Sky Bright Peregrine of Deyatendra - This giant diamond was granted to Princess Ashaperin of Susa in recognition of her contribution of money and troops to the war in the Durya Coast. The city of Susa was sacked during the Great War, and the gem (and many other things) was carried away by retreating Keller troops. About a century ago, the gem wound up in the possession of a Gemiri captain named Giovanni Braggacio, who used it to good advantage as a trader traveling the open skies in his airship the "Cloudsong". The Braggacio family was well known for being one of only a small number of Gemiri operators of airships. The Braggacio primarily operated in the Pershamon Empire and the Five Kingdoms, as the Savage Lands routes were already crowded, and airships are already a comparative rarity. Unfortunately, the ship and captain were taken prisoner by commercial rivals from Darlzacha, and sacrificed to their gods. That is where the trail goes cold. The Braggacio family ended its association with the Pershamon Empire and faded into obscurity some time ago. The "Cloudsong" is still in use, renamed the "Yedeem Zefani". It is still powered by the gem, which is kept a secret by the ship's new captain, Prince Yakmesi Hadaok. It is known for its speed, and Clan Gzaerlen prospers because of it. The ship makes port at Kalmah about twice a year, and is otherwise in Darlzacha or on travels to and from Far Shores(50/50 of either, as airships are maintenance intensive). The PC's will have to discover all of this, and then get the gem somehow.
In Kalmah
Following the successful conclusion of the recovery of the "Flowing Tears", the PC's decided to travel to the city of Kalmah, the Pershamon imperial capital. How they choose to arrive will greatly influence their greeting.
If they land out in the countryside, they will be stared at by curious peasants and slaves, and invited by a landowner to pay a fee/bribe/tax in exchange for allowing their blimp to remain unmolested. After that, they can proceed without great fanfare into the city.
If they land within sight of the city walls, they will be greeted by a group of eight light cavalrymen (stats as "Scouts"), led by Sir Ashkelan, a Knight (+2 to everything) and a "Warmage" named Sister Komarrah. They will demand an explanation, and will escort the PC's into the city to meet with the "Pasha of Barbarians in the Garden".
If they actually land within the city walls, they will be confronted by an endless supply of city guards and soldiers, who will take them into custody. Elves will be escorted to guarded apartments with great gentility, while others will be roughly handled. As no harm is meant, they will be released after a week and a hefty fine - confiscation of all of their belongings.
The only safe place to land is a large vacant area across the river, on the Susa Road. Here, they will be greeted by soldiers and a functionary, charged an exorbitant sum for parking and passes, and sent on their way. Within an hour of settling in somewhere, they will be greeted by Sir Ashelan and his retinue, and summoned to the government district for a meeting with the Pasha. This is a great honor, but mostly it is a chance for the Pasha to evaluate any interesting and potentially threatening outsiders.
If the PC's need some fun, there is an Abominable Mountain Yeti loose in the foreign quarter... actually loose in the courtyard outside - stats as a regular AbYeti, but with petrification gaze (as medusa) - DC-18, 30' range, and Poison Breath (same stats, but does Poison damage). Captured by a band of adventurers far to the north, it is being transported here for sale to the Pershamon ruler of the city. It was captured by a very lucky Wild Sorcerer named Abelurd the Amazing using his Wand of Binding to "Hold Monster" the creature long enough for "Iron Bands" to be used. He then reduced it to a small enough size to smuggle into the city. The intended customer was a Pershamon noble who intended to use it in an assassination attempt. Thanks to an accident involving another angry mage and a "Dispel Magic" casting, it got out and is looking for the mage that has been its tormentor for weeks. Wooden buildings and strict laws mean that fire spells are forbidden here, and the law is inflexible and swift. Abelurd will run into the room where the PC's happen to be, grabbing them and imploring that they help him. Of course, if the Yeti can smell him on them, it will go after them as well. If they manage to kill it, the authorities will cheerfully "Restore" any victims.
The PC's will again meet their contact there, the monk Sothkei, who met them in Ecmen earlier. The monk will arrive within the week, and will once again take the gemstone from them, and pay them in gold trade bars. He will also deliver a message that they should continue on their quest and waste no more time. How do the PC's discover this? Brother Sothkei will tell the PC's that his own people have learned from Gemiri contacts that House Braggacio operated mainly in the Empire and parts to the west. After the "Cloudsong" was captured by pirates a century ago, the family faded into obscurity. He suggests that the PC's should find the airship, though he has little idea how to do that.
