<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=208691.msg11641122#msg11641122">Quote from: Autocad on 15-09-2015, 18:57:01</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Katapesh?" she inserted herself into the discussion after returning the post-duel bow, wiping beads of sweat off her brow. For the past few months her thoughts had been fixated upon the legendary Crown. In the tales of the ancient struggle between Osirion and Nex she had seen the parallels between the marids' own struggle against the sahuagin. An artifact of such power could stop their encroachment, if not turn the tides against them entirely.<br/><br/>"I've been thinking, it would be good for us to expand our horizons, see more of the multiverse instead of staying cooped up in the palace all the time. And Katapesh is where Father met you and Aunt Arensha for the first time, isn't it?"<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Hanifa nodded.  "Indeed.  We were...we were down on our luck, and far from home.  Al-Samara came in, on a zaratan no less, and gave us the opportunity to come back home with him.  It was quite an offer, in that it beat the alternative at the time and it was clear he was a man of means, so we had no choice but to accept."<br/><br/>She laughed a bit.  "It was hard adjusting at first, but as long as Arensha was nearby that was enough.  Now as to travel, it would be nice to take you to Garund; Sarenrae knows it's hard enough arranging security to visit beyond the city's High Quarter, much less anywhere else in the Plane of Water!  But yes, it would be good for the two of you to see the rest of the world instead of being cooped up in this palace forever.  I'll talk to Arensha and Judi about it, see what we can do."<br/><br/>Munira smiled.  "It would be nice to see the Yerbira's homeland, for one."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">The Big Lead</span></span></div><br/>Dinner was nice.  Heavy on fish, although that was no surprise in the City of Glass.<br/><br/>"Not to worry, darling," Judi consoled.  "By next month we should be able to afford beef and venison on a bimonthly basis!"<br/><br/>Apparently while her father stilled lived the Palace had a veritable assortment of dishes.  It was hard to miss something one never had, but it wasn't hard to imagine how different things would be if he was still around.<br/><br/>Zelda sat by Neferi's side.  Taking a break from her meal she pulled out one of her books to sit on her lap, opened to a specific page with the bookmark on a specific entry:<br/><br/><em>Alas the theurgist Fizza did not make the journey to Nex; records point that the wizard-king may not have even accepted, and as is custom the <del>Crown of Nethys was to be buried with the Pharaoh.</del></em><br/><br/>Handwritten notes off to the side protested otherwise.  It spoke briefly of how what would become modern-day Katapesh was tainted with the spawn of Rovagug the Worldbreaker, and that her delegation was ambushed.<br/><br/>"This can't be coincidence," Zelda intoned.  "It's as though someone's leading us this way."<br/><br/>"Did you say something, Zelda dear?"<br/><br/>Judi smiled sweetly, totally unsuspecting.<br/><br/>"Oh no, just giving Neferi here some advice on Earthfall historical studies!"<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Going on Vacation</span></span></div><br/>"Katapesh?!"<br/><br/>Judi nearly fell backwards out of her cushioned chair upon hearing the request.  "You must be joking!"<br/><br/>"Au contraire, we are entirely serious," Munira said.  "We came to a decision, and decided that the city would make for a prime vacation spot."<br/><br/>Arensha and Hanifa sat opposite Judi, on Neferi and Munira's sides.  Zelda hovered behind them in the air.<br/><br/>"It's fine," Hanifa said as she stepped forth, laying a hand on her daughter's shoulder.  "We can go there first, arrange for meetings and hotels for women of their station, and find out the best and safest places to visit."<br/><br/>Judi shook her head; this wasn't the first time she heard such a request during their nineteen years.  "I'm sorry, I just can't afford it.  Too dangerous, and I...I don't want to lose either of you."<br/><br/>Zelda spoke up.  "Even so, we must assure their growth into proper young ladies.  We are tight enough on funds as is, and there are only so many tutors we can hire to come.  The best academies and libraries are not in the City of Glass, but across the Material Plane and Axis."<br/><br/>"Not to mention, Katapesh holds the College of Dimensional Studies, which will surely aid Neferi's schooling."<br/><br/>Apparently this was Judi's weak point.  It was a clear worry of hers, of Neferi and Munira's education stagnating, but could not admit it openly.<br/><br/>"Okay, perhaps with the proper precautions we can let you two visit Katapesh for a temporary period.  We'll need you under an escort at all times, and to report nightly to-"<br/><br/>"Judi al-Samara!" Hanifa interjected.  "Such a high profile will not be good, for it will be a giant flashing sign for your many rivals.  Perhaps it is better for them to go undercover as wealthy travelers enrolling at the Academy, yet still under our watchful eyes.  That way they'll be safe and secure, covertly."<br/><br/>"I...I suppose.  Arensha, what do you think?"<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Foods, supplies, clothing, and other essentials were being hauled into<em>purses of holding,</em>staff members ensuring that every little item is packed and/or folded neatly before passed into the extra-dimensional space.  Even with their magical properties the number of purses looked like a burden to carry.<br/><br/>"Are...are you sure all of this is necessary?" Munira asked.<br/><br/>"Hey, if it will help Judi sleep better at night..." Hanifa said.  "But between us girls, you won't need all this.  Don't worry, you won't be truly alone in Katapesh.  Just go to the Pathfinder Society and tell them my name, and you'll be all set!"<br/><br/>Zelda hovered by to help pack in some of Neferi's books.  "I submitted some of your work to the College, Neferi.  They're more than impressed!"<br/><br/>Munira was over by Judi, talking.  "Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on Neferi."<br/><br/>"Thank you, Munira," Judi said as she dabbed the tears off her face with a washcloth.  "It's going to feel a lot emptier here."<br/><br/>"Aww, don't be like that, we'll be back.  And we'll be sure to write home too!"<br/><br/>As they loaded up the last purse into the carriage, they all shared hugs and farewells.<br/><br/>"Goodbye Mom!  Goodbye Arensha!  Goodbye Hanifa!  Goodbye Zelda!  Goodbye Alfreldi!"<br/><br/>With a quick whip the hippocampus took down the river, closer to the Merchant's Quarter which contained portals to the Material Plane.  Munira stared out the back window to the al-Samara Palace, her eyes focusing on it until they rounded a corner and lost it...<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Katapesh, the Golden City</span></span></div><br/>An unpleasantly hot gust of dry air greeted Munira and Neferi as they crossed the planar threshold to the Material.  A blindingly bright light overwhelmed their eyes, and it took a bit of adjusting before they were able to see properly.  By the time it cleared up, the vision of countless folk from the far corners of the world came into view.  The buildings were made out of sandstone, and onion-shaped domes dominated the city skyline off in the distance.  Almost immediately calls for fresh food, trinkets, souvenirs, and city maps for newcomers assaulted their ears.<br/><br/>"Move it!" a particularly burly pair of ogres carried a huge box forth to cross into the portal.  The fact that the box seemed to shake of its own free will was more than enough for others to give them a wide berth.<br/><br/>Munira's eyes were fixed on the sky.  "Neferi, look up, that big ball of light...is that the Sun?"<br/><br/>Indeed it was!  The City of Glass had its own light source, but they were magically created and not the sole feature.  White clouds congregated in the clear blue sky, and the ground beneath their feet was of brown earth and not shaped stone.<br/><br/>"Hold on Neferi, I need some time to adjust..."<br/><br/>"Adjust!  I've got just the thing for that!  With these special cough drops you can-"<br/><br/>"On second thought, we should head out of here for some peace and quiet!"<br/><br/>Munira's search was unsuccessful, but they did find a scenic restaurant with a third-floor balcony giving a nice view of the city itself.  She was looking over a tourist brochure as well as the notes provided by Arensha, Hanifa, and Zelda.<br/><br/>"So umm, we can go to the College of Dimensional Studies and see if we can't reserve a stay there as a student.  The Immaculate Repository is the pre-eminent bank and storage service, so maybe we can see if we can access our funds from there."<br/><br/>"This is off the record, but Arensha and Zelda recommended the Golden Scarab gambling hall and Zandrek's Pesh Palace.  The Dockside Giant is a massive local feature we ought to see some time, and Jexler & Young's Salvaging Company goes out for deep-sea voyages and tours.  I hear that the oceans of the Material Plane have a surface, sort of like how water congregates in a bowl.  The Grand Coliseum ought to have some fun and games.  Ooooh, Trillia's Bathhouse might be nice, especially since it's so hot and dry here all the time!"<br/><br/>"Now as to your special research, the<em>real</em>reason we're out here... Hmm, there's a Nexian Embassy, perhaps they might be able to help about that Crown.  As to the Pathfinder Society, Hanifa tells me they're a famous and respected order of adventuring scholars, and to recommend her name to them.  Let's see...oh shit, there's<em>four</em>Pathfinder lodges in the city!  I know she said the name, but I can't remember it off the top of my head!  Oh what to do!"