Araby Quest (Reboot)

Explore the synergistic relationship between Wood and the invisible energy:
DC Breakthroughs, 50/100/150: 94+17 (Learning)+5 (Lore: Magic)=116

Synergy. For a magician, nothing was as wonderful or as difficult to find. Every apprentice could point to the effect of combining Wind Gust and Fireball to create Scorching Wind. Yet, for every one success, there were a hundred failures. What spells would and could work together was a process of trial and error. How and why remained a mystery, even despite the advances made in the millennia of the order's existence.

It was in this mindset that you explore the exact nature of the relationship between the invisible energy and Wood. Already, you had an obstacle in not being able to see the former. You could only see it by looking in the places where it was not, which revealed something amazing.

One of the commonly accepted theories of magic was the Theory of Accumulation. Magic was produced by the cardinal elements, but it happened at an incredibly slow rate of accumulation. Aifa ibnat Noor had provided valuable information on this with her experiment in '70 to '85 where she had four separate locations where one element had been used up and one location to serve as control. She concluded it took five years for an element to return to a level of observability and ten years to return to a level of usability.

Yet, you were noticing a rate of accumulation at a pace far beyond what Aifa's study showed. Urgh. It was times like this which made you dream of finding a proper unit of measurement for magic. Something quantifiable rather stating a description, but not being able to show it to someone who had not been present.


Your first set of tests verified Wood as a stable element, but part of you wondered about its rate of deterioration compared to other elements.

You channeled each of the four elements in its primary oppositional element and watched to see how long it took for the element to deteriorate. Air, Earth, Fire, and Water all took one hour to completely vanish. Wood took two hours. You repeated this five times, and the results repeated themselves. That was a sign of something.


You were on the verge of something ground-breaking. If only you weren't also trying to figure out how two thousand people disappeared. Thi-

Will lambasting yourself help you? Will denying yourself the joy of understanding return the lost?

No, it would not.

Gain Insight: Possible Synergistics Results of the Interaction Between KF and TGM.
Explore the Vitality concept of Wood, DC 80: 68+17 (Learning)=85

Wood seemed to have some relationship with vitality or health. These two concepts were associated with the capacity to live, grow, and develop or a natural state of being. To some philosophical schools, it was the component which separated living things from non-living things.

Yet what exactly did that mean in practice? A few thoughts came to mind.

The first was to see if you could mimic the effects of Healing Waters. The spell was used to accelerate the natural rate of healing within the body. Though you did not know that spell and it was a level of magic far higher than anything you personally had done before. The second was inspired by the mystery around you. Accelerate the growth of a living thing, but could you do it without using the invisible energy? Part of you thought it just strengthened the existing effect, but it could be something just not possible without it. Maybe there was something else you could do.

[] See how Vitality effects healing

[] See how Vitality effects growth rate of living things
[] Write-In

This is not spell creation. You are trying to figure out what Vitality can and cannot do, so this is a choice on what to pursue experimenting.
Master Saleh's Response: 84+15 (Diplomacy)+4 (Etiquette: Fakirs)+20 (His Student)+20 (Black Magician)-20 (Social Norms)-5 (Evidence)=118

You had decided to send a letter to Master Saleh. While it broke the rules of journeymanship, a black magician was not something to play around with even if the evidence was not particularly strong. Better to risk censure than risk a threat to Araby escaping. You asked Reza to take a letter back to al-Haikk. You returned to your work, waiting for Master Saleh's response.

When Reza returned, he did not come with a letter as you expected. He came with Master Saleh.

Your master was a tall, wiry man, dressed in the yellow and red robes of an Artisan. His braids shone with his homemade seed oil. His goatee was cut and shaped into a nice sharp point, also oiled. It was only his liquid orange eyes and the acrid stink of Cathayan powder that marked him as anything other than a man of means.

"Master why are you here?" you asked, surprised to see him here.

Master Saleh gave you a look, "Naila, is that what you say to greet someone?"

Oh, right.

"I'm sorry, Master. Peace be upon you. What are you doing here?"

He let out a sigh, "Wondering where I went wrong in the education of my pupil mostly, but you did say black magician. I thought it be best to be here in person. Plus, it gets me away from Suza. She's antsy and nothing is worse than Suza antsy," he said, taking a seat, pulling out his pipe.

You ignored the very frightening implications and instead noticed a lack of spastic energy and unwanted sarcasm.

"Where are the trio?" you asked. Your master had three jinn in his retinue. He had four in his service, but Kasul never left the workshop. The ones who came with him everywhere were Sagheer and Kabir, lesser Jinni and Akh-Saer, a Marid.

