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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 21, 2008 13:43:40 GMT -7
PCs
Waleed
Ya’qub
NPCs
Adila: Cursed bearer of the Seal
Jaheira, Wudei’a, Najiba: Waleed’s body guards
Mamoun: Waleed’s servant
Sahra: Ya’qub’s wife
Ahamed al-Dihliz: inkeeper of the Jasmine Dream
Lakshman: old Bharat merchant
Shari: Ministry of Secrets guard/scholar
Shabab: captain of the Bright Dancer
Rasool, Yameena, Galeel: Notable crew
10 th of Saris, Jasmine Dream Over the protestations of Batul al-Reehan, you return to the Jasmine Dream. Keesha assured her father that you were sincere in your need to be on your way. She'd bid a fond farewell to Ya'qub and Sahra, but had only nodded to Waleed. It may truly have been a servant's laundry error that had shrunk his best silk undershorts one size too small, but it bore the hallmark of the tit for tat they'd exchanged during all their travels and adventures. "Welcome back esteemed friends!" Ahamed al-Dihliz said. "My embarrassing lax security permitted that assassination attempt on my premises. Unacceptable. Unforgivable." He bowed low, hands clasped at his chest. "Permit me to attempt to redeem my establishment."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 21, 2008 21:11:11 GMT -7
The inn's best rooms were made available and servants hastened to meet every need.
During the midday meal, inside of a private inner chamber, the innkeeper approached Waleed.
"Effendi, there is someone who would like to speak with you. He calls himself, Shari. What would you have me do?"
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Post by Waleed on Jul 21, 2008 22:06:22 GMT -7
"Show him in my friend, oh and by the way, this meal... fit for royalty. Please send my compliments to the chef." Waleed bowed slightly, but not too much or too little. He didn't want to come off as insincere or a fool."
Making a slight nod and sign to his three girls and Mamoun to prepare for trouble, Waleed surmised Shari the guard was either here for blackmail or had further information for him. However, he didn't remember giving the man the location where he could be found, so obviously Waleed was thinking the former rather than the latter.
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 22, 2008 13:17:47 GMT -7
In walked the lanky guard from the Ministry of Secrets. He'd replaced his scimitar with a travel bag.
"Good day," Shari said shyly, rubbing his spectacles. "Please forgive my... intrusion... I looked for you at the al-Reehan estate but they said you'd left and that I could find you at the Jasmine Dream so I..."
He paused his speech as its rapidly increasing pace threatened to exhaust him of air. "I want to go with you!"
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Post by Waleed on Jul 22, 2008 22:01:30 GMT -7
Waleed studied the man carefully. "It's nice to want things..." pausing for a moment he continued, "Perhaps a test is in order, to discount the fact you may be a spy or assassin. You have the air of a scholar about you, so answer me this riddle and I shall give you my approval, leaving only Ya'qub to test you:"
This bridge is built of pearls most fair,
High-arching over waters gray.
It rises swiftly in the air,
To the heavens it makes its way.
The tallest ships can pass below,
Yet of all burdens it is free.
Broad as this bridge may seem to grow,
When you draw near it still will flee.
Waleed gave a wry smile and tossed 10 dinar in front of Ya'qub. "10 says he doesn't answer correctly."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 22, 2008 22:36:32 GMT -7
"Oh, ummm..." Shari stammered, clearly caught off guard by this turn of events. "Let's see..." He pushed his spectacles snuggly into place and screwed his face unconsciously into a knot of concentration.
"My thoughts leap to white pearls, but in truth they are a myriad of iridescent colors. Therefore, not a white bridge but one of many colors." Shari regained his composure and finished with a confident wave of his hand that described an arc.
"It is a rainbow that flees before you!"
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Post by Waleed on Jul 22, 2008 23:27:36 GMT -7
"Aha! Very good, I see you are well read." Turning to Ya'qub, "Your turn old man." Then Waleed tries to slyly palm the 10 dinar he had placed near his comrade, but seeing the steely glint from the merchants eyes, he thought better of it and retreated by stretching his arms as if he were a little tired. Laying back to finish his move of nonchalance, he wondered what Ya'qub would finish the man off with.
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Post by Ya'qub on Jul 23, 2008 10:06:28 GMT -7
The danger having passed, and the lost returned safely, the easy-going nature of the gap-toothed merchant was back in its accustomed place.
