Fareeda smiled as the others put in their small introductions. She bowed gracefully.

"I am Fareeda. That is all I go by and all you need to know so far. I am a simple escort by trade, trained in the harems and knowledgeable of the ways of a companion.I am fluent in several languages and have a knack for getting, let's say, the better side of the deals I make."

She rises, but gives Abbas a sly wink. "There is another tale that tells of the bottled flame, but I would be unkind to tell all of my tales before they were due."

"A dancer?" Linni gasped incredulously. She turned to the professor, "Uncle, I'm sure we'll have enough excitement that you don't need to be... entertained by some human girl while on Scilandar."

Linni turns to Fareeda and narrows her eyes before looking back at the professor, "She has eyes for the elf anyway so I'm not sure what you're planning to get out of this." She sat back on the seat heavily, grumbling, "She better be good with a sword is all I can say."

The Professor looked up at Fareeda, squinting through his spectacles at the voluptuous young lady. Obviously recognising her from somewhere, he twisted away, stuttering awkwardly. "No. Nope. Not me. Never seen her before. Don't know what you're talking about."

Coughing, he glanced back at her, his grey whiskers twitching. Slowly but surely, and despite her difference in race, his gaze slowly lowered to Fareeda's heaving bosoms, barely concealed by her clothes. "...Though I'm sure we'll have a use for such an expert musician on board. The nights can get awfully lonely, after all. We'll all need something to cheer us up." The old gnome stroked his moustache, eyes still fixed on the bard's breasts. "Yeees. Music."

Noticing the glare of Linni in his peripheral, Professor Hingleswip snapped quickly out of his trance. Fearing a confrontation with his fiery niece, he gestured behind him at the door he entered by. "And yes of course, the Scilandar! I'm sure you've all been desperate to see - it is, after all, my finest creation." He winked at Fareeda and turned to head off, motioning for everyone to follow. "This way please!"

Following the Professor, the group made their way down a short set of stairs that culminated in a heavy set of steel blast doors, beyond which the sounds of engineering work was clearly audible. The Professor kept a constant commentary as they went, mumbling on about schematics and tactical data.

Reaching the doors, he stopped, turning to the group of perspective employees with a knowing smile. "Behold." With a grunt, he pushed the doors open, revealing the truly impressive sight that lay beyond.

The huge chamber was not so much a room, but more of a cavern, its far wall some two hundred feet distant and half that wide. The ceiling must have been seventy feet above, its centre dominated by a huge glass skylight, through which the now-scorching Calimshan sun beamed through like a nimbus of divine light. The outlines of various pulley systems and chains were visible through the glare. This huge window was designed to open...

Despite the impressive size of the cavern-like chamber, it could not compare to the object in its centre. Floating and bobbing in the dusty air, the Scilandar was truly a sight to behold, her curving hull a full forty feet from end to end. The vessel's bulging air balloon - even now struggling against the docking ropes - was divided into two capsules, separated by a central mast that stretched up to a crow's nest some twenty feet above the deck. All sorts of apparatus, pipes and strange machinery covered the vessel, filling the air with hisses, clanks and groans as it rolled gently from side to side in the concrete dock.



Sparks flew from the ship's starboard side and hammer blows resounded from somewhere in the ship's interior, indicating that the Scilandar was undergoing some sort of repair. Looking closer, it was easy to see why - huge gouges and claw marks were visible down the ship's flanks, hinting that she had been in a fight fairly recently.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:00, Mon 10 Oct 2011.

The Professor smiled as he watched his guests look out, awe-struck, into the docking area. "Some sight isn't she?" He stepped on into the massive chamber, each tap of his cane echoing through the cavernous space. "She took a few knocks in her last outing but the twins are confident we'll be able to set off by nightfall." He noted the confused looks on many of the group's faces. "Ah yes, the twins."

Turning, he walked over to the Scilandar's prow (this taking some time with his short gnomish legs) and called up to the deck. "Ham! Jens! Come say hello!" A few seconds passed before two faces appeared over the gunwhale, virtually identical but for the arrangement of facial hair and both of them smeared with oil and grease. They grinned and waved down at the new 'guests'.