"Akh-Saer is at the docks. Sagheer and Kabir are wrestling actual birds. Apparently, one of them said something insulting," he said, gently shaking tabaca from the tin into the bowl of his pipe. Satisfied, he took a draw, and the magic of the pipe activated, lighting the tabaca. The air filling with the sweet, minty smell.

"Now, given what you wrote, we are facing someone with enough power to challenge Ata, which means one of two things. One of our own beloved elders has pulled a Jaffar or there is a magicker who has not lost themselves to arrogance and insanity that self-corrects the issue of self-taught fools," he said and for a moment, his voice gained a slight edge to his normal glib tone.

"Do you have a plan?"

"For now, continue your investigation. I will be doing my own research on the arboreal turn Mabbah has taken,"

"Any suspicions?"

"As for now, none I feel strongly enough to share. Do not worry, Naila. Between me, myself, and I, we will have this mystery solved,"

"What about me?"

"Hopefully, you learn to give a proper greeting," he said, puffing away at his pipe.

Gain Master Saleh al-Naar ibn Khalid al-Haikki, licensed magician of al-Haikk, Master of the Brethren of the Wise, initiated Brother of the Cult of Jinn, member in good standing of the Order of Earth and Flame, and bond-brother of Suzan ibnat Haroun, Caliph of al-Haikk. Specialties: Fire Magic, Enchanting, Blacksmithing, Gunsmithing, and Alchemy. Jinn Retinue: Sagheer, lesser Jinni. Kabir, lesser Jinni. Akh-Saer, Marid.
Diary: 90

Ashar's diary revealed much about the cleric of Mabbah. He had started writing things down after his first year at college. He had been the son of farmworkers from a small village, too small to have a name of its own. They were serviced by a wandering cleric who did a rotation of his village and five others. Said cleric noticed his ability and at the age of eleven, Ashar went to the College.

He had been equal parts terrified and excited to take his place among the Holy Ones. The descendants of the Sign of the Spirits and Uniter of Araby. That enthusiasm did not vanish when his talent would never allow him a place among the Wise. He went the path of the clergy. Learning the full length of rituals and ceremonies needed to pacify the local spirits, how to perform exorcisms, and other rites a cleric needed to know. These were secrets you only partially learned. The Wise cared little for its parent organization. It was important, but magicians looked at their clerical brothers and sisters as people looked at the shit-takers. Necessary, but best ignored.

Ashar was sent to Mabbah and quickly set himself up as a proper cleric. He dove headfirst into the local community. By the end of his first year as cleric of Mabbah, he had become a full member of Mabbah's governing council.

It was a bucolic read. Ashar's crisis and troubles were so small for lack of a better word. Ardi and Jinn would play pranks, and he would handle them. A particularly thrilling passage was in truth a minor banishment of a belligerent lesser ifrit. Something you could do with little issue and Master Saleh could do with a glance. He wrote of his handling of the competing merchant houses and landowners. Yet, when he marveled at their wealth, your family had spent their yearly incomes combined in one feast.

It was only when his best friend and rival Ibn Hanif, priest of the Most Brilliant, had grown sick that his writing grew much more interesting. Pir Jameel had been sent and saved his friend's life, but the pir would return. He began working with Abu Tayfeh, a man Ashar considered the equivalent of a Sartosan pirate-lord, but his actions showed was most likely a merchant who did part-time smuggling. He also started ordering Ashar around. It built to the point where Ashar wrote to Lord Ata-ur-Manaf about Jameel's exploitative actions and that's when it ended. Exactly one week before the beginning of the events plaguing Mabbah.

Gain Insight: Pir Jameel.
Search the Temple of the Gods: 77

You walked with Dayiel and Reza. Kabir and Sagheer accompanied you. They wore the form of Southern birds you heard some of the nobles, magnates, and corsairs took as pets. Kabir had bright blue feathers with a dark grey beak. Sagheer had dark grey feathers and a bright blue beak. Sagheer sat on Reza's shoulder while Kabir decided to be annoying.

"Kabir, go sit with your brother," you said, annoyed at his sharp talons gripping into your scalp. He let out a squawk of disapproval. You thought about trying to grab him, but the little bastard tended to peck with his sharp beak.

Muttering a variety of curses against the jinni, you arrived at the Temple. It was the second-largest building in the town and by far the most decorated. All the famous scenes of the Gods covered its entirety. The Defeat of the Four Betrayers, the Ascent of the Most Brilliant, the Gift of the Most Merciful, and the Anointing of the Uniter. The latter being of some interest. It was the accepted story of the Wise was that the Uniter had received no divine aid. He had risen by will and wisdom, by character and charisma, and by acceptance and appeasement.

