"Hello Below!" He calls out when he had reached the edge of the pit. "Anyone about?" He aged reedy voice sounds vaguely familiar to Aeronon and Joanna.

Sakinah readied her wish blade, and would follow the others.

In reply to Scath Oiche (msg # 319):

Vander looked about at the others down in the cavern with him. "Anyone know that voice?" He asked quietly.

"Sir Arrow-none of the Blackgem? Are you still here? I see more camels, though I have returned with yours." He pauses briefly. "I also have water, Miss Joe-nana." There is some shuffling and a small stream of sand slides down from the edge of the hole.
"I imagine you do not think so fondly of me currently, but I assure you Achmed and Bohnies think even less now that I have returned with their supplies as well." He laughs jovially. "I wish to reacquaint but with the new camels here... I am guessing that you have new friends, eh?... I would like to come down, but I do not wish to be shot, eh?"

OOC: What are the lighting conditions above and below the hole?
[Private to GM: If it is dark below, I would like to cast light on a grain of sand.]

In reply to Scath Oiche (msg # 322):

The lighting conditions below would be gloomy but lit I expect that as light is a cantrip and the group has a few casters they would be spending 10 too 30 min a day to put enough lights around the ruins that everyone can move around comfortably.

Aeronon frowns at the sound of the voice. "Yes, I know it." He moves in to get a closer look. "Greetings Scath. I am glad you, uh, found our supplies." Well, we all make mistakes, he thinks as he considers the return of their former comrade. Besides, we can use the help and there is no time for grudges.

"Welcome back." He declares with a smile.

In reply to Scath Oiche (msg # 322):

Vander nods and calls up. "You got a rope or you need us to send one up?" He said.

Lupine shifted uncomfortably at the appearence of the newcomer. True, the theft had been repented, but not everyone in the desert was automatically a friend.  "How did you come to find this place?"  The wizard asked cautiously.

A rope drops down from above and seconds later an elderly Fetchling slides down with surprising grace. As he drops to the sand he sketches a small bow to each of you. "Scath Oiche, at your service." His eyes glow brightly or possibly just reflect the nearby torches. With a sweep of his hand his hood is removed and his snow white hair falls limply around his shoulders. "Ah, it is good to be back out of the sun. Much cooler down here, eh?" He gives Lupine a critical sizing up while squinting out of only one eye. Appearing to have come to a conclusion he responds to the question with a chuff. "How did I find this place? How did you find this place? We were here first! Hmmph! I came with them." He flicks an elbow at Aeronon while giving an eye to the snake coiled around Lupine's staff. "Si jamais tu veux ta liberté, viens me parler."  He says softly to the creature. He then turns his back and approaches Aeronon. "We have returned with your supplies and more. The thieves have repaid two fold as is appropriate. Now, once the camels have rested, shall we be off or have you found something of interest here?"

Sakinah stood near Lupine, considering for a moment. Eventually she would sheath her Wishblade, as she waited for an answer to Lupine's question from the newcomer.

"When we arrived, no creature with but to legs or four had been here in centuries, so this one does not fully comprehend. Kindly elaborate." The mage replied deterrently enough, but his softness hardly meant belief. "Assuredly this one offers no threat, merely wishes clarity."

"But of course we had not descended to the levels you have found. We were merely at the ruins above when I was forced to make an impromptu trip with our previous party members. They thought I was with them, when really my loyalty was with with Sir Arrow-none." He claims with a gesture toward the knight. "The camels and tents are a bit of a give away that someone is here and the tracks from there to the hole above are like a beacon. If you are trying to hide, you are not doing a very good job, eh." He gives what in his youth would have been a toothy smile but at this age is a lot of gums.

Lupine offered a polite bow. "This one, at least, accepts your candor for now. One hopes you can forgive caution, and accept that not all fortune seekers were of honorable history or intent. And, while this one personally does not fear from other roaming bands, would appreciate future aid in obfuscation of our whereabouts." With his piece spoken, the odd elf straightened and glanced at his companions. "Surely another can entertain our guest while this one returns to... other matters?"

She managed a small chuckle at Scath's odd pronunciation of Aeronon's name, but then shook her head gently. "Since it seems you will be accompanying us for awhile I suppose introduction are in order. Yes? I am Sakinah Dakar."

In reply to Dr Rajeed (msg # 333):

Vander nodded that the newcomer was no threat, and headed over to the doctor. "I have got the net trap ready." He said, setting it up and insuring it would go off.

"Aye, ready indeed." Aeronon assures Dr. Rajeed. Matching action to word he follows him towards the bottle room, his fist curling around the hilt of his blade.

"A Jini's bottle?" He asks with a tilt of his head. "I do not think that I am familiar with this particular euphemism, eh? What is it he is referring to?" He inquires while padding along silently next to them.

"A violent creature of the sands of this place.  Powerful, indeed.  Especially one that such great magic was used to contain, instead fo simply eradicating."  The wizard explained simply over one shoulder as he headed for the ancient forge that had become his make-shift workshop.  "Part of why this one is so willing to be welcoming is for your aid in its undoing."

She gives a gentle sigh. "He is referring to a literal bottle that is laden with evil and may very well have some creature within it. Are you ready?"

"By all that is green and good. You're serious aren't you?" He shakes his head as if to clear out the idea. "What would make you want to do that?"

The new comer is bought to the bottle camber, where before you is a long hall (70 feet long x 15feet wide and 60 feet high). Giant 60 foot statues are on either side. At the end of the hall is an alter upon which is a large bottle with a ruby stopper. Above the bottle a net has been rigged.

The dwarf heads straight up to the altar. He is too short to just pull the stopper and would need to climb onto the altar to do so. The room is lit by magically lit torches. The mood is oppressive with anticipation.

---

Who will open the bottle?

With everyone in position, Aeronon approaches the bottle and looks around the room one last time to verify the party's readiness. Taking a deep breath, ready to jump back and draw his sword upon releasing the evil, he grabs the ruby stopper with both hands and pulls.

Vander stayed by his net trap, ready to pull the rope. Causing the trap to drop on anything coming out of the bottle. Of course, weather the creature needed wings to fly would restrain the thing effectively.

Lupine double checked his personal wards, hefted his staff and prepared to launch something at any erupting creature.

Sakinah will ready her wishblade, and prepare for whatever happens next.