[Dungeons & Dragons 3.5] Shadows of Greatness, parts 59 - 64

59. House of the Rising Sun

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As I stood gazing about me in shock, I realized that I was not alone upon the spire where the godlings had deposited me. The tower was not large enough for its winding stair to accomodate all of our party, but Nekaya and I had arrived on the same tower along with our steeds. The remainder of my friends had each landed separately upon other towers, accompanied by their own mounts. The temple had eight towers in total. As we arrived the faithful were singing a welcome to the dawn, but their voices faltered when they noticed the strange occurrence of our appearance.

Many in the courtyard full of worshippers below began to gawk and point at our predicament. I wondered how we would descend from the towers, for horses are not made to climb down stairs, and some of the mounts faced in the wrong direction for descent. Each tower had a small platform near the summit, but such were too small to permit a horse to turn around.

As we stood wondering what to do, we found ourselves approached by a number of people. One man rode up to Rock aboard a carpet similar to the one we had employed in our assault on Brimstone Keep. A priest climbed the stair up the tower Nekaya and I occupied and began to speak with Nekaya, who stood lower down the stair than I. I caught a glimpse of a man simply flying without visible support toward Erim's vantage.

The flying man must have offered some magic to Erim, for within a few moments both the young mage and his horse had flown down to the courtyard below. The priest with whom Nekaya spoke had descended to seek assistance, and now the flying man approached us. He offered to cast a spell upon both of us and our steeds in return for a few gold coins. Nekaya readily agreed and made at once to pay him. I reflected that had I the ability to aid someone in a similar situation I should not seek remuneration, but I did not reject his offer.

Fortunately Pekuah is as wise as a person and I have sufficient command of Aratan that he would step off the stair at my direction, else we should have had to blindfold them to persuade them to step out into space without visible support.

In the meanwhile the man with the flying carpet had returned with several companions and a much larger carpet. Rock had been busily paying out lengths of rope from the magical spool and using them to lower all of the equipment carried by Filthy Beast to the ground. With his mount and pack pony relieved of their burdens, he was able to lead them onto the carpet and they were lowered safely to the ground.

Once Nekaya and I had reached the courtyard ourselves, Nekaya offered gold to the flying man to go and rescue Liadan. Within a short while all of our party were assembled, though only Pakkin and his wolf had managed to descend the stairs of their own accord.

The man on the flying carpet seemed quite fascinated with us as a result of our peculiar arrival at the temple, and insisted that we must dine with him that evening. He introduced himself as Remmao al-Ka. After a but of discussion with the priests, who were also impressed with us, it was determined that we should remain at the temple that night and visit with Remmao on the following evening.

It was as we led our horses to the stabling the priests offered that we noticed a singular peculiarity about our mounts: with the exception of Wolf-ogre, Pakkin's mount, all of the steeds were floating a tiny distance above the ground! On closer examination it was discovered that all of the horses now wore golden horseshoes that prevented them from touching the earth. We can only assume that this was a gift from the gods of the solar barge.

Those divinities had also given us another gift, in the form of a finely crafted wooden box. Once we had seen to the horses and been shown to accomodations of our own, the box was examined. On a velvet cushion within lay a gold ring marked with symbols of the Mulhorandi gods. A loop of satin ribbon on each side of the cushion indicated that it could be lifted out of the box. But when Rock removed the cushion, he found a second cushion beneath that filled the interior of the box as thoroughly as had the first pillow!

In a split in this cushion we observed a golden amulet or talisman that appeared to be attached to a cylinder of some sort. Two more tabs protruded from the sides of this cushion. A third cushion appeared beneath that, this one containing a rod of gray metal. Below that lay a fourth cushion with a gold scarab resting in a depression at its center.

The box continued to disgorge more cushions than its exterior seemed capable of containing, for under the scarab we found yet two more. The next held a pair of very finely made leather gloves neatly folded into a slot in the center. The last cushion had two gold cylinders tucked into its depths, which proved to be a pair of bracers when withdrawn. We observed that the bracers sunk deeper into the cushion than seemed possible without some magical aid, and that encouraged us to draw out all of the other items to examine them more closely.

The gold ring and scarab were as they appeared, but all of the other items were larger than should have been able to fit into the box. The talisman was in fact the head of a staff that stood my height in length, decorated with a sun symbol. The gray metal object was a short rod of the sort that wizards sometimes employ to contain their spells. Once we had removed all of these items it was discovered that whatever enchantment had permitted them to fit into the box no longer functioned.

After examining these items we retired to our rooms to make ourselves presentable and then made our way to a special chamber where the priests had offered to treat our wounds. We had already learned that this temple is a temple of Lathanul, which is the name by which Lathander is called in this part of the world. The priests were most kind and respectful of us, though it was Liadan who used most of Lathander's mercy to cure our hurts.

We were introduced to a chief priest called Habbath, who asked us to tell him our story. He was most interested in Liadan, having observed the symbol of Covenant's house that she wears. Thus it was she who took the lead in explaining to him all of the events that have befallen us since we first met Covenant's company in Cormyr. Habbath was aware of Covenant's quest for the Gauntlet of Dawn, but he did not appear to place much weight on it.

