In which the mighty King Gilgamesh and his companions face a dilemma; and after reviewing that which they know, and the even larger body of facts that they do not, they plan their next action...which will lead them to the homeworld of the player characters, Oerth.
More references to the Diplomacy adventure, and oblique references to some of the high-level PCs who appeared in that escapade.
Previous installments:
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“Sumu… say nothing of what this villain Sunaeco has said to the good Captain Barakas. I need to think about how best to deal with this. We’ll tell the Janni all, in time.”
The Janni captain was informed that this was the work of foreign enemies working against Uruk, and that if he and his men would take up the duty of guarding the site to prevent further incursions (or excursions), Gilgamesh and his band would work to bring the perpetrators to justice. None of which was entirely false, though somewhat economical with the truth.
Gilgamesh and his people wind walked out of the caves to save time and put distance between them and the Janni so that he might consult with them away from their ears.
“Sumu, you were responsible for gathering intelligence about Mishari’s other suitors, were you not? What have you gleaned about this ‘Sunaeco’?”
“Sire. A wandering poet and chronicler of Uruk frequents the major oasis of the Hubul Janni tribe where they gather in the Southern Desert. The very same place where you first met with the widow of Al-Khalifa I believe. We regularly communicate with him to keep updated on rumours and happenings. He says that the water of the oasis has recently acquired the most wondrous healing and health-giving properties, after the Amir of the Hubul traded some great treasure with powers from the heavens of Elysium where Ishtar dwells. Apparently there was a contest between the powers in some demi-realm of the Amir’s, to determine who the Hubul would strike a bargain with.
“Our man spoke to me of what he had heard from a Janni merchant who has traveled with Mishari’s party to the world of this Sunaeco, if I am not mistaken, where she was to meet with him, that he might court her. He first came to her attention when he won a diving contest. He was a member of the winning team representing Elysium.”
Gilgamesh growled. “I wonder how far he got with his courting? The thought of that undeserving blue-tinted scoundrel putting his no doubt cold, slimy webbed hands – four of them! – all over Mishari’s lovely form fills me with rage, Sumu. But continue. What more do we know?”
Sumu cleared his throat. “I must warn you O my King, that much of this is third-hand information, since the merchant our chronicler spoke with did not attend this contest but only reported what he himself had heard from Luzahn Al-Qadir’s son Husaam, who did attend and was on the panel that sat in judgement. This fish-man Sunaeco was not the leader of the group, and made but a brief appearance sufficient to tantalize the ladies with his spectacular diving skills. Their group also boasted a mighty wrestler who defeated the king of the Earth Elementals.”
“Earth Elemental kings are ten to the copper ingot.”
“I will defer to your majesty’s superior wisdom on that matter. There was also a mighty lifter of weights, who could lift a family of elephants over his head. Or some equivalent measure. They were fronted by a most diplomatic and wise leader, who was excellent at solving of puzzles.”
Gilgamesh uttered a booming laugh. “I myself am famed for doing all of these things, and require no team. I should have entered this contest.”
“I believe sire that the events required separate individuals. But I am sorry, I digress, these are incidental facts. There was also, and this may be a more relevant point, a wondrous dancer with golden hair, who gave the most spectacular performance any there present had ever seen. Apparently Husaam Al-Qadir was so taken with her, that he still talks often about her shapely charms, talents and the liveliest hips he has ever witnessed on a dancing stage. He asked to be assigned as Mishari’s personal guard on her visits to receive this Sunaeco’s attentions, in the hope he might see this woman again. But he was assigned other duties by his father. But anyway, the particular relevance is that she is also, apparently, this Sunaeco’s ‘matchmaker’ who acts as intermediary and pleads his case as suitor. Her name is Serise Lendri.”
“Most interesting. So what more do we know? Aught about this fish-man and his dancing matchmaker’s world?”
“The humans of that world call it…Oerth. Sire, the janni merchant traveled to an oasis there, as is their usual way, and he briefly saw this Sunaeco himself in passing. There is nothing to suggest that their world is a remarkable one, though it is sure to have its differences. I think there was also some mention of a very pretty girl with butterfly wings. Perhaps some kind of Daeva. I am not sure if that was Serise Lendri. That really is the extent of our information.”
“Any indication of evil or unscrupulous nature about this Sunaeco?”
“None so far. But the information is sketchy. Though he was part of the group that represented the heavens of Elysium in the contest. Which would suggest otherwise, but not conclusively so.”
“How far from the oasis to the Kingdom of the Sea Peoples?”
“We have no information on that. But I imagine it is likely to be far. We know nothing of their geography.”
Gilgamesh frowned. “We know much, but not enough. The illusion claimed that he, Sunaeco, had passed through the force dome into the Palace of Za-Hadrash to make mischief. It could truly be him driven to desperation. Or it could be an impostor. Sumu, do you have enough information to identify this Sunaeco for the purposes of a Divination?”
“Yes, my King. I will consult the clouds for Anu’s wisdom. What is it you wish to know?”
“The whereabouts of Sunaeco, rival to the King of Uruk for the hand of the Janni widow Mishari Al-Khalifa. Is he truly within the Palace of Za-Hadrash as the illusion claimed, or at home in his watery realm on Oerth?”
For ten long minutes, Sumu prayed as he observed the movement of clouds in the sky.
“My King…I am sorry, I have failed you. The omens are entirely unclear. In my defense, I must plead that I have known powerful counter-magics to be able to block such divinations that answer direct questions about an individual.”
“Do you have any more powerful divination magics? Might we locate this Serise Lendri matchmaker of his? Perhaps she is less powerful and unprotected, and close by him.”
“I fear my divine allocation for today is running a little low, your Highness, though not exhausted. I can manage an Augury or two, perhaps. But even the most powerful divine magic for discerning an individual’s location is of no use if the supplicant has never even met the individual in question.”
Ed-Wyna had been silent in thought for a while, but now she spoke.
“Father, if we had the means to travel to this Sunaeco’s world, surely we could quickly locate his dwelling place as he is certain to be as famous in his world, as you are here in yours. Then, we could pay him a visit. If he is in residence there, then you will know that the illusion is the work of an impostor. Perhaps, the other suitor who is your love-rival, who is trying to set the two of you against each other. I cannot recall what you said his name was.”
“Lord Bruska. Some tiger-headed spirit being.”
“So, then I am sure you could persuade this fishy King of the deeps to join forces against this third party; we might bring him and some of his warriors back with us to battle whatever monstrous daevas are unleashed from the Palace of Za-Hadrash. And they, being not of this world will be able to destroy them effectively, like the heroes whose help you obtained to defeat the Seven Jenni. Perhaps this might even forge a bond of friendship between you, that you could then exploit to persuade him to give up his pursuit of Mishari. Or there is always hard cash, or other inducements.
“But if he is not there and no-one can account for his whereabouts, we will know that it is truly he within the underground palace we just departed.”
Gilgamesh smiled. “I like your thinking, daughter of mine. Truly, my blood flows in your veins! And at the same time as determining his guilt…we will have located his stronghold into the bargain. And then…”
Ed-Wyna grinned. “We send word back to him that we’re in his base, and if he does not withdraw his threat, we’ll slaughter every last mother's son in the place.”
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