Sel's Battle

The court that guarded the Great Caliph was home to many fine guard sworn to the sheik that oversaw the bluest sky. Their animosity to the court of Hibat Allah and his sultans of fire was legendary in all the realms. It was with this knowledge that so long ago Market approached the Great Caliph with his gambit.

Skilled in diplomacy, he played upon the djinni's longstanding hatred of the efreeti. Long and poetically did he speak, recounting his terrible battle with Hibat Allah, rejoicing in the efreet's imprisonment, sorrowful at the shortness (in djinni terms, at least) of his confinement. At long last, nearly exhausted from his performance, for such it was, Martek was able to raise to the breaking point the ire of Sel, one of the six Viziers to the Caliph. Sighing with relief at Sel's shouted question, he admitted that there was one thing he could do. Martek described a band of adventurers whom he foresaw would release the efreet. He then told of the efreet's surprise when, momentarily later, they released a powerful djinn, who would rise to combat him. Martek told the Caliph and his advisors that he had the magical might to summon a djinn and command him to await this occurrence. But, he said, this would never do, for the djinn he would be able to imprison against his will would likely be no match for the wiley and exceedingly powerful Efreet Hibat Allah. Quietly he reflected that he had no solution, and begged the Caliph to advise him. No sooner had he made his request than
Sel demanded of his lord that he be given the chance to confront the Efreet, with whom he had had previous encounters. He volunteered to be imprisoned by Martek to await the puny human adventurers whom he was to help. Smiling to himself at his success, Martek agreed, sealing the bargain with a grand present to the Caliph. Thus it came to pass that Sel lied in wait, waiting to be released. And thus it will occur, that fearsome battle will be joined, the which will rage over the desert near and far.

So now the two clash, turning more of the desert to glass as fire rages against wind.