[Hourglass of Zihaja D&D 4e] Heroes on a Sea of Swords IC

Medinah

While she may not have been able to breathe in the familiar air, Medinah still gave the illusion of doing so as she smiled at being back in their home port. She nodded absently at Alvah's offer as she looked around the docks for signs of the Midnight Mirage.

"Yes that's fine. You're all free to conduct any business you choose while we're in port, just please return to the Midnight Mirage before dusk as I'm sure the Captain will want a debriefing before deciding on our next course," she replied, still looking out for where their ship might be. That's when she remembered it, her promise to take Amirah shopping again once they reached the City of God. She looked down almost sheepishly at her friend.

"I, ah, would you mind waiting 'til I've had a chance to get back to our ship before we go on that shopping trip?"

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Originally Posted by Medinah

"I, ah, would you mind waiting 'til I've had a chance to get back to our ship before we go on that shopping trip?"

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Amirah, Living Swarm

Amirah's mental voice has just the slightest hint of a pout, "OK, Medinah!Best Friend. But please, don't take too long."

Then, turning to Jalil, she asks, "Your sky fire!Lightning tattoo... did you get it here? Do you think We!Swarm could get one of our own?"

Jalil

"Civilization at last." Jalil says as she steps off the barge and nods with approval at the busy market. She raises an eye at Amirah. "I don't..." She says and then stops. "Well. I don't really know one way or the other. It's not a tattoo like sailors often get but a conduit through which energy is channeled. It is not a simple thing to do. It may be possible, but it may deal irreversible harm instead. Let me consult some others that I know before we make any rash decisions."

"I have some business to attend to. Midnight Mirage at dusk, then." She says and nods her head to her companions before striding off through the market throng.

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Going to her families estate to report to her brother.

Alvah Nasab, Voice of Thunder
Alvah nod to his allies and say,
"See you all at Dusk then. Be careful."
The bard then stroll down the street.

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Will post details in private thread when Shadow create them .

Medinah

After the rest of the group had parted and as they walked along the docks, Medinah had a thought. She motioned for a mental communique between herself and her best friend.

Amirah, what you asked about the djinnimark, Jalil's magical tattoo, if such a dweomer can be inscribed onto a swarm I wonder if it might work for... me. After all, that soulless pile of rubbish we left back in Ilud managed to have some kind of tattoo of its own, and I'm ten times the warforged that thing is. If the djinnimark works out for you, would you mind sharing your insights with Rahman and I? He's the only one I trust to work on my chassis, and you, well you I trust completely.

She was laying it on a bit thick, but it was a lot to ask, and the feeling was genuine.

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Originally Posted by Medinah

Amirah, what you asked about the djinnimark, Jalil's magical tattoo, if such a dweomer can be inscribed onto a swarm I wonder if it might work for... me. After all, that soulless pile of rubbish we left back in Ilud managed to have some kind of tattoo of its own, and I'm ten times the warforged that thing is. If the djinnimark works out for you, would you mind sharing your insights with Rahman and I? He's the only one I trust to work on my chassis, and you, well you I trust completely.

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"Sure! We!Swarm'll watch how they do it. But We want to go shopping first. We have run out of mead... again." The last word is thought slightly shamefacedly. "The fight with the pirate warforged!Pile of Junk took a lot out of Us."

Letting Medinah go about her business with the captain, Amirah pulls out a long coloured string from her pouch, and starts playing with Figment.

Medinah

If Medinah were physically capable of laughter she surely would've chuckled at her friend's adoption of her verbiage toward the warforged pirate. Instead she just smiled. Then she realized something.

Ah, Amirah, if we're going into the city together you may want to leave Figment aboard our ship, or unsummon him if not. I'll be going now to the sultan's palace to see the captain as that's where she's staying. I didn't want to say so out loud when we all parted ways, you never know who may be listening. Perhaps we could do our shopping on the way back from the palace?

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Yeah sorry GW, I forgot all about that. Hopefully this works as a way to move things forward.

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Originally Posted by Scylfing

Ah, Amirah, if we're going into the city together you may want to leave Figment aboard our ship, or unsummon him if not. I'll be going now to the sultan's palace to see the captain as that's where she's staying. I didn't want to say so out loud when we all parted ways, you never know who may be listening. Perhaps we could do our shopping on the way back from the palace?

