Ciyradyl moves up to the corner of the northern archway to peer into the darkness beyond. The space appears to be an open hall, that expands further on to angle toward the northeast, as a set of double doors set in the wall to the west.
In the hall to the northeast, an immense tiled pool, empty and no more than two feet deep, lies beneath a vaulted ceiling covered with images of celestial beings. Four columns stand beyond the pool to the northeast, each carved to represent one of the four primal elements. A ring of hieroglyphs encircles the base of each pillar.
Into the room to the east, she can see that a small shrine occupies a raised dais in the north of this room. Two waist-high fonts stand on either side of the altar.
"Some kind of family shrine. Should be safe enough."
Glancing back over his shoulder at Brennan, Yodi steps forward so that he can illuminate the rest of the next room.
Omen strides into the chamber behind Yodi, regarding the hieroglyphs and the columns. "These halls are strange." His words are offered to no one in particular and yet everyone at the same time, as he ponders the angular shadows cast by the irregular walls and furnishings. He glances to Yodi and asks, "What gives you the impression this is a familial shrine?" There is no judgment or condescension in his tone, simply curiosity and a plain desire for understanding.
Yodi points with his spear. "I'm assuming this is a family homestead and not a common hall. The altar and fonts in the corner look like a shrine; so, a family shrine. The mural on the ceiling looks like they worshiped good; so, safe. Although something could have moved in. "
"Yeah, yeah, idols and whatnot. The only real question is what danger there is, followed by is there anything worth looting? Sorry, recovering for research into cultural significance."
Brennan looked around, trying to see if there was any sign of immediate danger. Unfortunately, the dust kicked up in this place got in his eyes, and he swiped at them furiously, blinking to clear them
Omen nods at Yodi's explanation, then offers Brennan a sideways glance as the gruff man seemingly begins weeping over the presence of idols and other valuables all within view.
"What do all of you know of this god, Nethys?" He turns to Ciyradyl at this, his masked gaze fixing upon her. "You recognized his likeness in the statues at the entrance, what does this young god esteem?" He looks to the pillars and the iconography suggesting each of the four elements as his tone shifts back to one of general address, "Is he a god of the seasons, perhaps? How do people pay him obeisance?"
"Nethys is the mad god of magic. Casting spells or using magic is his worship. The two sided mask is a common symbol for him."
As the group examines the space containing the large dry pool, both Omen and Yodi can see that the Ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs around the columns identify each element.
Moving further north, the sapce of the temple becomes more clear, as they see that two rows of stone benches stand to the south of the dais. The altar has been defaced, but so long ago that the impact of the desecration has lost much of its shock value. A few ceremonial religious tools, including a silver chalice, a silver ritual knife, and a tithing box, are scattered across the floor. A fetid odor seems to permeate the room, but the oddest detail are the two priests sitting calmly. Each of them is seated in one of the benches in the back row, and as the group comes into view, they stand and one of them speaks while pointing to the shrine.
"Disgraceful jackals have soiled your temple. We will help."
Omen addresses the priests, then nods with a respectful bow before turning to the overturned items. He gestures and utters an arcane word, summoning aid to tend to the desecrated altar. The ghostly servant moves to pick up the scattered tools, and as it does Omen asks aloud of the group, "Are any of you able to identify that foul smell?"
HP: 14/16
AC: 12 (11 T / 11 FF)
CMD: 10
F/R/W: +3/+2/+5 (+2 vs death effects)
Resist 7: acid, cold, fire, electricity
Omens used (swift demoralize): 0/1
Black Motes used: 4/8
Shield charges remaining: 14
Spell Slots Used
Level 1: 5/7
Ongoing Effects
unseen servant
Yodi glances at the room to the north. "Maybe I was wrong about this being a house. I've seen long shallow pools like this in other ruined temples. I should have gue--"
The northman is cut off by the conversation between Omenhotep and the ghostly priests. He answers Omen's question first. "Stinks like death."
Then he continues in the common tongue, "I don't trust priests, dead or alive. Watch them."
The priests eye Omen warily as his unseen servant gathers the religious items. They speak to him again, more harshly than at first,
Though the meaning of his words are lost on all the others' ears save for Yodi's, the shift in Omen's tone is plain. Where his words and posture previously were respectful, he grows more indignant and wrathful as the exchange continues, his powerful voice booming throughout the chamber.
