Cowed first by the might of the scarab being and then by the fact that the party has forced it to yield, the fat man and thuggees need no encouragement to make from the area at haste. Leaving the party alone with the snake that crawled from Tarik's pack. The snake slithers forward to the robe that was left behind when the Khepera scattered and gives it a desultory sniff before turning back towards the party. It slithers towards Tarik, and when close it's form shimmers and warps back into the spyglass that was taken from the vault of Hetshepsu.
Tarik:
The being contacts you mentally once more Retrieve me master, we should leave this place and talk in private
Rising to his feet once more, Grynbarl Oukhreid nattered to himself about ancient history, but quit once he realized he didn't know enough to come to a reasonable conclusion.
"Well, that was exciting in the manner of a brush with death, but let's not let it tarnish our day, shall we? I don't think I introduced myself earlier, and if I did I'll blame it on age.
"Grynbarl Oukhreid, priest of Irori, tenuously at the service of you and your companions, provided any of you can provide me with a modicum of information about that thing or what it might want with all of you.
"Come to think of it, what might it want with me? Unless of course it just got angry at anyone in front of it."
I know a decent pub around the corner. They have a great fried scorpion dish, and quiet corners where we can talk as I too am interested in why a servant of the long dead Pharaohs would be seeking you all.
We were following a star...no wait, that's the wrong three.
"We have a unique compass that guided us here. We are looking for something here in the city. Something the compass points to. We know it is close, but paused in the search to get some shopping done. And then...well...all this happened."
Doing his best to hold his jaw shut, Tarik simply nods at Kytana as she introduces herself. Mesmerized, he picks up the spyglass, his attention devoted to it. "Such incredible things the ancient Pharaohs wielded. I can only imagine how they came across such wonders."
Gingerly placing the spyglass back in his pack, Tarik thinks to himself that perhaps he should acquire some sort of case for it. Something fitting for such a wondrous being, of course.
"A compass, you say? That finds things from the era of the Four Pharaohs? Might you display such a wonder, that I could gaze upon its secrets? From the safety of your own hands, of course, not to offend."
Kytana is indeed able to recall a reasonably discreet inn nearby that has private rooms. Given the dearth of people, you are able to slip away without anyone noticing or challending you and before the watch arrives at the market alley.
Entering the House of Muad inn, you request a private room and the Osiriani waitress is only too willing to help once her palm is crossed with a coin of gold. You are led to the rear of the inn where a private room with low table and eight chairs is provided. Before leaving you to your talk, the Osiriani girl asks what food and drink she could bring.
The table already has a small bowl of olives in oil and some dried dates upon it.
Now then, what brings you all to this desert town? At least some of you are clearly not from the area, yet you are all apparently chasing ancient rumors about the Four Pharaohs from the sounds of things.
After asking this, I take an olive and pop it in my mouth savoring the salty taste.
Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Internal Alchemist / Preservationist / Vivisectionist) 3
Glancing to Tarik and Noor for confirmation, Setesh reverently retrieves the Wayfinder from his pack.
"This is the device that we have been using. It came with a series of stones that could be placed inside it; when so inserted, they indicate the direction of one of the three keys necessary to open a vault of wonders. We have retrieved one so far, and it seems that there is a second one somewhere in this city; but it has been moving around, so we think that someone else has already found it..."
You seek three keys to a vault of wonders? What pray tell do you expect to find in this vault of wonders? So far, it seems you have found a very powerful wizard or sorcerer with a body composed of bugs. I would consider that a rather dangerous find.
"Our employer has not been very forthcoming about what we might find there, simply that he desires a certain amount of what we find, and perchance certain objects. Other than that, I can tell you little."
Grynbarl asks for a shot of something heavy to chase the recent experience he's had, and something simple to dine on while he thinks.
Food always helps the memory.
"A strange compass young one. Strange indeed. You say it tracks something inside the city? Where now does it point? Perhaps you shall yet find what you seek."
Well, should you be looking for another traveling companion, I would be interested. As with most Osirian cities, I tend to wear out my welcome after a while. I sort of have a habit of bringing luck to those playing games with con artists. Unfortunately this tends to not bring much good will from the con artists or the guards who they frequently have dealings with. You saw an example of this today before scarab man showed up.
Noor beams, "It would be most welcome to have another woman in our company." But then she turns serious, "But I must warn you...or maybe I don't. You saw what faced us. There is a chance for great reward, but also great danger."
The serving girl brings your drinks and food and then respectfully gives you privacy.
Tarik - up to you whether you bring the spyglass back out, but if you did... the creature would be willing to answer questions and give some more detail on what the heck is going on ;)
Yes, that is a very interesting snake, er spyglass. May I see it and the compass? I have seen many strange and unusual things in my wanderings, but never items clearly dating from the era of the Four Pharaohs.
"I am as bewildered as you. I knew it was some form of raksha, but I had no idea it commanded such power. Perhaps..." Tarik takes out the spyglass out again, holding it in his hands. Will you answer a few questions, great being?
