Hey folkls I believe I owe you guys a bit of an apology and some explaining. I live in Brazil and my city has had some crazy weather that led to a flooding, which kindda messed up my house and destroyed my computer. I have finally moved out and bought another computer, but haven't been able to get internet in my new place. Right now I'm leeching off some bandwidth from my girlfriend's house, but I can't assure I'll be able to keep posting frequently.
I apologize for not letting you guys know about it, and I hope I haven't been too much of a bother. Feel free to NPC me if need be or even replace me, I'll understand it.
Hmn... Yes. These dreadful creatures apparently had some very powerful spells in their arsenal of tricks. It's a shame, for I'm sure it would have been an easy fight if you had managed to stand and rip those beasts apart.
Thousand pardons, my dear cat-lady friend Samal. Close your eyes if you can!
Shouting words in the ancient language of the efreeti, Faznir summons in his mind's eye the scorching desert sun and the myriad of mirages it provokes in the minds of wanderers. He opens an outstretched hand and a dazzling light comes off, momentarily blinding the birdmen and potentially Samal.
Although I'm certain to affirm that neither me nor my brave companions have greed rooted in their hearts and minds, we still are strangers stranded in a foreign and unknown land. We only have what we carry, and that's not much. Any so-called riches would work wonders to allow us to survive in this hostile environment and assist us in reaching our goals. Right, fellas?
Faznir awaits until Samal can cover herself, and approaches.
My eyes deceive me, for I see a beautiful creature with the graces of delicate felines and the comeliness of an sylph maiden. It's sure to be a mirage, but in the case it is not, let me introduce myself, dear Samal. Although I've been called the Desert Wanderer and Bringer of Joy, but my name is simply Faznir Farin, at your humble service.
Damn you unworthy piece of scrap metal! No-good dwarf tracker! Can't even seem to find a simple CREATURE hiding in the ruins! That's it! This is the last time you fail your duty! The sorcerer mounts Arik's camel, face red from screaming and apparent anger.
You can walk back to town for all I care! I've paid for these camels, and for your advice, but what good was it? We lost an entire day chasing shadows in the ruins and got nothing to show for it!
He turns his camel towards Mus'ad.
Let us be gone and leave this failure behind. He deserves the blisters he'll get walking alone back to town.
Just a moment before leaving Arik's line of sight, Faznir turns around, smiles and offers a quick blink of an eye to the dwarf.
"Such a pleasure to meet another adveturous soul, mistress Jashia. My name is Faznir Farin, also known as the Desert Wanderer and the Sun Child, explorer of lands unknown and exotic wonderful locales!"
"Do not worry your mind with these small issues, my friend, and let not a little detail like that alter our route. If the need dictates that we have to get into one of those cities I'll just disguise myself and we'll be safely in our way."
Sorry, I've been checking the thread daily, but haven't thought of anything relevant that my character has to say at this point.
Faznir remains distracted, looking over the horizon, as if he would stare enough, he could find what he's seeking.
"My dearest most exquisite of friends, I must defer to your indubitable expertise on these martial matters. Fear not, in that I'll bring the scorching desert sun to our enemies and song and merry to all of you, but I fear I maybe out of my element discussing these matters of strategy and planning."
He smiles and offers a cool drink to the party, but then his gaze returns to the horizon, searching for something he can't see.
Looks good, although the loss of one caster level will do terrible, unspeakable things to my already delayed spell progression. Let's see how the story goes ;)
Faznir will drink with the other party members, joke around with Mhykir, Pavok and Arin, and take Jen dancing. All can see he's a little beyond his already exuberant self - all the brushing near-death and surviving has made him pretty darn excited.
"What do you mean you can't dance? These legs were definitely made for it, I'm sure you have an undiscovered natural talent! You have conquered death this day, surely you don't fear a little moving around?"
Later in the night, when most of the fires had already died down, he'll speak to her privately:
"And tomorrow we'll run toward them, although I feel safe already knowing your arcane talents and your ferocious beast protect my back and befuddle my enemies." He offers to pet the cat tentativelly, knowing familiar and master share a bond and a soul. Does the cat (and her master) spurs his touch?
