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<blockquote data-quote="mikeawmids" data-source="post: 7953296" data-attributes="member: 6776411"><p><strong><u>Chapter Twenty Five: The Jackal's Price</u></strong></p><p></p><p>The heroes return to Katapesh, eager to check on Rayhan's progress deciphering the Scroll of Kakishon. They have been away from the city for six days and much has changed in their absence.</p><p></p><p><strong>"I have been awaiting your return,"</strong> the archmage says, <strong>"I have unlocked the secrets of the Scroll and you can open a gateway to Kakishon at any time. However, this message came for you this morning...."</strong></p><p></p><p><em>'To the Heroes of Kelmarane.</em></p><p><em>'Radi Hamda and his sister are now my guests. If you would see them again, you will agree to my price. I want the Scroll of Kakishon - you will surely agree their lives are more than fair trade for such a treasure? Bring the relic to the One Source warehouse at sunset. Once I have the Scroll, my guests will be released unharmed. Fail to deliver the Scroll and their blood will be on your hands.</em></p><p><em>'Z'</em></p><p></p><p><strong>"Whispering Zayifid, that son of a witch!"</strong> Misfar curses, screwing the missive into a ball and casting it aside, <strong>"Hiding behind innocent hostages, that jackal!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"What do we do?"</strong> Zain asks, <strong>"We can't give him the Scroll."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"And we can't let him hurt Rumi!"</strong> Nadiyya says, surprised to find she actually cares what happens to the little blind girl.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Or Radi."</strong> Misfar reminds her.</p><p></p><p>Nadiyya shrugs. She's less concerned about Radi's fate.</p><p></p><p>As is becoming par for the course for this party, they decide to attend the rendezvous with no plan and no contingency, hoping that good fortune and exploding damage rolls will carry the day. To be fair to the players, it has worked in the past and probably will again.</p><p></p><p>The party head to the One Source warehouse as the sun is going down. They are expecting a fight and are armed for bear. An open space has been created in the centre of the warehouse floor, surrounded by a wall of precariously balanced crates. Zayifid, Tamir and the Hamda siblings are waiting for them. The heroes don't doubt there are more enemies hidden nearby.</p><p></p><p><strong>"My friends, you came to rescue me!"</strong> Radi cries happily.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Lets not get ahead of ourselves,"</strong> Zayifid says, <strong>"Did you bring the relic?"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Release the prisoners, then you'll get what's coming to you."</strong> Nadiyya replies.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Now that answer strikes me as purposefully ambiguous and vaguely threatening."</strong> Zayifid observes, <strong>"To save us all some time, I think I'll just have my men kill you and go through your pockets once you're dead."</strong></p><p></p><p>Several large, brutish gnolls loom out of the dark corners of the warehouse, dragging their furry knuckles along the ground.</p><p></p><p><strong>"After you killed the Carrion King, his Unchosen were left without anyone to serve,"</strong> Zayifid says, <strong>"They serve me now."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tamir hurls a burst of flame towards the party, who are bunched up like a group of idiots. Their armour is a little scorched, but nobody is hurt. Nadiyya counters with a burst of her own, but the halfling wizard is protected by his magical ring. Misfar spends four Power Points on an empowered burst of abrasive sand, killing two Unchosen and grievously injuring Tamir. The halfling wizard claws at his face, half of which has been flayed of all flesh and muscle by Misfar's attack.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Kill the wizard!!"</strong> Zayifid screams.</p><p></p><p>There are One Source goons armed with crossbows clambering amongst the stacked boxes. Zain moves to shield Misfar with his own body; most of the bolts bounce harmlessly of his breastplate, but one particularly well aimed shot finds a chink in his armour. Zain grunts as the bolt punches into his torso.