"Blood and ashes!" Gabriel is a bit shaken by the mighty blow but at least remains standing.
After knocking the wind out of both Malik and Gabriel's sails, the creature is struck by an onrushing Chephren. The flail damages the last of whatever structural ability held most of the thing solid. The creature drops to the floor in a pile of sand, grit, and small chunks of sandstone.
Surubi quickly looks around the room. "Oh no! Mister Malik! Is he okay?" She rushes over and checks on him.
"Ah, he's still breathing. Wake up Mister Malik!" Surubi shakes him awake, and once she sees that he is waking, searches for her lost arrows, but to no avail--they seem to not be on this floor.
High finds an arrow
Brennan stood poised for another minute, hoping the creature wasn't going to reform. After nothing happened, he saw Surubi gushing over Malik. "Get a hold on yourself, Suru! He's probably just asleep. Damn sand monster's good at that, for sure." Brennan walked over to where Gabriel lay and kicked the man, perhaps less gently than absolutely necessary. "Wake up, new guy! Time to be exploring. Treasures to find and monsters to kill."
Brennan looked around for any treasure or interesting items that the sand creature might have been guarding, or from people that hadn't been as skilled or lucky in their encounter with the thing.
Breathing heavily from the fight, Chephren takes a moment before he too moves over to Malik.
"Great Guardian, allow your servant to protect my allies life longer this day."
Feeling the diminished results of his efforts to focus his god's power, Chephren is able to interpret the meaning.
"Gabriel and Malik, let me tend those wounds," he says as a motions for Gabriel to come closer. Touching Gabriel, Chephren once more focuses his faith towars the Pharasmian.
Turning back to Malik, he touches the wizard and strains to once more pull on the last of his reserves.
His shoulders slump as the effort of drawing on his god's power through himself has taken it's toll.
Weakly he says in a low voice, "While my faith has not diminished, I am afraid my ability to delay the time of Anubis' servants guarding you tomb, has come to an end this day."
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On Going Effects: Bless, 16 rds [party]; Guidance, 7 rds [Surubi];
Gabriel stands patiently as Chephren heals his wounds.
"Thank you, I really needed that. Blood and ashes, that creature really knew how to hit hard."
Malik wakes easily enough with Suru's ministrations before standing and dusting himself off. He too thanks Chephren for the healing.
Looking over the room where the battle took place, Brennan notices signs of an indent in the earth where the thing stood as a statue. With a quick swipe, he notices what looks to be a small cache of gear hidden under the sand the creature was standing on.
Inside the cache is a suit of scale mail, a light crossbow, five crossbow bolts with cold iron tips, ten normal bolts, a golden holy symbol, and a healthy handful of valuable coinage.
Brennan hefts the crossbow and sights down it for a moment, then checks the gearing and string. "Now this is more like it. Weapons and ready cash make for damn good salvage. Someone grab the scale mail and let's keep moving." He tucked all the small items into his pack and pouches.
Hearing Chephren, he stopped. "Wait, your telling us you ain't got any more healing magics? Hadn't realized you guys were getting hurt that bad. Why don't you try ducking or something?"
Chephren glances back at the broken acid flask in the courtyard before commenting, "Yes, it was a difficult encounter with a creature of shifting sand. It is fortunate that our Osirion gods favor bludgeoning and acid weapons so WE could smash it down," finishing with a nod to Gabriel and Malik.
With a smile in Surubi's direction, he continues,"And it was wise of Surubi to get out of the creature's sleep aura and attack with her bow. With this wealth we have recovered, maybe we can find some blunted arrows for her as well."
While trying to figure out how to carry the bulky armor, "May I suggest we leave the Necroplis with what we have found and return again tomorrow? The hauntings will most likely have returned, but we should be able to avoid one or two of them now."
"Oh! This one has blunted arrows." She pulls a blunt arrow from the second quiver on her back. "This one has never seen this strange creature before and did not know to use them. These are mostly for use against those walking dead without flesh."
"I do have a limited ability to heal." Gabriel reacts to Chephren's words.