It was explained to Habbath that our company had sought to visit Calimport in order to learn more of what Covenant intended, so that we might either locate our missing friends or perform some action to aid them in their quest. Habbath then told us that the person most likely to know was Covenant's greatest friend, a man named Osaze Mumbai. He further explained that Mumbai would be difficult to find, but that if we sought another man called Madu el Barake he would likely be able to locate Mumbai. The priest sent out messages to seek this el Barake on our behalf.

We then sought the priest's help in determining the use of the items from the box, as well as other enchanted objects that have lately come into our possession. I neglected to mention earlier that Rock, determined to strip her body of anything of value, had simply thrown the sinister woman we had fought aboard the barge across his pack saddle and she had been transported to the temple along with us. She wore a fine suit of plate armor that Liadan had determined to take possession of once she had purified it of any lingering evil.

We were told a great deal of news from the rest of the world while we relaxed in the temple. Oddly none of us were the slightest bit weary despite our many hours of battle. Among the items of information we learned, we found that the Shades had fully emerged in Anauroch and were reportedly making war on the Dalelands and Cormyr. Liadan immediately began to prepare to use one of Lathander's blessings to contact her family on the morrow.

According to reports, the Shades were also spreading to the west, and rumor held that they might have launched an attack as far away as Waterdeep. I felt concern for my homeland and said prayers to Corellon that Evereska would stand firm against the threat. We also learned that it was fortunate we had passed through Chessenta when we did, for now the neighboring land of Chondath had declared war against Chessenta, seeking to restore its ancient empire.

There was also a disheartening report of a 'cleansing' war in Halruua, where they evidently sought to eliminate sorcery in the fear that all sorcery held some evil connection to their ancient enemies. This of course concerned us greatly, as our dear friend Phaele is a sorcerer by nature and has only just returned to her homeland. We must use the magic book Erim carries to contact Sandrue in Arrabar and see if he can reach her.

Also of concern to us was news that a magical plague had struck the people of Amn to the north of Calimshan, and as a result the citizens of Amn have turned against all use of magic. We have not made any definite plans to travel to Amn, but that is where we last heard of our former companion Fallon Nightstar, and we had entertained thoughts of seeking him in person to learn why he left us and how he returned to his native land.

Once the wizards had been summoned to examine the items from the box - which they did free of cost to us, as those items had been given us by a god closely associated with Lathander - we distributed those items among ourselves. I find myself in possession of the gold ring, which allows one great freedom of movement such that one cannot be held. It is unfortunate we did not have such an object when Nekaya and Rock met the huge creature on the barge that pinned Nekaya to its body.

I have also been given care of Brimstone, as my friends feel it is best suited to my skills. It occurs to me that I may wield it at the same time that I wield my Cormyrian blade. I will not be as effective with a longsword in my off hand as I would be with the shorter blade Nicos gave me, but that loss should be offset by Brimstone's other powers. With practice my ability to wield two longswords should improve.

With the gifts the gods have given us we are now well equipped to meet many foes. The staff, which Liadan has taken charge of, is capable of healing many injuries and even of bringing the dead back to life. The enchanted rod can absorb the magical energy of spells. The golden scarab offers arcane protection to the bearer. The gloves give the wearer greater alacrity and grace, and Liadan has taken them also to offset the cumbersome new armor she acquired. The golden bracers give protection to the wearer. I should in some ways have liked them, but the bracers given me by the dwarves are of equal use.

Among the other items we acquired prior to our journey on the barge, we found a sword capable of holding spells within it, of greater power than the enchanted blade Erim carried. He has taken charge of the new sword and given the older weapon to Rock, as either Erim or Liadan can still store spells in the blade and anyone who wields it can release the spells with the proper command.

I do not know why I am enumerating all these items in such detail. Perhaps it is to distract my mind from concern over my homeland. I shall say further prayers to Corellon for its safety, even as I pray that soon my beloved Erendis and I will be reunited.

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Quips & Quotes:

Erim: "Is he in disguise?"
Rock: "Well, sure, he's the sun god. He's in de skies."

Rock (when the golden horseshoes were revealed): "They're Air Harakhty!"

GM: "You can borrow Pakkin's pants."
Telemnar: "Is he Pakkin pants?"
GM: "No, he's Pakkin heat. A slow, spreading warmth."

60. House of the Rising Sun (continued)

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Calimport is by far the largest city of Men that I have visited in my travels, much larger than Ankhapur and also far older if the structures within are any gauge by which to judge. The aged buildings are covered in white plaster that all but glows in the brilliant sunshine. It is no surprise that the people here should venerate Lathander for his association with light.

It is also very hot here, so much so that I have taken the risk of leaving my chain shirt in my room at the temple of Lathanul. I have been wearing only the enchanted bracers the dwarves bestowed upon me for protection in the oppressive heat.