Tarik places the spyglass upon the table and communicates with it telepathically. It responds by shifting it's form back into the tiny red snake that you saw earlier. Rearing up on it's hindquarters it turns it's head to regard the room tasting the air experimentally. It speaks in Ancient Osiriani "I am not great, Master... but I will answer your questions."
It's speaking in Ancient Osiriani, but as we're out of combat please feel free to converse even if you aren't a natural speaker.
As the snake sways you could swear that a wry smile crosses it's mouth "I am less than I was before, but still here. If you are in need of a name... you can call me Ta'zeer." the smile fading as the snake continues "The Khepera should be long dead, but must have found a way to linger... It was once a man, though that was in the time when I was more than you see today. It was once beloved... but later cursed."
The snake pauses and continues with a resigned tone "You are lucky to be on sacred ground. If not, I would not have been able to soothe it's hunger. Though I have also made the golden oasis a prison for you."
"Punishment? I see. Well, Ta'zeer, can you tell us what we have been sent to seek? These stones are hardly talkative. What kind of things will we find in a search for the treasures of the Four Pharaohs?"
The snake's head sways from side to side "I was not party to all of Hetshepsu's secrets... Before I was sealed in for my ta'zeer I was told that what is sought must find it's way to the hand of man... and be destroyed"
Noor ignores the food, not yet hungry so soon after the humbling encounter. "Our benefactor will not like the sound of that, although....somehow I suspect Bas'rac will be fine with it."
Benefactor? Bas'rac? Who is this benefactor Bas'rac you speak of? I cannot say that I am familiar with his name, although I am no as travelled as I am sure you all are.
Speaking to the snake - What exactly is it that is sought? This does not sound like some quick excursion into the desert.
Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Internal Alchemist / Preservationist / Vivisectionist) 3
"Bas'rac is not our benefactor. He was our caravan master, and had an interest in what we were doing - he is a member of the Living Monoliths of Osirion. His Order support the discovery of the four vaults, so that they can protect them for posterity."
"A Living Monolith was your caravan master? Truly? Why then is he not here with you and the strange things that you bear, and the strange things that follow you?"
Tarik interjects "He said he wished to discuss the events we had experienced with his order. Perhaps he sees something our employer did not?" Tarik shrugs, unsure of what might motivate a Living Monolith.
A Living Monolith, one does not meet a Living Monolith every day. They are very dedicated to their cause. If your quest has the approval of their order, then it is good for this land.
Responding to Kytana, Ta'zeer speaks with solemnity "When the four pharaohs sacked the lands of the Tekritanin League they were able to claim it's riches. One of the items they recovered was deemed too dangerous to allow it's use. All four pharaoh entered into a pact that the item was to be sealed away and never allowed to see the light of day again..."
At the talk of Bas'rac and his order Ta'zeer appears heartened "To have the sphinx aligned with you is a boon for which you should be thankful."
Ta'zeer also has his interest piqued by talk of your employer "He who has sent you on this quest? Tell me of him."
Turning to the others: Yes, who is this mysterious employer who has send such talented individuals on a quest filled with . . . thousand year old wizards made of scarabs.
Tarik takes a drink before responding. "Where to begin? I suppose a name is best. He tells us he is Lathrat Ke'shin, a merchant of some reputation. I believe is a planes wanderer, a jinn of some sort, that takes great delight in procuring the strangest wares for patrons from throughout the cosmic tapestry."
The snake's unease grows "There was a... purveyor that sold both tangibles and intangibles to the four pharaoh during their reign... the description that you have given is akin to his, though I did not know what name he used in the time before."
Turning to the others: What type of a deal did you make with this benefactor in which you agreed to delve into tombs untouched for thousands of years and fight against ancient mages made of scarabs?
"More to your job than meets they eye, eh? Happens often enough, though this employer of yours picked well if you've survived this long...perhaps too well."
Its weird to come back to a thread that you thought you posted on and go 'where is my post from yesterday?'
"The deal was simple at the time. He finances the expedition and provides us the information and tools to complete it, in exchange he claims first choice of recovered items. This seemed more than fair. Of course, we were not thinking that the one item might be something so dangerous the Four Pharaohs feared it. Bas'rac was there to lend credibility to the situation, but I imagine he will be less than pleased by recent developments."
Was this Bas'rac working with your benefactor? And I definitely think that you, or we if I decide that this whole escapade is not to insanely dangerous, should investigate exactly what this items is before it is returned. If it is too dangerous, it might be preferable to keep it or destroy it rather than return it. After all, it is better to be on the run from a power figure, than to allow a powerful item to fall into the hands of a powerful, and possible evil, individual who will use it to harm the land.
Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Internal Alchemist / Preservationist / Vivisectionist) 3
Setesh shrugs.
"Our contract was to allow our employer first pick of all items recovered. Nothing was said about the state of the items. It would certainly be feasible for us to present him with the remains of the destroyed artifact, or to simply destroy it, and not present it to him at all, since it was never 'recovered'..."
