ohrmizd comments "Your troops should be able to handle anything left"
The Keleshite considers the next question for a moment before answering "We will head to the Pale Mountain soon, but first, we need to have a good healing rest to gather back our full strength. If you need us, I think you can find us at the Temple of Sarenrae. At least that's where I plan to spend the rest of the day, trying to cleanse whatever is possible" his gaze flickers briefly to Haleen again, though he quickly returns his attention to Nefeshti "How was your battle at the outskirts of the town?"
"They didn't come in full force, and when they realized they'd need reinforcements, none did come. With Davashum caught as prisoner too, I hope some of the others will see the error of their way." Nefeshti replies.
"Good to know that things went well on your front," Heshan nodded with a smile. "I think the main temple would be the best place to meet up for what to do next."
"Yes agreed, but I would not spend much time planning what to do here. Jhavul will not stand idly by as his grasp on Kelmarane is loosened!"
Ohrmizd smiles satisfied hearing Nefeshti and nods both to Heshan and Hazreem "Yes, we have only just enough time to rest for the night. Tomorrow we will depart. Maybe you want to send a scout with us that acts as messenger once we reach the Pale Mountain, Nefeshti. That way, we can send you an early report once we figure out what is going on in there."
With that said, he just slightly bows with respect, and moves towards the temple to pass the night "Are you coming with us Haleen?"
Omari asks Nefeshti "Do you need me to bind Davashuum with magic so he cannot plane shift, so your interrogators can work?"
"Yes agreed, but I would not spend much time planning what to do here. Jhavul will not stand idly by as his grasp on Kelmarane is loosened!"
"I think he has bigger things on his mind than Kelmerane, given what we found out in Kakishon."
Then he turns his attention to the party's strategy discussion: "I would say a couple of things. We should head to the city of Katapesh before we go to Pale Mountain (or wherever Davashuum points us). The pactmasters might have some aid for us, given the trouble that Jhavul is potentially brewing. We might also be able to find some useful stuff."
"In the meanwhile, yes, we can stay overnight in the temple of Sarenrae. But let us be on our way with the dawn."
"That feels like a sound strategy to me," Heshan agrees with a nod. "And may the Dawnflower bless us upon that particular dawn."
The acolytes look confused. Maybe they didn't pay attention in history class, but even if they had, to them the difference between Davashum's army occupying Kelmarane and Nefeshti's army occupying Kelmarane isn't obvious. Well, Nefeshti seems on better terms with Ohrmizd&Co.
"Are we going to hide in the basement again?" one of them asks shyly.
"No, you are free to go and move around" Ohrmizd smiles to bring the acolytes peace of mind "Though I would appreciate if you stay and clean up the temple from the wicked gnoll poo to make it shine again below the Sun to the name of our goddess"
He then glances toward Hazreem and Omari overhearing the conversation "We do not know how long we can delay our mission in the Pale Mountain before things get out of place, but Omari makes a good point. Stopping by Katapesh may offer us supplies, allies, or even information to bolster our efforts. Could you teleport us there Heshan? And then directly to the mountain. Otherwise, spending a week to go to Katapesh and back, I fear will put us off track... Remember our last journey traversing that desert..."
With that said, he just slightly bows with respect, and moves towards the temple to pass the night "Are you coming with us Haleen?"
Haleen ponders the request. "I'd prefer to stay here. My blade is not that helpful when it comes to those genies. So my desire to charge into battle with the next one after this defeat is rather limited."
"I can't blame you, Haleen. You've been through a lot, and not every fight requires the blade to be at the forefront. But when we return from the Pale Mountain" he adds with a playful smirk "we'll have to find something a bit more... exciting to tackle together. Maybe something more suited to your style. I promise, next time, no genies. Just something that lets us show off"
He winks, and with that, turns towards the temple to pass the night "Until then, don't have too much fun without me"
...
He then glances toward Hazreem and Omari overhearing the conversation "We do not know how long we can delay our mission in the Pale Mountain before things get out of place, but Omari makes a good point. Stopping by Katapesh may offer us supplies, allies, or even information to bolster our efforts. Could you teleport us there Heshan? And then directly to the mountain. Otherwise, spending a week to go to Katapesh and back, I fear will put us off track... Remember our last journey traversing that desert..."
"Even if we can't manage teleportation, wind walk is an option..."
Omari asks Nefeshti "Do you need me to bind Davashuum with magic so he cannot plane shift, so your interrogators can work?"
Omari turns to Nefeshti again and asks "With the Princess unavailable, someone will need to govern and protect Kelmerane while we go to meet Javhul's threat. If you are not going to re-establish the Templars of the Five Winds, will you take the responsibility of being castellan?"
"I have the means to make sure Davashum doesn't leave."
