Kafar follows the trace of the spear the poked for him and emerges from the cloud with a sickle in his hands. Along its keen edge a blue resin glistens darkly. Lionel easily ducks his disoriented swing, however.
Behind him, a triple-image of Nefti also emerges from the smoke, retreating toward the Sanctum's door.
Round IV -- bold may act!
1. Lionel, Charis, Kailun
2. Aspis
3. Eveline, Pimwrick, Numair
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Lionel grunts as he sees Kafar trying to run away. "Now whydja have to do that!", he says as he takes a step away from his assailant, and raises his fist in the air.
He whirls around, and a mist coalesces around Kafar's eyes, a nearly transparent swarm of wasps starting to buzz viciously around his eyes.
Kafar grits his teeth and groans as the Maiden's knee connects with his groin. Her hand leaves a visible bruise on his forehead, too, but he keeps his grip on his sickle. Lionel follows that up with some wasps to the face, causing his to sputter and swipe at the swarm, eyes shut.
Round IV -- bold may act!
1. Lionel, Charis, Kailun
2. Kafar (8 dmg, blinded), Nefti
3. Eveline, Pimwrick, Numair
Kafar swipes blindly at Lionel, against all odds carving a deep gash where the man's muscular neck meets the shoulder. A sickly blue residue is left behind. Still blind, Kafar stumbles backward--unaware that other Pathfinders had run up into his rear.
THREAT CONFIRMED plus
HIT
Nefti notices this and tries to help his partner out. "Hey! You there! You sure look like you could lighten up!" Unwillingly, Pim cracks a smile.
The lanky Aspis(s) steps next to Kafar, a leather sap swinging in his hands.
Round IV -- bold may act!
1. Lionel (28/39 hp), Charis, Kailun
2. Kafar (8 dmg, blinded), Nefti
3. Eveline, Pimwrick, Numair
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Pim is startled to find himself smiling in the midst of a tense fight, and shakes it off. "This isn't funny," he says bluntly to the Aspis agent. An instant later, he is amazed by the sea of writhing black tentacles that grab on to the agents! Sadly, his amazement foils his effort to shoot arrows at the foe.
Both Aspis agents give grunts of frustration as the sickly black fibers wrap around their legs. The Maiden kicks Kafar in the ribs and Eveline puts an arrow in him. Pim picks the less-armored Nefti to pincushion, hitting him twice and wiping an image.
HIT
MISS
HIT
Round V -- bold may act!
1. Lionel (28/39 hp), Charis, Kailun
2. Kafar (25 dmg, blinded), Nefti (22 dmg)
3. Eveline, Pimwrick, Numair
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Lionel steps next to the maiden and attempts to stab the blinded Kafar.
The blow flies to the side of the maiden, missing its mark by a couple of fingers. Aw, hell, it ain't real right ta fight that dirty..., he thinks, before raising the spear point up. I wonder if we can convince 'em to leave an' have 'em actually leave...
To his surprise, Nefti slips on the shifting sands! His rump makes a nice *wump* as it hits the dirt tentacles. Less concerned with being on the ground, he tries to free himself of the myriad appendages, and is unsuccessful. FAIL
Kafar finally wipes the sand from his eyes and slashes wildly in the general direction of Pim.
MISS
Round VI -- bold may act!
1. Lionel (28/39 hp), Charis, Kailun
2. Kafar (25 dmg, grappled), Nefti (22 dmg, grappled, prone)
3. Eveline, Pimwrick, Numair
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Seeing the trapped Aspis agents writhing in the conjured tentacles, Pim exhorts them to surrender, "Can't you see when you're beaten? If you give up, you'll at least keep your lives! You might even hang on to a shred of your dignity if you give up soon!"
He then tries to emphasize his point with a series of arrows at Nefti, but manages to shoot all three of them into the a tight circle next to his own left foot. Well, so much for dignity...
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Eveline is both amazed and baffled by Pim's consistency and lack of effectiveness, shivering the confusion out of her and instead focusing on her own shots. Unfortunately, she's too taken aback by Pim's screwup she too shoots astray.
"Pim, what was that?" Eveline asks, slightly annoyed at her own incompetence, "Ruby sage's powers working against you? Or maybe you are in need of some personal lessons..."