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Do I have to have to do everything myself?"</strong> Zayifid cries. He prepares to unleash a devastating magical attack, rolls snake eyes on his casting roll and overloads the crystal set into the end of his staff!! The crystal explodes and everyone within a small burst template is hit by flying shards of broken glass! Zayifid is Shaken and Wounded!</p><p></p><p>Tamir looses his nerve and turns tail. Fuk shoots him in the back and the halfling wizard does not get up.</p><p></p><p>Zain recalls that Tempest is a genie-bane weapon and he is presently in combat with a rogue djinni. He makes a Wild Attack, hits with a Raise and does a truck-load of exploding damage, far more than Zayifid can Soak with his remaining Bennies.</p><p></p><p>With Zayifid and Tamir both defeated, the remaining One Source thugs cut their losses and retreat. The Unchosen fight on, eager to join their late king in gnoll hell. The heroes are only too happy to oblige.</p><p></p><p>The heroes loot the bodies. Tamir was wearing a <strong><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201)">Ring of Defence</span></strong> that boosted his Toughness. Fuk claims the ring to offset the loss of Vigour when he was incapacitated in Book 2. Misfar recognises Zayifid's broken weapon as a <strong><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201)">Polar Staff</span></strong>, which enables the user to apply ice trappings to his spells at no additional cost. He reckons that the weapon can be repaired by replacing the shattered crystal. The party also raid the One Source coffers and bump up their Wealth die.</p><p></p><p>Radi and Rumi Hamda are safe and resume their journey to Kelmarane, accompanied by Felliped the Bard, who has concluded his own business in Katapesh.</p><p></p><p>The heroes return to Rayhan's villa. Nadiyya, Misfar and Zain are all injured from the fight in the warehouse and opt to rest before activating the portal to Kakishon. Fuk is left to his own devices.</p><p></p><p><strong>"I hear the Sunset Ship has returned to the city,"</strong> Rayhan tells the goblin, <strong>"It last came through Katapesh over a decade ago. I'm going to pop over and see what the good captain has to trade. Under no circumstances should you mess with the Scroll in my absence!!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Rayhan pauses on his way out the door and turns back to Fuk.</p><p></p><p><strong>"I really cannot stress that point strongly enough. Do not tamper with the relic! Don't even look at it while I'm gone, and definitely don't do anything weird, like lick it, or something."</strong></p><p></p><p>Fuk tries his best, he truly does. He takes all the arrows out of his quiver and organises them by length. He goes through Rayhan's magic food preservation chest and makes an awesome sandwich. He even starts the first draft of his hard-hitting autobiography.</p><p>He lasts nineteen minutes and fifty-three seconds.</p><p></p><p>Misfar shoots up in bed, overwhelmed with the feeling that something awful is about to happen.</p><p></p><p>Then something awful happens.</p><p></p><p>With a sudden explosion of light and sound, the world is engulfed in fire. The ground itself seems to give way and suddenly the wizard is plunging through a vortex of fire, plummeting into the throat of a volcano. Zain, Nadiyya and Fuk fall beside him, their expressions almost comically horror-struck. A sense of vertigo overwhelms even the fire and noise, as the sensation of falling grows into a tempest of burning wind.</p><p></p><p>Shapes begin to emerge from the firestorm; warriors formed from smoke and fire, adorned with glittering jewellery and wielding scimitars of fire. They surge upwards, roaring a collective battle-cry, oblivious to the heroes tumbling passed them.</p><p></p><p>Then comes the last of them; a towering warlord with curling horns and an enormous, burning sword. This figure does notice the party and bows mockingly as the they plummet toward him. Then he is gone, rocketing upwards in a plume of choking black smoke and bright cinders.