Our adventure begins with the Pathfinders in the Sedeq Lodge, waiting to speak with Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi. A scholarly hijabi halfling enters the lodge, burdened with a carefully wrapped package, peering out from behind it to catch her bearings. She leans her face against the silk wrapping to straighten her glasses before noticing anyone.
“Ah, hello? Is Esmayl ibn Qaradi here? I brought a gift to welcome you all.”
Most of the Pathfinders recognize Casira bint Meji, whom they rescued from a lava-filled library, and are recognized by her in turn. She greets those she knows, blushing a bit around Mimi.
She shares that her package contains The Bones of Paresh, a contemporary Qadiran perspective on the Taldan counter-offensive across the Plains of Paresh in 4324 ar, with details on ancient battlefields. Seeing the Pathfinders also waiting to speak with the Venture-Captain, she asks them to deliver the package while she peruses the library and waits for them to finish.
Shortly after, two agents talking about chartering a boat to Okeno exit the meeting room and send the team inside--but before we get to that, why don't you introduce yourselves?
Head bobbing, a Tengu walks into the room. Armed with an odd looking ridged staff and cloaked in chain, he looks like someone that might be dangerous or might not. A constant disturbance of the atmosphere around him lends to an aura of mystery.
"Korakai," he introduces himself in a lightly tianese accented voice. "Did I hear right? something about a sea voyage to Okeno?"
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Mimi introduces herself to the new arrivals with a short nod and a touch of the hat, followed by a "Mimi de Valence, at your service."
When she sees Casira bint Meji arrive, Mimi brightens up significantly. She removes her cavalier hat, unloosing a long mop of bright red hair that falls down past her shoulders, framing a pair of clear green eyes set in an attractive, light-skinned and freckled face. She catches the librarian's attention and makes a formal bow of greeting. "Madame bint Meji, vhat un unexpected plaisir eet ees to 'ave you back in our lodge. And I see dat you come beareeng a gift, as if your veree presence 'ere ees not gift enough. I 'ave been meaneeng to come pay you a visit, but ve 'ave unfortunatelee been rather busy of late. De vork of de Societee never ends. Vhat ees dees package you breeng us?"
Mimi gathers around as The Bones of Paresh are unveiled. She is a little disappointed to see that it is merely a book discussing some ancient battle that she's never heard of. In an effort not to disillusion Casira, she feigns interest. "Ah, 'ow vonderful. A treatise of une important bataille." She looks away from the book and straight into the librarian's eyes before raising one eyebrow knowingly and adding, "'Ow fascinateeng."
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A young human teenage boy, adorned in full plate mail that's still a tad too big for him, stands near the entrance importantly. He has a large halberd, strapped over one shoulder. Over his other shoulder used to be a longbow, but it's been replaced with an equally long and unwieldly harpoon.
Just as he does at his own Grand Lodge in Absalom, as part of the Welcoming Committee for new initiates, the youngster greets the newcomers. "Hi new people! I'm Dennis. It's always a great day to be a Pathfinder. I can't wait for the mission ... I heard something about a boat. How fun is that?"
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A leshy atop what looks like a woven sphere of roots is donning her viney hair while waiting for the others, sitting comfortably on her companion. "I wonder what mission do we have this time." she tells the others, now finished with her hair. "I am Sunshine. And my companion here is Ugatpuno." she introduces herself while remaining seated and tapping the rootball chair companion. Ugatpuno reveals some wiggling vines as his response.
She then silently listens to Shayna on what she has to say about the other two agents.
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When Shayna says she knows Zhamie, Dennis brightens. "Yes! I know Zhamie. She's real smart. And nice. She talks funny. Like Mimi." He walks over and gives the bard a fist bump. "Nice to meet you, Shayna. Welcome to the Sedeq Lodge."
He notices her instrument case. "Is that a flute? I tried playing a flute once ..." He frowns and adds, "My momma said I needed lots of practice ... outside. Far away from the house." Dennis does not have an instrument case.
"It really is!" Casira says excitedly, handing the book over to Alice.
She doesn't have time to say much else, though, as the agents leaving the office send the team in.
A dozen plain wooden chairs surround the room’s long central table, piled high with scrolls and tomes. Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi smiles and stands in welcome. “Welcome, my friends and colleagues. Please, join me and partake of some refreshment to wash the dust from your throats so we may speak comfortably.” He gestures to several enchanted carafes of cold beverages and trays of fruit and cheese, all carefully separated from the documents.