"I am doing as you asked! If you did not wish for aid, why ask for it? Who are you to cast such accusations upon us?"
Their response is a little more cautious, the accusatory tone now diminished after Omen admonishment. As they speak, they both move to stand near the open floor where the tolls are being gathered.
Ciyradyl quickly shares what she can see as the others come into the room. She's too distracted by the architecture and completely misses Omen's question. Thankfully, Yodi answers quickly.
Moving with the group, the two priest slightly startle her, even though she knew something was this way. Understanding Ancient Osiriani, she was about to respond to the priests, but Omen responded respectfully. She pretends that is looking at the architecture and listens to the conversation intently.
Great, more haunts? At least Omen can talk to these.
Brennan looked on with an avaricious eye as Omen's summoned servant began gathering the silver chalice and its companions up.
"What do they want? Will they let us pass? Come on, Omen, a little translation would be nice."
Brennan stood ready, his hands empty as he had taken the time to put his blades back in their hidden places. It was difficult to wind the springwork for the fast draw sheaths without letting everyone see him doing it. He had practiced for hours until it looked like he was just scratching a sot on his arms. He could even do it through his light scouting shirt, but that took a little longer.
"They want us to clean the descecrated altar. They're probably some kind of spirit chained here until the altar is sanctified again. Seems harmless enough, but if the necropolis has taught me anything, it's don't trust undead -- or the gods."
Yodi gently lowers his lantern to the ground. He scratches under the top edge of his breastplate and grimaces. His fingers come away tinged with yellowish goo. He shudders and wipes his fingers on his leg.
Omen turns to the others, adding to Yodi's explanation. "Moreover, they wish for us to declare our intentions and to state whom we worship. They asked for aid, but I grow tired of their impertinence."
He turns back to the pair of priests, his voice booming with authority once more.
"Do you wish for our aid or not? If so, cease your pointless questions and accept it!"
As Ciyradyl draws near, she can tell that the stench of death about the room seems to certainly be coming from the two priests that Omen is speaking with. They clearly do not appreciate Omen's tone, responding to him with equal ire.
By the end of their claim, they have soured in expression, scowls and raised voices a display of their anger.
Brennan was ready to fight, and it looked like the priests were heading that way quickly. He wished now that he hadn't bothered to re-sheathe the knives, but he managed to hold back his instincts to re-arm and see if Omen could pull this out. His big mouth had to be good for something, didn't it?
Omen falls silent as the priests raise their voices, his head inclining slightly to the side as he considers the pair. When next he speaks, his words are measured and even, meeting their growing anger with a sharp, cool confidence that cuts the air.
"Nethys has forsaken you then. You have my pity, but you will not have our aid nor our service."
Over his shoulder, he clarifies for the others, "Nethys has abandoned them here. Now, they seem to see us as their only means of penance and absolution."
"And how do they intend to pay us for that service? One of those silver chalices would be nice, assuming we didn't have to work too hard."
"They do not intend to offer payment at all, Brennan. See that your blades are ready. Their desperation grows."
Ciyradyl listens carefully and slowly moves to put the club in her pack. My claws should shred these priests. She flexes her fingers and prepares to attack.
Yodi speaks to the priests.
As Yodi speaks, the two priests look him over judgingly, scowls growing on their faces. His final statement seems to be enough for them, urging them into action. Both Ciyradyl and Brennan were waiting for the one step toward violence, and there it was.
Ciyradyl lets out an animalistic growl and charges forward. She knew this would turn into a fight, so it was time to get it rolling.
Ciyradyl was more than ready for the moment the fight started, and she wasted no time rushing forward to lash out at the nearest priest. Her proximity to them allows to better see them for what they are, but what that is escapes her. Her claw comes across the thing in a well-aimed swipe, but it looks as if her claw didn't even hurt it at all.
As Yodi speaks, the two priests look him over judgingly, scowls growing on their faces. His final statement seems to be enough for them, urging them into action. ...
"Sod that then!"
As the others prepared for combat, Brennan rushed into the room, vaulting pews and stepping over the rubbish there. He moved into position behind one of the priests, waiting to get it fully flanked before committing.
Brennan rushes across the room and benches to try and move himself into an advantageous position, setting himself up to reap the benefits once everyone else gets into place.