</p><p></p><p>The violent firestorm ends as suddenly as it began. For a moment, the heroes can see nothing, hear nothing. Slowly, sensation returns; the sound of waves breaking on a sandbar, the cool sea breeze against exposed skin. The heroes rise unsteadily and take in their surroundings. They stand on a tropical beach, a sandy wedge positioned betwixt the azure sea and lush green junglescape. The only sign of civilization is a simple hut erected beside a low stone jetty. Tropical birds squawk from the dense foliage, a disharmonious welcome to this strange paradise.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Fuk not do anything!"</strong> Fuk cries, a little suspiciously.</p><p></p><p>Welcome to Kakishon.</p><p></p><p><em>TBC</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mikeawmids, post: 7953296, member: 6776411"] [B][U]Chapter Twenty Five: The Jackal's Price[/U][/B] The heroes return to Katapesh, eager to check on Rayhan's progress deciphering the Scroll of Kakishon. They have been away from the city for six days and much has changed in their absence. [B]"I have been awaiting your return,"[/B] the archmage says, [B]"I have unlocked the secrets of the Scroll and you can open a gateway to Kakishon at any time. However, this message came for you this morning...."[/B] [I]'To the Heroes of Kelmarane. 'Radi Hamda and his sister are now my guests. If you would see them again, you will agree to my price. I want the Scroll of Kakishon - you will surely agree their lives are more than fair trade for such a treasure? Bring the relic to the One Source warehouse at sunset. Once I have the Scroll, my guests will be released unharmed. Fail to deliver the Scroll and their blood will be on your hands. 'Z'[/I] [B]"Whispering Zayifid, that son of a witch!"[/B] Misfar curses, screwing the missive into a ball and casting it aside, [B]"Hiding behind innocent hostages, that jackal!" "What do we do?"[/B] Zain asks, [B]"We can't give him the Scroll." "And we can't let him hurt Rumi!"[/B] Nadiyya says, surprised to find she actually cares what happens to the little blind girl. [B]"Or Radi."[/B] Misfar reminds her. Nadiyya shrugs. She's less concerned about Radi's fate. As is becoming par for the course for this party, they decide to attend the rendezvous with no plan and no contingency, hoping that good fortune and exploding damage rolls will carry the day. To be fair to the players, it has worked in the past and probably will again. The party head to the One Source warehouse as the sun is going down. They are expecting a fight and are armed for bear. An open space has been created in the centre of the warehouse floor, surrounded by a wall of precariously balanced crates. Zayifid, Tamir and the Hamda siblings are waiting for them. The heroes don't doubt there are more enemies hidden nearby. [B]"My friends, you came to rescue me!"[/B] Radi cries happily. [B]"Lets not get ahead of ourselves,"[/B] Zayifid says, [B]"Did you bring the relic?" "Release the prisoners, then you'll get what's coming to you."[/B] Nadiyya replies. [B]"Now that answer strikes me as purposefully ambiguous and vaguely threatening."[/B] Zayifid observes, [B]"To save us all some time, I think I'll just have my men kill you and go through your pockets once you're dead."[/B] Several large, brutish gnolls loom out of the dark corners of the warehouse, dragging their furry knuckles along the ground. [B]"After you killed the Carrion King, his Unchosen were left without anyone to serve,"[/B] Zayifid says, [B]"They serve me now."[/B] Tamir hurls a burst of flame towards the party, who are bunched up like a group of idiots. Their armour is a little scorched, but nobody is hurt. Nadiyya counters with a burst of her own, but the halfling wizard is protected by his magical ring. Misfar spends four Power Points on an empowered burst of abrasive sand, killing two Unchosen and grievously injuring Tamir. The halfling wizard claws at his face, half of which has been flayed of all flesh and muscle by Misfar's attack. [B]"Kill the wizard!!"[/B] Zayifid screams. There are One Source goons armed with crossbows clambering amongst the stacked boxes. Zain moves to shield Misfar with his own body; most of the bolts bounce harmlessly of his breastplate, but one particularly well aimed shot finds a chink in his armour. Zain grunts as the bolt punches into his torso. [B]"Do I have to have to do everything myself?"