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Amirah, Living Swarm

Amirah stills the thread, and looks intently at Figment for a few moments. Then, she sends back a thought, "Figment says she would rather play in the forest." Standing, her magic flares up as a portal opens and Figment slips through. Amirah stands, and as usual a few bees escape the clothes, circle her to make sure her being is hidden, and then dive back in. "Lets go!"

Medinah

And with that settled they were off down the road toward the palace, the two resuming their standard image of a robed young noblewoman with her silent female protector, much the same as they had a month ago down these same city streets.

Medinah had not dropped her guise of an ordinary (if exceedingly well-armed) Iludai woman, but was eager to at least bring back her blue hair once they were reunited with Shaur and back in the familiar confines of the ship.

Sultan's Palace, City of God
Amirah and Medinah recognize the two dervishes guarding the gates to the palace grounds from their shopping trip last month, before all this maddening war and magic pirates stuff began. As the pair of... women... approach them, they advance to meet them warily.

"What business have you in the palace, citizens?"

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Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Sultan's Palace, City of God
"What business have you in the palace, citizens?"

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Amirah, Living Swarm

After a quick consultation with Medinah, Amirah sends a response thought, "We wish to visit Captain Shaur al-Farid. She is staying at the palace."

Amirah does his best to tone down the overlaying images, not wanting to unduly alarm the guard.

Sultan's Palace, City of God
The dervish gives Amirah a strange look, and his aazlai companion laughs. The lion-man speaks. "Do you think it is so easy to enter the Sultan's palace as that? Unless you have an appointment with the Captain, there is no business between you."

Medinah

Medinah rubbed her temples in apparent frustration with the guards, but it was (mostly) just a signal to Amirah to open mental communication.

Well at least they're taking precautions. You'll have to tell them who we are though, and--you know, nevermind, I'll tell them. I can't be hiding in plain sight all the time in these situations, and I should think what I have to say will be more convincing if it's coming from me anyway.

And so thinking, she proceeded to speak--a rare occasion in peacetime outside the Mirage--in all her grinding metal monotonous glory.

"I am Medinah, sworn protector of the Midnight Mirage and bodyguard to Captain al-Farid, newly returned from a special mission with our vessel's esteemed Hunters, whom Amirah standing before you is one of the finest. I am eternally grateful for the sultan's protection of our captain and first mate, we would not have been able to undertake our mission otherwise, but it is time I resume my duty and relieve you of yours in this regard."

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Hopefully the guards at least were briefed on who we are at least, but just the same do I need to roll anything here?

Sultan's Palace, City of God
The metallic voice startles the two guards at first, but they quickly resume their posture. The lion man speaks again.

"Ah, it is the Captain's blasphemous mechanical bodyguard and her insect collection, then," he responds icily; he'd been far more congenial with them months earlier when he hadn't known precisely who they were. "She has asked that you be permitted entry upon your return from wherever it was you were. I shall escort you inside," he adds, still curt. His human companion taps him on the bracer.

"Perhaps I should escort them, honoured brother." The aazlai haruumphs and makes a dismissive gesture, and the gates swing open as his human counterpart leads you through.

"I must apologize for his manners. He is a dedicated servant of both our sultan and the almighty one, but his are a wild people and they know little of common courtesy."

Seems that it's a day for racists.

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Amirah can tell that the human guard doesn't like allowing magical creatures into the compound any more than his companion, but he's much better at hiding his displeasure. With all the eyes of the swarm at her disposal, however, he cannot hide that displeasure from her.

Medinah

Medinah eyed the aazlai coldly but said nothing to him, taking him for a lackwit and caring nothing for his opinion. Instead, she nodded to the human guard and, after they had passed through the gates and walked down the path a bit she offered her polite yet pointed reply (still in this forced formal monotone).

"I am grateful for your understanding, and I presume that Captain al-Farid has enjoyed a hospitable respite here, receiving not less than what such 'common courtesy' allows despite her possessing certain characteristics the less-mannered might also view with derision."

Amirah, Living Swarm

Amirah easily dismisses the comments of both guards as the sign of the limited understanding of males, and simply follows Medinah into the palace. She does take a moment to let Medinah know that their guide is a better actor, but as much of a douchebag, as the one out front, although maybe not in those exact words.

