Session Thirty-Eight
When they got back to the Oasis of the White Palm, the Fated realized that the Sheik was still under the sway of Utuk-Xul. “My friends, thank you for the wonderful briefing on the status of my friend, the Vizier of Utuk-Xul,” said the Sheik. “Did he say when I could pay him more tribute?” The Sheik’s son, Hassan, pulled Mahmud aside. “What is wrong with my father? How can you save him?” “We’re not sure what to do,” explained Mahmud. “We’ll think of something soon.”
The Fated did not linger in the Oasis to sort this out, instead setting out immediately to explore the Desert of Desolation. Following the ancient map they’d found in Al-Sindor’s library, and battling past a gang of five trolls, they came to an unfinished Zaharan pyramid. The structure had never had its final outer surface built, so it was still stepped, like a ziggurat. A tunnel gradually descended downward from the surface into the pyramid, intersected mid-way by a shaft that led downward from one of the steps. Senef explained that the tunnel was used during construction of the pyramid, and would have been sealed by dropping a great block of stone down the shaft when the pyramid was finished.
The party resolved to explore the ruin. Shikra promptly summoned a pair of berserkers, and these intrepid warriors were sent forward into the tunnel. They got as far as the intersection with the shaft before being torn apart by ghouls that dropped from above. Seeing the hideous things scamper off into the darkness, the party decided to approach with great caution.
They made it past the shaft without attack, finally reaching a three-way intersection. The path forward led deeper into the pyramid, while to the left and right it branched into alcoves, obviously intended as smaller tombs and chapels. These were smeared with filth and blood, for they had become the lair of ghouls – many ghouls. Many, many ghouls. The dungeon exploration turned into an all-out battle as cannibalistic undead descended on the party from every direction.
The party might have been overrun, had Balen not evoked a new dweomer, a circle of protection which kept the undead at a 10’ radius from him. Shikra used her dark arts to take control of the nearest undead and forced them to fight their own. Then Mahmud, Androcles, Rakh, and Sapphira waded into battle, cleaving down the left and right hallways leaving a line of bodies in their wake.
The fighters had just driven the enemy back when a Great Ghoul Sorcerer revealed himself, hurtling a bolt of lightning down the corridor from down the darkened tunnel. The fighters pursuing the ghouls were outside the blast area, but the rest of the party was struck. Suad, Zoya, Ceara, Ethlyn, and Wazir were all incapacitated instantly, while Balen, Shikra, and Senef were badly hurt.
Balen responded to the attack by blasting the Great Ghoul Sorcerer and his bodyguards with a fireball. That was insufficient to destroy it, so the fighters regrouped to charge the Great Ghoul. Androcles was paralyzed by the Sorcerer’s bodyguards, and slain a moment later, and Rakh was left paralyzed as well, though Sapphira managed to drag him back to safety. Balen sustained a barrage of magical fire, while Umar and Dornethan fired missiles. Eventually the Great Ghoul Sorcerer was slain along with his minions.
The aftermath of the battle proved not nearly as dire as it had seemed during the thick of the fighting. Androcles was dead, and Wazir had lost a leg, but the rest of the party suffered no more than minor scars and, in Suad’s case, a missing finger. The mage promptly declared himself “Suad Nine-Fingers” and turned towards searching for loot.
The Great Ghoul had accumulated a substantial treasure pile. The Fated surmised that he must have been raiding Zaharan tombs and crypts for years. Of particular interest was his library of ancient tomes. These were partially damaged from Balen’s fireball, but fortunately the Great Ghoul’s spellbook was intact, and it had several never-before-seen spells: Fist of Stone and Pillar of Sand. The Great Ghoul’s library also contained notes on his various magical items, including a wand of paralyzation and an amulet against crystal balls and ESP.
With this rich trove, the party marched back to the Oasis of the White Palm, returning on the 24th of Innelen. Senef turned his healing arts towards restoring Androcles and Wazir. Though a shaman, Senef was an apostate who had learned the Empyrean spell restore life and limb. Androcles was restored, but perhaps Senef’s shamanism bled through, for it was a partial reincarnation – and it seemed the incarnation was neanderthal, for Androcles returned brutish, hairy, and ill-visaged. Wazir was next. He returned outwardly normal, but his connection to the divine was severed, costing him greatly in spiritual power.
Despite seeing these worrisome complications, Balen asked for Senef to heal him as well. The war-mage had taken several maiming wounds that left him aching and slow, and he wanted these cured. This cure went quite well; Balen was shaken a bit by the trauma, but would be fit for action within a fortnight.
While their comrades were recovering, the rest of the party turned towards other matters. Shikra and Suad began studying the many books they’d found in the Great Ghoul’s library, and added to their repertoires.
Senef began proselytizing within the Oasis. With his ability to call dragons, raise the dead, and cure disease, the Besherab nomads soon fell in awe of the shaman, whom they called “Speaker With Dragons” and “Voice of the Desert.” 143 converts adopted his faith.
Zoya sent funds and missives to her spies in Ber-Gathy. 10 days later, she got back quite interesting reports. Bathsheba reported, “The Emperor in Aura is near death. He is not expected to survive the season. When word reached Alakyrum, the Exarch of Opelenea began calling up his legions.” Kavus reported, “I have continued to listen for reports of caravans lost in the Howling Emptiness. A total of four major caravans have now gone missing!”
Mahmud decided to seek a cure for the Sheik. His first plan was to have Senef dispel the charm, but this failed miserably – twice. The Sheik came to say Mahmud, deeply troubled. “My friend, I fear Senef is in league with our enemies. He has twice tried to ensorcel me, and only my iron willpower has saved me from his enchantments. Something must be done!” whispered the Sheik. “Ah…I shall handle it, Your Eminence,” said the confused Paladin.
Mahmud now asked Suad to attempt to dispel the charm. Suad approached the Sheik. “Your Eminence, Mahmud sent me. He fears that Senef has cast a spell upon you. May I have your leave to dispel it?” “Of course, my friend.” This time, the dispel was successful. Clarity fell over the Sheik’s features. “No! I have been charmed by Utuk-Xul. But that means my friend Mahmud has also been charmed! Come quickly…”
The Sheik hastily grabbed Suad and dragged him to the paladin’s presence. “Free him of this sorcery now, mage!” Suad obligingly “dispelled” Mahmud. “Ah, thank you for rescuing me, Your Eminence,” said Mahmud. “No, it is who must thank you,” said the Sheik. “Had you not sent Suad to me, we would both still be charmed!”
“I am not ungrateful. My friend, it is time I introduce you to the wife I have selected for you…the lovely Alia.” And here our chronicle must temporarily halt in the interest of modesty, for as to the intimacy between husband and wife, even Imran’s light must not illuminate it.