To the faithful of Araby however, it was accepted that he had been chosen by the gods to unify the land. That each god helped him in his struggles. It was divine right that saw him rise to become Sultan of All Araby. It was only arrogance which blinded magicians from seeing this. That their natural hunger for power led them to diminish and deny the gods.

You generally agreed with the former. Outside of the insulting view of magicians the latter seemed to argue. From you read of him, the Uniter did not seem like the type of person who cared for gods. Not to mention the second pillar was literally Man and Spirit were partners. Neither was the servant of the other. This was not a belief the faithful particularly cared for.

Possibly historical narrative disputes aside, you pushed the doors open to find a quiet place filled with idols.

Dhul-Katab had the largest shrine set in the back. He wore the form of a young man seated before a set of scales signifying his aspect as Lord of Commerce. Ibn Hanif must have been a terrible gambler, because only the scales were gilded. Afterall, only wealth won by chance could adorn His holy places. Next in size was Dhul-Bahr loomed over in the form of a great bearded patriarch. His eyes were turquoise, and his braided beard was adorned in pearls. Both Dayiel and Reza made the sign of the Waves as they passed Him. Dhat-Rahima was across from the Sea-Father. She held an injured soul, raising their head so they might sip from Her Cup. You reflexively brought your right hand up to your forehead as you passed. Several smaller shrines sat in between the three large ones. The Most Brilliant with her sun-crown, the Most Watchful covered in black, the Most Fast carrying his spear and shield, and every other god of Araby.

"So dusty," said Sagheer, side-eying each of the deities.

"They should keep a better house," said Kabir. You shook your head, wincing when Kabir pecked your head.

"Keep still, Naila,"

"So, help me, Kabir. I will feed you to Kasul myself,"

"Ha, that lumbering oaf. I would be free before he closes his mouth,"

"Has he moved any since I left?"

"No, he gorges himself on offerings and sleeps. Saleh tries to get him to move around, but you know him," said Kabir. You shook your head at that, wincing again at Kabir's peck.

Kasul was an ifrit in your master's service. He took the form of a great snake. He spent most of his time in your master's forge, leaving only to eat. You were not sure if Jinn could get sick like people could, but you had been raised on the importance of movement to one's health. You had spent some time getting him to move around. To be more active. It had worked, but it was sad to hear he had not kept it up.

As you entered the back, Kabir spoke.

"We've guests," he said.

"Friendly or not?" You asked.

"They stink of death and echoes of final words, Naila," said Kabir. Wonderful, The Undead.

Reza and Dayiel drew their weapons. Reza unsheathed his saber and Dayiel held a mallet and axe. You channeled Earth, touching the wall and shaped a small amount into a dagger. It had the same color and consistency of the brick, but better something than nothing.

"Any idea of the horror awaiting us?" asked Reza.

"The wind brings the smell and sound of Death, nothing else. What about you, brother?" asked Kabir.

Sagheer looked up and you could see him willing the Air around him. The blue grey swirled and then dissipated.

"Flesh lies upon rotten muscle and pitted bone. Voices wheeze out a single demand. Flesh, flesh, flesh," said Sagheer.

(Undead Check, DC 60: 30+17 (Learning)=47)

"Nothing comes to mind," you said, "Sound familiar to either of you?"

(Reza: 16+11 (Learning)+15 (Experiences)=42, Dayiel: 16+13 (Learning)+15 (Experiences)=44)

Reza shook his head, "I've heard of Ships of the Dead out west, but no great details,"

"Just stories of the Old Kings and I never heard of that in them," said Dayiel. Wonderful.

"Plans?" you asked.

"Best to flee and return with more people and His Holiness," said Dayiel.

"Dayiel has the right of it. Foolish to fight a foe you know nothing about. If needed, I will stay watch over while you all grab help," said Reza.

"Ha, you have us. Bring forth the whirlwind, Naila!" said Kabir.

"We know they are here. I do not believe they know the reverse. Let us use it. Surprise will fly us to victory," said Sagheer.

Choose the option:
[] Flight

[] Fight (If you choose a fight option, please write a general plan, no more than two hundred and fifty words, of what exactly everyone does)

[] Write-In (Please write a general plan, no more than four hundred words, of what everyone does.)

Please read all voting prompts. If you have any questions, let me know.

Seeing how Vitality effects healing: 58+17 (Learning)+5 (Lore: Magic) =80

Healing was primarily done through Water magic. It worked through making sure that nutrients would flow to the injured or infected areas and that impurities and filth would flow away. This made it incredibly useful especially in post-treatment to keep wounds from being infected and heal well. Yet, a possibility grew in the depths of your mind, but before it was time to enter hell.