With a twinkle in his eye, Ya'qub cleared his throat. "Well, since the most worthy Waleed has put you to the test so effectively, I feel I must offer a riddle as well, one that befits the vocation of your most humble and worthless servant.
What's the difference between a penniless man and a feather bed?"
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 23, 2008 12:44:29 GMT -7
Shari steepled his hands before his face and thought aloud. "I've never been to good with riddles... Lessee. One has two legs, the other four..."
He took a deep breath. "One wants a chicken in him, the other is filled with chickens... well part of many chickens. Hmmm. I'll need a moment. Time, I'll need time. Wrong riddle."
"Pennies, feathers. Penniless man, featherbed."
One bushy eyebrow rose over his spectacle lens. "Ahhhh. A riddle designed to lure me into ever deeper logical pits when the answer is actually plain. Thus, the answer to the riddle is this: one is a man, the other is a bed. That is the difference."
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Post by Ya'qub on Jul 24, 2008 11:29:16 GMT -7
With a congenial laugh, the merchant answered "Oh, that's a good guess, but quite wrong. No, that's not the answer I'm looking for...."
Still chuckling to himself, he offered his desert bride a morsel of cheese with one hand, while using the other to slide the dinar coin closer to himself and further from Waleed, who suddenly seemed to be in need of a nap.
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Post by Waleed on Jul 24, 2008 14:02:05 GMT -7
"Hmm", Waleed mused as he righted himself. "Is it that a featherbed sleeps comfortably and a penniless man does not?" Waleed turned to Shari and said solemnly, "You have failed Shari, I'm afraid you cannot come with us...unless... you're willing to undertake the third and most dangerous test of acceptance into our company? The test of the flaming koumiss shot!"
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 24, 2008 14:05:34 GMT -7
Shari's face dropped.
"Oh. Umm, in that case, I'll," he resumed a thoughtful pose. "lessee... A man with no pennies. Poverty. Poor is a safe assumption, but what if he has gold? No, too circuitous."
"Then there's the feather bed. Soft. Wealthy owners. Still, they can be a bit uncomfortable..."
"The penniless man is down on his luck. Down. Down! I'm on it for sure," Shari said, smiling. "And the bed has luck on its down?"
"Yes, I'll go with that."
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Post by Waleed on Jul 24, 2008 18:59:33 GMT -7
"No no no, you don't get three tries or whatever," Waleed interjected, then thought about how rude it was to interfere on Ya'qub's turn to question the man, "that is unless Ya'qub allows it of course."
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Post by Ya'qub on Jul 25, 2008 6:33:02 GMT -7
Thoroughly entertained by making the scholar squirm and the reactions of Waleed during this exchange, Ya'qub lets out a hearty laugh, one that hasn't escaped his lips since before they set out from home.
Wiping his eyes, he gasped "Oh, that's close enough. the answer I was looking for was 'the first is hard up, the second is soft down.'"
Then looking over at Waleed,he chuckles again, what do you say? Do we release this man from his torture?"
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 25, 2008 7:22:32 GMT -7
"I pray it be so," Shari said. He shrugged in exasperation. "I'm not much of a shot... I doubt I could hit a flaming bottle of koumiss, even if it was relatively close!"
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Post by Waleed on Jul 25, 2008 13:59:16 GMT -7
Waleed lit a wry smile on his face and said, "Oh it's called a shot, but you don't shoot it, you drink it." As if from nowhere, or perhaps he had planned it all along, Waleed brought forth the small glass filled with koumiss and a shot of the finest grain alcohol. "Mamoun, a light please." After his man-servant lit the glass, Waleed moved it forward in front of Shari. "Now, when you drink it, try to get all of it in your mouth otherwise it'll spill and catch you on fire." Waleed inched back fearful of getting dowsed himself. "Come on, what's a little challenge."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 30, 2008 7:35:54 GMT -7
"Oh."
Shari unconsciously took a step backward, hands held defensively in front of him.
"I have seen faqirs in the bazaar swallow fire, but I lack such magical skills! I rarely take strong drink, maybe at a wedding or, or, such, but it was never burning."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 31, 2008 7:25:04 GMT -7
"I may not have the skills to drink fire," Shari said a bit defensively, "but I do speak Kadari." He puffed his chest a bit and straightened his spectacles.
"And if you would seek out the hidden text of Iman Suhail, I know something of this country. I've read texts and studied maps..."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 31, 2008 7:36:39 GMT -7
Looking around the table, as if judging the impact his words where having, Shari noticed the quiet Adila sitting at the table. He blushed at her intense scrutiny and open smile.
