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Post by Gamemaster on May 9, 2005 10:32:37 GMT -7
3rd of Rahat
“Help me break the curse!” pleaded Adila. Wrapped in a blanket, her long dark hair still dripping water, she looked small and defenseless. Gently swaying lamps hanging from the low roof pushed the darkness back to the curtained port holes. You sit in the captain’s quarters of the Bright Dancer. The clay seal sits on the table before you.
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Post by Ya'qub on May 9, 2005 10:48:14 GMT -7
The clay seal sits on the table before you. "Keesha," Ya'qub began slowly, "You have traveled far and wide, as has Waleed. Has either of you seen anything like this inscription?"
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Post by Keesha on May 9, 2005 12:06:47 GMT -7
" I would need to research further... but the inscription seems to be the Kadari, an ancient language of the Forgotten Kingdoms far to the northeast. I could only translate the first two words. They read 'Embrace fate' "
She then looks at Adila and her companions
"... what I definately need is to take a copy of it tomorrow morning and try to decipher the rest, but that can wait until we make sure everyone is safe here.."
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on May 9, 2005 12:57:00 GMT -7
"Given a few days I can translate it, but if Keesha can weave a spell of translation, that would be much quicker." Waleed looked to the ajami sorceress and saw that she was definitely weakened in battling the Invisible Stalker. "Yet, I think Keesha has done much of late against our invisible foe, so I ask to keep the seal here in seclusion aboard your ship and let me study it while I tend to Adila's health. Perhaps a two day cruise around the bay to make it harder for us to be found and to shake out the ship to get it in running order would be a good excuse too?"
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Post by Ya'qub on May 9, 2005 13:01:18 GMT -7
"Perhaps a two day cruise around the bay to make it harder for us to be found and to shake out the ship to get it in running order would be a good excuse too?" "Agreed. Though," Ya'qub paused, his brow wrinkling, "I should make Sahra aware of my whereabouts, so she won't worry overmuch..."
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on May 9, 2005 13:15:52 GMT -7
"Agreed. Though," Ya'qub paused, his brow wrinkling, "I should make Sahra aware of my whereabouts, so she won't worry overmuch..." "Yes, of course. I will be sending Anwar to fetch Mamoun and my bodyguards. Shall I send him with a message from you for Sahra to attend you?" Waleed was already writing a list of instructions for Anwar and his other two henchmen at his inn to abide by during his absense. He would leave the three of them behind to gather information, but he would not travel again anywhere without the company of Mamoun and his three lovely "bodyguards".
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Post by Ya'qub on May 9, 2005 16:26:05 GMT -7
"Yes, of course. I will be sending Anwar to fetch Mamoun and my bodyguards. Shall I send him with a message from you for Sahra to attend you?" "Yes, please do. I could use her clear-thinking at this very moment." Ya'qub shook the last of the water out of his ear from his unintended swim. Fortunately, he'd had some dry clothes stashed aboard that had managed to fit everyone who'd been in the water that evening. Their wet clothes hung on a line nearby.
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on May 9, 2005 16:46:21 GMT -7
Waleed nodded and conveyed his orders to Anwar and gave the man a pat on the shoulder as he left. Turning back to Ya'qub, Waleed said with a smile, "Thanks for rescuing me from those watery depths Ya'qub. I had forgotten I did not know how to swim when I dove in after you. It is fortunate you could swim for the both of us."
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Post by Keesha on May 11, 2005 1:17:14 GMT -7
"Very well, maybe I can even help you out with the translation. Lets see how far we get in the night" then she smiles looking to use the time to make a copy of the seal as well just in case it gets lost somehow.
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Post by Ya'qub on May 11, 2005 9:26:10 GMT -7
"It is fortunate you could swim for the both of us." Ya'qub scratched his head, remembering the strange sensation he experienced in the water. "Friend Waleed," he began, "it was nothing, a trifle for one friend to reach out to another. Although I must confess, even now the details elude me as to the actual events. I recall falling into the water, and feeling as if I had been a swimmer all my life. This is most strange, seeing as until recently I had avoided the shore, preferring the expanse of the desert to the open area of the sea. "But then I saw you floundering, and I recall kicking out to you. Beyond that, my memories are cloudy." He began preparing a drink similar to a hot spice tea. "While I make something for Adila and the rest of us, perhaps you might be able to fill in the missing details?"
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on May 11, 2005 10:19:28 GMT -7
"There is not much more to fill in Ya'qub," replied Waleed, sitting down for the first time in the Bright Dancer near to Adila. "We found each other and then swam to shore, you of course were more proficient than I in the swimming aspect, but I did hold on tighter." Waleed smiled, hoping his little joke did not go unnoticed. Turning to Keesha, "I think you have a good idea, two heads are better than one. I think I will make a rubbing of the seal, in case we are seperated." Turning his attention to Adila, Waleed took her wrist and checked her pulse. "We are going to help you Adila, do not fear that we won't." Waleed then checked her eys and ears for any signs of damage. "I must say Adila, you do look quite fetching in those sailor clothes, but when my girls and Mamoun arrive, I'll have them take care of your hair and nails. I think you'll be doing them a favor as they have been rather bored of late and you could occupy them well. Mamoun also is a very good chef for one of his age, so you will eat well tonight." Waleed patted the top of her hand as he finished his cursory examination. "All will be well."
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Post by Keesha on May 12, 2005 4:19:29 GMT -7
She nods to Waleed and as she sits on the table "Then lets get to work"
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Post by Gamemaster on May 12, 2005 18:02:28 GMT -7
Adila smiled weakly at Waleed's offer of clothing and attention before drifting off to sleep. The magic of the seal had restored her to life, but had done little to restore her strength.
After copying the seal, there was little that could be done and the late hour and excitement of the evening weighed heavy on them. Ya'qub and Waleed stepped out of the cabin and onto the deck, resting on the deck beneath the stars in the fashion of sailors. Keesha blew out all but one lamp as was preparing to climb into a cot when Adila cried out in her sleep. It was in the same strange language she'd been gibbering when she'd first appeared. Waleed and Ya'qub rushed in and between the three of them they phonetically wrote down what Adila was saying as best as they could. Shortly thereafter, the cursed woman's troubled sleep turned peaceful.
The next morning, Keesha took the writings to be translated while Ya'qub and Waleed made ready for the restored Bright Dancer's maiden voyage. There was much to be done- given that the vessel had no crew.
Keesha returned well before midday and shared the translations with her companions, starting with the seal:
Embrace Fate, and she will smile upon you. The key to understanding lies through the mists of ignorance. Learn from yesterday to shape tomorrow.
The translation of Adila's words matched the prophetic tone in which she'd spoken them:
The nine-fold stars have fallen! Waken, Lions of Tomorrow, for the gates of Tadabbur are thrown open!
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on May 13, 2005 11:51:21 GMT -7
"Tadabbur, this name must indeed be ancient for I have no reference of it, and I am somewhat knowledgeable in this area," Waleed said introspectivily. "Perhaps if we took a short trip up the coast to the holy shrine of Suhail min Zann, a site of many wonderous miracles--divine revelations, miraculous cures and the like. It is a common pilgrimage for those seeking knowledge or cures. What say you two?"
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Post by Ya'qub on May 13, 2005 14:30:15 GMT -7
"Perhaps if we took a short trip up the coast to the holy shrine of Suhail min Zann, a site of many wonderous miracles--divine revelations, miraculous cures and the like. It is a common pilgrimage for those seeking knowledge or cures. What say you two?" "I would be in favor of it, if we had a crew," Ya'qub said smiling. "Give me a day or so to hire a good crew, and make some personal arrangements, and then we can be off."
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