There seems a wider gulf between wealth and poverty here in Calimport than I have experienced elsewhere. The rich cover themselves and their possessions in gold and gems and dwell in vast palaces, while the poor huddle in the streets, sheltering in doorways with nothing to shield them from the sun but a few miserable rags. I shall have to seek out a temple that gives alms to the poor and make an offering. I fear that handing out coin in the streets could only lead to trouble.

Liadan has performed a ritual for each of us that will cause a contingency enchantment to activate should we be seriously wounded. As yet we have encountered no threats here, but we cannot become complacent.

In a few days' time the armor Rock requested of our dwarven friends will be prepared. As they will not reach this area for some while yet, or perhaps they are not coming here, I am uncertain, Rock has arranged with a wizard to cast a spell that will allow him to travel to them in but an instant. He has invited me to accompany him. It will be another new experience, similar in some respects to the portal that brought us to these southern climes or the divine enchantment that carried us to Calimport, but as yet I have not experienced precisely this form of travel.

Nekaya has found that there is a temple to Elishar here in the city. She reports that it is still active, though it has only a tiny group of faithful worshippers. I think that despite this she is most pleased to at last have found other worshippers of the lost god.

The high priest of this temple told her a tale of the lost god that included mention of a sword that "shall be a dreadnaught". This leaves me wondering if perhaps the Sword of the Dreadnaught which Covenant ultimately sought to locate might in fact be the lost god's sword. I hope that Covenant's friends here may be able to further enlighten us.

Liadan has also found the House of Covenant, which is no surprise as this city is Covenant's home. In contrast to Nekaya I believe she is somewhat disappointed in the House here, for it does not appear to focus so much on providing new beginnings as on gathering wealth. Nonetheless she is glad to have spoken with the leader of the organization, a man called Radagast.

Last evening we dined with Remmao al-Ka, the merchant who aided us in descending the temple spires. He is a dealer in such enchanted carpets as those he employed to assist us. He sent carriages to carry us to his mansion and provided a sumptuous repast, for he is a very wealthy and prominent citizen of this city.

He was most inquisitive about our adventures and our unusual mode of arrival in the city, but courteously sought a different subject when we demonstrated reluctance to share all of our secrets with him. In the course of the evening, when it was mentioned that we should be dining with Madu el Barake, he told us a most edifying story of Covenant's great friend.

According to Remmao's tale, Madu was once a man of immense evil and a feared rival in business to Remmao and other merchants. But Covenant's dearest friend, Osaze Mumbai, was able to convert Madu to the way of light. Madu el Barake is now respected as one of the kindest and most righteous men in the city. By this tale I could also see that Osaze Mumbai must be a righteous man, for he forgave Madu for holding him prisoner and torturing him, and the two are now such dear friends that Madu has given Osaze an entire wing of his palace in which to dwell, though Osaze is seldom in residence.

Remmao also explained to us that we were most fortunate to be able to meet with Madu so soon, for he has only just returned from a voyage to the jungles of Chult, where he regularly travels to return slaves to their homeland and freedom.

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I have only just returned from a most edifying visit to the temple of Elishar. Having no errand of import to keep me, I had accompanied Nekaya, Liadan and Rock to the temple. Nekaya had gone to participate in the dawn ceremonies there, and Liadan wished to see the temple for herself.

I met Sutan, an elder who is the high priest there, and also his son Horus and his granddaughters. One of these children is called Nekaya, much to Nekaya's surprise. Even more peculiarly, she has silver hair like Liadan, though Liadan tells me it is not the natural shade of this Nekaya's tresses. Our Nekaya remarks that she observed several women with silver hair from the temple towers, though of course we were too high to see if their hair color was natural. Perhaps it is merely a popular fashion here.

The kindly Sutan spent some little while discussing with us the history of Elishar as we told him of the ruined temple we had discovered in the Cloven Mountains of Sespech, and of the curious murals in the Chamber of Dawn. Naturally Sutan was most interested in our discoveries. In return he told us that the temple had been constructed by four brothers, known as the Soldiers of Light, who had spread the faith of Elishar throughout Faerun upon their arrival in this realm.

Nekaya shared with him the strange prophecy recited to her by the old man with glowing eyes who had aided us against the Shadows in Arrabar. Sutan did not wish to speculate on the interpretation of the prophecy, but his son Horus was less circumspect.

Horus surmises that the light of Elishar is needed to combat the Shadows that will soon oppress the world. He believes that the Shades who have arisen in Anauroch are the Shadows spoken of in the prophecy. The ancient tales known in the temple also speak of a defender of light who must die to recover Elishar's lost sword.

According to the lore of the lost god, one of the Soldiers of Light or some other personage captured all the light of the world in his hand for one day and night. During this time Shadows emerged from the darkness to plague the world. A duke of Hell, who may have been a dragon, took the gauntlet containing the light and secreted it away.