The linguistical framework of magic was done in High Nehekharan. The most tedious part of your education was learning grammar and syntax so you could make proper formal statements. Day after day breaking down sentences, explaining each part till Master Saleh had been satisfied. Day after day of constructing if then sentences. If there was any fallacy or weakness in any of the sentences you wrote, you would have to read an entire passage and break down each part of the passage. Death began to become preferable then more tedious mind-numbing work. It reached a final point. You threw down an inkpot and yelled at Master Saleh about what a waste of time it all seemed.

"You're not speaking to the street vendor for a kabab, Naila. You're declaring to the world what is and what is not. It would behoove you to learn how to say everything in its proper manner," he said, absent sarcasm. Something that shocked you into silence.

All of this was to say that you spent an incredible amount of time learning the dry details of Nehekharan linguistics. Something you were going to use.

You spent an intensive amount of time writing out the constraints that would allow you to actually test this possibility. Magic allowed for the impossible, but the impossible could only happen by transforming the world to make it possible. That only happened when you ensured there was nothing for the magical effect to transform your intended result into unintended results. It was not for nothing that one in twelve magicians died to magical mishaps.

The final product was two circles. Separated from each other by a distance of one hundred meters. The first was a circle focused on
the pictogram of wedjat. Known as the Right Eye of Ptra, it had a healing aspect related to the concepts of production and reproduction. The second was focused on the pictogram of ankh. This was often used in ceremonial and funeral imagery. It was disputed if it was connected to the eternal existence of the afterlife or an abstract framing of rebirth.

You channeled and released at each circle and waited to see if there was a reaction. As you suspected, the first circle was more successful than the second as it actually held the energy. You were on the right path.

Repeating the experiment verified your initial findings. Now, you could move forward with further experimentation.

Gain Insight: Vitality (Wedjat)

Flight.
Convincing Reza 60: 18+15 (Diplomacy)=33

You considered your options. Without Master Saleh present, you were not sure of your ability to command Kabir and Sagheer in battle. Air spirits were the ficklest and least willing to listen. It was only the covenant they swore that made them listen to Master Saleh. Without them, you did not have faith in your ability to fight against unknown undead horrors.

Fleeing made sense, but leaving said unknown undead horrors alone to do whatever they were doing was also intolerable to you.

"You four will get Master Saleh. I will stay here and keep watch over the creatures," you said. Reza shook his head.

"Your Eminence, I mean no disrespect, but to leave you alone with monsters is—"

"Reza, who better than a member of the Wise? It is my duty to face the horrors,"

"Something I respect, but it is ill-done to leave a holy woman by herself. I may not know what these creatures are, but I have faced my share of beasts,"

"The captain is right, Your Holiness. Best to keep him with you. Never hurts to have a steady hand with you,"

You looked at Reza. Part of you thought to argue further, but you did not have time to waste.

"Fine. You three will get Master Saleh. Reza and I will watch the monsters,"

"Why should we flee? If this mortal's hands are an aid, then our wings shall be the very pathway to victory," said Kabir.

"Because you two cannot be quiet to save our lives and because you are sworn to Master Saleh's service. Go inform him about what's going on,"

Kabir let out a squawk of disagreement, but Sagheer just sighed.

"Come on. The quicker we leave, the quicker we can return," he said, leading his brother. Dayiel nodded and followed behind. You turned to
Reza and followed him to the source of the noise.

(Reza's Sneaking: 82+19 (Intrigue)=101, Naila's Sneaking: 57+12 (Intrigue)+5 (Reza's Aid) =74, ???: 61+10 (???) =71.)

You learned something about Reza. He was a near master at sneaking. He kept a crouch, walking in almost perfect silence. He kept an eye on light, making sure his shadow was blended with the already available darkness. It was his eye and hand which made the path you followed. Helping your own talents at moving in the shadows match his own.

You were not shocked to see corpses. You had grown up in a family of physicians and surgeons. You were familiar with the natural processes of the human body. You had seen the dead. You had seen dissections. The physicality of death did not scare you.

Even the Undead did not frighten you necessarily. Every magician was exposed to some type of Risen Dead. Yet, you had never seen something like this before.

Ten men and ten women, standing in near silence, save for something they were all whispering. They were corpses. Swollen flesh and torn skin revealing grey muscle remained, not stripped away by the wind and sun. Black veins reached up to milky-white cataracts. All of them cut across their necks.

