Zawabi the Elder Djinni

Name: Zawabi the Elder Djinni

Race: Djinn

Gender: Male

Bestows Quest(s): Against the Demon Queen (story arc)

Collects:

• Blessed Blood Offering
• Orb of the Efreet
• Phylactery of Raiyum

Location: Zawabi's Refuge, bound in the circle east from the oasis

Description: Zawabi is a genie bound thousands of years ago by Raiyum, the Wizard-King. Because of his magical influence, even bound, he can protect the oasis that formed around his prison. He grew fond of the people living under his protection and does not wish to leave, but still seeks vengeance against the Demon Queen, Lailat, who imprisoned him.

Zawabi's Refuge

If you try to talk to him while at level 8 or lower, he will reply:

• Zawabi: It takes many moments for the mighty djinni to acknowledge your presence. Finally, he speaks in a voice that rumbles like a faraway thunder. What is your name, seeker?
• You: I am called <name>.
• Zawabi: With every passing moment, Queen Lailat's influence dissolves. The Firebrands are at war with the Windlashers. The Vulkoorim tremble before their outraged deity. The Wizard-King's servants listen in vain for their master's voice. I promise that your name will never be forgotten, <name>, so long as Zawabi remains to tell your tale.

If you talk to him at level 9 or higher, however, he will say:

• Zawabi: Zawabi nods solemnly. I am Zawabi the Elder Djinni. This place is called Zawabi's Refuge. It might also be called Zawabi's Prison, for I am trapped here by an old and evil binding. But my powers still extend as far as I can see, and in this corner of the desert, I allow no bloodshed. You are safe here from Queen Lailat's machinations, so long as Zawabi endures.
  • You: Can you tell me about the Menechtarum Desert?
    • Zawabi: This region of the Menechtarun is called the Demon Sands for good reason. The gnolls raid in every direction to find slaves, whom they eat at the merest whim. The scorrow sacrifice gnolls, beasts, humans and each other to their predatory god. And behind it all, Queen Lailat—the dark mistress of a thousand demons and efreet—laughs, and schemes, and ensures that the blood will always flow.
    • You: Is there no way to purge this place of evil?
    • Zawabi: Queen Lailat turned the Wizard-King against my counsel and showed him how to bind me here. Queen Lailat taught the Firebrand gnolls how to summon efreet and wield their evil flames. And Queen lailat taught the scorrow to worship Vulkoor with sacrificial murder. Only the death of Queen lailat could allow the Demon Sands to heal—and that healing would take a thousand years! But I lack the tools to fight the demon queen, and no mortal can defeat her wards. The Queen will rule over this age and many to come.
      • You: You speak of tools that you lack. Is there some way you could undermine Lailat's power? (See below)
  • You: How can I help you destroy Queen Lailat?
    • Zawabi: Queen Lailat is powerful, but so am I. What makes Lailat invincible is her stronghold, the Circle of Eternity. It is a deep cavern with no physical entrances, where the Wizard-King first summoned Lailat to Eberron. It is protected by warding spells of incredible strength. Despite the Wizard-King's arrogance, he was the greatest summoner of his day, and his spellcraft endures. When Queen Lailat is truly threatened—which has not happened for centuries—she retreats to the Circle of Eternity, where no enemy can follow.
    • You: Is there no way to break into the Circle of Eternity?
    • Zawabi: Yes, I know a way to defeat the wards. But, to do this, I need three objects of power. A crystal orb imbued with the essence of air. The demon-tainted blood of a fiendish gnoll. And most impossibly, the phylactery of the Wizard-King, Raiyum the Eternal. Long have I bargained with the magicians of Zawabi's Refuge for these things, but they have delivered nothing but trickery. You can trust neither Calyx, nor Miroc, nor Jaefan, but all three know secrets that you must learn. Bring me the objects I seek, and hope may yet be reborn in the Demon Sands.
      • You: I believe I have found an object that you seek. (See below)
  • You: I believe I have found an object that you seek.
    • Zawabi: Zawabi's gaze burns with eagerness. Indeed? And which of Queen Lailat's banes do you bring me?
      • You: I bring the Orb of the Djinn, imbued with elemental air.
        • Zawabi: (If you don't have the item) Zawabi sighs. Let's assume you are mistaken and not dishonest. I do not sense the Orb of the Djinn on your person, and I could not fail to notice such an artifact.
        • Zawabi: (If you have the item) When Zawabi touches the Orb of the Djinn, the storm trapped inside the orb is drawn instantly into his gleaming skin. Ah... the essence of the skies fills me with new life! Not for a hundred years have I felt so potent. With the proper tools, even the Circle of Eternity will crumble before my force!
      • You: I have obtained the drow-blessed blood of a fiendish gnoll.
        • Zawabi: (If you don't have the item) Zawabi sighs. Let's assume you are mistaken and not dishonest. I smell no fiendish blood on the air, and I could not fail to detect such a dire substance.
        • Zawabi: (If you have the item) Zawabi dips a finger into the bowl and smudges your forehead with the caustic blood, which bruns painfully for many moments. Now you are marked with the sign of the Demon Queen. This will confound Lailat's self-woven defenses, though not those created by the Wizard-King. Our task grows easier!
      • You: I carry the cursed phylactery of Raiyum the Eternal.
        • Zawabi: (If you don't have the item) Zawabi sighs. Let's assume you are mistaken and not dishonest. I looked into the Wizard-King's soul, long ago, and it seethed with arcane power. No such power clings to your person.
        • Zawabi: (If you have the item) Zawabi crushes the phylactery in one massive hand. At last! Darkness take you, faithless Raiyum! May your dead stench never again befoul my desert—may your tricks be at an end! I am close to unmaking all your dark legacies, Raiyum, and soon I will banish Queen lailat, whom alone I hate more than you!