Fareeda kept the shocked gasp from exiting her mouth as best she could, but it was of no use. She stared at the two men on the ship briefly before whispering aloud. "And lo there did I see the gods descend unto the world, clad in the garments of the heavens. They bade me to come with them, to fly among the birds and creatures of the sky. I told them I was not worthy and that men were not meant for the sky. They responded with laughter, telling me that if man was not meant for the sky, then I was blind. And thus I reached the pillars of clouds and saw there the men of the sky, angels upon high that watched their fellows with amusement and wonder. When asked by the leader of the sky-men as to how I came to the sky I replied, it was the will of the gods. The sky-man smiled, saying that too is how they came to the clouds. And thus came to pass the will of the gods and man was meant to soar."

Eyeing the group of strangers as fareeda began her poetic verse, Jens turned to his brother, speaking in a language none of the group could understand. "Geloth, carru'na versvesh. Karif munthrek rhyaex!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Fri 03 July 2009.

Ham laughed loudly at his brother's apparent joke. He grinned down at the group, his eyes falling on Jibril. He pointed at the man's brightly coloured clothing and made a symbol of shielding his eyes. He laughed heartily again and the two brothers disappeared from sight.

His lips pursed, Jibril frowned at Fareeda.  He was in agreement with the red-haired gnome. Jibril found it scandalous that a common whore would be accompanying them on this trip. He glanced over at the elf, while making a mental note to find sleeping arrangements far from his location. He needed his sleep after all, and it would not please him to be interrupted by tawdry noises nearby.  Which reminded him-Did I pack that sleeping mask?

Upon seeing the floating skyship, he crossed his arms and turned to the professor. "And what prevents a well-placed arrow or lightning bolt from popping that balloon and plunging us into the ocean or into a farmstead?"

Abbas nodded slowly as Fareeda explained her knowledge of the elven language and vocational role.  Unlike the others, he neither drooled over the beautiful attributes displayed, nor villianized her profession.  "It is not dissimilar from my own, I imagine - as I tend to protecting the body, she tends to the body's spirit."

An absence of heavy armour allowed the leather-clad protector to follow the progession quietly, but made his inhalation of surprise at seeing the floating airship all the louder by comparison.

"Well said, lady Fareeda," Abbas agreed and walked forward in motion that was as close to a dancing stride a person could accomplish without shifting and spinning about, and fell just this side of unmatchable grace.

Reaching up to lightly trail his fingers across the wooden frame, he measured steps around the side, marking and tracking the claw gouges into the shell.  "Or claws such as these.  This wood is durable, but one can feel a shimmer of warding resin upon the hall - I presume the airbag must be heavily magicked for protection against outside attacks and pressure changes?  Are there magics to control the weather and winds about the vessel, or does it ride captive of the breezes that blow where they will?  I imagine tacking and sailing would be of limited use without a sea's support beneath the keel."

Abbas tilted his head, soaking in the sight of the magnificient creation.  "Lady Fareeda, the will of the gods and the challenges to joining such elevated company, it seems..." the elf traced the series of claw marks and nodded appraisingly.

"Mighty birds to do such sized damage - I would think dragon, but no spell damage, and nothing obvious in bite marks.  Interesting - what did this?"

Fareeda laughed when the twins made their appearance and even harder still when she caught sight of Jibril and his pursed lips. She turned on the man and his question of the airship's integrity. Walking forward she put her hand on the mans cheek. "You of all people should appreciate the value of faith, priest." She took her hand away and walked towards the ship. "The ship and I are very similar. You would look at her and question her strength, as you have done me. Trust me when I say that looks are deceiving. Like me, she is more that breasts and a rear, however well endowed they may be. Her purpose is obvious, as is mine, though I would doubt that you had garnered that information yet. Looks from a woman can be as deadly as a bow shot and her words more damaging than a sword. Do not keep your emotions and thoughts to yourself though, let me hear from your mouth that I am wrong and you do not consider me more than a street whore to be played with and satisfy the needs of the male crew. Am I wrong or has your body betrayed you?"

A sneer played on Jibril's lips, but otherwise he kept his stoic pose. "And do you also pop when a well-placed arrow or lightning bolt strikes you?"

Fareeda laughed again, "No it is more like a squishing noise, but it matters not the sound."

The Professor watched as the group took in the sight of the Scilandar, leaning heavily on his cane as he prepared to answer the 'usual' questions.



"I'm glad you asked good sir!" came the Professor's all-too-quick reply. "Mm yes. Perhaps you could relay my answer to your superiors in the temple of Azuth on our return. The Magistrati seem to enjoy hounding me at every opportunity!"