As he and Ciyradyl rush to the attack, the priests respond accordingly, lashing out at each of them with their hands. The first one cuts four lines across her midsection, and follows up with four more coming back the other direction. The second one steps up to the bench between him and Brennan, lashing out the same as the other, but the awkward angle of the bench makes the man a harder target.
It was coming sooner or later. Yodi steps forward to interpose between the priests and Omenhotep. He uses his forward momentum to add force to a spear thrust.
...
He draws upright in surprise. "They're not spirits!"
Moving up to the fallen priests, Yodi thrusts forward with his spear, but it doesn't push past the thing's dried flesh enough to even break the surface.
Surubi, her bow drawn, pulls an arrow from her quiver to launch at the nearest of the two. Her arrow flies right over Ciyradyl's shoulder to his the thing in its shoulder. The arrow thunks into what sounds like rotted wood. The priest's eyes go wide with both anger and surprises, as her second shot flies along the same path, only to skip off its hard skin.
"Insolent curs!" Omen's voice fills the chamber, booming from the walls and ceiling. Storming south along the perimeter of the room, he swings wide of his allies and brings himself to a point where he has a clear view of the priests. Raising one hand, he looses a pair of swirling orbs of inky blackness which spiral and twist around one another as they slam into the figure flanked by Brennan and Yodi.
HP: 14/16
AC: 12 (11 T / 11 FF)
CMD: 10
F/R/W: +3/+2/+5 (+2 vs death effects)
Resist 7: acid, cold, fire, electricity
Omens used (swift demoralize): 0/1
Black Motes used: 4/8
Shield charges remaining: 14
Spell Slots Used
Level 1: 6/7
Ongoing Effects
unseen servant
Omen, having had enough of the unpleasant priests, circles around to the back of the room to unleash a pair of missiles of pure void into the one that clawed Ciyradyl. The bolts hit, and tear into the creature, dropping it with an angered yell at his attacker.
Brennan waited for Ciyradyl to attack, then slipped behind the remaining priest and slashed low with his daggers, aiming for vital locations. As he came close enough, he saw that the creature wasn't really alive at all (big surprise there), and changed him aim from the kidneys to a spot low on the spine.
+
+
Ciyradyl attacks the priest with both claws.
Ciyradyl shifts over a small step to be able to work with Brennan in bringing the creature down. She returns the favor of a set of claws, raking them jointly across the dry husk that remains of the preist's former self. They do not cut as deep as she's used to, but still leaves thin scars along the undead man. He turns on her, just as Brennan steps to flank, his dagger driven into the base of the neck severs the spinal column. The false priest crumples into a pile on the floor.
Staring at the bodies Yodi spits out, "Undead disguised as living priests. What won't the gods condone? He continues to stare silently for a few moments.
Suddenly he comes back to the present. "Ciyradyl, you're hurt! Hold on a second."
While Yodi steps over to her, he draws a wand from his belt. He waves it in an experimental pass, then in earnest twice more.
Having finished with the elf, Yoda looks to the others. "Anyone else, hurt?"
Omen shakes his head at Yodi's question, then gestures at his conjured servant, still waiting patiently and unseen by the items displaced form the altar. "Gather them up. These lying jackals have no need of them any longer."
Brennan moved to help gather the loose treasure, then moved back to the undead priests to search their persons more carefully.
The false priests themselves have nothing on them of either value or potential use. In fact, looking past the illusion that surrounded them, you can see that their vestments are mostly rotted away, and what remains is stained.
"I wonder what their story was," the north man says, looking down at the ancient bodies. Were they really priests? Was this a punishment, or were they just unlucky?"
"They were disrespectful and deceitful vipers. They don't deserve any further consideration or thought you might spare them." He pauses for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the still defaced altar.
"Still, their disrespect is not license for us to act the same." He gestures to the servant, and it immediately begins working to clean the altar.
"Thank you Yodi," She smiles at the man, feeling much better now. She glances around the alter. "We should keep moving."
"Right." Yodi marches into the pool room and begins a counterclockwise search of its perimeter.
Other than the impressive size, and the religious iconography they had previously discussed, the seemingly sacred pool holds no other points of interest.
Omen remains behind until his conjured servant has cleansed the altar sufficiently. He watches imperiously as it labors, and nods in satisfaction once the work is complete. Once the altar is in a respectful state again, he turns away and stride into the neighboring chamber, ready to press on.
He points past the north-west corner of the pool, to where the chamber stretches on. "Shall we continue?"