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That dream again. Sinbad couldn't quite remember. How could a fish be so big? And What was the connection to his father? Where was his father? Oh, well, never mind. He picked up the scrubbing brush and launched into the chorus of his favourite tune. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows.."
"Sinbad!" called his mother, Alethea. "Cover yourself. There's a witch here to see you! What are you getting us into?!". "A witch?" mused Sinbad. He didn't know any witches.
"Salaam, Sinbad. My name is Byarssh. I am the sorceress of the Petrea General Trading Company. This is the Head of Intelligence, and Ali Janari of the Qarkyr tribe. He bears the colours of Lord Flagg, and he comes in peace. Let there be no more bad blood between the mummies and your family. I have come to explain what your father was doing when he left you, and to ask for your help."
"What is she talking about Mother?"
"I cannot allow this!" frowned Alethea.
But The Head carried on, "Your father has discovered that the Holy Crystal of the Qarkyr mummies had certain interesting qualities with respect to water. In short, it hates water. He planned to carry it away from Petraea, to bring back water to our desert heartlands, and to revolutionise long distance travel all at once by using the power of the crystal to propel an air-ship through the sky over the seas. But he vanished somewhere around here, an isle of mist, fog and sorrow. We need the crystal back. And we need you."
"Why me?"
"Sinbad, you are the chosen one"
"I have already lost one man I love to this cursed crystal, must I lose another too?"
"I am chosen, Mother. I will answer the call"
Sinbad and Ali Janari had trouble finding a captain who would take the anywhere near the cursed isle, but eventually they took on as crew on the Hinde under mad Captain Ahab. He lost the ship to a great white whale, but that's another story. Luckily, Sinbad, Ali Janari, and ship's mate Montgomery Scott were able to desert Ahab on a lifeboat before his madness took down the Hinde. And through the fog and mists, destiny brought them to the cursed isle of Serendib, where they are greeted by the bones of an airship, and a mysterious ghost.
"Travellers, welcome to Serendib. You must help me. Misery and woe"
"Hang on a minute mate, we're practically shipwrecked. Ali, let's tie up the boat first. I am Sinbad of Qarkyr, and these are my travelling companions Ali Janari and Montgomery Scott."
"Sinbad? While I lived, I had a son of that name. A beautiful boy, with a smile that would melt your heart and a laugh like liquid gold. Misery and Woe. Ali Janari, Salaam and peace everlasting to you and your people"
"Father?! What in Historica! We have come to rescue you! What do you mean, while you lived? Do you not stand before me now?"
"Sinbad, my beautiful boy! See what a man you have become! Alas, I am a pale shade. I cannot return to the gods while the Roc holds the Holy Crystal of the mummies."
Ali Janari spoke, "Where is the Crystal you stole from us, villain! Return it!"
"Were you not listening, my friend! The Roc has the crystal and I cannot return to the gods"
"A rock is a crystal, what are you talking about?"
"No laddie" said Mr Scott, "The Roc. A giant big bird that carries of elephants in its mighty jaws and such like. Terrifying things. One lives?"
"Yes, Mr Scott, and it tore our piscithopter from the sky and tore it to shreds. Poor thing, it thought it found fish heaven, and it was just gas inside. It was quite disappointed, I think. Anyway, it has the Crystal, up there in its nest."
Sinbad jumped up like a desert scorpion, and set off for the cliff. "Doesn't look too big to me!" he said.
"But Sinbad!..." his father's words trailed off in the breeze
"Allez-oop, come here birdie. Someday I'll find it, the rainbow connection", sang our hero.
"Oh crikey, that's a big egg!" Sinbad realised there might be more to this than he thought. "Hello, Mister Roc. I am Sinbad of Qarkyr, and I have come to take back the Holy Crystal of Qarkyr"
"Hello Sinbad. Do you have any fish? I'll have to ask my Mummy about that, she like shiny things"
"Your Mummy?"
"Yes, she's just coming back right now"
An horrific beast with breath like stink and eyes of molten malice swept down and crashed into the tower. It fixed its prey with a beady glare and clacked its mighty jaws. Sinbad cried, "Good morning, Mrs Roc!" and explained the situation, offering his father's shiny compass as a trade. Much to his surprise, the Roc agreed quite pleasantly,
"Look, I have too many of these stone things, they are only useful to help me digest mammoths and I haven't found one in ages. It's nice to have something a little bit different, help yourself. Your Dad's a nice bloke, isn't he? Been a bit down since he died, though, maybe this will cheer him up. Sure you won't stay for dinner"
So Sinbad recovered the Crystal, through sheer good manners. he quite like the Roc's company, which was good because it took his father and Mr Scott a few weeks to rebuild the Hydrophobia. Luckily there was a volcanic vent on the island to fill the gas bags, and his crew were able to fashion the skin from the sails of the unfortunate Hinde as it washed ashore. Of course, the Holy Crystal did the rest, and they were soon feted as heroes back in Qarkyr.
Which was nice.
Nice job on those tiles!
Your presentation is great as well, with the old maps - is that an actual book you have photographed for your background? It looks so sweet. 