1) The PC's can ask around the docks about skyships - on a Streetwise DC-15 they can find a skyship captain who knows the general story of the "Cloudsong", but not its exact fate. On a DC-20, the captain will know that the ship was captured and returned to service with one of the Darlzachan Six Houses. On a DC-25, the captain will know that it was renamed the "Yedeem Zefani" and is now in service with House Yakmesi. This will cost DC x 10sp in bribes and greasing palms, and is likely to produce a mugging or a fight.
2) The PC's can research at guild houses and the Imperial Library and other bureaucratic records, at the same DC's and results. This will cost the same, as well as requiring a DC-15 Persuasion check to gain entrance to the requisite ministries. This one has the added advantage that the vessel's captain and previous visits are logged here.
3) The PC spellcasters can try casting Legend Lore.
Taken by the Keller over the mountains
Acquired by a merchant who brought it back.
Merchant met a bad end at the hands of the mask wearers
Stone now is aboard ship.
4) The PC spellcasters can try casting Divination or Scry on either the Yedeem Zefani or on Prince Yakmesi Hadaok. The casting will be at a +5 to his Wisdom save, but either one will be able to locate the ship or the captain. Both are currently located in Darlzacha, at the House Yakmesi estates.
In the Principate of Darlzacha
Darlzacha devotes most of its energies toward defending itself from Maithu, but it remains the most accessible of the Five Kingdoms to the outside world. Other than sharing in the unfortunately common religious practice of human sacrifice, Darlzacha is relatively sane. It is a trading nation, with rule divided between the princes of six great trading houses. The traders use locally constructed airships of Taohuan design, and do business with both the Taohuan and the Pershamon Empire. The most noteworthy custom to most outsiders is the custom of wearing masks. Anyone above the commoner caste wears a mask, but the mask is designed to announce rather than to conceal one's identity, status, and even purpose. Personal names are rarely used by nobles and the wealthy, as it is considered vulgar to do so. Noble Houses include Ishme-Dagan, Gzaerlen, Zahseen, Yakmesi, Asu, and Ashur-Dak. Most trade is done with conventional sailing vessels, but each house maintains a small number of airships. These airship fleets form the base for the power of the six houses, which use them to terrorize the other nobles of the realm into submission. Within the six houses, disputes are settled by ritual combat between champions, to avoid wasteful fratricide.
The "Cloudsong" is still in use, renamed the "Yedeem Zefani". It is still powered by the gem, which is kept a secret by the ship's new captain, Prince Yakmesi Hadaok. It is known for its speed, and Clan Gzaerlen prospers because of it. The ship makes port at Kalmah about twice a year, and is otherwise in Darlzacha or on travels to and from Far Shores(50/50 of either, as airships are maintenance intensive). The Peregrine is carried on Prince Yakmesi's person, or locked away in a guarded vault when the Yedeem Zefani is at home base. The vault is in one of the Gzaerlen Castle towers, near the top, but not in Prince Yakmesi's quarters.
Castle Gzaerlen is composed of seven towers, each of which holds a branch of the family's quarters, guards, and servants.
Yedeem Zefani is a medium hull, wooden, with air sails. It carries two large cannon on the front, and two small guns to the rear. With the stone, it moves twice as fast as a normal gemiri air galleon, which is still better than most Darlzachan hulls.
Prince Yakmesi Hadaok, Rogue 9, Captain of the Yedeem Zefani
Lord Conjurer Yakmesi Chernin, Wizard 7, First Officer. The Air Stone is kept in a ring which is the replica for the Leomund's Secret Chest
Pledged Armsmen, treat as knights (MM347) but are AC-17 (splint), six serve Prince Hadaok and travel with him at all times. They are fanatically loyal to the House, as they know they will be resurrected. Two carry greatswords, and are +2 above the listed bonuses. The remained carry longswords and shields, and are AC-19 (splint and shield). All have Pro Missile amulets.
Crewmen, treat as Bandits (MM343), 20 available. Also two Scouts (MM345). They are loyal because they like and fear the Prince, and are well compensated.