"We will stay here for a while. We'll move our camp into the village and see what the next days bring." Nefeshti replies.
"But I think what is left of this village can do without governing until you return."
"You can count on us then," Heshan grinned. "It is about time that genie learns not to trifle with the Material Plane once and for all."
Ohrmizd nods in agreement "Well, then, it is time to rest"
---
After an evening looking for the whereabouts of Rombard, the goat, and his owners, Hadrod and Hadrah, Ohrmizd gives orders to the acolytes to start working on cleaning the temple of Sarenrae.
The next day, after breakfast and prayers, he readies his scimitar and the straps of his armor and looks at Heshan "Well, then, I think it is time for your magic, my friend... let's have this started"
After sleeping the sleep of justice done, Omari takes his morning prayers with the rising sun (and prepares his spells). At breakfast, he asks Nefeshti, "So, what did your people get from Davashuum? What did he tell you about Javhul and his plans? Is it confirmed he is at Pale Mountain? Did you figure out how to get into and out of the Brazen tower, without Davashuum being there? Did you find out what magic portal the holy symbol he was carrying is the key for?"
"It looks like he is more afraid of Jhavhul than of me. He confirmed that he is at the Pale Mountain and as you killed almost everyone in the Brazen tower he told tha passphrase. Beyond that he laughed at me, telling that we are too late anyway and that we will be the first to pay for what we have done in Kelmarane." Nefeshti reports.
"Interested individual" Ohrmizd snorts "Well, let's not lose more time on him, it is clear what our next destination is. Can you do the magic Heshan?"
"I mislike that we have the key to a magic portal, that Davashuum carried on him, that we have not found the doorway for. Presumably, said doorway is here in Kelmarane. It could be a threat..."
"Interested individual" Ohrmizd snorts "Well, let's not lose more time on him, it is clear what our next destination is. Can you do the magic Heshan?"
"So, to Katapesh, yes. But afterwards, I think we return to Kelmarane. I doubt Heshan will be familiar enough with the Pale Mountain site to teleport directly there, especially if Javhul has changed things, like what happened when we tried to teleport here the first time. If we teleport back, we can get to the House of the Beast more quickly."
L0 (4) : Guidance, Detect Magic, Stabilize, Light
L1 (4+1D+1W) : Bless(domain), Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Liberating Command, Divine Favor
L2 (4+1D+1W) : Featherfall (domain), Burst of Radiance, Burst of Radiance, Silence, Protection From Evil (Communal), ***
L3 (4+1D+1W) : Fly (domain), Sand Whirlwind, Resist Energy (Communal), Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, ***
L4 (4+1D+1W) : Summon Monster IV (domain), Freedom of Movement, Blessings of Fervor, Air Walk, Magic Weapon (Greater), ***
L5 (3+1D) Beast Shape III (Domain), Hunter’s Blessing, Forbid Action (greater), ***
L6 (3+1D) Heroes Feast (Domain), Inspiring Recovery, Heal, Find the path
L7 (2+1D) Animal Shapes (Domain), Destruction, ***
0-level; 4/day (DC 17) Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1st level: 6/day (DC 18) , Endure Elements, Frostbite x2,
2nd level: 6/day (DC 19) Resist Energy, Delay Poison, Elemental Speech, Lesser Restoration x2; Shifting Sand (D)
3rd level: 6/day (DC 20) Neutralize Poison x2, Protection From Energy x2, Quench x2; Cup of Dust (D)
4th level: 5/day (DC 21) Ball Lightning, Freedom of Movement, Ice Storm, Spike Stones; River of Wind; Hallucinatory Terrain (D)
5th level: 4/day (DC 22): Baleful Polymorph, Geniekind, Fickle Winds, Stoneskin; Transmute Rock to Mud {loose sand} (D)
6th level; 4/day (DC 23): Chain Lightning, Find the Path, (Greater) Dispel Magic, *OPEN SLOT*; Sirocco; (D)
7th level; 3/day (DC 24): Heal, Wind Walk, *OPEN SLOT*, Sunbeam (D)
After a short goodbye and some magic you stand in front of the premises of Rayhan. The old wizard is busy giving his helper instructions for the garden. The restoration to the state before the lot of fire genies erupted here is still a work in progress.
As Rayhan notices you, he pauses the work and turns to you. "Hello my friends. What news do you bring?"
"Interested individual" Ohrmizd snorts "Well, let's not lose more time on him, it is clear what our next destination is. Can you do the magic Heshan?"
"With pleasure." With a wave of his fingers, Heshan would teleport the group over to the destination...
