Meeting The Grand Sultan of Sheba inside the Grand Ziggurat.

Jasmine's eyes widen at the sight of the interior of the Grand Ziggurat, with its wide halls, columns of stone pillars that are reinforced by magic runes embedded onto them. Numerous torches & candles on the chandeliers provide light during the night, and the occasional cloudy days. Columns of royal guardsmen can be seen on the edges of the throne room, and more of them can be seen flanking the grand sultan, & his family. The grand sultan himself looks to be a man in his 50's, reflected in his graying beard, but he still looks like a capable battlemage, with his scimitar in one side, and what looked like an arcane gauntlet in his off-hand. In other words, the arcane gauntlet appears to help him channel magical powers--powers that are reasonably unknown to the guild. To his left, is his wife, a woman in her 40's, who looks to be a capable archer, with her longbow, and a quiver of arrows nearby. On the other flank, are the three children--the oldest being their lone daughter, at 24, and their sons being 18 & 10. The princess looks to be a sorceress or a bardess, with her robes being consistent with that of her abilities, a dagger visible in her waistband, and a set of chimes in her main hand. The boys look to have or being given fighter training, as they have their own scimitars by their sides. The whole family look ahead, as Aldanya brings the guild to the base of the steps, leading to the throne.

"My lord," Aldanya tells the grand sultan, going down to one knee--which the guild follows suit, "I present you The Briarwolf Guild. They have heeded your call for outside help, in the wake of the abductions."

"As they have." The grand sultan nods, and gestures for them to rise. "But I believe the guild now have a succubus with them. May I ask where she is?"

Valnora, in her belly dancer form, moves up the steps, and shifts into her demon form. The youngsters in the family lean back in amazement, while some of the royal guards reach for their scimitars on instinct. Aldanya eases the uneasy guards, as Valnora spreads her wings out, then retracts them.

"I am here, your majesty." Valnora tells the grand sultan. "I was in the form of the belly dancer that you saw, so that I do not draw suspicion to your people. Should you desire it, I can retake that form, and entertain your people, until the guild is ready to head out into the desert, in search of your missing dancers."

"There is another matter, that may require your attention, as well." The grand sultan tells the guild, as Valnora heads back down the steps. "There has been multiple encounters by our sailors, by a strange group of sea people. Some of them claim that they look like Elves, only very pale, and hair that makes them almost look like the Drow."

"Sea Elves." Janissa tells them. "Some of the clans can be peaceful, but others are very hostile. Your people may be encountering at least one hostile clan out at sea. If it's a joint group of them, however, then you may want to put your people on high alert, as they are known to raid coastal settlements, whenever they have number. When was the last time your people have encountered them?"

"A few days ago." Aldanya tells them. "A group of fishermen encountered them while out at sea. Only a few of them out of 30 managed to escape, and make their way back to port, on top of the debris of their wrecked ships."

"Are they still at the docks?" Janissa asks them.

"Yes, they are still at the docks." Aldanya tells her.

"Sounds like we have our plates full for tonight." Cesar tells the guild. "Janissa, I want you, Trini, Sakura, & Jasmine to go to the docks, and talk to the survivors. I will stay here in the ziggurat, learn as much about the **** dancers, and where the Prydaen clans that took them may be hiding."

"What about the rest of us?" Cat asks Cesar.

"Cat," Cesar tells the rogue, "you & Valnora can entertain the guards tonight, maybe do something with the princess..."

"Princess Rumaya." Rumaya tells Cesar.

"...well, Princess Rumaya, & her handmaidens." Cesar tells Cat. "Deraxle, you & Sashya can check in with their mages in their tower. Perhaps you can work with them, on finding out where the dancers, and maybe the attacking Sea Elves, may be."

"By your will, Cesar." Deraxle nods.