In the same breath as exhorting the Aspis to surrender, the Pathfinders (sans Charis) pursue some of the most lethal options available to them. Nefti is slain outright by the fireball and Kafar is beaten within an inch of his life. Blood sink rapidly into the thirsty sands and the smell of charred flesh fills the air.
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Lionel's call to peace is cut short by the raging inferno. "Aw, man, it's a damn shame, it is.", he says, shaking his head as he moves in and lays his hand on Kafar.
He picks up the man's body and puts it on his shoulder. "Well, folk, he ain't dead, but I ain't gonna bring him kickin' until ya gimme the sayso. An' I'd recommend not bringin' the bugga inside, cause that's where he was tryin'a get."
Man, I heard 'bout them Merciful weapons, that don' kill folk. Like, there's folk that need ta go, but I don' real think it should be in a blaze o' fire.
Lionel sits down. "Well, we betta go in there. I doubt them Aspis Contortion folk only sent two people. Betta get us all ship-shape." He pulls out the wand and starts calling people over.
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"I think these two went rogue," Eveline says, looking at the strong dark man, "they might have operated alone, and would probably have surrendered or changed sides. Oh well, we'll never know that. Still, they were alleged to our nemesis, so one's passing shouldn't weigh heavily on our minds."
"I still do recommend a swift yet formal burial for the young lad. It's the least we can do to our enemies to lay them to rest."
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"Killing my foes tends to leave a trail." The Maiden shakes her head. "Leave him outside for now. Once the sanctum is secure we can haul him back to civilization. I think he would rather stay with us than return to his Aspis."
"Let us bury Nefti." The Maiden finds some stones suitable for covering the body before entering.
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Numair looks a little disconcerted when both Aspis agents go down. The forest of tentacles, however, continues to persist...
...until with a hurried wave of the staff, Numair causes them to dissolve into shifting motes of shadow, which melt away like ice in a desert.
He then moves forward to inspect the bodies.
"Perhaps they had something of use on them?"
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Pim agrees with the suggestions to bury the slain agent, and joins the Maiden in gathering stones for a burial cairn, though he's clearly a bit distracted and nearly drops a couple of heavy stones on the toes and fingers of his companions.
Personal lessons? What did she mean? Was she flirting with me?
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Eveline looks at spectacle with a concerned expression, not paying much attention to the other surroundings. Of course, Pim's odd behaviour catches her attention.
"Pim, you've been acting very strangely during this trip, not to mention you haven't really been at your best with the bow," she says, but her tone does not include any hostility or belittlement.
The writhing mass squeezes the last of Kafar's life from his veins, and he joins his longtime companion in ascending Pharasma's spire to the Boneyard.
Before solemnly burying the pair in this forgotten corner of the world, the Pathfinders are careful to search the dead thoroughly. Among various adventuring gear are several important items of note: a cipher book hidden in a pocketed scarf wrapped around Kafar's waist, a different cipher book tucked in the false bottom of Nefti's scabbard, and a magnificent topaz jewel that pulses with intense magic.
potion of cure serious wounds
potion of cure moderate wounds
tanglefoot bags (3)
+1 mithral chain shirt
cloak of resistance +1
blue whinnis poison (4)
masterwork thieves' tools
scrolls of comprehend languages (2)
+1 human bane sap
306 gp
Ahead, the pathway seems to dead end in a solid wall, but the Pathfinders soon learn that the wall is illusory and the vision fades. Beautifully engraved columns support the ornate entablature topped by a wide tapered cornice. The style hearkens back to Osirion’s golden age, and the impeccable design and craftsmanship lives up to the standards set by the ancient dynasties. A short flight of stairs ascends to stone door in the mountain.
"Ready to enter?" a familiar voice calls from behind the party. Amenopheus rejoins from another passageway. Though the Sage bears no wounds, his torn and soiled clothing indicates he too faced challenges in the Pillars of the Sun. He glances at the fresh cairn stones. "I take you handled Kafar and Nefti? A shame you had to put them in the ground. But what of the jewels?"
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The Maiden claims the potion of cure moderate wounds as they approach Amenopheus. "This power must be used carefully, something I assume you struggle with every day. I struggle with my own abilities, to a lesser extent."
"At least we have found the sanctum. Let us enter and see what clues we can find."