He lifted his cane to point at the air balloon. "It is quite simple really. Though you see two main capsules, they are in fact divided into many smaller compartments, each with its own hot air supply and pipe network. Thus!" He turned to face Jibril, beaming widely, "Should one compartment be breached, little to no flight control damage shall be sustained. Beyond that, the fabric is of course warded and imbued with protection seals and the like so it would take some force to pierce it regardless."

As Abbas began to inquire of the deep marks covering the vessel's hull, the Professor coughed awkwardly and waved him away. "Hm. Yes. Err no - don't worry about that."

He pulled the group together, away from the ship, obviously intent on changing the subject. "So I suppose I had better tell you of where it is we are going." He cleared his throat and pulled a folded piece of parchment from one of his pockets. Unravelling it slowly, he revealed a map, which - on closer inspection - was clearly of the Chultan peninsula. "The jungle labyrinth of Chult. The steaming, sweltering land of the God-creator Ubtao." He thrust a small but pudgy finger at the vast blotch of green that represented the jungle landscape. "This, my friends, this is our destination."




He looked around the group from face to face, trying to gauge each reaction to the announcing of their objective. Would they be ready for such a perilous journey?

"In my travels, I have come across something of an ancient relic, a map of sorts. After long months of translating, I have discovered the approximate location of an ancient temple, aspected to Ubtao, hidden in the deepest, darkest parts of the Chultan jungle. This temple is said to have been the home of the Mazelord before his ascendancy and is filled with secrets from times before Toril's recorded history. One of these 'secrets' is of much interest to me - I will not tell you what, for such knowledge could endanger you all," the Professor's usual happy expression dropped to a stern grimace as his gaze glowered from face to face, "There are those who have learned of my discovery and would seek to sabotage this expedition." The old gnome breathed deep and exhaled sharply, "Nevertheless, I can guarantee you the kind of wealth and magical treasure to make such a journey worthwhile - all I require of you is to see us safely to our destination." He pointed to the large expanse of jungle northwest of the Peaks of Flame and smiled up at the group - though a hint of concern in his eyes revealed that such a task would not be so easy.

"However, before we can set sail - though of course we have no sails to set..." He waited for a laugh at this, but, receiving none, sneered and carried on. "Before we can depart I am need of some extra materials and spare parts for the Scilandar. I think this will be a good test to see if my new employees are, as we say, adequate for the role." He grinned at the complexity of his ownt wit, his moustache twitching from side to side. "I have already made the order - all you need do is travel to the residence of Jala Ghusoon in the Khanduq Ward, Naiid Sabban. You'll find her easily enough, just look for the biggest, most outrageous villa in the entire ward. She's something of a seductress if you know what I mean, so be careful - and it's not just looks that have built up her vast empire of wealth - she has a hand in almost every extended bazaar and khanduq in the city! And for Gond's sake don't let her pry any information about where we're going out of you, she's as nosey as they come!"

He gestured to a square outline in one of the side walls of the docking chamber which grated slowly open at a command. "Use this passage to get in and out, it should avert any attention. We will leave as soon as you return, so make haste!" The old gnome rapped his cane against the stone-tiled floor as if in emphasis, chuckling heartily and mumbling unintelligibly to himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Sat 04 July 2009.

“The jungle island of Chult…

“I expected a long journey once the airship was revealed,” Abbas agreed as he bowed his head over the map and mentally marked the communities and geography portrayed by the parchment.  “Yes… many strange sights to be found there, I imagine.  I had not considered exploring the island, but fewer places there would be in this land – even more ruthless than Calimshan streets and without the exotic dancers.

“Fewer pickpockets, as well.

“Are we to confirm the list of contents before receipt, convey the purchasing chest, or simply escort back what supplies she indicates are the requested items?  Should Ms. Ghusoon have questions of your travel plans, we simple servants will indicate our exclusion from destination planning and refer her to your formal reception hours.”

The elf turned from his consultation of the map and tilted his elbow out to offer his arm to Fareeda.  “If there is such opposition to your travel, Professor, the area around your place will be under observation as well as the known exits.  This passage assists on the immediate, but any spies will be watching the surrounding streets, and a disparate group of four strangers travelling will draw attention.  I would suggest Fareeda and I head out first, followed shortly by you,” Abbas nodded to Jibril and Linni.  ”If we remain in sight of each other, but separated somewhat, then we are able to support each other while lessening the suspicion.  I expect any supplies the Scilandar requires will necessitate a return in wagon, and denying opponents opportunity to strengthen ambush numbers would seem to be prudent.”