After delivering all three items, he will say:

• Zawabi: Zawabi grins fiercely. Your gifts have made me strong, friend! If I tapped their power, I could break my bonds and leave this place forever. But I prefer a single chance to destroy Quen Lailat to an eternity of freedom! Now, listen carefully. You must attack the Queen directly, in the demonic temple she calls the Court of Lailat, and force her to retreat into the Circle of Eternity. She will think herself safe. She will be wrong! I will reverse the Circle's power, so that she cannot flee! I will trap this snake on our plane of existence, and you will crush her into dust! (Bestow quest)

Talking to him after defeating Queen Lailat in her court, will make he say:

• Zawabi: The djinni looks tired and diminished. Queen Lailat has retreated to the Circle of Eternity, deep beneath the Menechtarun sands. This is where Lailat was first summoned to Eberron, and the only place where she can be destroyed. I have trapped her there, though it has cost me greatly. You must now gather a dozen heroes who are prepared to confront Lailat. When you are ready, speak to me again, and I will send you into the Circle of Eternity.
• You: I go now to gather my forces. (Advance quest)

Talking to him again after advancing the quest will allow you entrance to the raid:

• Zawabi: My preparations are complete. I have strength enough left to send twelve heroes into the Circle of Eternity. Is your party ready to wage final war against the queen of the Menechtarun?
  • You: I am ready. Send me to the Circle of Eternity. (Open quest UI)

On completion of raid, he will congratulate you with the following:

• Zawabi: Your quest is over. Queen Lailat is dead. No longer will she set the evils of the Menechtarun against one another for her pleasure. The Firebrands remain powerful, the faith of the Vulkoorim grows, and the Wizard-King's undead servants stir... many evils remain. But without the Queen's dark influence, these forces will not stay aligned. They will drown themselves in each other's blood. In a thousand years, nothing but the shifting sands will remain... the sands, and perhaps Zawabi.
• You: Can you not leave this place, now that your nemesis is dead?
• Zawabi: I spent too much of myself to trap Queen Lailat in the Circle of Eternity. Perhaps a magician of the Wizard-King's mettle will someday free me from my bonds. But even then... could I leave before Lailat's last servant spills its tainted blood into the dunes? I have enjoyed my greatest revenge, but there are lesser satisfactions to be found in the days to come. I remain here of my own will. Though imprisoned, I am free.
• You: My you witness the end of evil in these lands. Fare you well, Zawabi.

After completing the raid and taking the reward, if you talk to him again, he will reply:

• Zawabi: with every passing moment, Queen Lailat's influence dissolves. The Firebrands are at wat with the Windlashers. The Vulkoorim tremble before their outraged deity. The Wizard-King's servants listen in vain for their master's voice. I promise that your name will never be forgotten, <name>, so long as Zawabi remains to tell your tale.