"The topaz jewel!" Amenopheus exclaims with mixed relief and excitement. He holds it with reverence in his hands for a moment and inspects its sheen before his face hardens and he puts it in an inside pocket of his robe. "Best not let the Diamond Sage know we have this until the time is right, no? Let's go see what this Sage is about."
He leads the way pass the illusory image and through the ornate door that marks the entrance to the Sanctum of the Sages. Water gurgles in fountains set at either end of a crescent-shaped entry hall. Fourteen columns support the vaulted ceiling, and the walls are polished to a smooth finish that reflects and scatters the midday sunlight that shines in from outside. No other furnishings fill the room and Amenopheus strides confidently up some steps to the next room.
The next chamber's floor angles upward as it meets the walls, which in turn angle inward like those of a pyramid, creating a space shaped like a cut diamond. The walls are smooth and somewhat transparent, like foggy quartz, save for where three opaque doors stand to the north, east, and west. In the center of the room, a clear 5-foot diameter crystal hovers a short distance from the floor and spins slowly. "Ah, a gatekeeper," the Sage nods in understanding. He approaches the crystal and speaks clearly. "I am the Sapphire Sage. I seek the Diamond Sage and request access within."
Across the crystal's surface flashes a brief picture of a Garundi man standing in the room alone. He approaches the northern door and steps through it. Then the image disappears. A small sliver of crystal breaks off and floats toward the Sage. "The key," he intones, taking it and opening the door to the north.
The first Pathfinder to follow feels the urge to stop before the crystal, as empathic curiousity probes their mind. The crystal is curious to learn why the others have come.
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Eveline is most suspicious about the crystal floating about, but seeing Amenopheus so casually stroll past it after his introduction, she feels inclined to follow suit.
"I am Eveline..." she seems reluctant to say her surname out loud. "Bleakrock, and I am a Pathfinder. We've come here to seek and see the Diamond Sage, and mayhaps restore the lost order."
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Pim's brow creases in a moment of suspicion as Amenopheus says they shouldn't tell the Diamond Sage that they've found the Topaz Jewel, but none of his friends seem concerned about it, so he follows along.
Pausing at the crystal, he declares simply, "I'm Pim. Here to help." With a quick glance at Eveline's back as she moves ahead, he adds quietly, "And protect the others..."
Each Pathfinder who introduces themselves to the crystal sees an image of a ruby gem made whole flash across the crystal's surface, and feelings of acceptance enter their mind. Amenopheus nods and opens the door to the north, which opens a wide, curving stairway.
Kailun too feels a welcoming emotion probe his thoughts, the party heads up the long curving stairwell to another impressive chamber.
Two curved ramps ascend gently from one end of a semicircular room toward its northwest entrance. More than a dozen statues line the intricately painted walls, and all face toward an immense crystal that projects from the southeast wall. The statues are carved in the Osirian fashion, some bearing the heads of animals, and many holding objects like staves, ankhs, oil lamps, and scepters in their supple marble hands. Four engravings in the likeness of gemstones are set into shallow circular recesses in the floor arrayed before the huge jewel. The wall paintings portray many scenes of Garundi scholars carrying Osirian treasures, using architectural tools, surveying a mountain range, cutting gems, and receiving gifts from three supernatural figures.
Amenopheus seems most keen on the crystal opposite. He takes his newfound crystal key and carefully dusts off a keyhole in the crystal's center.
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Numair glances around the room, whistling in appreciation.
"They certainly didn't skimp when it came to decorating their hidden meeting place!"
However, he blanches slightly when he takes a closer look at some of the wall paintings.
"Amenopheus, how long, exactly, have you been around? Some of those figures look remarkably like you..."
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"This is an amazing place, Numair, you're right," Pim responds, gazing in wonder at the elaborate decor. "Don't you think it's beatiful, Evie?" he adds.
When the half-elven sorcerer looks at the paintings and then at Amenopheus and asks his peculiar question, Pim looks around, puzzled, before speaking, "Hmm, I don't see it. What do you mean?"
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"Ah, Nethys. The god of magic. I'd recognize you anywhere."
The Maiden takes a good look at one of the paintings when she hears Numair. "That painting does look like Amenopheus, doesn't it? With his detailed knowledge of the sages, I wouldn't be surprised if he knew some of it first hand. That kind of raw power tends to break lifespans."