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.”
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?”
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"Yes-yes, thank you longshanks and not-so-longshanks. Is good to get self clean, but please set-prepare some water for my wolf Striker too." A pale-blue goblin responds. He dismounts from the wolf and seats himself at the table. "Name's Alpha. I'm a Runesmith."
"Look at books! Don't you longshanks know that reading books takes your souls? Luckily for me, I have a solution." The goblin takes out a magnifying glass from his Artisan's Toolkit and holds it in front of his eyes. "This big glass prevents my soul from entering the book, letting me assist you with the task. Unfortunately I only have one glass so all of your souls are probably gone forever...sorry."
Examining the phool, Alpha sniffs dismissively. "Too pretty. Needs more runes so it can go bang-pow-kersplat!" He waves his arms wildly to imitate an invoked explosion of Runes.
Striker sits quietly near the table and rolls her eyes at her master's antics.
Anyone who is trying to read the book has to do so over the venture-captain's shoulder, which earns the agent a disdainful glance. You were asked to examine the haath phool.
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"Me knows that thissa thing is good for air type stuff. Maybe this was used to bind an air elemental thingy. Ooh...hang on." Alpha looks closer with his Artisan's Toolkit. "Me also can tell that longshanks Casira is a cheap person. Theysa gave you very poor quality tool. Thissa item only good for summoning, but whatever comes out the other end will not be controlled by yousa."
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.”
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Alpha too stands in formal greeting...on the table, where his stubby goblin legs are propped up by the height of the table. Able to go eye to eye with Safa the Unbound, he asks; "Okay, noshanks Safa, what kinda threats does the skelm have to stop us with? Any magical traps or noshanks like yourself? Meesa very good at stopping magical traps." He puffs up his small chest with pride.
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A storm of DANCING appears as a small, energetic goblin starts rushing up to each person, treating them to a concentrated burst of his moves.
"LASHA HERE! Sorry I late...been getting people to witness the DANCING! Imma Pathfinder."
Spotting the djinni he prioritises them to the next burst of dancing to make sure nothing gets the chance to prevent him from dancing with a djinni.
"Look I find Genie! Lasha Tumbai unbound too!"
Once Lasha has danced at everyone he loses focus a little and dances off slightly, realising that he's meant to be here for a Pathfinder mission, but not fully paying attention.
"♪Can't stop the dancing
So just dance, dance, dance, dance♫"
"Oooh...shiny stringy glove thing...nice."
A weary looking handler finally arrives, supposedly to keep Lasha on track as best as possible and occasionally interpret what he's on about.
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As Lasha is dancing in front of the djinni, another goblin enters, noticeably taller than a typical goblin, by his 3'7" tall muscular frame. He wears a golden breastplate and warrior kilt, as well as helmet of the same metal that has topknot of white hair and on each side has tusks that jut out past the front of his face, each end of the tusks capped in gold spikes. His shield is of the same gold-hued metal except for the shield boss, which is made of cold iron.
The bandolier that is slung from his left shoulder to right hip has a silver starknife hanging from it beside his right hip. A bola hangs beside his left hip from the other bandolier he has.
Completing his gladiator ensemble are the leather sandals and shin guards forged from the same gold-hued metal.
The one thing that gives the impression that he just stepped out of a gladiator's arena is the leather backpack strapped to his back.
As he turns his head to greet the others, orcish tusks come into view, which is likely the reason he stands inches above most other goblins.
"Bition, checking in. For ones who have seen me fight at the Bloodworks, my name is no longer Exhibition, which the orcs named me, nor is it Exhibition the Ambition that the crowd called me for the decade I fought in that arena. I dropped the prefixes when I became a free goblin."
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A small leshy, crafted from equal parts plant matter and bone, with obsidian chunks for eyes, grins at Safa.
"Hello again! Glad to see you are doing better than the last time we encountered you!"
He then turns to the others.
"I'm Bloody Whispers Upon Moonlight, although most folks just call me Whispers... for some reason, they find my full name uncomfortable."
Whispers gestures towards the independently-mobile pine tree beside him.
"This is Piney!"
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Bloody Whispers nods gravely to Bition.
"Well met, Bition."
He then shakes his head at Lasha.
"Leshies, or at least the ones around Finadar where I incarnated, do not have single names. Bone was also a common building block, so it is far from unique, as names go."
Piney lets out a low thrum as their needles rub together, in response to Lasha's greeting.
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"Meesa never see so many goblins in one place. Are we having a pickle party?" Alpha wonders out loud.
"Lasha! Yousa dancing really good! Here, meesa give you Goblin song to go with funny dance!"
Alpha sings poorly and out of tune, as if belting out the lyrics with sheer force of diaphragm but with no care as to tone or pitch.
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Lasha fives Alpha and sings and dances along. He's always pleased when people join in rather than run away.
He also likes that Striker looks like a good, proper wolf. Not one of those little Do-Wolfs that lots of people seem to own.
He hopes that the wolf and Piney get on and that there are no accidents.
