Post by Gamemaster on Feb 2, 2007 12:41:55 GMT -7
Here's an extended review:
Interlude
In the junction of the lights of the stars. . . .In your right hand, there is an iron ring and a seal. . . .Make your heart the tablet to write on the verse . . . .Recite it and chant it when people are asleep. It is the secret contained in the created beings; there is nothing but it. It is the greatest verse. Therefore make it accurate and get it. Through it, you will become a "pole" if you serve well.
2nd of Rahat, The Drowned Sorrows tavern
We meet the beggar Adila, from Muluk, City of Kings, far to the north of Tajar.
Later...
Shortly thereafter, Adila is violently murdered by an Invisible Stalker which then attacked the party and escaped with the clay seal.
All eyes where drawn to the floating seal and for shortest of moments the outline of a figure, shimmering like a desert mirage, was seen. Then it and the seal flew out to sea, the invisible force blowing Eakon aside like a leaf in a breeze.
A hush had fallen over the tavern; outside the waves lapped against the wooden hull. Adila's body lay sprawled in the cot, unseeing eyes staring into eternity, bruised neck twisted at an impossible angle. As you watch, a common house fly touches down on her face- once, twice, three times before settling on a corner of her lip. There it sits, preening.
The clay seal reappears later that evening...
Adila proves surprisingly resistant to death...
Waleed waved them off, he did not want any of them injured, then he gingerly grabbed the edge of the shroud and pulled it off while jumping back.
Adila lay on the floor, her neck no longer horribly twisted, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm.
"She was dead. . ." Anwar said, his words wavering somewhere between a statement and a question.
Ambushed on the docks...
The attacker is repelled.
3rd of Rahat
Keesha's research reveals:
The translation of Adila's words matched the prophetic tone in which she'd spoken them:
Waleed recommends...
We meet the captain of Ya'qub's restored ship...
6th of Rahat. A pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Suhail min Zann. Inside the mosque:
Then, heroically purging the shrine of the Yakmen and freeing their enslaved genie...
The fiercesome dao completes the tasks and leaves you with a riddle...
Shortly thereafter, a voice from the grave:
"I wish to thank you, worthy travelers, for your sacrifice in my behalf, but I am afraid your adventures and hardships have only just begun," the voice said using Haroun's mouth. "I am your humble servant, Suhail min Zann." With that the imam, dead for 1001 years, walked among you healing your wounds and even performing a miracle before your eyes. The lifeless Nalv was made whole and well, body and mind. Thereupon, as Nalv left to resume his duties outside, the imam sat and began to explain the mystery of the seal.
"During the last battle," the voice from Haroun continued, "the ninth Geomancer withdrew to the secret stronghold Tadabbur deep within the ruined kingdoms."
"It was several years before the Lions of Yesterday found her and not a few died trying to enter. That is when..." the voice faded momentarily, coming back but now speaking rapidly. "The magic seal is the key..." Fading, coming back. "...entrusted with the seed of Tisan's destruction! I wish I could stay to council you further... ...this world is fading... ...tell the gaurdian of the shrine that the Lions of Tomorrow have awakened... ...request is that you restore my remains to their rightful place in my seplucher."
Then the imam was gone and Haroun was back, blinking and a bit tired, but aware of what had transpired and what had been said.
To help rid Adila of the curse you set sail to the distant Ruined Kingdoms.
50 miles south of the great city Dhiliz, the Gateway City, awaited high tide to clear the sandbanks and sail up the mighty Nogaro River.
In Dihliz fate revealed Keesha's family and you've discovered the Ministry of Secrets which is across from the Mosque of the Sacred Fountain, dedicated to Suhail min Zann.
The Ministry of Secrets is tasked with tracking the antiquities and ruins of the Ruined Kingdoms. Waleed, having bribed the Ministry's gaurds, has secured an after hours visit...
