Family Matters

Capricious and unpredictable, the Malik is deeply serious when dealing with his family. His concern and compassion for family can be used to gain the Malik's favor, or leveraged to gain an advantage over him. The Malik has many wives, but only one child. His daughter Amina is the light of his heart, but causes him no end of grief. She is spoiled and often gets her way, and every time she finds herself in trouble her father bails her out. She is promiscuous and has many suitors, but the Malik often has them put to death when she is through with them. Corporeal destruction is no great threat to a jinni suitor, but it is to the mortal men she sometimes takes as lovers. As a further complication, Aminia's cousin and the Malik's champion, Afdal-Kathir, is hopelessly in love with her. She wants nothing to do with him.

The Malik's cousin, Za'al-Zoresh, presents a ruthless and persistent threat. Despite his wickedness, the Malik often forgives his cousin's misdeeds and only lightly punishes him when his intrigues are unravelled. Though a constant challenge to the Malik, Za'al-Zoresh is not trying to usurp the throne. He merely seeks to manipulate it to his advantage and gain power over the city's other nobles.

they draw closer, the characters see two columns of flame on either side of one of the gates.

The twin pillars of fire are the great towers of the Brass Palace, gleaming in the sunlight. The tiny columns of fire in front of one of the gates are two twelvefoot tall 'afrit guards, Zayad-Sayaf and Zayad-Sabad. Clad in scale armor made of brass, Sayaf is armed with a brass great sword and Sabad is equipped with a brass scimitar and shield. Exceptionally perceptive and aware characters will realize that these guards were not initially there, but faded into existence as the expedition drew close enough to see them, almost as if in response to their approach. The gate they stand in front of is merely the one the characters looked upon first, but they flicker and reappear at whichever gate the characters approach.