Then he turns to Brennan "Why don't you try to stay in the fight and hurt the enemy, knife boy." he growls.
"Because bladed weapons obviously couldn't hurt it. Brennan waved one of his ever-present daggers in Gabriel's direction. "That's why I stepped back and threw some acid and fire bombs at it. You've got to use your head, not just your mouth.
Clearly flustered, Surubi quickly exclaims, "Oh! More healing is good! Thank you, Mister Gabriel! Does anybody still need healing?" She turns to look at Brennan and nods to him "And Mister Darkblade, good use of your head, hurting the creature and bringing Mister Gabriel back to his senses all at once!" She looks over at Chephren, cleary seeking assistance in defusing the growing quarrel.
"So I suggest we take the remains of the house hold staff we have found and find a location to bury them. That may make one of the haunts go away. As fro this armor, I may need a hand if we are going to take it with us back to Wati."
Chephren struggles with the bulk of the armor, as he makes his way to the doorway found near the bath.
Gabriel opens his mouth, but Surubi is quicker. He pauses for a moment, nods at her and says. "Thinking is good, but obviously blunt instruments are needed once in a while."
He turns away and helps Chephren with the armor.
As Gabriel and Chephren work to recover the heavy armor, a booming voice draws the attention of the group. "You there! Have you recovered the blessed relic?!" The figure that speaks looms in a nearby doorway, his face obscured by a gilded, ceremonial mask and his words thick with an accent reminiscent of ancient osiriani. His robes too are obviously ceremonial, made of fine silk that leave his lean chest exposed but for a broad and wide, angular amulet that hangs low from his chest. His shadow falls long and stark across the chamber, seemingly lengthening his already impressive silhouette.
Surubi, already flustered, looks with a start over at the source of the new voice. "Who or what are you?" she calls back to it as she takes cover and readies the blunt arrow in her hand to shoot.
Regretting talking about the groups low reserves of divine healing, Chephren looks to the speaker trying to ascertain what type of threat is now here.
"Oh, wonderful. Another one who's got his nose so far up in our business he really ought to be paying by the hour. What's it to you, pal?"
The figure pauses as the others regard him, his face unreadable behind the gilded mask. After a pregnant moment, he steps forward, his tone softer but his voice still effluent and booming. "No, I do not sense the relic in your midst. Perhaps then you are the ones sent to wake me and help me recover it?" He strokes the capped end of the wrapped, black beard on his chin. "Yes, that must be it. There is no other explanation for my wakening and your presence here before me. Good! We shall recover the relic together then."
He takes a deep breath and draws up to his full height as he comes up to the group. If nothing else, the man obviously carries himself with power and authority. "I am Omenhotep, as you must already know. Tell me, what are your names and how much time has passed since the relic was left to our keeping?"
Gabriel drops the armor, casts detect evil and readies his weapon and shield. He is not threatening the newcomer, but he is ready for trouble, waiting for the detection ability to tell him more.
The figures voice booms once more, "Well? Speak! your mute awe is appropriate but tiresome."
"Look, bub, I don't see why we need you poking your nose into our business. Why don't you take your fancy clothes and walk out of here before you get them dirty?"
Seeing the situation beginning to go from suspicious to worse, Chephren tries to calm the chance encounter.
Omenhotep, I am Chephren, a cleric and exorcist of Anubis, Guardian of the Scales. What is this relic you speak of, so we can better answer your question? And as far as awakening you, we are in the old city of Wati, what is called the Necropolis. We are exploring the ruins of the city with the blessings of Pharasma, the Lady of the Graves. Do you know of these names of gods and places I refer to, and if so which?"
.
Omenhotep nods to Chephren in greeting, though his expression remains hidden behind the mask. "Anubis I remember, this Pharasma of whom you speak is a name that is new to me, however. As for the relic," Omen's words stall at this and he inclines his head slightly as if struggling to lay claim to an elusive memory. "The relic I do not recall specifically. It is an item of portent and power though, one which I will recognize when we find it."
