Needless Complications and a Taste of Dust

It was now a game of hide-and-seek. A deadly version of the game!

Jarlath

"As you know," I say softly as we sneak about, "The plan is a rather simple one. Basically, we try to manage to avoid Frozh's 'sisters' who are looking for us (Astra the Djinn's abilities right now will make that much easier). We must enter into the Dragon's Lair, rescue Sir JH....and probably have to slay that dragon. Even friendly dragons aren't very fond of total strangers entering without welcome, and as we can gather.....he ain't friendly!"

After getting and rescuing Sir JH (and perhaps facing the Dragon if we're unlucky), we get the heck out of here and let Probe and the others of his family (all "heavy hitters" as Betty put them) handle the dragon- women (who'll be rather....displeased at their gods death). The Golems at least will be able to capture all the dragon-women alive than we could.....

Mirthless chuckles greet me with that one (of course)....only to be interrupted as Astrid gasps....turns vapory and.....get's sucked into the lamp she's holding.

It clanks to the ground, and I don't know what to think of the untranslatable curse my former teacher, Synizn, gives off. I do understand the shocked (and worried) look Astra the Djinn gives us, and then at her now occupied lamp.

For a brief moment I could almost swear that a trace of outrage at her lamp being occupied, but instead I note it's really.....fear.

Synizn

"Don't!" I hiss at Andrea, who's made an abortive attempt to reach over to touch the lamp, "It's dangerous to touch!"

Tiamat! I swear to myself, I'd hoped that such wouldn't happen, but....

The situation with Astrid and Astra the Djinn had appeared metastable enough with a quick magical glance by me and the other magic using folks, but....so much was still unknown. However, I am experienced enough to tell by mage-sight that for a normal human (or mortal being...for that matte) to touch it right now would be....disastrous.

"Look," I say slowly, "I've only heard legends of this in my youngest days....but.....let me confirm....."

I mutter a simple spell that shouldn't reveal what I am hoping it might reveal....but....

See, it's a modified spell that certain mages who take up "detective work" use to investigate scenes of crimes. Shows small glimpses of the past, that spell those "detectives" gives. Mine.....gives more than just glimpses in this case, though the scenes should be too old to be retrievable.

Basically, it confirms the wildest tales of my youth (children fables...really) and what I'd hoped not to see.

See, the former master of this bottle had been turned into completely and as thoroughly into a woman as Astrid had been by Belboz. Like Astra the Djinn, the former slave of the lamp became like Astra the Djinn is now (a genie without a Master). As like now, the feminized human got sucked into the lamp....and a concerned human travel companion, while in a market had reached out and touched the lamp.....causing a magical surge that snuffed out all life in the surrounding area.....

That and it killed the masterless djinn in the backlash......

That and leaving the underground abandoned market empty (thought accursed) to this day....I'm willing to bet my former Hoard on it.

Tell the others as much.

"There's only one hope," I say softly, looking up at Astra the Djinn, "You are the only one who can carry the Lamp safely....but it'll be unsafe still until the we can 'djinnizing' Astrid. She's stuck in limbo right now, I can see...."

Even those with mundane sight can see a small humanoid figure within the now glassy confines of the lamp.....if they look hard enough.....

"To complete the cycle...and complete it we must or she and you are doomed," I say softly to Astra the djinn, "You must save your sister....."

For that is what she and Astrid view each other as now....

"By doing something the makers of the lamp never envisioned possible," I sigh, "Rub the lamp and keep rubbing it until it disinigrates, releasing her."

Tiamat willing, it'll leave two free djinns alive and well. That's according to dragon legend. If not?

........

Then may the Goddess and her servant be kind to her and Astrids souls as she takes them within her winged embrace....

I don't mention the last part, and put up as confident front as I can for the others....but the other Champions know me too well....

They don't let on, but the small worried glances they give me (especially my....lovely Andrea)...tell me they know I'm.....worried.....

More so than I'd let on, at least.....

One thing at a time, though. The telling time for Astra the Djinn and Astrid will be within a day or so. Goddess knows how long Sir JH has! And as for the Fred with Frozh (who's out on the flying magical platform with us).....

Be quick about it, Synizn....or don't bother at all....

So we rush as quickly as stealth allows (Astra the Djinn can muffle the sound of her rubbing the lamp as she scouts), somehow past the dragon- women (who are very....skilled.....gods!

We finally get to the lair of the dragon from the looks of it....and where the Astra of this world say's her husband is being held last.

.....

Odd.

It has the look and feel of a proper dragon's lair.....but there are large piles of.....coins made of steel?! What kind of treasure is iron? Only world I've heard of (and that only recently) is that one world named Krynn.....

And the treasure has the look of just being recently.....well....dumped here for lack of better word....like it appeared out of thin air?

Inside is a large, blue scaled dragon, resting lazily on a pile of plantinum and golden treasure. Every once in a while he (those can at least tell that from their training the creatures sex) gives off a snort from his nostrils as he sleeps. The discharge, however, isn't the usual fire....but a spark of electricity?

"A blue AD&D dragon?" Astra 9 mouths to herself, eyes seeing (but not caring) about the sign of what appears to have been an iron cage that seems to have burst from within. A closer look would reveal a small pile of gold dust....just enough for a ring? Most are more interested in either the dragon....or looking for a missing first husband.

Then a more urgent, more important fact are presenting themselves right now. See, while Slith's magical amulet is good enough to through off magical detection and Jarlath's group's spells able to perhaps muffle most sounds....the sound of a masterless djinn rubbing her own lamp has awoken the dragon!

Bloody but victorious, the Champions now stand over the slain dragon. Fierce the battle was, but the arrogant reptile faced forces skilled in battling dragon's after all. That and he almost seemed....awkward in battle.....as if still not used to his own body?!

Later, scientific measurments of quantum signatures from Krynn and the Hoard here would prove matching. That and a pile of golden dust prove to show signs of a weak, lingering traces of alteration magic. On it and the....

On the body of Sir JH, who's body the dead mystery Dragon has morphed back into now upon death! Astra the Djinn almost stops rubbing her Lamp (bad idea at this juncture), until Synizn catches her and reminds her......

"We don't need more deaths today," the demifox whispers softly, tail drooping a bit in shock still at the scene before him. "No," the Astra of this reality whispers.....

The Fred of this world, seeing what is coming, moves closer to....help her any way he can....

1. In the distance, Andrea's and Synizn's ears perk up suddenly as they hear....the scrap of metal armor on scales?

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