“We at last can explore the vast opportunities our new position in Sedeq offers. There’s quite the surplus of leads, and I hope to impose on your help looking through these documents for where we should venture first. And I see you have brought a gift as well. I thought I overheard Casira’s kind voice in the hall. She has gone to plunder our archives further no doubt--what a commendable curiosity. Let us see what she has brought so I may thank her properly.”
The venture-captain carefully unfolds the cloth, revealing a centuries-old tome embossed with ornate Kelish writing. More remarkable is the intricate haath phool resting atop the book, its fine golden threads decorated with diamonds. “Magnificent, but quite unexpected from our friend Casira. What do you make of it?"
The haath phool is a delicate piece of jewelry with curling golden threads embedded with diamonds attaching a ring to the middle finger, and then along the hand to the wrist.
an air-affiliated elemental creature.
an air-affiliated elemental creature.
The diamonds are flawed, useful for summoning, but not controlling.
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Sunshine visually inspects the jewelry and recognizes something. "If you look at the golden threads, it is smithed in swirling whorls like gusts of wind. And you see that diamond embedded? Sure that aids the wearer in binding an air-affiliated elemental creature." she shares with others.
She looks again and notices something. "But the diamonds are flawed as I can see it, making this jewelry useful only in summoning but not controlling." she adds. "Where did this come from? If I may ask?" she asks the venture-captain. "I mean," she rolls her eyes before she realizes the stupidity of her question, "Casira brought it here, but where did she get that?"
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Dennis is fascinated by the diamond jewelry ... as much as the disembodied hand it's on. He takes a quick look with an eye towards crafting.
Dennis steps back in shock. He nods at Sunshine's explanation. He cries out, "This evil jewelry is meant to bind air elementals." The youngster puts a wary hand on his halberd and asks pointedly. "Who would commission such a thing?" He looks around for someone who's not here. "Where's our friendly genie? Safa would have something to say about this!" Dennis stomps his foot, not unlike a child having a tantrum.
Korekai cocks his head and examines the jewelry, a sparkle in his eyes.
"Pretty enough, though. I wouldn't mind adding it to my 'collection'," Korekai states with that odd gleam in his eyes. "Though I am confused. may it be used to bind or not?"
Inwardly he is a bit worried. His affiliation with storms and weather allows him to shock his opponents, but leaves him vulnerable to shocks in return. that makes fighting air affiliated opponents and unpleasant experience for him. So the distraction of a sparkly is quite welcome. Claiming a bowl of sparkling beverage, his favorite kind, he dips his beak into it to take a drink.
Poor humans have to use their hands to drink.
"Casira's gift is only the book," says a voice that several of the Pathfinders have heard before, "I added the hath phool."
Strong winds blow the doors closed, though barely fluttering the papers. The sudden rush of air coalesces into an elegantly dressed djinni wearing multi-colored silks, their azure skin draped with jewelry of gold and bright lapis lazuli. The djinni’s arms are bare, decorated only with barely visible cerulean scars.
“Well met once again, Pathfinders! But today, I come to you as Safa the unbound! I am at last free of that wretched skelm, Fasiel ibn Sazadin. Neither he nor... any other... can long contain one as clever as I. But he still poses a threat to you, while I desire his capture and that he see mortal justice. Perhaps if there were some heroic Pathfinders willing to see this done, we would all get what we want.” Safa gives the room a grin, floating effortlessly in the air.
Esmayl stands in formal greeting. “You honor us with your presence, noble Safa. Let our hospitality be your pleasure in this time we have together.” The djinni smiles at the formal welcome and respectfully accepts an offered cup. “Perhaps you might explain the situation further? This Fasiel has certainly proved our enemy, and you spoke of one behind him when you last appeared, our true foe.”
The djinni raises their hands in warning. “If only the matter were so simple! Don’t ask me of them, but know their influence stretches across the city. They find Fasiel useful still, and before I managed my daring escape, I learned this enemy shall move their puppet to a new hidden lair before the sun rises tomorrow. He, and those he has captured, genie and mortal alike, will vanish. His patron would slow the city’s response, so I come to you. I can guide you to the skelm’s lair, where I leave it to you to ensure his capture.”