This gauntlet holding the light of the world sounds very like the Gauntlet of Dawn Covenant left us to seek, and the duke of Hell in the story may very well be the dragon with which he sought to treat for possession of the gauntlet. Covenant had also indicated that the gauntlet was necessary to locate the Sword of the Dreadnaught. Though Sutan does not wish to consider all this as fulfillment of the prophecy, it seems very likely to me that we are correct in seeing the sword and the gauntlet as the items spoken of in the ancient lore.

Nekaya has also made an impressive discovery regarding the temple: it contains a portal such as the one we employed to reach the Cloven Mountains when first our company formed. But we do not know where the portal exits, and thus far Sutan would permit only Nekaya to enter the inner sanctum wherein the portal lies.

It is to be hoped that Madu el Barake will be able to acquaint us with Osaze Mumbai, Covenant's bosom friend, who may possess a copy of Covenant's journal containing details of his quest. I pray Corellon give us aid as we come nearer to finding our lost loved ones.

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Quips & Quotes:

GM: "And for some of you, your asses float a couple of inches off the ground."

Rock: "It's hot. Calimhot."

GM: "There are stone pews in their pewy place."

Rock: "Don't quit your dye job."

GM: "They're dressed like priests, but very old-school style."
Nekaya: "That's so 1,000 years ago."

Rock: "Well, he traveled through the desert with no name."
Telemnar: "No, that was his horse."
Rock: "That was his Horus."

Rock: "You light me, you really really light me!"

Liadan: "The paladin-cam. It's black and white."

 61. An Evening Interrupted

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As the eve of our dinner with Madu el Barake approached, it was difficult to persuade Rock to set aside his repairs on the temple of Elishar. I was obliged to be most persuasive to convince him that he should return to Lathanul's temple with the rest of our friends to prepare for the evening. In some respects people are not vastly different from horses: it requires patience and a bit of cleverness to lead them in the direction one desires.

We were transported by carriage to the residence of Madu el Barake as evening fell. As we had been told, Madu is a man of immense wealth and prestige. His home is more nearly a palace than a house. It is far more impressive than any other structure I have seen, even outshining the governor's palace in Ankhapur.

On our approach to the entrance, my friend drew my attention to a group of citizens gathering near another gate in the mansion's low wall. This group appeared to represent more of the insignificant portion of Calimport's population that is not Men, and also seemed to made up mostly of folk of meager means. We could not see from our vantage why they were gathering at that location.

On giving our names to a servant who greeted us, we were conducted to a waiting room to meet our host. Nekaya had expressed a feeling of foreboding before we departed for our appointment, and as a result we had not arrived unarmed. The servant did not ask us to set aside our weapons. Only Nekaya requested that her hakra be held aside, as it is an unwieldly blade. I bore my swords, though I had elected to wear only my enchanted bracers for protection, out of both deference to the occasion and consideration for the heat.

Our host proved to be a well-proportioned man of middle years as best I can judge the years of Men. He greeted us with great courtesy and introduced us to three other guests who would also be dining with him. These were Guyan Duus, a captain of the army, the widow Sarrima, and Pel Gorrin, an administrator in charge of the construction of roads. It occurred to me that none of these guests were of the same social class as their host, though it seemed by their behavior that all three had been guests of Madu previously and were well acquainted with him.

I noticed with interest that when we gave our names to our host Rock introduced himself by his true dwarven name rather than by the nickname he has adopted, though he had given his nickname to the servant at the entrance. He has taken to appending to himself the title Outwarden of Camber. I wonder if my friend will return there when our quest is concluded.

Before we proceeded to dinner Madu introduced two further guests, brothers Mohham and Chal. It was apparent that they had not previously been his guests. Both men looked to be of the sort who might have been waiting at the rear gate when we arrived. They had put on their best attire but their poverty was readily evident, and they were obviously ill at ease in such lavish surroundings.

When we were conducted into the dining hall we met a last dinner companion, Korah, who was presented to us as Madu's close friend and chief adviser. I began to suspect that our host had some hidden but altruistic motive for his selection of guests when he seated the widow Sarrima next to the unmarried Captain Duus.

Our dinner proceeded with pleasant small talk as we were served with a variety of dishes. The food was of quality but far less rich than what we had dined upon in the home of Remmao al-Ka.

As the dinner continued and we learned more of our dinner companions and explained our own arrival in Calimport, I realized that Osaze Mumbai was not going to be present. Liadan was obviously awaiting an opportunity to remark on this. At last Rock leaned over to murmur something to her and she spoke up, asking our host if we would have an opportunity to meet the respected holy man.

Madu explained that at present Osaze was not in residence and was not expected to return for some time. In fact, the holy man was on a quest to the palace of a powerful djinn, seeking to turn the ancient and evil being to the path of Good. I had already been impressed by what I had heard of Osaze Mumbai, but now my admiration grew greatly and I truly regretted that I could not meet him.

Liadan and Nekaya then explained what we seek regarding Covenant's quest, though without giving away too many intimate details. Liadan did explain that Covenant is her father, which did not appear to surprise Madu. He asked if all of us had some relationship to Covenant, and we each explained our reason for being on our own quest. When I mentioned my wife he indicated that he has met her, which I found curiously satisfying.