Interlude
In the junction of the lights of the stars. . . .In your right hand, there is an iron ring and a seal. . . .Make your heart the tablet to write on the verse . . . .Recite it and chant it when people are asleep. It is the secret contained in the created beings; there is nothing but it. It is the greatest verse. Therefore make it accurate and get it. Through it, you will become a "pole" if you serve well.
2nd of Rahat, The Drowned Sorrows tavern
We meet the beggar Adila, from Muluk, City of Kings, far to the north of Tajar.
Suddenly a disheveled beggar hurled into view, her eyes rolled back in their sockets. White foam frothed at her lips as she shouted at no one in particular. ...shouting words in an incomprehensible language.
Later...
“O’ great Sultan, thank you! I’m from Muluk, City of Kings, far to the north of Tajar,” Adila answered. She was fairly young and not unattractive--tormented, disheveled, and dirty but not unattractive. She gratefully took the proffered food and drink, prodigiously grateful. Through a mouthful of food she said: “I don’t know what language I speak, I don’t even now how I have come to Tajar. I have fits…” she cried after a downing some water, “its like living a nightmare! I don’t know what I say or where I go…”
With a sigh, she shrugged in a gesture common throughout the land. "It's my kismet, my fate. It's what comes of robbing a priest.
“It was a clear, starry night…what is the date?...truly? Then it would have been nearly three months ago. I was outside the Mosque of a Thousand Fountains in Muluk. For the first time in my life I was beginning to regret stealing something.” Her eyes begged for understanding. “I have learned the errors of my ways, great sultans, don’t judge me too harshly.
“It was a fat distracted priest, leaving the mosque, his heavy purse begging to be lightened. I had hoped it to be filled with dinars but instead it held this drab clay seal,” she pulled it from a fold of her robe. It was covered in strange, ancient writings.
“I would have returned it, but the writings were so fascinating, almost mesmerizing in the bright starlight. I tried to pronounce the words… foolishly! It was too late. As if on cue, nine meteors streaked across the night sky overhead. That was the first time I blacked out. My nightmare had begun.”
With a sigh, she shrugged in a gesture common throughout the land. "It's my kismet, my fate. It's what comes of robbing a priest.
“It was a clear, starry night…what is the date?...truly? Then it would have been nearly three months ago. I was outside the Mosque of a Thousand Fountains in Muluk. For the first time in my life I was beginning to regret stealing something.” Her eyes begged for understanding. “I have learned the errors of my ways, great sultans, don’t judge me too harshly.
“It was a fat distracted priest, leaving the mosque, his heavy purse begging to be lightened. I had hoped it to be filled with dinars but instead it held this drab clay seal,” she pulled it from a fold of her robe. It was covered in strange, ancient writings.
“I would have returned it, but the writings were so fascinating, almost mesmerizing in the bright starlight. I tried to pronounce the words… foolishly! It was too late. As if on cue, nine meteors streaked across the night sky overhead. That was the first time I blacked out. My nightmare had begun.”
Shortly thereafter, Adila is violently murdered by an Invisible Stalker which then attacked the party and escaped with the clay seal.
All eyes where drawn to the floating seal and for shortest of moments the outline of a figure, shimmering like a desert mirage, was seen. Then it and the seal flew out to sea, the invisible force blowing Eakon aside like a leaf in a breeze.
A hush had fallen over the tavern; outside the waves lapped against the wooden hull. Adila's body lay sprawled in the cot, unseeing eyes staring into eternity, bruised neck twisted at an impossible angle. As you watch, a common house fly touches down on her face- once, twice, three times before settling on a corner of her lip. There it sits, preening.
The clay seal reappears later that evening...
Waleed, Ya'qub and Keesha where standing in the common room, quietly discussing where best to deliver the body of the unfortunate woman. Fayiz, one of Waleed’s trusted employees, finished annotating the day’s accounts and closed the ledger book. With a satisfied nod, he placed it beneath the polished wooden bar.
