The Half-Dead City and other Twisted Tales (Inactive)

Game Master aptinuviel

The second book of the Mummy's Mask Adventure Path

The Archeological Discoveries, or loot.

Panic Level: 16


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Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

[b]I can certainly wait a while before Pharasma lays her judgement on me. Be welcome though![b]

Leto looks pretty battered as well, with some deep gashes from the mummy in his face.


Ptemenib? No, why, is he not at the auction? The knight seems perplexed by the question. So far we've had plenty of walking dead roam through here. Seems like a lot of them are coming from the south, but we haven't had anyone to spare to send off to look. Reports are coming in from all over but it seems like a lot of things are coming out of the necropolis.

The acolyte nods as the knight speaks, still trying to smooth back her hair. We've sent off most of the order to patrol near the gates. But we need to find out where these zombies are coming from. It's been a constant stream of them for about an hour now!


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"So, if the dead are coming from the Necropolis, maybe some group should go and shut the gates that lead to and from it?"


The acolyte nods in agreement then pauses and shakes her head, Yes, wait...no. We've sent plenty to the gates. We need to find where those zombies are coming from. She points across the open market area back towards the Canny Jackal. Over there. They seem to be coming in a steady stream from over there!


Human Paladin HP 40/40, AC 19/12/17 || Ft +9, Rf +6, Wl +6 || Init +2 || Perception -1 || Smite 1/2 || LoH 3/5

Assam looks about the gathered crowd of able bodied individuals, "Well, then, if over toward the market is the source, then perhaps we best be off that way to deal with whatever other horrors have made it within the city. Best to have this all cleaned up before sunrise!"


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

"Agreed. A wave of undead must be cut off quickly, in case there are any that can spread their vile affliction."

Nevai filled in Skyblazer of their new objective and headed off with his companions to stem the tide of undeath.


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"Yes, let's head over to the Jackyl. Given that is where most of us explorers have been hanging out, I wonder if someone brought back something they shouldn't have and activated it there."


Making your way back through the open marketplace it doesn't take you long to find the trail of the zombies that attacked the Canny Jackal. Skyblazer calls out as you near an alleyway, indicating that you are headed in the right direction.

Two carts lie on their sides in the alley ahead, though most of their loads appear to be firmly in place. Several bodies lie beside the carts with about a dozen other creatures hunched over them. The sounds coming from the masses of bodies is...unappetizing, to say the least.

None of them seem to have noticed you as of yet.


Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Beastmorph/Vivisectionist) 4 (HP 31/31) (AC 21/11/20) (CMD 18) (Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2) (Init +3) (Perception +13)

Setesh nods to Nevai.

"I think this might be a job for the power of Horus..."


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

Nevai nodded and gripped his silver holy symbol tightly in his shield hand.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Just to check that the "creatures" still look like undead. Assuming yes...

Nevai advanced until the creatures were within range, then unleashed a cleansing blast of holy power.
Surprise round?
Channel Energy (DC 17, no channel resist): 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 = 16


Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

The creatures look up at you just before a wave of light washes over them. They freeze in spot for a moment. A gust of wind and a nose is brushed off one of the figures turning into a swirl of fine dust. A heartbeat after that and an arm collapses off another. The illusion of stillness broken and the rest of the creatures collapse under the weight of their filthy rags. Silence overtakes the alleyway.

An investigation of the wagons shows that the goods remaining in them—half-filled sacks of moldering grain, shoddy pottery, and jugs of long-hardened paint—are a false front. A large hidden compartment beneath both of the carts have been burst open from within.

Heal or Knowledge (religion) DC 15, and Setesh:
You can identify the peculiar scent of cedar oil and incense—both used in traditional Osirian mummification rituals.


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Nevai moved quickly to check in case there were any survivors, and was not surprised when he failed to find any. After inspecting the remains of the carts he stood and scratched his head. "It looks like someone intentionally carted in the zombies, and either commanded them to attack or more likely, simply exceeeded their ability to control them. That's good news... I think... since it means that there's someone, or perhaps a group of someones, out there controlling them, instead of some ancient necromantic artifact running wild in the city spreading undeath." Nevai sniffed at a peculiar scent and added, "Setesh, do you smell that?"


Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Beastmorph/Vivisectionist) 4 (HP 31/31) (AC 21/11/20) (CMD 18) (Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2) (Init +3) (Perception +13)

Setesh nods.

"Agreed. This looks like a well-planned attack. Someone went to a lot of trouble to arrange this - someone with access to a high-quality mummification facility..."


Human Paladin HP 40/40, AC 19/12/17 || Ft +9, Rf +6, Wl +6 || Init +2 || Perception -1 || Smite 1/2 || LoH 3/5

Assam watches with awe and respect as the cleric calls on the power of his deity to obliterate the undead. Hearing the other's suspicions, Assam adds his own thoughts. " indeed, perhaps it was a priest, living or otherwise, of ancient Osirion seeking Vengeance for the pillaging of one of one of its most sacred holy sites... Namely, the City of the Dead. I doubt this is over yet."


The remains of the corpses line the alley, dust slowly billowing in the wind. The glint of left over jewelry is the only hint of color among the filthy grey rags. The front wagon's driver lies right next to the cart, his body still mostly intact. Mostly.


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

"Perhaps, or perhaps it was someone hoping to capitalize on those fears. The whole endeavor was sanctioned by the church of Pharasma. Would anyone stand to benefit from the Pharasmins being discredited? Thea, are there any lingering magical auras in the area here? It'd be useful to know if the undead had support, or if more were raised before they were left here to feed." Nevai asked as he examined the driver's body more closely. "I'd guess that the driver was likely just hired help, unaware of what he was bringing in, or he'd likely have fled before the zombies attacked. Does anyone see any clues as to where more might be coming from?"


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

Thea casts Detect Magic and looks over both the wagons, the bodies and then the area around them.

"Does it look as if all the bodies were killed by zombies or are there more types of undead running around here?"


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

"It smells like the oils and incense used in mummification, but I don't see any obvious indications that these bodies were attacked by anything other than zombies. Perhaps the mummy we fought earlier was here, or perhaps another mummy commands the horde?"


The wagon’s driver died with 75 gp still in his belt pouch. In addition, he wears a crude silver chain worth wrapped around his left wrist.

Appraise DC 20:
The silver chain is worth 75gp

Knowledge (local) DC 20:
The chain as a symbol of the Silver Chain, Wati’s most powerful gang of grave robbers and artifact smugglers.

Perception DC 20:
You notice some blood on th driver's bench of the wagon and it reveals the outline of what you think must be a secret compartment. After a bit of searching you find the mechanism to reveal it. Inside is a mummified hand with a crude twine necklace tied to it.

Anyone poking through the rags can gather up a significant amount of jewelry from the former walking dead.

Appraise DC 20:
There is 1000gp worth of various bits of jewelry left behind.


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Leto fiddles around in the puddle of blood on the drivers bench and after a while you can hear something click. Seconds later he produces a dried mummified hand on a a crude twine necklace.

Look what i found. Anyone got a clue what this is?


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

Thea looks carefully at the hand after casting Detect Magic.

Spellcraft if needed: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31


Almathea:
The hand is a hand of the honest man.

Slot: Neck, CL: 5th, Weight: 2lbs, Aura: faint abjuration
Price: 3,000gp

This mummified human hand comes from an honest man punished for a crime he didn’t commit, and is dried and hung from a simple twine thong around the neck. The hand’s scapegoat origins offer some protection to its wearer. When the wearer of a hand of the honest man is targeted by a curse or a misfortune effect such as a witch’s misfortune or evil eye hex, the curse is instead transferred to the hand with no ill effects to the wearer. The hand retains the curse (even if it normally expires after a set duration) until the effect is removed with a remove curse spell or similar effect. A spellcaster receives a +2 bonus on her caster level check to remove a curse stored in a hand of the honest man. Removing a hand of the honest man while it holds a curse instantly transfers the curse to its wearer. A hand of the honest man can hold only one curse or effect at a time. If the wearer is targeted by another curse while the hand is currently storing a curse, the new curse takes effect normally. A hand of the honest man has no effect on curses already affecting a creature. The wearer of a hand of the honest man is riddled with guilt over any untruths she utters, and takes a –2 penalty on all Bluff checks while wearing the hand.