Madu told us that he in fact had the journal Liadan sought in his possession, but that only Osaze could gain access to it. He then remarked that he had something he would like to show us after dinner. When the meal concluded we courteously took our leave of the other guests. Rock then also made his departure, wishing to return to the temple of Elishar and continue his work. He has long worn an enchanted ring that allows him to work without rest and he sought to take advantage of this.

Madu conducted us to a gallery on an upper floor where he displayed many portraits. We passed a large chamber filled with unusual items from distant lands. Madu's mansion contains far less ostentatious display of wealth than the home of Remmao al-Ka, for Madu has chosen to display his wealth in the form of fine artisanship from exotic locales rather than in precious metals and jewels. It was not until we saw this display that I realized my own homeland in the Hidden Hills would be considered an exotic location by most of the folk I have encountered in my travels. Even my host did not know the direction in which Evereska lies when I mentioned my birthplace.

Our progress through the gallery came to a stop before a large painting of a vast black dragon. During our conversation over dinner, Madu had explained that he knew much of Covenant's purpose in contacting the dragon. He had also confirmed Nekaya's suspicion that the dragon and the duke of Hell who had taken the Gauntlet of Dawn were one and the same. According to Madu's tale, the duke of Hell had sought a new life as a dragon. This same dragon, Ssurathrax, was portrayed in the painting we now viewed.

At the feet of the painted dragon sat a tiny figure of a man. This, said our host, was Osaze Mumbai. Much as he now attempted to convert a djinn to the path of righteousness, he had once done the same with the black dragon. Covenant had heard of Osaze's great quest and had gone to seek him out. Together they had struggled long with the dragon, though whether by words or might of arms I am uncertain. In the end it seems that though they may not have convinced the dragon to follow the way of Good, they had persuaded him to abandone true Evil.

This tale left Nekaya perplexed, for she still holds the dragon responsible for whatever fate has befallen Covenant's company. I remarked that perhaps the dragon should not be blamed. It seems that many forces have ranged themselves against the completion of Covenant's quest.

As we viewed the painting and the other items displayed in the gallery, we were suddenly disturbed by the arrival of two servants. This would not have been remarkable but that they both appeared to be ill. Liadan exclaimed that they were not living at all but had been turned to foul undeath! I rushed forward to defend against them, but before my blades could strike Liadan had summoned Lathander's righteous hatred of undead to end their repellent semblance of life. As they fell a sinister dark energy exuded from their bodies.

Liadan examined the corpses and found that one of them had been pierced by a poisoned dart. She called out a warning to our companions. Then Nekaya cried out that more such unliving zombies had appeared in the display chamber, and Liadan hurried to the paladin's side. I remained where I was to guard against further intrusion.

As I stood watching over the fallen servants, I felt a sting followed by a burning sensation at my throat. When I put my hand to my neck my fingertips came away bloodied. Then I caught a glimspe of a strange hunched creature with a long face and a coarse mane, holding a wooden tube in its clawed hands. This creature faded from sight before I could react. Alarms began to sound throughout the mansion. A terrible feral howling filled me with dread.

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Quips & Quotes:

GM: "The prophecy makes a vaguely coherent sentence."
Nekaya: "So it sounds like you!"

Rock: "I got dizzy for a second."
GM: "I hope it wasn't my GMing. That's usually nauseating."

Liadan: "Pakkin brought a bow to dinner?!"
Rock: "No wonder he was quivering."

62. A Dark Night

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Our host had joined me to observe what occurred in the fountain room. As whistles shrilled and iron bars clashed together to alert his servants of danger, he exclaimed that he must go to see to their safety. As he began to move down the corridor toward the stairs I fell in beside him, intending to accompany him and see to his defense.

As we approached the point at which Liadan stood, she peered out through the glass onto the terrace and exclaimed that she thought she saw someone. She opened the glass door with the purpose of seeing more clearly, then flinched away from the opening as one might when another person pushes through a doorway. She looked about her with concern though nothing could be seen at that moment.

A breath later one of the flickering demons appeared beside her and attacked her, though I could not see the form of the demon's strike. Liadan groaned and staggered. I sprang forward to let the demon meet my blades and then retreated back to Madu's side.

We stood opposite the entrance to the gallery and I could see Nekaya rushing another demon within that room, while a third demon menaced Pakkin. Near me, Liadan summoned Lathander's righteous flames down upon the demon that had wounded her and it vanished from sight. Within the room I saw another demon appear at the feet of the preserved elephant that dominated the gallery space.

Across the gallery lay another door admitting onto a second corridor. In the opening a demon now appeared and began to shout in a hissing, incomprehensible tongue. In the center of the room a shape formed. It took the appearance of a huge skeletal beast on two massive hind limbs, counterbalanced by a long tail. A pair of incongruously tiny forelimbs scarcely larger than a man's arms curled next to its fleshless breastbone. Its head was as large as a horse's body and its massive jaws were filled with teeth like long knives.