“A thousand pardons, effendi,” Fayiz said when a break in the conversation afforded him the opportunity to speak without interrupting. As he continued, muscle-bound Anwar emerged from the back room with the shrouded Adila cradled in his arms. Fayiz gestured toward them: “a woman runs into Drowned Sorrows, yet we carry her out. Even were she not dead, this is suspicious in its nature."
Anwar stood patiently awaiting further instruction. He shifted his load slightly--carrying dead weight was awkward. Beneath the sheet something cracked. The giant Anwar shuddered. More cracking sounds.
“Support the neck, Anwar.” Fayiz sighed.
A hand lolled out from beneath the sheet. Something tumbled from the hand and dropped to the floor with a clatter; there it spun in ever tighter circles. It was the clay seal.
“A thousand pardons, effendi,” Fayiz said when a break in the conversation afforded him the opportunity to speak without interrupting. As he continued, muscle-bound Anwar emerged from the back room with the shrouded Adila cradled in his arms. Fayiz gestured toward them: “a woman runs into Drowned Sorrows, yet we carry her out. Even were she not dead, this is suspicious in its nature."
Anwar stood patiently awaiting further instruction. He shifted his load slightly--carrying dead weight was awkward. Beneath the sheet something cracked. The giant Anwar shuddered. More cracking sounds.
“Support the neck, Anwar.” Fayiz sighed.
A hand lolled out from beneath the sheet. Something tumbled from the hand and dropped to the floor with a clatter; there it spun in ever tighter circles. It was the clay seal.
Adila proves surprisingly resistant to death...
Waleed waved them off, he did not want any of them injured, then he gingerly grabbed the edge of the shroud and pulled it off while jumping back.
Adila lay on the floor, her neck no longer horribly twisted, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm.
"She was dead. . ." Anwar said, his words wavering somewhere between a statement and a question.
Ambushed on the docks...
Ahead, the docks where mostly empty but many merchant windows yet glowed with lamp light, no doubt transacting late night business deals malevolent and benign. Some ships where being loaded despite the hour. Beyond the docks, Tajar sparkled like a jewel.
Anwar’s loud grunt followed close behind the blow that shook the suspended bridge. Ya’qub saw Adila windmill out of Anwar’s arms like a cloth doll, clip the rope rail and fall to the water below with a splash. Waleed spun in time to see Anwar crumple down stunned, slipping between the ropes and hanging partially over the water.
Anwar’s loud grunt followed close behind the blow that shook the suspended bridge. Ya’qub saw Adila windmill out of Anwar’s arms like a cloth doll, clip the rope rail and fall to the water below with a splash. Waleed spun in time to see Anwar crumple down stunned, slipping between the ropes and hanging partially over the water.
The attacker is repelled.
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.
Keesha's research reveals:
"...the inscription seems to be the Kadari, an ancient language of the Forgotten Kingdoms far to the northeast."
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!
Waleed recommends...
"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.
We meet the captain of Ya'qub's restored ship...
Shabab Eblis was kneeling at the base of a mast, inspecting a length of rope that ran through a block and tackle. He finished his inspection before standing to acknowledge Ya’qub’s introduction. “Quality restoration work…” he was saying to himself.
Shabab was indeed young for a rubban--that was evident in his youthful face. He bowed with a flourish and a smile. “Thank you for the welcome, nabila Keesha. We are nearly ready to sail.” Despite his youth Shabab was muscular and tall; a full head taller than any present. He spoke perfect Midani but with a distinct accent. “Nabila,” he said to Keesha, using the formal title of ‘Lady’, “your face… it reminds me of someone. May I ask your family name?”
Shabab was indeed young for a rubban--that was evident in his youthful face. He bowed with a flourish and a smile. “Thank you for the welcome, nabila Keesha. We are nearly ready to sail.” Despite his youth Shabab was muscular and tall; a full head taller than any present. He spoke perfect Midani but with a distinct accent. “Nabila,” he said to Keesha, using the formal title of ‘Lady’, “your face… it reminds me of someone. May I ask your family name?”