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Post by Ya'qub on Jul 31, 2008 9:32:17 GMT -7
"I may not have the skills to drink fire," Shari said a bit defensively, "but I do speak Kadari." He puffed his chest a bit and straightened his spectacles. "And if you would seek out the hidden text of Iman Suhail, I know something of this country. I've read texts and studied maps..." Still laughing at the answer to his riddle, Ya'qub waves his hand languidly to Waleed. "Again I put it to you friend Waleed; have we not tortured this poor man enough? Can he not help us in our quest to relieve Adila from her curse?" |
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Post by Waleed on Jul 31, 2008 18:40:13 GMT -7
Still laughing at the answer to his riddle, Ya'qub waves his hand languidly to Waleed. "Again I put it to you friend Waleed; have we not tortured this poor man enough? Can he not help us in our quest to relieve Adila from her curse?" Waleed narrowed his eyes as he took a long hard examined look at Shari. After a tense moment of silence, Waleed blurted out, "Yeah, okay. But if he trespasses where he does not belong," he took a sidelong look at his three women, "fate will be most unkind to you." Waleed then took up the flaming shot of koumiss, blew out the flames and downed the drink with some satisfaction. "Ah, good." Then looking at Ya'qub and then the rest, "so, what direction do we head off to help our pooor Adila." |
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 31, 2008 23:29:45 GMT -7
Shari smacked his forehead with his hand. "Blow out the flames, then drink."
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Aug 2, 2008 10:02:36 GMT -7
Mamoun leaned close to Waleed and whispered: "Master, perhaps he can make some sense of Adila's words at the fountain after we left him..."
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Post by Waleed on Aug 2, 2008 15:10:14 GMT -7
Mamoun leaned close to Waleed and whispered: "Master, perhaps he can make some sense of Adila's words at the fountain after we left him..." "Hmm, good idea. No beating for you today." Waleed turned to Shari, "Perhaps you could make sense of this:" Sisters Three Valley Born Vain Time Forgotten Stand They Beneath Eyes Unblinking Generations Waiting Hiding Aabdo |
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Aug 2, 2008 20:00:55 GMT -7
"Only the last makes any sense to me," Shari replied. "The Abdo river is a tributary of the great Nogaro. Its maybe 60 miles northwest of here, as the hawk flies."
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Post by Waleed on Aug 3, 2008 12:06:27 GMT -7
"Only the last makes any sense to me," Shari replied. "The Abdo river is a tributary of the great Nogaro. Its maybe 60 miles northwest of here, as the hawk flies." "Ah, well I guess that's where we'll head off to, well, after we talk to Saleh." Waleed said as he slipped the efreet ring onto his finger then called forth Saleh." Saleh, come forth to your new master." |
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Post by Ya'qub on Aug 4, 2008 11:25:15 GMT -7
Waleed said as he slipped the efreet ring onto his finger then called forth Saleh." Saleh, come forth to your new master." Ya'qub shifted uncomfortably in his seat, preparing to put himself between the efreet and Sahra, his Desert Bride. |
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Aug 5, 2008 22:18:45 GMT -7
A hummingbird darted from Waleed's open hand. If Sahra hadn't know better, she'd have thought Waleed was acting the role of street magician. Suddenly the bird exploded into a bloom of billowing red robes. They settled about a man whose turban was as white as the hair it covered. His turban was partially unwrapped and revealed a dark skinned face inscribed with elaborate tattoos.
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Post by Waleed on Aug 6, 2008 21:43:02 GMT -7
A hummingbird darted from Waleed's open hand. If Sahra hadn't know better, she'd have thought Waleed was acting the role of street magician. Suddenly the bird exploded into a bloom of billowing red robes. They settled about a man whose turban was as white as the hair it covered. His turban was partially unwrapped and revealed a dark skinned face inscribed with elaborate tattoos. "ooh, that was great." Waleed remarked like a little child. Then with a large smile, he said, "Great Saleh, your entrance was... eloquent, most excellent." Pausing for a brief moment, he continued, "I am Waleed ibn Alurah, it is a pleasure to meet you under more peaceful circumstances. Would you be amenable to answer some questions?" |
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Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Aug 7, 2008 6:54:45 GMT -7
"I serve," bowed Saleh. "until I am able to return what I have stolen. Ask what you will."
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