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"Hmm, interesting. That is a Hand of an Honest Man, a talisman used to protect an honest person from curses or misfortune. If the wearer gets targeted by a curse, the hand will absorb it instead with no ill effect to the wearer."


Male Half-Elf Alchemist (Beastmorph/Vivisectionist) 4 (HP 31/31) (AC 21/11/20) (CMD 18) (Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2) (Init +3) (Perception +13)

Almathea looks at the hand appraisingly.

"Interesting... I wonder whether that means it would protect the wearer from the touch of a mummy? from what I have heard, it is as much a curse, as a disease..."


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"I do not have enough knowledge of mummies to make an educated guess on that and would not suggest trying it out in that manner until more information can be gathered."


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

"Well, it probably can't hurt to have it on in case you are struck by a mummy, right? Anyone have any idea which direction to go next? Wherever these carts came from might be a good place to check, unless there are some other clues I missed."


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

There´s several other checks to be made but Leto doesn´t have the skills necessary. Perhaps those can provice clues.


Aasimar Bard 5, HP 38/38, AC 17 [T: 13, FF: 15], Per +10, F: +4/R: +7/W: +5, Init +4

Taking 10 on the Appraise checks and Knowledge (local).

Hmm... Erei mutters, That's a bit under one hundred gold for the chain. And the pieces of jewelry around are worth at least 1000 gold themselves.

That chain though...that's the sign of the Silver Chain and they are some pretty notorious thugs and grave robbers around here.


Where to now?

Knowledge (local) DC 25:
You recall the latest hangout of this gang is in the Veins district. An abandoned brickworks, you believe.


Aasimar Bard 5, HP 38/38, AC 17 [T: 13, FF: 15], Per +10, F: +4/R: +7/W: +5, Init +4

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

Are bardic knowledge and inspire competence in there?


Not to worry, there are multiple ways to gather information about a subject, ;)


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"Grave robbers huh? I wonder if they robbed the wrong grave and this was done by accident rather than on purpose. Would it be worth it to go and find a living one to ask a few questions of?"


Human Paladin HP 40/40, AC 19/12/17 || Ft +9, Rf +6, Wl +6 || Init +2 || Perception -1 || Smite 1/2 || LoH 3/5

Assam looks concerned, "Grave Robbers, indeed. No, I doubt this was an accidental opening of the wrong grave. More likely this was all a ruse, a gambit to draw everyone's eyes away from their true intention. Tell me, I know not a great deal of the opening of the Necropolis. Was it entirely opened, or only sections? Were there places kept off limits? Or perhaps other tombs here in the city, are there any of great significance?"


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

"Each adventuring company was assigned a specific location or building to explore. Upon completion, we reported back and received a new location. I'm not certain if certain areas were specifically not explored, but each team was restricted to only their authorized area."


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

"Likely on the Priestess at the temple could tell us for sure what areas were not given out as lots. Whether or not she would share that information with us, I don't know. It might be worth it to track down some members of the Silver Chain though. We have no way of knowing if they are done yet or if they still plan to release more undead upon the city."


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

It certainly seems not everyone stuck to the places and rights they were given. Some might also have completely different motives and be searching for specific things, having some sort of secret knowledge. Or maybe just being malicious and greedy.

He nods to Alma.
I agree with you Alma, this whole thing here is very suspicious, i can feel it in my bones.


Alright, where to now?


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

If we know where to find those silver chains already, then there. If not, we would likely go somewhere where we are likely to find out. Some tavern to find some clues perhaps. Alternatively it seems some small talk with a certain priestess wouldn´t hurt either.


You make your way back to the temple, again meeting the guards as you climb the stairs. Well, how did it go? We haven't seen any more zombies since you went off. We're still getting reports of attacks, and people seem to be panicking, but at least it has been calm here for a moment.

After explaining what you found, the acolyte and the guard confer, the soldier responds. I can't say I've heard of this Silver Chain gang before. But maybe some people here have? You're welcome to ask around. She waves back over her shoulder indicating the temple. We've got plenty of people who've come to hole up for the night while this situation blows over.