"I wholeheartedly agree with Jen, insofar as to say we could use a rest, and to prevent enemies from attacking, we should group up. Maybe we could make pairs and find rooms on which to rest, so one can always be on the lookout for the other. How about me and Jen, Pavok and Arik, Mhykir and Mus'ad?"
Faznir holds onto the gem, letting his mind wander into the magic inside it.
"My dearest friend Mus'ad, this is merely a magical trinket that bolsters elemental spells. We should all be glad your prowess made sure this sorcerer didn't cast any spell. I'm sure a proud warrior like yourself won't have reason to carry around such a minor bauble, and I have one hundred gold coins that could help you achieve some better equipment. What do you say about it?"
Faznir quickly jokes around, hoping to dissipate the tension:
"HAH! And do you remember when Pavok threw his flail, knocking that dog-creature right on the face? I've never seen flail-throwing, it should be an art! Just masterful!"
"After all this trouble we went through, after valiant displays of courage and skill, and that egg-headed stone-mouthed bufoon steals all the glory! Oh, hey, Mus'ad, didn't see you coming! I was just exulting your deeds of courage and skill!"
The robed man opens a way and offers a seat for the elf, blinking to his companions as he does so.
Round 5
Faznir goes near Mus'ad and tries incapacitating the neubites standing between he and the general.
In his mind's eye he pulls memories of the blazing desert sun, and how its rays can twist a man's mind, creating mirages. When Faznir opens his eyes and spreads his hands, he lets go a flash of sunlight that blinds and confounds his enemies.
He casts color spray (DC 17) against any enemies between he and Mus'ad.
Round 6
Approaching the battle near Mus'ad, he tries helping him defeat his immediate enemies so he can pursue the general. He lets loose a curtain of fire ahead of him.
Faznir uses his spell-like ability of burning hands (DC 16) for 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 fire damage. He tries targeting any number of neubites near Mus'ad, preferably not hitting he or the camel in the area.
Round 7
Faznir wreates his hands in fire, and releases them in the still-standing nearby neubite.
He casts shocking grasp on any still standing neubite. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 touch AC for 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 fire damage.
Round 8
Faznir gets to Mus'ad's side and shouts:
"Go, you fool! Take their leader and this is over! CLOSE YOUR EYES!" He casts color spray (DC 17) against any enemies threatening/near Mus'ad.
Faznir looks around, searching for a cluster of enemies around one of his allies.
"It seems the enemy has chosen a bad time to attack, huh? They aren't likely to take this city while we have the likes of Pavok and Arik to smash them to bits! Come Jen and Mhykir, let's show these beasts the magic our land has to offer! Give them hell!"
If he does find it (any place where he can hit more than 2 enemies with his spells), he'll try color spray on them, followed by his burning hands (for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 fire damage) spell-like ability on the next round.
[ooc]If he doesn't find any, he'll get near an ally and use shocking grasp on his target for 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9 fire damage.
Faznir actually spends 50g and has two hecks of a good time (he never got to spend the advancement gold Yalandere offered us).
Fortitude check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Opening one lazy eye, Faznir curses: "Why, oh gods of this strange lands, why do you spit in my eyes? What have I ever done to angry you? Excuse me, my delightful little lamb, but why are the bells tolling?"
"Oo, are we talking of battle yet again? Let's put those worries to rest for at least one calm night, shall we? We have found the land of Aridia, the oasis in the desert, and our prospects are better now than ever (at least we aren't left to die in the desert). Yalandere is out there and we'll certainly find him; the gods wouldn't go through such lenghts to save us in such impossible situations and yet keep us from our goals. What do you say that we save the glorious battle for the morrow and enjoy our last night of peace and plenty?"
Saying that, Faznir offers the party a blue foaming cider, starting with Jen and finishing with Mus'ad.
"A toast for the ones who've fallen so we could be here, and the enemies who'll fall before us so we can get to where we should be!"
It's quite evident he's been indulging a little in the cider.
Ah, my dearest Jen, you don't need to worry about bar "tabs" or anything like it, let me cover that. A beautiful lady such as yourself won't ever need to pay for her own drink as long as I'm around.
My faithful companions, how has this marvelous city treated you since we've got here?
Aren't you as sweet as a cloud on a sunny desert day? You go ahead and save us that seat and order some of that delicious scorpion dish, while I take a second to clean my dusty face from the travel.
