al-Kathos - the True Shair
by the Genie of the Ring- Index - Maps - The Land - The Folk - The Law - Encounters -
- Up - Domains of Dread - Contribute -
- Index - Maps - The Land - The Folk - The Law - Encounters -
- Up - Domains of Dread - Contribute -
There are no true sha'irs native to al-Kathos. If somehow a true sha'ir (one from Zakhara for example) he is left almost totally powerless. He cannot cast spells (sha'irs are granted spells in a unique way as explained below) and even the attempt to do so can be extremely dangerous for him.
When true sha'irs enters Ravenloft by the Mists, they only retain the following abilities.
True sha'irs can recognize the work of normal genies (if such work exists).
They cannot recognize the workings of a genie native to al-Kathos.
True sha'irs retain there abilities to be protected from elemental effects and attacks.
True sha'irs are able to summon normal genies (genies not native to al-Kathos) but the problems with doing so is covered under the changes to summon spells described in Domains of Dread (basically the genie can't leave and is pretty mad about it.) Bringing a genie into Ravenloft is a crime against genie kind and if the sha'ir leaves Ravenloft he must face the consequences (see crimes against genie kind below)
True sha'irs can attempt to bind a normal genie (one not native to al-Kathos) but it is extremely unlikely that the genie would go down without a fight (having been ripped from its homeland and now unable to return plus some fool sha'ir is trying to enslave it.) Consider a good -10 penalty to the chances of the sha'ir to bind the genie (and all reaction rolls from the genie.) If the attempt is successful then the genie will serve the sha'ir but will be extremely hostile towards it.
True sha'irs are able to make genie prisons but they are only effective on normal genies and have the same problems described under binding a genie.
If a true sha'ir is somehow able to summon a tasked genie non-native to al-Kathos he can attempt to bind it with the same guidelines as in Binding a Genie.
True sha'irs can use none of the abilities not listed here and do not learn abilities while in Ravenloft (for example if a sha'ir reaches 13th while in Ravenloft he doesn't learn how to fashion genie prisons) and they do not learn the abilities accorded false sha'irs. If the sha'ir is somehow able to leave Ravenloft at a later date he receives these abilities then.
The biggest problem with being a true sha'ir in al-Kathos is that they cannot cast spells. The dark powers prevent the sha'ir's gen from entering the elemental planes. If the sha'ir attempts to send his gen to look for spells the gen instructs the sha'ir that such a thing is not a good idea. The gen explains that to attempt to do so puts the gen at extreme danger. If the sha'ir attempts to send the gen anyway the gen will obey (this is cause for a dark powers check.) They gen will then enter the mists of Ravenloft and attempt to find a way to leave the mists. There is a 75% chance that the gen is slain by a mist horror or otherwise does not return from the mists. If this occurs its sha'ir is subjected to the penalties for losing a familiar and there is a 20% chance that the gen will return in undead state and attempt to slay its master (as per an undead familiar.) There is actually a 1% chance that the gen finds a portal to the elemental planes. If this happens then the gen quickly escapes back home and the sha'ir never sees from him again. Otherwise the gen returns to its sha'ir but will never treat him as it did before (it now distrusts him greatly) Sending a gen into the mists (despite its wishes) is a crime against genie kind. If a sha'ir loses its gen (in any way) the sha'ir cannot summon a new one. No gen will answer his call. The only way such a sha'ir can get a new gen is by becoming a false sha'ir.
True sha'irs may attempt to become a false sha'ir. This requires that the sha'ir perform a ritual in which he finds and slays a genie (it doesn't matter if the genie is native to al-Kathos or not.) If the sha'ir still retains his original gen at this point then it turns on him and attempts to slay him. If it appears that it has no chance of doing so then it flees and will stalk its former master until an opportunity occurs that will allow it to slay him. Becoming a false sha'ir would be distasteful to most decent sha'ir and those of good alignment cannot attempt it (unless they are willing to change alignment.) This is call for a dark powers check and is a crime against genie kind. If the sha'ir completes the ritual he may summon a new gen and advance as a false sha'ir (he learns abilities at the rate of one per week until he has the abilities of a false sha'ir of his level and advances normally from then on.)
If a sha'ir is able to finally leave Ravenloft, as soon as he exits the demi-plane he may be called to the court of genies. If he has committed any of the following crimes against genie-kind he will be tried accordingly:
Each charge adds up. Thus a sha'ir who came into al-Kathos and then became a false sha'ir is charged with two crimes: The act of becoming a false sha'ir and the act of being a false sha'ir. A person native to al-Kathos who becomes a false sha'ir is only charged with one crime. The punishment can vary greatly. The Efreeti, for example, favor enslavement in the City of Brass as a punishment.
If the sha'ir never leaves al-Kathos and dies still being a false sha'ir then the sha'ir is called to the court of the genie lords of al-Kathos. They deal with false sha'irs in their own way (see the genie lords of al-Kathos, under genies.)
At any time a false sha'ir may (with no penalties what so ever) seek forgiveness for there crimes and cease to be a false sha'ir. This is not a difficult process but once a false sha'ir completes the simple ritual (one which require the tears of their gen among other things) then they have no abilities and may not cast spells. They still have their gen (which treats them much nicer and now shows obvious affection for the sha'ir) but have no abilities otherwise. The sha'ir may attempt to dual class if they wish and continue there adventuring career in some other field. The genie lords of al-Kathos find these sha'irs most amusing, but punish them much the same as other false sha'irs.