Sultan's Palace Interior, City of God
The guard stops before a room on the second floor. "I must return to my duties," he says, performing a simple reverence. "Your Captain is roomed in the chamber beyond. Blessings of the almighty Qirus upon you, Hunters." The guard departs back the way you came, leaving you stand in front of the door to the Captain's temporary chambers.

Medinah knocks, and hears the Captain's voice answer that they may enter, though she seems somewhat grumpier than usual. As the pair enter the chamber, they are greeted by a rather lavishly decorated chamber, though sparsely furnished. The central rug is a rather elaborate red and violet affair.

She turns, her demeanour dour. "What can I do for you?" Given the pair's disguises, she doesn't immediately recognize either of them.

Medinah

"What troubles you, Captain?" Medinah asked sincerely, dropping her illusion as soon as she and Amirah were completely inside the room, the door closed.

Shaur al-Farid
The Captain's demeanor visibly brightens when she sees that it is two of her Hunters that stand before her. "Ah, Medinah, Amirah, you have returned! That's splendid!" She embraces the machine with a clank, and then turns to the swarm and just smiles, knowing that a hug would not exactly work on the amorphous form beneath the clothes. "As for what troubles me, it's those damn Corsairs. The 'zhong fleet gets closer to our shores every day, and those rats keep making things difficult for us. Vertasi apparently single-handedly conquered Luardo after we left her there to await trial. How did she do that?" Her tone is frustrated and annoyed, the tone she often uses when complimenting her quarry after they do something clever to elude capture.

Medinah

Medinah stood in shock at the news of Luardo's fall.

"We had learned of her escape, just as I'd feared, but Luardo... how...?"

She stopped mid-sentence, her mind returning to that now-fateful day when she handed Vertasi over to the authorities, then back further to her interrogation on the deck, then finally to the Snake's surrender. At any of those opportunities Medinah could have ended her--regardless of what that fool of a vampire had said--and prevent so terrible a loss. She was now convinced, this was her fault and her responsibility to fix.

"Never mind, I'll kill her myself, her and that pretender of an emperor she's mated to. What'd Kalam find out about–" she vowed darkly, reverting back to her new consciousness, but caught herself doing it too late. She paused to look at the Captain, then glanced over at Amirah before looking back at Shaur. "Ah. Well, much has happened, Captain, as you can doubtless tell. Shall we begin at the beginning then?"

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I was thinking this would be a good point, in the interests of saving time, for us to skip past our retelling of all that had happened on our sidequest. The only thing Medinah would leave out is the exact details of how Lord War's tampering with her vestiges had liberated her from both their interference and from her creator's original programming: since no one's said anything yet about her power source, she doesn't see the need to bring it up. :smallwink:

Shaur al-Farid
The Captain raises an eyebrow and takes a step back, hand moved ever-so-slightly closer to the hilt of her cutlass; or rather, where it would normally be, were it not confiscated for the duration of her stay within the palace walls.

"Yes, I think it best to start at the very beginning, Medinah. What, exactly, have I missed?"

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We can skip this if you like, or you can summarize here IC for the Captain. With an IC summary, you can be sure of which details you presented to her; if we choose to handwave it, please at least outline OOC what Medinah covers so I know what Shaur's in-game knowledge is about what has transpired of late.

Medinah

Though it wasn’t something her metal visage could show, Medinah could not help but feel a twinge of what must be sorrow and disappointment at the Captain’s apparently mistrustful, even fearful reaction.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to cause you alarm, Captain. I assure you, I’m still me--even more me than I’ve ever been--but assurances aren’t data so I’ll tell you the full story and you may render judgment howsoever you will.”

From there, Medinah went on to relate all that transpired from their arrival on Ilud until their departure from Aqur, pausing for any questions the Captain may have or for anything Amirah wished to add, particularly regarding the encounter with Abdullah, the sorcerer who made her.

As for the particulars, she related how they had been attacked by a group of young iron dragons, which they subdued without slaying any and thereby won favor with their surrogate mother, the adult silver dragon Rimefang. She made sure to mention they later learned that Rimefang possesses the head of a medusa.