When he saw their old wizard friend, he waved him back. [B]"Our old base has been retaking and their general has been tested. The only major genie to deal with now is Jhavhul himself... at least that we know of."[/B[
Omari tone is grim as he joins the conversation: "Yes, Jhavul has been busy, but we have liberated Kelmarane from his occupiers. We believe he has taken residence at Pale Mountain. I hope you have been researching the question I left you with; I think we, and all of Katapesh, will need answers..."
Ohrmizd grins as he looks around the garden, his eyes falling on the flowers Rayhan is carefully tending to "You know, Rayhan, I'm starting to think the reason you're always surrounded by blooming plants is to distract us from how dire our situation really is. Next time we teleport in, maybe we'll find you researching the arcane properties of petunias or the hidden power of begonias”
The Kheleshite pauses, chuckling "Speaking of which, after all this running around with genies, I could use something stronger than tea while you answer our friend Omari. You wouldn't happen to have some wizard-brewed elixir that doubles as a stiff drink, would you?
"Yes, I've done my homework." Rayhan replies.
"The firebleeder is like a lesser god from the plane of fire. It destroys everything in its way with fire and heat is almost invulnerable and for all practical purposes immortal - even in the unlikely case you manage to kill it, it won't stay dead. So I suggest you stop Jhavhul before he succeeds."
"As for how Jhavhul will become this creature, I have no clue. He'd have to bend reality to the point where it might as well break. Not even a wish or miracle can do that."
Ohrmizd listens to Rayhan's explanation, his grin fading as the gravity of the situation settles in. He shakes his head, muttering under his breath, "An immortal fire god... just what we need"
Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, he flashes a smirk "Well, Rayhan, if stopping Jhavhul from becoming a fire-spewing demigod is our next task, I'll definitely need that drink now" He gives the wizard a playful look "And don't skimp on it, I'm going to need enough courage in a bottle to face that kind of heat"
Assuming the drinks are served, the Kheleshite turns to a more serious tone "You said 'almost invulnerable', does that mean there is still a way to damage it?"
"An interesting thought... and a terrifying one," Heshan replied rather frankly."He may not be able to do it through his own means, but do you think Rovagug himself would turn Jhavhul into one if he pleased him enough? How would someone try to please a god like that?"
"Yes, I've done my homework." Rayhan replies.
"The firebleeder is like a lesser god from the plane of fire. It destroys everything in its way with fire and heat is almost invulnerable and for all practical purposes immortal - even in the unlikely case you manage to kill it, it won't stay dead. So I suggest you stop Jhavhul before he succeeds."
"As for how Jhavhul will become this creature, I have no clue. He'd have to bend reality to the point where it might as well break. Not even a wish or miracle can do that."
All right then, we need to talk to the pactmasters. We're going to need all the help we can get. And if Javhul raise that thing up, whether he masters it or not, Katapesh will burn, so they have every reason to help us. Not to mention that Princess Almah is owed their protection, her being their vassal."
"I have some unused gear that I can contribute here. We need more healing magicks here if we are to assault Jhavul's forces here."
"It's not like someone faced it and wrote details in his memoirs. But as with everything fire, cold would probably work. But not magic."
Rayhan ponders a few moments the options that come to mind. "If you knew half a dozen really old silver dragons you might have a chance to bring it down. But you still wouldn't know how to keep it down."
"Water is al much the antithesis of fire as cold; perhaps we could drown the bastard. Maybe we could come to a deal with the Marids, especially as Princess Shazathared might be willing to help with the negotiations. But let's not borrow trouble; instead, let's take down Javhul before he succeeds in his plan."
Omari gets up "So, let us go see the pactmasters. Rayhan, come with us, you were a witness to what the Shaitan Sultan Obherak told us about Javhul's mad plan, and they know you as a citizen of the city, not just some wanderer from the desert..."
Ohrmizd swirls the last of his drink, his expression turning skeptical as he looks to Omari "You think the Pactmasters are just going to grant us an urgent audience? We’re not exactly on their list of high-priority visitors, and I doubt they’ll roll out the red carpet for a bunch of commoners with a flippant story about a fire god"
He leans back, shaking his head slightly "I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but bureaucracy moves slower than a glacier in Katapesh. And while Jhavhul’s plot might be real, convincing them of that today, let alone getting them to act, is wishful thinking. They’ll probably ask us to fill out forms in triplicate, then file a formal petition for an audience that might get reviewed next week"
Ohrmizd sighs, running a hand through his hair "If we do go, we better have a damn good story lined up. And we’ll need more than Rayhan’s testimony, something tangible to prove Jhavhul’s threat isn’t just some madman’s fever dream" he smirks "Otherwise, we’ll be stuck with nothing but polite refusals and more tea"
"If the Princess was here, then yeah, there would likely be a chance to make our voice heard" the Keleshite shakes his head in frustration.