He then clasps both hands behind his back as he sweeps his gilded gaze over the group. "It seems my slumber was lengthy indeed if Anubis now shares dominion with another and this place has decayed to such a pitiable ruin." He pauses again for a lengthy breath or two then says, "It is good I have found you then. Your aid will ensure a place of honor for you in my master's court." His regard then turns to Chephren, and though his eyes are hidden behind the mask the weight of his gaze can still be felt. "Chephren, you show honor with your words. Tell me, do these others or this churlish one have names? I would know them before we proceed."
Chephren gestures to each in turn, "This is Brennan Darkblade, Malik al-Jawab Zahari, Gabriel the Hand, and Surubi al'Azad Khahaba."
"Omenhotep, were you... excuse me, are you a ancestral member of the House of Pentheru? Did you awaken from your sleep here on these grounds or someplace else in the Necropolis? And what year was it when you entered your slumber?"
Surubi lowers her bow, and meekly introduces herself. "This one is the one known as Surubi."
Omen shakes his head, "This was not a necropolis when my slumber began beside the relic. And while I cannot recall the counting of the year, I do know that I saw one hundred and ninety eight summers before my dreaming vigil began." The imposing figure regards the group with another slow sweep of his hidden gaze, pausing in the midst to greet Surubi with a regal nod. "Pentheru? Pentheru." He says the name a pair of times in the same manner one might slowly chew food to savor the taste. "The name is familiar to me, but the foundations are gone. The name could belong to me, a son or daughter, or even a rival. I had hoped more of what I knew before the slumber would have returned by now, but perhaps it will take more than a pair of sunsets before I am fully restored. I have wandered these forsaken paths for two full days since stirring, and you are the first whom I have encountered."
The name Omenhotep has no significant ring to it.
Omen further amends, "Though I do recall the Four Pharaohs of Ascension reigning over Osirion. Do they yet hold dominion here? They had done much for our nation prior to my slumber, though their exploits will be but pale shadows compared to my master's glory when he returns."
Chephren, you are aware that the time of the Osirion deities was long before those that are widely known nowadays, well over a couple thousand years.
Surubi is familiar with the idea of the Four Pharoahs, they were known for their rule of Osirion back near the beginning of the region vice the more recent day and age.
Brennan shifted uncomfortably as the man talked about days gone by...and by...and by. So he was apparently really old. Who the hell cared? "Can we hurry this up? We've got a tomb to raid and loot to gather...I'm sorry, we have important archaeological exploration and recover to proceed with. This tomb ain't gonna rob itself."
"Good! Your drive to action pleases me, Brennan. Let us press on then. The relic will not be found by our standing here." He gestures then, the sweeping motion suggesting Brennan or one of the others should lead on.
Chephren feels confident that Omenhotep is not going to attack the group, bends down to retrieve the armor he was lugging out of the residence.
"Shall we... leave the Necropolis... now?" he asks between grunts of effort with the weight he is carrying.
Gabriel remained quiet during the discussion. Just studying the newcomer.
As the group decided to continue, he grabbed the armor again to help Chephren.
"Why don't we just stash the armor by the door and continue with the ... exploration?" he answered the question with another question.
"Anubis grants a finite amount of his divine essence to myself each day, and I have have expended the majority of that power for the day. I have exhausted any additional healing I can provide for today, so I would not recommend another engagement if we do continue exploring."
"If all you want to leave, we leave. Your call." Gabriel says and looks around for other people's reactions.
"Gabriel's words are wise. It does little good for a farmer to push his oxen to the point of death. If you require a period of recovery, then so be it. In the meantime, perhaps I might find the opportunity to learn of what has transpired since my dreaming vigil began."
Gabriel seems surprised for a moment that Omenhotep praises him, as it was not his impulse that started the discussion about leaving the Necropolis. He looks expectantly at the remaining companions and awaits their opinion.
"Fine. Far be it for me to send you beyond your magical means. Of course, we could just rest here and be ready to move on tomorrow without fear of someone else getting to the loot before us. Especially since, you know, we already cleared out the dangerous parts of the entry."
Brennan continued to eye the newcomer, thought the dagger in his hand was set to cleaning his already pristine nails, rather than continuing to point at the man.