Curiously this skeleton was covered in sooty black powder. The beast lowered its great skull and opened its jaws wide as though to roar its fury at us, but as it lacked lungs with which to produce sound all that occurred was a cloud of black powder exuded from its trembling neck bones.

Madu hurried into the gallery chamber and removed a large scimitar-like blade from a rack mounted on one wall. Concluding that perhaps our host did not need my aid, and that the demon mage who had summoned the skeletal beast was a greater threat, I darted across the gallery to meet the mage. A demon hiding behind a statue struck me a blow. The skeletal creature made a futile snap of its jaws at me as I passed.

When I approached the demon wizard it chanted strange syllables and held out one clawed appendage toward me as if to direct its spell with more force. For a heartbeat I felt my lungs filling as though I drowned, but the sensation passed. I spat out a mouthful of brackish water and let the mage feel the edges of my swords.

Behind me I heard Liadan call the light of Lathander down on the skeletal creature. It rushed her and attempted to swallow her, but without flesh its throat could not hold her captive.

My opponent shouted forcefully and a pool of some burning green liquid formed at my feet. Through an entrance at the end of the corridor, my dear friend Rock suddenly appeared and raced up to the demon, striking it a mighty blow.

I felt my self weakening under the effects of numerous wounds I had hardly noticed before. Then a sensation of warmth spread through me and I realized that the stalwart pact Liadan had blessed each of us with previously had come into play.

A ray of Lathander's light shot across the gallery and seared the flesh of the mage. He toppled to the floor. I made certain he would not rise again with a quick thrust of Brimstone's point. But at that moment a second, much larger demon rose up through the floor, vanished, then reappeared next to me. I felt my knees weaken and my muscles lock for a moment, then another wave of arcane energy filled me as my enchanted ring thrust off the effect of his spell.

Behind the large demon Rock's face darkened with fury. Knowing that my friend could hold off the creature longer than I could in my present state, I withdrew into the gallery and took up a position opposite the elephant, drawing a potion of healing from my pouch.

As I swallowed the potion, I observed that Madu had moved to a chest near where I stood and had taken a small box from within it. My attention was drawn away from him by the impressive sight of the skeletal beast exploding into a heap of bone dust when Liadan struck it again with Lathander's divine light. Then Madu activated some trigger on the box and a ray of magical energy shot out and struck a nearby demon.

Erim had entered the gallery with sword in hand, but it was magic that he employed to eliminate another demon. He then made his way across the chamber to go to Rock's aid. I heard the sound of glass shattering and hoped it did not presage any harm to my dwarven friend. Then Nekaya approached me in the brief lull in battle and prayed for Elishar to heal me.

As Elishar's light filled me, I glanced toward the second corridor and saw a dire sight: a ghostly shape surrounded by shadowy energy had begun to arise from the corpse of the demon mage. The insusbstantial form seemed to laugh as it floated upward. The black energy surrounding the ghost seemed to pull at it as though trying to draw it down toward the floor.

A baleful voice emerged from the spirit, gloating as it condemned us. Then it chanted a single strange word, "Nalfeshnee". As it repeated this word a disturbing buzzing sound filled the air.

Rock stepped into the gallery, announcing that his foe had fled. Liadan quickly extended Lathander's mercy to all of us. Erim explained that "nalfeshnee" was the name of a type of fearsome demon, far worse than the creatures we had been struggling with. I uttered a silent prayer of gratitude to Corellon Larethian for saving me and steeled myself for further battle.

The buzzing that had accompanied the ghost's pronouncement had now become a throbbing pulse. Rock identified the source as coming from the lower level of the palace. To speed our descent, Erim conjured an opening in the floor and we floated down with the aid of magic.

The throbbing sound now resembled the beat of a vast heart. It was not difficult to determine that it came from a room we had passed on our earlier tour of the palace, a room filled with crates and containers of treasures our host had recently brought from Chult.

Before entering the storeroom we paused for Liadan to extend Lathander's blessing to us, imbuing our weapons with holy energy. We could now see an evil greenish glow shining from the room. On stepping inside I observed a green crystal floating in mid-air, spinning in place. Behind me Erim chanted the familiar words of his spell of hasty movement. I drew my enchanted stone from my pouch and set it spinning about my head, then summoned Brimstone's flames with a word.

Inside the room suddenly appeared a vast bulk, its grotesque tusked head pressed against the high ceiling. The storeroom filled with a foul odor. I noted with vague curiosity that this hideous demon had incongruously small wings attached to its broad back. The demon's lips curled into a hideous semblance of a smile and it began to chuckle.

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Quips & Quotes:

GM: "Want to know how much you missed the turn check by?"

Erim: "He'll taunt you with it later."

Telemnar: "He's taunting you with it now!"

Nekaya: "Can we have the succubus instead?"

GM: "She charges extra."

63. A Demon Awaits

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When it beheld us the nalfeshnee ceased its ominous chortling and asked if we sought converse or battle. I doubt that any of my friends could think of any subject on which they would wish discourse with a demon. Nor could I. Nekaya exclaimed that the demon should return whence it came, to which it responded that it did not know where it was and thus could not retrace its journey.