Esmayl considers Safa’s words, asking if the Pathfinders have any questions. He recommends they go along with Safa’s plan to remove Fasiel as an enemy and further improve the Society’s reputation in Sedeq.
"It's not what I called you in here for, but it sounds time-sensitive so let's shelve that other matter for now."
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When Safa makes her appearance, Mimi braces herself to deal with whatever new tricks the djinni decides to throw at them. When it appears that she comes in peace, the swashbuckler relaxes. She listens to Safa's account and is already arranging her equipment in preparation to go dig Fasiel out of his lair when the venture-captain agrees to her plan. Mimi's knowledge of genies is minimal and quite likely incorrect; she leaves the information gathering to the more knowledgeable of the group.
The welcome news that the djinn is not an enemy, but an ally, reassures the walking lightning rod.
"Excellent. Most excellent. Can you tell us more about this hath phool? what does it do and how does one use it?"
Alice knows that genies are connected to the elemental planes, with djinn (air), shaitans (earth), efreet (fire), marids (water), and jann comprised of all four elements. Binding these incredibly powerful creatures was a lucrative practice in Qadira until recently when the Church of Sarenrae’s influence led to its ban.
"This haath phool isn't just decorative, it's attuned to the plane of air and can serve to trap and bind a djinni. It's what Fasiel used to bind me. As if a fool like Fasiel could hold me! The skelm is cruel, but short-sighted, and it was easy to plant the idea of ‘improving’ his control over me with flawed diamonds.
"The haath phool is still my anchor to your universe, so that's why I had to slip it in to Casira's package. Keep it with you so I can stay nearby--any genie who knows I escaped who sees you wearing it will know that I trust you to hold it and not try to use it against me, and that may help you.”
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When Dennis sees Safa, he gets excited and peppers the genie with his usual comments and questions. "Safa! Good to see you again. It's Dennis. Remember me? You're still blue!"
When Safa explains the plan, Dennis grabs his writing pad and colored wax pencils (that look suspiciously like crayons) and takes notes -- including hand-drawn colored pictures. "We'll get the bad man. Just show us the way."
Safa smiles at Dennis. "I do remember most of you*. The skelm’s ego led him to a now-abandoned museum in the city where genie-binding was once celebrated. It lies hidden within subtle illusions, but not so subtle I can’t guide you through them.
“He has gathered others like him. Mortals who spread misery and fear or steal from the weak. They have stolen people and treasures from the city for him. His master also granted him a cohort of bound genies, and Fasiel used their power to seal himself in safety and opulence. Their lives are tied to this barrier. You will need to earn their trust or steal some part of their elemental nature to open the way. Remember, Fasiel gives little thought to his orders. Few are as brilliant as I at outwitting him, but you Pathfinders show promise!”
"How powerful are these bound genies? I do not relish combat with a fully endowed genie. Will we need to talk our way past all of them?"
Somehow, Korakai is not all that sure certain members of the party are great negotiators.
Safa smiles brightly. "No, I am free. I'm just... stronger in my home plane."
Sunshine is able to confirm the same information Alice has.
Safa points at the haath phool again. "One of you wear that. It's a sign of trust that will help you influence other genies." "Those bound by Fasiel can't disobey him, but remember that he's careless with his orders and doesn't appreciate the difference between a willing servant and someone magically bound to obey. Not everyone is as clever as I at finding loopholes, but if you can get them to explain what their orders are you might be able to help them with it."
The venture-captain provides some supplies and advice before the Pathfinders depart. “Despite his prior failures, do not underestimate Fasiel; he has powerful allies. Learn what you can about his patron, take the skelm alive, and if possible, do what you can to relieve the
harm his crimes have caused and deliver mercy and justice. Let us show the people of Sedeq that the Pathfinders are friendly and helpful new neighbors,” Esmayl warns, presenting the Pathfinders with a wrapped
bundle.
Esmayl provides each Pathfinder with a lesser healing potion.
Impressing Safa would further the Envoy’s Alliance, and the Pathfinders can do so through showing compassion, respect, and cleverness when encountering Fasiel’s elemental servants.