She told of their exploration of the cave site and each encounter therein, starting with how the crew from “The Drums of War” had attempted to lay an ambush for them, but to no avail. She told all they had gleaned from that fight and its aftermath, making sure to mention that this was the second time these pirates had laid a trap specifically for the Midnight Mirage or her hunters.

She talked of how they met Abdullah in his attempt to reclaim Amirah, and related his offer (such as it was) to permit her to remain whole but under his observation and control, which proved a poor deal and so they drove him off and captured one of his “usurper-prince” chimera insects. Again she afforded Amirah every opportunity here to fill in whatever details she wished.

She then related their meeting with “Lord War” in Rimefang’s “garden” (listing off the known “statues”), from the warforged’s disabling of Rahman to the battle and what they were able to learn from him regarding the pirates, particularly this supposed heir to Admajai, King Raven. She told of how EG-001 somehow had the ability to sever her connection with the vestigal entities that had linked with her own soul, but that by doing so he had also managed to sever her both from their influence and from her creator’s, freeing her will completely.

“That wasn’t its intent, I’m sure, but that junk pile’s little trick removed the fail-safes preventing me from accessing the power source my maker used to animate me. You might say I’m my own maker now.”

She told of how, despite many of the hunters being on the brink of death, they were able to work together to defeat the warforged pirate – until its magical tattoo began restoring it. She related what she could of its magical properties and connected it back to Vertasi’s own tattoo, and that even though she’d been able to cut Lord War in half at the mark it still began to reconstitute itself--even after a purple worm that called the cave system home arrived to try to make a meal of it only to spit it out of the cavern to an underground lake, where they found the Drums of War and saw her crew retrieve it.

She told of how they went on to find the petrified remains of the Admajai mage cadre--all but one, that is--and that they recovered all but one part of the cipher. She related the further information they’d learned about this cadre from Rimefang, noting that they did not divulge their intent to assemble a cipher, and expressed that although Rahman intends to retire from combat she hoped he would still be able to research the missing part of the cipher.

Finally, she told of her unfortunate run-in with one of the multitude of thieves who stalk Aqur’s streets, but related that Jalil’s connections proved fruitful in recovering the stolen gold, the remainder of which she handed over to the Captain.

“We’ve also recovered two warforged chassis--simple mass-production models, nothing special, but no doubt worth a hefty sum to collectors at least--and with that some nice magical loot off the pirates. I’m sure ‘Lord War’ will want its tulwar back, but maybe not when I’m done with it--I’m thinking of asking Rahman to transmute it into a long knife.

“So now you have my report, Captain, and I hope with it I still have your trust for you’ll always have my loyalty.”

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Originally Posted by Scylfing

Again she afforded Amirah every opportunity here to fill in whatever details she wished.

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Amirah, Living Swarm

Amirah stays silent, allowing Medinah to report in the crisper, military style preferred by the captain, but does occasionally send mental pictures of the situations, enemies, dragons, etc. encountered. As before, these mental pictures are slightly off, filtered as they have been through the multitude of eyes of Amirah's swarm, but they provide a nice visual addition to Medinah's report. At Medinah's request, she sends a very clear picture of the ship used by the pirates. Even though the wood looks purple-greenish in Amirah's mind's eye, the shape of the bow, rigging and other details come through as clear as Amirah's extensive experience in ships can provide.

By the end of the report, the captain's mind is probably more than a little sore from absorbing so many different images in a short period of time.

Captain Shaur al-Farid
The captain takes in the report somewhat warily, but Medinah's assurances that she is still the same individual seem to assuage her trepidation. She takes in the report, nodding at times and frowning at others, but she knows better than to interrupt the pair's train of thought, especially in Amirah's case. Once she has the entire report, she's had some time for analysis and responds at last.

"We'll need to have a longer chat, you and I, but later, Medinah. I'm happy that you feel more free, but I would like to go over with you exactly what changes this new freedom entails." She turns to look out the window, on to the city streets below. "The Corsairs have mastered some sort of magic, that's for certain. Whether it's the arcana that Alvah alluded to before you left, or something else, they're not only powerful, they're organized." She pounds her fist on the table to her right. "I should have had us stay for the execution. We might have been able to stop Vertasi..." she begins, but trails off. She turns back to regard her two Hunters.