Rock ended this brief conversation with a cry of rage and rushed the demon, bounding up onto a crate to wield his hammer and axe against the infernal interloper. Nekaya followed him, her hakra blazing with the golden light of Elishar.

Erim then hurled a spell that caused a blast of intense sound to shatter various objects surrounding the demon, showering it with fragments of plaster from the high ceiling. He then moved to face the demon with his sword. From the doorway Liadan brought Lathander's holy light to bear to sear the demon's unholy flesh.

I reflected for a moment that it might be unwise to place myself within reach of a foe three times my height when I was not fully girded for battle. But this thought did not deter me. I sprang up onto a crate myself and let the demon feel the sharp edges of Melanna and Brimstone. The demon dealt me a backhand blow with one massive arm but there was little strength behind the swing.

Then the nalfeshnee lowered one arm toward the floor and a burst of eldritch energy spread from it like the ripples from a pebble tossed into a still pool. I felt the energy wash over me without effect, but I heard Erim curse as this infernal wave stripped him of the arcane haste he had extended to all of us before we entered the room.

None of my other friends appeared in any way discomfitted by the demon's effort, which appeared to disconcert it. It vanished abruptly, reappearing in the corridor and racing up the stairs to the mansion's second floor. Rock and Nekaya pelted after it. Erim took flight, sprouting a pair of feathered wings, and rose up through the opening he had earlier made in the floor of the upper storey.

As I raced up the stairs behind my friends, I heard the demon let forth a baleful howl. In response three smaller demons appeared upon the steps. The nalfeshnee then chanted a spell in some infernal tongue, but this seemed to me to have no effect.

The three new arrivals exuded an energy I found painful. But far worse was their stench. Once I inhaled it I was unable to prevent myself from spewing forth the fine repast our host had so lately served. Unable to withstand the discomfort, I withdrew up the stairs.

As I stood there gasping and retching, I watched in awe as a blow from Erim sent the nalfeshnee crashing to the floor. One of the other demons abruptly appeared nearby. This time I was able to resist the nauseating effect of its foul odor and leaped to the attack. It collapsed and faded from view.

I jumped down through the opening in the floor to approach the two remaining demons from behind. When I sprang at a second demon it vanished with a cry. Liadan had scorched it severely with a column of flame just before I struck.

With all four demons eliminated we now saw Captain Guyan arriving with a troop of guardsmen. Rock warned them of the danger of the mysterious assassins and they set off to search the mansion. Once Liadan had extended some of Lathander's grace to us to heal our wounds, we set about searching the bodies of the fallen attackers.

The mages were able to determine that a bird-skull necklace, a feathered cloak, a breastplate and a spear borne by the assassin shaman were all of a magical nature. These we gave to Madu, who offered to have wizards determine their properties on our behalf out of gratitude for our efforts to defend his home.

We then made our farewells to our host, leaving him to see to his remaining guests and servants. We arranged to return at a later time so that Liadan might seek to obtain her father's journal.

On the following day, after some hours spent assisting Rock in repairs at the temple of Elishar, I joined the rest of my companions in returning to Madu's mansion. Rock did not choose to accompany us. Madu kindly made time to see us despite his buy schedule.

He conducted us to a nearly empty suite of rooms, which he explained were the chambers of Osaze Mumbai when that worthy is in residence. In one large chamber we were shown a metal plate inset into the center of the floor. Beneath it we glimpsed a compartment shielded by a barrier of brilliant light.

Dimly discernible beneath the light was the shape of a book. This then was the tome Liadan desired. She knelt and prayed solemnly to her god for his blessing in her efforts to pass the wards that guarded the book. But though the barrier did not harm her when she touched it, neither did it permit her access to the book.

Nekaya then joined her prayers with Liadan's in the hope that the power of two gods might succeed where one had failed. But whatever enchantment held the journal, neither Lathander nor Elishar saw fit to remove it.

Disappointed, we retired to Madu's library. We had already concluded that our next course must be to seek out the palace of the djinn and contact Osaze Mumbai directly. Madu showed us an ornate map of the desert with the location of the djinn's residence clearly indicated. He also gave to us a map containing a simpler designation of this location, and a letter of introduction to a guide who would be able to conduct us into the desert to seek the palace.

He then showed us the items the wizards had examined. The bird-skull necklace and feathered cloak proved to contain enchantments that would aid a mage in casting spells. These were taken by Liadan and Nekaya respectively, and Nekaya gave to Liadan a cloak she already possessed that was of similar effect to the feathered cloak but less powerful. The breastplate and spear were both also magical but did not offer any useful arcane ability to anyone in our party. Madu offered to purchase them himself so that he might sell them.

Once again we bade him farewell, assuring him that were it in our power we would return to tell him how our tale continues. Now Rock, Liadan and I must prepare to travel to meet the dwarves while the rest of our companions await us here in Calimport.

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Quips & Quotes:

GM: "The demon's got big monkey arms."

Rock: "Nobody throws with those."

GM: "Oh, poo."