Safa directs the Pathfinders through Sedeq. The neighborhood they arrive
in has fallen into disrepair, and the inhabitants react to strangers with suspicion, anger, and fear. Their destination is a dilapidated
museum that once showcased the art of genie-binding but fell out of favor after a few accidents and as genie-binding became unpopular. Magic and the skelm’s unpleasant presence divert people from investigating. An ancient iron archway states in Kelish, “The Grand Binders Museum.
Safa manifests in the swirling sands blowing through the empty street. “The skelm’s hateful influence is a blight on everything near him. But while he delights in other’s misery, he desires only the finest for himself.” They snap their fingers, and a sudden sandstorm tears away the illusion around the grand museum, revealing its true glory. Lush gardens and fountains fill the courtyards, while banners bearing Fasiel’s antlered visage adorn the walls. Safa makes a sweeping gesture toward the structure. “I’ve announced us. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
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"This would really complement my vine-like hand," she displays her hand to Safa, featuring green-colored stem-like fingers entwined like vines. "If nobody else is interested, I'd be happy to wear it," she informs the fellow agents.
As they guide her to their destination, Sunshine raises a couple of eyebrows at the unwelcoming crowd they navigate through, though she doesn't let it bother her while having a good ride on her rootball chair companion. After Safa unveils the museum's true nature, "What a stunning sight, honestly! Well, except for that red-faced of his tarnishing the grandeur of this museum. When I lay eyes on him, I will remove that horn from his head. He appears rather unshaken, even after I gave him a good thrashing last time," Sunshine's tone carries a hint of anger.
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When Mimi finds out what the haath phool can do, she brightens up. "I expect ve vill be encountereeng numerous genies on dees meession, so perhaps I should be de von to vear de 'aath phool?" She reaches over and places the jewelry on her off hand so that it doesn't interfere with the wielding of her rapier.
When they arrive at the now un-illusioned museum and Safa encourages them to enter, Mimi says, "Veree vell. Let us fineesh vhat ve started." She then proceeds into the museum.
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"Some of its diamonds are cracked anyway," she retorts after pulling her hand after showing it off when Mimi wears the jewelry for herself, and not admitting to herself that she does not have the skill to easily convince the genies they will encounter if it comes to that.
"But it looks beautiful in your hands, too." she says flatly. "If we need a face for those genies, it is better to be you than me, I suppose." she admits.
"Ask for my help and you'll have it," Safa's voice whispers on the wind, "but I can only promise direct intervention at most once. Use it wisely."
Verdant gardens surround the museum grounds, containing radiant flowers of unearthly hues and glittering gemstone fruit. High above, a flock of white birds dances to the mournful sounds of a flute. The rippling, semi-transparent image of Fasiel appears, tall as the building and disrupting the tranquility. He wears the rich garb of an aristocrat, while a tall antler protrudes from beneath his hat. His red face twists in rage. “Safa! And Pathfinders as well! How dare you intrude on my home. But my power has only grown since we last fought, and I no longer need this useless djinn, for I hold mastery over all genies.” The skelm shouts to the sky. “Janni! Heed me and deal with these pathetic fools. Give them a performance to die for!” The image pounds its cane and vanishes.
An invisible voice in the sky pleads. “Stay back, I beg you. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Then the flute resumes.
Korakai agrees that Mimi should wear the phool.
"A performance to die for? I suspect that the fool means that the flutist is supposed to play one of those fey irresistible dances that end in death. We need to come up with an alternate meaning."
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Mimi eyes the birds above warily. Are they being controlled or directed by the music? If so, then as Korakai states, the music could just as easily control them. Mimi steps forward and addresses the space where she heard Janni speaking.
"I am adresseeng Janni I presume. Your music ees beautiful. Eet ees a good teeng dat you do not veesh to 'urt anyone as dat ees also our goal. Dough ve are also prepared to defend ourselves if necessaree, ve vould rather préfère to remove Fasiel from dees vorld vithout 'urteeng anyone else in de process, especiallee not you, or indeed, ourselves."
"Ve 'ave learned from Safa dat dere ees some viggle room in de interpretation of a binder's commands. Perhaps you could suggest a vay around dees situation dat vould result in de leest 'arm for everyone involved."
"Safa? Well... I am a Janni! I'm also an artist--I'm no warrior. My name is Mehryar Said--and this is a warning."
Notes on the flute, half of a duet, direct the paper birds into a dive. They swipe past the door, and though they're made of paper, paper can be sharp.