He then goes to Yaline, trying a last shot:
My dear lady, you mistake me for a lesser man; Deela is a fine woman, I do have coin in my purse and I do desire companionship, but all I want is a spirited exchange of words, something I can already notice you are quite excelent at (and if you forgive me, I don't think sweet Deela can provide that). I seek warmth to the mind and soul, not for the body, my beautiful desert flower. Intelligent words and friendly warmth you have in ample storage, I ask only that you share some with a confused and lost traveller like my humble self. I also have wonderful tales from a land beyond the veil, and would share them freely; you'd only have to say yes. He then offers her a cup of the wine he brought up from his land; it's a simple grapewine, but perhaps it's as strange to her as the food of this place is stranger to him.
I can see you have not only beautiful, but keen insightful eyes, my exuberant lady. Although the fire runs in my blood, I do not owe allegiance to any aridian lord; I'm my own man (and maybe yours, if only you ask, ha-ha-ha!). My name is Faznir Farin, dear lady, and I dare say, it's such a wonderful pleasure to meet such an adoring beauty after so many hardships. All his words are spoken with abundant emotion; when he makes the silly joke he laughs heartly, and when he finishes the last sentence his whole expression speaks of suffering.
But alas, I'm only a strange in a strange land, and your ways are unknown to me. The businesses have all been dealt with; but still I find myself with all this gold in my pockets but nary a companion with whom to spend it with. Would my lady care for a drink and perhaps help out a fellow forget his bad memories and find a place in this world?
Faznir fully intends to talk to Sianna and ask some questions about the place, but he's planning to meet Yaline when she leaves the Seductive Sands (since she's sworn to not mix business with pleasure and he would not make a lady break her vows...).
"Gods be good, Pavok; I know it's an awful, terrible job, but I figure someone must make some sacrifices around here!" Faznir then raises a drink in honor of his friend.
Faznir will ask around what's the time the Seductive Sands closes up, and then will try locating Sianna's house. All that after a prestidigitation clean-up and perfume.
Sure, sure, get some information, ask around for Yalandere, that surely will take its own sweet time. We'll need at least this day to recover from our ordeals so far, and the one after that to acquire supplies and prepare for the travel. Must be quite some time to gather information and equipment, for surely there is a difficult journey ahead of us and it would be unwise to face it unprepared.
I heard so many tales of a great city of gold and brass, where these efreeti dwelled, my heart trembles in experiencing such a sight. If our benefactor happens to be in this town (or another one of those cities you mentioned), how would we get there? Which one is the closest?
Faznir tries at least a bite out of anything offered and a full cup of drinks unknown.
I can't help but notice, your eminence, that your town is well-liked by the shaitan and their descendants. Pray tell, why's that? Are there other cities like this, maybe preferred by djinn or even efreet? Faznir casually asks before sucking white meat from a "scorpion" leg.
Faznir's been awfully quiet for quite a while, some of you may notice. Only after he's donned his green turban and clothed himself in his yellow and purple silk outfit he sports his characteristic cheesy smile.
Magnificent Hadule, pardon my companion's hurry and awful lot of questions, for we have been attacked in the sands and made prisoner by these Neubite creatures. Your skilled men inadvertently have set us free, and so we are in great debt to you! Even more after you shower us with your abundant - he takes a quick look at a curvy bellydancer - hospitality. Let me humbly try and make up for it. Here's our story: * Ahem *
Faznir gestures for a refreshment, thanking gently whoever delivers it to him.
We set off against the desert sun searching for this very land, Aridia. The odds were against us, for we were battling not only the sun and the sands, but ourselves and our very own nature. Betrayal reached us deadlier than a sandstorm, for our very men robbed us out of supplies and left us alone to fend for ourselves. But still we persevered, for if we had not we wouldn't be sharing cool drinks and hot women with our benefactor, would we? Destiny has an eye for this lot, my friend, for we have survived the perils of sun and sand, battle and betrayal, and yet here we are."
Sorry for the delay, the cable TV and internet got suddenly disconnected in my house; I'm working on getting them back (have to sign in to another company, etc). Meanwhile I'll just take a ride on my college's wireless.
