Zayad-Sayaf and Zayad-Sabad, Guardians of the Gate

Magic Might: 25

Modified Characteristics: Str +9, Sta +3, Dex –1, Qik –1

Size: +3 (as manifested)

Modified Virtues & Flaws: Add Improved Characteristics (x2), Great Strength (x2)

Driven (major), Dutybound, plus Reckless and Higher Purpose

Modified Qualities & Inferiorities: Add Improved Powers, Lesser Power, and Remove Reduced Abilities (x8)

Personality Traits: Driven to guard the city +3, Brave +3, Dutybound +3, *Reckless (Zayad-Sayaf) +3, Higher Purpose (Zayad-Sabad) +3, Stalwart +2 (applies to Stamina to maintain their guard), Loyal +2 (Stalwart replaces Crafty as the Essential Trait)

Combat:

Fist: Init –1, Attack +6, Defense +6, Damage +9

Great Sword: Init +1, Attack +12, Defense +9, Damage +18

Scimitar/Round Shield: Init +1, Attack +11, Defense +8/+11, Damage +15 Soak: +10

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–8), –3 (9–16), –5 (17–24), Inc (25–32), Dead

(33+) Modified Abilities: Brawl 6 (fist), Finesse 4 (precision), Great Weapon 7 (great sword), Magic Lore 4 (jinn), Penetration 5 (Smite with Fire), Single Weapon 7 (scimitar)

Modified & New Powers:

Fiery Aura of the 'Afrit, 1 point Flight, 2 points, Fast Cast

Smite with Fire, 2 points, Fast Cast, Multicast Equipment: Full Metal Scale, Great Sword or Scimitar and Round Shield

Vis: 5 Ignem

Appearance: The guards initially appear as twin columns of flame on either side of whichever gate the characters approach. As the characters come within shouting distance, they manifest as twelve foot tall guards clad in full armor made of brass scales. Zayad-Sayaf is armed with a great sword, and Zayad-Sabad has a scimitar and a round shield, all likewise made of brass.

ical architecture used in the palace's construction. The regio has an aura of 8 and is also aligned with Despair. Within the regio, the palace is beautifully impressive and aesthetically magnificent, with superior construction, bright clean walls, and lofty arches. The palace rivals any structure found in the mundane world. It is decorated with precious metals and minerals, and pristine and intact sculptures abound.

The Marble Palace is a gateway between the mundane realm and the City of Brass, which is located in the Magic Realm. Gateways such as this are very rare, House Mercere has documented only a handful, and this can be a valuable resource and story seed for future use if desired, particularly if the characters take the trouble to obtain an Arcane Connection to the building.

The palace is utterly deserted on both the mundane and regio level. The chambers and living quarters are empty, and there is no sign of anyone having lived there in many centuries. The only evidence of human presence that can be found are the tombs of four hundred soldiers, located under a lofty dome in the center of the palace. The tombs are arranged in a great circle surrounding a smaller domed chamber, and are all made of gray stone, except for the tomb of the prince which is made of white marble. Each tomb contains the skeletal corpse of an ancient soldier, buried with his arms and armor, and each corpse is tied to a specter.

The tombs of the four hundred soldiers surround a smaller domed chamber, which is the crypt of their liege, King Kush. The domed chamber can be entered by any one of eight sandalwood doors, each inscribed with a weeping verse. In the center of the domed chamber is an empty tomb, where the king's carved sarcophagus and corpse used to be.