"Emperor Raven The First of New Admaja, as he's calling himself, has sent an envoy here to the palace. He's a pirate working for a pirate and nothing more, but he likes to dress in fine silks and gold and pretend he's an 'ambassador'. Just having to put up with this insufferable 'Lord Coyne' - the pirate's giving his lieutenants titles now, apparently - has got me on edge. Until the Sultan has finished officially rejecting all of Coyne's demands, our privateering contracts against the Corsairs are frozen. We're going to have to turn our attention to the snake men now."

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Originally Posted by Captain Shaur al-Farid

"Emperor Raven The First of New Admaja, as he's calling himself, has sent an envoy here to the palace. He's a pirate working for a pirate and nothing more, but he likes to dress in fine silks and gold and pretend he's an 'ambassador'. Just having to put up with this insufferable 'Lord Coyne' - the pirate's giving his lieutenants titles now, apparently - has got me on edge. Until the Sultan has finished officially rejecting all of Coyne's demands, our privateering contracts against the Corsairs are frozen. We're going to have to turn our attention to the snake men now."

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Amirah, Living Swarm

"Captain!Queen, what demands is this Coyne!male making?" Amirah asks, before explaining, somewhat cryptically, "A rival hive's intent can be read from the flowers they chose to visit and defend".

Captain al-Farid
She throws up her hands and begins pacing. "Any number of things. Mostly, that the City of God recognize the sovereignty of their new Empire, that all the murderers and rapists and thieves that make up their "navy" not be persecuted by the other city states on the coast for their crimes... they want infrastructural assistance from Naranj and Muarzibet to rebuild the parts of Luardo they destroyed in their takeover. They want refugees from Luardo to be denied asylum and sent back. How they think the Sultan will acquiesce, I have no idea."

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Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Captain al-Farid
She throws up her hands and begins pacing. "Any number of things. Mostly, that the City of God recognize the sovereignty of their new Empire, that all the murderers and rapists and thieves that make up their "navy" not be persecuted by the other city states on the coast for their crimes... they want infrastructural assistance from Naranj and Muarzibet to rebuild the parts of Luardo they destroyed in their takeover. They want refugees from Luardo to be denied asylum and sent back. How they think the Sultan will acquiesce, I have no idea."

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Amirah, Living Swarm

"If all they!pirates have is demands, they!pirates don't want the Sultan!Queen to agree," Amirah projects. "They!pirates might be trying to get time. Maybe to get attacked, but that won't happen with lizardmen!swarm already coming to conquer. If there is no honey offered, they!pirates don't want this talks to work."

Captain al-Farid
She nods in assent. "My thoughts exactly, Amirah. The pirates are buying time to invest themselves in their "New Asanam". Once the she-da-zhong and the city states have beat the living tar out of each other, they can potentially sack and conquer the cities along the coast and the river. All the more reason for us to finish decoding that spell so we can make this war more one-sided." She turns to face the door, and begins to lead the pair out of the room. "We need to report to the Sultan and thank him for his hospitality. I want to get back on the water and kill some snakemen."

Medinah

Understanding that Shaur would want to know more about her free will, Medinah nodded at her request to continue their discussion later--and already began considering her responses to potential questions.

As such, she was preoccupied with her thoughts during the captain's exchange with Amriah, though she had to scoff at the notion of a "New Asanam," let alone an "Emperor Raven the First of New Admaja."

"Indeed, and hopefully Master Shamis will need little time researching the final piece while we deal with the snakes, because I'd greatly like to show this upstart 'Emperor Raven' personally the true might of the Admajai," she stated, but paused afterward while she considered a new thought--and absently tapped the hilt of her anima blade. "Captain, I don't suppose we'll get to meet this alleged 'ambassador' before we set sail?"

(((OOC edit: sorry for the wrong speech color, was thinking of another character. It's fixed now.)))

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I'm fine with moving on, that's just something I felt Medinah needed to say first. The "longer conversation" between her and the Captain can take place in her private thread.

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Originally Posted by Medinah

"Captain, I don't suppose we'll get to meet this alleged 'ambassador' before we set sail?"

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Amirah, Living Swarm

"We!Swarm could see if ambassador!male is in his room!hive-cell. And if he isn't, We could see if his pirate!queen gave him written orders..."