6th of Rahat. A pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Suhail min Zann. Inside the mosque:
Intricate blue tilework had been shaken off the walls and ceiling by the tremors and now covered the floor in a carpet of debris. Afternoon sunlight streamed though cracks in the dome overhead. The supporting walls appeared stable… Despite the damage, a number of verses are still visible on the temple walls. Most are in an ancient script similar to that on the clay seal but one verse appears to have been translated into midani below the original text.
We cannot destroy what we do not understand.
Fate is a woman, carrying us towards our Kismet;
Only a fool thinks he can escape her embrace.
We must learn from the mistakes of our forbears.
The written word is a gift to the Lions of
Tomorrow.
We cannot destroy what we do not understand.
Fate is a woman, carrying us towards our Kismet;
Only a fool thinks he can escape her embrace.
We must learn from the mistakes of our forbears.
The written word is a gift to the Lions of
Tomorrow.
Then, heroically purging the shrine of the Yakmen and freeing their enslaved genie...
the giant laughed and lifted himself the rest of the way into the tomb where he sat cross-legged on the floor. "I am Hasan the Dao, one time unwilling servant of the motherless bastards who were known only as The Subverter and The Pretender. You have freed me from slavery and in my boundless gratitude I will perform three tasks for you."
The fiercesome dao completes the tasks and leaves you with a riddle...
Silver Tongues
Opens Doors
Before Steel
Swords
With
The Three
Opens Doors
Before Steel
Swords
With
The Three
Shortly thereafter, a voice from the grave:
"I wish to thank you, worthy travelers, for your sacrifice in my behalf, but I am afraid your adventures and hardships have only just begun," the voice said using Haroun's mouth. "I am your humble servant, Suhail min Zann." With that the imam, dead for 1001 years, walked among you healing your wounds and even performing a miracle before your eyes. The lifeless Nalv was made whole and well, body and mind. Thereupon, as Nalv left to resume his duties outside, the imam sat and began to explain the mystery of the seal.
"During the last battle," the voice from Haroun continued, "the ninth Geomancer withdrew to the secret stronghold Tadabbur deep within the ruined kingdoms."
"It was several years before the Lions of Yesterday found her and not a few died trying to enter. That is when..." the voice faded momentarily, coming back but now speaking rapidly. "The magic seal is the key..." Fading, coming back. "...entrusted with the seed of Tisan's destruction! I wish I could stay to council you further... ...this world is fading... ...tell the gaurdian of the shrine that the Lions of Tomorrow have awakened... ...request is that you restore my remains to their rightful place in my seplucher."
Then the imam was gone and Haroun was back, blinking and a bit tired, but aware of what had transpired and what had been said.
To help rid Adila of the curse you set sail to the distant Ruined Kingdoms.
"I am forever in your debt," Adila replied. "Despite the events of today, the madness has been pushed back by the light of hope. Thank you all, for what you have done and anything further you do to assist me. I am a poor woman of no means and no family."
50 miles south of the great city Dhiliz, the Gateway City, awaited high tide to clear the sandbanks and sail up the mighty Nogaro River.
8th of Saris
Midmorning of the following day, the Bright Dancer docked in the stone wharves after carefully weaving through the small teak canoes from nearby villages, barges from Kadarasto, and sailing ships from Afyal and the Pantheon cities. The docks are bustling with merchants and the sound of business is in the air.
Midmorning of the following day, the Bright Dancer docked in the stone wharves after carefully weaving through the small teak canoes from nearby villages, barges from Kadarasto, and sailing ships from Afyal and the Pantheon cities. The docks are bustling with merchants and the sound of business is in the air.
In Dihliz fate revealed Keesha's family and you've discovered the Ministry of Secrets which is across from the Mosque of the Sacred Fountain, dedicated to Suhail min Zann.
The Ministry of Secrets is tasked with tracking the antiquities and ruins of the Ruined Kingdoms. Waleed, having bribed the Ministry's gaurds, has secured an after hours visit...