Jibril appeared to be satisfied enough with the professor's answer about the integrity of the ship.  He held his breath as he studied the map of Chult.  When the professor spoke of sabotage, he turned to him, "How do you know none of us are saboteurs sent here to undermine you?" He glanced at Fareeda.

Fareeda took Abbas' arm and pulled him close.

Elsewhere...

He closed his eyes and ran his fingers lightly over the wall, almost tenderly, as though he were caressing a woman.

The seam was barely noticeable, and he couldn't feel any change in texture. Perfect. He opened his eyes; the small ring where the fall-away cover sat was apparent, in good light and when one knew what they looking for. But an occasional table placed over it would conceal it nicely, and a cheap fake 2nd Dynasty Mulhorandi vase would make for an excellent distraction to any thief who stopped for a quick appraisal. For their troubles they would receive a fusillade of darts to the legs, which should slow them down enough his dear mistress Jala to take care of matters. A halfling thief was another problem entirely, but then, so was a face-full of darts.

Next he brushed his foot across the tiles before the trap. Slightly raised, but he couldn't help that, for the pressure sensing device had to go somewhere. Lighting would help hide it though; only the most brazen thieves operated in the day. He armed the trap by pressing against the skirting board.

Lambrac stood up and stretched and gazed up and down the corridor, considering his handiwork. It was a simple trap, and cheap, but effective for most home security purposes. The pieces had been  created by independent craftsmen in different wards, and even from other lands, purchased under several assumed names, so there was no chance of tongues wagging. All the old plasterer with the failing vision knew was that he was simply repairing the wall after some renovations. Lambrac himself had spent most of the previous day stripping the old wall down.

There was one last test to perform however.

He strode to one end of the corridor and began to walk back down it, with a steady, measured pace, nice and casual. He closed his eyes. He was getting nearer to the trapped area, he knew. His foot would press down on the flagstone, a wire would be tugged, the cover would drop away and a spring-loaded barrel would fire a sabot filled with thin darts at his upper legs. Such a simple chain of events.

But he couldn't deny the fear, the quickening of his heart, the cold sweat. The anticipation was the worst part, he decided, waiting for something bad to happen. Actually dealing with it wasn't so bad, it was considering all the myriad ways he might fail that was the problem. But he also couldn't deny how much he enjoyed it.

He heard the click, just what he been waiting so keenly to hear, and was already diving forwards as he heard the whip! whip! whip! behind him. He hit the ground and rolled, then looked back. The darts had clattered against the other wall. Meanwhile, there was a sharp pain in his thigh. Gond's gears!

So, he couldn't dodge them all. He pulled it out, it didn't bleed much. Honestly, he was quite pleased. His trap worked splendidly. He reset the trap, then disabled it for safety's sake. He made a quick prayer to Gond to help ensure it remained in good working order.

Then, limping, Lambrac wandered off to find Jala, to let his mistress know that her villa was now just that little bit more secure. Then he would beg some first aid or healing for his leg. Perhaps she might even kiss it better, he thought with a happy smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Mon 06 July 2009.

Professor Hingleswip shook his head and smiled as he was barraged with concerns from Abbas and Jibril. "It seems I've hired a group of worriers, not warriors to accompany me on this quest!"

He listened to Abbas first, chuckling as the exceedingly well-spoken moon elf went on. "Fear not, young elf, you will not have to carry too heavy a load. My goods will be in a single chest that two of you should be able to carry between you. And do not worry about checking the order, I very much doubt Lady Ghusoon will have reason to fiddle with one of her most...loyal customers." He smiled at this, then continued, "Yes I suspect you're right - our 'friends' probably are watching every entrance and exit. Nevertheless there's no harm in letting them know that we know they're watching."

Winking at Abbas he moved forward, raising his arms to usher the group into the passage. "Ambush? Pah, nothing you couldn't handle with that sword of yours master elf, I'm sure!" He chuckled maniacally and moved past to open the outer door, disguised on the outside, apparently, as a window pane. Sunlight exploded into the gloom as the secret door swung open and the yellow-white stone of Calimport was visible outside as a shimmering gleam.

And as the group strolled out into the glare, the Professor called after Jibril, his tiny figure struggling to close the door behind them. "Because, Jibril Husam Al Din, acolyte of Azuth - I know more about you all than you might think." He laughed and shut the door with a heavy clank, leaving the group to reflect on his words.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:34, Tue 07 July 2009.

