Sand and Storms

6th of Camince, 1485

Wow… so much happened in the past couple of days. We were attacked by a blue dragon on our way to the tomb, and we managed to avoid it through intelligent use of teleportation magic. The young enchanter who tried to join us for the tournament in Wei Jang showed up and accompanied us for much of the way… apparently the boy is also seeking out the djinn.
 
We found ourself backed up against the rock of the tombs with the dragon fast approaching, surrounded by his summoned elementals. I was able to open a passageway through the rock to allow us to pass through unscathed, it closed just in time to prevent the dragon from following us, or breathing through the gap. We fought a behir when we entered the tombs, and Alucard proved himself to be more than just talk – he is actually pretty decent in a fight (although I would expect such from a dhampir who claims to be as old as he does).
 
Grimaldus and Hasim led us down the passageways, I was uneasy as I could sense how deep we were going… it felt like we might be approaching Narvoth when the passageway opened up and we found ourselves face to face with the ghostly visage of a fire giant. He claimed to have trapped the djinn further along as punishment for some long-ago crime. Hasim was able to convince him to let us pass, because the wish that we wanted to make would cause the djinn great annoyance and increase their personal misery.
 
We finally found the djinn… in a room guarded by several constructs, stone golems to be precise… we tried to avoid an altercation, but as is usually the case, the outcome was inevitable and so we fought. We defeated the stone golems and the djinn began wreaking havoc. Finally, I was able to get my hands on the lamp, and they calmed under my control.
 
I made our first wish – the one that Vlatrossi had written in a hundred languages… boiled down, it was a wish for us to be able to bypass the curse of the Nameless City. I wish that I knew the specifics of how they granted the wish… but I did feel a cool tingly breeze pass through the room as the djinn said our wish was granted.
 
Then the boy, who Secilia revealed to be Belzy, asked for his wish – the one that he had come seeking… to free the spirit of his friend, Kyoko, from the mind of Princess Anastasia. I couldn’t help but wonder if, by handing the lamp to Belzy to make his wish, if I was losing my own chance to find the Princess in her dream, for last time, it was Kyoko who pointed me to Anastasia…
 
Hasim was standing next to me when a portal opened in the doorway, and two figures stepped out… Karkhadon, the dragon-man from Wei Jang stepped into the room, accompanied by an Abashai. They tried to get me to give them the lamp so they could make the final wish… something to do with removing Weejas’ body from Vignir’s possession so that it could be destroyed, and another judge of the dead raised in her place.
“Give me the lamp.” Hasim whispered next to me. “Trust me.” He sounded hesitant as though he was expecting me to deny him. But, I had no desire for the final wish, and Hasim is intelligent… and I do trust him. I trusted him enough to bring him to my parents’ house and sit him at my mother’s table…
 
I saw the abashai begin to cast a spell and before I could even react, the lamp was jerked from my grasp. Fortunately, Hasim’s quick reflexes enabled him to catch it out of the air and he shouted his wish. Hasim wished for him to go to the same afterlife as his wife, and retain all of his faculties when he dies… it is a noble wish, if impractical… but I know that were I in his position, I would likely wish for similar… why bring his wife back to life when she could just be killed again… and then there would be no recourse for him…
 
As Hasim cast the third and final wish, he loudly called out that it was horrible of the newcomers to release the djinn like they did. A primordial roar of anger shook the entire tomb, as the spirit of the fire giant raged.
 
A dagger flew out of the shadows and struck me in the side. I could feel insidious poison begin working its way through my bloodstream, making me weaker and fogging my mind. I put pressure on the wound as best as I could and continued fighting… although most of my time was spent countering the spells of the abashai. The dagger had come from Hasim’s nemesis… the man who had arranged for the murder of his wife. As soon as Hasan (I believe that was the name Hasim was shouting) arrived, Hasim focused single-mindedly on killing him, giving little thought to his own life. I can’t say that I blame him though… for if I was looking at someone who murdered my family, I do not even want to see the level of destruction that I would wreak.
 
The entire chamber began to tremble. I shouted for everyone to get close to me so I could teleport us out. Inira lost her mind, giving herself fully over to the beast she’s become… she was in a frenzy, ripping apart and draining the body of one of those who’d shown up with Karkhadon… It was like something out of a nightmare. Fortunately she ended up pulling herself out of it enough that she was able to join us… even though a part of me wondered if it would have been better to leave her. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, even though it did cross my mind.
 
Finally, when I managed to get everyone close enough, I teleported us to the city of Arlen. We met up with a contact of Hasim’s in a sleazy tavern called The Tainted Cauldron… the man fancies himself a wizard, apparently. We will see if he can actually deliver a basic spell or information… the racist pig. I did contribute to the questions for him to find answers to… “divination wizard” as he claims to be.
 
Now I am writing this in the mansion that Alucard conjured in the middle of the city. It is a pleasant place in here… it makes me feel somewhat at home once again being surrounded by this much magic. I am watching Inira though… she is restless as though she cannot sleep. I heard her mention something to Alucard and Grimaldus about needing soil from her homeland and a coffin. I suppose the tales must be true then… about vampires needing to sleep in the soil of their home in a coffin… she looks like she hasn’t rested in days… which I suppose makes sense, all considering. What I don’t understand is why it makes me feel bad for her… she isn’t Inira anymore… is she?
 
Hasim’s contact arrived, Galus, I think his name is, the weaselly bastard. He had answers to some of our questions, and the one I asked, about a fey who could guide me through the dream, he pointed me to a human named Delilah somewhere in the north. Why the fuck he thinks a human should be able to help me navigate the dream, I have no idea, but it might be worth at least exploring the possibility. I personally think he is full of shit, but we’ll see.
 
He did tell Hasim that his child is in danger though. Apparently, the boy has been taken somewhere in the jungles to the southeast. As that is home to the grippli, I decided to contact Kent and see if he will meet up and guide us safely through his ancestral lands. His reply was immediate. He will meet us at the edge of the jungle in a few days time. It will be nice to see him again… and I will take great amusement in watching the others meet him – if their reactions are anything like Grimaldus’ was in Latria, it will be quite entertaining…
 
Secilia approached me not long ago and asked if I would teleport her to her childhood home. It kind of came out of nowhere, but I told her that I will on the morrow. I need to rest and meditate before I cast any more major spells. I don’t think she will like what she finds, seeing as her home is in Three Towns… from what I’ve heard, that whole area was completely ravaged by the dead… but, we will see in the morning.
 
For now, I must rest…