Liadan: "I shoot him in the demon hole."

Liadan: (singing) "Summon chanted evening, you may eat a stranger..."

64. A Question of Faith

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Rock and Telemnar teleported to meet the dwarves who had made a suit of armor for Rock. This took place "off camera."

When I returned from our short journey to Yalasch, I was reminded that I do not care for this city of Calimport. It will be a relief to get shut of it. It is not only the heat nor the lack of greenery that makes this city unwelcoming to me, nor even the scarcity of Tel'Quessir in this land. It is the lack of value these Calishites place on life.

As my friends and I made our way back to the temple of Lathanul from the house of the wizard Abatu, we came upon an auction of various armor and weaponry. This items, I learned, had been taken from persons captured and sold as slaves. Slavery is an alien concept to me and one that appears to me to be the most painful of fates. Nekaya finds slavery less offensive than most of my other friends, for she proclaims that in her native land it is commonplace, but there all slaves are property of the temples of the gods and there are stringent laws regarding care and treatment of slaves. No such laws appear to exist here in Calimshan.

I should have merely passed by without interest, but an item the auctioneers where displaying to the crowd caught my eye: a finely-crafted suit of armor of elven design. My curiosity was aroused and I approached and asked if I might examine it. The auctioneers courteously paused their activities to permit me to look at the armor more closely. Rock confirmed my thought that the armor was of very high quality. In addition to the armor I saw that the auctioneers intended to sell a handsome longsword of ancient design and a cloak of a type I recognized, often worn by foresters to disguise themselves amongst the trees.

Bidding on the suit of armor had already begun and had reached a considerable sum. But I realized that my past frugality had left me with sufficient funds to surpass that amount. Though I was uncomfortable with the source of the armor, I felt compelled to attempt to obtain it. I am not one to object to those of another race using the crafts of my people, but the circumstances under which this armor had been obtained caused me to feel that it should not fall into the hands of some unappreciative Calishite.

Corellon was with me, and though I was obliged to expend the majority of my funds, I successfully acquired the armor. It is beautiful, and enchanted as well as of expert craftsmanship. When I made arrangements to submit payment I took the opportunity to ask one of the men organizing the auction what had become of the armor's original owner. I was told that he was indeed one my kindred, and that he had been taken in slavery by desert tribesmen and sold at auction to a person known as Synvar the Bloodied, who often purchases slaves for combat in the coliseum.

To my regret my funds were not sufficient to permit me to also acquire the ancient sword. I must seek what became of it. In the meanwhile I have asked the folk of Covenant House if they will learn more of the armor's original owner. I wish to speak with him and aid him in regaining his freedom if I can. Having seen what can occur here if one is a foreigner without family, I am now inclined to be far more cautious in my movements about the city. I have recommended to my friends that we should not travel alone.

My desire to depart from Calimport has been further increased by Liadan's recent experience. The temple of Lathanul often sends priests to the slave pens to minister to the ills of those poor unfortunates, and Liadan offered to perform this duty. She was so shaken by that experience that she could scarcely speak of it. I would that I could do more to convince the people of Calimshan of the worth of each life, but at present I do not see how to manage such a daunting task.

While I joined Rock at the temple of Elishar to continue repairs, Erim was visited at the temple of Lathanul by a youth called Khai, who bore a letter of introduction from Madu el Barake. Erim arranged for our party to meet with Khai and his father to discuss acquiring their services as guides into the desert.

On the following morning after dawn services at the temple, we met Khai and is father Jibade in the courtyard. They are obviously people of the desert wastes, and Jibade is a man whose calm and confident demeanor encourages me. Though I cannot shake from my thoughts my dismay that other such desert folk will seize upon travelers and bind them captive for sale in the slave markets.

Jibade is willing to serve as our guide to the Pillars of Fire, the abode of the efreet Phaeretimm. Though Jibade did not speak himself, the message was conveyed to us that we must anticipate great hardships during our journey into the desert. The heat of the Great Waste is such that there may be occasions when our weapons will become too hot to hold. There are zones in which no magic will function. Huge and deadly beasts populate much of the land. Jibade requested a curious addition to the price of 500 gold pieces per person he asked for his services: He wishes to have first pick of trophies or other portions of any monsters we encounter. Evidently he wished to take such items as can be sold for use in crafting magical equipment.

We will be obliged to leave our horses here in the city, for they are too delicate of nature to withstand the heat and limited water supply in the desert. Though Liadan still carries the rune of water, we concluded that other difficulties would make horses a liability. I am reluctant to leave Aratan for fear that we may be unable to return immediately to Calimport, but I would not risk his life.

Tomorrow Khai and Jibade will assist us in purchasing appropriate attire and equipment for our trip. I think that Jibade believes our journey to be a futile one and that we will become prisoners in the efreet's dungeon. I will place my faith in Corellon Larethian that though we may indeed be subject to imprisonment, we will prevail in speaking to Osaze Mumbai and regaining our freedom to pursue Covenant's quest. Perhaps I should no longer refer to this quest as Covenant's quest. It is now our quest.