Cauldron Festival

[Corwin]

"Everyone starts somewhere," Seira responds with a shrug. "We're used to a faster pace of change, given our upbringing."

[Anastasia]

"You'll learn," Is all Kassim says in reply. He wordlessly gestures at the refreshments, going to sit. The chair changes for him and his size, the covers above shifting to suit him as well. "But I have little time for small talk. To the point of this."

[Corwin]

"Of course." Seira busies herself pouring a drink for Amaryl, and then another for herself. Sipping it, she says, "To cut straight to the chase, I want to challenge Razalim. According to planar gossip you've refused to speak of the curse, but would you be willing to give me advice on how to properly challenge it to accept myself as its true owner?"

[Anastasia]

"I will not speak of it, save to tell you one thing," Kassim says, "I do not know who the destined hand is," His expression is stony, gaze boring into you. "That, Seira Aryn, is the only truth I will speak of that accursed blade. Put it aside. Let it tear down those fools who seek to use it. Nothing good will come of it."

"Still!" Amaryl presses forward, sipping a goblet of chilled wine. "Do you know what will happen if they wield it? You turned your back on the Grand Sultan and struck out on your own, serving Kossuth. Surely you have no great loyalty to the efreet, who seem to wield it more often than others."

[Corwin]

"I've always been partial to redemption stories," Seira tells Kassim. "I used to have better success with objects rather than people, but I've been missing that in my life. You say it's accursed? In that case, you have a specialist in removing such curses right in front of you. I've dealt with vileness from the Pit, with curses laid by Shar... perhaps that's just what needed, here."

[Anastasia]

That's an interesting approach to it and got his attention. Gimme a Diplomacy check.

[Corwin]

22:07 <Lucille> roll 1d20+54+4+10+15
22:07 <Kobot> Lucille rolled 1d20+54+4+10+15 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{93}

[Anastasia]

"If you are the destined hand, you may yet redeem it. If you are not, your efforts are meaningless," Kassim finally says, a glass of steaming wine in hand when one was not seconds before. He drinks deeply, "Choose wisely."

[Corwin]

"What did you try to make, if I might ask? Amaryl noted recently that aritfacts and spells alike are stronger if they try to encompass an idea or a concept, so which one was the ideal for Razalim?"

[Anastasia]

Kassim watches you over the rim of his wine glass, "A sword." A beat at that, "At the time I sought to try different processes purely to making a sword, to find which are the most superior. Razalim was the second best sword I made during that time."

[Corwin]

"Oh?" Seira voices, happy to have Kassim talk about this even as she wonders what was his best creation.

And my 82 knowledge might know?

[Anastasia]

Of Kassim's publically known works, the best is considered to be Nahas Alnahas, one of the legendary swords of the Grand Sultan. Nahas Alnahas was capable of slaying a Padisha of the Marid in the climatic Battle of the Blazing Shore to end Hasim's War.

It's worth noting that Kassim is considered to keep his best weapons secret, so that's relative.

[Corwin]

"It was made at the same time as Nahas Alnahas?" she confirms, ready to correct her lapse in knowledge if necessary. "How did the processes differ, if I might inquire?"

[Anastasia]

"No, I made that blade later," Kassim says, finishing his wine and putting it aside. His gaze is intent on you, like the burning coals of a forge. "Fire Lotus was lost when the wielder and his demiplane were destroyed, that was the strongest sword I made at that time."

"Interesting," Amaryl murmurs, "You've made a lot of weapons and armor?"

"Countless," Kassim says, "Each one is a new effort to make a perfect weapon. Some are competent. Some are exceptional, such as Nahas Alnahas. Razalim is a cursed blade, a failure. Most never leave here, unless they are meant to."

[Corwin]

"Did the curse stem from the different process?" Seira inquires. "Any information you may give us about it would help in the goal of eliminating the curse."