Outside, it was now mid-afternoon and the sun burned directly above - an elemental presence, its apparent desire to scour this city from the face of the desert. Despite the high temperatures, it seemed more and more people had crowded into the street since they had arrived. Hordes of slaves and merchant caravans trundled along in the heat and whips cracked over the heads of wagon-pulling oxen. The preparations for the festival of Greengrass were well underway.

The way to the Khanduq ward lay to the east, though the group could either move through the city streets or the across the drudack byways above.

"Undoubtedly, he's using some divination type of spells on us. I'm not particularly fond of having my mind probed without my awareness." He studied the others. "Well, I suppose we better get on with this. The day is not getting any shorter, and I'd prefer to get out of this oppressive heat." He sighed again looking at his muddied cloak, especially annoyed now that he was going to have to present himself to someone so prominent as Jala Ghusoon with dirty clothes. As they traveled the byways of Calimport, Jibril could not help be distracted by the myriad of colorful items being sold in the bazaars. He resisted the urge to shop, but his attention was wandering as they passed several persuasive hagglers.

After a discrete distance to not immediately draw attention, Abbas led the party upwards to the drudach byways and away from the congestion of the streets.  Timeliness of travel would be something the professor would be checking, and the streets possessed the most delays and dangers.  Most importantly, it was much harder to disguise an ambush or prevent the party from shimmying down a rope to safety, if necessary.

"Fareeda, Jibril, are you familiar with this woman?"

Linni bumbles along with the group, her little legs working twice as hard to keep up. She had said very little since entering the Professor's dock, smiling at the awed reactions of the others and nodding when her uncle brought out the map of Chult. It was evident she had known of his plans before today.

As the group ascends to one of the many byways criss-crossing Calimport, she finally speaks up, "I've heard bits and bobs. The mistress of whores they call her, grown rich off male desire - which uncle Hingleswip unfortunately can attest." She narrowed her eyes on Fareeda, "She'd probably know more."

"As I do," Fareeda said as she gave a glance back at the gnome. "She gains a cut of all of the hareems in the city, as well as all of the brothels in the city. I know little more than that, but if she has a finger in all of the pies of the city, then talking around them would be unwise." She clung to Abbas' arm ever tighter. It had been a long time since she had a man of his calibur next to her and she was going reap the rewards of his company.

The group set off into the city, choosing to move by the drudach wall byways rather than the streets below. Traffic was thick, even up high, and for the first part of the journey progress was very slow. The drudach paths soon expanded onto the Marekh sabban's walls however, doubling the width of the byways and allowing a much quicker pace. Some of the wealthier-looking nobles arched their brow at the scantily clad form of Fareeda daring to use the byways - but seeing her in the company of a Magistrati of Azuth and a well-dressed elf warrior; they obviously assumed her as their escort and made no comment.

Every street below was crowded with people. Rai and maqam music played out over the general murmur of the crowd and shouted offers from market stalls - their fat Calishite owners placing themselves in the middle of the street to virtually force people past various wares. The scent of roasting pork and Behedrin steak hung heavy in the sweltering air and smoke from cooking fires could be seen rising with the heat haze all across the city. The festival was in full swing.

After half an hour or so, walking along the byway between the Otahl and Axash sabbans, the group reached the Khanduq ward and the boundaries of the Naiit sabban without incident. Here, the festival seemed to draw a seedier crowd and swarms of people jostled and pushed to get into the many brothels, taverns and gambling festhalls. As the group travelled deeper into the sabban, they saw several brawls breaking out in the streets below - only to be quashed out quickly and brutally by the amlakkar guards.

After some time, the byway lead to a huge and beautifully designed tenement villa, its towers and domed roof gleaming in the afternoon sun - giving the whole building the apperance of being built from solid gold. A twenty-foot wall surrounded the estate, and the byway leading to its upper level was blocked by a heavy iron gate, flanked by two guards who crouched in what little shade was available.



As the group approached, the two guards stood up to their full height and lazily retrieved their halberds from the wall. They were both approaching seven-feet in height and looked like they were made out of solid rock - one a huge orc with a jagged scar running through one eye and the other a bearded, black-haired human with muscles bulging through the seams of his banded mail armour. The latter spat out onto the dusty stone walkway as the group drew nearer, his eyes searching from face to face.

"Business?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:03, Mon 13 July 2009.