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Exemplars of Evil

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CHAPTER 9<br />

BORAK, THUNDER<br />

TYRANT<br />

Illus. by W. Mahy<br />

148<br />

in the dragon’s side, encounters with Al-Iborak become more<br />

frequent and more difficult.<br />

The Al-Iborak are accustomed to victims that cower in fear,<br />

so they might underestimate the PCs at first. However, the<br />

Sons <strong>of</strong> the Dragon are hardened warriors and will not make<br />

the same mistake twice.<br />

Appearance and Behavior<br />

All Sons <strong>of</strong> the Dragon are powerfully muscled humanoids<br />

that wear loose-fitting robes and head covers bound with<br />

scarves. From a distance, they might be mistaken for any<br />

group <strong>of</strong> desert warriors. Up close, however, their draconic<br />

heritage is apparent. They are covered in deep blue scales and<br />

have reptilian faces, golden eyes with slit pupils, and mouths<br />

full <strong>of</strong> sharp teeth. They have no wings, but their fingers are<br />

tipped with sharp claws.<br />

Beneath their outer garb, the Al-Iborak wear armor and<br />

bear weapons in the service <strong>of</strong> their mother and queen. They<br />

favor curved desert scimitars for close combat.<br />

Al-Iborak Warrior CR 11<br />

hp 68 (9 HD)<br />

See full statistics block on page 154<br />

RAJIEF,<br />

PRINCE OF THE DJINN<br />

“As my mistress commands, so must it be done. I only<br />

hope my regrets will be <strong>of</strong> some small comfort to you,<br />

o doomed ones.”<br />

—Rajief, about to deliver<br />

a message from Borak<br />

That the noble Rajief, Prince <strong>of</strong> the Djinn,<br />

Caliph <strong>of</strong> Clouds, should be reduced to<br />

a mere servant—surely there is no<br />

justice in all the planes. At least,<br />

that is how the noble djinni sees it.<br />

Rajief was magically bound long<br />

ago to an enchanted ring—for an<br />

hour each day, the owner <strong>of</strong> the<br />

ring can summon and command<br />

him, and Rajief must obey. He is<br />

tied to the ring until he grants<br />

the wearer three wishes, at which<br />

point he will be free and need deal<br />

no longer with the creatures <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Material Plane.<br />

Unfortunately for Rajief, he has been<br />

the bound servant <strong>of</strong> Borak for centuries,<br />

ever since she slew the wizard<br />

who originally found the ring<br />

and claimed it (and the djinni)<br />

as her own. The dragon puts<br />

the Caliph <strong>of</strong> Clouds’ speed<br />

to good use, using him as her<br />

long-range spy and agent. He<br />

also whips up sandstorms to hinder<br />

desert caravans and spirits<br />

the dragon’s enemies away.<br />

Rajief<br />

The subjugation is almost intolerable, but Borak refuses<br />

to use her remaining two wishes. Why should she, when she<br />

benefits so much from Rajief’s continued service?<br />

GOALS<br />

Rajief has one overriding goal: freedom. More than anything,<br />

he wants to quit the base creatures <strong>of</strong> the Material Plane,<br />

especially his blue dragon mistress. However, as long as she<br />

has the ring to which he is bound, the djinni is all but helpless.<br />

He cannot harm Borak in any way or take the ring away<br />

from her; his only hope is for someone else to take the ring<br />

and either destroy it or grant Rajief his freedom.<br />

Of course, such a task is easier said than done, and Rajief<br />

is understandably wary <strong>of</strong> potential liberators. Even if some<br />

mighty creature managed to take the ring from Borak, could<br />

the new owner be trusted to release the noble djinni, or would<br />

Rajief merely have a different master?<br />

USING RAJIEF<br />

Rajief is a potential ally in Borak’s camp, provided that the<br />

PCs are willing to help him achieve his freedom. The noble<br />

djinni has been privy to the dragon’s affairs for centuries<br />

and knows more about the Thunder Tyrant than anyone else<br />

alive. He hates his servitude to Borak and will do almost<br />

anything to end it.<br />

Still, Rajief is no fool. He has little reason to trust the natives<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Material Plane, who have proven treacherous<br />

and greedy, and he has every reason to fear the Thunder<br />

Tyrant, who literally holds<br />

his life in her talons. If Rajief<br />

chooses to aid a group <strong>of</strong> adventurers<br />

in their quest to overcome<br />

the ancient blue, he will try to<br />

remain behind the scenes. Of<br />

course, if the PCs treated the noble<br />

djinni poorly in their early<br />

encounters, he will be even<br />

less inclined to trust them<br />

later on, though he might<br />

still use them as pawns to<br />

achieve his objective.<br />

Appearance and<br />

Behavior<br />

Nearly three times the height <strong>of</strong> a<br />

typical human, Rajief towers over<br />

most mortals, looking down on them<br />

with a haughty glare. He resembles<br />

an overly muscular man with deeply<br />

tanned skin. His head is bald except for<br />

a single long lock wrapped in a golden<br />

band, and his spade-shaped black beard<br />

is always neatly trimmed.<br />

Rajief dresses in loose blue pantaloons<br />

and fine slippers, but no shirt;<br />

he wraps a golden sash across his broad<br />

chest instead. On his wrists, he wears<br />

iron bracelets–enduring reminders <strong>of</strong> his<br />

servitude.

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