The winds aroung the djinni blow in a way that is strongly reminiscent of a heavy sigh at the latecomer and the shenanigans that he seems to have triggered.
Esmayl tries to drag the briefing back onto target by 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.
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The loud duet that Alpha was performing with Lasha abruptly stops as Alpha gets serious. He looks up at Esmayl and asks his questions again.
"Meesa already asked meesa's questions. Meesa wants to know if what kinda threats does Fasiel have to stop us with? Any magical traps or noshanks (aka djinni)? Otherwise meesa is good to go."
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"Lasha got questions!
Where is this?
Who that glasses lady out there?
You want shiny stringy glove thing?
I can has?
Why Genie all secrety?
Why not help more?
You sure you not still bound?
Are you secret boss?
Is you Keyser Söze?
When Merisiel pay me back?
What skelm mean?
..."
You think he may have asked many, many more, but his handler gives him a "Shut up" signal and Lasha seems to notice and be distracted by it.
"A skelm is a creature of rage, that can disguise itself as a humanoid and use their cunning to turn large groups against each other."
“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 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.”
“Fasiel 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!”
“I could of course do this myself, but the masters of this city would not mete out proper justice if a rogue djinn turned on their binder. Still, when the way is blocked, the wind goes around. None here would blink at my assisting you to achieve this.”
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The name Keyser Söze sounds familiar to Bition, but he does not recall why. Given Esmayl's attempt to get the group back on task, he decides to ask Lasha about the name at a later time.
"Do any of you need to do anything before we start our assigned task?" he asks his fellow pathfinders who were were summoned for this mission.
"I will accompany you. Will one of you wear the haath phool that serves as my anchor to the material plane?"
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.
He gives each of you a moderate healing potion, for a total of two provided by the society.
Djinn get along with jann and marids but find shaitans too stiff and harbor undying hatred for efreet. Shaitans culturally love bargaining and games of chance.
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.
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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"Yeah! Weesa rock allsa Skelm and his noshank genies!" Alpha sings along with his goblin friend Lasha.
Alpha then busies himself with his daily preparations. With his Artisan's toolkit, he etches with gentle precision the runes of Esvadir on his Shortsword and Striker's fangs. With an additional dab of ink, he reinforces his Shortsword's Esvadir with the Diacritic Rune "Per".
Before the party leaves, Alpha shares what he knows about genies with the others.
"Meesa once watched pretty play in Absalom theatre called - Gobbodin, story about green goblin laddie who found magic lamp with genie inside. Meesa learned 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. Djinn get along with jann and marids but find shaitans too stiff and harbor undying hatred for efreet. Shaitans culturally love bargaining and games of chance. Meesa also learned that genies like to call themselves 'The Fresh Prince' for some reason."
The Runesmith then takes Ahzeem Kazzahd aside and gets serious. "Yousa look like the castery type, with magics that allow you to cast this spell." He hands the Cleric a scroll of Roaring Applause. "Meesa know from painful experience that bad guys which react to meesa's movements are mucho painful to fight. Meesa purchased this scroll to stop bad guys from reacting, but meesa no got divine magic that yousa has. Meesa will lend this scroll to you. Meesa only ask that yousa cast it when yousa see bad guy with Reactive strikes."
Riding his wolf, Alpha rides just behind Biton. "Meesa thinks Fasiel looks angry!" He comments, before ducking down into Striker's thick fur to Avoid Notice. The wily Runesmith also keeps an eye out to Search for Hidden Glyphs, allowing him to both Avoid Notice and Search for Magical Traps (+11 modifier).
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 two tall antlers protrude 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.
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Bition, accustomed to giving performances that he might have died from, though dozens have died from his silver starknife and cold iron shield boss while he was forced to perform in The Bloodworks, does not plan on dying for anyone, performance or not.
He shouts up in the sky where the image of Fasiel was seconds before,
Fasiel seems uninclined to join you outside for a tussle.
The Pathfinders do need to pass, but the flock of paper birds block their way. Perhaps they could locate the unseen piper? Or simply fight their way through (after all, it's just paper)?
Lasha does get the sense that dancing could somehow improve the situation, however.
The invisible creature laughs as the music comes to an end. "Ha! Truly a performance to die for! I could not have asked for better accompaniment." The creature appears before you as the paper birds fall to the ground. "I have completed my given task, so you may be on your way. Take this -" he hands you a single paper bird "- as it will help you breach Fasiel's elemental seal."
Safa nods. "Impressive. You seem to understand that the bound creatures will need to follow instructions precisely, but can bend them to help you if you are clever."
With the paper birds gone, the Pathfinders can continue to the entrance.
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 formerly depicted Sulesh the Great, and 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.
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As Lasha waits for someone to say what the party will do next he looks at the tapestries for the story they tell. He looks at the statues. He looks at the name on the base of the large statue. You can see him quietly mouthing the names Fasiel and Sulesh, before announcing, "Statue guy look like Horn Head."