You're welcome to make any gather information rolls you like. There are plenty of refugees, soldiers, and priests milling about inside.


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

Leto sticks to the merchants and asks around if anyone made some deals or was harrassed by this gang before.

prof:merchant: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

Almathea mills around with the random assortment of people in the temple, looking to see if any of them just happen to be sporting a silver chain similar to the gang member they found earlier. With any luck, one of them might have survived the attack with the carts and ended up here.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21


Male Human (Garundi) Cleric 5 | 38/38 | Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +9 (+1 vs. Divine) | AC 18, T 10, FF 18, CMD 16 | Perc. +8 | Init +0

Nevai quickly moves among the gathered people, reassuring the fearful and asking if anyone knows information about the Silver Chain.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24


Aasimar Bard 5, HP 38/38, AC 17 [T: 13, FF: 15], Per +10, F: +4/R: +7/W: +5, Init +4

Going to attempt to gather information about the Silver Chain from the soldiers first.

Erei will approach someone looking like an active military member and speak with a smile, I'm sure if anyone has heard of some scummy gang of thieves it would be you find folks. Ever heard anything about the Silver Chain?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30


People are grateful for Nevai's reassurance, though he's unable to find out anything more about the Silver Chain. Though the people are quite apologetic about it. Erei, however, is a bit more successful. The first few soldiers he questions don't know much, but they quickly point him to a patrol guard who works in the Veins district. After a short discussion about the difficulties of his work, he mentions that the gang recently moved into an abandoned brickworks in the area. He gives a rather vague description and directions by which you think you may be able to recognize the place.

Knowledge (local) DC 10:
The Veins: Nestled between Midwife and Bargetown, Wati’s harbor district stacks block upon block with woodcarvers, tar kilns, warehouses, and whatever shanties can be crammed between them. Its myriad shallow canals breed unabating clouds of insects, the bites of which spot the bodies of the locals, who stain their hands and cheeks with pitch to repel the pests. A man named Ahmeb Tekhra was appointed by the previous haty-a to oversee the district. You can find its location on the Map of Wati, under the campaign tab.


Human Paladin HP 40/40, AC 19/12/17 || Ft +9, Rf +6, Wl +6 || Init +2 || Perception -1 || Smite 1/2 || LoH 3/5

know(local, untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 13

Having only been in the city for the past couple of days, Assam knows little of the city itself, yet managed to wander through most of it in passing. Accompanying Erei as he speaks with the soldiers, Assam half smiles at the promising lead. "It gives us a direction at least. Far better than standing here with nothing else to accomplish. I say we go find these Silver Chains and have a conversation. Then, we speak to the priestess about what may be happening in the City of the Dead."


Aasimar Bard 5, HP 38/38, AC 17 [T: 13, FF: 15], Per +10, F: +4/R: +7/W: +5, Init +4

Sounds like a plan. And these soldiers are at least a helpful bunch, Erei says to Assam, nodding. Shall we talk to Ahmeb next?


Seelah HP 19/19 | AC 18 (20 with shield raised) | F 6 R 4 W 6 | Longsword +7 1d8+4 | Athletics +7 | Diplomacy +5 | Intimidation +5 | Lore +3 | Medicine +4 | Religion +4 | Survival +4 | Thievery +2

Mhm, let´s go have a conversation with those silver chains...Who´s Ahmeb though?


Female | HP: 14/23 | AC:13 / FF: 10 / Touch: 13 | Fort:+ 1 / Reflex: +4 / Will: +6 | Init: +6 / Per: +12 Elf Wizard / 5

Was that the priest that left the auction early? If not, we should make note to talk to him soon too.

"I'm also for going to talk to the Silver Chains and to see what their game is."


Aasimar Bard 5, HP 38/38, AC 17 [T: 13, FF: 15], Per +10, F: +4/R: +7/W: +5, Init +4

Oh, Ahmeb is the boss of the Veins, at least technically. The Veins is the district that these fine soldiers suggest that the Silver Chains operate out of. Ahmeb Tekhra.

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