(Reza's Sneaking: 58+19 (Intrigue)=77, Naila's Sneaking: 44+12 (Intrigue)=56, ???: 89+10 (???) =99)

You sat, watching them. Your legs begin to burn as you observe them. The only thing they had in common was their deaths. The manner of their dress was not similar. Some wore finer clothes than the others. Some were Gharbi, others were Ibryyi, and the taller man was Haiyki.

Your legs were burning. You attempted to adjust. Reza's arm shot out to pull you back down but pulled you into a fall.

"Damn," flew out, loud and angry. In the few seconds, you shot up to see twenty heads all turned towards you. Their clouded white eyes shared no emotion, but their bared teeth and the chorus cry of flesh made their desire clear.

"Ru-," Reza said. You both took off before he finished the word.

(??? Pursuit: 25+10 (???) =35 vs. Reza: 85+17(Martial)=102 & Naila 54+5 (Martial)+5 (Reza's Assist) = 64)

The things following you were fast and hunger for your flesh, but fear and Reza's strong grip carried you forward at a pace than you had ever run before. Your lungs burned, your legs hurt, and your head felt like it was going to explode, but you kept going. No matter what you kept going. When you made a misstep and Reza's sharp correction kept you upright, you bit back the yell, and you kept going.

You ran through the hallways and shrine to the gods. The faces of the holy watching over your escape.

(Have Master Saleh and the Crew Arrived: 85)
(Kabir and Sagheer Automatic Success)
(??? ??: 54+10 (??)=64)
(Akh-Saer: Automatic Success)
(??? ??: 11+10 (??)=21)
(Master Saleh: 47+14 (Martial)+ 7(Ranged: Blunderbuss) +10 (Quality Weapon) =78)

Looking down at the way to the entrance, you saw a group of figures and heard a glib voice.

"Now!" Master Saleh said. A gray-blue flash blinded you as the Air rushed past and the heavy slap of flesh against an invisible wall of moving air.
Your eyes cleared to see Akh-Saer step forward. Her blue-green skin and seaweed green hair always looking wet no matter. Her shark's grin showing off her abyss-black fangs.

"To the side!" came the order and you two obeyed. Shoving yourself to the left as Akh-Saer vomited a stream of rushing water into the hungry dead. You saw all but two knocked on their backs. Flesh and muscle tore away, but they continued forward. Right into the barrel of Master Saleh's largest portable cannon.

It looked laughable. The front looked like the end of a trumpet. Even with all Master Saleh's innovations, it did not look like anything to fear. Till you heard the crack of thunder and watched it breath out smoke and lead. Shredding the two approaching monsters into mush.

(??? ??: 44+10 (??)=55)
(Kabir & Sagheer: Automatic Success)
(Master Saleh, DC 70: 82+14 (Martial)= 96)
(??? ??: 11+10 (??)-20 (Previous Damage)-20 (Synergy)=-19)

Nine of the remaining creatures rose, the chant of flesh restarting as they stepped forward. Master Saleh simply scoffed.

"Wind Gust on my cue," he said, tossing the portable cannon to a man standing near him, nearly bowling him over from the sudden weight and drawing out another one. Except this one was very strang---had he figured out how to make it work?

The nine charged forward and Master Saleh said, "Now!"

Once again, there was a flash of blue-gray and the air again rushed forward just as Master Saleh fired. There was no thunder, flash, or smoke, but a dragon's roar as a stream of fire joined the moving wall shifting into an ever-hotter wave of flame. The heat and light made you duck your head as it roared past.

You did not look up till you heard the all-clear from Master Saleh. You stood up, wincing as your skin felt tender and stung. Looking at Reza, seeing his skin had gained the bright pink of a first-degree burn, you understood what happened.

"Akh, lessen their pains if you would ever be so kind," Master Saleh said. Akh-Saer scowled. It was a rare day that she helped instead of harming, but surprise, today was that day. She waved her hand over Reza, the bright blue of Water as his skin became wet. The pink dulled to its normal brown. She walked over to you.

"Cooked a little, Nana?" she said. You rolled your eyes.

"Hurry up with it, Akh," you said.

"So impatient, Nana," she said and waved her hand. A sudden blanket of water covered your skin. The sting and tenderness quickly fading away.

"You are equal parts wonder and terror, Akh," you said, wiping away the water as you walked to where you discovered the undead.

"Is that not the case for all gods, Nana?" she said, following behind.

(What do You Find: 84)

They had been digging and in the hole was a chest. One that required two men to carry easily. The orange-red glow of High Nehekharan pictograms engraved on each of the locks.

"Well, this is interesting," said Akh.

"This is growing tiresome," you muttered.

Gain Locked Chest