"I'm afraid what you heard just now isn't the only order I've had. I must send my birds to attack if you approach within 10 feet of the door. But the magical music I use to control them is only half the song; complete the performance, and the song will end without destroying my birds."
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After the briefing, Dennis stows his crayo... his colored wax writing utensils and nods to Safa. "Got it! We'll find loopholes for the nice genies and cause mischief for the bad man." He grins, "Remind me what mischief is...." The youngster whistles innocently.
When Mimi dons the jeweled glove, Dennis approves. "That looks fancy on you, Mimi. I like it."
Hearing the voice of the Janni, Dennis stops. When he sees the paper birds, Dennis exclaims, "How fun! I can make paper airplanes." He admits, "In class at Society training, I once flew paper airplanes when the teacher wasn't looking." Dennis did this way more than once.
He unpacks his superb repair kit and attempts to create some paper airplanes. He uses his wax pencils to draw bird beaks on them, and lets them fly.
Korakai is not much an artist, however his time in Tian has taught him some fundamentals of origami and he is able to create a fine looking bird out of some paper.
With the breezes that play about him, the little bird occasionally takes flight or hops.
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"As much as I want to kick this one out of our way, I will restrain myself. Let's do this in a not hostile way." Sunshine calms herself.
"Let's complement those... earplanes? Not sure what are those, but I can see from your works that they are also birds, but anyway, let me dance with them." she tells Dennis after he makes those airplanes he is working on.
The leshy stands on her throne, I mean, rootball chair companion, and begins to pirouette and leap afterward to the ground here and there. She finalizes her act with a bow.
Dennis creates some colorful paper... birds? that don't match Mehryar's at all. They have a charm of their own, and somehow complement his all the same.
And Korkai's is exquisite, putting the Janni's to shame.
More to the point, they were created by mortal hands by folding paper, and not magically shaped. They aren't sharp at all, and take some of the collective edge away as they join the flock.
"Oh beautiful!" says Mehryar, "I'm almost jealous of that one. These add to my flock's performance, but I couldn't hurt you with them if I tried."
The Janni appears before the Pathfinders, floating on the air with his cloak billowing behind him. "I propose a trade: Yours for one of mine." He holds out a hand, and one of his sharp paper birds floats gently above it. "This is a fair trade, because mine is imbued with elemental air, and I think you'll need it. Be warned that the binder has several mortal guards who brought in mortal captives last night. He took a bit of essence from a marid, a shaitan, a salamander, and myself and used them to create a ward. He sent me outside after that, so I have no knowledge of recent events in the museum."
He hesitates, then holds out his flute. "A gift! If I give it away, I can't be forced to use it." And with that, he disappears into the air.
"If Fasiel wards himself with an elemental seal," Safa's voice whispers, "that paper bird can serve as one of the keys you'll need. You'll need something infused with earth, fire, and water too."
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Mimi was planning to dance with the paper birds in order to pacify them, but Dennis's paper planes seem to do the trick just as well.
She accepts the paper bird and flute from Mehryar Said and hands the bird to Dennis with a "Nice vork dere Duhnee. Vhy don't you 'old onto de paper bird for de time beeng, but try not to break eet. Ve vill likelee need eet before dees ees over."
The flute she hands to Shayna. "I am not von for musical instruments. You on de other 'and appear to be un instrumentaleest of 'igh calibre and vill certainlee make better use of dees dan I."
With nothing more to do in the gardens, Mimi heads into the museum proper.
The foyer is pillared with elegant carpets and statues of noble, but subservient, genies. The entrance’s enormous double doors face a large statue. It must have formerly depicted Sulesh the Great, as the famous genie binder’s name is still written at the base, but now the statue depicts Fasiel, his towering figure sneering arrogantly down at onlookers. Large tapestries depicting battles between Qadira and Taldor emphasizing the use of genies now also feature the skelm commanding the battlefield.
From here there are, in addition to the front doors through which the Pathfinders entered the room, two sets of double doors in front of them flanking the statue, and another set of double doors on the walls to the right and left.
With jerky movements, Korakai peers at each of the tributes to their quarry.
"Seems this Fasiel has quite the ego. We can use that."
Korakai casts detect magic, but he does not hold out much hope that it will help as most everything in the place is probably saturated with the stuff.
While the art was presumably altered with magic, nothing here seems to have a lingering magical aura.