[/B] Zayifid cries. He prepares to unleash a devastating magical attack, rolls snake eyes on his casting roll and overloads the crystal set into the end of his staff!! The crystal explodes and everyone within a small burst template is hit by flying shards of broken glass! Zayifid is Shaken and Wounded! Tamir looses his nerve and turns tail. Fuk shoots him in the back and the halfling wizard does not get up. Zain recalls that Tempest is a genie-bane weapon and he is presently in combat with a rogue djinni. He makes a Wild Attack, hits with a Raise and does a truck-load of exploding damage, far more than Zayifid can Soak with his remaining Bennies. With Zayifid and Tamir both defeated, the remaining One Source thugs cut their losses and retreat. The Unchosen fight on, eager to join their late king in gnoll hell. The heroes are only too happy to oblige. The heroes loot the bodies. Tamir was wearing a [B][COLOR=rgb(44, 130, 201)]Ring of Defence[/COLOR][/B] that boosted his Toughness. Fuk claims the ring to offset the loss of Vigour when he was incapacitated in Book 2. Misfar recognises Zayifid's broken weapon as a [B][COLOR=rgb(44, 130, 201)]Polar Staff[/COLOR][/B], which enables the user to apply ice trappings to his spells at no additional cost. He reckons that the weapon can be repaired by replacing the shattered crystal. The party also raid the One Source coffers and bump up their Wealth die. Radi and Rumi Hamda are safe and resume their journey to Kelmarane, accompanied by Felliped the Bard, who has concluded his own business in Katapesh. The heroes return to Rayhan's villa. Nadiyya, Misfar and Zain are all injured from the fight in the warehouse and opt to rest before activating the portal to Kakishon. Fuk is left to his own devices. [B]"I hear the Sunset Ship has returned to the city,"[/B] Rayhan tells the goblin, [B]"It last came through Katapesh over a decade ago. I'm going to pop over and see what the good captain has to trade. Under no circumstances should you mess with the Scroll in my absence!!"[/B] Rayhan pauses on his way out the door and turns back to Fuk. [B]"I really cannot stress that point strongly enough. Do not tamper with the relic! Don't even look at it while I'm gone, and definitely don't do anything weird, like lick it, or something."[/B] Fuk tries his best, he truly does. He takes all the arrows out of his quiver and organises them by length. He goes through Rayhan's magic food preservation chest and makes an awesome sandwich. He even starts the first draft of his hard-hitting autobiography. He lasts nineteen minutes and fifty-three seconds. Misfar shoots up in bed, overwhelmed with the feeling that something awful is about to happen. Then something awful happens. With a sudden explosion of light and sound, the world is engulfed in fire. The ground itself seems to give way and suddenly the wizard is plunging through a vortex of fire, plummeting into the throat of a volcano. Zain, Nadiyya and Fuk fall beside him, their expressions almost comically horror-struck. A sense of vertigo overwhelms even the fire and noise, as the sensation of falling grows into a tempest of burning wind. Shapes begin to emerge from the firestorm; warriors formed from smoke and fire, adorned with glittering jewellery and wielding scimitars of fire. They surge upwards, roaring a collective battle-cry, oblivious to the heroes tumbling passed them. Then comes the last of them; a towering warlord with curling horns and an enormous, burning sword. This figure does notice the party and bows mockingly as the they plummet toward him. Then he is gone, rocketing upwards in a plume of choking black smoke and bright cinders. The violent firestorm ends as suddenly as it began. For a moment, the heroes can see nothing, hear nothing. Slowly, sensation returns; the sound of waves breaking on a sandbar, the cool sea breeze against exposed skin. The heroes rise unsteadily and take in their surroundings. They stand on a tropical beach, a sandy wedge positioned betwixt the azure sea and lush green junglescape. The only sign of civilization is a simple hut erected beside a low stone jetty. Tropical birds squawk from the dense foliage, a disharmonious welcome to this strange paradise. [B]"Fuk not do anything!"[/B] Fuk cries, a little suspiciously. Welcome to Kakishon. [I]TBC[/I] [/QUOTE]
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