Homs II
In the aftermath of the battle Aubert quietly grouped and collected the identifiable bodies of slain Sahirs. Since they typically didn't wear armor and many of them were women, about 130 were identified. (About 140 died, for a loss rate of 70%.)
An open council was called after the battle to discuss the attack of the Sahirs and the Jinn. Aubert had to make hasty arrangements with Bartamaeus to play his "brother," Kaldas, who had to make an appearance to testify in front of the entire Pilgrimage.
The short of it is that Aubert, Bohemond and the two Roberts took turns explaining that there were Frankish wizards on the Holy Pilgrimage. And that these were Christian wizards who wished to have Jesus wash the taint off their magic and forgive them their sins, just like anyone else. And since they defeated the Islamic Summoners (the act of which is clearly forbidden in the Bible), God approved the Wizard's journey in the Holy Pilgrimage.
Some grumbling happened, but the Wizards largely kept to themselves and things blew over for them. Coemgin ex Criamon, however, despite his blatant gift, began to develop a small following.
Not letting an opportunity go to waste or worry about accusations of hypocrisy, Kaldas discreetly and promptly summoned the Sahirs' Ghosts that night. He then Bound them into stones with their name and age carved into them for future reference.
After a day of looting and burying the dead, the Crusade moved again towards Homs. Duqaq escaped during the meeting, which shouldnât have been possible. Intellego Vim magic revealed a certain non Hermetic residue, and another clue in the form of a 3d circular cut into the tent and through two guardâs dead bodies meant a portal of some sort was activated. Duqaq and other prisoners did not have any rings or other jewelry removed, which could have been a subtly enchanted item.
While frustrating, nothing obvious could be done. Kaldas had not taken an arcane connection for another wizard to try locating Duqaq.
The Emir Ibn Malaeb, however, remained in captivity.
On the way to Homs, Kaldas did some investigating of the Shayzar Sahirs' enchanted items. Bartamaeus provided some helpful advice: that one could simply summon the spirit powering the device and ask what it does.
Compared to the months or years involved with investigating a Hermetic enchantment, Kaldas quickly discovered what he had access to:
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Several rings of healing, able to heal various degrees of wounds, and diseases, but once per several years. (A recharge time of in years per magnitude of the effect.)
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A couple rings of that restore fatigue levels, with positive penetration.
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A couple flying carpets with sentient air elementals bound to them, like in the classic Aladdin film.
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4 scimitars that could produce flames on command
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3 Bows that shot lightning
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Several magical quills, some of which could open gateways into Regios, and one that even opened directly and immediately to the City of Brass. (And again, ritual Solomnic effects, have cool downs years in length, so are close to a plot device in usefulness.)
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Several great swords with no enchantments. However, contained strange sparkles. After an Intellego Terram spell, they were made from some strange mixture of metals and diamonds. Perfectly, too. Almost as if the Shayzar Sahirs had cast a permanent Muto effectâŠ
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Interestingly, no bottles, lamps or other containers.
After the battle, a series of spies were found in the camp, as Bartamaeus acted as counter intelligence after the first discovery. Aubert personally executed the spies by public decapitation.
Before investing Homs, the Crusaders tried to negotiate a surrender with the Emir. Unfortunately for them, the Emirâs last words were to ââŠNever surrender to these infidel sons of mongrel dogs, may God swallow the earth underneath them!â (note: I used this site for insults.)
Suffice to say, after Shayzar, the people of Homs were not willing to surrender.
When the Crusade invested around the city of Homs they soon faced a new challenge. Both day and night, a Ghost in silver mask
Led a small host of ghosts on raids against the crusaders. (below)
The corporeal enough ghosts raided the supply train, damaging some of the critical water wagons. Aubert made a good counter attack along with the Flambeauâs help, they found out they were oddly resistant to magic and steel, though after a vigorous defence retired from the battlefield, slowly disappearing as they retreated to Homs.
Going through the recently bound Sahirs, Kaldas found out he was facing âKukras the Persian, Legendary Defender of Homs.â This ghost would attack any army besieging the city of his, and his companionâs burial. (Note: Kukras is not historical at all, I just made this up.)
Again, using the Bound Sahirs, Kaldas found out that whoever controlled the silver mask of Kukras would control the ghost and his followers.
Causing some delay was the open use of Jinn guarding the city. Not many, but having 40 Jinn hovering openly in the air watching the city and the besieging army was a cause for caution.
Using Bartamaeus, Kaldas did eventually find out where to go to sneak into Homs. After that he had the Jinn do some spy work to suss out what the Sahirs of Homs were up to.
Again, invisibly entering the city, Kaldas investigated the burial ground. He found the site already and quite recently looted. Making some extensive and excellent tracking rolls, Kaldas was looking for a petite woman about 5'0" with a slight left foot drag due to a pouch of some sort knocking the left leg.
This description fit one woman, Hero ex Tremere. Silent and observing, she almost entirely kept to herself, with sullen grogs to guard and serve her. Noticeably, there was no Mask to be found, but instead a vigorously trashed burial mound.
The princes of the Crusade planned to wait the time for Aubert's battering ram to be built and assemble the ladders.
This was called into question when Bartamaeus returned a few days later: The Sahirs of Homs were planning on summoning a powerful Marid, the Great Malik, Sultan of the City of Brass to defend them.
Tagging some other users not able to add from last time:
, @AericExMiscellanea , @Ouroboros , @CannedTuna , @DavidCastle