Nomen Infernale XLVIII: I Shall Fill Abythos with Djinn and Men Together
General Summary
As the party rested so that Asbjørn might regain his full strength, Theo communed with Bira to speak with the baboons of the oasis and learn if Sitre had hidden any food or goods. The baboons were agitated by his ability to talk to them, but eventually an older, grizzled baboon told him that she ate no food, only drank the black lifeblood from here snake-sister's breast which she cut open with a knife each night. Theo told the baboons that Sitre would no longer be returning and they are free and asked that they leave the party alone. Teleptyon spent his time in quiet contemplation studying the bronze dagger and the crop of Sitre but found that they are mundane items. He also looked at the bone scarab and finds that it has some kind of protection from poison but is unsure how much protection it would provide. Alex copied down the Khemian glyphs and schemed to sell charms inscribed with them in a posh town like Eknopolis before giving it to Riven for her protection.
The party searched Sitre's tent but found it surprisingly modest. Alex checked a chest that was unlocked and found it safe. On opening it they found two sets of feminine desert robes. Elissa and Riven each took one and whispered that one of them would have been perfect for Lunja. Alex slaughtered a goat much to Theo and Teleptyon's dismay and expertly butchered it. He dried strips of meat across a low fire and charred and boiled bones before making a broth for Asbjørn's strength.
As the party bedded down for the night the wind became more active with dust devil's whipping up across the oasis. On Riven's watch she began hearing the laughter of children. At first she thought it was a trick of the wind, but eventually she heard "come play with us" out in the darkness. She backed into the tent keeping her eyes on the rim of light by the dying fire the whole time and woke Kegho, Teleptyon and Alex up.
Kegho could not hear the laughing of children, but saw one of the finest horses he had ever seen step into the light. Teleptyon too saw the horse. Alex heard the singing of old Oameni songs of joy and loss and community and saw dimly lit at the edge of the fire a caravan in the traditional Oameni style. A steppe woman appeared next to the horse, hair trailing down her back. She stepped forward to Kegho flirtatiously. A man in a green cloak spoke to Riven with a distinctly Palesian accent "Come, be with your kin" but she rebuffed the vision. A Oameni woman came forward from the caravan with honey in her tone and pawed at Alex seductively. Kegho bade the woman in front of him to step back lest he strike her down. Theo was roused from his slumber by the commotion. Alex begged the Oameni woman to stand back and state her true intentions, informing here that they had been recently been badly used by an illusionist. Theo stepped from the tent and called down the blessings of the Ouranics on the party and they were free of the illusions. In their place was a tall blue woman, thrice the height of a man wearing finery that cannot be found in the planes of man.
The giantess gazed at the party with sadness and chastised mortals for resorting to violence. She stated that the cycle of violence limits the ability of the mortal races to rise to their true potential and then introduced herself as Salwa, Emissary of the Khalif of the Djinn of Steel and Ice. Alex knelt and told her that though their board may be humble they offer her hospitality. She laughed, the sound both booming and like small bells tinkling in the night "You are in my land," she said "it is I who should offer hospitality." and a table groaning under the weight of fine rich foods appeared beside her, a goblet appeared in her hand "Come, sit. We have much to discuss and little time." Riven moves first, fidgiting with the scarab of protection from poison. Salwa laughed again "If I wanted to kill you I would not need to use subtle means, the food is safe and nourishing." They eat and Salwa tells them that she knows who they are and that they have met with an Afarit. Alex responds many have asked them for the name, but he would see it destroyed rather than fall into the hands of the City of Brass. Salwa is delighted by the idea and tells him the Khalif of Steel and Ice sees the conflict beyond what their mortal eyes see. He would not have world of men succumb again to the plague god and the ghuls, but would not see that power go to the Emir's of the Afarit either. She offers them a boon, but warns them that she is constrained in her action. Theo asks for an astrolabe that they may more successfully study the stars and find the location of the Rusati. She warns him that items of metal will evaporate after a day, but he persists that one could be made of wood. She is delighted by the priest's cleverness and a most intricate astrolabe of finely polished desert ironwood appears in Teleptyon's hand "it is a good thing to understand the stars and the Ar more deeply, little mortals." and with that she is gone, but the laden table remained.
The next morning Asbjørn felt normal again and was confused for a brief moment on seeing the table, but ate with gusto after Riven popped a few grapes in her mouth while carrying Sitre's couch over to the camels. They fill there barrels and load up on the fresh food which might keep for a few days and head back into the ravine to find the Yafwadi Wastes and the Rusati.
They stopped for lunch near what appeared from a distance to be rocks and a pond of water, but on closer inspection was a Khemian structure with a stone pool in front of it. The water was clear and inviting and Alex said quick prayers to his gods, and on second thought, said prayers to the Khemian gods as well before scooping up a handful of water. It shimmered with a golden light as he touched it and he sipped, finding it fresh and filling him with profound vigor. Beyond the pool he saw two doors. He turned to call for the party to check it out but found Elissa and Riven standing behind him, judging him for his rashness. They approach the entry and see double doors. Alex and Riven checked but did not seem to find any traps. On close inspection each door appeared to be painted with the form of a female Rusati.
